(AP) — The Food and Drug Administration is investigating an outbreak of Hepatitis A linked to a frozen organic berry mix from a farm in Oregon.

The FDA said Friday that 30 illnesses are linked to Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend, which contains pomegranate seed mix. Illnesses were reported in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and California.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that can last from a few weeks to a several months. It is spread when a person ingests, even in tiny amounts, contaminated fecal matter.

The FDA said it is inspecting the processing facilities of Townsend Farms of Fairview, Ore.

Hepatitis A illnesses occur within 15 to 50 days of exposure to the virus. Vaccination can prevent illness if given within two weeks of exposure.

 

May tax receipts exceeded estimates by $65.9 million, or 12.7 percent, buoyed by one-time revenue attributed to taxpayers who accelerated income in advance of federal tax increases enacted earlier this year. Individual income receipts were $58.9 million, or 23.2 percent, more than anticipated for the
month. The increase over the estimate was due in part to larger balance due payments for 2012 income taxes, which were processed in late April and early May following the annual tax filing deadline.

“It is important to be cautious when looking at these numbers because federal tax hikes proposed at the end of last year and passed in January likely influenced taxpayer behavior as people worked to ensure that income would be taxed at 2012 rates,” said Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan. “We have reaped the benefit of that at the state level in April and May, and now we expect things to return to more normal levels.”

With one month remaining in fiscal year 2013, tax revenues year-to-date are above estimates 1.1 percent.

10 a.m. Saturday, June 1(AP) — Nine people have died in the Oklahoma City area after a violent burst of tornadoes and thunderstorms overnight.

Amy Elliott with the state Medical Examiner’s Office said Saturday morning that nine fatalities have been confirmed, including two children and seven adults. The previous overall total was seven deaths.

Hospital officials said at least 75 people were hurt during Friday night storms that hit at rush hour.

 

6 a.m. Saturday, June 1  (AP) — Emergency officials are preparing to survey tornado damage again this morning following the second major fatal storm to strike the Oklahoma City

metropolitan area in several days.

Law enforcement officers and Red Cross damage assessment workers planned to head out at dawn to areas the tornadoes struck in the city and its suburbs.

Amy Elliott, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner, said early Saturday that she had no word of additional fatalities beyond the five reported Friday night. Among them were a mother and baby.

Hospital officials say about 50 people were hurt. The storm bore down on an interstate highway as commuters tried to beat it home during evening rush hour.

On May 20, an even more powerful storm rolled into Moore, killing 24 people.