First up today on CNN Students News, tragedy at sea. Last week, hundreds of people boarded a boat from Libya headed to Europe. It sent out an SOS on Saturday night and as a rescue ship approached, the migrants moved toward it, crowding one side of their own boat, causing it to capsize in frigid waters. Italian Coast Guard officials say they've recovered some survivors, but hundreds of people are feared dead.

 

This years, there has been a series of disasters like this. Thousands of migrants have been rescued. Hundreds have died in dangerous Mediterranean crossings on unsafe ships. Some are looking for a better life in Europe. Some are running from violence and instability in countries like Libya. Some are being trafficked as slaves. European leaders are holding emergency meetings and increasing the number of patrol ships to address the problem.

 

For millions of Americans, the middle of April is a time of remembrance, reflection and recovery. Last week marked the anniversaries of the Boston Marathon Bombings and a shooting at Virginia Tech University. 

 

April 19th, 1993 was when the FBI led an assault using tear gas on an armed religious cult in Waco, Texas. It's not clear exactly how a fire broke out in the compound where the cult was gathered, but dozens of people died.

 

On April 19th, 1995, a massive bombing occurred at Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in the Oklahoma capital. The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum stands as a monument, with 168 stone and glass chairs representing each victim.

 

And on April 20th, 1999, there was a shooting attack at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. The Columbine Memorial, opened in 2007, pays tribute to the students and teacher who were killed.