Updated Mar 4, 2020 - Science

In photos: At least 25 dead after tornadoes tear through Tennessee

Jacob Knutson

A heavily damaged building in East Nashville. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Intense thunderstorms across Tennessee early Tuesday morning spawned tornadoes, including one that struck downtown Nashville. The tornadoes destroyed at least 140 buildings and killed at least 25 people in the state, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) said.

What we know: Schools, courts and transit lines in Nashville were closed Tuesday, and more than a dozen polling stations were damaged before Super Tuesday voting began in the state.

  • A judge ruled on Tuesday afternoon to extend voting hours in Tennessee's second-largest county after four Democratic presidential campaigns sued to keep polls open after the tornado, a Democratic Party spokeswoman said Tuesday.
  • "A tornado skipped across the county," Nashville Mayor John Cooper told the Tennessean. "You do have people at the hospital and frankly there have been fatalities."
  • "It is heartbreaking. We have had loss of life all across the state," said Lee, according to AP.
In photos
Emergency crews work near a damaged business in Nashville. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
Damaged utility poles and lines hang above a street. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
A resident walking amid downed trees and heavy debris on a street. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
Cars stopped by downed service lines. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
A man walks by a damaged pickup truck. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
A destroyed home in Cookeville, Tennessee. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
The aftermath of a tornado in Cookeville, Tennessee. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
Residents walk through downed utility lines and trees to survey the damage. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the death toll rise.

Go deeper

Axios

How Super Tuesday is unfolding

A voter takes part in the Democratic primary in Purcellville, Virginia. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Voters in 14 states and one territory cast their ballots on Super Tuesday, tweeting and blogging along the way.

Why it matters: The huge delegate hauls of California and Texas this year make the day about as close as the U.S. gets to a national presidential primary.

Go deeperArrowUpdated Mar 3, 2020 - Politics & Policy
Jacob Knutson

In photos: Biden and Sanders in the 11th Democratic debate

Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders bumping elbows, rather than shaking hands, before Sunday's Democratic presidential debate. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders were alone on Sunday night's debate stage for the first time.

The big picture: The candidates faced off without a studio audience to avoid unnecessary exposure to the coronavirus, with debate moderators Univision anchor Ilia Calderon, CNN chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper, and CNN political correspondent Dana Bash the only others in the Washington studio.

Go deeperArrowMar 16, 2020 - Politics & Policy
Axios

In photos: March 10th Democratic primaries

People vote in the Michigan primary election at an elementary school. Photo: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images

Americans in six states are voting today in the Democratic primaries after Super Tuesday results narrowed the field to former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii).

The state of play: The coronavirus looms over the primaries as campaign workers and polling places try to protect themselves with gloves and hand sanitizer. Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Idaho, North Dakota and Washington will have closed their polls by 11 p.m. ET.

Go deeperArrowMar 10, 2020 - Politics & Policy