Florida Zika cases rise to 25 as back-to-school day nears

MIAMI (AP) – Florida’s caseload of Zika spread by Miami mosquitoes has risen to 25, and U.S. health officials continue to warn pregnant women to avoid the infection zone despite the governor’s assurances that the area of concern is shrinking. Florida’s Department of Health says active transmission has been only happening in a 1-square-mile area […]

Police: Miami airport shooting was murder-suicide

MIAMI (AP) – Authorities say a shooting inside an employee parking garage at Miami International Airport that left two people dead was a murder-suicide. A Miami-Dade police news release says airport district officers responded to the parking lot Wednesday morning following calls of shots fired. The release says officers and paramedics found 59-year-old Mario Fernandez […]

GOP says US command manipulated Islamic State intel reports

WASHINGTON (AP) – Intelligence assessments approved by senior leaders at U.S. Central Command exaggerated the progress of anti-terrorism efforts they ran against Islamic State militants, a House Republican task force said in an initial report released Thursday. The report detailed what the task force described as “persistent problems” in 2014 and 2015 with the command’s […]

Bicyclist drowns while trying to retrieve hat from water

HOLMES BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Authorities say a 51-year-old man drowned when he tried to retrieve his hat after it flew into the water as he rode across a bridge in Florida. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer who was driving across the Anna Maria Island Bridge around noon Wednesday saw Andy Lewis […]

Air Force struggles with fighter pilot shortage amid air war

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. Air Force is struggling to fill a shortage of 700 fighter pilots by the end of the year, even as the U.S. battles in three air wars against the Islamic State group in Iraq, Syria and Libya. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James also told Pentagon reporters Wednesday that she […]

Another wrongful death suit in Charleston church shooting

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) – Another wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the federal government in the South Carolina church shootings that claimed the lives of nine black parishioners during a Bible study last year. Court documents show that Bethane Middleton-Brown filed the suit in federal court last week. She’s the sister of the Rev. […]

Mississippi woman gets 12-year sentence on terrorism charge

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) – A Mississippi woman who once sought to disguise a planned journey to join the Islamic State group as her honeymoon was sentenced by a federal judge Thursday to 12 years in prison on a terrorism charge. Vicksburg native Jaelyn Young broke down in heavy sobs during her sentencing by U.S. District […]

US official urges Puerto Rico to step up fight against Zika

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – The U.S. surgeon general is urging Puerto Rico to step up its public education campaign against Zika and warns that that 25 percent of the island will be infected by the mosquito-borne virus by year’s end. Dr. Vivek Murthy said during a visit to the U.S. territory Thursday that […]

Unlike Jeter, A-Rod leaves Yankees without fans’ love

NEW YORK (AP) – Alex Rodriguez’s time with the New York Yankees will be remembered for one World Series title, two MVP awards and countless controversies. And for him not being Derek Jeter. “When I’m amongst Yankee fans and the conversation turns to him, he’s not held with great fondness,” said Marty Appel, author of […]

Forecasters: Busy Atlantic hurricane season is more likely

MIAMI (AP) – U.S. forecasters say it’s more likely this could be the busiest Atlantic hurricane season since 2012. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s updated outlook predicts 12 to 17 named storms, including five to eight hurricanes, two to four of which could be “major.” On average, the U.S. gets 12 named Atlantic storms […]