School storm protection is spotty in tornado zones
MOORE, Okla. (AP) -- With its single-story design and cinder-block walls, Plaza Towers Elementary School may have seemed sturdy when it was built a couple of generations ago. But a powerful tornado revealed the building's lack of modern safety standards, destroying the school and killing seven students.... 5/22/2013 5:29 PM

Okla. tornado damage: Thousands of homes, $1.5-$2B
MOORE, Okla. (AP) -- The tornado that struck an Oklahoma City suburb this week may have created $2 billion or more in damage as it tore through as many as 13,000 homes, multiple schools and a hospital, officials said Wednesday as they gave the first detailed account of the devastation.... 5/22/2013 6:25 PM

3rd grader who loved to sing among tornado victims
MOORE, Okla. (AP) -- Nicknamed "The Wall," 8-year-old Kyle Davis loved soccer and going to Monster Truck exhibitions at the fairgrounds with his grandfather. JaNae Hornsby, 9, loved to draw, sing, and be a big sister and cousin to her younger relatives.... 5/22/2013 8:57 PM

4 Americans killed since 2009 in US drone strikes
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that four American citizens have been killed in drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen since 2009. The disclosure to Congress comes on the eve of a major national security speech by President Barack Obama in which he plans to pledge more transparency to Congress in his counterterrorism policy.... 5/22/2013 10:31 PM

Broke no laws, IRS official says _ then takes 5th
WASHINGTON (AP) -- At the center of a political storm, an Internal Revenue Service supervisor whose agents targeted conservative groups swore Wednesday she did nothing wrong, broke no laws and never lied to Congress. Then she refused to answer lawmakers' further questions, citing her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself.... 5/22/2013 7:24 PM

Weiner launches comeback bid to become NYC mayor
NEW YORK (AP) -- Anthony Weiner knows there may be a lot of New Yorkers who would never consider voting for him again, but he says he's running for mayor because he wants to bring his ideas to the fore - and win.... 5/22/2013 10:09 PM

Obama honors Carole King at White House concert
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama, saluting Carole King's five decades as an award-winning singer-songwriter, said Wednesday that music often is a place where people seek comfort and inspiration during trying times.... 5/22/2013 10:19 PM

Man shot to death while questioned in Boston probe
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- A Chechen immigrant was shot to death by authorities in central Florida early Wednesday after he turned violent while being questioned about his ties to one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, officials said.... 5/22/2013 8:49 PM

Boy Scout leaders to vote on lifting gay ban
GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) -- As protesters made one last stand, the Boy Scouts of America's leadership began a conference Wednesday that was expected to culminate in a long-anticipated vote on whether to allow openly gay Scouts - a decision that, either way, could deeply affect the organization's membership and funding.... 5/22/2013 9:19 PM

1 child dead, 1 missing in Minn. park landslide
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A fourth-grade field trip to a Mississippi River park popular with fossil hunters turned deadly Wednesday when gravel saturated by persistent rain gave way, killing one child and injuring two others. A fourth child was missing.... 5/22/2013 10:24 PM