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U.S. NEWS Saturday 19 OctOber 2019
Tropical Storm Nestor forms, threatening US Gulf Coast

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON Beach, Florida. Forecasters
Associated Press expect blustery winds and
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) heavy rain in parts of Ala-
— Newly formed Tropical bama, Georgia and north-
Storm Nestor bore down ern Florida, reaching the
on the northern Gulf Coast Carolinas and Virginia by
with high winds, surging Sunday.
seas and heavy rains Fri- The Coast Guard said 20-
day, threatening to hit an foot (6-meter) seas were
area of the Florida Panhan- possible around Panama
dle devastated one year City, and dangerous rip cur-
ago by Hurricane Michael. rents were possible along
But unlike Michael, a pow- beaches during what is still
erful storm that left thou- a busy tourism period.
sands of people home- In New Orleans, winds ham-
less and nearly wiped the pered crews that were try-
Panhandle city of Mexico ing to place explosives to
Beach off the map, Florida topple to damaged con-
wasn't bracing for a catas- struction cranes towering
trophe. over a partially collapse
"We've done very little hotel project at the edge
preparation only because of the French Quarter. Offi-
there's nothing really to cials delayed plans to bring
prepare for," said Mexi- A group of people watch as a pigeons spooked by a dog take flight on the beach at Okaloosa down the structures before
co City Beach Mayor Al Island near Fort Walton Beach, Fla., on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. Nestor approached.
Cathey. "We haven't seen Associated Press "We're working as fast as
any alarm at all." with that. There's nothing the northern Gulf Coast, about 150 miles (240 kilo- possible," said Fire Chief Tim
As of Friday evening, the in this system that I've seen plus heavy rain that could meters) south-southeast of McConnell.
state had activated its that tells me Mexico Beach help a parched region the mouth of the Mississippi High schools from Alabama
emergency operations needs to be alarmed." dealing with a drought. River — or about 280 miles to the eastern Florida Pan-
center, but only at its low- Nestor was forecast to hit Conditions were expected (450 kilometers southwest handle called off football
est level. In an area that's the coast around Mexico to deteriorate along the of Panama City, Florida. It games scheduled for Fri-
recently gone weeks with- Beach on Saturday morn- coast late Friday into early had top sustained winds of day night, and officials in
out rain, the storm was seen ing without strengthening Saturday. Events including 60 mph (95 kph) and was Panama City tried to assure
more as a welcome sight. into a hurricane. Blasted by high school football games moving to the northeast at residents that the storm
"You have to keep it in Michael in October 2018, were canceled or post- 22 mph (35 kph). wouldn't be a repeat of
perspective: 75 percent the area is still trying to re- poned, but officials were A tropical storm warning Category 5 Hurricane Mi-
of our city was destroyed," cover. trying to calm fears of a was in effect from Navarre, chael last year.
Cathey said. "A little rain is The National Hurricane hard hit similar to Hurricane Florida, to Yankeetown, "We are optimistic this will
welcome. Hopefully it won't Center said high winds and Michael last year. Florida. A storm surge warn- be a slight wind and rain
be something crazy, but dangerous storm surge Forecasters said that as of 4 ing is in effect for Indian event," said Bay County
if that's all it is, I can deal were likely along parts of p.m. Friday, the storm was Pass, Florida, to Clearwater Sheriff Tommy Ford.q

Cohen turns to Congress in bid to shorten prison sentence

By JIM MUSTIAN dressed to U.S. Reps. Adam dishonesty by Trump in his
Associated Press Schiff, Jerrold Nadler and business affairs. Federal law
NEW YORK (AP) — President Elijah Cummings. Cum- allows prosecutors to file a
Donald Trump's imprisoned mings died this week fol- so-called Rule 35 motion
former lawyer, Michael lowing longstanding health asking a judge to shorten
Cohen, is again turning to challenges. Cohen last the sentence of a defen-
Congress as part of a re- year pleaded guilty to sev- dant who provides "sub-
newed bid to reduce his eral charges, including tax stantial assistance in inves-
prison sentence. evasion, lying to Congress tigating or prosecuting an-
Cohen's lawyers sent a and breaking campaign other person."
letter to the Democratic finance laws by arranging The letter, obtained by The
heads of three congressio- payments to porn actress Associated Press, notes that
nal committees last month Stormy Daniels and Play- prosecutors have so far
urging them to ask U.S. Dis- boy centerfold Karen Mc- shown no interest in inter-
trict Judge William H. Pau- Dougal to keep them quiet vening on Cohen's behalf.
ley III to cut the length of In this Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, file photo, Michael Cohen, about alleged affairs with But it asserts that a request
his three-year prison term, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, reacts as he Trump. The president has to reduce a sentence is not
and allow Cohen to serve finishes a day of testimony to the House Oversight and Reform denied any sexual relation- restricted to "line prosecu-
his time at his New York City Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington. ship with either woman and tors or the Department of
apartment. Associated Press said any payments were Justice."
The letter said Cohen de- sending him home from a curity risk whatsoever to personal matters, not cam- Lanny Davis, one of Co-
served leniency because prison 70 miles outside the Judge Pauley granting paign expenses. hen's attorneys, said Cohen
of the "substantial assis- city would make him more such a request for a first of- After he was sentenced, is still willing to meet with
tance" he had provided to easily accessible to investi- fender who was convicted Cohen testified in several prosecutors to discuss an
congressional committees gators. of a non-violent crime," Congressional inquiries array of subjects and po-
scrutinizing Trump. It said "There is no discernible se- said the Sept. 16 letter, ad- about what he said was tential criminal targets. q