Slow start for California's winter snowpacks

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:58:18 GMT

Slow start for California's winter snowpacks (KRON) -- California is seeing a slow start for its critical mountain snowpacks. The state Department of Water Resources conducted its first snow survey of the season in the Sierra Nevada mountains on Tuesday. A manual survey conducted at Phillips Station in the Sierra recorded 7.5 inches of snow depth, and a snow water equivalent of 3 inches. Snow totals were only 30 percent of average at the station, water officials said. California's statewide snowpack is currently 25 percent of average, according to DWR.DWR officials wrote, "After one of the largest snowpacks on record last season, the start of this water year has been dry despite some recent storms in the last weeks of December that provided a small boost in the snowpack. While state reservoirs are still above average for this time of year and strong El Niño conditions are present in the Pacific Ocean, the outlook for the rest of the winter remains highly uncertain."Sean de Guzman, Manager of the California Department of Water ...

How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 1/2/2024

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:58:18 GMT

How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 1/2/2024 Wall Street started 2024 with a slump, giving back some of its powerful gains from the year before. The S&P 500 fell 0.6% Tuesday. The Dow edged 0.1% higher, and the Nasdaq composite lost 1.6%. Some of the market’s sharper drops came from stocks that were last year’s biggest winners. Apple had its worst day in nearly five months. Much of Wall Street had been preparing for at least a pause in the rally that had carried the S&P 500 to nine straight winning weeks and the brink of its record. Treasury yields rose to regress a bit following their huge run.On Tuesday:The S&P 500 fell 27 points, or 0.6%, to 4,742.83The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 25.50 points, or 0.1%, to 37,715.04.The Nasdaq composite fell 245.41 points, or 1.6%, to 14,765.94.The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 14.28 points, or 0.7%, to 2,012.80.Source

Unarmed guard held at gunpoint in Colorado Supreme Court building breach

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:58:18 GMT

Unarmed guard held at gunpoint in Colorado Supreme Court building breach DENVER (KDVR) — A man has been arrested after allegedly breaking into the Colorado Supreme Court building early Tuesday morning after a nearby crash.According to the Denver Police Department, officers responded to a call at 1:15 a.m. about a two-car crash in the area of 13th Avenue and Lincoln Street. One of the drivers allegedly pointed a handgun at the other.Security guard held at gunpointA short time later, the Colorado State Patrol said the same suspect shot out a window on the first floor of the east side of the Colorado Supreme Court building known as the Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center located at 2 E. 14th Ave.The suspect then breached the building and came in contact with an unarmed security guard with the Colorado State Patrol Capitol Security Unit. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox CSP said the suspect held the security guard at gunpoint and demanded access to other parts of the building. According to an arrest affidavit, the security guar...

Want to ice skate on a Denver pond? Not so fast

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:58:18 GMT

Want to ice skate on a Denver pond? Not so fast DENVER (KDVR) -- Ice skating is a fun and popular winter activity, and you might think that the frozen pond or lake in the park near your house would be a perfect place to skate around.However, if that park is located in Denver, you might want to think twice. This is because ice skating or walking on many frozen lakes and ponds in Denver is against the law. Why you should keep your Christmas lights up through the end of January Specifically, the activity isn't allowed in any frozen lake or pond in Denver city parks, parkways and mountain parks unless they're specifically designated for it.That doesn't mean that there are no places to go ice skating in Denver. There are a few places that feature the activity in the metro area.In the city specifically, there is the Downtown Denver Rink in Skyline Park, which features free admission and will stay open until Feb. 11.Safety on frozen pondsIce skating and walking on frozen ponds or lakes may not be explicitly banned in other municipalit...

The Chill is “on its way out”

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:58:18 GMT

The Chill is “on its way out” The solid stretch of cold weather that began last week is about to leave. The last of the widespread 50’s will come Wednesday morning as we still tap into a chilly flow from the north. As Wednesday continues, though, winds turn and we return to seasonable temperatures. Another weather change will soon involve a push of clouds. The cloud cover is forecast to thicken once the ocean flow begins. Despite having the clouds, rain isn’t expected on Wednesday. As we move into Thursday, however, a few “nuisance type” showers will be possible as a weather disturbance slides into Florida from the west. If you’re left out of the rain Thursday (and most places will) you’ll have another chance during the upcoming weekend. At that time, another system from the Gulf of Mexico will approach and should have more moisture to work with. By the way, it will also become more muggy (as well as being warmer) during the weekend time frame.

South Florida woman wants alligator removed after being attacked while protecting dog

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:58:18 GMT

South Florida woman wants alligator removed after being attacked while protecting dog A South Florida woman has always lived near the Everglades because she enjoys the proximity of the wildlife in the area, but a recent encounter with an alligator left her bloody and bruised. For Gwen Cash, she thinks gators are beautiful creatures and respects their space. But on New Year’s Eve, Cash said she had a run-in with the reptile as she was trying to protect her dog. “Within five minutes, we weren’t here that long, and he was right there, I go, ‘Wow,’ I scan the whole lake and that quick, he was right there,” she said. “He kind of turned like as if he was going for my dog’s throat. I tried putting my arm around my dog’s chest and that’s how I got scratched. I’m glad he didn’t close his mouth.” Cash said she was able to get her rottweiler Maximus back inside the house despite the attack. “When you start feeding them, they look at you and they think of food and that’s the only thing I c...

What to know about changes to this year’s FAFSA application for college students

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:58:18 GMT

What to know about changes to this year’s FAFSA application for college students NEW YORK (AP) — A new version of the federal student aid application known as the FAFSA is available for the 2024-2025 school year, but only on a limited basis as the U.S. Department of Education works on a redesign meant to make it easier to apply.That means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid students can usually fill out starting in October isn’t yet available to everyone.A soft launch period opened last week and the Department of Education said it will continue to make the new form available for short periods of time. Students who want to submit their applications now will need to monitor the studentaid.gov website since it’s available at different times during the day.Since the soft launch was announced, there has been limited availability and some students and their families have experienced glitches.“Even by soft launch standards, this weekend’s rollout was challenging and students, families, and financial aid administrators who have been waiting for this...

Women at retirement community in Hingham pose for calendar to benefit good cause 

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:58:18 GMT

Women at retirement community in Hingham pose for calendar to benefit good cause  A group of women living at a retirement community in Hingham are striking a pose for a good cause as part of a new calendar project. Dubbed the Lovely Ladies of Linden Ponds calendar, the pictures have been generating chatter as residents ranging in age from 69 to 92 bare it all to benefit their neighbors and their facility’s resident care fund. “We’re not doing it for ourselves, we’re not doing it for the publicity, we’re doing it for our resident neighbors,” said one participant in the project. The resident care fund ensures residents can continue living at the Linden Ponds community even when money runs out.As of Tuesday, the women behind this calendar project had sold 750 calendars — halfway to their goal. Despite appearances, the ladies said the photos are all an illusion.“We were fully clothed or at least had a bathing suit on,” one person said. From a former opera singer to corporate professionals, each lady has a story to tell.With their calend...

Part of MBTA Green Line to shut down Wednesday in first of several January closures

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:58:18 GMT

Part of MBTA Green Line to shut down Wednesday in first of several January closures Part of the MBTA’s Green Line will shut down Wednesday in the first of several planned closures this month. Closures along parts of the B, C, D and E branches will span 23 days, the biggest impacts will be felt on the C and D branches between North Station and Kenmore station. Service between North Station and Kenmore will be suspended from Jan. 3 through Jan. 12. The stretch will reopen for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend before closing again from Jan. 16 through Jan. 28. Service on the B branch between North Station and Babcock Street and on the E branch between North Station and Heath Street will also be suspended during the same timespan.A series of shorter service suspensions is scheduled on the Green Line Extension throughout January.The T outlined some of the upcoming changes and later adjusted part of its timeline late last month as it continues maintenance efforts throughout its system.Speaking on Wednesday, riders shared their outlook on the w...

Trump’s name drawn bingo-style to appear fifth on Mass. ballot, insurrection aside

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:58:18 GMT

Trump’s name drawn bingo-style to appear fifth on Mass. ballot, insurrection aside Constitutional law, political perspective, and the practicalities of printing came to a sudden collision in the Massachusetts State Library, when the nation’s longest serving secretary of state made it very clear that former President Donald Trump should appear on his state’s Republican primary ballot, regardless of any alleged participation in insurrection.Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin, on Tuesday, added an envelope containing a folded white card marked only with the name “Donald J. Trump” to a gold-painted metal-mesh basket, where it joined similar card-carrying envelopes, each containing the name of another of six Republican presidential candidates.Galvin spun the basket by hand several times, both clockwise and counter, before drawing a single envelope. It’s fair to note the sealed envelopes were too big to receive a genuine shuffle.“Chris Christie,” Galvin said, reading the first card shortly after 11 a.m.Next drawn, Christian radio host Ryan Binkley, wh...