In the Nation

MICHIGAN

Officers credited with ending assault

Police officers struggling to get through a chaotic scene aboard an Amtrak train in Michigan are being credited with preventing even more bloodshed after a man stabbed a conductor and three fellow passengers.

"It was pretty incredible that they may have saved some lives," passenger Tyler Vandermolen said.

Michael Williams, 44, of Saginaw, was charged Saturday with attempted murder. The four victims were reported to be in stable condition.

Officers rushed to the scene after Amtrak called police about a passenger acting suspiciously, Niles Police Chief Jim Millin said. "As soon as the first officer turned into the car, Mr. Williams was less than 10 feet away and he had the knife in his hand. The officer used his Taser and was able to subdue" him.

The motive wasn't known. Williams was being held on $1 million bond Saturday. - AP

NORTH CAROLINA

Deadly cocaine

Authorities say three people have died and 10 others needed medical attention after using cocaine apparently laced with a painkiller. The deaths and injuries took place over several hours early Saturday in three places in Chatham County, sheriff's office spokesman Doug Stuart said. Deputies say the state crime lab has studied a sample of the cocaine and found indications it had the narcotic painkiller Fentanyl in it. He says the investigation continues. - AP
MISSOURI

Crash a hate crime?

An SUV involved in the death of a teen outside a Somali community center had an anti-Muslim message in a rear window at the time of the crash, Kansas City police confirmed Saturday. Authorities say Ahmed H. Aden, 34, deliberately ran over the boy and have charged him with murder. The FBI is investigating the case as a potential hate crime. Abdisamad Sheikh-Hussein, 15, died Thursday evening. Aden is in the Jackson County jail. - AP