Tornado funnels darkened the sky in the Dallas–Fort Worth area Tuesday, hurling trucks through the air, ripping the roofs off houses, and crumpling trailers. Southwest Airlines canceled dozens of flights and American Airlines grounded all planes coming in and out of Dallas after a twister was reported miles from the downtown area. The mayor of nearby Arlington signed a disaster declaration after “extensive damage” to homes in the city.

The conflicting reports of what happened the night George Zimmmerman shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin continue to pick up their respective evidence. The latest piece of the puzzle is enhanced surveillance footage of the police station where Zimmerman was taken afterward, which now appears to show a possible gash or injury on the back of his head. The footage was originally touted as showing the opposite. Both the video footage and the audio of Zimmerman’s 911 call have been intensely debated, and both sides have claimed them as evidence for their account of the shooting.

Romney’s sights were on the White House when he spoke to supporters in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. Having made a hat trick of the night’s primaries, Romney said Obama is deluding himself. “He thinks he’s done a historically great job,” Romney quipped. “And no, he did not say that on Saturday Night Live!” The former Massachusetts governor said that he’d repeal Obamacare, cut taxes, and use his experience in the world of business to encourage free enterprise and foster industry.

News Corp.’s Sky News reported on Tuesday that James Murdoch will step down as BSkyB chairman due to his role in the hacking scandal. BBC reported it was James Murdoch’s own decision to step down as the investigation into his own role in the phone-hacking scandal has grown. A spokesman for BSkyB declined to comment on the report. News Corp. owns 39 percent of BSkyB, but News Corp. was forced to drop its $12 billion bid to take over the whole of BSkyB in the wake of the hacking scandal.

In a speech that was part history lesson, part locker-room chat, Rick Santorum rallied supporters at his headquarters in Mars, Pa., Tuesday night. With half of the delegates apportioned, Mitt Romney holds a strong lead, but Santorum still said he’d continue his campaign, saying, “Who’s ready to charge out of the locker room in Pennsylvania for a strong second half?” Taking aim at President Obama and frontrunner Romney, Santorum said he was the candidate who would fight for conservative values. “No marching bands,” Santorum said. “The clock starts tonight.”

Red-maned and glamorous, Anna Chapman seems a likely international woman of mystery. But federal officials said today that it wasn’t Chapman, but another female spy, that got close enough to a member of President Obama’s cabinet for the FBI to swoop in and shut down their ring in 2010. Though first reports named Chapman as the cunning agent who almost found her way to the nexus of American power, the real culprit, Department of Justice officials told reporters, was fellow snoop Cynthia Murphy.

Richard Descoings, a French academic and director of the prestigious Institute of Political Studies in Paris, was found dead in a Manhattan hotel on Tuesday. Police have not ruled out foul play because Descoings’s seventh-floor room was found in disarray and some of his belongings were found on a third-floor landing. Drugs and alcohol were also found in the room. Descoings, an advisor to France’s political leaders, was in New York to attend a conference at Columbia University.

The police’s suspect in the shooting at a California religious university told police Tuesday that he went on a rampage after a female administrator at the school teased him. The accused shooter, One L. Goh, 43, reportedly targeted one official for expelling him, and police also said Goh felt “disrespected” due to his poor English skills. Goh left seven dead and three more injured, but the administrator who was reportedly his target seems to have escaped the execution-style slayings—and police said they don’t believe any of his victims were people who teased him.

Barbie is about to get a new, bald friend. Mattel announced Tuesday that the company would be creating a hairless doll to help kids dealing with hair loss. The new doll will have wigs, hats, and scarves to accessorize. The company won’t sell the doll, but instead will donate them to children’s hospitals and other medical centers around the world. The decision follows a Facebook campaign aimed at getting Mattel to help children who are either losing their hair or watching a loved one go through the process.

Baylor’s women’s basketball team won the NCAA tournament Tuesday night and set the record for the most number of games won in a season. The Lady Bears, who defeated Notre Dame 80–61, won 40 games, going undefeated all season long. It was their first tournament win since 2005. Notre Dame, which hasn’t won a championship since 2001, finished the season 35–4. This was their second straight loss in the tournament finals.

Katie Couric went toe-to-toe with her old show Monday when she guest-hosted Good Morning America, but Today still pulled out on top of the ratings. Meanwhile, Sarah Palin sat in the guest host’s seat at Today on Tuesday in what’s heating up to be a week of stiff competition between the morning shows. Even Couric couldn’t get ABC’s morning spot past Today in ratings Monday, however, and the show fell about 300,000 viewers shy of the top spot. Couric hosted at Today for 16 years before taking a gig at CBS.

The good news for Rick Santorum: he has cleaned up in the states where evangelicals constitute the majority of voters. The bad news: only a third of Wisconsin’s Republican primary voters identified themselves as evangelical in exit polls on Tuesday. Romney is expected to win handily in the Badger State, where voters also identify themselves as less conservative.

Being the anti-Romney may not be enough to keep Rick Santorum in the race. With Maryland called for Mitt Romney after only 1 percent of precincts reported, the former Massachusetts governor is looking to make a three-state sweep Tuesday that could help him lock up the Republican nomination. Romney scored at least 28 delegates in the state, with nine more Maryland delegates to be allocated. He now has 600 total delegates to Santorum's 273, and more than half of the 1,144 needed to secure the GOP's nod.

President Obama will attack the House Republican budget set forth by Paul Ryan—and embraced by Mitt Romney—as being a “radical vision” equal to “social Darwinism” in a speech Tuesday. “By gutting the very things we need to grow an economy that’s built to last—education and training; research and development—it’s a prescription for decline,” Obama said. House Republicans recently passed Ryan’s $3.5 trillion budget for 2013, which includes tax cuts and an overhaul to Medicare, Medicaid, and other entitlement programs.

Tucker Max certainly wants points for effort. The male comedian and novelist says his $500,000 donation to Planned Parenthood was rejected. An advisor for Max, Ryan Holliday, says he suggested to that Max donate to the organization for tax purposes, and Holliday said Max told him “they really did help me and my girlfriend when I was poor, and I really do believe in their mission.” Holliday said that although Planned Parenthood initially seemed excited about the donation, the organization then changed their minds due to Max’s “perception”—especially since Max has been boycotted by feminist groups.

Social conservatives say you can’t put a price tag on human life, but are they aware that curbing reproductive rights for women translates to higher taxes? According to the nonprofit National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, contraceptive use saves nearly $19 billion in annual medical costs and reduces abortion rates. “There’s a simple math in place: more unintended pregnancies mean more public costs,” said the campaign’s chief program officer. “Especially for the deficit hawks, it is a pennywise-pound-foolish strategy.” A report from the nonprofit found that employers who offer birth-control coverage end up saving more money than those who don’t.

The first American-made flying car completed its first flight Monday, bringing it a step closer to going on the market next year. The Terrafugia Transition, which requires a runway to launch and will cost $279,000, flies at 1,400 feet and folds up so that it can be driven like a car. The government has given Terrafugia several key legal exemptions from automobile standards to make it a reality. More than 100 people have already paid the $10,000 deposit to get a Transition when it goes on sale. It will likely be marketed to the western United States, where the company believes it might catch on as a vehicle to travel long distances instead of driving.

Nancy Pelosi would be yet another Hillary Clinton supporter in 2016. The House minority leader said, “I do think [Clinton] should entertain the thought of running in 2016,” and that she “would love to see [her] become the nominee.” In recent weeks several other Democrats have said Clinton should consider another run, including Bill Clinton, who said he would be happy either way. Pelosi was neutral in the 2008 primary between Clinton and Barack Obama, but was widely believed to be an Obama supporter.

A day after Syria reportedly agreed to an international peace plan, Assad is sticking to his word. If you trust government officials, that is. The official told the Associated Press that troops were pulling out from calm cities ahead of the April 10 deadline. Opposition in Damascus, however, denied the claims, saying that 20 were dead in a fresh round of violence. In more tense areas, troops are reportedly heading to the outskirts of the action. Assad has a long history of breaking promises when it comes to ceasefires.

The Final Four—and March Madness itself—all just seemed like a formality on Monday night. Overall No. 1 Kentucky overwhelmed Kansas for much of the final, holding off a late Jayhawk run for a 67–59 victory at the Superdome in New Orleans. The Jayhawks trailed by 14 at halftime, but were within six points with under three minutes to play. Kentucky finishes the year 38–2 with the win. Freshman Anthony Davis was too much for the Jayhawks to overcome, the 6-foot-10 center registering six blocks and 16 rebounds in the bout.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) freed 10 soldiers and police officers Monday. The group claimed that these individuals, who had all been held for at least 12 years, were the last captives they were holding. A Red Cross spokeswoman said that the released captives would be arriving on a Brazilian air-force helicopter emblazoned with the organization’s logo. FARC recently said that as a goodwill gesture, it would stop ransom kidnappings.

President Obama argued that even GOP hero Ronald Reagan couldn't get elected by today's extreme right–leaning Republican party. In his speech on the Republican budget plan, Obama noted the rejection by every Republican candidate of lowering the debt by cutting $10 of spending for every $1 of tax increase. "Think about that. Ronald Reagan, who as I recall was not accused of being a tax-and-spend socialist, understood repeatedly that when the deficit started to get out of control that for him to make a deal he would have to propose both spending cuts and tax increases," he said. "He did it multiple times. He could not get through a Republican primary today." 

This puts the $16 muffin to shame. The head of the General Services Administration, which assists with the basic functioning of other federal agencies, resigned in scandal, while her two top deputies were fired and four managers were placed on leave. The problem? A damning report by the GSA inspector general documenting an $823,000 training conference held for 300 employees just south of Las Vegas. The conference featured a clown, a psychic, and a $44-per-person breakfast. There was also a $31,208 “networking” reception and $146,000 in catered food and drink. Obama’s Chief of Staff Jacob J. Lew says the president is “outraged” and is calling “all those responsible to be held fully accountable.” California Republican Darrell Issa has already pointed to the report as an example of “a bloated federal government.”

The U.S. is offering $10 million for the capture or information leading to the capture of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. His brother-in-law and cofounder has a $2 million bounty. India hailed the bounty as a sign of “the commitment of India and the United States to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attack to justice and continuing efforts to combat terrorism.”

With all eyes on election ’12, there may be another fight shaping up: between Obama and the Supreme Court. We got a preview on Monday, when Obama warned the court that striking down his health-care law would be an example of exactly the sort of judicial activism conservatives decry. A group that backed the law, Protect Your Care, has promised to campaign against the court if it strikes down the legislation, and New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer said ruling against the law “would be so far out of the mainstream that the court would be the most activist in a century.” Though such talk won’t likely influence the court, it will set Obama up to blame the court if the law is struck down.

A short film featuring Daniel Craig in character as James Bond will be featured during the opening ceremonies of the London Olympics. Craig agreed to shoot it after a personal invitation from Queen Elizabeth II. The timing is especially appropriate because 2012 is also the 50th anniversary of the James Bond films. In the short, called "The Arrival," Bond gets his mission at Buckingham Palace and then helicopters to Stratford, east London, where he parachutes into the stadium. The short is directed by Slumdog Millionaire’s Danny Boyle, and there are rumors that the Queen might make an appearance as well.

Celebrations went bad in Lexington, as students from the University of Kentucky rioted Monday night after their basketball team captured the NCAA championship for the first time in a decade. Police said at least one man was wounded by gunfire, at least 50 small fires were set, and dozens were arrested as thousands of people took to the streets after Kentucky’s win. Police in riot gear were already in place by the time the game ended—especially after more than a dozen students were arrested Saturday following Kentucky’s ascension into the championship game.

We always knew the Civil War was the deadliest conflict in American history, with more casualties than the rest of the U.S.’s wars combined. But apparently we didn’t know just how bad it was: a researcher at Binghamton University in New York has combed census data from the 19th century and found that Civil War casualties were 20 percent higher than what had been the official number for 110 years: 618,222. David Hacker discovered that closer to 750,000 died. History journals and Civil War scholars are already validating Hacker’s research.

“Liquidity crisis” indeed. AFA Foods Inc, a national ground-beef processor, filed a bankruptcy petition after facing “an immediate and unanticipated liquidity crisis” following the public outcry over pink slime, a gooey byproduct that comes from excess beef trimmings. After an ABC report about the product, which is used as filler in some ground beef, ground beef containing pink slime was pulled from school cafeterias, supermarkets, and some fast-food restaurants. The FDA says pink slime is safe to eat, but it’s come under fire from ABC, chefs, and other sources. Other beef producers expect a similar drop-off in demand.

A graphic appearing on jihadi forums Monday caught the NYPD’s attention—not just for its announcement of a potential terrorist threat but for its unusually sleek graphic design. The graphic features a stylized image of New York City with the headline “Al Qaeda: Coming Soon Again to New York.” An NYPD spokesman said the website where it appeared is heavily used by Islamic militants, and that the city police and the FBI were investigating.

Ladies, watch out for Levi Johnston. Having split from Bristol Palin, the mother of his first son, Tripp, 21-year-old Johnston has reportedly spread his seed again. The lucky lady is Sunny Oglesby, a 20-year-old schoolteacher in Wasilla, Alaska, whom Johnston has been dating for a little more than a year. Sources tell TMZ that she’s still early in her first trimester and thus has not publicly announced the news, but that Johnston is “so excited” to be starting a new family, namely because Sarah and Todd Palin have gone out of their way to prevent him from seeing Tripp.

Mitt Romney is riding high going into tonight’s primaries. He holds commanding leads in Wisconsin,  Maryland, and Washington, D.C., and winning all of them would give his campaign yet another boost from now until the next batch of Republican primaries, on April 24. Romney and Santorum have both focused on Wisconsin, though the primary there may be overshadowed by local politics and yesterday's attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic. “Frankly, the presidential primary is being well overshadowed by the [Gov. Scott Walker] recall election,” Wisconsin GOP strategist Mark Graul tells Talking Points Memo.

President Obama’s top adviser, David Axelrod, accused Mitt Romney of living “in a time warp” on CBS This Morning Tuesday. “I think he must watch Mad Men and think it’s the evening news,” he quipped, referring to Romney’s opposition to health-care provisions that require employers to pay for contraception and his claim that Russia is America’s No. 1 foe. Romney’s positions show he’s “oblivious to the experiences of everyday people,” he argued. 

April just started, but Rick Santorum is already looking ahead to May. Realistic about the losses he faces this month, the presidential candidate is confident he can regain steam in the next round of primaries. “This is a series of states—you know, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, and D.C. and Maryland—these are not conservative states,” he said of those voting in April. May, however, “is rich with delegates and are strong states for us,” he noted, such as Texas, Kentucky, Arkansas, and North Carolina.

Sarah Palin seems to be viewing her gig today as co-host of Today as more of a round two than a new start. “Game on,” she told Breitbart News when asked how she felt competing against Katie Couric, who is guest-hosting the rival Good Morning America on ABC. When asked about President Obama, Palin, who isn't especially excited about Mitt Romney, said that anyone would be "infinitely" better than the current president. Couric's 2008 interview famously damaged Palin’s reputation as a vice-presidential candidate. Couric is guest-hosting Good Morning America all week, and NBC has booked a series of guests to compete in the ratings war.

Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan described the man suspected of killing seven people and wounding three others as being “a very chaotic, calculated and determined gentleman that came with a specific intent to kill people.” One L. Goh, a 43-year-old former Oikos University student, was arrested Monday as the suspected shooter at the small religious school. Police said the students were lined up against the classroom wall and then shot, in what Jordan described as “execution-style.” After the shooting, the suspect allegedly drove off in a student’s car and reportedly called his father, who then called police.

Former vice president Dick Cheney was released from a Virginia hospital Tuesday, 10 days after receiving a heart transplant. In a statement, the vice president thanked Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia for their “excellent care” and expressed his “deep gratitude” to the unknown heart donor and the donor’s family. Cheney has had well-documented heart troubles over the years, suffering his first heart attack at age 37.

Is it tornado season already? Two twisters hit Dallas, Texas, on Tuesday, with the National Weather Service reporting “considerable damage” in towns south of the Ft. Worth area, including Arlington. Live television footage showed a funnel cloud approaching a major highway south of Dallas and moving north. More twisters are brewing as a severe storm system sweeps the region, with the weather service reporting heavy thunder, lightning, and large hail. Local news says mobile homes and trucks have been spotted airborne and several schools have been evacuated, though no injuries or fatalities have been reported. A tornado watch is in effect for most counties in north Texas.

George Zimmerman says he is ready to turn himself in if he is charged in the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, a decision authorities say will come “soon.” The special prosecutor in the case, reviewing whether Zimmerman truly acted in self-defense when he shot the unarmed Martin, said she will decide shortly whether or not to file charges. Zimmerman’s lawyer said his client will not run from the law, and that they are already preparing for a trial.

Whether or not they like him, a majority of Wisconsin primary voters say Mitt Romney will be the GOP nominee for president. Exit polls from today's Wisconsin primary are showing that 8 in 10 Badger State Republicans hold that view even though roughly half of those voters say he's not conservative enough to be the party's standard-bearer. Wisconsinites are equally divided as to whether Romney or Rick Santorum would do a better job handling the health-care issue. Romney has also taken steps to begin raising money jointly with the RNC, a sign that he is pivoting to the general election.