Nation digest 10/24/01

FTC vote lets Pillsbury merger move ahead

WASHINGTON -- A business marriage of the Pillsbury Doughboy and Betty Crocker moved ahead Tuesday when the Federal Trade Commission deadlocked on approving General Mills Inc.'s $6.1 billion purchase of Pillsbury Co.

A government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the FTC vote was 2-2. Typically, a merger proceeds unless the FTC votes to block it, the source said.

Pillsbury is the No. 1 producer of refrigerated doughs in the United States General Mills is the nation's No. 1 cereal maker.

Report: AT&T to cut another 2,400 jobs

NEW YORK -- AT&T Corp. is cutting an additional 2,400 jobs, bringing this year's total to more than 8,000, or more than 6 percent of its work force, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

The telecommunications giant's decision comes as other streamlining takes place within the industry. On Monday, SBC Communications said it will cut several thousand jobs. BellSouth and Sprint have announced plans to cut 3,000 and 6,000 workers, respectively.

AT&T spokeswoman Eileen Connolly declined Tuesday to comment on the specifics of the newspaper report.

Student falls to death while trying to smoke

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- A student fell five floors to his death after climbing onto a window ledge to have a cigarette at a smoke-free dormitory.

University of Arkansas student Alexander W. Gilbert, 18, fell from Pomfret Hall late Monday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said the death appears to be accidental, and found no evidence that drugs or alcohol were involved.

Tugboat rolls over in river; two missing

DETROIT -- A tugboat that delivers mail and pilots to passing Great Lakes freighters rolled over in the Detroit River early Tuesday and two crew members were missing, the Coast Guard said.

Two people were rescued.

The accident occurred around 7 a.m. as the tug, the J.W. Westcott II, was taking two pilots to the Sidsel Knutsen, a Norwegian tanker carrying gasoline, said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Brian Hall.

He said the Westcott was missing but he would not say if it sank.

-- From wire reports