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Wildfires raging in three states – Stephanie Elam reports
Helped by higher humidity, firefighters battled back a wind-whipped wildfire in Southern California, clearing the way for many evacuated residents to return home.
The Powerhouse Fire is burning in the Palmdale area north of Los Angeles. It has destroyed some six homes, threatened as many as 1,000, and grew to more than 32,000 acres as of late Monday, according to Lisa Lugo with the Angeles National Forest.
Three people have been injured since the fire started last week, though it was not immediately clear how.
"So far things look much better than they did yesterday," incident commander Norm Walker told reporters.
READ MORE: Firefighters gain ground against Southern California wildfire
10-year-old girl denied lung transplant – CNN's Susan Candiotti reports
10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan of Pennsylvannia has end-stage Cystic Fibrosis. She may only have a few weeks to live and desperately needs a lung transplant. Due to her age, federal guidelines prevent her from recieving a transplant.
Read more: Family of girl desperate for transplant says she can't wait for policy to change
Seagal with U.S. Congressional Delegation in Russia – Phil Black reports
American film star Steven Seagal joined a congressional delegation in a press conference aimed at counter-terrorism and intelligence cooperation in Moscow Sunday night. CNN's Phil Black reports that the delegation has been meeting with Russian officials to try and determine what lessons can be learned about cooperation between the two countries in the aftermath of the Boston bombings.
The head of the delegation said that it was actually Seagal who was instrumental in setting up some of their meetings. Black says Seagal received “overwhelming praise about the role that he played” and was credited with “setting up very high level meetings within the Russian establishment, particularly with one of Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister’s.”
Seagal himself credited the U.S. Embassy with playing a large role in making the meetings possible. But the actor, who shares an interest in martial arts with Russian President Valdimir Putin, has said in his own words that he is “friends with many presidents in many countries.”
Republicans release IRS transcripts amidst growing controversy – Dan Lothian reports
Chairman of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif has released partial transcripts into the IRS scandal regarding Tea Party applications. IRS workers in Cincinnati are heard "telling congressional investigators about why they targeted conservative groups," Dan Lothian reports.
“But two democratic sources involved complain Issa released the transcripts before making them available to democrats in what they say is supposed to be a bipartisan investigation,” he says. “The sources tell CNN the excerpts are taken out of context, and Issa's claim they indicate direction from Washington is misleading.”
Three stormchasers killed while following tornado in Oklahoma – Indra Peterson reports
FROM CNN WIRES:
A group of men who devoted their lives to hunting powerful storms died in the middle of the chase.
Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras and Carl Young were killed Friday while following a tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma, relatives told CNN on Sunday. Their work tracking tornadoes was featured on the former Discovery Channel show "Storm Chasers."
They were among at least nine people that state officials reported killed in storms that struck Oklahoma on Friday night. On Sunday, Oklahoma City Fire Department officials told CNN that searchers had found the bodies of as many as five additional victims, but state officials could not be immediately reached to confirm whether the statewide death toll had increased.
READ MORE: At least 16 people are dead across Oklahoma
Tragedy along tornado alley; damage and recovery – Ed Lavandera reports
Oklahoma had barely started clearing the rubble from a monstrous tornado two weeks ago when another rash of twisters plowed through this ill-fated swath of Tornado Alley.
At least 16 people are dead across the state from a vicious storm that spawned at least five tornadoes there late Friday, officials said Monday.
And the death toll may rise further.
Authorities will resume their search Monday for six people still missing, including four who sought shelter in storm drains, Oklahoma City Fire Chief Keith Bryant said.
READ MORE: Death toll in Oklahoma rises to 16; hunt for 6 missing continues
Ferocious wildfire in Southern California scorches 25,000 acres; thousands of homes are in danger – Stephanie Elam reports
A wind-whipped wildfire in Southern California grew to some 25,000 acres on Sunday as hundreds of homes remained under evacuation orders.
The Powerhouse Fire, which is burning in the Palmdale area north of Los Angeles, is about 20% contained. According to officials, it has destroyed six homes and threatened as many as 1,000.
"It's moving so fast, and the smoke is hugging the ground because of the intense wind, and it's hard to get a map," incident commander Norm Walker told reporters.
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