Christian Science Monitor | USA

Oklahoma tornado was stronger than Hiroshima bomb: How?

When the conditions are exactly right – and they were, for the tornado that devastated Oklahoma City yesterday – a tornado can unleash more power than the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Oklahoma tornado heroes: Teachers saved kids' lives

Though Briarwood Elementary was slammed head-on by the tornado that devastated Oklahoma City yesterday, all the children appear to have survived, thanks to quick-thinking teachers.

Guilty of spoon-spanking: Foster mom faces jail time

Guilty of spoon-spanking: A Connecticut foster mom pleaded guilty to assault after spanking her foster daughter with a spoon.

Jodi Arias begs for life: 'I'll donate my hair'

Jodi Arias offered to donate her hair, run prison book clubs, and support abuse prevention programs if the jury who convicted her of murdering her ex-boyfriend would give her life in prison instead of a death sentence.

Immigration reform moves forward: What's included?

Omnibus immigration reform moves from committee to the full Senate with bipartisan. The bill includes increased skilled-worker visas, provisional residency for current illegal immigrants, but no rights for gay spouses.

'Bishop' gets 37 years: He could have gotten 200

'The Bishop' gets a 37-year sentence after his conviction for 12 counts related to his construction and mailing of pipe bombs. The bombs failed to explode, but 'The Bishop' still faced up to 200 years in prison.

Lesbian couple can't cohabitate: Why not?

A lesbian couple can't cohabitate, a Texas judge ruled, because one woman's divorce settlement bars overnight guests except spouses — and the lesbian couple can't marry in Texas.

Who's to blame for murky regulation in IRS scandal: Agency or lawmakers?

In a Senate hearing, the two most recent IRS chiefs were grilled over why the agency failed for years to fix the law at the root of the political targeting scandal. The same could be asked of Congress, one said.

Oklahoma tornado was a monster, but it wasn't a record-breaker

The Oklahoma tornado Monday was an EF5 – the severest rating. But a tornado that hit the same area in 1999 had faster winds, and a 2004 Nebraska twister was almost twice as wide.

MLS deal with billionaire oil sheikh could be bigger than Beckham

Two global sports titans, Manchester City Football Club and the New York Yankees, will operate New York City FC, an expansion MLS team. It brings to the table an oil sheikh's fortune.

Oklahoma tornado's aftermath: How safe were schools in Moore?

Two schools were directly hit by the EF5 tornado in Moore, Okla., on Monday, and seven students at one were killed. Neither school had a safe room, but with storms this powerful, experts say there are no guarantees.

50th Super Bowl host: New San Francisco 49ers stadium gets 2016 NFL title game

50th Super Bowl host: The San Francisco area will play host in 2016. The 50th Super Bowl host site will be California's 12th Super Bowl.

Tornado death toll lowered to 24 (+video)

Tornado death toll lowered from 51 to 24 in Moore, Okla. On Tuesday, the state medical examiner lowered the tornado death toll to 24 people, including at least nine children.

Los Angeles votes in mayor's race without a clear front-runner

The candidates in the Los Angeles mayor's race are both Democrats and have struggled to differentiate themselves. On Election Day, it's not at all clear which one might win.

Dog found, on live TV, in tornado rubble (+video)

Dog found on live TV: A 45-year resident of Moore, Okla., thought she'd lost her dog in the tornado. But on live TV, her dog was found in the rubble of her home.

IRS deliberately harassed conservatives, majority say in poll

A new poll on the IRS scandal also finds that those who say the Obama administration is trying to conceal information outnumber those who say it's forthcoming. The tea party, meanwhile, is enjoying a 'bump.'

Oklahoma tornado: How accurate were predictions?

The devastation that the tornado wreaked on Moore, Okla., highlights both the progress forecasters have made and the remaining challenges they face in predicting such events.

Miguel Schiappapietra, LAPD officer, arrested for lewd acts on children

Los Angeles police Det. Gus Villanueva says Schiappapietra has been with the department for six years. He will remain on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the sheriff's criminal investigation.

Oklahoma tornado: Obama pledges speedy aid, prayers, as wrangling begins (+video)

Washington's response to a devastating tornado that hit Oklahoma includes speedy help, statements of support ... and political wrangling among Republicans about how to pay for relief aid.

Why Rand Paul thinks Senate is 'bullying' Apple Inc. (+video)

Senators who convened a hearing Tuesday say Apple uses a 'scheme' to avoid paying its full share of US taxes. Sen. Rand Paul disagrees and called the hearing a 'theater of the absurd.'