NEW YORK

Mother of bomb plot suspect apologizes to New Yorkers

The mother of a man accused of plotting to attack police stations and post offices with homemade bombs apologized to fellow New Yorkers on Monday, even as questions arose about why federal authorities – who typically handle terrorism cases – declined to get involved in what city officials called a serious threat.

The mother of Jose Pimentel spoke to reporters outside her upper Manhattan home the day after her son was arraigned in state court on terrorism-related charges.

“I didn’t raise my son in that way,” Carmen Sosa said. “I feel bad about this situation.”

She also praised the New York Police Department, saying, “I think they handled it well.”

NYPD officials said the department had to move quickly because Pimentel was about to test a pipe bomb.

 

Dispute over costs reportedly will delay Sept. 11 museum

The 2012 opening of the Sept. 11 museum at the World Trade Center will be delayed by disputes over redevelopment costs, a person familiar with the project said Monday.

The dispute between the National September 11 Memorial & Museum foundation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was first reported in The Wall Street Journal.

The foundation is responsible for the museum’s cost while the Port Authority, which owns the site, is paying for infrastructure improvements. The dispute responsible for the delay partly centers on $156 million that the Port Authority says the foundation owes.

The person familiar with the construction said the museum’s opening will be delayed because the Port Authority has stopped approving new construction contracts. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because negotiations are ongoing.

AUGUSTA

Maine gas costs keep falling; still higher than U.S. average

Gas prices in Maine have dropped more than 4 cents in the past week to an average of $3.45 per gallon.

Price-monitoring website MaineGasPrices.com reported Monday that the average price in Maine remains 9 cents above the national average and 42 cents more than at the same time a year ago.

Maine prices are more than a dime lower than they were a month ago.

A company analyst said the national average is at its lowest level since February.

PHILADELPHIA

Freeh: Internal Penn State probe will go back to 1975

Former FBI director Louis Freeh, tapped to lead Penn State’s investigation into the child sex-abuse allegations against a former assistant football coach, said his inquiry will go as far back as 1975, a much longer period than a grand jury report issued earlier this month.

Freeh was named Monday to oversee the university trustees’ internal investigation into the abuse allegations that ultimately led to the ouster of football coach Joe Paterno and university President Graham Spanier.

Freeh said his team of ex-FBI agents, federal prosecutors and others has already started reading the grand jury report and looking at records.

“We will immediately report any evidence of criminality to law enforcement authorities,” said Freeh, who has no direct tie to Penn State.

 

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