The Latest: Maria floods damaged North Carolina beach towns

The federal government will pick up 100 percent of the costs of debris removal and other emergency assistance to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. President Donald Trump made the change Tuesday as part of an amendment to his earlier disaster declaration authorizing federal aid.

Data Show Media Hype Over Irma Generated Enormous Public Attention

Media reports prior to Irma's arrival painted the massive storm as perhaps one of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes to ever make landfall in the U.S. Data from Google show that interest from the U.S. about Hurricane Maria was substantially less than during both Harvey and Irma. The data, which calculated the number of times people searched for specific terms related to the storms, excludes interest generated from people living in Puerto Rico.

San Juan mayor to Trump: Maria relief, debt crisis are ‘two different issues’

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yuln Cruz responded to President Donald Trump's tweets about the island's debt crisis and hurricane relief Tuesday, saying "these are two different issues." On Monday, Trump linked Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricane Maria to the debt crisis that has wracked the territory since last year.

Mariaa s toll in Puerto Rico hits home for House budget chief

The Latest on the French president's Europe speech : 4:25 p.m. French President Emmanuel Macron says EU countr Residents at La Perla community in Old San Juan cling to their battered residences after the scourge of Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017.

Trump tweets about Puerto Rico problems, as feds rush aid

The U.S. ramped up its response Monday to the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico, even as President Donald Trump brought up the island's struggles before Hurricane Maria struck - including "billions of dollars" in debt to "Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with." The Trump administration has tried to blunt criticism that its response to Hurricane Maria has fallen short of its efforts in Texas and Florida after the recent hurricanes there.

Mechanical problem to blame for smoke in jet cabin at Fresno airport, Allegiant Air says

Smoke filled the cabin of an Allegiant Air jet after it landed at a California airport on Monday, forcing coughing passengers to cover their faces with shirts and firefighters to board the plane, authorities said. None of the 150 passengers or six crew members was injured when the plane from Las Vegas landed at Fresno International Airport, Allegiant Air said.

Defence Department: Hurricane relief around-the-clock

The U.S. Defence Department was working around the clock to deliver humanitarian assistance to storm-stricken Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, a military spokesman said Monday. The Navy's USS Kearsarge, in addition to conducting medical evacuations and helping with relief supplies, ferried Marine and Navy teams into Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, to clear main roads and the airfield to bolster air support to the overall relief effort, said Pentagon spokesman Col.

The Latest: House speaker promises aid for hurricane victims

House Speaker Paul Ryan promises that Washington will make sure that the people of hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico will "have what they need." The Wisconsin Republican's statement came as authorities struggle to provide adequate relief to the more than 3 million U.S. citizens on the island territory, which is without power and has seen terrible devastation.

Wade to AP: Weighing options after agreeing to Bulls’ buyout

Church's divine plan to beat the recession and keep tithes flowing in involved filing fraudulent unemployment claims at companies owned by congregants, former followers say. Church's divine plan to beat the recession and keep tithes flowing in involved filing fraudulent unemployment claims at companies owned by congregants, former followers say.

Hurricane Maria weakens to Category 2; Puerto Rico dealing with threat of dam failure

Fears in storm-battered Puerto Rico have shifted to a failing dam as the U.S. territory reels from the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria. Early Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said failure of the Guajataca Dam in northwest Puerto Rico is "imminent" and could cause "life-threatening flash flooding" downstream on the Guajataca River.