U.S., Canada boards back new safety rules
WASHINGTON – Warning that a “major loss of life” could result from an accident involving the increasing use of trains to transport large amounts of crude oil, U.S. and Canadian accident investigators urged their governments Thursday to impose new safety rules.
The unusual joint recommendations by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada include better route planning for trains carrying hazardous materials to avoid populated and other sensitive areas.
They also recommended stronger efforts to ensure hazardous cargo is properly classified before shipment.
Holder to loosen rules on pot-industry banking
WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder says the Obama administration is planning to roll out regulations soon that would allow banks to do business with legal marijuana sellers.
During an appearance Thursday at the University of Virginia, Holder said it is important from a law- enforcement perspective to enable places that sell marijuana to have access to the banking system so they don’t have large amounts of cash lying around.
Currently, processing money from marijuana sales puts federally insured banks at risk of drug racketeering charges.
Congress moves to let Iraq purchase arms
WASHINGTON – Congress has cleared the way for the United States to provide Iraq with new military equipment to aid its battle against al-Qaida.
Sen. Bob Menendez, Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and other lawmakers had held up a long-term transfer of Apache helicopters out of concern Iraq could use them for internal crackdowns instead of national defense.
The administration recently requested the sale of Hellfire missiles that Iraq wants for its fight with militants in Fallujah and Ramadi. The relevant congressional committees have approved that sale.
Associated Press
