Fox News, the Tayorville Tornado and the National Weather Service

Fox News reports the following after the beginning of 2019:

• No violent tornadoes reported in US in 2018, first time since 1950 
• Buried in the story is this quote: "In order to be classified as a "violent tornado," the ranking must be an EF-4 with winds between 166 and 200 mph, or an EF-5."

After looking at what happened in Taylorville, Illinois, who at the National Weather Service decided that any tornado below an EF-4 wasn't violent?

• Destructive Tornado Strikes Taylorville, Illinois; 26 People Hurt, Over 500 Buildings Damaged 
• Taylorville tornado classified as EF-3 as cleanup continues 
• Taylorville tornado may have been EF-3; wind speeds of up to 155 mph 

The Insurance Information Institute facts on tornadoes and thunderstorms doesn't have information beyond 2017, but the Convective Storm Events charts show a rather sharp increase in financial losses due to tornado damage between 1998 and 2017.

Reporting that no "violent" tornadoes touched down in 2018 is irresponsible to say the least. Obviously intended to feed the confirmation bias of climate deniers with misleading information, i. e. Fake News.

Spoiler Alert for Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 11/9

Just how reliable is the main-stream media? Let's take a look at Barack Obama's response to the Flint, Michigan Water Crisis:

• ABC News, May 4, 2016: Obama Drinks Flint's Filtered Water During Visit to 'Shine a Spotlight' on Water Crisis.
• USA Today, May 4, 2016: Obama drinks Flint water as he urges children to be tested for lead.
• Independent (UK) May 4, 2016: Barack Obama drinks Flint water in first visit since crisis began.
• Reuters, May 4, 2016: Obama sips Flint water, urges children be tested for lead.
• NBC 25 News, May 4, 2016: Obama drinks filtered city water in Flint to show it's safe.
• BBC News US & Canada, 4, May 2016: President Obama drinks water in crisis-hit Flint.
• CNN politics: Obama visits Flint, drinks the water.
• Time Magazine: Obama Drinks Filtered Flint Tap Water to Show It's Safe.
• The Guardian (US edition): Obama drinks Flint water to show residents that it's safe – video.
• PBS News Hour: Obama drinks filtered city water in Flint to show it’s safe.

Okay, now this:

• Detroit Free Press, May 4, 2016: Michael Moore calls Barack Obama drinking Flint water 'disappointing'.

You must see Fahrenheit 11/9 to really get a closer look at what really happened. I remember a line from the show 'Person of Interest' that goes something like: "...you're supposed to wet your lips first and wait for the symptoms..."

The moral of the story is that real local newspapers and individual local journalists and activists are better sources of news than those sources under the thumb of their gatekeeping editors and corporate owners.