Mexico nightclub deaths...South Korea beef deal...Salmonella probe

MEXICO CITY (AP) A panicked rush for the exits at a Mexico City nightclub has left nine young people and three police officers dead. The police chief says there was a stampede when officers showed up at the club to check on reports of drugs and alcohol being sold to minors.

WINFIELD, Mo. (AP) The water is still rising along the Mississippi River, but forecasters don't think it will reach as high as they had previously feared. New forecasts suggest water levels will crest well below record levels seen in 1993.

STATE DEPARTMENT (AP) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading to Asia next week amid signs of an imminent breakthrough on a formal end to the Korean War. North Korea appears set to fulfill a promise to scrap its nuclear program, which could lead the White House to lift sanctions.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Only beef from cattle less than 30-months old will be exported to South Korea from the U.S. An agreement announced by South Korea today is an effort to placate protesters worried about mad-cow disease.

Washington (AP) Government inspectors have headed for farms in Florida and Mexico to check on new clues on the possible source of salmonella-tainted tomatoes that have now sickened 552 people.

Officials stress that the clues don't necessarily mean that a particular farm will turn out to be the culprit.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 06-21-08 0349CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list