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Good afternoon, I'm Naamua Delaney at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Here is a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

We begin with the widespread storm damage and a growing death toll¹ across 5 states. At least 52 people are dead and entire neighborhoods are now wiped off the map because of a series of tornadoes². People in Northern Alabama woke up to severely³ damaged or destroyed homes and trees that have been ripped apart. And Memphis areas storms fled up and then moved northeast towards Nashville. More than half of the people who died, 28 of the 52 lived in Tennessee. In the western part of the state, at least 8 people had to be dug out of a damaged dorm at Union University. A university spokesman says 3 residence halls and another building suffered extensive damage.

The presidential primary campaign is past the halfway⁴ mark and it's still a long way from over. Super Tuesday put two dozen more primaries and caucuses⁵ in the books and yet nothing appears to be settled yet. Senator John McCain says Republicans now have a clear front-runner despite two challengers collecting their share of victories. For democrats⁶, the two-way race to the nomination⁷ is if anything tighter than ever.

Police in Germany now say arson⁸ could be to blame for a fire that killed 9 people including 5 children. We showed you this photo yesterday of a baby being thrown from a fourth-floor window. Firefighters caught him down below but the boy's mom is still hospitalized. German officials are holding a wreath-laying ceremony this afternoon.

The chief medical examiner in the city of New York says actor Heath Ledger⁹ died of an accidental overdose while abusing prescription¹⁰ drugs. The toxicology result revealed Ledger had taken a combination of several medications including painkillers¹² and cold medicine. Ledger was found dead at his New York apartment on January 22.

The FDA is warning fish processors to avoid buying seafood¹³ from the northern Gulf¹⁴ of Mexico. Fish harvested near a sanctuary¹⁵ off the coast of Texas is apparently¹⁶ at risk for a toxic¹¹ algae¹⁷ known as ciguatera. The Fed say at least 28 people have become sick. Grouper, snapper, amberjack and barracuda pose the biggest threat.

Well that's a quick look at what's making news this hour. Stay with CNN for more on these stories and the other news of the day.