Feds give Amtrak an emergency order
PHILADELPHIA – Federal officials announced Saturday that Amtrak must immediately expand its use of a speed-restriction system on Philadelphia’s northbound rails where a speeding train reached 106 mph, flew off the tracks and crashed, killing eight people.
The Federal Railroad Administration said an emergency order would be issued in coming days that calls for Amtrak to ensure the presence of the automatic train-control system that notifies an engineer when a train is above the speed limit and automatically applies the brakes if the engineer doesn’t act to slow the train down.
The system is already being used for southbound trains approaching the curve where Tuesday’s derailment occurred.
Amtrak said it would abide by the federal directive and others announced Saturday, adding that Amtrak’s “overarching goal is to provide safe and secure rail passenger travel.”
Kayaktivists hold a ‘Shell No’ protest
SEATTLE – Hundreds of activists decked out in neoprene wetsuits and life jackets took to the waters of Elliott Bay on Saturday in kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and other vessels to send the message that Royal Dutch Shell should cancel its plan to drill in the Arctic Ocean.
The “Paddle in Seattle” – a daylong, family-friendly festival in a West Seattle park and an on-the-water protest by “Shell No” kayaktivists – was held only blocks from where Shell’s Polar Pioneer drilling rig is docked at the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5. The brightly colored boats lined the grass as paddlers loaded gear while lights on the towering rig twinkled in the background.
Once out on the water, kayakers gathered in formation and hoisted signs and banners that read: “Climate Justice,” “Oil-Free Future,” “Shell No, Seattle Draws The Line” and “We can’t burn all the oil on the planet and still live on it.” Many had posters or red scarves that had the Shell logo with crossed kayak paddles underneath – resembling the skull-and-crossbones image.
Later in the afternoon, they paddled over to the base of the towering Polar Pioneer drilling rig and sang songs, chanted and displayed banners.
Family, fans, friends mourn B.B. King
INDIANOLA, Miss. – Club Ebony once was a hopping juke joint, a place where blues masters B.B. King, Little Milton and Howlin’ Wolf performed for residents of this humble farming community looking to spice up their Saturday nights with dinner, dancing and maybe some drinks.
On Friday night, the historic club in Indianola became a meeting place for fans and friends of King who talked about his influential music, his friendly personality and his effect on the town where he used to live and returned every year to perform as their own personal guitar hero.
King died Thursday in Las Vegas at age 89. Fans in Indianola and around the world have been mourning since they heard the news.
Associated Press
