DEVELOPING Latest updates on the major wildfires currently burning in Canada
Thousands of Canadians have been displaced as fires burn in Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba. Here are the latest updates.
On Saturday, the morning of what was meant to be the best day of his life – his wedding day – Austin Bracker got an unwelcome phone call.
The day before, a tornado had torn through Waterloo, Nebraska, just to the west of Omaha, where he was scheduled to celebrate his wedding reception late Saturday afternoon.
An outbreak of severe thunderstorms across the central United States over the weekend brought heavy rain, large hail and devastating tornadoes. The twisters left four people dead in Oklahoma and flattened homes in Iowa and Nebraska.
In the village of Waterloo, the storm damaged "numerous homes," though no injuries were reported, according to a news release from the Douglas County Emergency Management Agency. It also left Austin and Jessica Bracker's wedding reception venue, A View West Shores, without power.
But despite the once-in-a-lifetime circumstances, changing or cancelling the celebration was never an option for the Brackers.
"The thought of calling off the reception never crossed our minds," Jessica Bracker told CNN. "Austin and I are resilient through everything we do in life and this is just something we rolled with what we were dealt."
The newlyweds are both nurses who met at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, and now live just outside of the city, the bride's family told CNN. Jessica is originally from Omaha, Nebraska, and Austin is from Springfield, Missouri.
Their marriage ceremony was at a church that wasn't affected by the storm, the couple said. But their reception venue had to move the festivities from inside to a covered walkway outside.
The Brackers said their families pitched in to move the set-up.
Brandi Goldapp, the venue's owner, said when they realized they had no power for the Bracker's reception, they connected with other local vendors to get extra generators. They also used freedom stick lights and LED stick lights to keep the venue lit.
"We will do anything for our clients," he said. Goldapp described the celebration as "the most amazing wedding that we could have ever had in this situation."
"We were happy to be with one another and just kind of took it as it is," Austin Bracker told CNN. "We just rolled with it."
And all of the over 300 guests also "rolled with the punches" despite the challenging circumstances, Jessica Bracker said.
Despite the devastation wrought by a tornado over the weekend, guests still chose to make the most of a bad situation at Jessica and Austin Bracker’s wedding. (Maya Blackstone/CNN via CNN Newsource)
"They're here to celebrate us, which we feel very fortunate for," she said, adding, "Our prayers go out to those that were affected by the storms that passed through the area Friday night."
"We put 10 months of planning and coordinating, happy tears and lots of stress tears for the wedding of our dreams and all that kinda got ripped from us," Jessica Bracker said. "We are so fortunate and blessed to have the family and friends that we do that made the day as amazing as it possibly could have given the situation."
Janet Sueper, the bride's great-aunt, described the night as "a wedding like I've never seen before" and lauded the collaboration required to save the celebration.
"Everyone participated in chipping in and hustling to make it special and they pulled it together really quickly," Sueper told CNN.
Nash Thompson, a friend of the couple, similarly described it as "a special night."
"Despite everything that happened, everybody showed up, made it what it is," he told CNN. "A lot of people love these guys. That's what it's all about."
Thousands of Canadians have been displaced as fires burn in Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba. Here are the latest updates.
Although a global workers' treaty has been in force in Canada since January, an employment lawyer believes it won't do anything more to protect employees from violence and harassment.
Auto technology has evolved and many newer cars use wireless key fobs and push-button starters instead of traditional metal keys. But that technology also makes things easier for thieves.
Slovak politicians have called for calm in the Central European country after Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times by a would-be assassin on Wednesday, a rare instance of political violence that came as a shock despite deep political polarization.
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.
May 20 is Victoria Day. If you're going across the border this long weekend, follow these tips for a smoother trip.
Chief Robert Michell says relief isn't the right word to describe his reaction as the search begins for unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school he attended in northern British Columbia.
Of the $40-million Aiden Pleterski was handed over two years, documents show he invested just over one per cent and instead spent $15.9 million on "his personal lifestyle." The 25-year-old Oshawa, Ont. man was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering on Tuesday.
When Adam Kirschner wrote 'Slap Shot,' he never imagined the song would be embraced by his favourite team.
A team is ready to help an entangled North Atlantic right whale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
A $200 reward is being offered by a North Vancouver family for the safe return of their beloved chicken, Snowflake.
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
YES Theatre Young Company opened its acclaimed kids’ show, One Small Step, at Sudbury Theatre Centre on Saturday.
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.