A model of Osama bin Laden's compound

May 16, 2012

Federal regulators today said that the "Shape-up" sneakers made by Skechers defrauded people who bought them because they will not help you lose weight.

Not unless you exercise in them and eat less than your normal caloric intake in them.

Duh.

I once did a story for 20/20 on Fit Flops those sandals that claim they can get you in shape just by wearing them, and walking in them.

So we talked to experts, cut them in half, analyzed them. And guess what? They will get you in shape, if you walk several hours a day in them. Of course, if you walk several hours a day in any shoes, chances are you'll get in some kind of shape.

I'm just sayin'.

Anyway, if you bought the Skechers "Shape-up" sneaker, you could get some money back. The company agreed to pay $40 million one of the largest settlements in FTC history.

We'll have the story, at 11.

Also at 11, some good news for New York City bus drivers, and maybe tough news for the rest of us. An arbitrator has ordered the MTA to give 3,000 employees mostly bus drivers 11 percent raises retroactive to January, 2009. The bus and subway agency had argued that it didn't have the money. Arbitrators disagreed, and told them to tap their reserves and divert money from capital projects.

No one would argue that the MTA's capital projects already seem several decades behind, and we have to wonder about the reaction from subway and bus riders that the MTA has reserves to draw from - what with all the fare hikes. Could higher fares be far behind? It's a fair question, pardon the pun.

We're also in Brooklyn, where controversy is swirling around a fundraiser for a man who claims to be a Rabbi, and is charged with sexually abusing a teenage girl. Why are they having a fundraiser for him? That's what many people in the Williamsburg section want to know. And others are raising questions about one of the dirty little secrets of the Orthodox Jewish community abuse. It's a relatively closed community, and many inside do not want to publicly discuss or expose their problems. We're there for the event, and reaction, at 11.

We're also getting our first glimpse tonight of the once-super-secret model of the compound where Osama bin Laden lived in Pakistan and where he was killed by U.S. Navy Seals a year ago. The model, now declassified, is on display at the Pentagon not exactly a place where anyone can go, but the military brass has given reporters a chance to take pictures of it. It took 6 months to build – using mostly satellite imagery. And it's how the Seals knew how to get in and make their way around inside. If you want to see the model, LINK: CLICK HERE .

And here's something to ponder the next time you're flying somewhere: The number of lasers-aimed-at-airplanes rose about 25 percent last year with nearly 3,600 incidents. A laser can't bring down a plane of course, but it can temporarily blind a pilot during takeoff or landing and that could cause a catastrophe.

Now, the FAA says it's toughening penalties for numbskulls who intentionally point lasers at airplanes. About time.

And our Amy Freeze reports on something of a challenge for some women. "Get Me Back Into My Wedding Dress" is about women doing just that through diet and exercise. Amy's story documents some women who are trying it. We'll also have any breaking news of the night, plus Meteorologist Lee Goldberg's AccuWeather forecast and Rob Powers with the night's sports. I hope you can join Sade Baderinwa and me, tonight at 11.

BILL RITTER

Subscribe to my page on Facebook at facebook.com/billritter.wabc.

Follow my tweets at www.twitter.com/billritter7.

Click here to send a comment.

Copyright © 2024 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.