In brief: Derailment closes rail line south of Deer Park

A rail line near Deer Park is closed after several empty cars of a train carrying diesel fuel derailed. There were no injuries or spills.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe spokesman Gus Melonas said the derailment occurred Friday night in a remote area about two miles south of Deer Park.

He said two locomotives on the Chewelah-bound train derailed, leaving one on its side and the other leaning. Six empty box cars derailed but remained upright; four of them folded like accordions, Melonas said.

There was no immediate word on a cause.

Front-end loaders were working Saturday to get the undamaged cars back on track, and new rail ties are being brought in to replace damaged track.

Melonas said the rail line is expected to be back in service by late today or early Monday.

WSU president wants to stem tuition increases for next year

PULLMAN – Washington State University President Elson Floyd wants to hold down tuition increases for students next year.

Floyd released a proposal to the WSU Board of Regents on Friday involving undergraduate tuition.

Under his plan, any tuition increase at WSU next fall would be limited by the rate of increase in the Consumer Price Index. But that’s only if the Legislature maintains current budget levels.

His proposal will now be sent to the WSU Tuition Policy Committee for review.

Man arrested after woman found with slashed throat

BELLINGHAM – Authorities arrested a 30-year-old Burlington, Wash., man hours after a woman walked out of woods south of Bellingham with her throat cut.

Skagit County Undersheriff Tom Molitor said the suspect, who was in a domestic relationship with the victim, was arrested Saturday in Eastern Washington. The man was to be transferred to Skagit County either Saturday or today.

Molitor said the 20-year-old woman crawled from a wooded area near the Whatcom-Skagit County line where she had been assaulted and left for dead. A citizen called after noon Friday to report finding her. The woman was rushed to a hospital in Bellingham where she is expected to recover.

Molitor said she suffered severe cuts to her throat and was not able to talk to investigators. She had not been identified.