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  • Winning ticket for $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot sold in New Jersey

    Winning ticket for $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot sold in New Jersey

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    Someone in New Jersey overcame the odds Tuesday night and won the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot, breaking a winless streak that dated to last December.

    What You Need To Know

    • Someone in New Jersey overcame the odds and won the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot, breaking a winless streak that dated to last December

    • The numbers drawn Tuesday night were: 7, 11, 22, 29, 38 and the gold Mega Ball 4

    • Until the latest drawing, no one had matched all six numbers and won the Mega Millions jackpot since Dec. 8

    • It’s tough to win the Mega Millions jackpot because the odds are so long, at 1 in 302.6 million

    The numbers drawn were: 7, 11, 22, 29, 38 and the gold Mega Ball 4. The winning ticket was sold in New Jersey, according the the Mega Millions website.

    Until the latest drawing, no one had matched all six numbers and won the Mega Millions jackpot since Dec. 8. That amounted to 30 straight drawings without a big winner.

    It’s tough to win the Mega Millions jackpot because the odds are so long, at 1 in 302.6 million.

    The prize is the 8th largest in U.S. lottery history.

    The $1.13 billion jackpot is for a winner who is paid through an annuity, with an initial payment and then 29 annual payments. Most winners choose a cash payout, which would be $537.5 million.

    The next big U.S. lottery drawing will be Wednesday night for an estimated $865 million Powerball jackpot. No one has won that prize since New Year’s Day, making for 36 drawings without a winner.

    Mega Millions is played in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball also is played in those states as well as Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

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    Associated Press

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  • Justice Department sues Apple, alleging illegal monopoly over smartphones

    Justice Department sues Apple, alleging illegal monopoly over smartphones

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    The Justice Department and 16 state and district attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple on Thursday, accusing the tech giant of creating an illegal monopoly over smartphones in the United States.

    The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in federal court in New Jersey, alleges that the company’s so-called “walled garden” ecosystem — which allows Apple to maintain total control over its hardware and software — creates a monopoly by stifling competition. It accuses the company of using control over the iPhone to “engage in a broad, sustained, and illegal course of conduct.”

    “Each step in Apple’s course of conduct built and reinforced the moat around its smartphone monopoly,” the complaint reads, charging that the company uses “a series of shapeshifting rules and restrictions in its App Store guidelines and developer agreements that would allow Apple to extract higher fees, thwart innovation, offer a less secure or degraded user experience, and throttle competitive alternatives.”

    “We allege that Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market, not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “If left unchallenged, Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly.”

    In a statement, the company said it disagrees with the claims made in the lawsuit and vowed to “vigorously” fight it.

    “This lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets,” the company’s statement reads. “We believe this lawsuit is wrong on the facts and the law, and we will vigorously defend against it.”

    States joining the Justice Department’s lawsuit include New York, California, Maine and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia.

    This is a developing story. Check back later for further updates.

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    Justin Tasolides

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  • The spring equinox is here. What does that mean?

    The spring equinox is here. What does that mean?

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    Spring is almost here — officially, at least.

    The vernal equinox arrives on Tuesday, marking the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere.

    What You Need To Know

    • The spring equinox is at 11:06 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19

    • Earth’s axis lines up with the sun so both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight

    • Astronomical seasons differ from meteorological seasons


    But what does that actually mean? Here’s what to know about how we split up the year using the Earth’s orbit.

    What is the equinox?

    As the Earth travels around the sun, it does so at an angle.

    For most of the year, the Earth’s axis is tilted either toward or away from the sun. That means the sun’s warmth and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet.

    During the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight.

    The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That’s because on the equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time — though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet.

    The Northern Hemisphere’s spring — or vernal — equinox can land between March 19 and 21, depending on the year. Its fall – or autumnal — equinox can land between Sept. 21 and 24.

    What is the solstice?

    The solstices mark the times during the year when the Earth is at its most extreme tilt toward or away from the sun. This means the hemispheres are getting very different amounts of sunlight — and days and nights are at their most unequal.

    During the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice, the upper half of the earth is tilted in toward the sun, creating the longest day and shortest night of the year. This solstice falls between June 20 and 22.

    Meanwhile, at the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is leaning away from the sun — leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice falls between December 20 and 23.

    What’s the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons?

    These are just two different ways to carve up the year.

    Meteorological seasons are defined by the weather. They break down the year into three-month seasons based on annual temperature cycles. By that calendar, spring starts on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on Sept. 1 and winter on Dec. 1.

    Astronomical seasons depend on how the Earth moves around the sun.

    Equinoxes mark the start of spring and autumn. Solstices kick off summer and winter.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Associated Press

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  • Congress announces agreement on spending deal, races to avert shutdown

    Congress announces agreement on spending deal, races to avert shutdown

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    House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., on Tuesday morning announced that negotiators have reached an agreement on the remaining spending bills needed to fund the federal government through September and avoid a shutdown.

    What You Need To Know

    • Congressional leaders on Tuesday announced they reached an agreement on the remaining spending bills needed to fund the federal government through September and avoid a shutdown

    • Lawmakers had previously reached an agreement on five of the six spending bills needed to avoid a shutdown on Friday night, but they clashed over funding for the Department of Homeland Security

    • The package of bills, also known as a “minibus,” includes funding for not just Homeland Security, but the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Defense, State and Treasury, as well as the legislative branch

    • Timing will be tight to avert a shutdown, with lawmakers scrambling to draft legislative text ahead of Friday’s deadline


    Lawmakers had previously reached an agreement on five of the six spending bills needed to avoid a shutdown on Friday night, but they clashed over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. 

    “An agreement has been reached for DHS appropriations, which will allow completion of the FY24 appropriations process,” Johnson said in a statement, adding that the bill will be drafted “as soon as possible.”

    “Senate and House leaders and the White House have reached an agreement to finish the final set of full year appropriations bills,” Schumer wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “The Senate and House Appropriations Committees are in the process of finalizing text and reports for Congress to closely review and consider ASAP.”

    The package of bills, also known as a “minibus,” includes funding for not just Homeland Security, but the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Defense, State and Treasury, as well as the legislative branch. President Joe Biden pledged to sign it “immediately” once it passes Congress and reaches his desk.

    “We have come to an agreement with Congressional leaders on a path forward for the remaining full-year funding bills,” he said in a statement. “The House and Senate are now working to finalize a package that can quickly be brought to the floor, and I will sign it immediately.”

    But timing will be tight to avert a shutdown, with lawmakers scrambling to draft legislative text ahead of the deadline. House Republican leadership has pledged that it will give members 72 hours to review the legislation, which could make for a close call depending on when the bill is released. Johnson might also need to bring the bill up under the suspension of the House rules, which allows for expedited review of a bill, but would need two-third of the chamber to support it in order for it to pass.

    “In the next few days, upon completion of the drafting process, Congress will review and consider the appropriations package in order to fund the government and meet the needs of hardworking American taxpayers,” Jeffries said in a statement.

    It could also face some Republican opposition. Some members of the House GOP expressed concern about the way the minibus was negotiated.

    “We are back in Ryan-Boehner swamp mode where the omnibus is written behind closed doors,” Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie wrote on X, referring to the last two Republican House speakers, Paul Ryan and John Boehner. “Members are told to take it or leave it, and although Republicans control the House, more Democrats vote for it than Republicans because it spends more money than when [Nancy] Pelosi was in charge.”

    Republicans have also been opposed to the packaging together of bills, as well as the lack of inclusion of provisions like abortion restrictions and bans on diversity and inclusion programs within federal agencies.

    Once enacted by the House, the Senate must then take up the bill. Schumer would need the consent of every member of the chamber to speed up consideration of the measure, and any one lawmaker could hold up the process. Typically, leadership will come to an agreement on expedited consideration in exchange the

    The package being finalized is expected to provide about $886 billion for the Pentagon. The bill will also fund the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and others.

    Overall, the two spending packages provide about a 3% boost for defense, while keeping nondefense spending roughly flat with the year before. That’s in keeping with an agreement that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy worked out with the White House, which restricted spending for two years and suspended the debt ceiling into January 2025 so the federal government could continue paying its bills.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Justin Tasolides

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  • Colder air grips the country after a warm start to March

    Colder air grips the country after a warm start to March

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    It’s been a mild start to March across the Eastern U.S., but colder air has moved in and we will see more cooldowns and temperatures swings in the upcoming week.

    What You Need To Know

    • Temperatures have been above normal so far this March east of the Rockies

    • Colder air is moving in behind a cold front

    • An active pattern will bring more precipitation and cold opportunities this month

    A cold front pushing across the country has dropped high temperatures up to 10 to 20 degrees below normal for parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley on Monday.

    Further south, sub-freezing temperatures in the forecast for tonight have led to Freeze Warnings being issued across the Deep South, stretching from Texas to North Carolina.

    Colder air and below normal temperatures follow the cold front to Florida and the Deep South on Tuesday as temperatures rebound quickly across the Central U.S.

    An active storm pattern will keep temperature swings in the forecast across the country through the week, with more cold blasts and wintry weather opportunities in the Great Lakes and Northeast through midweek and again this weekend.

    March so far

    Most places east of the Rockies are running warm this month. Average temperatures are well above normal through March 17, with areas across the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Northeast feeling a top-10 warmest March on record so far.

    (Iowa Environmental Mesonet)

    Meanwhile, the western U.S. has been running cool with below normal temperatures. With the exception of the Northeast and Florida, it is probable that the rest of the U.S. will close out the month with temperatures around or below normal. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Weather Explained: Why spring allergies have us sneezing

    Weather Explained: Why spring allergies have us sneezing

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    Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, according to American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

    Nearly 10% of the U.S. population is diagnosed with hay fever each year, especially during the spring months when the pollen count is quite high.

    Check out the video above for more on how plants and wind can result in those itchy and watery eyes.

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    Meteorologist Nick Merianos

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  • Spring training offers a warm break for teams and fans

    Spring training offers a warm break for teams and fans

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    When birds migrate north in the spring, baseball players and fans migrate south to Florida and Arizona every March for spring training.

    Not only is spring training an opportunity for MLB teams to get some practice in before a long season, but for fans to escape the cold weather and enjoy some warmth, sunshine and baseball in warmer climates. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida and Arizona host 15 MLB teams each every year for spring training

    • Spring training games are unofficial, and gives fans a chance to see their team play in warmer climates

    • Florida and Arizona are both warm in March, but differ in precipitation and humidity

    Since the late 1800s, MLB teams have sent their players and coaches south to train and practice in a warmer climate to prepare for the season.

    Since 2018, MLB has split the league with 15 teams training in Florida and the other 15 in Arizona. The reason for those two locations is pretty straight-forward: the weather. 

    Florida Grapefruit League

    MLB spreads out most of the teams that train in Florida along the Gulf Coast, with a few teams in south Florida. Average high temperatures in south and central Florida during March hover around the upper 70s and lower 80s. 

    The Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins play in the two coldest spots as far as March temperatures go, averaging high temperatures in the lower 40s.

    Not only do the players and fans get to escape the cold, but Toronto and Minneapolis average around 8 inches of snowfall during March.

    Minnesota Twins’ spring home, Fort Myers, has an average high temperature in March almost 40 degrees warmer than Minneapolis, and hasn’t even had a low temperature below 40 degrees in March since 2013. 

    Along with the Twins, the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Tigers all get about a 35 degree temperature increase after traveling south during a typical March day.

    The Marlins actually get to travel more than 80 miles north to Jupiter from Miami, and get a break from the heat, with average temperatures about 3 degrees lower. 

    How about the rest of the list? Besides the Astros, Rays and Marlins, the temperature difference is pretty significant and worthy of a trip to Florida for Spring Break. 

    Arizona Cactus League

    In the Cactus League, all 15 teams play and train in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The average high temperature in March for the Phoenix area is a balmy 78.1 degrees.

    Since the Cactus League is more centralized with no two teams more than a 45 minute drive apart, average temperatures are all within a few degrees of each other.

    The biggest difference from the Grapefruit League? The desert offers much lower humidity and less rainfall. 

    Midwest teams from the NL and AL Central Divisions have the biggest disparity when it comes to Arizona temperatures, getting about a 30 degree increase during the month of March.

    The Colorado Rockies escape Denver’s snowiest month of the year on average to play in sunny Scottsdale. 

    Similar to the Marlins, the Arizona Diamondbacks who play in downtown Phoenix, get to travel 20 minutes into Scottdale, where the average March high temperatures is only a few degrees lower.

    Beach or Desert?

    So, if you’re a neutral fan in a cold weather state and want to take in some baseball on Spring Break, do you go to Florida or Arizona?

    Florida teams are more spread out requiring longer drives, and you’ll have to deal with more humidity and higher rain chances. The Cactus league is much more centralized, and it’s a dry heat, but besides baseball, Phoenix may have less to offer for tourist opportunities when you’re not at a game.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

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  • A short history of daylight saving time

    A short history of daylight saving time

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    Twice a year, most of the U.S. adjusts to time moving forward in the spring and back again in the fall. But where did the crazy idea of “shifting time” come from?

    What You Need To Know

    • Daylight saving was first put to use during World War I

    • The U.S. was once in daylight saving time for over three years during World War II

    • Some want to go to daylight saving time year-round

    Benjamin Franklin gets some credit for the idea of daylight saving time, though his recommendation was a joke.

    In a letter to the editor of the “Journal of Paris,” Franklin jokingly recommended the people get out of bed earlier in the morning to minimize the use of candles and lamp oil. He never mentioned setting clocks back or forth.

    (Erica Roman)

    In 1895, George Hudson, an entomologist from New Zealand, came up with the modern concept of daylight saving time. He proposed a two-hour time shift so he could have more after-work hours of sunshine to go bug hunting in the summer.

    Hudson suggested moving clocks ahead two hours in October and then a two-hour shift back in March.

    In 1905, William Willett, a British builder, suggested moving clocks ahead 20 minutes every Sunday in April and then setting them back every Sunday in September. That’s eight time changes every year!

    First use of daylight saving time

    It was during World War I that daylight saving time was first practically used.

    In 1916, locations within the German Empire set clocks ahead one hour to use less power for lighting and to save fuel for the war effort.

    Many other countries soon followed and after the war ended, they all went back to standard time.

    Daylight saving time in the U.S.

    In the United States, daylight saving time was first used in 1918, when a bill introduced the idea of a seasonal time shift. It lasted seven months before the bill was repealed.

    During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt re-established the idea of daylight saving time. It was called “War Time.”

    War Time began in Feb. 1942 and lasted until the end of Sept. 1945.

    In 1966, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 established the idea of regulating a yearly time change. Daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October.

    (Pexels)

    During the 1973 oil embargo, the United States Congress ordered a year-round period of daylight saving time to save energy. The period ran from Jan. 1974 to April 1975. The plan did little to save energy and lost popularity. In Oct. 1974, the U.S. switched back to standard time.

    From 1987 through 2006, daylight saving time started the first weekend in April, running through the last weekend in October.

    In 2007, the start and end of daylight saving time shifted again. That year, it began on the second Sunday in March and it ended on the first Sunday in November, which has been the case ever since.

    The future of daylight saving time

    In recent years, some have pushed to make daylight saving time last year-round. Several states have passed legislation to make this law.

    I guess “time” will tell if we see year-round daylight saving time in the future.

    (iStock)

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Chief Meteorologist Gary Stephenson

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  • White House’s State of the Union guests represent Biden’s priorities

    White House’s State of the Union guests represent Biden’s priorities

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    First lady Jill Biden has announced her list of invited guests to Thursday’s State of the Union address, offering to share her viewing box with 20 people the White House feels “personify issues or themes” that President Joe Biden will touch on in his speech.

    President Biden, in the thick of a reelection campaign that is expected to place him against former President Donald Trump, will likely discuss reproductive rights, immigration, the economy, foreign policy, the economy and questions about his age.

    Many of the White House’s guests are directly impacted by those topics, but more specifically represent other themes from Biden’s presidency, including his interests in cancer treatments, solutions to gun violence, civil rights, prescription drug pricing, student loan forgiveness and workforce development.

    Jobs and the economy

    Samantha Ervin-Upsher – Pittsburgh

    Ervin-Upsher, 23, is an apprentice with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 432. Ervin-Upsher met the First Lady during a 2023 visit to Pennsylvania to highlight the Investing in America Workforce Hub in Pittsburgh, which seeks to build career pathways through high schools, community colleges, and unions to jobs.

    Shawn Fain – Detroit

    Fain is the current President of the United Auto Workers. After strikes shutting down manufacturing plants across the country, the UAW won significant pay increases and benefits and influenced non-union automakers to announce double digit pay raises for U.S. workers, which the administration says is evidence that when unions do well, all workers do well. 

    Mayor Garnett L. Johnson – Augusta, Georgia

    Johnson is the Mayor of the City of Augusta, Georgia. In 2023, Augusta was designated by the White House as one of five “Investing in America Workforce Hubs,” where the federal government is spending to develop the local workforce.

    Natalie King – Detroit

    King is the founder and CEO of Dunamis Charge, an electric vehicle charger manufacturing company employing more than 135 workers. The company is on track to manufacture 400,000 electric vehicle chargers by 2025.

    Dawn Simms – Davis Junction, Illinois

    Simms is a member of United Auto Workers Local 126 and third-generation autoworker on the Belvidere, Illinois assembly line. The UAW-Big Three contract secured with Stellantis reopened the plant in Belvidere and saved jobs, stabilizing her family.

    Rashawn Spivey – Milwaukee

    Spivey is the founder and owner of Hero Plumbing in Milwaukee and a member of Plumbers Local 75. Spivey and his team have replaced more than 825 toxic lead pipes, primarily at local daycare centers, backed with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the American Rescue Plan.

    Reproductive rights

    Latorya Beasley – Birmingham, Alabama

    Beasley and her husband had their first child through in vitro fertilization in 2022 and were in the process of expanding their family through another round of IVF when her embryo transfer was abruptly canceled as a result of the recent Alabama Supreme Court decision ruling that fertilized embryos have the same rights as children. 

    Kate Cox – Dallas

    Cox, a mother of two, is one of the first women in 50 years to have to turn to the courts to ask permission to receive the abortion that her doctor recommended. She was ultimately forced to travel out of state for care that she would have been able to receive if Roe v. Wade was still in effect. 

    Public health

    Kris Blackley – Fort Mill, South Carolina

    Blackley is an oncology nurse and the Director of Patient Navigation for the Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute, part of Advocate Health. She has published research related to patient navigation showing improved outcomes, including decreased readmissions, increased treatment compliance, and equity in care. 

    Steven Hadfield – Matthews, North Carolina

    Hadfield has a rare blood cancer and is diabetic, facing high prescription drug costs: the drug that treats his cancer costs about $15,000 a month, and his insulin costs him up to $400 every month. He benefits from Inflation Reduction Act rules ensuring Medicare covers his insulin prescriptions with a $35 copay cap per month, and that his blood cancer medications are capped at about $3,500, with greater savings to come in 2025.

    Justin Phillips – Indianapolis

    Phillips is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Overdose Lifeline, a non-profit dedicated to reducing the stigma of substance use disorder and preventing deaths resulting from opioid and fentanyl overdose. Phillips is a special guest of Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. 

    Maria Shriver – Los Angeles

    In November 2023, Shriver joined the Bidens to announce the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research, an effort led by Dr. Biden and the White House Gender Policy Council to close research gaps, and improve women’s health.

    Gun violence prevention

    Jazmin Cazares – Uvalde, Texas

    After her sister Jackie was killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, Cazares spent her senior year of high school traveling across the country and sharing Jackie’s story. She spoke alongside March for Our Lives leaders at the Texas State Capitol and testified before lawmakers to advocate for tighter background checks and extreme risk protection order laws.

    Civil rights

    Bettie Mae Fikes – Selma, Alabama

    Fikes is an American singer and civil rights advocate who was a Bloody Sunday Foot Soldier in Selma, Alabama in 1965, the day protesters were beaten — and one murdered — during a civil rights march. Known as “The Voice of Selma,” Fikes served as a member of Selma’s Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Freedom Singers. This year’s State of the Union Address falls on the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. 

    Student loan debt

    Keenan Jones – Plymouth, Minnesota

    Jones is a public middle school teacher. In April 2023, Jones wrote an email to President Biden to thank him for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which eliminated his remaining student loan debt after 10 years of public service.

    Foreign policy

    Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden 

    Kristersson is the Prime Minister of Sweden. Sweden is formally joining the NATO Alliance on March 7, 2024.

    Infrastructure

    Governor Stephen Roe Lewis – Gu-u-Ki, Sacaton, Arizona

    Lewis is serving in his fourth term as governor of the Gila River Indian Community, and is credited by the administration with “revolutionizing” tribal governmental infrastructure, led to the completion of the first new schools on the reservation in over 100 years and the first solar-over-canal project in the Western Hemisphere. 

    Military and public safety

    Naval Commander Shelby Nikitin – Wakefield, Massachusetts

    Nikitin recently completed her command tour onboard the USS Thomas Hunder, which was deployed to protect maritime shipping from illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi attacks against vessels transiting the Red Sea. Nikitin was awarded the Bronze Star. 

    Kameryn Pupunu – Lahaina, Hawaii

    In August 2023, as Lahaina was engulfed deadly wildfires, Pupunu saved 15 lives. However, he four of his immediate family members died as a result of the fires.

    Tiffany Zoeller – Fayetteville, North Carolina

    Zoeller is a military spouse and works as a medical coder at Fort Liberty’s Womack Army Medical Center. In June 2023, Zoeller introduced the President at Fort Liberty to announce the Presidential Executive Order on Advancing Economic Security for Military and Veteran Spouses, Military Caregivers, and Survivors.

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    David Mendez

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  • Biden set to deliver high-stakes State of the Union address

    Biden set to deliver high-stakes State of the Union address

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    On Thursday night, President Joe Biden will leave the White House grounds to make the trip to the other end of Pennsylvania Ave. to deliver the annual State of the Union address – with plenty on his plate, and even more at stake.

    What You Need To Know

    • On Thursday night, President Joe Biden will deliver the annual State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol 
    • It comes as Biden in the thick of a reelection campaign that looks increasingly likely to be a rematch between him and former President Donald Trump
    • Reproductive rights, the economy, immigration and foreign policy could be key topics for his address
    • Biden will outline an ambitious budget proposal to reduce the federal deficit $3 trillion over 10 years, the White House said Thursday, fueled in large part by raising taxes on wealthy corporations and billionaires
    • Spectrum News will open to viewers President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address and the Republican rebuttal; here’s how to watch live

    The president — in the thick of a reelection campaign that looks increasingly likely to be a rematch between him and former President Donald Trump — is attempting to broker a peace deal in Gaza, while convincing a thus far seemingly unmoved GOP House Speaker to put billions in aid to Ukraine up for a vote, fending off persistent questions about age and struggling to persuade the American public the economy is thriving and he deserves credit. 

    In short, as Todd Belt, Professor and Director of Political Management at George Washington, puts it, Thursday night for the president is “pretty high-stakes.” 

    “I wouldn’t call it make-or-break, but I would put the emphasis on ‘break’ more than ‘make,’” Belt said, adding: “There’s going to be a ton of scrutiny on the president.”

    Biden – as he did before last year’s speech, according to Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre – spent the weekend huddled with top advisors tucked away at Camp David, the historic presidential retreat in Maryland, preparing for Thursday’s address. 

    “This is something that he is personally involved in,” Jean-Pierre said of the president’s role in the preparation at Wednesday’s White House press briefing. “This is something that comes straight from having conversations with the American people.” 

    The president, she added, will continue to “fine-tune” the speech Wednesday and Thursday before he hits TVs in prime time. Biden had no public events on Wednesday. 

    Belt noted State of the Union addresses during election years in which the president is seeking another four years in the White House take on a different tone.

    While there may be no campaign banners or walk-up songs and the reason for the speech may stem from a constitutional requirement for the president to from “time to time give to the Congress information of the State of the Union,” Belt said such addresses offer incumbent president’s the chance to “take a victory lap” and make a direct appeal to voters. 

    “The State of the Union during an election year is a chance for the President to remind the public of the successes from the prior three years,” he said. “But it’s also a way for the president to say, ‘the job isn’t done, you need to send me back to complete the job.’” 

    And the White House has made clear Biden is preparing to do just that. 

    Jean-Pierre on Wednesday laid out the key goals Biden plans to focus on Thursday night: lowering costs for Americans and “giving people more breathing room;” preserving democracy; protecting reproductive health; and progress on the “unity agenda” he laid out in his first State of the Union, such as addressing cancer, delivering for veterans and beating the opioid epidemic. 

    “Fundamentally, the president will outline an agenda that is about continuing to build on the progress that we’ve made over the last three years,” she said. 

    Here are some key topics expected to play center roles in Biden’s Thursday address:

    Reproductive rights

    Demonstrators march and gather near the state capitol following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

    Since the Supreme Court overturned of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Democrats have sought to put the issue of abortion front and center. As Belt notes, the issue has proven to be electorally fruitful for Democrats, who have credited the topic for helping blue candidates secure victories since the high court’s decision.

    “Democrats know that this is their kryptonite for Republicans,” Belt said. ”This is what they can use against Republicans that has helped them in the last two elections in 2022, as well as in the off-years in 2023.” 

    Biden – whose first campaign rally alongside Vice President Kamala Harris of the election year centered on “Restoring Roe” – is making clear he will continue to a spotlight on the issue by inviting Kate Cox as a guest to Thursday’s address. Cox’s story of having to leave her home state of Texas to get an abortion when her health was in danger due to the state’s restrictive abortion laws garnered national attention. 

    Recently, Democrats received fresh material to work with on the topic when the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos could be considered children, leading experts to warn of potential major implications for in vitro fertilization. 

    Immigration — and the dead Senate border deal

    President Joe Biden talks with the U.S. Border Patrol, as he looks over the southern border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas, along the Rio Grande. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

    After Republicans in Congress killed a sweeping border policy deal that a bipartisan group of senators and the White House spent weeks negotiating, Biden has been hounding lawmakers to revisit the legislation. 

    The GOP had originally requested border changes be included in a package to provide Biden’s request for aid to Ukraine, Israel, allies in the Indo-Pacific and more. The president has blamed his predecessor former President Donald Trump – who vocally came out against the deal – for its downfall. 

    And just last week, as Jean-Pierre noted on a call with reporters on Wednesday – the president made a closely watched visit to the border in Brownsville, Texas, where he highlighted what was at stake without action from Congress. 

    “He’s tried to take that issue away from Republicans and to some degree, there’s been some success in that,” Belt said. “We’ll see more of that tomorrow.”

    “It’s a lie, everybody knows it’s a lie,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, told Spectrum News on Wednesday when asked about his response to the likelihood the president will criticize Republicans for killing the Senate border deal in his address Thursday. 

    “Anybody with a brain who looks at the Senate bill knows it was a purposeful effort to give them an excuse for why they could blame Republicans when it is they who have left the borders wide open,” he continued. 

    The economy

    A generator and its blades are prepared to head to the open ocean for the South Fork Wind farm from State Pier in New London, Conn., Dec. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

    Despite consumer sentiment rising and numerous signs people are feeling better about the economy, polls show Biden has struggled to convince the American public he and his policies deserve the credit. 

    A poll conducted in January by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research put his economic approval rating at just 35%, despite his administration having now embarked on four “Investing in America” tours in which top officials hit the road to sell his economic agenda.

    “Biden has tried to message on jobs … and other aspects of the economy, but inflation remains the big sticking one,” Belt said. “And it’s difficult for Democrats, because when you ask people which party is better in handling inflation, they usually say Republicans. So this is not a good issue for him.” 

    To that end, Biden will outline an ambitious budget proposal to reduce the federal deficit $3 trillion over 10 years, the White House said Thursday, fueled in large part by raising taxes on wealthy corporations and billionaires. Biden’s proposal would call for billionaires to pay a minimum of 25% on their income, raise the corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%, and bar corporations from being able to deduct employee pay if they pay over $1 million to any employee. 

    He will also outline proposals to cut taxes for the middle class and use revenues from his proposals to pay for expansions of programs that aid lower-income families, like the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Biden is also set to outline a plan to implement higher Medicare taxes on Americans making more than $400,000 annually to help the program remain financially solvent.

    Lael Brainard, director of the White House National Economic Council, said that Biden will contrast his proposals to Republicans’ plans of extending the 2017 Trump-era tax cuts while slashing corporate tax rates.

    In a briefing with reporters on Tuesday, White House domestic policy adviser Neera Tanden said Biden will seek to highlight his work to lower costs for American families while making sure they know the administration is aware some are feeling a “middle-class squeeze.” 

    “Americans want more breathing room,” Tanden said said, “and as the president has been focused on throughout his term, we will see the State of the Union as an opportunity to drive a robust policy agenda to address a range of costs.” 

    Tanden noted Biden will highlight his work to lower health care costs, such as securing the ability for Medicare to negotiate drug prices and capping insulin at $35 a month for seniors and other Medicare enrollees. 

    “The president will build on that agenda in the State of the Union with more action to take on big Pharma to reduce drug costs for more and more Americans,” Tanden said. 

    She also said Biden will address housing. She noted the administration recognizes “that housing is a real challenge in the country both in terms of affording a first home or being able to pay rent.” 

    “The president will speak to these issues and he has specific proposals that he will speak to in terms of housing affordability and ensuring we are addressing rent,” she said. 

    National Economic Council on Lowering Costs Deputy Director Jon Donenberg and Rohit Chopra, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of the United States on Junk Fees, also noted Biden will call out companies over his belief that some are continuing to keep prices high despite declining costs as well as his self-proclaimed war on hidden or surprise fees at the end of purchases.  

    “Unfortunately it is going to be a lot of a spin on how Bidenomics has actually been a success,” Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., told Spectrum News on Wednesday when asked what he expects to hear from the president on Thursday.

    “You have people who can’t afford the American dream anymore, to own their own homes,” he added. 

    Foreign policy

    Palestinians visit their destroyed homes after Israeli forces left Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Mohammed Dahman)

    Thursday’s high-profile address also comes as Biden is navigating two wars overseas as his request to Congress for additional foreign aid still hangs in the balance.

    Biden has implored House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. to put the Senate-passed $95 package providing aid to Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, Israel as it battles Hamas, the Indo-Pacific as China grows its influence in the region and more up for a vote – thus far to no avail. 

    Jean-Pierre on Wednesday confirmed that Biden invited Ukraine’s first lady as well as the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died last month in a Russian prison, to Thursday’s address. Both are not able to make it, she said. 

    Meanwhile, when it comes to the war in Gaza, Belt said, Biden may have to walk a finer line. 

    “This is something where he has to walk a delicate dance,” he said. 

    “There’s a big faction of the party that is not happy with support for Israel, given what’s going on in Gaza,” Belt added. “So that’s going to have to be something he’s going to have to diplomatically address.” 

    Biden has faced criticism from some in his party over his support for Israel amid the war in Gaza as the Palestinian death toll has risen and the humanitarian crisis has worsened. 

    Questions about Biden’s age

    While not a policy issue per se, Belt notes the 81-year-old president’s age could be a focus Thursday night. 

    Biden has faced mounting questions on the topic that were only heightened when a special counsel report recommending against charging Biden for his handling of classified information referred to him as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” 

    “People are waiting for him to have that ‘oops’ moment in terms of his memory, or his physical, stamina, posture what have you,” Belt said. “And so there’s gonna be a lot of people waiting to play the gotcha game with him if he does something wrong.”

    Belt, however, also noted Thursday is an opportunity for Biden to “reenergize those voters who have become a little bit disaffected.”

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    Maddie Gannon

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  • NASA and SpaceX successfully launches Crew-8 mission

    NASA and SpaceX successfully launches Crew-8 mission

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    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — A scrubbed launch did not stop NASA and SpaceX from sending the four-member Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station on Sunday night.

    What You Need To Know

    • The launch happened on Sunday at 10:53 p.m. ET
    • Crew-8 members will spend the next months conducting experiments

    Countdown to liftoff

    Watch the launch and hear the sonic boom of the returning first-stage rocket.

    Right as the instantaneous launch window opened at 10:53 p.m. ET, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched NASA astronauts Cmdr. Matthew Dominick, pilot Michael Barratt, and mission specialists Jeanette Epps and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, March 2.

    The Falcon 9’s nine Merlin engines roared into the night as it brighten the dark sky like a small sun, creating multiple colors during stage separation between the rocket and the Dragon capsule.

    Space lovers counted down to liftoff as the launch caused spectators to gap in wonder and car alarms to go off.

    The next stop for this crew will be the International Space Station, with the targeted docking time at 3 a.m. ET, Tuesday, March 5, confirmed NASA.

    There was a last minute surprise when a small crack was discovered on the Dragon capsule’s hatch, but the launch team reviewed it and determined that it was OK to continue the launch.

    SpaceX officials stated that the crack should re-seal during re-entry.

    Going to the ISS

    The Falcon’s first-stage booster, B1083, is brand new, meaning the Crew-8 mission is the first one for this little rocket.

    For Florida, this was the 14th launch for the Sunshine State this year. 

    After the stage separation, the first-stage booster landed at Landing Zone 1, that sent a cracking sonic boom that was heard for miles around.

    Not counting this mission, the Dragon capsule named Endeavour has a few missions under its belt. The 26.7-foot-tall (8.1 meters) space taxis that will send the four crewmembers has successfully carried out the following missions.

    “Lifting off from Launch Pad 39A on a Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon will accelerate to approximately 17,500 mph, to dock with the space station,” NASA stated.

    Those are some fast speeds. Learn how NASA astronauts train to deal with them.

    For the Dragon to move that fast, it is all thanks to the 229.6-foot-tall (69.9 meters) Falcon 9 rocket and its nine Merlin engines. Because of those engines, the rocket can lift a payload of 50,265 pounds and send it to low-Earth orbit, which is where the ISS is.

    The Endeavour will dock autonomously with the ISS’s Harmony module, but the crew can take the controls and pilot it themselves, if needed.

    Attempting to launch

    It was set to go up at 11:16 p.m. ET, Saturday, but NASA officials said that they were scrubbing the mission due to unfavorable weather. The forecast was a bit iffy, with a 40% chance of good liftoff conditions, according to the 45th Weather Squadron. The main concerns were the flight through precipitation, thick cloud layer and the cumulus cloud rules.

    This is not the first time Mother Nature has put a hold on this launch. Originally, it was going to be sent up at 12:04 a.m. ET, Friday, but NASA stated that weather conditions were not ideal.

    The squadron gave a 75% chance of good launch weather for Sunday’s flight, with the only concerns being the flight through precipitation and cumulus cloud rule. But later during the night, NASA updated that to 90%.

    If it did not go up on Sunday, the next attempt would have been Monday, March 4, at 10:31 p.m. ET.

    About the mission

    While NASA says that the crew members will spend several months onboard the ISS, usually it is about six months if we look at past crewed missions.

    And they will not be alone. They will belong to the ISS’s Expedition 69 and 70. An expedition means the current crew in the International Space Station.

    Before the Crew-8 joins them, there are currently seven crew members on the floating laboratory. They recently had guests from the Ax-3 mission.

    The Crew-8 will conduct more than 200 experiments and demonstrate technology.

    “Experiments include using stem cells to create organoid models to study degenerative diseases, studying the effects of microgravity and UV radiation on plants at a cellular level, and testing whether wearing pressure cuffs on the legs could prevent fluid shifts and reduce health problems in astronauts,” NASA explained.

    Patrick O’Neil, the public relations officer for the ISS National Lab, explained to Spectrum News about some of the work that is done on the ISS.

    Watch the launch

     

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    Anthony Leone

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  • Weather Explained: Lightning safety

    Weather Explained: Lightning safety

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    By

    Spectrum News Weather Staff

    Nationwide


    PUBLISHED 10:00 AM ET Mar. 01, 2024
    PUBLISHED 10:00 AM EST Mar. 01, 2024

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Warren Washington: Climate adviser to 6 presidents

    Warren Washington: Climate adviser to 6 presidents

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    Jimmy Carter. Ronald Reagan. George H. W. Bush. Bill Clinton. George W. Bush. Barack Obama.

    You’ve heard of each of those presidents, but you probably haven’t heard of Warren Washington, the scientist who advised all of them on Earth’s climate. It’s no wonder; he also helped develop one of the first climate models.

    What You Need To Know

    • Warren Washington was the second African American to get a PhD in meteorology

    • He helped develop the earliest global climate models

    • The U.S. government awarded Washington the National Medal of Science in 2010

    Washington was a pioneer in more than just weather and climate. He was just the second African American to get a doctorate in meteorology, earning his PhD from Penn State in 1964.

    Warren Washington standing next to a CRAY supercomputer in 1980. (UCAR)

    To put that in perspective, a report from the American Institute of Physics says that only 14 out of the 740 students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science as recently as 2015 were African American.

    From the 1960s onward, Washington studied the Earth’s climate system, building simulations that got more detailed as computers became more powerful. Early climate models were crude and slow.

    “We weren’t able to go faster than the actual weather. We actually plowed on because what happened was computers got faster and faster,” he told NASA in a 2016 interview.

    But, as computers got faster, Washington and his colleagues added more detail into the climate models.

    Output from an early climate model in the late 1960s. (UCAR)

    Washington used those computer models to experiment with various scenarios, tweaking the amount of carbon dioxide and other gasses to see what the different outcomes would be.

    This is routine today. Scientists want to know what to expect if we do nothing to limit greenhouse gas emissions or suddenly stop all of it or something in between.

    Washington earned many accolades and awards for his decades of work. In 2010, the country awarded him the National Medal of Science, the U.S. government’s highest scientific honor. He’s also been recognized for his efforts to increase diversity in atmospheric sciences.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Justin Gehrts

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  • George Washington Carver’s legacy is more than peanuts

    George Washington Carver’s legacy is more than peanuts

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    Peanuts–that may be what George Washington Carver is best known for, but that was just one part of his work. Arguably more important? He was an advocate of sustainable agriculture before the concept even had such a name.

    What You Need To Know

    • Carver tried to change farming practices in the South

    • He considered the whole picture of crops, soil and weather

    • Carver’s largest true legacy may be in sustainable agriculture

    Carver was the first Black student admitted to the Iowa Agricultural College, now known as Iowa State University. He went on to be an educator and researcher at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama from 1896 to 1943.

    He even took weather observations there for over 30 years as part of a “cooperative observers” program, which the National Weather Service still uses today.

    George Washington Carver’s daily weather reports for February 1923. (NOAA Central Library Data Imaging Project)

    Carver knew the issues that Southern farmers faced. He encouraged efforts that went against the grain of agricultural science at the time, according to Mark D. Hersey, a historian at Mississippi State University. His efforts didn’t result in much change then, but he was certainly on to something.

    “They were farseeing–and many of the things he called for became vital threads in what came to be known as the organic agriculture movement in the mid-20th century… in essence, Carver was a prophet of sustainable agriculture,” says Hersey. 

    Instead of growing only cotton, Carver recommended crop rotation that included peanuts so those crops could replenish the soil’s nutrients.

    Carver’s holistic approach also encouraged composting manure, rather than simply adding chemical fertilizers. This was a cheaper solution that also made the soil more resistant to erosion, Hersey adds. The South gets deluges that drop a few inches of rain in a day, which can wash away the dirt and leave behind ruts.

    Photograph of erosion in one of Carver’s bulletins, published in 1908. (Tuskegee Experiment Station Bulletin No. 11/U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library)

    In one of the many bulletins he wrote, Carver noted some farmers’ belief that the moon influences the weather, along with other superstitions. He said to focus instead on actual conditions, since he knew seeds need some number of frost-free days and a certain soil temperature. 

    “My work is that of conservation,” Carver believed. We still hear echoes of that work a century later in sustainable farming.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Justin Gehrts

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  • DaNa Carlis’ role at the National Severe Storms Lab is a historic homecoming

    DaNa Carlis’ role at the National Severe Storms Lab is a historic homecoming

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    Dr. DaNa Carlis is breaking barriers as the first African-American to lead NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) in Norman, Oklahoma.

    The laboratory studies severe weather, from tornadoes to winter weather. The National Weather Service uses their research to warn us and keep us safe from disruptive weather events.

    What You Need To Know

    • DaNa Carlis is the first African-American to be named NSSL director

    • Carlis co-founded NOAA’s Diversity and Professional Advancement

    • He holds three degrees from Howard University

    • One of his top priorities is to increase the engagement between the underserved communities and the NSSL

    Historic accomplishment

    NOAA appointed Carlis to the role in January 2023. Carlis is the first Black man named as a lab director.

    We spoke to the NSSL director in 2023 about his historic appointment, his future for the NSSL and how he plans to inspire more Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) in meteorology.

    “It feels amazing! I am humbled by the opportunity to serve in this capacity as director of the National Severe Storms Laboratory,” said Carlis, describing his accomplishment.

    A few years ago, the NSSL Director didn’t think he’d be taking this path in his career. However, he said he was striving for an opportunity to be a leader of science within NOAA.

    Carlis is excited to inspire the next generation of science leaders.

    “I’m looking forward to continuing to uplift others with the BIPOC community that can serve in this capacity. It’s been a passion of mine to help and develop the next generation workforce,” said Carlis.

    Over his 20-year career, Carlis led efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within NOAA. He’s the co-founder of NOAA’s Diversity and Professional Advancement Working Group (DPAWG).

    Eight members of NOAA’s Diversity and Professional Advancement Working Group in 2023. Clockwise from the top left: Vankita Brown, John Moore, Terence Lynch, Maddie Kennedy, DaNa Carlis, Lonnie Gonsalves, Ashley Turnbull, and Janae Elkins. (NOAA)

    Carlis knows how big of a deal it is to be the first African-American to lead this agency.

    “I’m a firm believer that there are more talented people than me out there that will deserve this opportunity and probably have deserved it in the past. So, that I’m the first is humble… but you know I got to continue to strive for change and NOAA is right behind me in terms of diversity, inclusion and equity in our senior leadership ranks,” Carlis told Spectrum News.

    NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. supports Carlis’ mission. Spinrad gave this statement in a news release: “NOAA is fortunate to have a leader with deep scientific expertise and the strong skills to elevate diversity, equity and inclusion into all aspects of NSSL’s culture.”

    Back to his roots

    The role is a homecoming for Carlis, who grew up in Tulsa. Carlis is happy to be back in his home state and doing what he loves.

    “I am going to full circle, returning to my roots of being in Oklahoma…. I have kept myself grounded on who I am and where I come from,” said Carlis.

    The Tulsa native says his upbringing made him the man he is today.

    The NSSL director credits his mentors with sparking his passion for science.

    “It was mentors that really drew me in and after that first course in atmospheric science I fell in love with it because it was so applicable to people’s everyday lives,” Carlis recounted.

    He also takes great pride in graduating from Howard University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Washington D.C.

    “The main thing that really helped me… that I really needed was the support system. I needed to believe in me, I needed to be supported by people that was going to help raise me up and make sure and hold me accountable for being excellent, being a high achiever… that’s what Howard University gave to me,” Carlis told us.

    Bright future

    “I got to go in and learn the organization. So, I’ll sit back and listen for a few months and try to figure out… where we need to improve weather that is on the business side or science and technology side,” said Carlis.

    The severe storms lab is a busy place, with its PERiLS project, radar improvements, field campaigns and much more.

    The NSSL director says his mission for the agency is to meet their goals and make sure they’re successful. One of his priorities is to increase the engagement between the underserved communities and the NSSL.

    “The integration of social science and physical sciences like in meteorology and atmospheric is going to be really key to us being able to engage and serve those folks that are from underserved communities even better,” said Carlis.

    In addition, Carlis thinks this is an opportune time for aspiring meteorologists to get into the field. He has this advice for them.

    “I would love to see more African-American, Black meteorologists or just BIPOC meteorologist coming into this field because it just such a gratifying field of work that we do because of the impact that we have on people’s lives… so we need you.”

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Keith Bryant

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  • AT&T says it’s restored three-quarters of its network after outage

    AT&T says it’s restored three-quarters of its network after outage

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    AT&T said that it has restored three-quarters of its network after an outage on Thursday morning that disrupted phone service nationwide.

    “Our network teams took immediate action and so far three-quarters of our network has been restored,”AT&T said in a statement to Spectrum News. “We are working as quickly as possible to restore service to remaining customers.”

    What You Need To Know

    • AT&T said that it has restored three-quarters of its network after an outage on Thursday morning that disrupted phone service nationwide
    • Users of several major cellular carriers, including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, reported outages on Thursday morning, according to Downdetector, which tracks internet, communication and other service outages
    • In a statement to Spectrum News, Verizon said its network is “operating normally; likewise, T-Mobile said that it did not experience an outage

    Users of several major cellular carriers, including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, reported outages on Thursday morning, according to Downdetector, which tracks internet, communication and other service outages.

    Per Downdetector, users began to report issues after 3:30 a.m. ET. Reports peaked at at around 4:30-5:30 a.m. ET, depending on the carrier in question. The cause of the outage is not yet clear.

    Areas reporting issues included New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Houston, Chicago and Atlanta. Some municipalities across the country also reported issues with contacting emergency services, including 911.

    The emergency services outage prompted at least one law enforcement organization to urge people not to test if 911 was working.

    “Many 911 centers in the state are getting flooded w/ calls from people trying to see if 911 works from their cell phone. Please do not do this,” Massachusetts State Police wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “If you can successfully place a non-emergency call to another number via your cell service then your 911 service will also work.”

    AT&T had more than 64,000 outages on Thursday morning. The carrier has more than 240 million subscribers, more than any other company in the U.S.

    Cricket Wireless had more than 13,000, the outage tracking website said Thursday. Verizon had more than 4,000 outages and T-Mobile had more than 1,900 outages reported. Boost Mobile had about 700 outages.

    In a statement to Spectrum News, Verizon said its network is “operating normally.”

    “Some customers experienced issues this morning when calling or texting with customers served by another carrier,” the carrier said. “We are continuing to monitor the situation.”

    Likewise, T-Mobile said that it did not experience an outage.

    “Our network is operating normally,” the company said in a statement to Spectrum News. “Down Detector is likely reflecting challenges our customers were having attempting to connect to users on other networks.”

    NOTE: Spectrum News is owned by parent company Charter Communications, which owns and operates Spectrum Mobile. 

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Associated Press

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  • AT&T says it’s restored three-quarters of its network after outage

    AT&T says it’s restored three-quarters of its network after outage

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    AT&T said that it has restored three-quarters of its network after an outage on Thursday morning that disrupted phone service nationwide.

    “Our network teams took immediate action and so far three-quarters of our network has been restored,”AT&T said in a statement to Spectrum News. “We are working as quickly as possible to restore service to remaining customers.”

    What You Need To Know

    • AT&T said that it has restored three-quarters of its network after an outage on Thursday morning that disrupted phone service nationwide
    • Users of several major cellular carriers, including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, reported outages on Thursday morning, according to Downdetector, which tracks internet, communication and other service outages
    • In a statement to Spectrum News, Verizon said its network is “operating normally; likewise, T-Mobile said that it did not experience an outage

    Users of several major cellular carriers, including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, reported outages on Thursday morning, according to Downdetector, which tracks internet, communication and other service outages.

    Per Downdetector, users began to report issues after 3:30 a.m. ET. Reports peaked at at around 4:30-5:30 a.m. ET, depending on the carrier in question. The cause of the outage is not yet clear.

    Areas reporting issues included New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Houston, Chicago and Atlanta. Some municipalities across the country also reported issues with contacting emergency services, including 911.

    The emergency services outage prompted at least one law enforcement organization to urge people not to test if 911 was working.

    “Many 911 centers in the state are getting flooded w/ calls from people trying to see if 911 works from their cell phone. Please do not do this,” Massachusetts State Police wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “If you can successfully place a non-emergency call to another number via your cell service then your 911 service will also work.”

    AT&T had more than 64,000 outages on Thursday morning. The carrier has more than 240 million subscribers, more than any other company in the U.S.

    Cricket Wireless had more than 13,000, the outage tracking website said Thursday. Verizon had more than 4,000 outages and T-Mobile had more than 1,900 outages reported. Boost Mobile had about 700 outages.

    In a statement to Spectrum News, Verizon said its network is “operating normally.”

    “Some customers experienced issues this morning when calling or texting with customers served by another carrier,” the carrier said. “We are continuing to monitor the situation.”

    Likewise, T-Mobile said that it did not experience an outage.

    “Our network is operating normally,” the company said in a statement to Spectrum News. “Down Detector is likely reflecting challenges our customers were having attempting to connect to users on other networks.”

    NOTE: Spectrum News is owned by parent company Charter Communications, which owns and operates Spectrum Mobile. 

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Associated Press

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  • Users report outages with cellular providers, including AT&T, Verizon

    Users report outages with cellular providers, including AT&T, Verizon

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    Users of several major cellular carriers, including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, reported outages on Thursday morning, according to Downdetector, which tracks internet, communication and other service outages.

    Per Downdetector, users began to report issues after 3:30 a.m. ET. Reports peaked at at around 4:30-5:30 a.m. ET, depending on the carrier in question. The cause of the outage is not yet clear.

    Areas reporting issues included New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Houston. Some municipalities across the country also reported issues with contacting emergency services, including 911.

    A source familiar told Spectrum News that the issue is not related to Verizon, but likely to another mobile carrier. The company’s customers could see issues they try to make or receive calls or texts from the impacted provider, the source said.

    Spectrum News has reached out to T-Mobile and AT&T for comment.

    This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.

    NOTE: Spectrum News is owned by parent company Charter Communications, which owns and operates Spectrum Mobile.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Honoring a pioneer in broadcast meteorology, June Bacon-Bercey

    Honoring a pioneer in broadcast meteorology, June Bacon-Bercey

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    In honor of Black History Month, we are taking the opportunity to look back on and celebrate the life and work of meteorologist June Bacon-Bercey.

    A woman of many “firsts,” Bacon-Bercey broke many barriers and paved the way for others, particularly for women and African Americans in meteorology. 

    What You Need To Know

    • June Bacon-Bercey broke many barriers as an African American woman in science 

    • She was the first African American female degreed broadcast meteorologist

    • She established a scholarship in the late 1970s from game show winnings

    • The American Meteorological Society renamed an award in her honor

    Noted as the first African American and first female degreed broadcast meteorologist, Bacon-Bercey is considered a pioneer in the field of meteorology. Born in 1928 in Wichita, Kansas, ever since she was a kid, she knew she wanted to follow a path of math and science.

    In 1954, she became the first African American female in the United States to earn a bachelor of science degree in meteorology from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

    According to her official biography provided by her daughter, Dail St. Claire, when she arrived at UCLA, a counselor suggested she major in home economics instead of meteorology.

    Bacon-Bercey once said, “when I earned an ‘A’ in thermodynamics and a ‘B’ in home economics, I knew my decision was the right one.”

    Her biography also states that her career extended well beyond television weather. Before retiring from a position at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 1993, she held positions as a weather forecaster, weather analyst, radar meteorologist, aviation meteorologist, broadcast journalist, public administrator and educator.

    She had a lasting impact on the field of broadcast meteorology, especially during a time when weather broadcasts within local newscasts were considered more entertainment-based than science-focused.

    June-Bacon Bercey on set at WGR-TV in Buffalo, N.Y. (Courtesy: Dail St. Claire)

    In 1972, she became the first African American and first female to earn the AMS Seal of Approval for Excellence in Television Weathercasting. 

    Her daughter recalled the day that her mother got the news of this accomplishment. “She was beaming. We sat down over tea, as she often did with me to discuss life matters. Upon sharing the significance of the Seal, she said, ‘no greater honor can come to me than earning the respect of my colleagues.’”

    This came after joining WGR-TV in Buffalo, New York, in 1970, where she became the chief meteorologist after just four months at the station. This was a remarkable feat for the era.

    Nearly five decades later, a 2018 study published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society revealed that only 8% of chief meteorologists are female. 

    Bacon-Bercey became a role model to many African American aspiring meteorologists, including Janice Huff, Chief Meteorologist at WNBC in New York.  

    “When I was a child, I never saw anyone who looked like me delivering the forecast on television, so I never thought of broadcasting as an option for a future career. I wanted to be a scientist and work behind the scenes, and I was on my way to doing just that. Then I learned of June Bacon-Bercey, and I was certain that any and all things were possible,” said Huff.

    Alan Sealls, Chief Meteorologist at WPMI-TV in Mobile, Alabama also has been moved by the life of Bacon-Bercey. He described her as “a woman who likely opened doors for women, African-Americans, and degreed meteorologists in broadcast meteorology.”

    Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd, Director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program at the University of Georgia who served as the second African American president of the American Meteorological Society, shared his appreciation for Bacon-Bercey. “I cannot imagine the struggles that Mrs. Bacon-Bercey faced as she trailblazed on behalf of women and people of color,” he said.   

    Women’s issues and racial equality were of the highest importance to Bacon-Bercey. She helped launch the AMS Board on Women and Minorities in 1975, which continues to operate to this day. It was renamed the Board on Representation, Accessibility, Inclusion, and Diversity (BRAID) in 2020.

    In 1977, it wasn’t weather, but her music knowledge that awarded her $64,000 on the game show “The $128,000 Question.” She used her earnings to launch the June Bacon-Bercey Scholarship through the American Geophysical Union (AGU) for women pursuing careers in meteorology and atmospheric sciences.  

    She felt the scholarship could help women become meteorologists. “I was discouraged from becoming a meteorologist. If women feel they have some money behind them, it might be better,” she stated according to her official biography.

    AGU offered this scholarship from 1978 to 1990. It became reestablished in 2021 through the generosity of her daughter, Dail St. Claire, and other family and friends.  

    June Bacon-Bercey speaking at a luncheon. (Photo Courtesy: Dail St. Claire)

    Bacon-Bercey also funded the meteorology lab at Mississippi’s Jackson State University (JSU) in 1980. At the time, JSU was the only historically black university or college with a meteorology program in the United States. 

    Janice Huff remarked on her achievements. “She showed great strength and determination to study in a field where there were so few who looked like her. She persevered despite the odds against her, and for that, I am eternally grateful.”

    Bacon-Bercey passed away in July 2019 at the age of 90. Her legacy will live on for generations to come through the American Meteorological Society’s (AMS) June Bacon-Bercey Award for Broadcast Meteorology.  

    The AMS renamed the Award for Broadcast Meteorology in her honor. Since 1977, this award has annually recognized broadcast meteorologists “for sustained long-term contributions to the community through the broadcast media, or for outstanding work during a specific weather event.”

    Since its inception, three Award for Broadcast Meteorology recipients have been female. By honoring Mrs. Bacon-Bercey’s legacy, women and minorities might be encouraged to strive for this award and submit future nominations. 

    Her daughter, Dail St. Claire, reflected on this honor. “My family and I are grateful to the AMS for honoring my mother, June Bacon-Bercey. There is no greater honor for an on-air meteorologist to serve the public. The field of meteorology will one day fully represent the rich diversity of all people.”

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Maureen McCann

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  • Mae C. Jemison: The first African American woman in space

    Mae C. Jemison: The first African American woman in space

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    Becoming an astronaut is hard enough, but one woman overcame obstacles to become the first African American woman in space.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jemison wanted to study science from an early age

    • She first studied medicine before starting a career at NASA

    • She went to space in Sept. 1992

    • After NASA, she accomplished many more things

    Early life accomplishments

    Born in the 1950s, Jemison would let nothing stop her from becoming one of the most accomplished African American women in history.

    She was born in Decatur, Ala. but grew up in Chicago, and from a very early age, she knew she wanted to study science.

    She worked hard and graduated from high school when she was just 16. At that early age, she traveled across the country to California to attend Stanford University.

    Being one of the few African Americans in her class, she experienced racial discrimination from students and teachers, but that didn’t stop her from graduating with two degrees in four years, one in chemical engineering and one in African American studies.

    Jemison didn’t start her career in space. She first attended Cornell Medical School, where she got her doctorate in medicine and practiced general medicine.

    Her talents also didn’t stop in science. Jemison is fluent in Japanese, Russian and Swahili. She used this and her medical studies to her advantage and joined the Peace Corps in 1983 to help people in Africa for two years.

    Jemison with the rest of the Endeavour Crew in 1992. (AP Photo/Chris O’ Meara)

    On to space

    After the Peace Corps, Jemison opened her own private practice as a doctor, but not too long after, she decided she wanted to go to space, something she had wanted to accomplish for a long time.  

    Jemison applied for the astronaut program at NASA in 1985. Unfortunately, NASA stopped accepting applications after the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986.

    Jemison tried her luck again in 1987 and was one of the 15 people chosen out of 2000 applicants. Nichelle Nichols, who starred as Uhura in the original Star Trek series, recruited her. Jemison later starred in an episode of the series after being a fan since childhood.

    In Sept. 1992, she joined six other astronauts on the Endeavor for eight days, making her the first African American woman in space. On her mission, she made 127 orbits around the Earth.

    Mae C. Jemison on board the Endeavour in 1992. (Photo by NASA)

    After NASA

    Jemison left NASA the year after she went to space and accomplished many more things.

    She started her own consulting company, became a professor at Cornell, launched the Jemison Institute for Advancing Technology in Developing Countries, created an international space camp for teens and much more.

    She currently leads 100 Year Starship through DARPA, United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which works to ensure humans will travel to another star in the next 100 years.

    With all her accomplishments, it’s no surprise Jemison was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the National Medical Association Hall of Fame and the Texas Science Hall of Fame.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Shelly Lindblade

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