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☆ Jury finds Alabama man not guilty of murdering 11-year-old girl in 1988
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Boston AP —A jury on Tuesday found an Alabama man not guilty of killing an 11-year New Hampshire girl more than 35 years ago. “I recognize the work and dedication of the jury during their long deliberations in this case,” Tucker said. The body of the Salem, New Hampshire, girl was found in a Lawrence, Massachusetts, trainyard on Sept. 12, 1988, a day after she was reported missing. The family, in statement, said they respected the process but believe McClendon was still guilty of murder based on the DNA results. Strasnick told the jury that the DNA evidence taken from under Tremblay’s fingernails excludes 99.8% of the male population.

Persons: Melissa Ann Tremblay’s, Marvin “ Skip ” McClendon Jr, McClendon, “ Mr, ”, Henry Fasoldt, Attorney Paul F, Tucker, ” Tucker, Melissa Ann Tremblay, Janet Tremblay, Jessica Strasnick, wasn’t, Tremblay, Strasnick, Lawrence, Fasoldt, Lawrence — Organizations: Boston AP, Associated Press, Attorney, Alabama, Essex County Locations: Alabama, New Hampshire, Essex County, Salem , New Hampshire, Lawrence , Massachusetts, trainyard, Lawrence, Essex, Massachusetts, Chelmsford

(AP) — The federal government is handing out $2.4 billion in railroad grants to help pay for 122 projects nationwide with more than half of the money going to smaller railroads. The grants announced Tuesday by the Federal Railroad Administration will go to projects across 41 states and Washington, D.C. Last year, the administration handed out $1.4 billion in these rail grants. But the majority of the money — nearly $1.3 billion — will go to 81 projects at smaller short line railroads across the country. Chuck Baker, president of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association trade group, said the grants will help those smaller railroads significantly.

Persons: Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Louis, Chuck Baker, Baker Organizations: Federal Railroad Administration, Regulators, CSX, Amtrak, Union Pacific, Regional Railroad Association, FRA, Associated Press Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Washington, Norfolk Southern, East Palestine , Ohio, Hudson, Albany, Rensselaer , New York, Illinois, Norfolk, Springfield, Chicago, St, California’s Orange County, Michigan, Milwaukee, America, U.S

☆ Port of Virginia is making big changes to become No. 1 on the East Coast for super-sized ocean containerships
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

The dredging project is expected to be completed in Fall 2025, making the Port of Virginia the deepest and widest harbor on the East Coast. "Ultra-large container vessels have challenged every port," said Stephen Edwards, CEO of the Port of Virginia. Edwards said the port was able to quickly absorb Baltimore freight because of the ocean carrier service overlap in calling on the Port of Virginia, Baltimore and Port of New York/New Jersey. In January, the port became the first East Coast port to power all its terminals with 100% clean energy, eight years ahead of the 2032 target it set for that goal. The expansion will increase the fleet at NIT to 152 electric stacking cranes, seven electric rail cranes, and 31 electric ship-to-shore cranes.

Persons: Lori Ann LaRocco, Stephen Edwards, " Edwards, Edwards, It's, Good Hope, D'Andrae Larry, Larry, Jones, monopiles, Monopiles Organizations: NIT, CNBC, U.S ., Commonwealth, Walmart, Maersk, Port, Baltimore, Rail, Norfolk International, Uber, Virginia Department of Transportation, Dominion Energy, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, ClearView Energy Partners, of Ocean Energy, U.S, District of Columbia, Dominion Locations: Port of Virginia, Port, Virginia, U.S . East Coast, Norfolk, Coast, of Virginia, East Coast, U.S, Delaware, South, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, India, Red, Suez, Good, Baltimore, Port of Baltimore, Port of New York, New Jersey, of Virginia's, Commonwealth, Norfolk , Virginia, East, Virginia Beach

☆ The S&P 500 just turned in its best first quarter since 2019
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The S&P 500 index rose 10.2% during the first three months of the year, its best first-quarter performance since 2019. The S&P 500 on Thursday logged its 22nd record-high close of the year. Companies in the S&P 500 saw earnings grow 4.3% during the fourth quarter of 2023 from the prior year, according to FactSet data. Analysts polled by FactSet expect S&P 500 earnings to grow by more than 10% for all of 2024. About 140,000 cars a day traversed the I-35W bridge that once stood more than 100 feet above the Mighty Mississippi.

Persons: Bell, Bitcoin, What’s, Leslie Thompson, Warren Buffett’s, Zachary Hill, ”, Elisabeth Buchwald, Samantha Delouya, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Disney’s, Bob Chapek, “ Don’t, ” Chapek, ” DeSantis, “ I’m, Read, Francis Scott Key, Alicia Wallace, ” Christopher Phelan, ” Read Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New, New York CNN, Traders, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Investment Research, Dow, Apple, Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft, Spectrum Wealth Management, Companies, FactSet, Research, Horizon Investments, Disney, Central, Republican Gov, Central Florida Tourism, Twin, University of Minnesota, CNN Locations: New York, China, Florida, Central Florida, Central Florida Tourism District, Orlando, Baltimore, Minneapolis, Mississippi, Twin Cities, Mighty Mississippi, Minnesota

☆ Lessons for Baltimore: How Minneapolis recovered from its 1-35W bridge collapse 17 years ago
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Minneapolis CNN —The collapse of the the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday is unfortunately not the first deadly collapse of a major interstate bridge in the US. About 140,000 cars a day traversed the I-35W bridge that once stood more than 100 feet above the Mighty Mississippi. Steve Helber/APIt’s not a complete apples to apples comparison between the I-35W bridge and the Key Bridge. The Key Bridge had about 22% of the daily traffic of the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge; however, the Minneapolis bridge was about 22% the length of the truss bridge in Baltimore. In the immediate aftermath of the Key Bridge collapse, Levinson told CNN that this event should hopefully bring attention to vulnerabilities of critical pieces of infrastructure.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, ” Christopher Phelan, Minneapolis , Minnesota Mandel Ngan, MnDOT, Nancy Daubenberger, George W, Bush, ” Phelan, Tim Walz, Steve Helber, ” Ryan Petersen, David Levinson, ”, Levinson, Feng Xie, Xie, ” Levinson Organizations: Minneapolis CNN, Twin, University of Minnesota, CNN, Getty, Minnesota Department of Transportation, NPR, US, Minnesota, Minnesota Gov, Coast Guard, Port, University of Sydney, Minneapolis Star, Transportation Planning, Technology Locations: Minneapolis, Baltimore, Mississippi, Twin Cities, Mighty Mississippi, Minnesota, Minneapolis , Minnesota, AFP, City, Lakes, Anthony Falls, Maryland, Baltimore , Maryland, Port of Baltimore, Australia

As the Nebraska explosion made clear, there can be problems that are hard to spot before potentially disastrous accidents occur. Some details about the explosion might never be known because the shipping container carrying the acid was destroyed. Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said he understands and welcomes the agency's scrutiny. Vena said Union Pacific and other major railroads have become safer over time. “And that’s what I’m challenging the team with here at Union Pacific is we have to get better ... We’ll invest in it.

Persons: haven’t, ”, Andy Foust, Warren Flatau, Pete Buttigieg, —, Foust, “, hasn’t, Dennis Thompson, Thompson, Jim Vena, Vena, We’ll, Charlie King Organizations: —, Union Pacific, Federal Railroad Administration, . Transportation, Rail, Transportation Workers, Transportation Division, . Railroad, Materials Safety Administration, Norfolk Southern, Platte Fire, Pacific, of Railroad Infrastructure Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Nebraska, North Platte , Nebraska, Omaha, Norfolk, Ohio, railyard, Palestine

Some railroad unions want more scrutiny of the safety of remote control operations major railroads have used for years in and around railyards without significant problems. Remote control train operators might have only a month or two of training before taking the controls, although the length of training varies by railroad. Safety statistics on railroad crashes are unclear because Federal Railroad Administration reports don't break out those involving remote control trains from incidents involving trains operated by engineers and conductors. Grissom said his union has had three members die in incidents involving remote control trains since 2015. He said Anderson's death, combined with fiery derailments that have happened across the country this year, reinforce the need for stronger railroad safety regulations.

Persons: Don Grissom, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, ” Grissom, Grissom, hasn't, Fred Anderson, carmen, Anderson, Bryan Tucker, didn't, Eddie Hall Organizations: CSX, Brotherhood of Railway, National Transportation Safety, Federal Railroad Administration, NTSB, of Locomotive Engineers, Railroad Administration, Norfolk Southern Locations: OMAHA, Neb, railyards, Walbridge , Ohio, Jacksonville , Florida, Norfolk, East Palestine, Ohio

☆ This New York City Luxury Tower Has Been a Hard Sell
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Katherine Clarke | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Related Companies had a lofty goal when they set out to build Hudson Yards, a roughly 28-acre mega-project on Manhattan’s far west side. They wanted to turn a windswept railyard into the next hot destination for the global elite. Hudson Yards and the High Line on Dec. 1, 2013. Photo: Mark Lennihan/AP

Persons: Mark Lennihan Organizations: Companies, Hudson Yards

(AP) — Investigators say the blast that prompted evacuations near Union Pacific's massive railyard in western Nebraska last week appears to be accidental, but it's not yet clear what caused it. The chief investigator for the fire marshal’s office, Adam Matzner, said Tuesday that investigators haven’t found any sign of a criminal act connected with the explosion, so the incident appears accidental. A spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration said Tuesday that he couldn’t provide any additional details about the agency’s investigation. North Platte is located about 230 miles (370 kilometers) east of Denver and about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Omaha. Union Pacific is one of the nation's largest railroads with more than 32,000 miles (nearly 51,500 kilometers) of track crisscrossing 23 Western states.

Persons: Adam Matzner, haven’t, Kristen South, Pacific's Organizations: —, Nebraska State Fire, Federal Railroad Administration, Union Pacific Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Union, Nebraska, North Platte, Denver, Omaha, The, Ohio, East Palestine , Ohio

☆ A worker was killed after being hit by a remote-controlled train in Ohio. Now, unions are calling for change.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A railroad worker is dead after being hit by a remote-controlled train on a CSX railyard in Ohio. This is the third time a railway worker has been killed in an incident involving a remote-controlled train. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the death, which happened shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday in Walbridge, Ohio. AdvertisementAdvertisementTypically, a railroad worker stationed on the ground near a train controls its movements with a remote, although sometimes that worker rides aboard the train while it is moving. Railroad safety has been a key concern nationwide this year ever since a Norfolk Southern train derailed and caught fire in eastern Ohio in February.

Persons: Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, Keith Holloway, Fred Anderson, carman, Artie Maratea, Sheriee Bowman Organizations: CSX, Service, Transportation Communications Union, Brotherhood of Railway, National Transportation Safety, CSX —, Federal Railroad Administration, Railroad Locations: Ohio, Wall, Silicon, Walbridge , Ohio, Jacksonville , Florida, Norfolk Southern

A railroad worker died over the weekend after he was struck by a remote-controlled train in a CSX railyard in Ohio, raising concerns among unions about such technology. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the death, which happened shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday in Walbridge, Ohio. The Federal Railroad Administration has approved the use of remote-controlled locomotives since 2005. Typically, a railroad worker stationed on the ground near a train controls its movements with a remote, although sometimes that worker rides aboard the train while it is moving. Railroad safety has been a key concern nationwide this year ever since a Norfolk Southern train derailed and caught fire in eastern Ohio in February.

Persons: Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, Keith Holloway, Fred Anderson, carman, Artie Maratea, ”, Sheriee Bowman Organizations: CSX, Transportation Communications Union, Brotherhood of Railway, National Transportation Safety, CSX —, ” Transportation Communications Union, Federal Railroad Administration, Railroad Locations: Ohio, Walbridge , Ohio, Jacksonville , Florida, Norfolk Southern

(AP) — Nebraska authorities said they don't expect any lingering problems related to Thursday's explosion of a railroad shipping container carrying an acid used to make explosives because the chemical largely burned off and any residue was contained at the scene. No one was injured in the blast at Union Pacific's massive railyard in North Platte, and no structures were damaged. But Thursday's incident in the Union Pacific railyard was nothing like that. He said the other container that burned in the fire likely contained memory foam — not another hazardous chemical. Union Pacific was able to continue operating part of the railyard throughout the incident, and full operations resumed after the fire was extinguished Thursday evening.

Persons: Dennis Thompson, ” Thomson, it's, Thompson, Warren Flatau Organizations: —, Platte Fire, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, Union Pacific, Federal Railroad Administration Locations: OMAHA, Neb, — Nebraska, North Platte, Nebraska, Western Nebraska, Ohio, East Palestine , Ohio, Platte, Denver, Omaha

(AP) — An explosion inside a shipping container at the world's largest railyard prompted evacuations in western Nebraska Thursday because of the toxic smoke generated when one of the chemicals aboard caught fire. Around noon, an explosion occurred inside an intermodal container on a railcar at Union Pacific's Bailey Yard in North Platte, though it wasn't clear what caused the explosion, railroad spokeswoman Robynn Tysver said. Authorities evacuated everyone within a four-mile radius of the railyard, which is about 280 miles (451 kilometers) west of Omaha, was evacuated because of the smoke, and U.S. Highway 30 was closed between North Platte and Hershey. The North Platte Fire Department said in a post on X that the evacuations were done because of the fire at the railyard involved “heavy toxic smoke.” Fire officials didn’t immediately respond to a call seeking more details. That derailment prompted evacuations and calls for reform from members of Congress and regulators.

Persons: Pacific's, Robynn Tysver, didn’t, Tysver Organizations: Authorities, Platte Fire Department, Railroad Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Nebraska, North Platte, Omaha, U.S, Hershey, Platte, Norfolk Southern, Ohio

While he's willing to invest in that, mostly he wants to make sure Union Pacific's day-to-day operations are steadily improving. He's also working to speed up decision making at the railroad to help make Union Pacific more responsive to customers. We’re going to have the best service, and we’re going to have the best safety record. That will put pressure on Union Pacific’s profits. Railroad safety has been in the spotlight this year ever since a Norfolk Southern train derailed and caught fire in eastern Ohio back in February.

Persons: Jim Vena, he's, ” Vena, Vena, He's, Lance Fritz, “ We’re, Amit Bose Organizations: —, Pacific's, Union, Canadian National, Union Pacific, Federal Railroad Administration Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Union Pacific, West, Norfolk Southern, Ohio, East Palestine

(AP) — Federal inspectors said they found an alarming number of defects in the locomotives and railcars Union Pacific was using at the world's largest railyard in western Nebraska this summer, and the railroad was reluctant to fix the problems. Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose wrote a letter to UP's top three executives Friday expressing his concern that the defects represent a “significant risk to rail safety " on the Union Pacific railroad. But the letter didn't detail what kind of defects inspectors found in the Bailey Yard in North Platte, and there are a myriad of federal rules. “Union Pacific will never compromise on the safety of our employees. Union Pacific has a network of 32,400 miles (52,000 kilometers) of track in 23 Western states.

Persons: Amit Bose, Bose, ” Bose, carmen, Kristen, South, Jim Vena Organizations: —, Union Pacific, Federal, “, Pacific, FRA, Union Pacific's Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Nebraska, North Platte, Omaha , Nebraska, ”

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