Tornadoes
The Story
Communities in the South are picking up the pieces.
Tell me more.
Over the weekend, tornadoes ripped through Mississippi and Alabama. At least 26 people died, including a 1-year-old girl. Dozens of others were injured. Whole neighborhoods were flattened. Rolling Fork, MS, was hit the hardest with at least 166 mph winds. Gov. Tate Reeves (R-MS) called the town “ground zero” for the storm. Experts say they believe a tornado was on the ground for more than an hour and traveled 170 miles — which is “very rare.” Tennessee and Georgia have also been struck. Now, after at least 10 confirmed tornadoes hit, rescue efforts are underway. But the threat of more severe weather in parts of the South could complicate those efforts.
What’s being done to help?
Yesterday, President Biden issued a disaster declaration for Mississippi, giving the state access to federal funds for recovery efforts and temporary housing. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) teams are reportedly going door to door to register residents for aid. Shelters in Mississippi are taking in displaced residents. Reeves and Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) declared states of emergency. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said federal officials will “provide support to the impacted communities.” Rolling Fork Mayor Eldridge Walker promised his town would come back, “bigger and better than ever before.”
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Mississippi is one of the poorest states in the country and its road to recovery could be a long one. Officials are still assessing the damages. But amid more storms, it’s not clear what recovery efforts will look like.
And also...This
Where else people are mourning…
Pennsylvania. Over the weekend, a chocolate factory exploded in West Reading, PA, killing at least seven and injuring at least 10 others. The candy company employs about 850 people. Rescue officials recovered more bodies yesterday, and have been working to find possible survivors. The local fire chief said the chance of finding more survivors is "decreasing rapidly" as time passes. Officials are investigating the cause of the explosion.
Where there’s a deal…
Los Angeles. On Friday, the LA Unified School District reached a tentative agreement with the union representing special education assistants, bus drivers, and other support staff. The deal comes after a three-day strike shut down the nation’s second-largest school district, keeping more than 420,000 students away from classrooms. The union demanded better pay and benefits for staff making an average of $25,000 a year. Now, the district’s agreed to a 30% wage increase, bonuses, and some health benefits. It will also set the school district's minimum wage at $22.52 an hour. LA Mayor Karen Bass, who helped negotiate the deal, reportedly said she’s hopeful it’ll lead to a “better future” for workers and students. The full union will have to vote on the deal before it goes into effect.
…Oh and speaking of schools, a Florida principal resigned after a parent complained that a sixth-grade lesson on Michelangelo's statue of David was pornographic.
What’s seeing changes…
Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). Late last night, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said First Citizens Bank is buying SVB at a discount of $16.5 billion. Earlier this month, SVB became the second-biggest bank failure in US history after Washington Mutual crumbled in 2008. SVB’s collapse sent the banking world scrambling, creating fear that other regional banks could fail. Now, First Citizens Bank is taking over SVB’s $110 billion in assets, as well as deposits and loans. As of today, all 17 former SVB branches will be running as a division of First Citizens Bank.
Who people are talking about…
Jonathan Majors. On Saturday, the actor known for his roles in “Creed III” and “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” was arrested in New York on charges of assault, harassment, and strangulation. Authorities said Majors was involved in a domestic dispute with a 30-year-old woman who was taken to the hospital with minor head and neck injuries. An attorney for Majors said there’s evidence that he’s “entirely innocent.” Still, the US Army said it’s suspending its TV ad with the Marvel actor for the time being. Majors is scheduled to appear in court in May.
What has people checking their brackets…
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Zayn Malik's and Harry Styles’ dating lives.
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