News Wrap: Deep South braces for strong storms and possible tornadoes

Amna Nawaz:

In the day's other headlines: Large stretches of the Deep South faced a new wave of severe storms, including possible tornadoes.

Dangerous conditions delayed flights in Atlanta and Charlotte and closed schools in some places. A day earlier, Tennessee reported multiple tornadoes and saw barrages of massive hail. The storms also left widespread destruction and hundreds of thousands of people without power. In all, four people have died this week from the extreme weather.

Puerto Rico has declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard amid unrelenting rain and flooding. The U.S. territory has had more than 10 inches of rain in just two days, turning streets into rivers and triggering landslides. Officials say one person is missing, several people have been rescued from rooftops and crops have been badly damaged.

In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned today his country faces a — quote — "really difficult situation" in the east, as Russian forces gain ground. Zelenskyy spoke in Kyiv with the president of the European Parliament. He said new military aid from the United States needs to arrive soon.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President (through interpreter):

With an increase in the supply of weapons, we will be able to stop them in the east. As of now, they seized the initiative there. This is no secret. We need to stop them, take the initiative into our own hands. This is possible only when you have something strong in your hands.

Amna Nawaz:

Zelenskyy's comments followed a week of heavy Russian bombardments. Today, officials confirmed that two hydropower plants were knocked out in the assault.

In the meantime, a Ukrainian drone attack today damaged an energy plant more than 900 miles inside Russian territory. That is the deepest strike yet by Kyiv's forces.

Russia focused on a different conflict today, its defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Victory Day brought parades and pageantry orchestrated by President Vladimir Putin. On a cold, snowy day in Moscow, military regiments marched and tanks rolled through Red Square. Putin thanked those fighting in Ukraine and said the country is united.

Vladimir Putin, Russian President (through translator):

We celebrate Victory Day in the context of the special military operation. All its participants, those who are on the front line, on the line of combat contact, are our heroes. All of Russia is with you.

Amna Nawaz:

Putin has used World War II to justify his invasion of Ukraine, claiming without evidence that the goal is to root out a neo-Nazi regime.

Back in this country, 25 Republican attorneys general sued the Environmental Protection Agency over carbon emissions. They're challenging a rule that would cut those emissions from coal-fired power plants by 90 percent over eight years.

West Virginia's attorney general said the mandate is — quote — "setting up the plants to fail, and therefore shutter, altering the nation's already stretched grid."

On Wall Street, stocks managed to gain some ground today. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 331 points to close at 39387. The Nasdaq rose 43 points. The S&P 500 added 26.

And the World Video Game Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York, has five new honorees. The class of 2024 includes "Asteroids," which debuted in arcades in 1979, plus "Ultima," Resident Evil," "Myst," and "SimCity." The Hall of Fame recognizes all types of electronic games, including arcade, counsel, computer, handheld, and mobile.