The Latest: Emergency official: More storm deaths in Georgia

Jeff Bullard sits in what used to be the foyer of his home as his daughter, Jenny Bullard, looks through debris at their home that was damaged by a tornado, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Adel, Ga. Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Cook, that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms.

Severe storms in Southeast U.S.: Death toll hits 16, more tornadoes ahead

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Deadly twisters ravage southern US

At least four people were killed when a tornado ripped through the Mississippi city of Hattiesburg on Saturday, January 21. The storm struck just before dawn, damaging homes and knocking out power for thousands in Forrest and Lamar counties. This video features footage from a Mississippi Army National surveying the tornado damage in Hattiesburg.

More tornadoes ahead as death toll reach 15 in southeast US

Deadly weather in the Southeast killed 15 people and injured dozens more, authorities said Sunday, as residents along the Georgia-Florida line braced for more intense, fast-moving storms - including unusually strong "long track" twisters. On Sunday, a tornado blew through a mobile home park in rural Cook County in southern Georgia - sheering off siding, upending homes and killing seven people, officials said.

Tea party leader gives opinions on gun, religious liberty bills

On Monday, the United Tea Party of Georgia, which holds meetings in Cumming, Buford and Lawrenceville, discussed several items that could come up in the Georgia General Assembly's 2017 legislative session. "Many years ago, I cared about federal issues but never cared about state issues," said the group's leader, David Hancock.

Eastern United States digs out from big snowstorm, braces for cold

The eastern United States began digging out on Saturday from a massive storm that dumped heavy snow from Georgia to Massachusetts, knocking out power for thousands of people and causing hundreds of car crashes, officials said as they warned of more cold weather ahead. The snow began falling heavily on Friday in parts of Georgia, North and South Carolina and Virginia and lasted until mid-day on Saturday, meteorologist Andrew Orrison of the Weather Prediction Center said by phone.

GOP to Reintroduce ‘Religious Liberty’ Bill Targeting LGBT People

When at first you don't succeed in discriminating against LGBT people, wait until Trump is sworn in as president. That's the strategy of Congressional Republicans, who told BuzzFeed News that the GOP plans to reintroduce the First Amendment Defense Act next year, hopeful that the "religious liberty" bill will pass under "a new Congress and new administration."

Brown water, beaver battle among early signs of water woes

Beaver dams have been demolished, burbling fountains silenced, and the drinking water in one southern town has taken on the light brownish color of sweet tea. Though water shortages have yet to drastically change most people's lifestyles, southerners are beginning to realize that they'll need to save their drinking supplies with no end in sight to an eight-month drought.

Many outdoor activities banned as fires burn across South

On Tuesday, the Tennessee Valley Authority issued a burn ban on its public lands across Tennessee and in parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi... . Firefighters Valarie Lopez, left, and Mark Tabaez work to cool hot spots after a wildfire burned a hillside Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, in Clayton, Ga.