31 STATES TO TRACK INDUSTRY GASES

Thirty-one states, including Hawai'i, representing more than 70 percent of the U.S. population, announced yesterday that they will jointly track and measure greenhouse gas emissions by major industries.

The newly formed Climate Registry is the latest example of states going further than the federal government in taking steps to combat global warming. State officials and some affected industries and environmentalists say the registry is a crucial precursor to both mandatory and market-based regulation of industrial gases that contribute to warming.

6 DIE AS TRAIN HITS SUV AT CROSSING

MODESTO, Calif. — An Amtrak passenger train collided with a sport utility vehicle that was stopped at a crossing yesterday, killing all six people inside the SUV, authorities said.

None of the 70 passengers or crew members aboard the Oakland-bound train was injured, an Amtrak spokeswoman said.

The SUV was driven by a female driver with five young passengers, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Tom Killian.

NAVY HELICOPTER CRASHES, KILLING 5

RENO, Nev. — A Navy helicopter struck a power line during a training flight and crashed in a rugged area of the northern Nevada desert, killing all five crew members, the Navy said yesterday.

Navy investigators were on the scene early yesterday to recover the bodies.

The SH-60F helicopter, flying out of Naval Air Station Fallon, went down late Monday about 10 miles west of Austin, base spokesman Zip Upham said.

OBAMA ERRS ON TORNADO DEATHS

RICHMOND, Va. — Barack Obama, caught up in the fervor of a campaign speech yesterday, drastically overstated the Kansas tornadoes death toll, saying 10,000 had died.

The death toll was 12.

"In case you missed it, this week, there was a tragedy in Kansas. Ten thousand people died — an entire town destroyed," the Democratic presidential candidate said in a speech to 500 people at a Richmond fundraiser.

As the Illinois senator concluded his remarks, he appeared to realize his gaffe.

"There are going to be times when I get tired," he said. "There are going to be times when I get weary. There are going to be times when I make mistakes."

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said later that the senator meant to say "at least 10," instead of 10,000.