Florida: Plane collision kills 2

Two small planes piloted by students collided Sunday over rural northwest Broward. One smashed into the ground just over the Palm Beach County line, killing both people aboard.

The other crash-landed onto a dirt road just west of the Sawgrass Expressway. Both passengers walked away unharmed.

Shortly before 2 p.m., one of the two Cessna 172’s apparently clipped the other at an altitude of about 2,000 feet, sending both planes into a spin, said John Lovell, an air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board.

Lovell did not release the identities of the victims or their flight schools late Sunday. He said both planes had taken off from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and were practicing flight maneuvers when the crash occurred.

Oregon: Newspaper to publish same-sex union notices

Oregon’s largest newspaper said Sunday it would begin accepting same-sex commitment announcements.

The Oregonian is the latest in a string of major metropolitan newspapers to make such a move. The New York Times, The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch all made similar announcements in recent months.

Several counties in Oregon, including Ashland and Multnomah, have registries for gay, lesbian and unmarried heterosexual couples.

The paper said it would begin charging for wedding, engagement, birth, birthdays and anniversary announcements on a new “Celebrations” page. Publication of obituaries will still be free.

New York City: Study faults bolts for WTC collapse

The single-bolt connections in the framework of the World Trade Center popped and fell apart during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, causing the floors to collapse on top of each other, according to a new study.

The analysis, conducted by a team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, concludes the bolts did not properly secure the Twin Towers’ steel floor trusses, The New York Post reported Sunday.

The bolts were pulled toward the center of the buildings while the floor trusses sagged, the report concluded.

Experts have disputed how and why the twin towers collapsed. A study by a Manhattan engineering firm said damage caused by the planes, and fires that broke out as a result, caused both buildings to crumble during the terrorist attacks.

A federal investigation said the towers’ unconventional design contributed to the collapse, noting weak floor supports gave way during the attacks a similar conclusion to the one drawn by the MIT researchers in their upcoming report.

Minneapolis: Broken railing causes injuries at rap concert

Several concert-goers suffered minor injuries Saturday night when a railing gave way at the Target Center during a performance by the rap artist Bow Wow.

About 10 people were taken by ambulance for treatment, said Reid Katzung, director of operations. The most serious complaints appeared to be of lower leg pain and of back pain, he said.

Four people were treated for minor injuries at Hennepin County Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.

The railing about 12 feet long and 5 feet off the arena floor gave way as fans pressed forward when Bow Wow worked his way into the crowd near the end of his show, Katzung said.

The railing snapped in three places, causing fans to fall forward, Katzung said. Bow Wow was not hurt and resumed his performance from the stage.

Repairs will be made and other railings inspected before the Minnesota Timberwolves’ NBA season-opener Wednesday, Katzung said.