Good morning, and happy Monday. Here are some of the stories we're following today:
1. More stormy weather on the way
At least four tornadoes were reported in northeast Tennessee on Sunday afternoon, damaging a number of homes, and hail as large as softballs was reported Sunday afternoon in southeast Kentucky as super-cell thunderstorms raked the region. An unseasonably strong cold front sweeps southeastward Monday, leading to worries of severe storms across parts of the Southeast. Strong straight-line winds are predicted to cause damage from the Gulf Coast and to North Carolina. Read more in WEATHER.
2. Israel says it won’t fire if Hamas doesn't fire
Fighting subsided in Gaza on Monday as Israel promised to only fire as a response to Hamas rockets. However, Israeli troops continued to hunt and destroy cross-border militant tunnels inside Gaza. The U.S. and U.N. security council on Sunday night both called on Israel and Hamas to declare a lasting ceasefire. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the 21-day-long operation, while 46 Israelis have been killed. Read more in NEWS.
3. A second American is diagnosed with Ebola
An aid worker with Samaritan's Purse charitable organization in Liberia has been infected with the deadly virus Ebola. A day earlier, the aid organization announced that Dr. Kent Brantly, a medical director for the group, had been diagnosed with the highly contagious virus. In some outbreaks, 90 percent of patients have died, but the death rate in this particular outbreak — which is sweeping across West Africa — is closer to 60 percent. Samaritan's Purse says their staff follow proper cautionary protocol when dealing with Ebola patients. Read more in HEALTH.
4. U.S. releases satellite images of Russia shooting into Ukraine
In support of the claim that Russia was moving heavy artillery toward Ukraine, the U.S. State Department released images Sunday purportedly showing rockets being fired over the border. The U.S. said the images show "impact craters" from rocket fire hitting Ukraine and "blast marks" from where the rockets were fired within Russian territory. The images were released as fighting escalated between Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces near the crash site of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. Read more in NEWS.
5. Father killed, daughter injured in Florida beach plane crash
A single-engine airplane crash-landed on a beach near Sarasota, killing a man who was walking on the beach with his daughter. The young girl was critically injured, and taken by helicopter to a hospital. The pilot of the plane and his passenger weren't hurt in the crash. Read more in NEWS.
6. One killed, 7 injured in California lightning strikes
A 20-year-old man was killed and seven others were brought to the hospital after suffering shocks from lightning strikes. The beach-goers at Venice were all in or near the water when incident occurred. Five additional people were checked out by first responders after the bolts touched down. Sixteen people have killed by lightning strikes this year in the United States. Read more in NEWS.
... What's trending today?
Everyone's been there. Daydreaming when it becomes evident you've lost track of a conversation. But not to worry: There are some face-saving solutions for zoning out. Check out this list for six phrases that will make it seem like you were actually listening intently.