AlertNewEngland reports a 1200x200 commercial building at 1400 Boston Providence Highway, behind the IHOP, collapsed this afternoon. Firefighters were inside at the time, but all got out safely.

The Globe reports a federal judge has rejected ex-Councilor Turner's effort to block the Feb. 15 and March 15 elections to replace him.

Meanwhile, one of the candidates for the seat, the Stassenesque Roy Owens, has a platform that calls for fighting abortions and spending $500 billion (yes, billion) "to build facilities to deal with our emergency loss of life, while at the same time create jobs and saving lives," according to his answers on a survey by One in 3.

Late, of course. MassDOT Secretary Jeff Mullan snapped its photo.

More photos, video of the two new locomotives undergoing inspections and testing. The T hopes to take delivery on 20 additional new diesels starting in 2013.

The Cambridge City Council today considers establishing a local opt-out program for residents who no longer let their fingers do the walking.

Councilors Marjorie Decker and Leland Cheung say phone books created "a tremendous amount of waste" and force the city to dispose and recycle them in "an age when the Internet is a more highly used method of information." Their proposed order instructs the city manager to look at the feasibility of a system for letting residents indicate they no longer want the weighty tomes.

The council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.