NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
_1 Train engine derails: The lead engine of an Amtrak passenger train crossing northern New Mexico partially derailed when it struck a boulder on the tracks, delaying the train for more than 10 hours but causing no serious injuries, the rail carrier said. The incident occurred Thursday night on Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks near the town Watrous, about 105 miles northeast of Albuquerque. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said the nine-car train carrying 132 passengers and 14 crew members couldn’t resume its journey from Los Angeles to Chicago until Friday morning after the boulder was removed and the tracks repaired.
_2 Simpson parole: Las Vegas police say O.J. Simpson has formally registered at local police headquarters in accordance with his release from a Nevada prison last weekend after serving nine years for armed robbery. Police spokesman Larry Hadfield said in a statement late Thursday that Simpson came to police headquarters earlier in the day and registered. The conditions of Simpson’s parole dictate that he report to his state parole officer on a monthly basis and obtain permission from the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation when he changes his residence.
_3 Campus resignation: The head of the University of Southern California’s medical school has resigned, less than a year after he took over for a dean who resigned and was later the center of allegations that he smoked meth and hung out with criminals. Dr. Rohit Varma chose to step down after the university “learned previously undisclosed information that caused us to lose confidence in Dr. Varma’s ability to lead the school,” USC Provost Michael Quick said in a letter to USC officials. The announcement came as the Los Angeles Times was prepared to publish a story disclosing that USC had formally disciplined Varma in 2003 after allegations that he sexually harassed a female researcher while he was a junior professor.
_4 Unruly vineyard: The New York State Liquor Authority has suspended the license of a Long Island winery where officials say drunken patrons have engaged in public sex, brawls and other rowdy behavior. SLA officials said Vineyard 48 in Cutchogue had a “disturbing record” of repeatedly serving extremely intoxicated customers to the point where it strained local police services and caused “havoc” on neighbors. The vineyard’s lawyer says the allegations are untrue and exaggerated. _5 Tax evasion: A purported psychic who charged an elderly Massachusetts woman more than $3.5 million for exorcisms and “spiritual cleansing” has pleaded guilty to evading taxes. Federal prosecutors say Sally Ann Johnson, 41, of south Florida ran businesses that claimed to offer “psychic readings” and “spiritual cleansing and strengthening.” Between 2007 and 2014, prosecutors said a Martha’s Vineyard woman paid Johnson more than $3.5 million for services that claimed to rid the woman of demons. Prosecutors said Johnson didn’t report the income. She pleaded guilty Thursday.