FDA: 23 people infected with salmonella strain

FDA: 23 people infected with salmonella strain

MINNEAPOLIS — At least 23 people in 14 states have been sickened by the same strain of salmonella found in two breakfast cereals recalled by Malt-O-Meal, the federal Food and Drug Administration said Saturday.

Officials in Minnesota are investigating whether a case in that state might be linked to the cereals produced by the Minneapolis-based company, the state health department said.

Malt-O-Meal voluntarily recalled its unsweetened Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat cereals April 5 after finding salmonella contamination during routine testing. The affected bags were produced in the past 12 months in Northfield.

Hundreds mourn Heston

LOS ANGELES — Actors, relatives and politicians have gathered at a church in Los Angeles to mourn Charlton Heston, one of the last lions of Old Hollywood.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former first lady Nancy Reagan and director Oliver Stone were among about 250 people who attended Saturday’s funeral.

Heston, who played such roles as Moses in “The Ten Commandments” and later became a gun rights advocate, was 84 when he died April 5 after battling Alzheimer’s disease.

Snubbing war crimes trials

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — Defendants at Guantanamo Bay are turning their backs on U.S. war crimes trials, creating complications in the long-stalled effort to prosecute suspected terrorists.

Three alleged al-Qaida operatives have now chosen to boycott their upcoming trials and more are expected to do the same as the military attempts to prosecute dozens of Guantanamo prisoners at this isolated, high-security U.S. base overlooking the Caribbean.

Two men, a Saudi and a Yemeni, at pretrial hearings this week denounced the tribunals as a sham and said they would not cooperate with their defense or appear for future hearings.

Voted to dismiss leader

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti’s Parliament has voted to dismiss Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis after deadly protests over rising food prices.

Senator Gabriel Fortune says 16 of Haiti’s 27 senators voted in favor of the dismissal in Saturday’s session. The vote reflects widespread frustration over rising cost of living in the impoverished country and deadly clashes between protesters and U.N. peacekeepers over high food prices earlier this week.

Earlier Saturday, President Rene Preval pledged to support any decision the lawmakers make on Alexis.

Chertoff: No changes soon in immigration control

SAN FRANCISCO — Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says he feels the pain of employers pinched by intensified efforts to control illegal immigration, but adds that until Congress enacts broad immigration reforms they shouldn’t expect any changes in enforcement.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Chertoff said that the rising complaints from businesses offer evidence the Bush administration’s approach is working.

“This is harsh but accurate proof positive that, for the first time in decades, we’ve succeeded in changing the dynamic and [are] actually beginning to reduce illegal immigration,” Chertoff said. “Unfortunately, unless you counterbalance that with a robust system to allow people to come in temporarily and legally, you’re going to wind up with an economic problem.”

American can return all grounded jets to service

DALLAS — American Airlines on Saturday received clearance from federal aviation officials to return all of its 300 grounded jets to service, an airline spokesman said.

After 200 cancellations Saturday morning, Fort Worth-based American ran a full schedule by the afternoon with no cancellations, said spokesman Charley Wilson.

Starting Tuesday, the nation’s largest airline canceled nearly 3,300 flights, as it grounded 300 MD-80 jets to wrap wiring bundles to meet federal safety standards and prevent fires.

Crash kills 4 in group

POMONA, Calif. — A grisly car crash killed four members of a church group and closed a freeway east of Los Angeles for hours Friday, authorities said. One victim remains in critical condition.

Five young men and teens in a church group were in a speeding 1994 Toyota Camry that went out of control at about 10:45 a.m. The car struck the center divider on the Pomona Freeway and rolled over.

Three occupants were hurled from the mangled vehicle. Two died at the scene. Two died later at hospitals.

Associated Press