Cruise ship

evacuates 3

PRAIA, Cape Verde (AP) — The U.N. health agency says two patients with hantavirus and one suspected of infection were evacuated from a cruise ship at the center of a deadly outbreak. Two of the patients arrived at Amsterdam’s airport Wednesday evening and were driven off in ambulances.

The ship departed from Cape Verde and headed to Spain’s Canary Islands. The World Health Organization says eight cases have been recorded, with five confirmed by lab tests. Three people have died.

Two Argentine officials investigating the origins of the outbreak say the government’s leading hypothesis is that a Dutch couple contracted the virus during a bird-watching outing before boarding.

Redistricting

across South

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republicans are rapidly pursuing redistricting efforts across the South following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that affects majority-Black congressional districts. Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana and South Carolina are all considering changes.

Tennessee lawmakers have proposed a new House map that would divide Memphis, a majority-Black city. They pressed ahead with it on Wednesday, despite protests. In South Carolina, Republican leaders are targeting a district held by a longtime Black Democratic lawmaker.

Alabama lawmakers are proposing a new congressional primary if courts allow the state to redistrict. Louisiana already has postponed its congressional primary to allow time for a new redistricting plan.

Office searched

in Virginia

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) — The FBI has searched the Virginia state Senate leader’s hometown office and her neighboring cannabis shop. Wednesday’s action brings into public view what was described as a yearslong corruption investigation.

The searches at Democratic Sen. L. Louise Lucas’ office and cannabis business are part of what two people familiar with the matter call a corruption inquiry. One of the people says the investigation was opened during Democratic former President Joe Biden’s administration. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing criminal investigation.

Lucas’ daughter Lisa Lucas Burke tells WAVY-TV that the family has no idea what the federal action was about.