Japanese quake could impact U.S. nuclear projects

The nuclear crisis in Japan is already affecting nuclear energy politics in the United States as nuclear reactors around the country come up for license renewal and energy companies seek to build new facilities, our Donna Leinwand reports.

Leinwand says Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sent a letter to the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission saying the disaster in Japan highlights "both the fragility of nuclear power plants and the potential consequences associated with a radiological release caused by earthquake-related damage."

Markey asked the NRC, which has sent experts to Japan, whether U.S. nuclear plants could withstand an earthquake or tsunami of the same magnitude of the Japanese quake.

Markey last week had asked the NRC to postpone approving Westinghouse's design for a new nuclear reactor, AP1000, until the company can address safety concerns in the event of an earthquake, Leinwand reports.

"If the NRC approves the AP1000, then it may have widespread use throughout the United States," Markey wrote. "Taxpayer dollars should not be spent on reactors that could be at risk of suffering a catastrophic core meltdown in the event of an aircraft strike or major earthquake."

Last year Markey asked for an investigation into whether the NRC has adequate earthquake standards for reactors.

Jennifer Aniston plans non-comedy movie projects

MEXICO CITY: Actress Jennifer Aniston says some non-comedy movie projects are in her future, including a film based on the true story of an all-female country-western band that formed at a Texas prison in the 1940s.

Aniston says the band was "sort of the Dixie Chicks of their time."

No production or release dates have been set for the project, tentatively titled "The Goree Girls."

After starring in a string of romantic comedies such as "Just Go With It," Aniston may be turning her sights to more serious fare. Another project, tentatively called "Counterclockwise," may focus on the studies of Ellen Langer, a renowned Harvard psychology professor.

Aniston was in Mexico City on Thursday to promote her new perfume, which bears her name. (AP)