News in brief

By The Associated Press

Suspected Houthi attack targeted ship in the Gulf of Aden

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates | A suspected attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels saw an explosive detonate near a ship early Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, potentially marking their latest assault on shipping through the crucial waterway leading to the Red Sea.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said the vessel’s crew saw the blast as it passed off the coast of Aden, the port city in southern Yemen home to the country’s exiled government.

“No damage to the vessel has been reported and the crew are reported safe,” UKMTO said.

Authorities detain man in fatal shooting of officer

SANTA FE, N.M. | New Mexico authorities say a suspect in the shooting death of a state police officer has been captured in the Albuquerque area by sheriff’s deputies.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office located 33-year-old Jaremy Smith of Marion, South Carolina, on Sunday based on a tip from a gas station clerk. Smith was chased on foot, wounded and taken to a hospital for treatment under police guard.

Friday’s fatal shooting of State Police Officer Justin Hare along I-40 west of Tucumcari set off a search for the suspect. South Carolina authorities have identified Smith as a person of interest as they investigate the killing of a local paramedic.

Ohio gov. declares emergency after severe storms

COLUMBUS, Ohio | Ohio’s governor has declared a state of emergency in 11 counties across a swath of central Ohio struck by severe weather last week.

Gov. Mike DeWine also activated the Ohio National Guard to help officials in Logan County, where three deaths were confirmed, with cleanup of storm debris on public property.

The declaration announced Sunday orders all relevant state departments and agencies to lend their services, equipment, supplies and personnel to aid in response and recovery efforts.

Mega Millions, Powerball jackpots soar

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. | Want to cash in on some of that St. Patrick’s Day luck? You may want to buy a lottery ticket.

The Mega Millions jackpot is already estimated at $875 million for Tuesday night’s drawing after no tickets matched all six numbers drawn on Friday night. And Saturday night’s Powerball jackpot is a whopping $600 million.

Just keep in mind that the odds of winning any lottery jackpot are very slim. Mega Millions players have a 1 in 302.6 million chance of taking home the top prize. And it’s not much easier to win a Powerball jackpot with the odds near 1 in 292.2 million. But the excitement remains.

—From AP reports