Month: December 2021

Rescuers resumed search operations on Sunday for victims of a deadly tornado outbreak with dozens confirmed dead, and destroyed entire communities throughout six states on Friday.  Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the tornado that tore a 200-mile gash across his state and leveled homes and businesses.  Beshear told “Face the Nation” on Sunday that left the tornadoes left “devastation like none of us have ever seen before. This tornado didn’t discriminate against anybody in its path, even if they were trying to be safe.”  Mayfield, Kentucky, one of the hardest hit communities, showed mass destruction in satellite photos. The official number of confirmed deaths from the tornadoes and severe storms stood at 25 on Sunday morning, with Kentucky suffering the most deaths. But Beshear estimated the actual death toll in his state would exceed 80 and could rise to more than 100 as crews continue sifting through the wreckage.

In Arkansas, two people were killed, including one person in a nursing home. Governor Asa Hutchinson said Sunday that it was a “miracle” that more weren’t killed at the care facility, telling “Face the Nation” — “The staff did an incredible job of using their own body to shield some of the residents, and the fact that there was a warning system in place helped them to move them into the hallway that saved lives, and really emphasize the importance of the early warning system, the sirens and taking action whenever you hear that.”. In Illinois, six people were killed when the roof of an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville collapsed during a storm.  Forty-five people have been rescued, though it was unclear how many remain missing.

President Biden signed an emergency declaration for Kentucky, saying: “Whatever is needed, the federal government is going to find a way to supply it.”  The National Weather Service said the historic tornado that was on the ground for well over 100 miles has been classified as an E3, although it could be reassessed as they study the effects on the ground.

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Veteran broadcast journalist Chris Wallace announced his departure from FOX News on the air Sunday morning. CNN later confirmed Wallace will next host a weekday show for its streaming platform CNN+, which is set to debut in 2022.

Wallace, the 74-year-old son of late 60 Minutes icon Mike Wallace, said: “After 18 years — this is my final FOX News Sunday. It is the last time — and I say this with real sadness — we will meet like this. Eighteen years ago, the bosses here at FOX promised me they would never interfere with a guest I booked or a question I asked. And they kept that promise. I have been free to report to the best of my ability, to cover the stories I think are important, to hold our country’s leaders to account. It’s been a great ride.  The fact you’ve chosen to spend this hour with us is something I cherish. But after 18 years, I have decided to leave FOX. I want to try something new, to go beyond politics to all the things I’m interested in. I’m ready for a new adventure. And I hope you’ll check it out.”

FOX News Media said Wallace’s show will continue and will be hosted by rotating news anchors until a permanent anchor is announced, adding in a statement:  “We are extremely proud of our journalism and the stellar team that Chris Wallace was a part of for 18 years. The legacy of FOX News Sunday will continue with our star journalists, many of whom will rotate in the position until a permanent host is named.”

Wallace covered five presidential elections and interviewed every president since George H.W. Bush, as well as world leaders such as France’s Emanuel Macron and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Wallace previously worked for ABC from 1989-2003 and NBC from 1975-88, including serving as NBC’s White House correspondent in the 1980s and moderator of Meet the Press from 1987-88.

Fox Anchor Chris Wallace Makes His Own News With Move to CNN

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