In brief: Parachutists injured in mid-air collision

CHICAGO – Two parachutists were seriously injured Saturday during the Chicago Air & Water Show after colliding midair while performing a stunt, a parachute team spokeswoman said. Witnesses say at least one of the men clipped the top of a high-rise apartment building before falling to the ground in the city’s Gold Coast neighborhood.

The two men were taken in serious-to-critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Saturday morning, Fire Department spokesman Juan Hernandez said.

The Army Golden Knights and Navy Leap Frogs parachute teams were performing a stunt known as a “bomb burst,” Golden Knights spokeswoman Donna Dixon told WMAQ-TV. During the stunt, parachutists fall with red smoke trailing from packs and then separate, creating a colorful visual in the sky.

Dixon said the men collided during the stunt.

Documents detail AT&T-NSA links

WASHINGTON – The New York Times is reporting that documents provided by former systems analyst Edward Snowden provide new details about ties between the National Security Agency and telecom giant AT&T.

The Times and ProPublica jointly reviewed the documents dating from 2003 to 2013. In a story posted Saturday on its website, the Times reported that in 2003 AT&T led the way on a new collection capability that the spy agency said amounted to a “live” presence on the global net.

Funeral held for man killed at dealership

ARLINGTON, Texas – More than 1,000 people Saturday attended the funeral of a college football player who was shot and killed by a North Texas police officer answering a burglary call at a car dealership.

The service for Christian Taylor at Koinonia Christian Church in Arlington was attended by his family members, friends and teammates.

The black 19-year-old attended Angelo State University in San Angelo in West Texas.

Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams and police Chief William Johnson also were at the service.

Family baffled after roller coaster death

SANDUSKY, Ohio – Family members do not know why an Ohio man struck and killed by a roller coaster after climbing over a security fence would have risked injury to retrieve belongings that he lost while he was on the ride, the man’s aunt said.

James Young was killed Thursday at Cedar Point amusement park when a car from its Raptor coaster – or one of the passengers – struck him after he entered a restricted area to gather his fallen wallet and cellphone.

Young’s aunt, Deborah Mohr, told the Plain Dealer on Friday that her nephew was educated and responsible.

“He wasn’t someone who would normally disobey the law,” Mohr told the newspaper.

Mohr said her 6-foot-6 nephew likely thought it easy to scale the fence, get his belongings, then climb back into the public area.