Man Fatally Electrocuted While Doing Construction Work

(BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) -- A man working near power lines in the Forest Park and South Avondale area of Birmingham was fatally electrocuted on Wednesday.

According to the Birmingham News, police and firefighters were called to the 3700 block of 6th Avenue South just before 12 p.m. on Wednesday.

During the course of his work, Harlen Miles, 61, reportedly hit a power line and was electrocuted and killed, says the News.

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Mystery Illness Claims Two Lives

(BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) -- Federal and State heath officials are working to find out more about a cluster of mystery respiratory illness that have infected a number of people in southeast Alabama.

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), the Houston County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating the illnesses, which have sent at least seven people to the hospital so far with two of those people dying.

Health officials say laboratory samples have been obtained from all patients and testing continues at the ADPH Bureau of Clinical Laboratories and the CDC’s Respiratory Laboratory.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Shelby County Authorities Search for Missing Teen

(SHELBY COUNTY, Ala.) -- The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing 17-year-old girl.

Missing is Carrie Elizabeth Masters, of Columbiana. The sheriff's office says Masters has not been seen since Saturday around 1 a.m. when she left her home in a silver SUV with an unknown male.

The missing teen is described as a Caucasian female, approximately 5' 4" in height and weighing around 95 pounds.

Anyone with information on Masters' whereabouts is asked to contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at (205) 669-4181 or Secret Witness at (205) 669-9116.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Convicted Sex Offender Back in Prison

(BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) -- A 71-year-old sex offender is back in jail on new new charges.

Franklin Deleanoir McGhee was arrested and charged with rape, incest and violating rules for convicted sex offenders, says the Birmingham News.

According to the News, McGhee's new charges stem from a violation of the law that prevents him from contact with his past victims, one of whom was living with him. He was previously convicted of incest in 1998.

McGhee is being held on $415,000 bond. Authorities will continue an investigation to determine whether McGhee had contact with additional victims.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Birmingham to Help Oklahoma Tornado Victims

(BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) -- The City of Birmingham will be lending a helping hand to the people of Moore, Okla., who were affected by Monday's deadly tornado.

"Our people are the most generous in the nation and the City will be working with the Christian Service Mission to collect items to send out," Mayor William Bell said in a statement. "So many people reached out to Birmingham during our tornado devastation and we want to be sure to pay that help forward to those who need it."

The tornado that hit Moore, Okla., tore a 12-mile path of destruction that killed 24 people, including nine children, and destroyed two elementary schools.

The City of Birmingham says this week collection volunteers will be in front of Boutwell Auditorium on Thursday and Friday; while next week they'll be at the same location on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Collection will be from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each of those days. On Saturday, the City will collect items from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio