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Why are we seeing the northern lights more often than before?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:51 GMT

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — If it seems like news of spectacular northern lights displays has become more frequent than in past years, you aren't imagining things.The sun, much like Earth, is alive, in the sense that it goes through natural cycles. In the case of the sun, over an 11-year period, its magnetic poles flip, from one end of the sun to the other."We’re right in the middle of that transition right now, we’re approaching it. When we hit the middle we call it solar maximum. It's when we have the most sunspots, it's when we get the most solar flares and eruptions," said Bill Murtagh, the Program Coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center. Murtagh and many others work around the clock monitoring the sun for activity like sun spots, solar flares, and more. A division of NOAA, the Space Weather Prediction Center can issue alerts much like the weather warnings we get for severe weather. They also monitor and forecast ...

Federal judge blocks Tennessee law restricting drag shows, says legislature 'missed the mark'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:51 GMT

(The Hill) – A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked a Tennessee law restricting drag shows, just one day before it was set to go into effect.U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker granted a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the law for two weeks, finding that it was “likely both vague and overly-broad.”The law, signed by Gov. Bill Lee (R) last month, criminalized drag shows that take place in public or where they could be seen by children. Parker agreed with Friends of George’s, the Memphis-based LGBTQ theater group contesting the law, that “this language could mean just about anywhere.”“Does a citizen’s private residence count? How about a camping ground at a national park? What if a minor browsing the worldwide web from a public library views an ‘adult cabaret performance’?” Parker said in Friday’s ruling. “Ultimately, the Statute’s broad language clashes with the First Amendment’s tight constraints.” What would Tennessee's drag ban do? The judge acknowledged...

Deadly storms, tornadoes cause devastation in the South and Midwest: 'Feels like a warzone'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:51 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK/NEXSTAR) – Many parts of the South and Midwest are still reeling on Saturday morning from a destructive storm system that tore through several states and left multiple people dead and hundreds more injured.At least five were reported dead in Arkansas after a series of devastating tornadoes, including four in the eastern Arkansas town of Wynne and one in North Little Rock. A state of emergency has been declared across the state, with the Arkansas National Guard having been activated to aid in the response. 1 dead, 28 hurt after Illinois theater roof collapse before concert Much of the damage in the capital city happened on the west side of Little Rock, where businesses in a shopping area had their roofs ripped off and windows blown out — all while customers were inside. In the parking lot, a car was flipped, landing on its top, where it remained Saturday morning.Little Rock March 31, 2023 tornado damage - Rodney Parham shops damageLittle Rock March 31, 2023 ...

Chicago couple establishes foundation to help kids embrace STEM

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:51 GMT

CHICAGO — Steve and Sheila Conner say when their son, Stone, expressed his extreme dislike for middle school, they knew they had to take action and began asking him about his interests.  Turns out the Connors’ son had an interest in cars, robots and anything speed-driven. “So we created a program around him that we would investigate ourselves,” Steve Connor said.  By visiting car museums and other real world experiences, the Conners were able to capture their son's attention. But it also left the pair with a desire to help other students. SEE ALSO | Celebrated artist has painted history nearly five decades In 2014, the duo founded the Heph Foundation, short for the Greek god Hephaestus, it is a standards-aligned program that teaches science technology engineering and math, also known as STEM, by using technology and other project-based learning students learn by doing. Twelve-year-old Maxwell built a remote control vehicle from scratch.&n...

Pope Francis, after leaving the hospital, praises medical workers and signs boy's cast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:51 GMT

ROME (AP) — A chipper-sounding Pope Francis was discharged Saturday from the Rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis, quipping to journalists before being driven away that he's “still alive.”Francis, 86, was hospitalized at Gemelli Polyclinic on Wednesday following his weekly public audience in St. Peter's Square after reportedly experiencing breathing difficulties. The pontiff received antibiotics administered intravenously during his stay, the Vatican said.In a sign of his improved health, the Vatican released details of Francis' Holy Week schedule. It said he would preside at this weekend's Palm Sunday Mass and at Easter Mass on April 9, both held in St. Peter's Square and expected to draw tens of thousands of faithful. A Vatican cardinal will be at the altar to celebrate both Masses, a recent practice due to the pontiff having a troublesome knee issue. Vatican: Pope required hospitalization for a lung infection But Francis is scheduled to celebrate Holy Thursday Mass...

Does climate change boost tornado activity?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:51 GMT

(WFLA) – Recent devastating tornado outbreaks in the Southeast and Midwest have been life-changing — and sometimes fatal — for those caught in the path of the storms. Scientists are concerned this is just the beginning of a trend in stronger outbreaks in the future due to a warming climate. But how does climate change impact the frequency of tornadoes? And what is projected for the future?Looking at the above graph from NOAA, it seems apparent that tornado numbers have been increasing in the past few decades. At first glance, it may seem like that is related to the corresponding temperature increase during that same time period. But correlation does not always mean causation.It could be more likely that the increasing trend in tornado occurrences is due to better observations and better Doppler radar. In other words, more people either seeing them or detecting them with technology. Warming-fueled supercells to hit South more often, study finds In fact, when you eliminate the weak...

California family files lawsuit against Amazon after driver kills 2 year-old girl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:51 GMT

IRVINE, Calif. (KTLA) — A family in Orange County, California, is filing a wrongful death lawsuit after a 2 year-old girl was struck and killed by an Amazon delivery van in 2022.The family’s attorney says Amazon is denying any responsibility for the deadly accident and claims a third party is to blame. The victim’s family is devastated and say they only want justice. Body of Florida toddler found in alligator jaws after search In August 2022, 2 year-old Jiahan Wu was playing outside of her Irvine apartment complex when she was struck and killed by an Amazon delivery van. The driver remained at the scene, but the damage done was catastrophic.Her mother, Yanling Wu, says there are no words to describe the pain she, her husband and their three children are going through.“The loss to my family — I cannot express with words,” said Wu.She said the trauma of witnessing the fatal collision makes it hard to sleep at night. “Myself, my husband, all my kids, are having constant nightmar...

Lead-up conditions to severe thunderstorms, destructive windgusts, tornado warnings Friday evening into early Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:51 GMT

STORMY FRIDAY WIND GUSTS!Valparaiso, IN: 75 mphLeland, IL: 75 mphSavoy, IL: 71 mphCrown Point, IN: 70 mphMatoon, IL: 67 mphNaperville, IL: 64 mphWaterman, IL: 64 mphRomeoville, IL 63 mphMidway Airport: 62 mphOblong, IL: 52 mphTHE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE’S STORM PREDICTION CENTER’S HOURLY FORECAST PANELSTracking Friday afternoon/evening’s showers/t-stormsTHE STORM PREDICTION CENTER BOOSTED THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TO MODERATEThe Storm Prediction Center reports Friday afternoon: “As of 1905 UTC, regional radar imagery showed a cluster of supercells ongoing from eastern IA and northwestern IL. The downstream airmass over northern IL and southern WI is rapidly destabilizing ahead of the storms. SPC mesoanalysis shows MLCAPE around 500-1000 J/kg is developing as surface dewpoints approach 60 F. Very strong low-level shear from the DVN VAD/VWP (200-300 0-1km SRH) will shift eastward favoring a supercell mode. HRRR model guidance shows multiple supercells moving into portions of northern...

1 dead, 28 hurt after Illinois theater roof collapse before concert

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:51 GMT

BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO/WGN-TV) — One person was killed and 28 were injured at the Apollo Theater in Belvidere, Illinois, after severe weather caused a roof collapse on Friday. The heavy metal band Morbid Angel was scheduled to perform.Belvidere Fire Chief Shawn Schadle said in addition to the one person killed, five were taken to the hospital for severe injuries, eighteen with moderate injuries, and five with minor injuries.Event coordinators said approximately 260 people were in the venue at the time of the collapse. Authorities said, by 10:15 p.m., no one was unaccounted for. Tornado slams Little Rock, smashes rooftops, flips vehicles The Apollo Theater is located at 104 N. State St in Belvidere, which is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Chicago. A line of powerful storms swept through the Midwest Friday night, downing power lines and trees throughout the region.A concert-goer, Gabrielle Lewellyn, told Rockford's WTVO she had only been inside the venue a few minutes before the st...

Case dismissed of a man sentenced to 60 years in prison over 'unreliable' DNA analysis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:55:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Travis County District Attorney José Garza announced this week that his office would dismiss a case of a man who was accused of attacking a woman with a brick in a downtown office building over a decade ago. The man was accused of the offense in Feb. 2011 and was indicted by a Travis County Grand Jury shortly after. One year later, a Travis County Jury convicted the accused of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced him to 60 years in prison. However, years later, Travis county officials determined that DNA evidence used to convict the man was “inconclusive” and “unreliable.” On Wednesday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the conviction. Travis County gets more than $500K to help sift through potentially botched Austin Police DNA cases “The process to review cases stemming from the APD DNA lab involved stakeholders from the city, the county, forensic experts, the defense and the prosecution. We believe the victim, in this case, was ...