A former leading scientist at the National Institutes of Health has sued the Trump administration, saying she was illegally fired for warning that research cuts were endangering patients and public health.

A research scientist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham has been named to succeed Dr. Anthony Fauci as the nation’s top infectious disease expert.

Florida reported 3,207 additional coronavirus cases on Thursday -- the largest single-day count in the state since the pandemic, according to the state health department. Floridas total reported cases climbed to nearly 86,000, according to data. Asa Hutchinson extended a state public health emergency set to expire Friday by another 45 days. In Arizona, health officials on Thursday reported a new single-day high for coronavirus cases for the second time in this week, with 2,519 new cases. The county Public Health Department is working to track everyone he came into contact with, he said on Facebook.