Many residents in one of the Mississippi towns hit hardest by devastating tornadoes have found solace in their church communities Sunday. At least 25 people were killed and dozens more were injured late Friday in Mississippi as the storm ripped through one of the country's poorest regions. In the Mississippi Delta town of Rolling Fork, agriculture and faith shape local life. During church services Sunday, residents leaned on their faith as a source of hope. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration for Mississippi early Sunday. And more than a half-dozen shelters were opened to house displaced residents.

Rescuers raced Saturday to search for survivors and help hundreds of people left homeless after a powerful tornado cut a devastating path through Mississippi, killing at least 25 people and injuring dozens. The tornado flattened entire blocks as it carved a path of destruction for more than an hour. Another person was killed in Alabama. The tornado flattened entire blocks of the small town of Rolling Fork, reducing homes to piles of rubble, flipping cars on their sides and toppling the town's water tower. Residents hunkered down in bath tubs as the tornado struck and later broke into a John Deere store that they converted into a triage center for the wounded.

Residents of rural Mississippi have recounted harrowing tales of survival after a deadly tornado tore through the state Friday night. In the tiny town of Silver City in the western part of the state, homes were ripped right off their foundations and left scattered piles of debris. The small town of Rolling Fork was also flattened about 30 miles away. Residents described seeking refuge in bathtubs and hallways and covering loved ones with their bodies as the twister surged around them. Officials say the tornado killed at least 25 people in Mississippi and one person in Alabama as it surged nearly 170 miles across the Deep South.

With at least 25 people dead in Mississippi, tornadoes that ravaged parts of the Deep South overnight were the deadliest in the state in more than a decade. That is according to National Weather Service records that say 31 people died in Mississippi in April 2011 during tornadoes that tore through several states. Alabama was hit hardest during that so-called “super outbreak” of twisters that killed more than 320 people. A sheriff in Alabama on Saturday reported one storm-related death. Records show that 12 people died in Mississippi during Easter storms in April 2020, and 10 died in the state during a tornado event in April 2014.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Now that a Nebraska bill to ban gender-affirming treatments for minors has cleared its first and toughest hurdle, parents and children likely to be affected by the measure are preparing for a legal fight, the American Civil Liberties Union said Friday.

Mexico's president angrily rejected comments by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the Mexican government has lost control of parts of the country. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador also pushed back against comments by Blinken suggesting that Mexico's takeover of a port owned by a U.S. firm would hurt investment in Mexico. López Obrador's comments on Friday came after the Mexican government was stung by the execution _ apparently by a drug cartel _ of a suspect sought for months in the killings of two Jesuit priests. Mexican police couldn't find the suspect despite massive searches, until the drug gangs took matters into their own hands.

The Republican-controlled North Carolina legislature has given final approval to a Medicaid expansion agreement. Thursday's state House vote reverses longstanding opposition to the measure, which now goes to expansion advocate and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper for his signature. GOP legislative leaders reached a deal earlier this month, capping years of debate over whether the politically closely divided state should accept the federal government’s coverage for hundreds of thousands of low-income adults. North Carolina was one of 11 states that hadn't yet adopted expansion. The bill contains one caveat: A state budget law must be passed before expansion can be carried out.

Florida's move to expand its prohibition on teaching sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom comes as several states are pursuing similar bans. At least 30 bills similar to the ban critics have dubbed the “Don't Say Gay” law have been proposed in 16 states so far this year. DeSantis' administration is pursuing an expansion of the prohibition to all grades in public schools. Alabama and Arkansas are the only other states with laws similar to Florida's. DeSantis and supporters say they are protecting children from inappropriate material. But critics say the bans marginalize LGBTQ people and create a chilling effect.

The Biden administration and groups representing the forest products industry have reached a deal to promote logging practices intended to protect imperiled species on private lands. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to cooperate on projects that could boost struggling populations of pollinating insects, birds and other animals. Officials say they hope it will prevent many species from declining to the point where they need federal listing as endangered or threatened, which often leads to lawsuits.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Al Stone-Gebhardt worked hard in school to make sure he graduates in May, and he spent hundreds of dollars on commencement regalia, but he is fully prepared not to participate in the ceremony.

Only 10% of U.S. adults say they have significant confidence in the nation’s banks and financial institutions, a new poll finds. That is down from the 22% who said they had high confidence in banks in 2020. The poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll also finds that a  majority of Americans say the government is not doing enough to regulate the industry. The underwhelming assessment of America’s banks and bank regulation comes after a series of shocks, including the sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank this month, brought back disturbing memories of the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Gopher tortoises imperiled by loss of habitat largely caused by human development should be placed on the endangered species list in four southern states, environmental groups said Wednesday as they prepared to sue the federal government over the issue.

Authorities say suspended Alabama freshman defensive back Tony Mitchell drove over 141 mph while trying to evade deputies before his arrest on drug charges in the Florida Panhandle last week. The Holmes County Sheriff's Office says Mitchell and his passenger were arrested last Wednesday and charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to sell or deliver. The other man with Mitchell also was charged with carrying a concealed gun without a permit. During the traffic stop, deputies reported smelling marijuana and noted that Mitchell appeared confused. During a search of the car, deputies say they recovered 8 ounces of marijuana, $7,040 in cash, a set of scales and a loaded 9mm handgun.

WETUMPKA, Ala. (AP) — LaKeith Smith was 15 when a police officer shot and killed his friend when the teens were caught burglarizing homes in Alabama, but it is Smith who will spend decades in prison for his friend's death.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Debate that began Tuesday on a Nebraska bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors, which led one lawmaker to stage an epic weekslong filibuster, quickly grew contentious, with supporters and opponents angrily voicing their frustration and admonishing each other for a …

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota is moving to fortify its status as a refuge for patients from restrictive states who travel to the state to seek abortions — and to protect providers who serve them.

Federal investigators say a Norfolk Southern train that derailed in Alabama earlier this month lacked required alignment control couplers and a company inspection didn't identify their absence. The notation comes in one of three preliminary reports issued Monday by the National Transportation Safety Board about Norfolk Southern train accidents this month. The report about the March 9 derailment of two locomotives and 37 rail cars in Anniston, Alabama, said the couplers “resist lateral coupler movement” and a company rule requires them for towed cars not used for any tractive power. The company said safety was a priority and it would implement any necessary changes.

With U.S. overdose fatalities at an all-time high, state legislatures are considering tougher penalties for possession of fentanyl, the powerful opioid linked to most of the deaths. Proponents say prosecutors and police need more tools to help with the fight because fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are so deadly. They represent a shift in places where lawmakers had been reducing drug penalties as part of criminal justice reform efforts. But other advocates worry harsher penalties will result in even more dangerous drug supplies and punish people who really need help.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a spending plan to use $1 billion in federal coronavirus funds largely on a mix of water and sewer infrastructure, broadband expansion and reimbursements to health care providers hit financially by the pandemic.

Alabama star Brandon Miller is being accompanied at the NCAA Tournament by an armed security guard. Coach Nate Oats says the school lined up extra protection for Miller because of threats. Police have said Miller brought a gun to a former teammate before 23-year-old Jamea Harris was shot and killed. The ex-teammate and another man have been indicted on capital murder charges. The Crimson Tide is a No. 1 seed in the tournament and play No. 16 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Birmingham on Thursday.

A proposal to ban future mining near the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp and its vast wildlife refuge received a hearing Tuesday before a panel of Georgia lawmakers, who asked no questions of testifying experts and advocates before adjourning without a vote.

Recent gun violence involving college players across the country show the challenge facing athletic departments when it comes to determining how gun laws and regulations should be applied within their programs. The NCAA has no rules or gun policy, calling it a law-enforcement issue. That means coaches must follow state law, campus policies and sometimes tread a careful line in establishing their own rules.

The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has added another complicated layer for college coaches to navigate. More than a dozen states have enacted laws against abortion. For decades, that topic has not necessarily been a consideration for female athletes choosing colleges. Now it is. And if the athlete lives in a state with strict abortion laws and chooses to tell their coach, the coach may be put in a difficult position. For some coaches, the constantly shifting landscape is making their profession more demanding than ever.

Brent Sass, the defending Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion, withdrew from this year’s race on Saturday citing concerns for his health. A statement from the Iditarod said Sass scratched at the Eagle Island checkpoint, about 400 miles from the end of the race. The statement said Sass didn't feel he could care for his team due to current concerns with his periodontal health, which typically relates to gum disease. A video posted on the Iditarod Insider webpage said a plane was being sent to Eagle Island to fly Sass off the trail. The Iditarod said all 11 dogs on Sass’ team were in good health.