National News

By GARY FINEOUT and BRENDAN FARRINGTON , Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A hand recount began Friday in Florida's acrimonious U.S. Senate contest after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by fewer than 13,000 votes out of more than 8 million cast. Under…

By HYUNG-JIN KIM and KIM TONG-HYUNG ,  Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Friday that it will deport an American citizen it detained one month ago for illegally entering the country. The announcement suggests that North Korea still wants to maintain the mood for dialogue with the United States despite stalled nuclear…

Eds: Updates with information from Philadelphia. Restructures story. Revises summary, headline. AP Video. Audio. With AP Photos. NEW YORK (AP) — One of the first big storms of the season moved across the eastern half of the country Thursday, contributing to at least seven traffic deaths and closing schools as it dropped snow as far…

 By ANNABELLE LIANG and ELAINE KURTENBACH ,  Associated Press SINGAPORE (AP) — The U.S. and China offered rival visions for the Asia-Pacific region Thursday at a summit of Southeast Asian nations whose economies and strategic interests are deeply entwined with both powers, with Vice President Mike Pence saying there was no room for "empire or aggression"…

By KATHLEEN RONAYNE and ANDREW SELSKY , Associated Press PARADISE, Calif. (AP) — With scores of people still missing, National Guard troops searched Wednesday through charred debris for more victims of California's deadliest wildfire as top federal and state officials toured the ruins of a community completely destroyed by the flames. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke…