National news briefs

Net posting may have spurred attack on boy

CALABASAS, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a 12-year-old boy assaulted by a group of middle school classmates in Southern California may have been targeted after an Internet posting urged students to beat up redheads.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Richard Erickson says the boy, who is redheaded, was kicked and hit in two incidents Friday at A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas. As many as 14 students participated in the attacks.

Erickson says the attackers may have been motivated by a Facebook message announcing that Friday was "Kick a Ginger Day." The posting may have been inspired by an episode of the television show "South Park."

Radiation detected at reactor building

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (AP) — A small amount of radiation has been detected in a reactor building at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in central Pennsylvania. Officials say there is no public health risk.

About 150 employees were sent home after the radiation was detected Saturday afternoon.

Exelon Nuclear spokeswoman Beth Archer says investigators are searching for the cause. She says the radiation was quickly contained.

Subway passenger stabbed to death

NEW YORK (AP) — A subway passenger stabbed to death in front of horrified straphangers has been identified as 36-year-old Dwight Johnson of Brooklyn.

Authorities say some 30 passengers watched as Gerardo Sanchez of the Bronx stabbed Johnson at around 2 a.m. Saturday in an argument over a seat.

Police say the passengers were trapped with the knife-wielding attacker and his victim until the train arrived at the station at Seventh Avenue and 53rd Street.

Video shows glass shattering at arrest

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A train passenger's video of an arrest shows heavy-duty glass shattering and showering down on a San Francisco area transit police officer and an unruly passenger in an incident that injured both men.

The video, taken Saturday evening and posted on YouTube, shows the Bay Area Rapid Transit officer pushing the passenger toward a glass wall along the West Oakland station platform. It's unclear what caused the glass to break.