2013 MAY
May 22, 2013

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin on Immediate Needs, Future Safety Provisions
As Oklahomans affected by the monster tornado begin cleanup efforts, Judy Woodruff talks with Gov. Mary Fallin about the most essential needs of survivors who have lost homes or loved ones, how federal agencies are assisting in the recovery and what should be done in the future to ensure that residents have safe shelter.

  

May 22, 2013

Oklahomans Cope With Loss, Tally Costs as Rescue Effort Shifts to Recovery
The monster tornado that ripped through Oklahoma is believed to have affected 33,000 people and destroyed or damaged 12,000 to 13,000 homes, according to official estimates. Gwen Ifill reports on residents returning home to to see what remains of the lives they knew before the storm.

  

May 22, 2013

In Tornado Aftermath, What Residents of Moore Can Learn From Joplin
As homeowners, business leaders and city officials in Moore, Okla., begin to grapple with damage from the devastating tornado, just 220 miles away, residents of Joplin, Mo., are remembering their own losses two years ago and are responding to the Oklahoma tragedy by sending help, donations and hope.

May 21, 2013

Okla. Town Confronts Reality of Rebuilding After Stunningly Powerful Tornado
A monster tornado nearly flattened the town of Moore, Okla. Jeffrey Brown gets reaction from Time magazine's Jay Newton-Small, Sgt. Jeremy Lewis of the Moore Police Department and Bob Henson from the National Center for Atmospheric Research about the devastation, the latest rescue efforts and the science behind the mighty storm.

  

May 21, 2013

Survivors of Monster Oklahoma Tornado Share Harrowing Stories
In Moore, Okla., residents of the town devastated by a powerful tornado began surveying damage and assessing losses. Rescue crews combed through rubble through the night, searching for survivors in a disaster that has so far claimed 24 lives. Gwen Ifill reports on the grueling efforts to recover after the storm.

  

May 21, 2013

Tornado Classified at Top of Scale; NBA Star Durant Pledges $1 Million
The National Weather Service announced Tuesday that the tornado was a top-of-the-scale EF-5 twister with winds of at least 200 mph. The tornado's path was 17 miles long and 1.3 miles wide.

May 21, 2013

Just as in 1999, Oklahoma Town Rebuilds After Twister
NewsHour correspondent Betty Ann Bowser visited residents just returning to their homes after tornadoes swept through Oklahoma and Kansas in 1999.

May 20, 2013

Mile-Wide Tornado Rips Through Suburban Oklahoma City
A mile-wide tornado ripped through suburban Oklahoma City Monday. Video showed homes and buildings in Moore, Okla., were reduced to rubble, and vehicles littered roadways south and southwest of Oklahoma City.

May 20, 2013

Massive, Mile-Wide Tornado Leaves Wake of Destruction Outside Oklahoma City
Two tornadoes struck the Oklahoma City area within 24 hours, leaving behind miles of devastation and leveling scores of homes. Kwame Holman reports on the extreme weather in Oklahoma. Jeffrey Brown talks to Gary Knight of the Oklahoma City Police Department and Bill Bunting of the National Severe Storm Prediction Center.

  

May 16, 2013

Latest Forecast Shows the U.S. Drought Moving West
The drought shows signs of lifting in the East -- but the forecast shows more trouble ahead as the drought is expected to intensify in the West and Central Plains this summer, according to NOAA.

May 15, 2013

Global Cities Get Help Preparing for Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather
Judy Woodruff reports on a $100 million initiative to better prepare 100 cities around the world for natural disasters and extreme weather, both natural and man-made. Judy Woodruff talks to Judith Rodin, president of the Rockefeller Foundation, and Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado about the importance of making more resilient cities.

  

May 15, 2013

How Cities Are Preparing for the Next Big Disaster
Last fall Hurricane Sandy crippled sections of the East Coast of North America, with damages in the billions of dollars. Recently the Rockefeller Foundation announced a $35 million grant program to help cities develop disaster preparedness plans and to ensure resilient cities that can bounce back.

May 3, 2013

News Wrap: Fast-Moving Wildfires Reach Pacific Ocean in California
In other news Friday, a fast-growing wildfire in Southern California has reached the Pacific Ocean. Firefighters have contained only 10 percent of the blaze. Also, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving Boston bombing suspect, told officials the original date for the attack was set for July 4th.

  

APRIL
April 24, 2013

Heavy April Showers Inundate Midwest States With Widespread Flooding
Steady downpours across the Midwest have swollen rivers, creeks and streams beyond their banks. The Illinois River reached a 70-year high and so far four people in three states have died. Ray Suarez reports on how communities have been coping with rising waters, heavy rain and increasing damage.

  

April 19, 2013

News Wrap: Search Continues for Survivors of Texas Explosion
In other news Friday, rescuers continued to search for survivors of the fertilizer explosion in the small town of West, Texas, where 60 people were still unaccounted for. Also, the Boy Scouts of America has proposed ending the organization's ban on gay scouts while continuing to ban gay adult leaders.

  

April 18, 2013

News Wrap: Mississippi Man Charged for Sending Letters Laced With Ricin
In other news Thursday, Mississippi resident Paul Kevin Curtis has been charged with sending letters tainted with ricin to President Barack Obama and Sen. Roger Wicker. Curtis claims to be innocent. Also, upper Midwest states were hit with intense flooding following heavy rainfall. A sinkhole in Chicago swallowed three cars.

  

April 18, 2013

Search Continues for Survivors of Texas Explosion
The explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant has left scores injured and killed a still unconfirmed number of people. Although the cause of the explosion is yet unknown, authorities say there is no evidence of foul play. Ray Suarez talks with KERA Public Radio's BJ Austin for more on the investigation and the search for survivors.

  

April 18, 2013

Fertilizer Plant Explosion Devastates Texas Town, Forces Residents to Evacuate
A fire and resulting explosion at a fertilizer plant has ravaged the small Texas town of West. The massive blast, which occurred around 8 p.m. local time, left surrounding streets in ruins. Ray Suarez reports on the continuing search for survivors and the mounting toll of dead and wounded.

  

April 1, 2013

News Wrap: Dense Fog Precipitates Deadly Car Pileup in Viriginia
In other news Monday, three people died and dozens more were injured as a result of a massive pileup on a Southwest Virginia interstate. Police say a dense fog bank triggered 17 separate crashes along I-77 Sunday. Also, the Kenyan Supreme Court confirmed Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner of the country's recent presidential contest.

  

MARCH
March 14, 2013

State of Life in Japan Two Years After Massive Earthquake and Tsumani
In 2011 Japan was hit with one of the strongest earthquakes in recorded history, prompting a devastating tsunami and a nuclear disaster. How are residents coping with the aftermath two years later? Ray Suarez interviews Yuki Tatsumi, senior analyst on U.S.-Japanese relations at the Stimson Center.

  

March 11, 2013

Japanese Town Hit Hard by Natural and Nuclear Disaster Imagines Renewable Future
Special correspondent Emily Taguchi reports from Minamisoma, Japan, a town aching for a comeback after an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown. When the whole region lost its faith in nuclear power, some residents looked to the possibility of rebuilding industry by utilizing renewable energy sources.

  

March 8, 2013

A Writer Reflects on the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami, Two Years Later
Poet and writer Gretel Ehrlich shares her reflections on the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in 2011, where she traveled to document the physical and emotional aftermath. Best known for her nature and travel writing, Ehrlich has authored 13 books, including three of poetry.

  

March 8, 2013

Gretel Ehrlich Reads From 'Facing the Wave'
Gretel Ehrlich reads more from her book, "Facing the Wave: A Journey in the Wake of the Tsunami."

March 6, 2013

News Wrap: Mid-Atlantic Hit With Late Winter Storm
In other news Wednesday, a major winter storm hit the Mid-Atlantic area. Washington, D.C., was spared, while some areas of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland saw as much as a foot of snow. Also, a filibuster led by Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul over drone use stalled the confirmation of John Brennan to be director of the CIA.

  

FEBRUARY
Feb. 27, 2013

For Winter Sports Industry, Decreasing Snowfall Sends Business Downhill
While winter storms have blasted parts of the Midwest and Northeast, a lack of steady and deep snow -- less accumulation and faster melt -- has had serious effects for the ski industry. Hari Sreenivasan reports on how winter sports businesses are navigating the season as part of the Coping with Climate Change series.

  

Feb. 26, 2013

News Wrap: Iran Nuclear Negotiations Get Reboot
In other news Tuesday, negotiations on Iran's nuclear program started again for the first time in eight months at two-day talks in Kazakhstan. Also, the midwest suffered a second blizzard in a week, with heavy snow that knocked out power lines.

  

Feb. 22, 2013

News Wrap: FDA Approves Breast Cancer Drug
In other new Friday, the FDA approved a first-of-its kind breast cancer drug called Kadcyla for advanced, aggressive forms of the disease. Also, a winter storm continued to whip across the Midwest, taking four lives. The storm is expected to make its way to the Northeast and New England this weekend.

  

Feb. 21, 2013

News Wrap: Middle U.S. Blasted by Winter Storm
In other new Thursday, a winter storm whipped across the middle part of the United States, bringing heavy snow, freezing rain, thunder, and lightning. Also, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO teamed up to call for a new visa program for lower-skilled workers.

  

Feb. 11, 2013

News Wrap: Dozens Hurt in Mississippi Tornado
In other news Monday, a string of tornadoes whipped through Mississippi Sunday, injuring 60 people and damaging or destroying 200 homes. No fatalities were reported. Also, former U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest honor, by President Obama in a ceremony at the White House.

  

Feb. 8, 2013

Record-Breaking Blizzard Set to Blanket Northeastern States
Parts of the Northeast and New England prepared to be blanketed by a potentially record-breaking blizzard. The storm, commonly referred to as "Nemo," may cover some areas with three feet of snow. Jeffrey Brown speaks with Bernie Rayno of AccuWeather about how the storm formed and if it will hit areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.

  

Feb. 8, 2013

Nor'easter Blizzard Hits New England
The February nor'easter storm hit New England Friday and pelting the region with a snow storm and hurricane-strength wind gusts that left behind as much as two feet of snow. .

Feb. 8, 2013

Winter Storm 'Nemo' to Bring Record Levels of Snow (and Disney References)
The latest storm to hit the Northeast has been dubbed "Nemo." News of the blizzard has set off another sort of "storm" on social media mixing references to snow and the Disney movie "Finding Nemo."

JANUARY
Jan. 28, 2013

News Wrap: President Obama Talks Gun Violence Prevention With Police Chiefs
In other news Monday, President Obama met to talk about gun violence with police chiefs from Aurora, Colo., Oak Creek, Wis., and Newtown, Conn., sites of the three worst mass shootings in 2012. Also, a $50 billion dollar disaster aid measure for victims of Hurricane Sandy moved towards final approval in the Senate.

  

Jan. 23, 2013

News Wrap: Extreme Cold Whips Northeast and Midwest
In other news Wednesday, subzero temperatures in parts of the Northeast and Midwest caused 15 states to issue wind chill warnings. Also, the U.S. Air Force vowed to put an end to all sexual misconduct within its ranks. It received some 800 reports of inappropriate behavior in 2012 alone.

  

Jan. 22, 2013

News Wrap: House GOP Ready to Raise Debt Ceiling Though Mid-May
In other news Tuesday, House Republicans readied to vote on a plan to raise the nation's debt ceiling through May 19th. Rep. Paul Ryan said they wanted to shift focus to making major spending cuts. Also, parts of the Midwest are in a deep freeze, with temperatures dipping to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

  

Jan. 2, 2013

Divided House Republicans Stall Vote on Storm Relief Aid for Sandy Victims
An emergency aid package to provide relief funds for victims of Hurricane Sandy got stalled in Congress as Republicans insisted on offsetting the $60 billion in aid with spending cuts before voting. Judy Woodruff talks to Roll Call's Steven Dennis and Washington Post's Neil Irwin about the consequences of that decision.

  

Jan. 1, 2013

Sandy Recovery Continues at Slow Pace as People Wait for FEMA Relief
While storm victims of Sandy find hope as some businesses re-open in hard-hit areas, debate on how to rebuild the shore has slowed the pace of recovery. Jeffrey Brown talks to New York Times' Sarah Maslin Nir and New Jersey Public TV's Mike Schneider on how federal disaster relief aid will be used to rebuild smarter and better.