Mexican president touts reform agenda

Mexican president touts reform agenda

MEXICO CITY

President Enrique Pena Nieto used his first state-of-the-nation address Monday to push an aggressive reform agenda that seemed to be on the ropes last week, as protesting teachers attempted to block his plan for mandatory evaluations.

Pena Nieto opened the speech praising a midnight vote by the lower house of Congress to set up a competitive examination system for hiring teachers and to require them to pass regular evaluations to remain in the classroom.

The education bill still must be approved by the Senate, and protesting teachers who blocked Mexico City’s main freeway and access to its airport last week continue to occupy the capital’s main plaza.

Touting accomplishments in other fields, Pena Nieto reported a significant drop in murders and drug-related killings since he took office, though many doubt those statistics.

Midshipmen face questions on party

WASHINGTON

Lawyers on Monday questioned U.S. Naval Academy students who attended a toga party last year about how intoxicated a female midshipman appeared at the off-campus house, where she purportedly was sexually assaulted by three students on the Navy football team.

The woman has testified she had been drinking heavily before and during the April 2012 party in Annapolis, Md. She has said she has no memory of having sex with the midshipmen, but became concerned after hearing gossip shortly after the party that she had had sex with multiple people.

The day’s testimony wrapped up Monday evening and a final day of testimony was expected today.

Time for flu shots; more options ready

WASHINGTON

Flu vaccination no longer is merely a choice between a jab in the arm or a squirt in the nose. This fall, some brands promise a little extra protection.

For the first time, certain vaccines will guard against four strains of flu rather than the usual three. Called quadrivalent vaccines, these brands may prove more popular for children than their parents. That’s because kids tend to catch the newly added strain more often.

These four-in-one vaccines are so new that they’ll make up only a fraction of the nation’s supply of flu vaccine, so if you want a dose, better start looking early.

1 dead, 2 injured in lightning strike

MIAMI

A lightning strike has killed one man and injured two others in a semirural area southwest of Miami.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials say the men were outdoors Monday afternoon when a major storm passed through the area. Authorities say the men tried to hide underneath a tractor-trailer truck but it was struck by lightning.

According to authorities, the energy passed through the trailer and into the men.

Jet strikes bird, returns to airport

RALEIGH, N.C.

A Southwest Airlines spokeswoman says a jet carrying 124 people struck a bird shortly after departing for Chicago from a North Carolina airport but safely returned without injuries.

Southwest’s Whitney Eichinger told The Associated Press that its Boeing 737 reported the bird strike shortly after departure from Raleigh-Durham International Airport about 6 p.m. Monday and immediately returned.

Associated Press