The wreckage of a Lockheed T-33A Air Force jet trainer, which took off from Los Angeles International Airport in October 1955 with two crewmen aboard, was located in the ocean off of Santa Monica, it was announced Monday.

The information was turned over to the military’s Joint Prisoner of War/Missing In Action Command and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, according G. Pat Macha of Aircraft Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of the American West.

The plane was spotted in April during a sonar survey for another aircraft, a missing P-510 Mustang fighter presumed lost at sea in 1944, Macha said.

In the following months, a series of dives was conducted to gather photographic evidence to help in identifying the plane. A diver saw a stamped part number on a single piece of wreckage that was later confirmed by Lockheed- Martin to have originated from a T-33, Macha said.

The remains of an Allison J-33 turbo jet engine was also found near the wreckage.

Subsequent investigation determined that the only T-33 ever reported in the area took off from LAX on Oct. 15, 1955, and was presumed lost at sea.

Macha said further investigation may turn up human remains.

The missing pilots’ names were being withheld, he said.

WASHINGTON – The recession has hit middle-income and poor families hardest, widening the economic gap between the richest and poorest Americans as rippling job layoffs ravaged household budgets.

The wealthiest 10 percent of Americans — those making more than $138,000 each year — earned 11.4 times the roughly $12,000 made by those living near or below the poverty line in 2008, according to newly released census figures. That ratio was an increase from 11.2 in 2007 and the previous high of 11.22 in 2003.

Household income declined across all groups, but at sharper percentage levels for middle-income and poor Americans. Median income fell last year from $52,163 to $50,303, wiping out a decade’s worth of gains to hit the lowest level since 1997.

Poverty jumped sharply to 13.2 percent, an 11-year high.

“No one should be surprised at the increased disparity,” said Richard Freeman, an economist at Harvard University. “Unemployment hurts normal workers who do not have the golden parachutes the folks at the top have.”

Analysts attributed the widening gap to the wave of layoffs in the economic downturn that have devastated household budgets. They said while the richest Americans may be seeing reductions in executive pay, those at the bottom of the income ladder are often unemployed and struggling to get by.

Large cities such as Atlanta, Washington, New York, San Francisco, Miami and Chicago had the most inequality, due largely to years of middle-class flight to the suburbs. Declining industrial cities with pockets of well-off neighborhoods, such as Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo, N.Y., also had sharp disparities.

Up-and-coming cities with growing middle-class populations, such as Mesa, Ariz., Riverside, Calif., Arlington, Texas, and Henderson, Nev., were among the areas showing the least income differences between rich and poor.

It’s unclear whether income inequality will continue to worsen in major cities, said William H. Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution. Many Americans are staying put for now in traditional cities to look for jobs and because of frozen lines of credit.

“During the years of the housing bubble, there was middle-class movement from unaffordable metros with high-income inequality,” Frey said. “Now that the bubble burst, more of the population may be headed back to the high-inequality areas, stemming their middle-class losses.”

As to poverty, the biggest shifts last year were increases in metropolitan areas in Florida and central California. Stockton, Calif., jumped from 14.1 percent to 16.8 percent, while Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla., rose from 12.7 percent to 15.4 percent. Tampa-St. Petersburg, Orlando, Bradenton and Palm Bay — all in Florida — also saw gains in the share of poor residents.

Among other findings:

—Income at the top 5 percent of households — those making $180,000 or more — was 3.58 times the median income, the highest since 2006.

—Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia had higher poverty rates than the national average, many of them in the South, such as Mississippi (21.2 percent), Kentucky, Arkansas and Louisiana (each with 17.3 percent). That’s compared with 19 states and the District of Columbia that ranked above U.S. poverty in 2007.

—Use of food stamps jumped 13 percent last year to nearly 9.8 million U.S. households, led by Louisiana, Maine and Kentucky. The increase was most evident in households with two or more workers, highlighting the impact of the recession on both working families and unemployed single people.

—Pharr, Texas, and Flint, Mich., each had more than a third of its residents on food stamps, at 38.5 percent and 35.4 percent, respectively.

—Between 2007 and 2008, income at the 50th percentile (median) and the 10th percentile fell by 3.6 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively, compared with a 2.1 percent decline at the 90th percentile. Between 1999 and 2008, income at the 50th and 10th percentiles decreased 4.3 percent and 9 percent, respectively, while income at the 90th percentile was statistically unchanged.

—Plano, Texas, a Dallas suburb, had the highest median income among larger cities, earning $85,003. Cleveland ranked at the bottom, at $26,731.

The findings come as the federal government considers new regulations to rein in executive pay at companies in which it has invested. President Barack Obama also typically cites the need for higher taxes on the wealthy to pay for health care overhaul and other measures, arguing that the wealthy have disproportionately benefited from tax cuts during the Bush administration.

The 2008 figures come from the Current Population Survey and the American Community Survey, which gathers information from 3 million households. The government first began tracking household income in 1967.

The real estate market has finished the freefall and is now sitting at the bottom of the value curve. Buyers are rare, as many families are deciding to stay put instead of move. Finance is still in short supply and the lending criteria is ever increasing.

But it isn’t all doom and gloom. There are buyers out there, with money in their pocket but it is their market, and they know it. Marketing a property to meet the new demands isn’t easy, but proper planning and application can make it happen.

Barbara Forks, 53 of Sarasota had her home on the market for over six months without a bite.

“The real estate agent kept telling me the market was too slow, that there were too many other properties for sale in my area. There was always some excuse. I think in all that time we only had about three viewings.” Said Barbara in a recent interview. “We decided to take a friends advice and withdraw the sale, which we did, much to the agents chagrin. Then we took a step back and looked at our home through the eyes of a buyer.”

“That was quite difficult, because you have to be critical about somewhere you have lived for years and thought of as home. The ‘to do’ list grew longer and longer as we looked at everything we could think of. It annoyed me that the agent hadn’t done this with us months ago. We could have been in a new home somewhere by now.”

Barbara’s story is by no means unique. We have heard of many others who have done much the same thing, often through watching home makeover shows, of people asking friends to act as a buyer.

Barbara then talks about what work they had done. “We did as much of it as we could, but we aren’t as young as we used to be so I called John Sweet of Sweet Sheldon Homes to come and talk to us. He was nice, straightforward and honest with us. The quote was a bit more than others we had received, but he seemed much more genuine, and spend over an hour talking to us about things. Even about some of the things that can go wrong.”

Sweet Sheldon Homes are Naples renovation contractors who also do remodeling and new home building. They have been in business since 2003 and is run by John Sweets. His website propounds his business ethos of being straight and honest with people and telling them what they need to know, not what he wants them to hear.

Barbara’s house was refurbished by Sweet Sheldon Homes, a Naples  Remodeling company over a four week period. The exterior was painted, the driveway cleaned, the interior decorated and new cabinet doors in the kitchen we added.

The house then went on the market again, with a differed real estate agent and sold eight weeks later, for just under the asking price.

“Sweet Sheldon Homes worked miracles, and turned our tired old house into something someone wanted. Everybody who is having trouble selling their home should do this.”

Local Estero firm Clutter Busters are making easy work of turning trash into cash. While that may seem a little harsh, after all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, it is certainly true that there is money in your old stuff.

From estate sales to moving sales, liquidations to interior decorating, Clutter Busters of South West Florida have you covered. The husband and wife team Joseph and Alana enjoy sorting through other peoples unwanted items and turning them into profit. They are a full service company that offers everything for the downsizer or mover alike.

They specialize in home sales, but are adept at selling anything, to anyone. A typical sale works like this:

A client will contact them and say they are moving home, downsizing or want a full service to help them move home. Clutter Busters team will visit the client, assess the potential value of the items and have a chat about the situation and settle the details. The client grants them access to the property, and clearly marks what is to be sold and what isn’t.

The Clutter Busters team then springs into action and prepares everything for sale. That includes tidying up the property if necessary to advertising the sale. On the day they will manage the sales, the cash and collection of items. Whatever is left is advertised on Ebay and other online sites, as well as advertised locally.

Once the sale is over and any auctions finished, the cash is handed over to the client, minus a cut of course and the team moves on to the next sale.

It isn’t all about the bad times either, these guys don’t concentrate on people who have landed on bad times. It isn’t all about liquidations and foreclosures. More and more families are turning to these kinds of services to make a few extra bucks.

There are other businesses like clutter Busters dotted around our area, but none seem to have the combination of gravity and brevity that this operation does. One minute they are serious as they consult on a probate, the next they are engaging visitors to their sales with jokes and harmless banter in order to draw them in.

It’s good to see local businesses making good in this tough economic climate, and it’s good to see Clutter Busters up there with them. A diverse but related service portfolio appeals to a wide range of clientele both residential and commercial. While one team might be working on a relocation project involving a yard sale and some listings online, another might be dealing with a business liquidation or interior decorating, or even home staging.

Homeowners are making use of every trick to secure a buyer for their home. Home staging is like having a professional make-up artist work their magic on you before going out on a first date.

Let’s just hope other local businesses are just as fortunate as Clutter Busters in making it through these times intact.

Clutter Busters can be contacted at their website http://www.clutterbustersofswfl.com

(CNN) — Five men in El Salvador, including a police officer, were arrested Wednesday in connection with the killing last week of French filmmaker and photographer Christian Poveda, the country’s attorney general’s office said.

Two of five men arrested Wednesday in connection with the killing of French filmmaker Christian Poveda.

A sixth man who allegedly ordered the murder was already in prison, according to a statement from the agency.

Poveda — who recently finished a documentary about a violent street gang, part of the Mara 18 gang in El Salvador — was found shot dead in the town of Tonacatepeque, about 10 miles northeast of the capital, San Salvador, on September 2, authorities said.

Four of those arrested were members of the same Mara 18 gang that was the subject of Poveda’s film, the attorney general’s office said.

National Civil Police Officer Juan Napoleon Espinoza also was arrested, it said.

Poveda’s documentary, “La Vida Loca,” which follows the lives of members of the Mara 18 gang, had been screened at a handful of film festivals and is slated for wider release later this month. His body was found in an area controlled by that same gang, local reports said.

Thinking of purchasing a home among the breathtaking land sceneries and seascapes in Sanibel, Florida? While it is well known that real properties are priced slightly above average in Sanibel that does not mean it should stop you from acquiring property on the island. There are always bargains and deals to be found, so don’t discount the idea until you try it. Cheap Sanibel real estate is out there is just waiting to be snapped up by a canny investor or family.

You will most likely have to evaluate various styles of homes in Sanibel before deciding to make a purchase. Even before you start canvassing a property, it helps to take into consideration the kind of home you want what elements are essential to you. Buying a home on the island is about more than location after all.

Look at different advertisements posted in newspapers, browse online, visit real estate agents and ask around to score cheap Sanibel real estate while in the area. Searching for bargains involves negotiations, lowered expectations, and future value considerations. So if you have the extra cash, you may want to tap a few island realtors and ask for their opinion. Getting an expert opinion may save you a lot of money in the future.

Even if you are looking for a cheap property, the house must have good structure and a well-built facade. Forget about acquiring dilapidated houses and then refurbishing them up later as it will cost you much more than buying a newly constructed one. Consider the way the house looks like from across the street. Does the structure have any additions or extensions to it? Does it look sturdy or strong enough? Sanibel has a subtropical climate with the occasional drizzle. If you are from a state with frosty winters, you might be a bit surprised how much living here is done outside so you should also consider the outside space.

Take a walk around the neighborhood and see if the other properties are in good shape. If the surrounding houses look decrepit and rundown, it may be a sign of a questionable neighborhood. You don’t have to have a trained eye to spot the warning signs. Lots of people hanging around during the day, old cars in the gardens, litter and general mess can all be signs of a neighborhood down or on its way. There could be the cheapest homes around down these streets but would you want to live there? Would your tenants want to if you’re planning to invest?

Condos may be less pricey than residential homes, although the service charges can add to the cost. They often also offer a range of extra services and additional amenities like security or a gym. But these types of homes usually don’t appreciate in value as fast as residential homes do. A cheap Sanibel real estate is also a good investment should you decide to sell both land and structure for a steeper price in the future.

By Walter Alarkon – 09/06/09 10:02 AM ET

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said Sunday that any Democratic attempt to push healthcare reform legislation through the Senate with a simple majority would be mean that Democrats were “thumbing their nose at the American people.”

“It would be the same thing as going to war without asking for permission,” said Alexander, the third-ranking Senate Republican, echoing critiques once made by Democrats of President George W. Bush’s push for the invasion in Iraq. Senior Democrats once slammed Bush for sending U.S. troops to Iraq without broad international support and with only the authorization to use force instead of a more specific vote on the war.

Democrats are now considering using the budget reconciliation process to pass their proposed healthcare overhaul. Under reconciliation, the Democrats would only need 51 votes in the Senate to move ahead the bill instead of the usual 60 votes.

But Alexander, on “Fox News Sunday,” warned that using the budget maneuver would lead to a bad bill, since Senate rules would require the Senate parliamentarian to strike out any provisions that had no significant effect on the deficit.

“You might be able to technically do it, but you would pay a price in the next election,” Alexander added.

Both Alexander and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said that Democrats should slow down and try passing smaller healthcare reform bills instead of one large one. Gingrich said the vocal protests against the bill at town hall meetings and the falling support for President Barack Obama and his healthcare plan seen in polls in August should serve as a warning for Democrats against moving too quickly.

Gingrich said that if reconciliation was used for healthcare, “I think you’ll have extraordinary explosion both in the Senate and in the country.”

Obama is scheduled to give a speech on healthcare reform Wednesday before a joint session of Congress.

Former Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean urged Obama to continue pushing for a bill that includes a public insurance health plan.

“He’s got to stand up and lead and be strong,” Dean said.

Dean added that Obama, elected by a significant majority, needs to clearly lay out his plan to win politically.

“My experience in politics, if you don’t use your majorities, you lose your majorities,” he said.

John Podesta, who led Obama’s transition team and served as chief of staff for President Bill Clinton, said the public plan was the best way to introduce competition in the insurance market and bring down costs. But he suggested that Obama should be open to other options that would accomplish the same goals.

“We’ve talked about this a lot,” he said. “It’s time for people to get in and vote and see where the votes are in this Congress.”

The Senate must move legislation to raise the federal debt limit beyond $12.1 trillion by mid-October, a move viewed as necessary despite protests about the record levels of red ink.

The move will highlight the nation’s record debt, which has been central to Republican attacks against Democratic congressional leaders and President Barack Obama. The year’s deficit is expected to hit a record $1.6 trillion.

Democrats in control of Congress, including then-Sen. Obama (Ill.), blasted President George W. Bush for failing to contain spending when he oversaw increased deficits and raised the debt ceiling.

“Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren,” Obama said in a 2006 floor speech that preceded a Senate vote to extend the debt limit. “America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.”

Obama later joined his Democratic colleagues in voting en bloc against raising the debt increase.

Now Obama is asking Congress to raise the debt ceiling, something lawmakers are almost certain to do despite misgivings about the federal debt. The ceiling already has been hiked three times in the past two years, and the House took action earlier this year to raise the ceiling to $13 trillion.

Congress has little choice. Failing to raise the cap could lead the nation to default in mid-October, when the debt is expected to exceed its limit, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has said. In August, Geithner asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to increase the debt limit as soon as possible.

Changing the debt cap “does provide an opportunity to look at fiscal policy and what its failings are, and ideally it could give both sides an opportunity to think about what we need to do so we don’t keep raising the debt limit,” said Robert Bixby, the executive director of the Concord Coalition, a fiscal watchdog group.

“But probably as a practical matter, it will get more attention as a partisan back-and-forth,” Bixby said.

When the House raised the debt limit to $13 trillion as part of a budget resolution approved in April, Democratic leaders used a maneuver known as the “Gephardt rule,” named after former House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt (Mo.), to avoid taking a roll call vote on the debt limit increase.

The Senate isn’t so lucky. It lacks a similar mechanism, meaning each senator must cast a politically perilous vote on raising the debt ceiling.

The Senate Finance Committee will “carefully review Treasury’s request on behalf of the American taxpayers,” according to an aide to the committee’s chairman, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.).

“Sen. Baucus understands the critical importance of signaling to the world that the U.S. maintains the confidence and security to continue to lead the global economy out of recession,” the Baucus aide said. “The request to raise the debt limit is serious and must be addressed thoroughly and in a nonpartisan manner.”

The aide noted that Baucus is pressing the Treasury Department to be more transparent about its efforts to pull the economy out of recession.

“He will continue to demand the necessary communication and cooperation going forward,” the aide said.

Both the White House and the independent Congressional Budget Office last month said that they expect the debt to increase by another $9 trillion over the next decade. Should the Senate follow the House’s lead and set the new debt limit at $13 trillion, lawmakers would probably have to raise the limit again next year, when the Obama administration expects to run a $1.5 trillion deficit.

The business community has supported Geithner’s push for a higher debt ceiling. Bruce Josten, the top lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said it’s essential to the U.S. economy.

“If we fail to address this in a timely fashion, then you run the risk of having to curtail government operations,” Josten said. “The last thing our economy and the world economy needs is greater uncertainty throughout global credit markets.”

Josten said that the high level of debt is a reality during the recession, but it’s unsustainable and needs to be reduced by reforming Medicare and Social Security.

“While we can freely and openly acknowledge completely and lobby to raise the debt ceiling and incur some more debt, the longer trends ultimately need to be reversed,” he said.

Congress raised the debt limit just a few months ago when it passed the $787 billion stimulus package.