UNIVERSITY PARK - The Western world may not hear this too often, but nothing in Islam justifies terrorism, a scholar on the Middle East said Thursday night.

“The root of terrorism — it doesn’t have anything to do with Islam,” Medhi Noorbaksh told a gathering of about 60 people in the Forest Resources Building. “ ... Terrorism in any shape is to be condemned. » read more

A huge poisonous snake bit Dale Cupp. Bite marks prove it, but he doesn't remember how it happened. He also doesn't recall the angry wasps and misfired shotgun that blew out his knee and likely saved his life.

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Since the Iraq war began, Fort Jackson's drill sergeants have worried less about polished boots and straight formations.

They spend more time teaching combat medicine and urban warfare, making basic training a cram session for war. » read more

Asarco’s bankruptcy reorganization case could yield more money for state-mandated toxic cleanup efforts than the mining and smelting company ever has willingly provided.

And while it’s unlikely that Washington will recover the nearly $600 million claimed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court papers last year, the state probably will receive at least a fraction of that, said Elliott Furst, leader of a team of assistant attorneys general representing Washington state in the Asarco bankruptcy proceeding. » read more

Rail cars on a train carrying spent radioactive nuclear fuel derailed at the Shearon Harris nuclear plant in Wake County Thursday at 6:57 p.m. But the nuclear waste sustained no damage and there were no injuries, according to Progress Energy. The train accident occurred on the nuclear plant property, about 25 miles southwest of Raleigh.

The train was traveling at about 4 m.p.h. to 5 m.p.h. and remained upright after the accident. Two rail cars jumped the tracks — a caboose and an empty flatbed car that was used as a buffer car. When transported by rail, nuclear waste is protected by reinforced concrete casks weighting 75 tons that are designed to withstand high-speed impact. » read more