Coroner Releases Names of 23 Tornado Victims
Officials on Tuesday released the names and ages of the 23 tornado victims in Lee County. They range in age from six to 89 years old. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones says the death toll hasn’t increased, but seven to eight people are still missing.
County coroner Bill Harris says the EF-4 tornado, with winds estimated at 170 mph, killed seven people in one family – alone.
“We believe that every victim was in the residence when the storm hit,” he says.
Overall, four of the deaths were children ages 6, 8, 9, and 10. Close to half of the victims were older than 60. Most of the 90 people injured have been released from the hospital.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Darden says people didn’t have much time to go far. “Right on the county line there probably about five minutes of warning but right here in town there was about eight to nine minutes.”
Darden estimates the Lee County tornado continued into Georgia for about 46 more miles. Three of Sunday’s tornadoes in surrounding counties have also been upgraded to an EF-2.
Beauregard, an unincorporated area of about 10,000 people near the Georgia line, was hardest hit.
FCC calls for more ‘patriotic, pro-America’ programming in runup to 250th anniversary
The "Pledge America Campaign" urges broadcasters to focus on programming that highlights "the historic accomplishments of this great nation from our founding through the Trump Administration today."
NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission may not launch in March after all
NASA says an "interrupted flow" of helium to the rocket system could require a rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building. If it happens, NASA says the launch to the moon would be delayed until April.
Mississippi health system shuts down clinics statewide after ransomware attack
The attack was launched on Thursday and prompted hospital officials to close all of its 35 clinics across the state.
Blizzard conditions and high winds forecast for NYC, East coast
The winter storm is expected to bring blizzard conditions and possibly up to 2 feet of snow in New York City.
Norway’s Johannes Klæbo is new Winter Olympics king
Johannes Klaebo won all six cross-country skiing events at this year's Winter Olympics, the surpassing Eric Heiden's five golds in 1980.
Willie Colón, salsa pioneer, has died at 75
The South Bronx bandleader took the Latin genre to new heights while recording for Fania Records.
