JERUSALEM — Israeli police have ordered the evacuation of several communities in southern and central Israel as wildfires rage amid a major heatwave. Firefighters battled brushfires Thursday along the Gaza boundary, as well as near the country’s main international airport and outside Jerusalem. A major Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway was also closed to traffic because of the fire. Israel and the region are gripped by a major heatwave, with temperatures around the country reaching 100 F…

BRUNSWICK CO., N.C. (WTVD) — A school district in North Carolina will be giving all students free breakfast and lunch in the next school year. Brunswick County Schools announced the lunch policy change Wednesday. Students were already eligible for free breakfast, but the school is expanding that to include healthy lunches. The district cited Hurricane Florence, and its lasting devastation, as a reason for the policy change. According to a news release, with more than…

The sign for the Hidden Oaks apartment complex in Jefferson City Missouri stands bent on May 23, 2019, from an apparent tornado in front of a tree that was ripped apart. A “violent tornado” touched down in Jefferson City, Missouri, causing possible fatalities, according to the National Weather Service David A. Lieb AP Photo JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. A tornado has caused heavy damage in Missouri’s capital city as severe weather swept across the state overnight,…

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri — A tornado outbreak in Missouri has left three people killed and left major damage in the state capitol of Jefferson City Wednesday. One tornado touched down in the Golden City area, killing three people. Golden City is not far from Joplin, where exactly eight years ago more than 150 people were killed in a tornado. In Jefferson City, the National Weather Service reported that a “confirmed large and destructive tornado” was…

This still image taken from video provided by Chris Higgins shows a tornado, Wednesday, May 22, 2019, in Carl Junction, Mo. The tornado caused some damage in the town of Carl Junction, about 4 miles (6.44 kilometers) north of the Joplin airport. (Chris Higgins via AP) Chris Higgins AP JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. A “violent tornado” touched down in Jefferson City, Missouri, causing heavy damage, according to the National Weather Service, but there were no immediate…

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri — A “violent tornado” touched down in Jefferson City, Missouri, causing heavy damage Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. The service reported that a “confirmed large and destructive tornado” was observed over Jefferson City at 11:43 p.m. Wednesday, moving northeast at 40 mph (64 kph). The capital city has a population of about 40,000 and is located 130 miles (209 kilometers) west of St. Louis. No fatalities have been reported but…

This still image taken from video provided by Chris Higgins shows a tornado, Wednesday, May 22, 2019, in Carl Junction, Mo. The tornado caused some damage in the town of Carl Junction, about 4 miles (6.44 kilometers) north of the Joplin airport. (Chris Higgins via AP) Chris Higgins AP JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. The National Weather Service says a “violent tornado” has touched down in Jefferson City, Missouri, causing possible fatalities and heavy damage. The service…

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt talks with the media following an aerial tour of tornado and flood damaged areas of the state, Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in Oklahoma City. Sue Ogrocki AP Photo OKLAHOMA CITY The Latest on storm damage in the Southern Plains and Midwest (all times local): 8:30 p.m. A tornado warning has been issued for the city of Joplin, Missouri, eight years to the day since a massive tornado devastated the city and…

Raleigh, N.C. — A Rocky Mount woman pleaded guilty to getting federal disaster assistance she wasn’t entitled to, while a Goldsboro woman is charged with making up hurricane damage in order to bilk her insurance company, authorities said Wednesday. Sheila Ruffin, 50, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of disaster fraud related to the Hurricane Matthew recovery effort conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, authorities said. Ruffin submitted fraudulent documents to FEMA and collected more…

Trial begins for ex-NFL player in series of rapes A jury in Southern California heard opening statements in the trial of former Miami Hurricane and NFL star Kellen Winslow Jr. on May 20, 2019. He faces charges of raping two women in 2018 and an unconscious 17-year-old girl in 2003. By × A jury in Southern California heard opening statements in the trial of former Miami Hurricane and NFL star Kellen Winslow Jr. on May…

The Cheat River through West Virginia, where a kayaker was killed when a tree fell during a storm Sunday. Facebook screenshot/Friends of the Cheat A kayaker died in a “terrible freak thing” Sunday on West Virginia’s Cheat River, after he and two companions rushed to shore during a severe storm and got hit by a tree. David Treadaway of Maryland died under the weight of the tree, according to witness Doug Pollard, who was also…

By Lauren Brownlow, WRALSportsFan columnist/reporter Raleigh, N.C. — THUNK. Two rather large hockey players collide loudly with the tempered glass just in front of her at full speed, one of the only noises loud enough to penetrate the steady roar of the PNC Arena playoff hockey crowd in what would be the Hurricanes’ final game of their magical run to the Eastern Conference Finals. But Nikki Stoudt does not even flinch. “You get used to…

A dangerous storm system in the Midwest produced dozens of tornadoes for the second consecutive day Tuesday, demolishing a racetrack grandstand and damaging buildings in a wild animal park in Missouri but sparing St. Louis, the biggest city in its path. Two deaths, both in Missouri, were blamed on the severe weather that started in the Southern Plains Monday night and moved to the northeast. Missouri and parts of Illinois and Arkansas were in the…

CARSON CITY, Nev. Southern Nevada faces a higher risk of wildfires this summer after winter and spring precipitation fueled more grass and vegetation that could burn, officials said Tuesday. The above-normal grass growth has rarely been seen in the past decade, Nevada state Forester and Firewarden Kacey KC told Gov. Steve Sisolak during a briefing in Carson City. The snowpack in northern Nevada and the state’s higher mountain elevations have produced cooler, wetter conditions that…

Carolina Hurricanes Hurricanes’ Waddell and Brind’Amour recap 2018-19 season and look to the future By May 21, 2019 05:36 PM Carolina Hurricanes President and General Manager Don Waddell and coach Rod Brind’Amour hold their final press conference of the season

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour on having two goalies : ‘They both work well together’ Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour talks about his two goalies following the Hurricanes’ practice By × Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour talks about his two goalies following the Hurricanes’ practice By Raleigh For all that’s changed in the past year, since the Carolina Hurricanes gave Rod Brind’Amour the keys and told him to go build a team in his own image,…

Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour watches play from the bench during the third period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators, Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Raleigh Karl B DeBlaker AP Raleigh It’s hard to imagine a team undergoing a lot more change than the Carolina Hurricanes in the past year or so. The Canes had a new head coach, Rod Brind’Amour, and newly named general manager, Don Waddell. It had a…

MIAMI — The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season was fizzling out Tuesday over the western Atlantic, far from any shore. The National Hurricane Center said Subtropical Storm Andrea was about 280 miles (450 kilometers) west-southwest of Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds dropping to about 35 mph (55 kph). As of 11 a.m., it was moving northward at 8 mph (13 kph) and turning northeastward. The Miami-based center said people in Bermuda should…

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma — An intense storm system moved across the Southern Plains on Monday, spawning tornadoes that caused scattered damage and a deluge of rain but not the “particularly dangerous” twisters that forecasters had feared. No injuries were reported. Late Monday, the National Weather Service reduced the severe threat of violent storms to a small area of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas. But it kept an area stretching from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Wichita Falls,…

Weather News Large tornado reported in Mangum, Oklahoma By May 21, 2019 09:08 AM A tornado touched down in Mangum, Oklahoma, on May 20, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Severe damage was reported to homes and structures around Mangum. Meteorologists described the tornado as “large” and “violent.”

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma — An intense storm system moved across the Southern Plains on Monday, spawning tornadoes that caused scattered damage and a deluge of rain but not the “particularly dangerous” twisters that forecasters had feared. No injuries were reported. Late Monday, the National Weather Service reduced the severe threat of violent storms to a small area of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas. But it kept an area stretching from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Wichita Falls,…

This image made from video provided by KWTV-KOTV shows two funnel clouds formed in Crescent, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2019. An intense storm system that weather forecasters labeled “particularly dangerous” swept through the Southern Plains Monday, spawning a few tornadoes that caused some damage and a deluge of rain but no reports of injuries. (KWTV-KOTV via AP) AP OKLAHOMA CITY A powerful storm system spawned a confirmed tornado Tuesday morning near Tulsa International Airport, after…

A car makes his way through a flooded road near Marquartstein, Germany, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Matthias Schrader AP Photo BERLIN Heavy rainfall in Germany has caused widespread flooding, particularly in the south, leaving one person dead. Police in Bavaria said Tuesday that a 44-year-old driver died after losing control of his vehicle on a wet road near the town of Aurach late Monday and crashing into a forest. German news agency dpa reported that…

Hurricane season doesn’t start until June 1, but we’re already seeing some action in the tropics. Subtropical storm Andrea has formed in the Atlantic between Bermuda and the Bahamas. The storm is moving north at 6 mph with sustained winds of 40 mph. It is expected to stay out to sea and weaken over the next 36 hours, bringing only rain to Bermuda. READ MORE: ABC11’S Hurricane Central Experts do not expect the storm to…

MIAMI — Subtropical storm Andrea, the first named storm of the Atlantic season, is maintaining a northward motion over the western Atlantic but meteorologists say it is expected to weaken late Tuesday and dissipate on Wednesday. The National Hurricane Center on Tuesday morning said that Andrea was about 295 miles (475 kilometers) west southwest of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of about 40 mph (64 kph). The center says the storm is moving northward at…

This image made from video provided by KWTV-KOTV shows two funnel clouds formed in Crescent, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2019. An intense storm system that weather forecasters labeled “particularly dangerous” swept through the Southern Plains Monday, spawning a few tornadoes that caused some damage and a deluge of rain but no reports of injuries. (KWTV-KOTV via AP) AP OKLAHOMA CITY An intense storm system moved across the Southern Plains on Monday, spawning a tornadoes that…

A pickup truck drives on a flooded street in Enid, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2019. An intense storm system that weather forecasters labeled “particularly dangerous” swept through the Southern Plains Monday, spawning a few tornadoes that caused some damage and a deluge of rain but no reports of injuries. The Enid News & Eagle via AP Billy Hefton OKLAHOMA CITY The Latest on a round of severe weather forecast for Southern Plains (all times local):…

MIAMI Subtropical storm Andrea, the first named storm of the Atlantic season, has formed hundreds of miles (kilometers) southwest of Bermuda. The National Hurricane Center on Monday tweeted that Andrea had a “well-defined center” with maximum sustained winds of about 40 mph (64 kph). It said in an advisory Monday evening that the storm is centered about 335 miles (540 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda in the western Atlantic and moving northward at 14 mph (22…

OKLAHOMA CITY — An intense storm system that weather forecasters labeled “particularly dangerous” swept through the Southern Plains Monday, spawning a few tornadoes that caused some damage and a deluge of rain but no reports of injuries. The National Weather Service had warned that Monday evening could bring perilous weather to a large swath of western Texas, most of Oklahoma and southern Kansas. The storm was expected to move later Monday into western Arkansas. As…

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The Hurricanes cleaned out their locker-room stalls as the hockey off-season officially began in Raleigh. As always there are several roster decisions for management to make before fall camp. Justin Williams is a big piece of the puzzle. Mr. Game 7 completed his original mission of getting the Canes to the playoffs. Now, his contract is expiring and after almost two decades of hockey, Williams said he’ll take some time before…