hLooking ahead to spring

hLooking ahead to spring

SEOUL, South Korea — A child watches a frog crawling on a window at an aquarium during an event marking the upcoming end of insect hibernation, close to the beginning of spring.

Va. Legislature passes
mental health measure

RICHMOND, Va. — State lawmakers unanimously approved a bill Tuesday intended to eliminate gaps in the mental health system that a disturbed Virginia Tech student slipped through before killing 32 people. The bill tightens criteria for identifying, detaining and ordering treatment for mentally ill people who are a threat to themselves and others. It streamlines the ability of mental health care providers to inform law enforcement, school officials and families, when necessary, to care for people in an unstable mental condition. The legislation is headed to Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine. “I applaud the Legislature — both houses, both parties — taking these very important mental health reforms and funding issues seriously, and I’m happy with what I understand the progress to be,” Kaine said. The bill is the centerpiece of the legislation to emerge from last year’s Virginia Tech massacre.

Marine released early

SAN DIEGO — A former Marine drill instructor convicted of abusing 23 recruits has been granted clemency and released more than two months early. The Associated Press confirmed Tuesday that Pvt. Jerrod Glass was quietly released Feb. 23 from the brig after the commanding general at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot signed off an a defense request for clemency. Glass, 25, was convicted in November of eight counts of cruelty and maltreatment, destruction of personal property, assault and violating orders on how to properly treat recruits. The former sergeant was sentenced to six months in the brig, a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and a reduction in rank to private.

Iran blasts U.N. sanctions

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran vowed to push ahead with uranium enrichment Tuesday, a day after the U.N. Security Council passed a third round of sanctions that Tehran called “worthless” and politically biased. The council approved the measures in a 14-0 vote, but unity among the major powers faltered Tuesday when Russia and China blocked an attempt by Western nations to introduce a resolution on Iran’s nuclear defiance at a meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency. The dispute reflected the often contentious relations between the West and Russia and China about how to deal with Iran’s refusal to suspend enrichment and meet other Security Council demands aimed at ensuring its nuclear program isn’t trying to produce atomic weapons. The sanctions approved Monday ordered a freeze on assets of additional Iranian officials and companies with links to the country’s nuclear and missile programs and banned for the first time trade with Iran in some goods that have both civilian and military uses.

Building collapses in NYC

NEW YORK — A vacant five-story apartment building scheduled for rehabilitation partially collapsed Tuesday, leading to the suspension of dozens of rush-hour suburban trains amid fears the vibrations could cause more bricks to fall. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Two of the upper Manhattan building’s walls and several interior floors partially collapsed, Department of Buildings spokeswoman Kate Lindquist said. Buildings inspectors and forensic engineers were on the scene, investigating the cause of the collapse. A spokesman for building owner Jared Kushner, of the Kushner Co., said that before the collapse the owner initially had planned to rehabilitate the building and one next to it.

Associated Press