The nation in brief

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 6, 2001

Train crash leaves more than 60 people injured

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A slow-moving Amtrak passenger train rear-ended a freight train Monday, injuring 61 people, four critically.

Officials would not comment on what caused the crash.

The eastbound Amtrak train had just left the Syracuse station when it hit the back end of the 92-car CSX freight train, also eastbound, in an industrial area north of the city, said CSX spokesman Robert Sullivan.

The five-car Amtrak train was headed from Niagara Falls to New York City with 98 passengers and four crew members, Amtrak said.

In addition to those critically hurt, 11 people suffered serious injuries, said Phil Politano, spokesman for Rural Metro Medical Services.

California governor seizes utility contracts

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Gray Davis used his emergency authority Monday to seize long-term power contracts held by one of the state's financially strapped utilities just before the assets could have been seized by creditors.

The Pacific Gas and Electric Co. options to buy long-term power were held as collateral by the California Power Exchange, the state's electricity marketplace. PG&E defaulted on payments to the exchange, and the exchange wanted to sell the contracts.

Southern California Edison and PG&E, the state's two largest utilities, say they have lost $12.7-billion since June due to high wholesale electricity costs.

Trial begins in U.S. embassy bombings

NEW YORK -- Four men went on trial Monday in the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa, with prosecutors portraying the deadly blasts as part of a worldwide plot by terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden to kill Americans.

"The story that's about to unfold before you is long, complicated and chilling," prosecutor Paul Butler said in his opening.

The Aug. 7, 1998, bombings in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were nearly simultaneous. Thousands of people were injured and 12 Americans were among the 224 dead.

Defense lawyers acknowledged the scope of the tragedy but said their clients were being prosecuted unfairly for being associated with bin Laden or his organization, al Qaeda.

Cole slaw recalled due to salmonella warning

WASHINGTON -- A California company is recalling a batch of Dole Cole Slaw because it may be tainted with a serious food-poisoning germ, salmonella.

The recalled slaw was packaged with the code "best if used by 02-05-01." Consumers should return it to the place of purchase for a refund, said Salinas, Calif.-based Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc.

The slaw was sold in 29 states, including Florida. Consumers with questions may call Dole at 1-800-356-3111.

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