Congressional leaders are planning a moment of silence today to honor the 800,000+ lives lost to COVID. The nation hit that grim milestone over the weekend as the new omicron variant spreads to more than half of all states. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will attend on the front steps of the Capitol. Other bipartisan members are expected as well.
While more than 26,000 families in Kentucky are bracing for a Christmas without lights. It could take weeks to restore power after a historic tornado outbreak killed at least 74 people. Thousands have no place to live as entire towns were flattened. One tornado left a trail of damage nearly 230-miles long, tossing cars and snapping trees. Troops continue going door-to-door distributing water and generators, and helping to remove debris. At least 14 deaths are also reported in Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee.
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Here’s Mark Mayfield.