Moore, Okla. recovers from deadly tornado. An E4 tornado devastated the town of Moore, a suburb of Oklahoma City, on Monday, leaving at least 51 people dead, 20 of them children. At least 120 people were injured, with tolls expected to rise as first responders begin surveying the devastation. The twister made a direct hit on two elementary schools, with seven children found drowned in a pool of water at Plaza Towers Elementary.
President Obama to speak at 10 a.m. The president will deliver a statement this morning on the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma, a White House official tells NBC News. Last evening, President Obama spoke to both Gov. Mary Fallin (R-Okla.) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), who represents the area, and expressed his concern for those impacted and condolences for those who were lost. The President praised the brave first responders, and made clear that the country would stand behind the people of Oklahoma as they continued to respond and recover. The president also declared portions of Oklahoma as a major disaster area, ordering federal aid to those areas affected.
Not over yet? NBC News reports that severe weather may not be over for devastated areas, with the threat of more "large and devastating" tornadoes continuing into Tuesday. According to the Weather Channel, there were threats east and south of Oklahoma City, but Dallas-Ft. Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Shreveport, Texarkana and Little Rock were also "close to the larger tornado threat."
Fatigued electorate heads to polls in LA. The Los Angeles mayor's race comes to a long end Tuesday, with low turnout expected in the race between City Controller Wendy Greuel, who would be the city’s first woman elected to the post, against City Councilman Eric Garcetti, who would be the city's first Jewish mayor. Why such disinterest? Los Angeles County Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman: "Voters in Los Angeles have voter fatigue." With the city in financial straits, the race has also dealt more with how to just maintain city services, instead of big ideas outgoing Mayor Anthony Villagarosa campaigned on during the last open seat race twelve years ago. Bauman: "You don't have that dramatic flair to drive people to the polls."