The Nation

By: Journal Staff | Winston-Salem Journal
Published: September 13, 2008

At least 10 killed in train collision in Los Angeles

journal wire report

LOS ANGELES — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said last night that at least 10 people had been confirmed dead in the collision of a Metrolink commuter train and a freight train in Los Angeles.
As many as 40 people have been reported injured.
The freight train and the Metrolink commuter train thought to be carrying as many as 350 people collided in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley.
Firefighters put out a fire under part of the wreckage and pulled people from a demolished passenger car lying on its side.
The Union Pacific freight train's engine was also on its side, with the rest of the train splayed out like an accordion behind it.

Gates wants better Air Force control of nuclear arsenal

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called on the Air Force yesterday to establish clear and unified control over the nation's nuclear arsenal, after a new report by a Pentagon task force concluded that the service had neglected its stewardship of such weapons for more than 10 years.
"Today no senior leader in the Air Force 'owns' the nuclear mission," concluded the eight-member task force, appointed by Gates and chaired by former Defense Secretary James Schlesinger. "The current organization is not properly structured."
The task force recommended yesterday that the Air Force designate a new Air Force Strategic Command, which would replace the current Air Force Space Command, and make it accountable for the nuclear mission. It also called for all Air Force bombers to be placed under a single command.

YouTube moves to purge terrorist-training films

WASHINGTON — The popular video-sharing site YouTube has moved to purge terrorist training films and other videos that extremist groups might use to attract new members, an imperfect process that will rely on users to report objectionable videos.
It is sort of like the post Sept. 11 advice — if you see something, say something. It is nearly impossible to vet every video when 13 hours of new video are uploaded every few minutes.
A quick search on Google-owned YouTube yesterday, one day after the new policies were posted, turned up several videos on how to make bombs using, for instance, such household items as toilet-bowl cleaner and tin foil.

Four construction workers killed in collapse of trench

VERDEL, Neb. — Four construction workers in northeast Nebraska died in a collapsed trench after one of them fell in and his co-workers tried to rescue him, officials said yesterday.
The four men were working on the drainage trench near Verdel yesterday when part of it collapsed, the Knox County Sheriff's office said in a news release.

Travis Lunn, 24, of O'Neill, fell into the collapsing trench, officials said. The three others tried to rescue him but also became trapped in the dirt. David Peterson, 35, of O'Neill; Gary Forsch, 61, of Spencer; and Brad Kelly, 43, of Lynch, also were killed.

Potential contamination leads to pet-food recall

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall yesterday of all dry pet-food products produced at its plant in Everson, Pa. between Feb. 18 and July 29, because of potential contamination with salmonella.
Mars did not say how much pet food is involved, but said that the recall involves 31 states and various brands and that the action was taken as a precaution. The company said that consumers should look for "17" as the first two digits of the second line on the UPC for products affected. For Pedigree products, they should look for "PAE" on the bottom line. They can also call 1-877-568-4463 or consult www.petcare.mars.com.
The brand names include some items under the names Country Acres, Retriever, Doggy Bag, Members Mark, Natural, Ol' Roy, Special Kitty, Paws & Claws, Pedigree, Wegman's, Pet Pride, PMI Nutrition and Red Flannel.