1
Deadly fertilizer plant blast devastates Texas
town
2
There was a massive explosion at a fertilizer
plant on the edge of West, a small Texas town,
killed an estimated five to 15 people, wounded
more than 160, leveled dozens of homes and
prompted authorities to evacuate half their
community of 2,800. The Wednesday night blast
shook houses 50 miles away and measured as a
2.1-magnitude seismic event. The big concern
anhydrous ammonia, a pungent gas with suffocating
fumes that is used as a fertilizer. When exposed
to humans, it can cause severe burns if it
combines with water in the body. And exposure to
high concentrations can lead to death. Its
location -- next to an apartment complex, a
nursing home and a middle school -- did not help
matters.
3
In Other News

• The U.S. Senate on April 17 defeated a compromise
  proposal to expand background checks on firearms
  sales. The final vote was 54 in favor to 46
  opposed with two Republicans joining most
  Democrats in supporting the compromise. Due to
  procedural steps by Republican opponents, the
  amendment required 60 votes to pass in the
  100-member chamber.
• Investigators pinpointed two possible suspects in
  the Boston Marathon bombing after they appeared
  in images near the finish line moments before the
  blasts, a law enforcement official said. The twin
  blasts killed three and injured about 180 others
  Monday, sending shock waves nationwide. They left
  behind gruesome images of mayhem, destruction and
  shattered limbs.
• Pat Summerall, the football player turned
  legendary play-by-play announcer, died Tuesday.
  He was 82. He was best known as a broadcaster for
  teaming with former NFL coach John Madden for 22
  years.