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[h=4]The Short List: Amtrak train was speeding; North Korea's execution; the Orioles' classy move[/h]Out of the loop today? We've got what you missed.
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Out of the loop today? We've got what you missed.(Photo: Patrick Semansky, AP)
How better infrastructure could have prevented the Amtrak tragedy
Today everyone is talking about the horrific Amtrak disaster. How did it happen? Why did it happen? Could anything have been done to prevent it? Let's break down what we know. The Northeast Corridor: The derailment that killed 7 people happened last night in Philadelphia along the busiest passenger rail corridor in North America. Traffic has grown since 9/11, when a lot of travelers switched from airplanes to Amtrak trains, which has taken a toll on the sagging rail system. Speed was a factor: The train that derailed was traveling more than 100 mph at the time of the crash, which is more than twice the limit for that section of curved track. We don't know why the train was going so fast, but we do know the emergency brakes were applied. Aging infrastructure: Passenger deaths and train derailments are extremely rare on Amtrak. But that doesn't mean there isn't serious concern about the system's aging infrastructure. Amtrak has been asking for more money to upgrade the system. (A federal commission warned it needs billions of dollars in repairs and upgrades on tracks and equipment that in some places are more than 100 years old.) What infrastructure has to do with a speeding train: One of the National Transportation Safety Board's main safety recommendations for trains is to have automatic braking, called positive train control, for a train traveling too fast for conditions along a section of track. But the cost of upgrading tracks and trains with the equipment has prevented the adoption of positive train control by a congressional deadline set for the end of 2015. In some brutal timing, a Republican-controlled House panel today approved deep spending cuts to Amtrak's budget.
Kim Jong Un may have executed an official who fell asleep during a military event
In North Korea, disloyalty can mean death. This time, the accused was North Korean Defense Minister Hyon Yong Chol, who was apparently executed with an antiaircraft gun for disloyalty to the country's leader Kim Jong Un. The news was reported by South Korea's Yonhap news agency, but info on highly secretive North Korea is extremely difficult to independently confirm. It looks like Kim has been behind a number of brutal executions of top North Korean officials during his time in power. One of the most shocking? His uncle Jang Song Thaek, who was killed in 2013 for alleged treason. Yonhap reported Hyon was seen dozing off during a recent military event — which Kim attended — and he'd challenged Kim's authority several times. It's reported he may have been attempting to start a rebellion.
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South Korea's spy agency says it has information that North Korea executed its defense chief for sleeping during a meeting and talking back to young leader Kim Jong Un. Wochit
Orioles show us what class looks like
The Baltimore Orioles postponed two games, played another without fans (and most game-day employees) and moved three others to Tampa Bay in late April and early May because of the turmoil in Baltimore. Changes that surely cost the team millions of dollars in revenue. But that isn't stopping the team from paying its hourly employees as if they'd worked those games. It shouldn't come as a surprise: Orioles owner Peter Angelos may be stingy when it comes to signing free agents, but he's been a champion for the working- and middle-class. More than that, his son John penned, through a series of tweets, one of the most impassioned arguments supporting those speaking out in Baltimore, who he said were among the "tens of millions of good, hard-working Americans" forced into "economic devastation" by the loss of manufacturing jobs in Baltimore and cities like it. This is John Angelos, the team's executive vice president, making sure his deeds back up his words.
The interesting thing about Cannes 2015 isn't the stars
The 2015 Cannes Film Festival opened today, but the focus wasn't on the stars. It was on the jury. More specifically, on its two presidents, Joel and Ethan Coen. The brothers — who write, direct and produce their films — are almost universally referred to as, simply, the Coen brothers (now it clicks). People are wondering whether they'll disagree during intense jury debates. "I don't really know what he watches," said Joel Coen, 60, the older brother, who, along with Ethan, 57, is serving on his first-ever film jury. "We don't talk about it. This is going to be enlightening for me." There was nothing but signs of solidarity between the two during today's 45-minute news conference. When members of the jury were asked their reaction to being invited to Cannes, Joel gave a perfunctory answer. Ethan responded by pointing to his brother and saying simply, "Yes, that (answer as well)."
CEOs make 373 times more than workers
Companies keep resisting rules requiring them to disclose how much more their CEOs earn than average workers. So the AFL-CIO is doing the math for them. CEOs in the AFL-CIO's pay database earned an average of $13.5 million last year, which is 373 times more than the $36,000 per year paid to the average production and non-supervisory worker, the AFL-CIO says. CEO pay in the AFL-CIO study increased 16% in 2014. The union takes special aim at discount retailer Walmart — which has found itself in the center of the firestorm over worker pay. Walmart CEO C. Douglas McMillon was paid $19.4 million in 2014. That included $1.2 million in salary, $14.6 million in stock awards and $2.9 million in non-equity incentive plan compensation. Assuming a 50-hour workweek, McMillon's pay works out to $7,461 an hour, which is 82,800% higher than the $9-an-hour pay for a new Walmart employee.
Some retailers including Target and Wal-Mart have already moved to increase wages – and many more CEOs are talking about the possibility.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: J Pat Carter, AP)
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Extra Bites:
Nice legs. Swipe through more great shots from the Day in Pictures.
A handler displays a Rain Spider at the Yebo Gogga exhibition at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. The five-day event showcases small animals, plants and insects.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Denis Farrell, AP)
Former president Bill Clinton says he'd love to move back into the White House, but three conditions have to be met first.
Remember the car of the future we told you about a while back? There's a chance you might see it on the road this summer (if you live in Tokyo).
In this week's act of kindness, a Qdoba employee helps a customer with a disability eat her lunch.
ICYMI: This is the letter Tiger Woods sent to a bullied teen who contemplated suicide.
What else is on our reading list:
Jury is deliberating death sentence in Boston Marathon bombing
China, U.S. head toward face-off in South China Sea
Uber hopes to draft more military families
We all need a little distraction at some point during the day (what else are smartphones for?), so add DISTRACTME on the YO app. It'll be fun, we promise.
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This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.
Contributing: Charisse Jones, Marisol Bello, Jane Onyanga-Omara, Bart Jansen, Thomas Frank, Melanie Eversley, Doug Stanglin, Kim Hjelmgaard, Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY; Chris Korman, For The Win; Associated Press
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