Navy nuclear submarine, Aegis cruiser collide

Mc2 Aaron Chase / US Navy The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Montpelier (SSN 765) returns to Naval Station Norfolk recently after a routine six-month deployment. By NBC's Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube A U.S. Navy nuclear submarine and an Aegis cruiser collided during routine training off the U.S. East Coast about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, NBC News has learned. US Navy No personnel aboard either the USS Montpelier or USS San Jacinto were injured, Pentagon officials told NBC News. Both ships continued to operate under their own power. The incident remained under investigation Saturday evening. The Montpelier is a nuclear-powered Los Angeles-class fast attack sub launched in 1991. The San Jacinto is an Aegis-class missile cruiser commissioned in 1988. Watch US News videos on NBCNews.com  Stay informed with the latest headlines; sign up for our newsletter  More content from NBCNews.com: Woman dining with family dies after car hits Texas pizzeria Bachelor party rescued after wine cruise hits rocks Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes threaten central states Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. under federal investigation over alleged financial improprieties Gay teen denied Eagle Scout: 'Change is happening' over Boy Scouts anti-gay policy Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Navy cruiser, submarine collide

By NBC's Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube A U.S. Navy submarine and an Aegis cruiser collided during routine training off the U.S. East Coast about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, NBC News has learned. No personnel aboard either the USS Montpelier or USS San Jacinto were injured, Pentagon officials told NBC News. Both ships continued to operate under their own power. The incident remained under investigation Saturday evening. Watch US News videos on NBCNews.com  Stay informed with the latest headlines; sign up for our newsletter  More content from NBCNews.com: Woman dining with family dies after car hits Texas pizzeria Bachelor party rescued after wine cruise hits rocks Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes threaten central states Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. under federal investigation over alleged financial improprieties Gay teen denied Eagle Scout: 'Change is happening' over Boy Scouts anti-gay policy Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Lemonade stand vs. cancer: Boy raises $80,000

View more videos at: http://nbclosangeles.com. By Gordon Tokumatsu and Julie Brayton, NBCLosAngeles.com When Max Igoe was 5 years old, breast cancer claimed the life of his mother's best friend, 37-year-old Beth Rorman. The little boy found himself expressing his pain with the kind of idea only a kindergartner might conceive: a lemonade stand. "It's just the first thing that popped into my head," said Max, now 14. Nicki Igoe, Max's mother, said her son was aware her friend was sick. "He knew that she had something called cancer," she recalled. Rorman battled the illness for some 10 years. Max told his mom he would set up a lemonade stand near their La Habra home, and raise money for breast cancer research. Maybe even help them discover a cure. "I explained to him that it wasn't the olden days. That people don't buy lemonade from peoples' driveways like they used to," Nicki said. Stay informed with the latest headlines; sign up for our newsletter But she didn't want to hurt his feelings, either, not while he was mourning "Auntie Beth's" loss. So she helped him mix some juice, prop up a table and hand-print some signs. This weekend, they will set up Max's stand for the ninth year in a row after years full of hundreds of gallons of pink sweet liquid, numerous raffles, "casino-night" fundraisers and days of labor. Max has exceeded his wildest dreams: "We've raised over $80,000." His goal? "A million dollars." And a cure. Nicki said after every sale, they ask him if he wants to continue, and his answer for the last nine years has been the same: Yes. More content from NBCNews.com: Woman dining with family dies after car hits Texas pizzeria Bachelor party rescued after wine cruise hits rocks Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes threaten central states Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. under federal investigation over alleged financial improprieties Gay teen denied Eagle Scout: 'Change is happening' over Boy Scouts anti-gay policy Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Florida student's body found, dad says

University of Florida student Christian Aguilar, 18, was last seen September 20. "We ... believe that Christian has been found," Christian Aguilar's father says Police have not confirmed that a body found recently is that of Christian 18-year-old has been charged with murder in Aguilar's apparent death (CNN) -- More than three weeks after his son was last seen, the father of a missing University of Florida student said Saturday the family is ready to begin the grieving process, confident that the 18-year-old's body has been found. "We, as a family, believe that Christian has been found and our prayers have been heard," Carlos Aguilar told reporters, as his tearful wife put her head down on a table and then cried into her husband's shoulder. Gainesville Police spokesman Ben Tobias said authorities are looking into a body that was recently found. But it hasn't been confirmed that this body, found in Levy County, is that of Christian Aguilar. Carlos Aguilar stressed that his family is waiting on confirmation of the body's identity. Even so, he said that he believed they'll soon be able "to bring Christian back home" and have his funeral. "Our family is going to be grieving until the authorities give us the confirmation," the father said. Christian Aguilar, 18, was last seen on September 20. Eight days later, Pedro Bravo was charged with first-degree murder in the student's apparent death. Bravo initially had told investigators he got into "an altercation with Aguilar" the night the college student went missing, police said. The suspect said he then left Aguilar in a parking lot in the central Florida city, prompting police to warn that Aguilar may have been disoriented and/or seriously injured. Aguilar's father told CNN affiliate WCJB that his son disappeared after a fight over a girl. Bravo, who is also 18, changed his account of what happened "after being confronted with evidence that disputed his initial statements," Tobias said late last month. Aguilar's backpack was found inside a suitcase in Bravo's closet, according to Tobias. At the time, the police spokesman said that blood found in several locations in Bravo's vehicle would undergo an expedited analysis and be compared against known DNA samples of Aguilar. Authorities have used helicopters and K-9 units to search for Aguilar. His relatives plastered the area with fliers, used Twitter to generate leads and invited a nonprofit search group to help look for him alongside family members and police. On Saturday, Carlos Aguilar made a point to thank "every single person," including scores of volunteers, who "supported our family during this horrible time, during this pain, during this agony." According to CNN affiliate WJXT, hunters in a rural part of Levy County found human remains Friday and notified police in Gainesville, about an hour away. CNN's John Branch and Greg Botelho contributed to this report.

What Ohio 'Walmart moms' aren't buying

Undecided moms in Ohio say Mitt Romney's '47%' comments hit home hard Barack Obama leads Romney among white women in Ohio 52%-46% Pollster says Walmart moms matter because they have swung back and forth over time "It would have to be something big" to get one Ohio mom back on Romney's side Editor's note: The 2012 presidential race is CNN Chief National Correspondent John King's seventh campaign. King is traveling through battleground states, where the election will be decided, to find the voters who will determine whether President Barack Obama gets a second term or if the country needs the change in direction that Mitt Romney represents. Columbus, Ohio (CNN) -- The clock on the mantle has ticked past midnight, but Jessica Lundgren is studying -- so she can't afford to think about sleep just yet. "I'm a single mom to a 5-year-old girl who is fantastic," Lundgren told CNN this week. "I work full-time and go to school full-time. So my day usually starts around 4:45 a.m. and ends close to 1 a.m." She works at a call center and is studying to be a medical assistant. Long, hard days, but no complaints. "You do what you have to do in this economy," Lundgren said. "You do what you have to to further yourself." Romney needs support from white women Romney responds to 47% comment A few months back, Lundgren was invited to a focus group of "Walmart moms" and said she was leaning toward voting for Republican Mitt Romney. But she is undecided now, and Romney has only himself to blame. "The main thing is because of some of the ads that are coming out," Lundgren said. "The one that sticks out the most is the ad where he was talking -- they had some audio of him about the 47%, you know, 'I can't really worry about them.'" Romney on 47% comments: I was 'completely wrong' "How can you put your faith and trust in a candidate that doesn't care about everybody?" A new CNN-ORC International Poll shows Romney back in the hunt in Ohio; President Barack Obama leads among likely voters - 51%-47%, but that is within the poll's margin of error. Four weeks out, the candidates are tied in the suburbs, tied among independents and tied among voters age 50 and older. National polls indicate dead heat in Obama-Romney battle And Romney has a big lead among white men, a necessary ingredient to a Republican Ohio victory. But if there is a warning sign in the new data, it is this: Among white women, the president leads 52%-46%. Back in 2008 when Obama carried Ohio, he received 47% of votes from white women. Lundgren is no fan of Obama, so Romney still has a chance as she sorts through the barrage of campaign ads that leave her confused. "It's kind of like picking the lesser of two evils," Lundgren says. "Kind of -- which devil do you want?" White women are the battleground within the battleground. Undecideds: What will sway them? "These women matter because we have seen them prove to be swing voters over the years," says Margie Omero, a Democratic pollster who for the past several years has been part of a bipartisan study of Walmart moms -- defined as working mothers with children under 18 who have shopped at the retailer at least once in the past month. "In 2008, they voted for Obama. In early 2010, they were a little bit more divided. By November 2010, they were decidedly Republican." Sarah Minto is among the converts. She was an Obama 2008 voter but now volunteers three days a week for the Ohio Romney campaign. "My mind changed when I started paying attention to the deficit and how long it kept going and how many jobs are being taken away," Minto said during a break from neighborhood canvassing for Romney in Columbus. Of her 2008 choice, she now says: "He let me down. I was very, very hopeful he would be the guy to turn everything around in America and make everything better. He just -- his words were empty." CNN Money: A snapshot of Obama's economy Omero says other moms are not so sure of their presidential choice and share common concerns. "Their biggest question is how are the next four years really going to help me and my everyday family," Omero said in an interview. "They are worried about putting food on the table. Raising kids who are happy and healthy. Who are going to have a good future. Who are going to graduate into an economy where they can find a job. So they're thinking about all that and they're looking for a candidate who can understand that." Sharon Wiseman isn't sure Romney understands. And, again, he has only himself to blame. "The one '47%' audio that we all heard -- I feel like he is not in touch with the common person, like the average middle-class person," Wiseman told us during a visit to her home in the Columbus suburb of Reynoldsburg. Wiseman describes herself as a Christian conservative and a 2008 John McCain voter. But the 47% remark turned her from undecided to strongly leaning toward voting for the president. It hit home because her husband, Ray, was out of work for a bit and the family received some help from the government during that time. CNN Money: Deficit tops $1 trillion for 4th straight year "I feel like he is out of touch with what everybody is going through, " Wiseman said. "Ohio was one of the hardest places hit. My reaction to what he said is: 'That's me. He's talking about me.'" Top Romney advisers acknowledge the "47%" remark as one of those rare breakthrough moments in today's cluttered politics. Romney clearly hopes the sting fades as the debates continue and the election nears, but his advisers also expect the Obama campaign will continue to use it as a weapon. Some Ohio Republicans suggest a television ad featuring Ann Romney targeted directly at those women with doubts. But it isn't just one Romney remark. The first debate also pushed Wiseman a bit more into the president's camp. Of Romney's performance she said: "It seemed like he won and traditionally it was a win. But I felt he came across kind of smug, a little on the arrogant side to me." Still, she promises to tune into the remaining two presidential debates. She gives Romney credit for recently saying he was wrong to speak as he did at the now infamous 47% fundraiser and says she might be swayed if he makes a stronger case for his economic approach in the remaining weeks. "It would have to be something big," Wiseman said. "But I am still going to be open-minded until voting." Jessica Lundgren also will be following the remaining debates and trying to sort truth from spin from the barrage of campaigns ads -- $20 million in Ohio in the presidential race in just the past two weeks. "There are so many negative ads going back and forth so it is kind of hard," Lundgren said. "This is my daughter's future, not so much mine. So that is the hard part. I feel like I am making a decision for her as well, not just myself."

CDC reports 15th death from meningitis outbreak

A 15th person has died from fungal meningitis linked to possibly tainted vials of a steroid medication, raising the death toll in an unprecedented outbreak, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Saturday. Don't miss these Health stories Stressful day ahead? Grab a yogurt for breakfast Everyone knows the tried and true stress-busters of exercising, meditating and getting more shuteye, but who has time for all that? Here are some unexpected -- but simple -- stress-busters based on recent research, each of which you can easily work into your day. Officials: We didn't have power to stop meningitis 'Pinktober' ignores late-stage breast cancer Compounding pharmacies -- heroes or outlaws? Plastic surgeon shares no-knife secrets to a younger you The new victim was in Indiana, which now has reported two deaths from the rare form of meningitis. Earlier: Fungal meningitis cases grow to 185 The number of people stricken with meningitis in the outbreak reached 197 on Saturday, up 13 from Friday. In addition, there is one case of an infection after an injection in an ankle that has not been confirmed as meningitis, the CDC said. Illinois reported its first case of meningitis since the wave of infections began. Minn. woman files lawsuit over meningitis outbreak The outbreak has turned into a major health scandal after a company based in Massachusetts shipped vials that may have been tainted to 23 states and 76 medical facilities. The scare has prompted multiple investigations and the company, New England Compounding Center, has recalled the product and suspended operations. FDA regulation of pharmacies has knotty history (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

Meningitis cases near 200, 15 dead

The fungus Exserohilum has been implicated in the current outbreak of fungal meningitis. The CDC reports 14 fungal meningitis cases more than Friday They all have been linked to injections of a contaminated steroid Documented cases are reported in 13 states, with Tennessee especially hard hit The outbreak has been linked to a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy Atlanta (CNN) -- The number of documented U.S. cases of fungal meningitis has risen yet again, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 198 cases Saturday, including 15 deaths. The latest tally is 14 more than the agency reported Friday. And Saturday's death toll is an increase of one more than the previous day, due to a fatality in Indiana. Meningitis cases have been reported in 13 states thus far, with Tennessee the hardest hit at 52 documented infections and six deaths. The cases have been linked to injections of a contaminated steroid produced by the New England Compounding Center. Some 14,000 people may have received the injections, the CDC estimated this week. A Minnesota woman, Barbe Puro, filed a lawsuit Thursday -- which may be the first of its kind -- against the Massachusetts pharmaceutical company at the center of the deadly outbreak. In it, she alleges she was injected in September with a tainted batch of steroids from the NECC. Meanwhile, members of Congress on Friday expanded an investigation into the outbreak. In a letter to the director of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy, leaders of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce noted the Food and Drug Administration sent the NECC a warning letter in 2006 "detailing significant violations witnessed" by investigators the previous year. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick also accused the NECC this week of misleading regulators and operating outside its license by shipping large batches of drugs nationwide. Plus, the state's pharmacy board mandated that all Massachusetts compounding pharmacies sign affidavits stating they are complying with state regulations requiring compounders to mix medications for specific patients. Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It is usually caused by an infection, frequently with bacteria or a virus, but it can also be caused by less common pathogens, such as fungi in this case, according to the CDC. Fungal meningitis is very rare and, unlike viral and bacterial meningitis, is not contagious. Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told CNN that fungal infections are not usually mild. He said when a fungus invades small blood vessels, it can cause them to clot or bleed, which can lead to symptoms of small strokes. In addition to typical meningitis symptoms such as headache, fever, nausea and stiffness of the neck, people with fungal meningitis may also experience confusion, dizziness and discomfort from bright lights. Patients might just have one or two of these symptoms, the CDC says.