Top medical officer in Liberia goes under quarantine

Top medical officer in Liberia goes under quarantine

MONROVIA, Liberia

Liberia’s chief medical officer is placing herself under quarantine for 21 days after her office assistant died of Ebola.

Bernice Dahn, a deputy health minister who has represented Liberia at regional conferences about combating the epidemic, told The Associated Press on Saturday that she did not have any Ebola symptoms but wanted to ensure she was not infected.

The World Health Organization says 21 days is the maximum incubation period for Ebola, which has killed more than 3,000 people across West Africa and is hitting Liberia especially hard. WHO figures released Friday said 150 people died in the country in just two days.

Police investigate reported shooting at Indiana State

TERRE HAUTE, Ind.

Police at Indiana State University in Terre Haute are investigating a report by a male student that he was shot while walking on campus.

The shooting was reported about 6 p.m. Saturday. Indiana State University Police Chief Joe Newport did not immediately return a telephone message left by The Associated Press about the shooting, but a post on the school’s website said police believe the shooter has left the area.

The post also said there is a heavy police presence on campus. The university issued an alert asking people to stay away from the area near Lincoln Quad residence hall. The alert said the shooting victim was conscious and alert.

Texas college grieves after 4 killed in bus crash

A North Texas community college brought in counselors to comfort grieving students Saturday and canceled athletic competitions after four women’s softball players were killed when an 18-wheel truck veered into oncoming traffic on a major interstate highway and crashed into the side of their team bus.

The collision near Davis, Okla., late Friday badly damaged the driver’s side of the North Central Texas College team bus driven by a coach with 15 players aboard as they returned from a scrimmage against Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla.

In addition to the deaths, two team members remained in hospitals Saturday, one in critical condition. The other nine players were treated and released, along with the coach.

After sabotage, air-travel system slowly recovers

CHICAGO

The nation’s air-travel system slowly began to recover Saturday after an alleged act of employee sabotage at a large regional air-traffic control center brought Chicago’s two international airports to a halt.

At the height of the travel misery Friday, more than 2,000 flights in and out of O’Hare and Midway airports had been canceled, sending waves of travel disruption rippling across the country.

Authorities say a contract employee started a fire Friday morning in the basement telecommunications room of a control center in the Chicago suburb of Aurora and then attempted to commit suicide by slashing his throat. Brian Howard, 36, of Naperville, was charged with destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities, a felony. The FBI said Howard remains hospitalized, and no court date has been scheduled.

Associated Press