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2 killed in Ill. as snow, sleet hit broad area

Deep snow, heavy rain and sleet from the Mississippi Valley to the East Coast snarled travel, caused scattered flooding and complicated primary-day voting Tuesday. Two people were killed in Illinois when their car slid on a sleet-covered road into the path of a truck. As much as 13 inches of snow fell at Russellville in west-central Arkansas, with up to 8 inches in Missouri and 9 around Alton, Ill., the National Weather Service said. Thunderstorms swept through the Southeast.

RICHMOND, Va.

Bill targets gaps in mental health care

State lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill intended to eliminate gaps in the mental health system that a disturbed Virginia Tech student slipped through before killing 32 people last year. The bill tightens criteria for identifying, detaining and ordering treatment for mentally ill people who are a threat to themselves and others. A court had ordered outpatient psychiatric treatment for student Seung Hui Cho, but he was able to legally purchase two handguns before killing 32 people and committing suicide April 16.

Companies recall chicken and meat

A New York company recalled nearly 7,000 pounds of chicken and meat products Tuesday while three other companies recalled another 16,332 pounds of a chicken product because the foods could be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. Gourmet Boutique of Jamaica, N.Y., recalled 6,970 pounds of 12 meat and poultry products, which each bear the production code GBD 08058 on the package. These products, which are mostly chicken but include meatloaf and turkey, were sent to stores in Florida, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin, as well as distribution centers in New York. Separately, three importers recalled 16,332 pounds of Discover Cuisine Red Curry Chicken & Jasmine Rice, with a best buy date of Dec. 18. This was sent to stores nationwide.

Elsewhere

Guilty plea: The former chief of staff for former Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski, Jim Clark, apologized Tuesday after pleading guilty to fraud in a corruption investigation that has led to charges against legislators and VECO Corp. executives.

Nuclear weapons: The United States needs a new, modern arsenal of nuclear weapons to use as a deterrent to attacks from other nations for the remainder of the 21st century, the top military commander for strategic warfare, Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, said Tuesday.

Guns case: The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will quickly release audio tapes after the March 18 argument over gun rights.

Deer cull: Marksmen killed 213 of an estimated 300 to 400 white-tail deer in a New Jersey nature preserve during a culling last month criticized by some residents and animal rights activists.

[Last modified March 5, 2008, 02:02:26]