News Wrap: Storm system brings blizzard to California and tornadoes to Plains

Geoff Bennett:

Good evening. I'm Geoff Bennett.

Amna Nawaz:

And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On the "NewsHour" tonight: Hundreds more troops are deployed to the West Bank after a new wave of violence between Palestinians and Israelis leaves vehicles torched and multiple people dead.

Geoff Bennett:

Crime is the top issue for many voters in Chicago's mayoral race, setting up a tough reelection bid for incumbent Lori Lightfoot.

Amna Nawaz:

And an Alabama artist works to correct the historical narrative around the beginnings of gynecology and honor the women who have been left off of state monuments.

Michelle Browder, Artist:

Nothing of these 11 enslaved girls of African descent that were tortured, mutilated without anesthesia, nothing that talks about what they contributed, forcibly, of course.

(BREAK)

Amna Nawaz:

Good evening, and welcome to the "NewsHour."

Tens of millions of Americans are under winter storm advisories tonight, as a major front heads toward the Northeast and New England.

Geoff Bennett:

It's the latest in a barrage of late-winter systems sweeping the nation. They have forced blizzard warnings in California and piled up tornado wreckage in the Southern Plains.

Stephanie Sy has our report.

Stephanie Sy:

Homes and buildings were leveled in Norman, Oklahoma, after fierce winds and at least nine tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma and Kansas Sunday night.

Man:

What in the world is that?

Stephanie Sy:

In parts of Texas, winds reached 114 miles an hour.

Kevin Foster, Norman, Oklahoma, Police Chief:

As of early this morning…

Stephanie Sy:

Norman police chief said no one was killed, but there were at least a dozen injuries.

Kevin Foster:

We have several homes, businesses and schools that appear to have some damage from the storm. There are multiple roadways still closed due to debris and downed power lines.

Stephanie Sy:

A cold front left more than 5.5 feet of snow in the upper of Southern California this weekend, with more snow and rain expected through Wednesday.

Jimena Hernandez-Alatorre, Stranded Traveler:

We first were supposed to go out to our Airbnb. And then, like, because of the snow, we could not get to the house, because the car was just trapped.

Stephanie Sy:

In a sight rarely seen, snow blanketed Los Angeles suburbs, while several inches of rain flooded highways and elevated area rivers. All of that moisture led to more erosion and the collapse of this cliff, taking an R.V. down with it.

Karissa Johnson, Valencia, California, Resident:

So, I haven't been to get back in order to work for a couple of days, and, also, I'm just kind of afraid we are going to have to evacuate if it gets any worse.

Stephanie Sy:

Meanwhile, in Michigan, more than 150,000 customers started today without power, five days after a historic ice storm snapped power lines. And New England braced for its most significant snow so far this season.

While no single weather event can be blamed on climate change, scientists say the occurrence of more extreme events are likely due to the warming planet.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I am Stephanie Sy.

Amna Nawaz:

The weekend snow in California followed a series of major snowfalls this winter, but the entire state remains under some form of drought emergency.

Air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine overnight and intense fighting raged in the east around the town of Bakhmut. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the situation there is worsening.

Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited Kyiv, and met with President Zelenskyy. She also visited a memorial wall dedicated to war dead.

In Nigeria, all three presidential front-runners claim they are headed for victory, as results from the weekend's election trickle in. Nigerians cast ballots to decide the next leader of Africa's most populous nation. Officials said the voting was largely peaceful, despite widespread delays. A winner may not be announced until Tuesday, at the earliest.

Another sizable earthquake struck Southern Turkey today, killing one person and injuring more than 100. Emergency personnel worked to clear debris from cars and collapsed buildings. The quake hit three weeks after a much stronger tremor devastated parts of Southern Turkey and Northern Syria. The World Bank now estimates that overall damage in Turkey has exceeded $34 billion.

Back in this country, Wall Street manage to start the week on a positive note after last week's big losses. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 72 points to close at 32889. The Nasdaq also rose 72 points and the S&P 500 added 12.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": Chicago's mayoral candidates offer various proposals to crack down on violent crime; companies draw scrutiny for employing migrant children; the rise of sports betting places colleges in a difficult positions; plus much more.