FBI Chief Says ‘Usual Process’ Followed in Kavanaugh Probe

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Chris Wray said Wednesday that the FBI’s background investigation of new Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was limited in scope but that the “usual process” was followed. Wray’s comments at a Senate committee hearing on national security threats were his first public statements about the bureau’s investigation into Kavanaugh’s past…

Small Plane Flips at Missouri Airport, Injuring 2 Pilots

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (AP) — Authorities say two longtime pilots were seriously hurt when a small plane flipped at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Saint Francis Medical Center says Lowell Peterson is hospitalized in critical condition and Jack Mehner in serious condition after Tuesday crash. The Southeast Missourian reports that it’s unclear which man was flying the…

Police Investigate After Handcuffed Man Steals Police SUV

ARNOLD, MO (AP) — Authorities are investigating whether policies were violated that allowed a handcuffed man to commandeer a police sport utility vehicle in suburban St. Louis. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that 23-year-old Emir Muhic, of Arnold, was arrested Monday after a chase ended with a crash. He’s charged with second-degree assault, stealing and resisting…

Supercharged Overnight, Hurricane Michael Menaces Florida

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…

Images Surface Of Saudis Allegedly Sent To Target Journalist

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…