CDC: 14 more Zika cases possibly spread through sex

CDC: 14 more Zika cases possibly spread through sex

NEW YORK

U.S. health officials are investigating more than a dozen possible Zika infections that may have been spread through sex.

The 14 cases all involve men who visited areas with Zika outbreaks, and who may have infected their female sex partners, who had not traveled to those areas.

Zika virus is spread mainly by mosquito bites, and sexual transmission has been considered rare. There have been two reported cases, including a recent one in Texas, and at least two other reports of the Zika virus found in semen.

Tornadoes rip through La., Miss.

KENNER, La.

Tornadoes and severe weather ripped through southern Louisiana and Mississippi on Tuesday, mangling trailers at an RV park, ripping off roofs from buildings and killing at least three people in both states, authorities said.

One of the most hard-hit areas appeared to be a recreational-vehicle park in the town of Convent, in southern Louisiana. Two people were killed there, said St. James Parish Sheriff Willy Martin, speaking on local television. Authorities still were looking for people believed to be trapped under the debris, Martin said.

Thirty people were injured, and seven of them were in critical condition, he said.

Oldest Castro brother dies at 91

HAVANA

Ramon Castro, a lifelong rancher and farmer who bore a strong physical resemblance to younger brother Fidel Castro, has died, Cuban state media announced Tuesday. He was 91.

Widely known by his nickname, “Mongo,” the white-bearded Ramon Castro preferred tending crops and livestock to the revolutionary political life embraced by his younger siblings Fidel and Raul, who replaced Fidel as Cuba’s president in February 2008.

Court upholds limit on sharing of tips

SAN FRANCISCO

Businesses cannot collect tips given to waiters, casino dealers or other service employees to share with support staff such as dishwashers even if the tipped employees are receiving minimum wage, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

The 2-1 decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2011 U.S. Labor Department rule.

Syrian government accepts cease-fire

DAMASCUS, Syria

Syria’s government on Tuesday accepted a proposed U.S.-Russian cease-fire that is to go into effect later this week but reserved the right to respond to any violations of the truce. The main opposition and rebel umbrella group approved the deal but set its own conditions.

The developments followed an agreement between Washington and Moscow for a new cease-fire set to take effect at midnight Friday local time in the 5-year-old civil war, even as major questions over enforcement remain unresolved.

Raleigh police won’t boycott Beyonce

RALEIGH, N.C.

The Raleigh police union will not boycott Beyonce’s upcoming concert in response to her Super Bowl halftime act and new video, which some unions said contain “anti-police” messages.

Multiple media outlets reported union members took the unanimous vote during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Raleigh Police Protective Association.

Associated Press