MIAMI — South Florida could see serious flooding over the next few days, even before what will be Hurricane Milton crosses the state on Wednesday, and local governments are getting ready.

Its precise path is unclear, but Milton is expected to dump more water on a region already soaked by unrelated rain. Although several areas were already ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — The National Hurricane Center warned Saturday that newly formed Tropical Storm Milton will intensify into a major hurricane before it hits Florida next week.

“Milton is within favorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions for strengthening,” said NHC Branch Chief Daniel Brown. “With the expected low vertical wind shear ...Read more

CHICAGO — A gray Honda CRV pulled out of traffic Wednesday afternoon on Pulaski Road and stopped near the homeless encampment that stretches along the fence between Gompers Park and the Salvation Army Mayfair Community Church.

“Stay the (expletive) out of Gompers Park!” the driver yelled before he rolled up the window and rejoined ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Emergency officials responding to the Hurricane Helene disaster in western North Carolina say false rumors on social media are impeding their efforts to help tens of thousands of people in need.

“False information is being widely shared on social media channels, including AI-generated content and images,” N.C. Department...Read more

LOS ANGELES — When kindergarten teacher Cynthia Farrow searched for a community where she could raise her family and afford a home with enough space for a few horses, she settled on the sunswept desert town of Littlerock in the Antelope Valley.

Farrow, along with her husband Gary and their 10-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter bought a home...Read more

RALEIGH, N.C. — U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd said Friday that an active-duty military leader should be assigned to oversee the rescue and recovery efforts in western North Carolina.

After President Joe Biden approved up to 1,000 U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Fort Liberty to assist with the response to Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, ...Read more

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — When Helene barreled through Asheville, it was like nothing Renee Maynor had ever seen.

Maynor, who is experiencing homelessness, grew up in Charlotte. Like many in the region, when thinking about big hurricanes, she always thought of 1989’s Hurricane Hugo when she thought of big hurricanes.

But now, she’ll think of the...Read more

The U.S. Supreme Court opens its new term under the shadow of a presidential election that threatens to create fresh strains at a court already deeply enmeshed in the nation’s political divisions.

Three months after releasing a barrage of far-reaching rulings, the justices return to the bench Monday with a docket that looks relatively tamer, ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — For the first time in nearly three decades, Erik and Lyle Menendez have some reason to hope they might one day live as free men.

In 1989, the Menendez brothers bought a pair of shotguns with cash, walked into their Beverly Hills home and shot their parents — Jose and Kitty — while they watched a movie in the family living ...Read more

CHICAGO — The mass resignation of the 7-member Chicago Board of Education may be only the first in a series of upheavals in Chicago Public Schools leadership, heralding an uncertain future for students and families in the district.

Although the board will transition to a hybrid elected and appointed makeup in January of 2025, the current ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If Missouri voters overturn the state’s abortion ban in November, how widely available abortion eventually becomes will depend in large part on whether courts block the state’s current restrictions on medications commonly used to end a pregnancy.

Before Missouri became the first state to ban abortion moments after the U...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California has strengthened a new Beaver Restoration Program which is dedicated to supporting the species and their habitats.

With the passing of Assembly Bill 2196, the program has partnered with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The initiative works with California tribal nations, private landowners and ...Read more

WASHINGTON — In a late Friday night missive to congressional leaders, President Joe Biden wrote that the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program is expected to run out of funding before Congress reconvenes after the November elections.

The SBA needs $1.6 billion to keep up with thousands of new applications coming in each day ...Read more

CHICAGO — Lawyers representing Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover filed a motion Friday asking the judge overseeing Hoover’s request for release from a life sentence to recuse himself because of his “intimidating” and “entirely inappropriate” comments at a hearing last week.

The request focuses on U.S. District Judge John ...Read more

Exiled opposition leader Edmundo González said he will return to Venezuela for the start of the new presidential term in January.

González, a presidential candidate in July’s presidential elections, presented detailed proof from a majority of polling stations that showed him as winner with nearly 70% of the vote. He fled to Spain last ...Read more