Free Republic

Two Roosevelt Island Tram cars carrying dozens of people over the East River were left hanging Tuesday when the system lost power due to a mechanical problem, officials say. Rescue crews have begun the process of using cages and baskets to get the passengers off. Both cars stopped moving around 5:15 p.m., stranding about 80 people, officials say. The tramcars were still stalled after 7 p.m. while engineers worked to restore power. One of the tramcars had about 50 people, the other about 30. We are told that there are nine children on board. No injuries were reported. Eyewitness News...

A canister containing an alkaline substance exploded on a tram in the Russian capital on Sunday, injuring at least five people, Moscow police said. Ambulances arrived at the site in the Lefortovo region of northeast Moscow, a duty officer said. Russia's Interfax news agency reported that medical helicopters had airlifted some of the injured to the Sklifosovsky Burn Center. The injured were being treated for chemical and acid injuries, Interfax said, citing unidentified police officers at the scene. It was not immediately clear what caused the canister to explode. A series of deadly explosions blamed on Chechen rebels in recent...