Florida probing second possible Zika infection
Florida probing second possible Zika infection
MIAMI
The Florida Health Department says it’s now investigating a second possible nontravel-related case of Zika infection in South Florida.
The case is in Broward County, which neighbors Miami-Dade, where the first such investigation continues.
The department said in a news release that it is working with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and that the state government has asked the CDC to send an epidemiologist to Florida to help with the investigation.
Health authorities are testing mosquitoes and have not yet confirmed that anyone has been infected by a bite in the mainland United States.
Another US citizen reportedly detained by Iranian officials
SAN DIEGO
The U.S. State Department said Thursday that it is looking into reports another American has been detained in Iran.
State Department spokesman John Kirby would not comment further Thursday on the detention of Robin Shahini. The girlfriend of the San Diego man said Shahini’s sister told her Iranian authorities took him into custody July 11 while he was visiting family in his native Iran and he has not been heard from since.
The girlfriend asked not to be identified because she has family in Iran and fears for their safety. She said she worries Shahini was detained because of his online comments criticizing Iran’s human-rights record.
Storms kill woman, boy at Scout camp
ELY, Minn.
A teenage boy and a woman from Texas camping with a Boy Scouts adventure program were killed and two other campers were injured when severe storms swept through a remote area along the U.S.-Canada border, the leader of the program said Thursday.
The boy and the female volunteer with the Northern Tier High Adventure Base Program died while camping, according to general manager John Van Dreese. Authorities said the group was camping on Basswood Lake in Quetico Provincial Park in Canada when strong winds blew through early Thursday.
Chicago officer shot, hospitalized
CHICAGO
A Chicago police officer has been shot while working in an affluent area on the city’s South Side.
Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the officer was shot Thursday evening in the “lower body.”
A Chicago Fire Department official said the officer was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for treatment. The officer’s condition wasn’t immediately known.
Guglielmi had no information on the circumstances of the shooting, or if a suspect is in custody.
Turkish lawmakers give sweeping new powers to president
ANKARA, Turkey
Turkey will be able to extend detention times for suspects and issue decrees without parliamentary approval under a three-month state of emergency approved Thursday by lawmakers after last week’s attempted military coup.
Parliament voted 346-115 to approve the national state of emergency, which gives sweeping new powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had been accused of autocratic conduct even before this week’s crackdown on alleged opponents. Erdogan has said the state of emergency will counter threats to Turkish democracy.
Associated Press