Growing Hurricane Earl threatens north Caribbean

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Hurricane Earl lashed the northeastern Caribbean with heavy rain and strong winds today, causing flooding in parts of the low-lying Leeward Islands and emptying the streets and beaches as people waited out the storm. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Earl, which formed on Sunday, already had sustained winds of 110 mph (175 kph) and was likely to keep growing.