CRISSA NELSON | editor-in-chief
WITH AP SOURCES
One of the deadliest tornados to hit the U.S. in the past 20 years tore across Tennessee, Kansas, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi, Tuesday evening and into early Wednesday morning. The death toll has reportedly risen to 55 people.
The storm left a long trail of death and destruction in its path. Thirty-one were reported dead in Tennessee, 13 in Kansas, seven in Kentucky and four in Alabama.
Union University, one of APUs CCCU sister schools in Jackson, Tennessee was struck at approximately 7 p.m. Tuesday evening. Although damage was extensive and required a five-hour emergency effort, no deaths have been reported. Fifty-one students were taken to the hospital including 13, who were trapped in fallen rubble.
The storm hit on one of the most important political days in this election season—Super Tuesday. Candidates including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee gave moments of silence to remember the victims during their victory speeches.
“While we hope tonight is a time for us to celebrate election results, we are reminded that nothing is as important as the lives of these fellow Arkansans, and our hearts go out to their families,” Huckabee said.
Wild winter storms have consistently caused damage to this region of the country throughout Jan. and Feb. An outbreak of tornadoes on Jan. 8 was reported in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. Two were reported dead in Missouri. 
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