In brief: Plague found in Yosemite National Park squirrels
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK – About a week ago, officials said a child fell ill with the plague at Yosemite National Park. Now a popular campground there will be closed after several squirrels were killed by the disease.
The plague-infected squirrels were found in the Tuolumne Meadows Campground, about 40 miles west of Crane Flat Campground, where the child was camping with family.
In an “extremely precautionary public health measure,” park officials will apply flea insecticide to rodent burrows. As a result they are closing the campground from noon Monday to noon Friday, Aug. 21.
The infectious disease is carried by squirrels, chipmunks and other rodents via fleas. When an infected rodent becomes sick and dies, its fleas can carry the disease to other animals and humans.
The child, who lives in Los Angeles County, has recovered.
Residents evacuate as pipe breaks
MADISON, Wis. – About 300 residents had to evacuate an apartment complex in Madison, Wisconsin, after a water pipe broke, creating a sinkhole that swallowed three vehicles.
Madison Fire Department spokeswoman Cynthia Schuster said emergency personnel were called to the River’s Edge Apartments shortly before 5 a.m. Friday.
While residents had to evacuate four buildings due to initial concerns about a gas leak, that danger was later ruled out.
Mayor asks to rid Confederate relic
A mayoral proposal to remove four Confederate monuments in New Orleans quickly became the latest flashpoint in a national debate over the place of Confederate symbols in the country, as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal announced he would investigate his authority to block their removal.
Thursday, two New Orleans city commissions voted separately to recommend to the City Council the removal of all four monuments.
The four monuments are statues of generals Robert E. Lee and P.G.T. Beauregard, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and a 35-foot-tall obelisk commemorating the Battle of Liberty Place, a three-day rebellion by Confederate veterans against Reconstruction authorities in 1874.
Trump to appear for N.Y. jury duty
HAMPTON, N.H. – Donald Trump’s status as the Republican presidential front-runner can’t keep him from jury duty.
Trump is taking a break from the campaign trail Monday to appear for jury duty in New York City. He said he’s “looking forward to appearing.”
The New York Daily News reported in June that Trump had ignored five jury summonses since 2006. A judge fined the billionaire $250.