Apparent gas explosion at W.Va. coal mine hurts 2

Apparent gas explosion at W.Va. coal mine hurts 2

FELLOWSVILLE, W.Va. — A state mining safety official says two coal miners have been injured in what appears to be a gas explosion in northern West Virginia.

Jama Jarrett, a spokeswoman for the state Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training, says the explosion happened Monday afternoon at the Whitetail Kittanning Mine. The mine is operated by Alpha Natural Resources.

Jarrett did not elaborate on the injured miners’ conditions, but she says no one has been trapped.

The mine is owned by Kingwood Mining, a subsidiary of Abingdon, Va.-based Alpha, which operates 57 mines in West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

Grandfather faces racketeering charge

LAS VEGAS — The grandfather of a 6-year-old boy who was abducted for four days was due in federal court Monday to face a racketeering charge, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Clemens Fred Tinnemeyer, 51, and a woman described as his companion, Terri Leavy, 42, have been held as material witnesses in California since their separate arrests in the kidnapping investigation. Cole Puffinburger was abducted Oct. 15 and found unharmed late on Oct. 18 on a Las Vegas street.

Tinnemeyer and Leavy were to appear before a federal magistrate on charges of interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises, said Natalie Collins, spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Gregory Brower.

Bin Laden’s video maker to spend life in prison

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — It’s life in prison for Osama bin Laden’s video maker.

A jury of U.S. military officers says the Yemeni prisoner must spend the rest of his life behind bars for encouraging terrorist attacks.

The jury of nine military officers deliberated for just under an hour before condemning Ali Hamza al-Bahlul at Guantanamo’s second war-crimes trial.

The jury found al-Bahlul guilty Monday of 35 counts of conspiracy, solicitation to commit murder and providing material support for terrorism.

Driver dies after collision with commuter train

SALEM, Mass. — Officials say a car driven by a 76-year-old man was struck by a commuter train in a Massachusetts tunnel. The man was walking and talking after the crash but later died.

Joe Pesaturo, spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, said the man left the car on his own and it is not clear whether injuries from the crash during the evening rush caused the man’s death. His name was not released.

Witnesses saw the man driving along the ground-level platform at the Salem station before driving about 100 yards into the tunnel. The engineer of the northbound train braked when he saw the car’s headlights.

Suspect is denied bond in trick-or-treat slaying

SUMTER, S.C. — The parents of a 12-year-old shot to death while trick-or-treating said Monday they hope the man accused of killing him suffers for the rest of his life.

T.J. Darrisaw died Halloween night after police say a convicted felon unleashed a barrage of bullets from inside a home, pumping at least 29 shots through the closed door and front of the house. The boy’s father and brother also were wounded.

Police said the suspect, Quentin Patrick, 22, opened fire with an AK-47 because he thought he was being robbed. The family went to the home because the porch light was on, usually a signal that trick-or-treaters are welcome.

Patrick, who is charged with murder and three counts of assault and battery with intent to kill, was denied bond Monday.

U.N. says Rwandan forces fired on Congolese troops

GOMA, Congo — Rwandan forces fired tank shells and other heavy artillery across the border at Congolese troops during fighting last week, the United Nations said Tuesday.

Congo’s government had accused Rwanda of actively supporting Congolese warlord Laurent Nkunda, but the accusation marks the first time the U.N. has publicly said Rwanda was overtly involved in the latest fighting. Rwanda has repeatedly denied involvement.

Rwanda invaded Congo twice in the late 1990s but initially denied its troops were there both times. Rwanda finally pulled its forces out after a 2002 peace deal ended a war in Congo that drew in half a dozen African nations.

Associated Press