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What is a flash drought? An earth scientist explains

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:42 GMT

(The Conversation) - Many people are familiar with flash floods – torrents that develop quickly after heavy rainfall. But there’s also such a thing as a flash drought, and these sudden, extreme dry spells are becoming a big concern for farmers and water utilities.Flash droughts start and intensify quickly, over periods of weeks to months, compared to years or decades for conventional droughts. Still, they can cause substantial economic damage, since communities have less time to prepare for the impacts of a rapidly evolving drought. In 2017, a flash drought in Montana and the Dakotas damaged crops and grasses that served as forage for cattle, causing US$2.6 billion in agricultural losses.Flash droughts also can increase wildfire risks, cause public water supply shortages and reduce stream flow, which harms fish and other aquatic life.A developing flash drought in the central U.S. covered 64% of corn territory and 57% of soybean territory in late June 2023. Areas marked S a...

Lake Austin watercraft ban starts at sunset Monday for July 4 holiday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Starting at sunset Monday, no watercrafts will be allowed on Lake Austin. The city’s annual ordinance will lift Wednesday at sunrise.The ban applies to personal watercrafts, wet bikes, motorized surfboards and similar devices. Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are allowed.Austin Police Department’s Lake Patrol Unit will enforce the ordinance, according to the city. Boaters should call 911 to report reckless boat operations or for emergencies.Lake Travis is not affected by the watercraft ban. Lake Austin stretches from Mansfield Dam to the Tom Miller Dam.The city’s annual ordinance, which aims to enforce public safety, also goes into effect for periods around the Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays.

At least 1 injured in fiery rollover crash in Compton 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:42 GMT

A fiery crash in Compton hurt at least one person and left one car completely charred. Authorities responded to the rollover wreck on the eastbound side of the 91 Freeway near Wilmington Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Friday night. Video shows one sedan flipped onto its roof and another vehicle completely burnt.A fiery crash in Compton hurt at least one person and left one car completely charred. (KeyNews)A fiery crash in Compton hurt at least one person and left one car completely charred. (KeyNews)A fiery crash in Compton hurt at least one person and left one car completely charred. (KeyNews)A fiery crash in Compton hurt at least one person and left one car completely charred. (KeyNews) Massive fire breaks out at discount store in South Central Los Angeles It was reported that at least one person was injured, but their condition, as well as the conditions of the other occupants of both vehicles, are unknown. CHP temporarily closed two lanes of the freeway to cl...

Massive fire breaks out at discount store in South Central Los Angeles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:42 GMT

A large fire engulfed a commercial building in South Central Los Angeles early Saturday morning. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, more than 80 firefighters were dispatched to the Best Bargain discount store on South Broadway near West 41st Place around 2:30 a.m. to combat the blaze, which started on the roof of the store and quickly spread inside. A large fire engulfed a commercial building in South Central Los Angeles early Saturday morning. (KTLA)A large fire engulfed a commercial building in South Central Los Angeles early Saturday morning. (KTLA)A large fire engulfed a commercial building in South Central Los Angeles early Saturday morning. (KTLA)A large fire engulfed a commercial building in South Central Los Angeles early Saturday morning. (KTLA)It took an hour and a half for fire crews to contain the blaze, but due to potential signs of structural collapse, firefighters were unable to immediately target hot spots in the interior of the building.No injuries w...

Targeting glut of political campaign signs, Livermore bans all temporary signs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:42 GMT

Call it a sign of the times.Starting Saturday, temporary signs directing people to open houses or garage sales will be outlawed in much of Livermore, along with political signs. The city has banned the signs on public property such as sidewalks and medians, beginning July 1.The City Council passed the ban last year to try to rein in the glut of political signs that pop up every election season. But intentional or not, the new law prohibits any temporary sign in the public right-of-way.The ban – which is billed as “content-neutral” to reduce exposure to litigation alleging violations of the First Amendment – captures in its web all types of signs, including those directing people to businesses, events, yard sales and open houses. The move frustrates local real estate professionals who say it throws the baby out with the bathwater by restricting signs that haven’t been causing problems to target the problematic political ones.David Stark, a spokesperson for Bay East Associ...

2 dead in collision on Highway 4 in Pittsburg

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:42 GMT

(BCN) -- Two people were killed in a collision between two vehicles on eastbound state Highway 4 west of Pittsburg on Friday night, the California Highway Patrol said. No injuries reported in shooting on Market Street The two were ejected from one of the vehicles that overturned in the crash reported at 8:19 p.m. at the Bailey Lane off-ramp, according to the CHP. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Work from yurt? Co-working spaces are getting weird

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:42 GMT

New York (CNN) — At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, nobody wanted to work full time in the office. Three years later, many of those same people have soured on working full time at home.Enter the co-working space, which allows for a bit of everything. But it’s not the glass-walled, craft beer-serving WeWork spaces you may remember from pre-pandemic times.From shopping malls to private mansions to hotels and gyms, co-working spaces are becoming more creative in the remote work era — with a boost from startups building platforms to connect companies with spaces for rent.The shift is being driven by the rise in hybrid work, shifts in where people live and employers seeking to lower their office costs. These changes are remaking the economy and real estate, boosting the fortunes of some urban areas in the Sun Belt while hurting other business districts in San Francisco, Chicago and New York.“We’re in the world of hybrid. The team does not need meet to meet in the downtown office anym...

The Dutch king apologizes for his country’s role in slavery on anniversary of abolition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:42 GMT

AMSTERDAM (AP) — The Dutch king apologizes for his country’s role in slavery on anniversary of abolition.Source

In letter sent to Md. State Board of Education, superintendent seeks another term

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:42 GMT

This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury submitted a letter of intent to seek another term, the state Board of Education confirmed.Saturday marked the deadline for Choudhury to inform the board whether he wanted to remain as the public schools leader.Choudhury, who’s been superintendent since July 2021 after replacing Karen Salmon, has publicly stated he would like to continue his work on major education initiatives such as the multi-billion-dollar Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.During a discussion on school performance at Tuesday’s board meeting, Choudhury had a succinct and future message for employees. Choudhury, whose contract expires in June 2024, said certain employees haven’t visited a school in Baltimore that’s about five minutes away from the state Department of E...

Iniesta says farewell to Japanese soccer with rare start for Kobe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:42 GMT

KOBE, Japan (AP) — Andres Iniesta said goodbye to Japanese soccer on Saturday with his first league start of the season as title-chasing Vissel Kobe had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Consadole Sapporo.The 39-year-old midfielder joined Kobe from Barcelona in 2018 but has found playing time increasingly hard to come by with the latest appearance taking his total minutes on the field after 18 games this season to just 94.A sell-out crowd of 30,000 at Noevir Stadium gave Iniesta an affectionate send-off, organizing a tifo display which showed the player wearing Kobe’s No. 8 shirt and holding banners that read “Gracias Andres.”Iniesta was a peripheral figure in the first half as Sapporo took control and the lead after 22 minutes of the J-League game. Thailand’s Supachok Sarachat reacted quickly to score from close range after goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa failed to deal with a cross from the right. By the time Matheus Thuler headed home a late goal to earn Kobe a point, Iniesta was watc...