AP Headline News May 24 2019 05:00 (EDT)

 

AP Radio News. I'm Rita Foley.

 

7 people are now known dead in the storms that pummeled the Midwest and Southern Plains this week. The National Weather Service says it appears the tornado that slammed into Missouri's Capital Jefferson City Wednesday night was an EF3 which can blow 160 mile per hour winds. Resident Iesha McClain says she and her family got battered as the storm ripped her home apart.

"(?) bricks, the roof. It was a terrifying moment for me. That scared. I was really scared. I'm still scared."

 

Somebody tested positive for measles after going through Dallas Ft.Worth airport on May 15th. Health officials are warning travellers to make sure they're immunized. Tarrant county public health director Vinny Taneja on who's at risk.

"Only those individuals who might have been at the airport during that time and don't have immunization against measles. If they're not protected, they're the only ones who really are at risk."

 

Today is a getaway day for many Americans who will enjoy a long holiday weekend. AAA says nearly 43 million of us will be travelling. The top Memorial day travel destination, Orlando followed by New York, Las Vegas and Honolulu. If you're driving, gas is $2.85 a gallon today on average. Last year at this time, it was $2.97.

 

President Trump is directing the U.S. intelligence community to cooperate with Attorney General William Barr's investigation into how the Russia probes started.

 

There're new charges now against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange . These new charges accuse him of violating the espionage act by publishing documents that were secret. Consequently some traditional journalists are worried now that this may have unpleasant implications for them. This is AP Radio News.

 

A victim who survived the Florida serial killer watched him die last night. Lisa Noland who was 17 years old when she was abducted and raped by Bobby Joe Long in 1984 before he let her go was a witness to the serial killer's execution in Florida. She tells reporters.

"It was very comforting for me to know that this was actually happening to be honest. It's been a long time coming."

Noland said she wanted Long to look her in the eye to be the first person he saw in the witness room but he didn't open his eyes. After Long freed her in November 1984, Noland led police to him who later admitted to killing 10 women in the Tampa Bay area. I'm Tim McGuire.

 

Today is a graduation day for more than a thousand midshipman at the Naval Academy in Minneapolis, Maryland. Each of them will get a bachelor's science degree and be commissioned as either in Navy ensign or 2nd lieutenant in the Marines. The acting Degfense Secretary will deliver the commencement address. Rita Foley, AP Radio News.