NIU is providing live updates, including hotline numbers for parents, on it’s web site:

3:50 p.m.
It has been confirmed that there has been a shooting on campus and several people have been taken away by ambulance. All classses are cancelled on the DeKalb campus. People are urged not to come to campus. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

3:40 p.m.
All classes on the DeKalb campus are cancelled for tonight.

3:20 p.m.
There has been a report of a possible gunman on campus. Get to a safe area and take precautions until given the all clear. Avoid the King Commons and all buildings in that vicinity.

All 165 passengers and crew miraculously escaped this fire:

A Taiwanese jetliner burst into flames Monday morning shortly after landing at the Naha airport on the Japanese island of Okinawa, but 165 passengers and crew got off the plane safely, authorities said.

The Japanese Transport Ministry and the Naha Fire Department said the passengers included 155 adults and two toddlers. The crew was made up of 2 pilots and six flight attendants.

According to the ministry, there was “some sort of explosion” on board the China Airlines Boeing 737, but no other details were immediate available. Japanese media reported that a passenger saw a fire in one of the engines before the blast.

Terrorism is not suspected according to Japan’s National Police Agency.

It looks like these office workers got quite a scare. The first videos are just hitting the Internet. I’ll add more if something interesting pops up.

Final Tsunami Update:
Fresh from the PTWC:

TO - CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

SUBJECT - FINAL TSUNAMI ADVISORY

THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS ENDED FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII EFFECTIVE
AT 0410 PM HST.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME - 0141 PM HST 15 AUG 2007
COORDINATES - 13.5 SOUTH 76.7 WEST
LOCATION - NEAR COAST OF PERU
MAGNITUDE - 7.9 MOMENT
MAGNITUDE - 7.8 RICHTER (MS)

EVALUATION

THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER HAS CANCELLED THE REGIONAL TSUNAMI WARNING AND WATCH IT ISSUED FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE PACIFIC. BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA THERE IS NO DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII AND THE ADVISORY FOR HAWAII IS ALSO ENDED.

HOWEVER… SOME COASTAL AREAS IN HAWAII COULD EXPERIENCE SMALL NON-DESTRUCTIVE SEA LEVEL CHANGES AND STRONG OR UNUSUAL CURRENTS LASTING UP TO SEVERAL HOURS. THE ESTIMATED TIME SUCH EFFECTS MIGHT BEGIN IS

0214 AM HST THU 16 AUG 2007

THIS WILL BE THE FINAL MESSAGE ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED.

Update X:
Great news. The advisory for Hawaii has been canceled:

After monitoring buoys that register sea-level changes, Scientists cancelled the Tsunami Advisory for Hawaii at 4:25 p.m. Hawaii Time.

They said they detected no threat of a Tsunami, though they said there might be a small change in sea level at 2:14 a.m. Thursday morning — but by only an inch or two.

Update VIIII:
The West Coast is in the clear:

The Tsunami Advisory for residents along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska coast is ended. NO tsunami watch or warning is in effect for these areas.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii has concluded its investigation of this event and is issuing a final message for areas outside California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. Refer to the PTWC message for further information about the effects of this event.

A tsunami has been observed on a deep ocean pressure sensor off northern Chile. Reports from Chile indicate that a destructive tsunami was not observed in Chile. The tsunami is not expected to threaten the U.S. west coast, British Columbia, or Alaska. Based on the earthquake location, magnitude, historic tsunami records, and observed tsunami effects, a damaging tsunami IS NOT expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska coasts. Some of these areas may experience non-damaging sea level changes.

Update VIII:
Reports of dead and injured in Peru. I fear this news will probably get worse once the initial chaos passes:

A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck off the coast of central Peru on Wednesday evening, killing 17 people and leaving 70 hurt, Peruvian media reported.

Update VII:
Dramatic earthquake video from Peru. Click on the player in the center of El Comercio’s page. There are multiple videos. Switch between them using the selector on the top right side of the player.

Update VI:
A new update. The news is not good:

SEA LEVEL READINGS INDICATE A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. WE HAVE OBSERVED A TSUNAMI SIGNAL ON THE DEEP OCEAN GAUGE OFF NORTHERN CHILE. A TSUNAMI MAY HAVE BEEN GENERATED THAT COULD BE DESTRUCTIVE ALONG COASTS NEAR THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER AND COULD ALSO BE A THREAT TO MORE DISTANT COASTS. AUTHORITIES SHOULD
TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS POSSIBILITY. THIS CENTER WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR SEA LEVEL DATA TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT AND SEVERITY OF THE THREAT.

FOR ALL AREAS - WHEN NO MAJOR WAVES ARE OBSERVED FOR TWO HOURS AFTER THE ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL OR DAMAGING WAVES HAVE NOT OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS THEN LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN ASSUME THE THREAT IS PASSED. DANGER TO BOATS AND COASTAL STRUCTURES CAN CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS DUE TO RAPID CURRENTS. AS LOCAL CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE A WIDE VARIATION IN TSUNAMI WAVE ACTION THE ALL CLEAR DETERMINATION MUST BE MADE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

Update V:
Residents of Hawaii click here to enter your address and find out if you live or work in a tsunami evacuation zone. Here’s What to do Before and During a Tsunami from FEMA.

Update IV:
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin is covering the story:

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami warning for areas near an estimated 7.9 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Peru this afternoon.

“An evaluation of the Pacific-wide tsunami threat is underway and there is a possibility that Hawaii could be elevated to a watch or warning status,” a center advisory says.

If a tsunami was generated it would start hitting Hawaii shores at 2:14 a.m. Thursday, the center said.

Initially, the center has issued “an expanding regional tsunami warning and watch for parts of the Pacific located closer to the earthquake.”

Update III:
ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS
WITHIN THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL
ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE
LARGEST. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE TIME BETWEEN
SUCCESSIVE WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.

 LOCATION         FORECAST POINT     COORDINATES     ARRIVAL TIME
 --------------------------------    ------------    ------------
 PERU                        SAN JUAN           15.3S  75.2W    0023Z 16 AUG
                             LA PUNTA           12.1S  77.2W    0029Z 16 AUG
                             MOLLENDO           17.2S  72.0W    0053Z 16 AUG
                             TALARA              4.6S  81.5W    0117Z 16 AUG
                             CHIMBOTE            9.0S  78.8W    0125Z 16 AUG
                             PIMENTAL            6.9S  80.0W    0155Z 16 AUG
 CHILE                       ARICA              18.5S  70.5W    0109Z 16 AUG
                             IQUIQUE            20.2S  70.2W    0112Z 16 AUG
                             ANTOFAGASTA        23.5S  70.5W    0130Z 16 AUG
                             CALDERA            27.0S  71.0W    0152Z 16 AUG
                             COQUIMBO           30.0S  71.5W    0220Z 16 AUG
                             VALPARAISO         33.0S  71.8W    0244Z 16 AUG
                             TALCAHUANO         36.8S  73.2W    0327Z 16 AUG
                             CORRAL             39.8S  73.5W    0403Z 16 AUG
                             EASTER IS.         27.1S 109.4W    0455Z 16 AUG
                             GOLFO DE PENAS     47.1S  74.9W    0519Z 16 AUG
                             PUERTO MONTT       41.8S  73.0W    0533Z 16 AUG
 ECUADOR                     LA LIBERTAD         2.2S  81.2W    0142Z 16 AUG
                             ESMERELDAS          1.2N  79.8W    0232Z 16 AUG
                             BALTRA IS.          0.5S  90.5W    0311Z 16 AUG
 COLOMBIA                    TUMACO              1.8N  79.0W    0246Z 16 AUG
                             BAHIA SOLANO        6.3N  77.4W    0319Z 16 AUG
                             BUENAVENTURA        3.8N  77.2W    0323Z 16 AUG
 PANAMA                      PUERTO PINA         7.2N  78.0W    0327Z 16 AUG
                             PUNTA MALA          7.5N  79.8W    0331Z 16 AUG
                             PUNTA BURICA        8.0N  82.8W    0337Z 16 AUG
                             BALBOA HTS.         8.8N  79.5W    0442Z 16 AUG
 COSTA RICA                  CABO MATAPALO       8.4N  83.3W    0341Z 16 AUG
                             PUERTO QUEPOS       9.2N  84.2W    0407Z 16 AUG
                             CABO SAN ELENA     10.9N  86.0W    0428Z 16 AUG
 NICARAGUA                   SAN JUAN DL SUR    11.2N  85.9W    0445Z 16 AUG
                             PUERTO SANDINO     12.2N  87.0W    0500Z 16 AUG
                             CORINTO            12.5N  87.2W    0503Z 16 AUG
 GUATEMALA                   SIPICATE           13.8N  91.2W    0514Z 16 AUG
 EL SALVADOR                 ACAJUTLA           13.6N  89.8W    0517Z 16 AUG
 MEXICO                      PUERTO MADERO      14.8N  92.5W    0541Z 16 AUG
                             ACAPULCO           16.8N 100.0W    0604Z 16 AUG
 HONDURAS                    AMAPALA            13.2N  87.6W    0542Z 16 AUG

Update II:
CNN’s first report:

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also issued a tsunami watch for Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador , Mexico and Honduras, and a tsunami advisory for Hawaii.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quake, though there were power outages in Lima, the capital, Reuters reported, and people ran into the streets in panic as the tremor shook office buildings.

Residents say radio reports are warning them to prepare for aftershocks.

It sounds like Peru may have dodged a bullet but we’ll have to wait for more detail to emerge.

Update I:
The NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued an advisory:

TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 2
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
220 PM HST WED AUG 15 2007

TO - CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

SUBJECT - TSUNAMI ADVISORY

A TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS ISSUED FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII EFFECTIVE
AT 0220 PM HST.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME - 0141 PM HST 15 AUG 2007
COORDINATES - 13.5 SOUTH 76.7 WEST
LOCATION - NEAR COAST OF PERU
MAGNITUDE - 7.9 MOMENT

EVALUATION

THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER HAS ISSUED AN EXPANDING
REGIONAL TSUNAMI WARNING AND WATCH FOR PARTS OF THE PACIFIC
LOCATED CLOSER TO THE EARTHQUAKE. AN EVALUATION OF THE PACIFIC
WIDE TSUNAMI THREAT IS UNDERWAY AND THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT
HAWAII COULD BE ELEVATED TO A WATCH OR WARNING STATUS.

IF TSUNAMI WAVES IMPACT HAWAII THEIR ESTIMATED EARLIEST ARRIVAL
TIME IS

0214 AM HST THU 16 AUG 2007

MESSAGES WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Poor design and cheap Chinese labor bite Mattel:

Toymaker Mattel is voluntarily recalling 9 million of its toys including popular characters such as Batman, Barbie, Polly Pockets and a toy from Pixar’s “Cars” movie because of hazards to children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Tuesday.

Mattel’s Barbie and Tanner doll set is one of the products being recalled.

“The company has ordered that all products be pulled off retail shelves,” said Nancy Nord, acting chairman of the commission.

Zhang Shuhong, the manager of the factory implicated in the first recall, committed suicide over the weekend. Zhang’s backup is probably tying a hangman’s noose right now. Why not just do your kids a favor and avoid buying them Chinese manufactured death toys in the first place?

Well, this has public relations disaster written all over it:

Medical firm Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is suing the American Red Cross, alleging the charity has misused the famous red cross symbol for commercial purposes.

J&J said a deal with the charity’s founder in 1895 gave it the “exclusive use” of the symbol as a trademark for drug, chemical and surgical products.

It said American Red Cross had violated this agreement by licensing the symbol to other firms to sell certain goods.

The charity described the lawsuit as “obscene”.

It said many of the products at issue were health and safety kits and that profits from their sale had been used to support disaster-relief campaigns.

My understanding of trademark law is pretty thin but I’m not sure that Johnson & Johnson has much choice here. The Wikipedia entry on trademark law seems to confirm that:

Unlike copyright law which provides for criminal penalties as well as civil damages, trademark law in the United States is entirely enforced through private lawsuits. The responsibility is entirely on the mark owner to file suit in either state or federal civil court in order to restrict an infringing use. Failure to “police” a mark by stopping infringing uses can result in the loss of protection. [emphasis mine - John]

Also in contrast to copyright or patent law, trademark protection has no expiration. As long as the mark is continually used, it can be protected from infringement indefinitely.

Terrorism is not suspected. Rescue efforts are still underway and the death toll continues to rise:

The bridge was undergoing redecking work, but nothing structural was being done, U.S. Transportation Department spokesman Brian Turmail said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security had no indication that terrorism played a role in the disaster, Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minnesota, told CNN.

Coleman said Gov. Tim Pawlenty had told him the 40-year-old bridge was inspected and “given a clean bill of health” three years ago.

The nearby University of Minnesota Medical Center received “just a handful” of injuries from the accident, spokesman Ryan Davenport said.

“One of our hospitals has five patients so far, and the other on the other side of the river has none,” he said.

Nancy Ebert of Northwestern Hospital said it had received four injured people — two children and two adults.

Dr. Joseph Clinton, chief of emergency medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center, said the hospital is treating 28 injured people, six of them critically hurt.

He also said the hospital received one patient who was pronounced dead on arrival. “We have one drowning victim here, and I believe there are more drowning victims at the scene,” he said.

CNN has live video.

Update:
Good news this morning. The death toll has been lowered to four. That good news may be temporary as up to 20 people are believed to be missing.

Update II:
Security camera footage of the collapase is available on liveleak.

So much for HIPAA. According to press reports he’s a personal injury lawyer whose father-in-law works for the CDC.

A tuberculosis patient under the first federal quarantine since 1963 was taken Thursday to National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, which specializes in respiratory disorders, officials said.

CBS News has learned the man with the extreme form of tuberculosis is Andrew Harley Speaker, a 31-year-old lawyer from Atlanta. A medical official in Atlanta also confirmed the name on condition of anonymity.

In an odd twist, Speaker’s father-in-law works as a microbiologist at a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory that studies tuberculosis and other bacterial infections.

Bob Cooksey said he gave his son-in-law “fatherly advice” when he learned he had contracted the disease.

They say Andrew could be confined to his room for several weeks. I think he’ll find that life has changed once he’s allowed to roam freely. People aren’t happy with the seemingly selfish choices he made - his profession isn’t helping matters. The jokes have already started:

What do you call a personal injury lawyer with a rare and dangerous form of tuberculosis? A good start.

Now how long do you think it will be until this guy and his family are on Oprah?

Update:
Diane Sawyer got to him first. He’s apologizing and claims to have a reasonable explanation:

Andrew Speaker has asked for forgiveness from the airline passengers he exposed to a rare strain of tuberculosis, and told ABC’s Diane Sawyer in an exclusive interview that he has a tape recording of a meeting with health officials that he claims will confirm his view that it was all right to travel in his condition.

“He says he wants everyone to know how he made the decision, why he felt so strongly that it was not endangering anybody else and [is] also asking forgiveness of those onboard who are now having to be tested,” Sawyer said after spending an hour with the TB patient and his wife, Sarah Speaker, at the National Jewish Research Center in Denver, where he is currently in isolation

Bloggers React:

Michelle Malkin
He is Andrew Harley Speaker–and what a selfish, reckless man he is.

Wizbang!
He’s educated enough to have known better than to fly on an airplane when he was infected with tuberculosis. You do not need to be a doctor to know you don’t put yourself in an enclosed space with hundreds of other unsuspecting people for hours at a time when you have an infectious airborne disease.

This is alarming:

The man told the Journal-Constitution he was in Rome during his honeymoon when the CDC notified him of the new tests and told him to turn himself in to Italian authorities to be isolated and be treated. The CDC told him he couldn’t fly aboard commercial airliners.

“I thought to myself: You’re nuts. I wasn’t going to do that. They told me I had been put on the no-fly list and my passport was flagged,” the man said.

He told the newspaper he and his wife decided to sneak back into the U.S. through Canada. He said he voluntarily went to a New York hospital, then was flown by the CDC to Atlanta.

He is not facing prosecution, health officials said.

“I’m a very well-educated, successful, intelligent person,” he told the paper. “This is insane to me that I have an armed guard outside my door when I’ve cooperated with everything other than the whole solitary-confinement-in-Italy thing.”

And we’re keeping known and suspected terrorists out how?

Bloggers React:

Michelle Malkin
Homeland security? What homeland security?

Webloggin
The selfishness of the man is unbelievable.

I don’t feel so bad about being too busy to travel these days:

CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said authorities were trying to notify passengers who traveled aboard Air France flight 385 from Atlanta which arrived in Paris on May 13 and on Czech Air flight 0104 from Prague to Montreal on May 24.

The man, from the U.S. state of Georgia, returned to the United States by car and has been in the hospital “in respiratory isolation” since then, the CDC said. He is suffering from extensive drug-resistant TB, known as XDR TB, that resists virtually all antibiotics.

“This is an unusual TB organism, one that’s very, very difficult to treat. And we want to make sure that we have done everything we possibly can to identify people who could be at risk,” Gerberding said at a news conference.

Authorities did not identify the man, but said he had voluntarily entered a medical isolation facility in New York City.

Read the complete CDC Health Advisory if you suspect that you’ve been exposed. Centers for Disease Control also has a page dedicated to XDR TB (Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis).