Theories US is pursuing in Cuba ‘health attacks’

Theories US is pursuing in Cuba ‘health attacks’

WASHINGTON

There must be an answer.

Whatever is harming U.S. diplomats in Havana, it’s eluded the doctors, scientists and intelligence analysts scouring for answers. Investigators have chased many theories, including a sonic attack, electromagnetic weapon or flawed spying device.

Each explanation seems to fit parts of what’s happened, conflicting with others.

The United States doesn’t even know what to call it. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson used the phrase “health attacks.” The State Department prefers “incidents.”

Either way, suspicion has fallen on Cuba. But investigators also are examining whether a rogue faction of its security services, another country such as Russia, or some combination is to blame, more than a dozen U.S. officials familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press.

Tropical storm warning for Los Cabos, Mexico due to Norma

MEXICO CITY

Hurricane season roared on Saturday as Jose threatened heavy surf along the U.S. East Coast, Tropical Storm Norma edged toward Mexico’s resort-studded Baja California Peninsula, and Tropical Storm Maria formed in the Atlantic and was expected to strengthen into a hurricane, taking aim at some already-battered Caribbean islands.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula due to Norma, which the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported had weakened into a tropical storm Saturday

In the Atlantic, Hurricane Jose was far from land but generating powerful swells that the center said were affecting coastal areas in Bermuda, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the U.S. southeast.

The center added that tropical storm watches were possible for the U.S. East Coast and advised people from North Carolina to New England to monitor Jose’s progress.

Also Saturday, Tropical Storm Lee formed in the eastern Atlantic with sustained winds of 40 mph. The storm posed no immediate threat to land.

To the west, Tropical Storm Maria formed and is expected to strengthen, prompting hurricane watches for Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis and Montserrat – some of which were devastated by Hurricane Irma.

Lead carver of Mount Rushmore honored with plaque

KEYSTONE, S.D.

The chief carver of Mount Rushmore who was responsible for refining the expressions on the faces of the monument’s four presidents was honored Saturday with a plaque that recognizes his work.

Luigi Del Bianco was an Italian immigrant and stone carver whose job included the challenging tasks of sculpting Jefferson’s lips and Lincoln’s life-like eyes. With the help of Del Bianco’s descendants, the National Park Service unveiled a bronze plaque Saturday in his honor. It will be on display at the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center.

Del Bianco began working on the sculpture in 1933 and returned to it in 1935. When he was designated chief carver, Mount Rushmore designer Gutzon Borglum wrote: “He will have complete charge of the practical ways and means of dealing with the finesse of carving and instructing the other carvers .”

Suspected school gunman had been suspended for threats

ROCKFORD, Wash.

A Washington state student accused of a deadly school shooting had been suspended for bringing threatening notes to school shortly before the attack.

Freeman School District Superintendent Randy Russell tells The Spokesman-Review that the district followed protocol by suspending the student and sending him for a mental evaluation.

The shooting occurred on the first day 15-year-old Caleb Sharpe returned from the suspension to Freeman High School in Rockford, the newspaper reported.

Court documents say he pulled an assault weapon from a bag, but it jammed.

Police say Sharpe pulled a pistol from his coat and shot and killed a 15-year-old boy and wounded three female students.

Sharpe was arrested and has yet to make an appearance in juvenile court. He faces a charge of first-degree murder.

Dog that disappeared in Florida in 2016 is found in New York

FREEPORT, N.Y.

A dog that disappeared in Florida in February 2016 has been found in New York.

Newsday says a woman found the stray, a German shepherd mix, and brought it to a Long Island rescue group called Bobbi and The Strays on Tuesday.

The dog’s microchip was traced to West Palm Beach, Fla.

Rick Moneck says his family adopted the “beautiful” and “well-behaved” dog, named Relay, as a puppy in 2014.

When Relay went under the backyard fence, the family searched for months. Moneck says a blurry gas station video appeared to show a man putting Relay into his car.

Now, the shelter’s looking for a volunteer to drive Relay to Florida.

‘Red flag’ calls signaled post-Irma deaths at Florida nursing home

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.

The first 911 call from the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills didn’t sound ominous: A nursing-home patient had an abnormal heartbeat.

An hour later, came a second call: A patient had trouble breathing. Then came the third call. A patient had gone into cardiac arrest – and died.

Over the next few hours of Wednesday morning, the dire situation at the Rehabilitation Center for fragile, elderly people would come into clearer view.

Three days after Hurricane Irma hit Florida, the center still didn’t have air conditioning, and it ultimately became the grimmest tragedy in a state already full of them. Eight people died and 145 patients had to be moved out of the stifling-hot facility, many of them on stretchers or in wheelchairs.

On Saturday, Gov. Rick Scott ordered the directors of the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Elder Affairs to issue emergency rules to keep residents safe in health care facilities during emergencies.

Associated Press