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WASHINGTON (AP) — The mayor of Philadelphia says there will be no Amtrak service through the city this week, after a train derailed there last night, killing at least six people and injuring 200. Mayor Michael Nutter spoke after viewing the mangled tracks and downed wires at the crash scene. It's a critical section of North America's busiest railroad.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says the derailment of Amtrak Train 188 "is a tragedy that touches us all." In a written statement, he's offering prayers to the families who lost loved ones and the passengers beginning to recover. Obama says he and the first lady were "shocked and deeply saddened" to hear of the derailment.
HOUSTON (AP) — Heavy rain is causing flooding and water rescues in the Houston area, where more than 9 inches of rain has fallen in 24 hours. A Houston fire spokesman says 20 people have had to be rescued from high water, most of them motorists. He says some intersections have 5 feet of standing water. Meanwhile, officials in North Texas are releasing water from formerly drought-parched lakes to keep them from flowing over their banks. Parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area have received 10 inches of rain over the past week.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A judge is considering whether to release a video that shows a Pennsylvania police officer fatally shooting an unarmed man in the back earlier this year. Hummelstown Police Officer Lisa Mearkle is charged with criminal homicide in the case. Her lawyer calls it a matter of self-defense. The judge ordered today's hearing after the prosecutor announced he wanted to provide the video to news organizations.
MIAMI (AP) — A lawyer for a Navy nurse who refused to force-feed prisoners on hunger strike at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, says his client won't be formally punished. Attorney Ronald Meister says the unidentified nurse has been informed by the Navy that he won't face an administrative discharge, which would have cost him his retirement benefits. His is six-month assignment at Guantanamo was cut short after he refused to take part in the force-feedings, saying it violated his professional ethics.
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