Nation briefs 3/10/15

40 passengers hurt in truck-train crash

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Transportation officials say 40 passengers were injured when an Amtrak train collided with a tractor-trailer that was stuck on the tracks in North Carolina. They said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. An eyewitness said the tractor-trailer driver was trying to make a difficult right-hand turn. She said the driver jumped out of the truck before the crash.

Wisconsin becomes right-to-work state

BROWN DEER, Wis. -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Monday signed into law a measure that prohibits requiring a worker to pay union dues, striking another blow against organized labor four years after the state effectively ended collective bargaining for public-sector employees. Walker, a likely presidential candidate, signed the right-to-work bill affecting private-sector workers at an invitation-only ceremony at Badger Meter north of Milwaukee. His sleeves rolled up and his suit jacket off, the Republican governor sat at a table with a banner that said "Freedom to Work" as he signed the bill that makes it a misdemeanor to require workers to pay unions dues.

Film director guilty in train crash death

JESUP, Ga. -- A year after a freight train plowed into crew members for a movie about singer Gregg Allman, killing a young camera assistant, the film's director was sentenced to two years in jail Monday as part of a plea deal. In a rare case of a filmmaker being prosecuted for a death on a movie set, "Midnight Rider" director Randall Miller pleaded guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing as part of the last-minute deal in southeast Georgia. Prosecutors agreed to drop charges against Miller's wife and business partner, Jody Savin. The movie's executive producer, Jay Sedrish, also pleaded guilty and got 10 years on probation. All three were to stand trial for the Feb. 20, 2014, train collision that killed 27-year-old camera assistant Sarah Jones of Atlanta and injured six other crew members on a railroad bridge in rural southeast Georgia.

Retracing of Selma march begins

SELMA, Ala. -- A group of about 100 people set out Monday to retrace the historic steps taken 50 years ago, when demonstrators pushing for equal voting rights marched from Selma, Alabama, to the state Capitol in Montgomery. Back then, it was their third attempt to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. During their first try, they were beaten by state and local police on March 7, 1965, in what would become known as "Bloody Sunday." The demonstrators eventually made the 54-mile trek to Montgomery, stopping each day after about 10 miles.

GOP tries to block Iran nuclear deal

WASHINGTON -- Republican lawmakers warned the leaders of Iran on Monday any nuclear deal they cut with President Barack Obama could expire the day he leaves office. The White House denounced the GOP's latest effort to undercut the international negotiations as a "rush to war." Republicans say a deal would be insufficient and unenforceable. Obama said, "I think it's somewhat ironic that some members of Congress want to make common cause with the hard-liners in Iran. It's an unusual coalition."

-- Associated Press