National News

By JAY REEVES , Associated Press PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) — Gaining frightening fury overnight, Hurricane Michael closed in Wednesday on the Florida Panhandle with potentially catastrophic winds of 145 mph, the most powerful storm on record ever to menace the stretch of fishing towns, military bases and spring-break beaches. With more than 375,000 people…

By AYSE WIETING, SUZAN FRASER and JON GAMBRELL ,  Associated Press ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish media close to the president published images Wednesday of what it described as a 15-member "assassination squad" allegedly sent to target Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and of a black van later traveling from the Saudi consulate, where he went missing, to…

By DAVID BAUDER , AP Media Writer . NEW YORK (AP) — Journalists are familiar with the risks of reporting from war-torn lands, but the recent death or disappearance of three people in Turkey, Bulgaria and Mexico illustrate the growing dangers to reporters targeted for practicing their craft. Authorities in Turkey are searching for Jamal…

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON and TAMARA LUSH , Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A fast and furious Hurricane Michael sped toward the Florida Panhandle on Tuesday with 110 mph winds and a potential storm surge of 12 feet, giving tens of thousands of people precious little time to get out or board up. Drawing energy…

SCHOHARIE, NY (AP) — The limousine service under scrutiny after a crash that killed 20 people fixed safety violations in its fleet before the tragedy, said a lawyer who suggested the driver was unfamiliar with the rural road. Prestige Limousine has been criticized for maintaining vehicles rife with violations and for employing a driver lacking…