Officials are warning horse owners about an ongoing outbreak of equine herpesvirus after horses across multiple southern states have tested positive following two rodeo events earlier this month.

According to the Equine Disease Communication Center, the outbreak originated at the Womens Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Finals in Waco, Texas on Nov. 5 through Nov. 9, and a barrel racing event that took place in Guthrie, Oklahoma, last week.

Officials said horse owners at either event should consult with their veterinarian, as well as isolate and quarantine the horses for at least 14 days.

Over a dozen cases have been confirmed in horses across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona, South Dakota, Washington and Colorado.

A handful of those cases have developed into equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM), which is a severe neurological form of equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1).

EHV-1 is spread directly through nose-to-nose contact, and infected animals can release particles when they cough or sneeze. Indirect transmission is also possible through shared water or feed buckets, tack, and travel in the same trailer, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Horse owners should increase biosecurity measures, including disinfecting things like tools and buckets, and monitor horses for symptoms, including fever, nasal discharge and cough, stumbling, hind end weakness or any neurological issues.

Veterinary experts said if you notice any symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

There is no risk to humans from EVH-1 or EHM.

The USDA said EHV, also known as equine rhinopneumonitis, is a family of highly contagious viruses found in horses worldwide. Of the nine known herpesviruses, EHV-1, EHV-3, and EHV-4 pose the highest disease risk to U.S. horses.

Most Americans find political conversations at the Thanksgiving table to be entertaining and informative despite experts saying it should be avoided, according to a Scripps News/Talker Research poll.

Only 10% of Americans said they find political talk at the table to be inappropriate, while 17% find it uncomfortable and 15% found it to be annoying or awkward. The poll found that 33% of Americans consider political talk during the holiday to be respectful, and 27% find it passionate.

Most of the respondents said they tend to strongly agree with the political views of their family members and friends at Thanksgiving, while only 5% said they strongly disagree.

Despite the more positive outlook on discussing politics over turkey and gravy, most Americans 26% said it is very unlikely that the topic will come up during the holiday, while 14% said it is very likely to happen.

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The same poll found that the majority of Americans who are celebrating Thanksgiving are looking forward to the turkey the most, while 38% are salivating over the stuffing. Only 11% will be excited for cranberry sauce.

For most Americans, the best part of Thanksgiving is spending time with their families followed closely by the eating. Watching sports is the third most favorite activity for the holidays, according to the poll.

However, 37% of Americans said they will need one or two moments alone during the holiday chaos, whether that means hiding out in a bedroom or going for a walk.

A small percentage, 4%, is looking forward to starting their Thanksgiving day with a turkey trot, the poll said.

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Many Americans believe they will be spending about the same amount for Thanksgiving this year, while 28% believe it may be a little more expensive compared to last year. The poll found a similar response for Black Friday and Cyber Monday spending.

The respondents said it is somewhat likely that they will be shopping the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals this year. About 23% said it is unlikely that they will take advantage of the sales.

The poll had about an equal share of respondents who identify as Democratic, Republican or Independent, as well as a nearly equal amount of men and women participants. Most of the 1,000 respondents live in the South, with about 20% each living in other regions across the U.S. A variety of age groups were represented.

A jury awarded Abby Zwerner, a former teacher in Virginia who was shot in 2023 by her 6-year-old student, $10 million after she filed a lawsuit claiming negligence by the school's former assistant principal, Ebony Parker.

Newport News School District's insurance authority will be liable to pay out the money awarded to Zwerner. She had asked for $40 million in her original filing.

The seven-person jury found Parker grossly negligent in preventing the unprecedented shooting after a day of deliberations.

The verdict comes nearly three years after Zwerner was shot by her student in her first-grade classroom at Richneck Elementary School on Jan. 6, 2023. The bullet passed through her hand, pierced her chest and caused significant injuries, including a collapsed lung.

She and her attorneys claimed Parker failed to act after several people voiced their concerns about the student potentially having a weapon hours before the shooting happened.

During his closing argument on Wednesday, Zwerner's attorney Kevin Biniazan spoke for nearly an hour about the impact the shooting has had on her and the impact it will continue to have for the rest of her life.

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Biniazan's key point was that the credible report of a gun with a student even the unlikely scenario of it being a 6-year-old student requires action by the administration. Any delay would increase the potential danger to those around that student.

He rejected one of the defense's main arguments that Zwerner and others had accountability to further act when the report of the gun was made, and rejected their stance that it was not Parker's responsibility to ensure the safety of students and staff.

Parker's defense attorney, Sandra Douglas, spoke for about 40 minutes in her closing. She acknowledged that Zwerner's shooting was a tragedy that should have never happened, but told the jury that their burden is to determine "gross negligence," which has a high bar to prove.

Douglas said she does not enjoy having to argue against the victim of a shooting, but that it is her duty as an officer of the court to pursue the truth and that truth, she said, is there is a "different side to that story." That different side, Douglas argued, is that Zwerner has not suffered as much as she has portrayed.

In Biniazan's rebuttal, he talked about Zwerner's reduced life expectancy from the shooting, which he said is now 53 years.

"When you're deciding what's fair and what's fair, you're not just deciding tomorrow and what might happen the next day," Biniazan told the jury. "We don't get to come back here in five, ten, 15 years and bring you all together and ask Mr. Warner, how are you doing? Are you still waking up at nine? Do you still see that face?"

Parker faces a separate criminal trial related to the case in which she is accused of eight counts of felony child neglect, punishable by up to five years in prison if convicted.

The students mother was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for felony child neglect and federal weapons charges. Her son told authorities he got his mothers handgun by climbing onto a drawer to reach the top of a dresser, where the firearm was in his moms purse, The Associated Press said.

The boy had a history of behavior issues, according to court documents, but was not charged in this case.

Part of this story was originally published by the Scripps News Group station in Norfolk.

A Waymo vehicle is accused of hitting and killing a beloved neighborhood bodega cat in San Francisco, according to multiple reports.

A memorial for KitKat now sits outside of Randa's Market on 16th and Valencia in the city's Mission District, where the friendly tabby cat once patrolled the sidewalk. The corner store cat was named KitKat because neighbors said he enjoyed sleeping in a KitKat delivery box.

KitKat had been a famous figure at the corner store since at least 2020, when Randa's Market first started its Instagram account. He had even been reposted on the popular "@bodegacatsofinstagram" account.

About a week ago, Randa's Market announced KitKat's tragic passing on Instagram.

"Were heartbroken to share that our beloved store cat, KitKat, has passed away. He brought warmth, smiles, and comfort to everyone who walked through our doors," the store said. "Thank you to all who loved him as much as we did. The store wont be the same without his little paws padding around. "

Hundreds of comments later, it was revealed that KitKit was hit by a Waymo autonomous vehicle while sitting outside the store.

Local San Francisco news outlets said the neighbors took him to an emergency vet, but sadly, he did not survive.

A vigil was held in honor of KitKat last week, as flowers, cat toys and other memorial items filled the sidewalk outside of Randa's Market.

Waymo provided a statement to TV news station KRON4 that said, in part, "We reviewed this, and while our vehicle was stopped to pick up passengers, a nearby cat darted under our vehicle as it was pulling away. We send our deepest sympathies to the cats owner and the community who knew and loved him, and we will be making a donation to a local animal rights organization in his honor."

Citizens have urged officials to implement more safety measures for autonomous vehicles.

This comes as Waymo announced it is expanding into new cities across the U.S., including San Diego, Las Vegas, and Detroit. In addition to San Francisco, the driverless taxis' pilot city, Waymo currently operates in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin and Atlanta.

Waymo said it has its sights set on expansion in Boston, Seattle, Denver, Miami, New York City, and Washington, DC as well.