Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 TORNADOS HIT CHICAGO AREA, STOPPING FLIGHTS AT AIRPORTS
Hundreds of flights were disrupted last night at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport as a line of severe storms spawned tornadoes, including one that was confirmed to be on the ground around 7 p.m near O'Hare. The National Weather Service in Chicago issued tornado warnings, but by 8 p.m. the Chicago was cleared. The tornado prompted the cancellation of 173 flights and the delay of over 500 more. Storms also were reported near Midway International Airport, but Kevin Bargnes, the director of communications for both airports said no damage was reported at either airport. Over 10,000 customers lost power in the area as a result of the storms, and police reported storm damage on the north end of Hodgkins, Illinois, which is southwest of Chicago. Downed power lines, trees, and tree branches were also reported around the area, but no injuries were reported as of late last night.
2 REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE OFFICIALLY OUT OF FREEDOM CAUCUS
Members of the far-right Freedom Caucus in the House of Representatives have said that the group had kicked Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene out, but that wasn’t confirmed until yesterday. Rep. Ken Buck, a member of the caucus, told Chuck Todd on NBC News’ “Meet the Press NOW” that “She’s not a member of the Freedom Caucus, and she shouldn’t be in the future.” The move makes Rep. Greene the first person to be ejected from the Freedom Caucus since its creation in 2015 by Rep. Jim Jordan, then-Rep. Mark Meadows, and then Rep. Ron DeSantis, who’s now a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination and governor of Florida. Rep. Buck said her removal from the group wasn’t over her political views but was instead brought on by her attacks on other members. “She has consistently attacked other members of the Freedom Caucus in an irresponsible way, and as a result of that she was kicked out,” Buck told Todd, adding, “It’s not one simple attack.”
3 ONE KILLED IN NATIONAL MALL HIT-AND-RUN IN WASHINGTON D.C.
The Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies in the nation’s capital were looking last night for a hit-and-run driver who killed one and injured several others near the National Mall in Washington D.C. Uniformed Secret Service officers tried to stop a 2006 blue Honda Accord around 1:30 p.m. over a registration issue when the driver ran a red light and hit multiple people in a crosswalk. A 75-year-old Philadelphia man was taken to the hospital but died of his injuries. Two others suffered minor injuries in the incident. In a statement on Twitter, Lt. Paul Mayhair of the Secret Service Uniformed Division sent “our deepest condolences” to the family of the man who died, and said a BOLO, or “Be On the LookOut” bulletin had been broadcast to other law enforcement agencies in the area.