National News

By JENNIFER KAY and GARY FINEOUT , Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — Residents of Florida's Panhandle frantically filled sandbags, boarded up homes and secured boats in harbors Monday as they anxiously awaited Hurricane Michael, which forecasters warned could smash into the northeast Gulf Coast as a dangerous major hurricane within days. Fueled by warm tropical…

By KATHY GANNON , Associated Press ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's Supreme Court postponed its ruling Monday on the final appeal of a Christian woman who has been on death row since 2010 after being convicted of blasphemy against Islam. The judicial panel listened to Asia Bibi's defense lawyer challenge statements by those who accused her…

By JENNIFER KAY and GARY FINEOUT , Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — A tropical weather system that rapidly strengthened into Hurricane Michael on Monday is likely to keep growing stronger ahead of an expected strike on Florida's Panhandle by midweek, forecasters said. Michael could strengthen into a major hurricane with winds topping 111 mph (178…

PORT-DE-PAIX, Haiti (AP) — The death toll from a 5.9 earthquake that hit Haiti over the weekend rose to at least 15 people with 333 injured, according to updated figures released Monday by authorities, as rescue crews worked to help victims spooked by strong aftershocks. Haiti's civil protection agency said in a statement that it…

SCHOHARIE, NY (AP) — The supersized limousine involved in a crash that killed 20 people outside a country store failed a recent safety inspection and shouldn't have been on the road, and the driver wasn't properly licensed, New York's governor said Monday. The state ordered the owner, Prestige Limousine, shut down while an investigation continues…