SUMMARY: A devastating EF3 tornado with winds around 133 mph struck Laurel County, Kentucky, destroying dozens of homes and causing severe damage in subdivisions like Sunh Hill. Kentucky Governor Andy Basher confirmed 18 deaths statewide, 17 in Laurel County, mostly people over 65, with 10 critically injured. The destruction is patchy, with some homes completely demolished while nearby ones remain mostly intact. The community has rallied quickly, organizing donations and emergency shelters. Power outages affected 83,000 people statewide, with about 2,000 still without power in Laurel County. Recovery efforts are in early stages, and authorities hope the death toll doesn’t rise.

The people of the Bluegrass State immediately began helping each other, organizing donations and setting up emergency shelters after the reported tornado.

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SUMMARY: Nashville high schooler Reagan Harkins completed his goal of riding every WeGo bus route in Davidson County just before graduation. Starting as a sophomore, Reagan created a “bus-ket list” to explore the city by bus, gaining new insights into Nashville’s layout and recent developments. For his final route, he was joined by Mayor Freddie O’Connell, a transit advocate who has pushed for a transit tax to improve the system. Though Reagan’s full challenge isn’t over—he plans to ride regional routes this summer—this project has been a meaningful way to say goodbye to the city before attending Cornell University.

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SUMMARY: Severe weather has caused at least 27 deaths across Kentucky, Missouri, and Virginia. In Kentucky, 18 people, including a firefighter, died as storms tore through southern parts of the state. Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency, and survey teams are assessing damage to understand the storm’s intensity. The National Weather Service is analyzing tornado paths across multiple counties, with rescue operations continuing. Over 90 million people across the U.S. have faced floods, winds, hail, and tornadoes. Missouri and Virginia also saw fatalities, including two deaths in Virginia from fallen trees.

At least 27 people have been killed by storms systems that swept across part of the U.S. Midwest and South, with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announcing Saturday that 18 of the deaths came in his state and 10 others were hospitalized in critical condition.

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