Eight-year-old dies after contracting rare brain-eating amoeba in Louisiana

Lillian Smart of Ruston infected with fatal Naegleria fowleri, likely after swimming in Lake Claiborne, health officials say An eight-year-old Louisiana girl has died after contracting a rare, typically fatal brain-eating amoeba after a swim in Lake Claiborne. Lillian Smart, of Ruston, died on Saturday, one day after celebrating her birthday, her family announced in … Read more

Fast-moving wildfire in Reno, Nevada, forces thousands to evacuate homes

Hawk fire has covered more than 13,000 acres as blaze approaches University of Nevada campus in Reno A fast-moving Nevada wildfire exploded to more than 13,000 acres (5,200 hectares) early on Sunday, pushing from the Sierra foothills toward the center of Reno and forcing nearly 42,000 residents to evacuate as flames threatened neighborhoods and reached … Read more

Iryna Zarutska’s family sues North Carolina city over her murder

Relatives of woman fatally stabbed on public transit allege death was preventable and Charlotte knew of violent crime issue The family of Iryna Zarutska is suing Charlotte and a security company one year after the Ukrainian refugee was fatally stabbed onboard a light rail train in the North Carolina city. A lawsuit filed on Friday … Read more

Tim Scott defends Darline Graham’s ‘national security is not my thing’ comment

Republican senator tries to assuage concerns but does not offer details of Graham’s national security experience Tim Scott defended fellow US South Carolina Republican senator Darline Graham’s knowledge of national security issues ahead of their state’s runoff election on Tuesday. Graham, who was appointed to fill the Senate seat held by her brother Lindsey Graham … Read more