What we’re reading: Severe tornados tear across the Southeast, six confirmed dead

By Courtney Carr

Published Mar 26, 2021

Women stand outside a house damaged by a tornado in the Preston Hollow section of Dallas, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Menacing storms and tornado’s hit the Southeast

Powerful tornadoes went across several states including Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee and killed at least six people Thursday.

Alabama is reported to have been hit the hardest with numerous homes, businesses and roads destroyed.

One tornado is likely suspected to have traveled over 100 miles from Birmingham, Ala. to the state’s northeastern corner, according to The New York Times.

Five bodies have been discovered thus far in Calhoun County. Sheriffs across the state of Alabama have ensured the continuation of search and rescue operations state-wide.

The State-By-State Guide to becoming vaccinated against COVID-19

FILE – In this Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 photo, patients wait near the exit of a vaccination site at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center after receiving COVID-19 vaccines in the Manhattan borough of New York. Millions of New Yorkers with health conditions that leave them at high risk of illness from the coronavirus can now sign up for appointments at state-run vaccination sites like this one, but a shortage of vaccine supply means many will be frustrated in their search. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Thus far, 14% of Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with about 26% having received the first dose of one of the three approved vaccines in the U.S.

As Americans grow more eager to receive the vaccine, the process of becoming vaccinated looks different in each state, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Each state has its own rules and process for obtaining the vaccine, along with criteria for who fits into specific groups that will receive the vaccine before others.

One group consists of those that are immune-compromised.

President Biden has called on states to work towards making the three COVID-19 vaccines available to all U.S. adults by May 1st.

Talks of Discord being acquired by Microsoft

Platforms, such as these companies, tweak their algorithms to corral their users into groups because it’s more effective and economical to engage a group than one person at a time. (Photo courtesy of makeawebsitehub.com)

Discord, a San Fransisco-based messaging platform is currently talking with Microsoft regarding the acquisition of the platform.

Microsoft Corp. has efforts to expand its reach among consumers by acquiring different platforms across the board, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Its reported that the price of the deal proposed by Microsoft Corp. to Discord Inc. is roughly around $10 billion, according to people close to the software conglomerate.

Depending on negotiations the deal is expected to be finalized by the end of next month.