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• The pattern of putting acting officials in leadership positions at the Homeland Security Department-- sometimes replacing acting officials with other acting officials -- has been going on for months. This swath of vacancies raises questions about how a department depleted of permanent leadership could implement changes, particularly as Congress considers overhauling the nation's immigration system.
• "Her departure is a substantial addition to the growing list of unfilled key leadership positions within the department," Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, said of Napolitano's resignation. "The administration should move swiftly to fill the gaping holes in its management."
• The White House referred a request for comment to the Homeland Security Department, which did not respond.
• ___
French train derailment that left 6 dead was not caused by human error, minister says
• BRETIGNY-SUR-ORGE, France (AP) -- Human error did not cause a train derailment that left six people dead outside Paris on the eve of a busy holiday weekend, the French transport minister said Saturday.
• The train, which left Paris on Friday night, jumped the track just a few miles (kilometers) into its journey as it traveled through a small town train station. It crashed into the platform and some cars tipped over. Nearly 200 people were injured in the initial crash. But by Saturday morning, Transport Minister Frederic Cuvillier said only 30 people were still considered injured.
• But Michel Fuzeau, who is the head of local regional government, said that until an overturned train car is lifted, it was impossible to know if there could be more people trapped under it, calling the current death toll preliminary.
• "This is only a hypothesis and we hope it's not (the case)," he told reporters.
• He said special equipment was expected to arrive later Saturday in order to remove the cars. He added that around nine of the injured were in critical condition.
• ___
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