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Dramatic Change in Western Moisture Situation—Lake Mead levels rising

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

DRAMATIC CHANGE IN WESTERN MOISTURE SITUATION in the wake of the PARADE OF ATMOSPHERIC RIVER STORMS into the West from Pacific is beautifully summarized in a CIMSS BLOG post by Margaret Mooney out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. (https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/archives/52074)Mooney has posted comparative DROUGHT MONITOR ANALYSES—both BEFORE and AFTER the dozen atmospheric storms this past winter and early this spring—and the change is stunning.But as dramatic as the changes have been, whether the improvement is a "blip"—or represents a REAL and LONGER TERM CHANGE in the Western water situation—is going to depend on the wetter pattern becoming a regular occurrence in the West.While the development of an El Niño—which is currently underway—may bode well for the precip trend over the coming cool season next fall, winter and spring (since El Niños after signal a wet pattern in the cool season in California and the southern and central Rockies), the region's water iss...

Huge atmospheric pattern change to continue warming Chicago temps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

Wednesday afternoon's 11-degree increase over Tuesday just the start—atmospheric pattern undergoing huge changes which are to continue boosting temps—warming to be muzzled by easterly winds off 46-degree lake waters—shifting pattern to bring spells of wetter weather into the area Sunday and next weekEach of the coming 15-days is to post a temp surplus as North America's upper air pattern undergoes a MAJOR CHANGE. The atmospheric blocking aloft is breaking down. This is allowing the Chicago area freedom from the dominance of a mammoth spring storm which crept across the area at a snail's pace since last Friday.TO DATE, May has posted an 8-degree deficit and is running 2.7-degrees cooler than the opening 3 days of the month a year ago.PATTERN SHIFT BRINGS CHICAGO UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SOUTHERN JET STREAMThat plus the development of blocking pattern as a huge dome of warm air develops over Canada next week means access to chilly air to our north is over for the forseable future.At t...

Obituary: Stillwater woman killed by garbage truck ‘loved making people happy’ handing out home-baked cookies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

Margaret Peterson baked her famous chocolate-chip cookies at least three times a week and always doubled or tripled the recipe.Josh Pritchett stands next to a memorial in honor of his grandmother, Margaret Peterson, in the yard of her Stillwater home on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Peterson, 81, was fatally struck by a garbage truck on April 25. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)Peterson made a minimum of 10 batches a week, and each batch had two bags of chocolate chips and extra sugar in it, said her grandson, Josh Pritchett. “That’s why they were so addicting,” he said. “People would eat her cookies, and everyone was constantly itching for more.”Peterson couldn’t eat the cookies she baked — she was diagnosed with celiac disease 10 years ago — but “she loved making people happy by giving them away,” Pritchett said.Peterson, 81, of Stillwater, was on her way to deliver cookies to the driver of a Waste Management garbage truck when she was fatally struck by another Waste Management garbage truc...

Letters: How passion and wisdom stir the minds of young people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

Stirring the minds of young people“Retiring teacher, falcon expert ‘brought science to life'” was an excellent news piece as well as a motivational article on April 30.The story about Stillwater teacher Andy Weaver brought to life how passion, commitment, and wisdom stir the minds of young people. Weaver’s teaching methods encapsulate the vision of the ideal teacher. The characteristics of his teaching environment go far beyond standardizing the standards.John Hamann, River Falls Don’t raise fees. Collect from scofflawsThe state wants to raise your license tab fee because they have a revenue shortfall in that account. One of the reasons there is a shortfall is that they are not collecting from all vehicle owners.I can assure you that if you go out and look you will see vehicles with expired tabs. I saw one this week whose tabs had expired in June of 2020. Instead of raising fees on law-abiding vehicle owners I am suggesting they take steps to colle...

Balazovic finally delivering again for Saints in 5-3 win over Nashville Sounds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

When Jordan Balazovic joined the Saints at the start of last season he was touted as the top-rated pitching prospect in the Twins organization. Saints fans — and Twins fans — couldn’t wait to see what the big right-hander from Canada had to offer.The way the 24-year-old Balazovic looks at it, they finally got their answer on Wednesday at CHS Field.“Today was the best outing I’ve had since 2021,” he said after getting his first start of the season. “It’s nice to see the work is paying off.”Balazovic pitched 3.1 innings, allowing one run on one hit. He walked three and struck out six and did not figure in the decision in the Saints’ 5-3 win over the Nashville Sounds. He got a number of those strikeouts on high fastballs, which were reaching the high 90s.“I was locating well and the (velocity) was back up, which was nice to see,” Balazovic said. “Last year I was working on cutting the ball and I got all out of whack. I’ve been working on getting the fastball back to where it was,...

Video: Reckless driving nearly misses officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Dashcam video from a Virginia police officer is going viral as it shows the dangers of reckless driving. The officer jumps out of harm's way when a car loses control at 120 miles per hour."That's one of the scariest parts of our jobs in law enforcement or any type of first responder. A lot of our job is done right there on the side of the road," said Cpl. Logan Bolton, Missouri State Highway Patrol.Bolton said, unfortunately, crashes like the one from the video happen everywhere, including Missouri."Just recently up on 70, Lake St. Louis officers and St. Charles County officers were struck on the road. Then we just had troopers pretty much the same scenario," he said.Bolton said drivers failing to move over is an issue. As legal battles mount, Kim Gardner takes nursing classes "Somebody flies by me in the lane closest to me and it is eye opening. It's a lot closer than what you would ever expect it to be, and it's a wow moment. This is dangerous," he said.Bolton said t...

Metro unveils new security plan for MetroLink after shootings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Bi-State Development announced Wednesday that it is adding new security measures at MetroLink stations.Taulby Roach, president, and CEO of Bi-State Development, said they’ve decided to utilize a pilot program with metal detectors to try to intercept weapons coming into the system.“Of course, it has to be staffed, so metal detectors that you would have to walk through, and it’s going to be at random stations," he said. "It’s going to be portable that we move around in partnership with our police partners; we have to have police partners there.”There would be two metal detectors in the pilot program that would be shuttled among stations in St. Louis City and County and St. Clair County. Police would help at the metal detector checkpoints. The program could go into effect in two weeks. As legal battles mount, Kim Gardner takes nursing classes This is coming after two shootings on MetroLink trains in a matter of weeks. In one incident, a man was struck with a gun. The gun ...

Showers, mountain snow forecast for Southern California on Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

As cooler, cloudier conditions settle over much of Southern California, the heaviest rainfall, along with a chance of thunderstorms and mountain snow, will be overnight Wednesday through Thursday morning, the National Weather Service forecasts.  The late season storm is expected to sweep through Santa Barbara and Ventura counties late in the evening with Los Angeles County seeing the greatest chance for rain very early.Rainfall of a half inch to an inch is forecast in coastal and valley regions, with mountains and foothills seeing 1-2 inches.   KTLA Interactive Weather Radar “The coastal sections of LA County will likely see a little less rainfall than the (Ventura County) coast, but south facing slopes should see similar amounts,” the NWS said.  Snowfall is expected at elevations of 4,500-5,000 feet, with a 20-40% chance of up to an inch of snow falling over the Grapevine. At elevations of 6,000 feet and higher, up to 6 inches is expected with a 20-40% of 1 foot of...

Muncy's walk-off slam gives Dodgers 10-6 win over Phillies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Max Muncy hit a game-ending grand slam and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from an early five-run deficit to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-6 on Wednesday, extending their winning streak to a season-high six games.Bryce Harper doubled to start a four-run third inning and reached base five times in his second game of the season for the Phillies, who lost their fourth straight.Los Angeles swept the three-game series, outscoring the defending NL champions 36-11 and reaching double digits in every game.“The makeup is really starting to show itself,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, whose team entered the six-game homestand with a .500 record. “I really love the culture of the guys. As the season has started to progress, they’re absolutely willing to concede playing time or at-bats or innings for their teammates. … Just guys playing for each other, so for me, it’s coming together the way it’s supposed to.”Pinch-hitter Austin Barnes gave the Dodgers a 6-5 lead with...

Oakland teachers to strike starting Thursday after no deal is reached with school district

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:02 GMT

(KRON) -- The Oakland Education Association will go through with its strike starting Thursday, the Oakland Unified School District said. OUSD said the strike will happen "despite great progress in negotiations." Person of interest in Davis stabbings detained, police say Schools will be open on Thursday, but teachers will not be in classrooms, per OUSD. The school district does not know how long the strike will last and says it will continue to bargain with teachers. "The end of the school year is always filled with milestone events for our students, so we want to ensure regular school resumes as soon as possible," OUSD said. While schools will be open, OUSD warned that it will not be a typical school day. Central office staff will be at schools to ensure safety.Students and families are told to expect picket lines at schools on Thursday. About 3,000 teachers are expected to participate. Specific instruction will be provided by schools and principals. KRON On is streaming news liv...