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MOORE, Okla. (AP) -- The state medical examiner's office has revised the death toll from a tornado in an Oklahoma City suburb to 24 people, including seven children....

MOORE, Okla. (AP) -- I left the office in Oklahoma City as soon as I saw the tornado warnings on TV. I had photographed about a dozen twisters in the past decade, and knew that if I didn't get in my car before the funnel cloud hit, it would be too late....

Willy Moon, "Here's Willy Moon" (Interscope Records)...

The following list represents the top streamed tracks on Spotify from Monday, May 13, to Sunday, May 19:...

BANGKOK (AP) -- Researchers say Thailand is showing the world how to respond to the global food crisis: by raising bugs for eating....

MOSCOW (AP) -- Russia's point man on Syria and on its relations with the U.S. on Tuesday turned his attention toward a subject close to Russian hearts - alleged vote theft at the Eurovision Song Contest....

CANNES, France (AP) -- Hollywood is hell....

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

Latkes — they're not just for Chanukkah! You can make summery ones, not just the heavier potato version, to celebrate lovely sunny, warm days like the ones that have finally arrived in Ann Arbor.

My friend Karan, a fabulous cook, had given me a recipe for zucchini latkes that also featured feta cheese. I couldn't find her recipe when I went to finally make them, so I improvised; I also threw in some spinach, just 'cause a little extra greenery wouldn't hurt anyone.

Quick and easy to make, these were really good. And how fabulous will they be in the summer, when we have beautiful produce from our gardens and from farmers' markets?

Continue reading Zucchini, spinach, and feta latkes feature farm market produce...

Livingston Taylor

photo by Philip Porcella

For roughly the first 20 years of Livingston Taylor’s music career, starting in about 1969-'70, he devoted himself full-time to performing and recording.

But in 1989, Taylor joined the faculty of the Berklee School of Music—and, all these years later, he continues to teach two Stage Performance courses per semester.

So, for these last 24 years, Taylor has enjoyed the variety of being both a performer / recording artist and a teacher. And in the last few years, he’s also become involved in the administration at Berklee, so these days, he’s at the school four days a week.

Consequently, he does not spend as much time recording and performing as he did in his pre-Berklee days. He’s released two albums in the last 15 years, and he mostly limits his “touring” to the summer months, when he’s not teaching. Although, during the school year, he still frequently does weekend shows in the Boston area, where he lives, but out of town as well.

Continue reading Livingston Taylor talks about record industry, new songs ahead of Ark show...

BEIJING (AP) -- Gunmen wearing North Korean military uniforms released a Chinese fishing boat Tuesday after holding its crew for two weeks, beating up the captain and stealing the vessel's fuel, the boat's owner said. He added that the hijackers did not get the 600,000 yuan ($100,000) ransom they had demanded....

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Oscar Goodman ran Las Vegas for 12 years with a showgirl on his arm and a martini in his fist....

Photo courtesy of zazzle.com

Editor's note: National Dog Bite Prevention Week is May 19 - 25. Click here to read a post from Monday on preventing dog bite incidents, which includes a comprehensive guide from the American Veterinary Medical Assocation.

“I’ve done everything right!” my client Jane sobbed. “I‘ve taken the puppy to be socialized. I go to dog parks. Nothing seems to work.”

Jane’s puppy was now a dog — a rather large dog. The problem? Erratic biting.

Let’s start at the beginning. The puppy, Max, was the shyest one in the litter. Jane felt sorry for him when she went to pick out a puppy. She felt sure that she could “bring the puppy out of its shell” with a lot of TLC.

Next step — Jane takes the puppy to puppy class. At puppy class, Max always hid behind a chair. When another puppy approached him to play, Max would cower.

As difficult as it can be for big-hearted owners, shy puppies must be taught to sit at your side — not to cower behind you. Sitting at your side builds the puppy’s confidence. If an overly-rambunctious puppy approaches the shy puppy, you can block the rambunctious puppy with your body.

Many puppies come to class with fear or shyness, just like Max. But most often, to the happiness of not only puppy’s owner but the supportive class mates, the puppy comes out of its shell.

Next came the dog park. Jane was convinced Max could romp and play with other small pups. She was happy to chat with her friends at the dog park, but her inattention left Max defenseless, and soon the snapping began. Why? Max was fearful. He needed to build up his confidence.

Continue reading Fearful dogs who bite must have their confidence built slowly by calm owners...

The Ypsilanti City Council will consider an emergency ordinance Tuesday to impose a moratorium on the issuing of permits and licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries and grow facilities.

Council member Ricky Jefferson and Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson have requested no additional permits and licenses be granted related to medical marijuana until city staff reviews the present density of licenses already granted.

Continue reading Ypsilanti to consider emergency moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries and grow facilities...

Mayor John Hieftje and his colleagues on the Ann Arbor City Council blocked an attempt early Tuesday morning to add three police officer positions to the city's budget.

The outcome of the 6-5 split vote — which came toward the end of a nearly seven-hour meeting — left Council Member Jane Lumm, who sponsored the proposal, disappointed.

Continue reading Ann Arbor City Council approves 2013-14 budget without increase in police staffing...

Ann Arbor Public Schools' two tuition-based preschool programs are at risk of closing this fall, unless the district can secure enough full-time seats, school officials said.

Parents interested in enrolling their 4-year-olds must sign up this week, according to the district's website and emails sent around by administrators.

Continue reading Ann Arbor schools considers closing tuition-based preschool programs...

Kim's Resale Shop at 25 E. Cross Street has closed after nearly two years of being open. The sign bearing the store's name has already been removed.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

Kim's Resale Shop in Ypsilanti's Depot Town closed last Thursday, nearly two and a half years after opening. Owner Kim Ion said with the shop closing, she now has time to focus on her new venture in Ypsilanti, the 5 Alarm Flea Market.

Continue reading Kim's Resale Shop closes in Depot Town as owner pursues new venture...

A rendering of the Wall Street parking structure.

University of Michigan rendering

University of Michigan will begin construction on a 725-space, six-story parking structure along Wall Street next month and the school is holding a meeting on Wednesday to discuss details of the construction project with nearby residents.

Continue reading University of Michigan to discuss Wall Street parking garage with neighbors...

BurgerFi restaurant is preparing to open at 1235 S. University Ave., near the University of Michigan campus.

Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com

BurgerFi, a Florida-based restaurant chain that sells all-natural hamburgers made with grass-fed beef, is preparing to open near the University of Michigan’s campus.

Continue reading BurgerFi restaurant plans to open near University of Michigan's campus...

A woman carries a child through a field near the collapsed Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. The relationship between the woman and the child was not immediately known. A tornado as much as half a mile (.8 kilometers) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school.

Sue Ogrocki | The Associated Press

Related stories:

• CNN: 51 killed in mammoth Oklahoma tornado; 40 more bodies expected


• USA Today: Tornado causes explosion caught on camera


• The Oklahoman: Local coverage from the scene


• The Atlantic: Tornadoes in America: The Oklahoma Disaster in Context

Spotlights bore down on massive piles of shredded cinder block, insulation and metal as crews worked through the night early Tuesday lifting bricks and parts of collapsed walls where a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood. At least 51 people were killed, including at least 20 children, and those numbers were expected to climb, officials said.

Continue reading Crews dig through night after deadly Oklahoma twister ...