Nation, world briefs 10/4/16

Hurricane Matthew soaks Haiti, Jamaica

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Heavy rains from the outer bands of Hurricane Matthew drenched Haiti and Jamaica on Monday, flooding streets and sending many people to emergency shelters as the sprawling Category 4 storm steamed toward the two Caribbean countries. Matthew had sustained winds of 140 mph as it moved north, up from 130 mph earlier in the day. The center was expected to pass near or over the southwestern tip of Haiti this morning before heading to eastern Cuba, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. "We are looking at a dangerous hurricane that is heading into the vicinity of western Haiti and eastern Cuba," said Richard Pasch, a senior hurricane specialist with the center.

Jury seated in trial for hot-car death

BRUNSWICK, Ga. -- A jury split between men and women was selected Monday to decide the trial of a Georgia man charged with murder after his toddler son died two years ago while left in the back of a hot SUV. Justin Ross Harris is charged with malice murder and other crimes in the June 2014 death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper. Prosecutors said Harris, 35, exchanged lewd text messages during the hours the boy sweltered in the parked vehicle outside his father's metro Atlanta workplace. Sixteen jurors -- eight men and eight women -- were seated Monday morning to hear the case.

Face-biting suspect is taken to jail

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A college student who deputies say bit a dead man's face after stabbing him and his wife to death outside their home was released from the hospital Monday and taken to jail almost two months after the attack. Shackled and thinner, Austin Harrouff, 19, answered no questions as law-enforcement officers led him from the hospital to an SUV for the trip to the Martin County jail, where he arrived Monday afternoon. Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said Harrouff was charged Sunday with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder for the Aug. 15 slayings of John Stevens, 59, and Michelle Mishcon, 53, at their Tequesta, Florida, home and the stabbing of their neighbor. Harrouff had been hospitalized and sedated since shortly after the attack. Snyder has said Harrouff may have ingested caustic chemicals from the couple's garage during the attack. Harrouff's father, Dr. Wade Harrouff, a dentist, had said last month his son's liver was failing, he had fluid in his lungs, and his esophagus was bleeding.

Racist Obama post gets worker fired

ATLANTA -- Officials with a Georgia school district said an employee was fired after she described first lady Michelle Obama as a gorilla on Facebook. Forsyth County Schools stated elementary-school paraprofessional Jane Wood Allen was fired Monday. The statement said "racism and discrimination are not tolerated" in the school district. District spokeswoman Jennifer Caracciolo confirmed Monday the decision to fire Allen was made after officials learned of the Facebook postings. No one answered the phone Monday at a number listed for Allen.

-- From wire reports