National Digest

Florida shooting suspect’s life was ‘spiraling’

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jason Rodriguez’s marriage long ago went sour, his home taken in foreclosure, his job lost to incompetence, his finances sunk in bankruptcy. It was a “stress overload” for the man accused of a deadly shooting rampage at his former office, his lawyer said yesterday.

The 40-year-old man whose life seemed to just keep getting worse was charged yesterday with first-degree murder, accused of killing one and wounding five Friday at his former office. He said nothing in his brief court appearance yesterday, but his attorney portrayed him as a mentally ill man who fell victim to countless problems.

“This guy is a compilation of the front page of the entire year — unemployment, foreclosure, bankruptcy, divorce — all of the stresses,” said the public defender, Bob Wesley. “He has been declining in mental health. There is no logic whatsoever, which points to a mental health case. It looks like a classic case of stress overload.”

Police refused to say anything more yesterday about their investigation into the shooting. But as Rodriguez remained on suicide watch at the Orange County Jail, a portrait of his crumbling life began to emerge.

Ground broken for Flight 93 memorial

SHANKSVILLE, Pa. - With the words "Let's roll" - the command issued by United Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer to lead the passenger revolt - U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and 39 victims' relatives and dignitaries turned shovels of dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday for a permanent national memorial.

"We made it. Not to our goal, not to the finish line. Certainly not any semblance of closure, but nevertheless, we made it to the next milestone of our journey," said Gordon Felt, whose brother, Edward Felt, was one of the 40 passengers and crew who died when the plane crashed into a field near rural Shanksville.

The government intends to have the first phase completed by Sept. 11, 2011.

Philly transit strike talks cease

PHILADELPHIA - Negotiations aimed at ending a transit strike in Philadelphia broke off last night.

Union president Willie Brown said the union has agreed only on proposed wages in a contract presented by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Brown said the union wants an independent audit to assure the security of its pension funds.

"We will not be going back to work until these issues are resolved," Brown said.