In Oklahoma tornado’s wake, worried parents seek out kids

Moore, Okla. — The parents and guardians stood in the muddy grass outside a suburban Oklahoma City church, listening as someone with a bullhorn called out the names of children who were being dropped off — survivors of a deadly tornado that barreled through their community.

Court: U.S. can keep bin Laden photos under wraps

Washington — A federal appeals court is backing the U.S. government's decision not to release photos and video taken of Osama bin Laden during and after a raid in which the terrorist leader was killed by U.S. commandos.

Man commits suicide at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Paris — Paris police say Notre Dame Cathedral has been evacuated after a man committed suicide in the 850-year-old monument and tourist site.

Jersey shore readies for first post-Sandy summer

Seaside Heights, N.J. — The boardwalks are back, and so are most of the beaches, even if some are a little thinner this year.

Connecticut foster mom pleads guilty for spoon-spanking

Norwich, Conn. — A Connecticut foster mother faces 100 days in jail after acknowledging she spanked a 4-year-old girl with a wooden spoon.

Jodi Arias to speak on own behalf as jury considers death penalty

Phoenix — When Jodi Arias addresses the jury in her murder trial one more time, the big question will be whether she pleads for mercy or repeats what she told a TV reporter minutes after her conviction: She would rather be executed than spend the rest of her life in prison.

Montana man dies in Yosemite climbing accident

Yosemite National Park, Calif. — A Montana man died in a rock climbing accident as he tried to climb to the top of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, authorities said.

Photos from shooting that killed 6, wounded Giffords to be released

Tucson, Ariz. — Authorities are set to release more than 300 photos on Tuesday that investigators took in the aftermath of the Tucson shooting rampage that killed six people and wounded former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 12 others.

Customs seizes elephant meat, dead primate in Los Angeles

Los Angeles — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Los Angeles have made some unusual seizures, including elephant meat, a dead primate and hundreds of handbags made from the skin of snakes, lizards and crocodiles.

Burmese python caught in South Florida sets new record

Miami — Wildlife officials say a Burmese python nearly 19 feet long has been captured in South Florida.

Briefs: Top court to hear case on prayer at public meetings

Nation

Oklahoma twister followed path of ’99 storm

New York — Monday’s powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the region in May 1999.

Tornado levels Oklahoma City suburbs; death toll rises

A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, killing at least 51 — including 20 children — flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on one elementary school.

Attacks kill 95 in Iraq, hint of Syrian spillover

Baghdad — Iraq’s wave of bloodshed sharply escalated Monday with more than a dozen car bombings across the country, part of attacks that killed at least 95 ...

Tornado-hit states brace for more bad storms

Shawnee, Okla. — When Lindsay Carter heard on the radio that a violent storm was approaching her rural Oklahoma neighborhood, she gathered her ...

Arias trial wraps for day after series of motions

Phoenix — Defense attorneys for Jodi Arias asked the judge to remove them from the case and declare a mistrial Monday, arguing the frenzy surrounding the ...

Small Florida city anxious to learn who won $590.5M Powerball

Zephyrhills, Fla. — It could be an anxious wait of up to two months for people in a small Florida city to find out who won the highest Powerball jackpot ...

Commutes long, slow after Connecticut train derailment

Bridgeport, Conn. — Connecticut commuters planned for long, slow trips to and from work Monday following last week's train collision that that injured ...

South Korea: North Korea fires sixth projectile into waters

Seoul, South Korea — North Korea fired short-range projectiles into its own eastern waters Monday for a third straight day, Seoul officials said. The ...

Report: 23 Hezbollah members killed in Syria

Beirut — Syrian government forces pushed deeper into a strategic opposition-held town near the Lebanese border Monday, battling rebels in fierce street ...

Suspected U.S. drone kills 2 in Yemen

Sanaa, Yemen — Yemeni security and military officials say a suspected U.S. drone has killed two militants in a town in the center of the country.

Ferris wheel ride world record broken in Chicago

Chicago — A manager of Chicago's Navy Pier rode the tourist spot's Ferris wheel for more than two days — 384 times, up and around — bringing ...

Briefs: Tornadoes level homes in Okla., hit other states

Nation

Syrian regime tries to tighten strategic grip

Beirut — Syrian troops pushed into a rebel-held town near the Lebanese border on Sunday, fighting house-to-house and bombing from the air as President ...

Cop on mend after Boston showdown

Boston — With a bullet still in his body, the police officer who survived a showdown with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects said Sunday he's ...

Suspects accidentally dial 911 during crime in California

Fresno, Calif. — Two suspects arrested for breaking into a car in Central California accidentally called 911 on a cellphone, which led police to them. ...

United restarts 787 flights after grounding

United Airlines is again flying the 787, four months after smoldering batteries forced the plane to be grounded worldwide.

Okla. tornado had winds up to 200 mph

Moore, Okla. — The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Moore, Okla., had wind speeds up to 200 mph.