Some 2,500 people are still listed as missing in the Bahamas more than a week after Hurricane Dorian pummeled the Caribbean island chain - although that number may include evacuees who fled to shelters, authorities said on Wednesday. Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis told the nation in a televised address that the death toll from Dorian remained at 50, but conceded that the large number of people still missing meant that number would rise. 'The number of deaths is expected to significantly increase,' Minnis said, adding the government was being transparent and would provide 'timely information on the loss of life as it is available.' 😱

Colorado State University says it won't punish students wearing blackface in social media photo because it violates their First Amendment rights. Colorado State University President Joyce McConnell said the pupils did not violate school polices by sharing the information on social media accounts. In an email written to students, faculty and staff she acknowledged the photo had caused a 'great deal of pain to members of our community.' She claimed to have received multiple complaints about the picture, where people feared the image would 'perpetuate deliberate racism and create a climate that feels deeply hostile.' But McConnell added, posts on the private profiles of anyone affiliated to CSU is 'not under our jurisdiction.' 'Our community members - students, faculty and staff - can generally post whatever they wish to post on their personal online accounts in accordance with their First Amendment rights,' she wrote.🗽

An Oregon man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his part in distributing 60lbs of methamphetamine in a drug ring that expanded three states. Abel Lomas Murillo, 26, was also sentenced to five years' supervised release for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Oregon said. The Weston, Oregon, native pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. 'During sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Simon ordered Murillo to pay $20,000 to satisfy a forfeiture money judgment,' the release states. At Abel's residence, police found 29 firearms and body armor. They also found another 10lbs of meth and five firearms inside the Medford storage locker that the man had visited.

A devastating tornado touched down in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, damaging at least 37 buildings including a hospital. The National Weather Service confirms a tornado touched down shortly before midnight. The funnel cloud left a path of destruction to buildings, power lines and trees. Fire Chief Brad Goodroad said at a Wednesday morning news conference that at least 37 structures collapsed or have structural issues in winds in excess of 100 miles per hour. There are some reports of injuries, but no word on any fatalities or serious injuries, the Argus Leader reported. 🌪😱