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Threatened chicken delays Texas spaceflight plan

By WTOP Staff

MIDLAND, Texas (AP) — The mating habits of a threatened species of chicken have postponed a West Texas city’s plans for spaceflight.

The Midland Reporter-Telegram reports (http://bit.ly/VKGt95) the city is awaiting clearance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a Federal Aviation Administration spaceport license. Midland International Airport has been working to become the first in the nation to offer commercial and spaceflight from its runways.

The lesser prairie-chicken was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in March, prompting the city to apply for an addendum to its service application.

The service is worried that sonic booms would disrupt the bird’s early morning mating habits. City officials maintain the sounds won’t harm the chickens.

The FAA has until mid-September to issue the spaceport license, a process that’s taken nearly two years.

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Information from: Midland Reporter-Telegram, http://www.mywesttexas.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Emergency guide: What you should do to prepare for emergencies

By WTOP Staff
WASHINGTON — Do you know what you'd do if an emergency hits? What if you're at work, your spouse is stuck in traffic and your children are in school? There's no way to plan for every emergency, but you can make sure you're prepared for different scenarios, including making a plan for your family and building a kit of emergency supplies.
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