L.A. man who allegedly spilled mercury found, questioned
LOS ANGELES — Federal and local authorities arrested a 27-year-old man that they believe was responsible for spilling mercury on a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority subway platform last December. Described by authorities as a transient, the man said that he found the mercury in a commercial dumpster and was showing it off at the platform hoping that another customer would purchase it from him. For the full story, click here. San Francisco Bay Area smart card test hits snag
SAN FRANCISCO — The pre-test launch of a universal smart card system in the Bay Area hit a snag when card readers on some AC Transit and Golden Gate Transit buses only worked intermittently. The delay is expected to last three to four weeks. For the full story, click here. UTA: New bill could hamper rail funding
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is crying foul over a local bill, passed by a 7-6 margin, that they feel would take commuter rail funds, which the agency has or will bond against, away from them. The bill allows any Utah city to take money that their residents give to a local-option sales tax for transportation and use it to build their own, city operated transit system, as well as allow a city that is not part of a transit district to impose a sales tax increase for bus, rail or highway improvements. For the full story, click here.