The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. May 23, 2011 89 Killed in Missouri Tornado ------------------------------ At least 89 people are believed to be dead after a massive tornado tore through the Missouri city of Joplin. The storm cut a path through the town’s center nearly six miles long and a half-mile wide. With an estimated 25 to 30 percent of the town destroyed, authorities have warned the death toll could rise. St. John’s Hospital on Joplin’s south side reportedly took a “direct hit” causing multiple injuries. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has activated the National Guard and declared a state of emergency. More than 350 people were killed when tornadoes struck areas across the South last month. .