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Deadly respiratory illness in AL stumps CDC

HOUSTON COUNTY, AL (WAFF)- There is a mystery brewing in south Alabama. An illness has hospitalized several people, killing two of them.

It is something that leaves the patient struggling to breathe.

The Alabama Department of Public Health is putting everyone on notice about a mystery illness.  Epidemiologists are conferring with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about a cluster of respiratory illnesses. 

The origin of the illness is unknown, but it is striking people in the Houston County area.  So far, seven people have been hospitalized with fever, cough, and shortness of breath.   Two of those patients have died.  

Lab specimens have been collected and are being studied.   For now, both the Public Health Department and the CDC are recommending hospitals use respiratory protocol when dealing someone with such an illness, meaning masks and gloves.  

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Huntsville Police search for stolen gun stash

Investigators said an AK-47, .40 caliber handgun, .25 caliber handgun, and 12 gauge shotgun were taken during the crime.

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)- Huntsville Police are searching for a stash of guns, stolen during a burglary this week on the 2000 block of Golf Road on Monday.

Investigators said an AK-47, .40 caliber handgun, .25 caliber handgun, and 12 gauge shotgun were taken during the crime.

At this time, there are no suspects or arrests to report.

If you know anything, call Huntsville Police.

Copyright 2013 WAFF. All rights reserved.

See, Click, Fix: Versailles Street

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)- If you drive down Versailles Street in South Huntsville, you're going to find some rocky spots here and there, but it's when you drive down the hill toward Mountain Gap road that you'll find the worst of them.

"We usually drive on the wrong side of the street," said homeowner Lometa Spragg. "That side of the street is potholes all the time."

Spragg lives at the other end of Versailles. We found her walking in front of Mountain Gap Elementary where there are cracks near the edges. The biggest ones, however, were in the middle of the road.

"It's been bad for a long, long time," said Spragg. "They re-did Mountain Gap Road, and I was hoping maybe they would do a little switch up Versailles, but they didn't. They've been out. It looks like they've fixed about four spots on the street, but still the repairs they've done are already sinking in."

Wreck on Parkway backs up traffic at University Drive

Traffic on Memorial Parkway was backed up as crews worked a wreck on the University Drive overpass.

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)- Traffic on Memorial Parkway was backed up as crews worked a wreck on the University Drive overpass.

The wreck happened in the southbound lane of the parkway around 1 p.m. on the overpass.

Huntsville Police and HEMSI responded to the scene.

Two women were taken to Huntsville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Their names have not been released.

Copyright 2013 WAFF. All rights reserved.

Huntsville hockey and your tax dollars

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)- The Huntsville Havoc and the UAH Chargers have plenty in common on the ice. Both know how to win championships, both have passionate fan bases, and both appear to have bright futures.

"We have tons of hockey fans who come out and want to see the hockey and it's all about the hockey on the big nights, the big crowd is just people who just want to come out and have a good night," said Huntsville Havoc Owner Keith Jefferies. 

In 2013, UAH will make a move to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association; a move that they hope will propel the program to a higher level.

"When we were trying to get into the WCHA, I kept saying it would be like opening the gates of heaven. It's going to happen with season ticket sales, contributions, scheduling, recruiting, and fan interest," said UAH Athletics Director Dr. E.J. Brophy.

Both teams have another key similarity - the place where both programs call home, the Von Braun Center.

Judge approves Huntsville City Schools changes

Judge approves Huntsville City Schools changes

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)- A federal judge approved a plan for school changes submitted by Huntsville City Schools.

 

School officials are required to have plans that involve new school or consolidating schools approved by the feds because of a Department of Justice desegregation order handed down in the 1970's.

Those plans include a new building for Johnson High School. Once that is complete, Davis Hills and Ed White middle schools will merge and occupy a new building on the old Johnson site.

The goal for those moves is fall of 2016.

Meanwhile, a new Grissom High facility will be built on National Boulevard, near the South Parkway Sam's Club.

A new Whitesburg Elementary is also slated to open in 2015.

And a new elementary school is planned for west Huntsville - taking in students from Terry Heights and University Place. It is being built on the site of the old Terry Heights school.