Three tornados ripped through Virginia, with one leaving behind a 25-mile trail of gutted homes, tossed cars and more than 200 injured residents.

Three tornados ripped through Virginia, with one leaving behind a 25-mile trail of gutted homes, tossed cars and more than 200 injured residents.

A judge has relaxed restrictions on John Hinckley, the man who shot former US president Ronald Reagan, to allow him his first overnight visits outside the Washington area in almost 25 years.

Washington sniper John Muhammad was waiting today to hear if he would face the death penalty after being convicted of using a high-powered rifle, a battered car and a teenage sidekick to murder and terrorise people.

Lawyers for Washington sniper suspect Lee Malvo are to mount an insanity defence at his murder trial, arguing that the teenager was a victim of “indoctrination” by his older co-defendant John Muhammad.

Hurricane Isabel pushed its way up the US eastern seaboard, weakening from 100 mph winds to a tropical storm but not before swamping roads and knocking out power to more than 2.5 million people.

Hurricane Isabel ploughed into the US east coast with 100 mph winds causing at least three deaths and knocking out power to more than 2.5 million people.

US President George W Bush today declared North Carolina a disaster area as Hurricane Isabel ploughed into coastal islands on the US eastern seaboard with 100 mph winds.

Nearly a million people were without electricity on America’s east coast tonight as hurricane Isabel slammed ashore.

The large eye of a weakened Hurricane Isabel crossed the coastal islands off North Carolina today as the storm pounded the coast.