Top Read
America
Oklahoma Tornado: Finding Aid, Giving Aid
Residents of Moore, Okla, are searching for survivors and coming to terms with a massive tornado that left more than 50 people dead and injured more than 200 others Monday afternoon. As aid and recovery groups search for victims and try to reunite loved ones, they're also seeking donations and coordinating housing.
Morning roundup
Top Stories: Oklahoma Tragedy; IRS Officials To Testify
Also: Israel and Syria exchange fire over border; new Congolese fighting threatens a tenuous ceasefire; Los Angeles votes for a new mayor today; and Russia charges that voting for the Eurovision song contest was rigged.
Books
Book News: Stephen King's New Bogeyman? Digital Publishing
by Annalisa Quinn
Also: the legacy of Kierkegaard; the creator of Lyle Crocodile has died; Aussie airliner Qantas commissions flight-length books.
©2013 NPR
America
IRS Officials On Hot Seat
by Mark Memmott
Former IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman and outgoing acting Commissioner Steven Miller are being grilled. The IRS is under fire because some conservative groups' applications for tax-exempt status were given extra scrutiny in recent years. An inspector general has called the actions "inappropriate."
America
Death Toll From Devastating Tornado Revised Down
by Mark Memmott
As it roared through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, packing winds of up to 200 mph, the twister flattened buildings. Searchers continue to look for survivors and those who were killed.
America
Apple's 'Complex Web' Helped It Avoid Taxes, Panel Finds
by Krishnadev Calamur
The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations said the tech giant claimed that three key offshore companies were not tax residents of Ireland or the U.S. One of those subsidiaries paid no taxes for the past five years while it reported income totaling $30 billion.
America
Tweets Capture 'Shock And Awe' At Tornado's Deadly Power
by Scott Neuman
Twitter captures firsthand accounts and reaction from the massive tornado that swept through central Oklahoma.
America
VIDEO: A Time-Lapse Of The Tornado In Oklahoma
by Eyder Peralta
The National Weather Service says it was at least an EF-4 tornado with winds in excess of 166 mph.
America
Key Charge Against Ex-BP Official In Spill Case Dismissed
A federal judge ruled that prosecutors failed to prove the executive knew about a pending congressional investigation into oil flowing into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The decision left in place a second charge against the executive, for allegedly making false statements to investigators about the oil flow rate.
America
A Brief History Of Oklahoma Tornadoes
by Scott Neuman
The state straddles Tornado Alley and has had a number of especially strong twisters leave a path of death and destruction in their wake.
America
Measuring The Power Of Deadly Tornadoes
by Steve Mullis
Tornado strength is currently measured on what is called the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which gives the tornado a rating from 0 to 5 based on estimated wind speeds and the severity of the damage.
America
Ray Manzarek, Founding Member Of The Doors, Dies
by Krishnadev Calamur
The keyboardist co-founded the band after meeting Jim Morrison in California. The Doors went on to become one of the most successful rock 'n' roll acts of the 1960s. Manzarek, 74, died in Germany after a long battle with bile duct cancer.
America
Dozens Killed In Massive Tornado Near Oklahoma City
by Eyder Peralta
Helicopter images of Moore, Oklahoma show tracts of devastated neighborhoods.
America
Fox Calls U.S. Surveillance Of Its Reporter 'Downright Chilling'
by Eyder Peralta
During a 2009 leak investigation, the Justice Department looked at a reporters personal email. They also kept track of who walked in and out of the State Department.
International
British Aircraft Carrier HMS Ark Royal Heads For Scrap Yard
by Scott Neuman
The former Royal Navy flagship fell victim to a 2010 defense review that recommended scrapping the vessel and selling its Harrier jump jets.
Must Reads
WATCH: A Train Wreck Of A 'Star-Spangled Banner' Performance
by Eyder Peralta
When it becomes clear to Canadian jazz singer Alexis Normand that she doesn't remember the words, she tries to mumble her way through the national anthem.
America
Turnabout Is Fair Play: Senators Have Many Questions For IRS
by Mark Memmott
The IRS gave some conservative groups extra, improper scrutiny. Now there's a bipartisan request for the IRS to answer dozens of questions. Read the queries and demands for information from the top Democrat and top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.
International
Beijing Angry Over North Korea's Seizure Of Chinese Fishermen
by Scott Neuman
North Korea's capture of a Chinese fishing boat and its crew of 16 has angered Beijing, adding to its concern over Pyongyang's recent provocations.
America
ABC's Karl Expresses Regret, But Stands By Benghazi Story
by Mark Memmott
The White House correspondent's story about administration emails created an uproar. Then a key part of it turned out to be wrong.
America
Texas Company Scraps Controversial Lesson Plan System
by Eyder Peralta
The CSCOPE curriculum had come under intense criticism for lessons some conservatives called un-American. Activists called the attack on the lesson plans a "witch hunt."
