Automobiles

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood learned about former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt's arrest for drunk driving from a press release.

The FAA is investigating an accident involving a model walking into an airplane propeller last weekend.

The brakes have been hit on Swedish automaker Saab's attempts to avoid bankruptcy.

Sales of General Motors car are on the rise in China.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is defending the Chevy Volt as being safe after fires caused by the electric car's battery.

A Sikh man was stabbed at Fresno, Calif.'s Yosemite International Airport in a suspected hate crime.

Actor Alec Baldwin was kicked off a plane at Los Angeles International Airport.

A poll shows a majority of California would vote no now on a proposed high-speed railway there.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

An airport worker in Nevada was fired for refusing to put an injured dog on an airplane.

A second elderly woman has said she was strip-searched by the Transportation Security Administration.

Swedish automaker Saab is in talks with a Chinese bank as it tries to avoid going out of business.

A carjacking in Florida was foiled because the burglars did not know how to drive a stick-shift.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Federal Aviation Administration chief Randy Babbitt says changes will be made to tarmac delay rules before Christmas.

The automobile industry is not in favor of a freight rail strike.

Charlotte, N.C.'s Douglas International Airport is getting into the energy business.

United and Continental airlines have been approved by the FAA to operate as a single airline.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) tried to steer clear of controversy surrounding Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s opposition to the administration's bailouts for automakers, but Democrats in the state said neither Romney nor Kasich deserved credit for the turnaround of the car companies.

In an interview this week with CNN, Kasich said he was glad the American auto companies were doing well, but said he did not "have any interest in even commenting on" Romney's position on the federal assistance given to Chrysler and General Motors.

Ohio state Rep. Matt Szollosi (D) issued a statement saying that Kasich was not in favor of the bailouts in 2008.

"Today's great news about the American auto industry shows once again that John Kasich and Mitt Romney were dead wrong when they failed to support the investments that led to the auto recovery," Szollosi said. "What is worse, to this day neither John Kasich nor Mitt Romney will even admit that they were wrong for failing to support our autoworkers when their livelihoods and the very economic survival of communities across Ohio were on the line. 

Democrats have made it clear they want to make Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s opposition to the administration's bailouts for automakers an issue in Midwestern states but GOP Ohio Gov. John Kasich is steering clear of the controversy. 

Kasich, who was elected in the Tea Party-fueled Republican wave, said in an interview with CNN that while he's glad the American auto companies are doing well, he doesn't "have any interest in even commenting on" Romney's position on the federal assistance given to Chrysler and General Motors.

"I am not going to talk about Mitt Romney," he said in the interview. "It's not important to me what he said or might have said."

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Your morning transportation speed-read:

New York City is writing its newest street signs in Haikus.

Google will soon map airports.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is preparing for uncertain after American Airlines filed for bankruptcy.

Car sales received a boost from Black Friday too.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating a crash involving a Chevy Volt battery catching fire.

Virginia Gov., and Republican vice presidential possibility, Bob McDonnell is hosting a transportation conference.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport said American Airlines' bankruptcy filing did not affect business at the airline's hub.

Indianapolis International Airport is removing artwork to make way for an LED screen.

Rep. Issa says he is concerned that the new fuel efficiency standards could lead to price hikes for consumers.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Airlines are spending almost $2 billion to upgrade their first classes.

New York City is implementing "Slow Zones" on some of its streets.

London Mayor Boris Johnson is calling for another airport to be built there.

Florida transportation officials are under fire for video of pedestrians being hit by cars.