Carjacker

Newlyweds got an unwelcome surprise when Alan Ticas-Soto, 21, attempted to steal their idling car in a Taco Bell parking lot on East Fourth Ave.. The bride, 22 was in the car, a 2003 Nissan Altima, at the time the carjacker hopped in the driver seat.

According to the San Mateo police, the events unfolded like this:

The groom left the car running with the bride inside as he went to get a late night snack from Taco Bell. Before he reached the door, Ticas-Soto had gotten in the car and attempted to reverse out of the lot. The bride, who was no silent victim, screamed and fought to unbuckle her seatbelt so that she could escape.

The groom realizing what was going on ran to the car to help her out. She landed on the pavement of the parking lot but sustained no injuries.

Ticas-Soto had a hard time getting the car out of the parking lot and ended up smashing the car into a Taco Bell Sign. After the carjacking failure, he fled from the scene. Witnesses called the police and he was apprehended and taken into custody by Officer Brandon Boyle.

It was at this time that Ticas-Soto admitted to being on methamphetamines for the past three days.

Ticas-Soto is being held in Can Mateo County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Ticas-Soto, who has no criminal record, pleaded not guilty in San Mateo Superior Court on Monday.

According to Sheryl Wolcott, a San Mateo County deputy district attorney, he could face up to nine years in state prison if he's found guilty.

The newly married couple, whose names were not released, were planning to spend their wedding night at a nearby Embassy Suites. They were not injured in the incident. However, according to Wolcott, "This took them a little off-track."

Copy Edit the World

Freight brakeman in deadly LA train collision sues

By RAQUEL MARIA DILLON, Associated Press Writer Sat Sep 27, 7:38 AM ET

LOS ANGELES - The brakeman on the freight train involved in a deadly collision with a commuter train filed a lawsuit Friday against the commuter railroad and the companies that provide its engineers.

The lawsuit, filed by Dominick Fravola and his wife, blames the defendants for not properly screening, supervising and training the Metrolink engineer who ran his commuter train past a red signal on Sept. 12 and collided with a Union Pacific freight train. Twenty-five people died in the crash, the nation's deadliest train accident since 1993.

"Basically the guy was asleep at the switch and not paying attention to what was going on around him," Fravola's attorney, Barry Novack, said of the Metrolink engineer, who was killed in the crash.

The lawsuit also names Veolia Transportation and its subsidiary, Connex Railroad, which employs the Metrolink engineers. It seeks an unspecified amount in damages, medical and psychological expenses and loss of income. Fravola's wife also seeks damages for loss of consortium.

The lawsuit alleges the defendants knew the tracks presented risks but "allowed a dangerous, defective and unsafe condition to exist." Novack said the red and yellow signals near the station were not positioned to allow engineers to see them, which led to the crash.

The trains collided at a curve in the track near where a tunnel separates the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles from Simi Valley and Moorpark in Ventura County. Federal investigators have said the engineers had only seconds to brake before the other train came into view.

Novack said his client, who was in the second engine, braced himself after the emergency brakes applied but suffered a puncture wound, concussion and psychological trauma. were

Investigators have said the Metrolink train did not apply its brakes and have confirmed its engineer was test messaging on duty that day — though it remains unclear whether that was a factor in the crash.

Novack said he also filed a claim against the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, who own the tracks, but that agency has not responded. He said Metrolink and Veolia denied the claim he filed against them, allowing him to file the lawsuit.

Metrolink spokesman Francisco Oaxaca and Veolia spokeswoman Ruth Otte declined to comment.

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A Squirrelly Situation

Imagine being one of 47,000 commuters whose day is put off track due to a daring little squirrel. Well, for commuters of the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Monday afternoon, this was a sad reality.

Some waited for hours, and some were stuck on unmoving trains because an unfortunate but adventurous squirrel decided to climb onto the Metro-North Commuter Railroad power lines.

The cause of the power outage was an electrical power surge that weakened an overhead bracket, which in turn caused a wire to dangle down. Somehow, a train passing underneath got caught up in the line and tore down all the other power lines.

The cause of the surge, according to Metro-North spokeswoman, Donna Evans, was the squirrel getting electrocuted during his escapade on the power lines.

Service was restored by crews by Tuesday morning.

At least somebody got the shock of their life.

JOUR 61 – AP Style Exercise (I-L)

1) There has been no let up all day. After class, I plan to soak in my Jacuzzi and then lie down for a short nap. (3)

2) They called the late Senator Fred, "Fried a left winger" because he voted against the Patriot Act. (3)

3) As they unfurled her white sails, the sailboat caught the breeze and began to slice steadily through the waves. Their dream cruise of the Pacific Islands had begun. (2)

4) After two days of hard rain and rising waters, the river flooded its banks, leaving the road partly impassable. (2)

News Story #2

A tourist couple was robbed at gunpoint while taking pictures from the parking lot at St. Mary’s Cathedral, yesterday.

According to the police, the victim’s names were Wei Ming Chen, 28, and his wife Li Liu, 30. The victims described the man as about 18 years old, wearing a black jacket and a cap. After taking $100, their Visa card, passports and tickets the thief took off running on foot.

The police are looking for him.

News Story #1

Firefighters rescued a San Jose resident from his burning home on Annapolis Way, yesterday.

According to San Jose Fire Captain Rob Piper, Robert Kent, 50, was found in the kitchen, unconscious and surrounded by flames when firefighters reached his home. There were no smoke detectors found in the home.

Kent suffered 2^nd and 3^rd degree burns on 50 percent of his body. He was listed in grave condition at Valley Fair Medical Center as relayed by a nursing supervisor.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Pakistan

Pakistan opposition angered by US attacks

News of the war often goes by unnoticed. Because of its daily prevalence, it has become like wallpaper-- only in the background. Pakistan is a sovereign nation that is our ally in the war on terrorism, yet what happened here looks less than friendly. Why would George Bush authorize use of force on the border without first telling their ally? I, like the Pakistanis, am outraged. I wouldn’t urge the Pakistan government to bow out of the war on terrorism, but I would instead urge them to urge the U.S to be more transparent with Pakistan. This story is important for two reasons. Firstly because it tells us not only what is going on with the war but it also lets us know that there are innocent bystanders that are caught in the crossfire. Secondly because Pakistan just put into power a new president and the U.S will have to see what the new government's reaction will be.

News Values:

Immediacy: The air strike happened a couple of days ago which makes it fresh and new for readers.

Conflict: It is possible that this may affect U.S-Pakistan relations and may cause a reaction within Pakistan.

Leads Excercise #5

Fact Set #1: Pipe fitter

Yesterday, a Springfield pipe fitter, employed by Gross Engineers, suffered third-degree burns when he accidentally touched a 15,000 volt power line with a piece of angle iron as he was installing new pipes.

Duane La Chance, 55, a pipe fitter, suffered third-degree burns yesterday when he accidentally touched a 15,000 volt power line with a piece of angle iron as he was installing new pipes.

Fact Set#2: Car Accident

A driver crossed the center line and struck a Springfield man as he was driving south on U.S 63. according to an officer in the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Dept.

James W. Cunning, 20, was driving south on U.S 63 when Wayne Clay, 19, crossed the
center line and struck his vehicle.

Leads Excercise #4

Smoking Wheels

After smoke was reportedly seen coming from near the wheels of the jet, 40 passengers were

evacuated from Flight 428, a Northwest Airlines jet.

The passengers were just landing at the LaCrosse, Wis., Municipal Airport from Minneapolis.

Missing Boy

A 7- year-old missing boy is found alive. His mother, Ellen Lynn Conner, 27, faces charges of kidnapping and interference with a custody warrant.

He was found by a neighbor who recognized the child’s picture when it was shown after the movie Adam: The Song Continues.

A.P Stylebook Excercise A-D

1) The new head of the journalism department, Dr. Deborah Dunwoody Ph.D., recently bought a house at 6 Riverside Drive in San Mateo, a lovely city in the San Francisco Bay Area. (4)

2) “What kind of person would break in to my apartment and steal my brand new thongs?” she asked her friend. (3)

3) The instructor asked her students to read chapter six in the text and to pay close attention to the section on the Great Depression, which began in the late 1920s and continued through the 30s. (5)

4) Sarah Smith has not let partial blindness or wheelchair confinement stop her from living life to the fullest. In spite of her handicaps, she volunteers at a local senior center and enjoys going for strolls, she calls them “rolls,” with her friends. (3)

Lead Excercise #2 Revised

Air Crash

The worst air disaster in three years happened just outside Pittsburgh -- a US Air airplane, flying out of Chicago, with 131 people onboard crashed right into the ground, just as it was landing-- there were no survivors.

The cause of the crash is unknown .

Lead Excercise #1

Lead #1: Yesterday, a local couple was awarded $150,000 in damages for injuries they suffered in a traffic accident last March.

Lead #2: The Sierras have been hit by a series of snowstorms and forecasters predict another to hit today.

Lead #3: As a fire roared through a six-story building today on Union Ave, firefighters rushed to evacuate 41 families, police reported three firefighters injured.