Ship fire hurts 11 people in San Diego
SAN DIEGO -- Eleven people suffered minor injuries in an explosion and fire Sunday on board a ship at Naval Base San Diego, military officials said.
The blaze was reported shortly before 9 a.m. on the USS Bonhomme Richard, said Krishna Jackson, the base's public information officer.
Eleven people were treated for " non-life-threatening injuries," Jackson said. She didn't have additional details.
Previously Jackson said at least one person was treated for smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire was under investigation. Jackson didn't know where on the 840-foot amphibious assault vessel the blast and fire occurred.
The flames sent up a huge plume of dark smoke visible around San Diego.
San Diego is the Bonhomme Richard's home port, and the ship was undergoing routine maintenance at the time of the fire.
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Jackson estimated about 200 sailors and officers were on board -- far fewer than if the ship was on active duty.
The ship has the capacity to deploy and land helicopters, smaller boats and amphibious vehicles.
Biden winner of Puerto Rico primary
WASHINGTON -- Joe Biden won the Democratic presidential primary in Puerto Rico on Sunday.
Biden faced seven other candidates on the ballot, though all the others have dropped out of the race. Biden has already locked up enough delegates to become the party's nominee.
The primary was scheduled for March but was delayed until Sunday because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Residents of Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens, but they cannot vote in the general election in November. However, both Democrats and Republicans invite delegates from the U.S. territory to their respective political conventions.
Biden and President Donald Trump on Saturday won their parties' respective Louisiana presidential primaries, an election that was postponed twice because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Trump easily won Louisiana's GOP primary, where he faced four other Republicans on the state's ballot seeking the nomination. Biden, who was one of 14 Democrats on Louisiana's ballot, also coasted to victory.
Judge denies Nashville bars' request
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A judge has ruled against some Nashville bar owners who sought a temporary restraining order against city officials in an effort to push back against coronavirus restrictions.
Federal Judge Eli Richardson denied the request, the mayor's office and the plaintiffs' attorney told news outlets on Sunday.
"Judge Richardson's ruling affirms Metro's approach in fighting the coronavirus and keeping Nashvillians safe," Nashville Mayor John Cooper said in a statement.
Attorney Bryan Lewis, who is representing the bar owners, said they are disappointed with the ruling but plan to move forward with their case.
The bar owners filed suit last week in U.S. District Court and sought a temporary restraining order against Cooper, Metro Public Health Department Director Michael Caldwell and the Metro Beer Permit Board.
The suit says the bar owners have suffered harm because of closures amid the pandemic and requests an exemption from a recent order by the mayor that requires bars in Nashville to close for two weeks.
As of Sunday, Nashville had more than 5,000 active cases of the coronavirus and 141 deaths attributed to the illness.
Police: 2 officers slain; suspect kills self
McALLEN, Texas -- Two police officers were shot and killed Saturday by a suspect who later fatally shot himself in a South Texas border town after the officers responded to a domestic disturbance call, authorities said.
McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez identified the slain officers as Edelmiro Garza, 45, and Ismael Chavez, 39. Garza was an officer with the police department for more than eight years, while Chavez had over two years of experience.
"We have lost two brave public servants who sought only to keep peace in our city," Rodriguez, visibly distraught, told The McAllen Monitor.
The officers first met with two people who reported assaults that took place inside a nearby home on the south side of McAllen around 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Rodriguez said. But the suspected shooter, whom police identified as 23-year-old Audon Ignacio Camarillo, opened fire when officers attempted to enter the home.
"They were doing their job. That is what they were supposed to do. The person was a suspect of the incident, met our officers at the door, and shot at both officers," Rodriguez said. "Both officers suffered fatal wounds; they have both passed away as a result. The officers never had a chance to suspect deadly assault on them, much less death."
Camarillo shot and killed himself shortly after opening fire on the officers, Rodriguez said, adding that the suspect hid behind a vehicle after other officers responded to the scene. Camarillo had a few run-ins with police beginning in 2016 to his most recent arrest last month on assault charges, according to public records.
-- Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports