MIDWEST

NTSB: COMMUTER TRAIN SPEEDING BEFORE DERAILMENT

CHICAGO – A commuter train was going almost 60 mph above the speed limit just before it derailed, killing two people and injuring dozens, the acting chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board said yesterday.

Mark Rosenker said the Metra train was traveling at 69 mph and should not have been going faster than 10 mph when it switched tracks at a crossover just before jumping the tracks Saturday. The speed information came from a preliminary reading of one of the train’s three electronic data recorders, popularly known as “black boxes,” Mr. Rosenker said.

Part of the investigation included an interview yesterday with the train’s engineer. The 41-year-old man had been on the job for 45 days after completing Metra’s six-month training program. He also had worked for more than five years as a CSX Corp. freight train engineer.

Investigators have determined that nothing was abnormal with the tracks, which had just been inspected on Friday, Mr. Rosenker said. The double-decked commuter train was headed into Chicago from Joliet on Saturday morning with 185 passengers and four crew members when its locomotive and five rail cars jumped the tracks about 5 miles south of downtown.

– Associated Press

SOUTH

VISITORS TOLD TO FLEE PARTS OF KEYS

MIAMI – Thousands of tourists jammed the highways yesterday after they were told to evacuate the lower Florida Keys because Tropical Storm Rita developed over the Bahamas and moved toward the vulnerable, low-lying island chain. A hurricane watch was posted for the entire Florida Keys, which means hurricane conditions of winds of at least 74 mph are possible by late today.

In Tallahassee, Governor Bush declared a state of emergency for Florida, which gives the state authority to oversee evacuations and activate the National Guard, among other powers.

– Associated Press

WEST

NEWCOMER ‘LOST’ WINS BEST DRAMA SERIES AT EMMYS

LOS ANGELES – “Lost” was named best drama series and “Everybody Loves Raymond” received top comedy series honors yesterday as the Emmy Awards split its affection between television’s newcomers and veterans.

Felicity Huffman and Patricia Arquette became first-time Emmy winners as they received lead actress honors while Tony Shalhoub and James Spader once again proved favorites in the best actor category.

“I’ve turned into one of those actresses and I’m sorry,” Huffman, who plays an overwhelmed homemaker on “Desperate Housewives,” said as she teared-up at the start of her acceptance speech.

She thanked “the women of Wisteria Lane,” her co-stars Marcia Cross and Teri Hatcher – also nominees in the category – and Eva Longoria.

Arquette, who plays a problem-solving psychic in NBC’s “Medium,” won the best drama series actress award.

“I want to thank you for this honor, for putting me in this incredible company,” she said. She offered her “respect and gratitude” to volunteers helping Katrina victims and issued a prayer that soldiers in Iraq “come home safe and sound.”

Shalhoub was named best actor in a comedy series for “Monk.”

“I just want to say there’s always next year, except for Ray Romano,” Shalhoub said jokingly of his fellow nominees.

Spader was named best dramatic actor for “Boston Legal” for his portrayal of a lawyer with an ethics problem. He had been honored for the same character before on “The Practice,” the ABC’s series precursor.

A trio of past Emmy favorites grabbed trophies, with Brad Garrett and Doris Roberts of “Everybody Loves Raymond” and William Shatner of “Boston Legal” receiving best supporting actor honors.

Mr. Garrett received his third Emmy for the CBS sitcom, which wrapped after nine seasons, and Mr. Shatner received his second Emmy for the character of egotistical lawyer Denny Crane.

“The Amazing Race” was named outstanding reality-competition program for the third time.

– Associated Press