Tag: Dallas

What does a state Capitol do when its hall of fame gallery is nearly out of room? Find more space

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Visitors to the North Dakota Capitol enter a spacious hall lined with portraits of the Peace Garden State’s famous faces. But the gleaming gallery is nearly out of room.

Bandleader Lawrence Welk, singer Peggy Lee and actress Angie Dickinson are among the 49 recipients of the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award in the North Dakota Hall of Fame, where Capitol tours start. The most recent addition to the collection — a painting of former NASA astronaut James Buchli — was hung on Wednesday.

State Facility Management Division Director John Boyle said the gallery is close to full and he wants the question of where new portraits will be displayed resolved before he retires in December after 22 years. An uncalculated number of portraits would have to be inched together in the current space to fit a 50th inductee, Boyle said.

Institutions elsewhere that were running out of space — including the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Plaque Gallery — found ways to expand their collections by rearranging their displays or adding space.

Boyle said there are a couple of options for the Capitol collection, including hanging new portraits in a nearby hallway or on the 18th-floor observation deck, likely seeded with four or five current portraits so a new one isn’t displayed alone.

Some portraits have been moved around over the years to make more room. The walls of the gallery are lined with blocks of creamy, marble-like Yellowstone travertine. The pictures hang on hooks placed in the seams of the slabs.

Eight portraits were unveiled when the hall of fame was dedicated in 1967, according to Bismarck Tribune archives. Welk was the first award recipient, in 1961.

Many of the lighted portraits were painted by Vern Skaug, an artist who typically includes scenery or objects key to the subject’s life.

Inductees are not announced with specific regularity, but every year or two a new one is named. The Rough Rider Award “recognizes North Dakotans who have been influenced by this state in achieving national recognition in their fields of endeavor, thereby reflecting credit and honor upon North Dakota and its citizens,” according to the award’s webpage.

The governor chooses recipients with the concurrence of the secretary of state and State Historical Society director. Inductees receive a print of the portrait and a small bust of Roosevelt, who hunted and ranched in the 1880s in what is now western North Dakota before he was president.

Gov. Doug Burgum has named six people in his two terms, most recently Buchli in May. Burgum, a wealthy software entrepreneur, is himself a recipient. The first inductee Burgum named was Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent who jumped on the back of the presidential limousine during the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 in Dallas.

The state’s Capitol Grounds Planning Commission would decide where future portraits will be hung. The panel is scheduled to meet Tuesday, but the topic is not on the agenda and isn’t expected to come up.

The North Dakota Capitol was completed in 1934. The building’s Art Deco interior features striking designs, lighting and materials.

The peculiar “Monkey Room” has wavy, wood-paneled walls where visitors can spot eyes and outlines of animals, including a wolf, rabbit, owl and baboon.

The House of Representatives ceiling is lit as the moon and stars, while the Senate’s lighting resembles a sunrise. Instead of a dome, as other statehouses have, the North Dakota Capitol rises in a tower containing state offices. In December, many of its windows are lit red and green in the shape of a Christmas tree.

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August 26, 2024
Cruise will dispatch some of its trouble-ridden robotaxis to join Uber’s ride-hailing service

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Cruise’s trouble-ridden robotaxis are joining Uber’s ride-hailing service next year as part of a multiyear partnership bringing together two companies that once appeared poised to compete for passengers.

The alliance is the latest change in direction for Cruise since its California license to provide driverless rides was suspended in October 2023 after one of its robotaxis dragged a jaywalking pedestrian who had been struck by a human-driven vehicle across a darkened San Francisco street.

The incident spurred regulatory inquiries into Cruise and prompted its corporate parent, automaker General Motors, to tamp down its once audacious ambitions in autonomous driving.

GM had envisioned Cruise generating $1 billion in annual revenue by 2025 as its robotaxis steadily expanded beyond San Francisco and into other cities to offer a driverless alternative to the ride-hailing services operated by Uber and Lyft.

But now GM and Cruise are looking to make money by mixing the robotaxis with Uber’s human-driven cars, giving passengers the option to ask for an autonomous ride if they want. The financial details of the partnership weren’t disclosed, nor were the cities in which Uber intends to offer Cruise’s robotaxis next year.

Unless something changes, California won’t be in the mix of options because Cruise’s license remains suspended in the state.

Meanwhile, a robotaxi fleet operated by Google spinoff Waymo is expanding beyond San Francisco into cities around the Bay Area and Southern California. Earlier this week, Waymo announced its robotaxis are completing more than 100,000 paid rides per week — a number that includes its operations in Phoenix, where it has been operating for several years.

Cruise is currently operating Chevy Bolts autonomously in Phoenix and Dallas, with humans sitting behind the wheel ready to take over if something goes wrong. The Uber deal underscores Cruise’s determination to get back to the point where its robotaxis navigate the roads entirely on their own.

“Cruise is on a mission to leverage driverless technology to create safer streets and redefine urban life,” said Cruise CEO Marc Whitten, who is filling a void created after Cruise founder Kyle Vogt stepped down in the fallout from the California license suspension.

GM also laid off hundreds of employees in the California blowback as part of its financial belt-tightening after sustaining $5.8 billion in losses on the robotaxi service from 2021 to 2023. The Detroit automaker sustained another operating loss of $900 million on Cruise during the first half of this year, but that was down from nearly $1.2 billion at the same point last year.

Despite Cruise’s recent woes, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi expressed confidence the ride-hailing service could get the robotaxis back on the right track.

“We believe Uber can play an important role in helping to safely and reliably introduce autonomous technology to consumers and cities around the world,” Khosrowshahi said.

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August 26, 2024
Travelers are getting a head start on the long Labor Day weekend

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Labor Day weekend is upon us, which means lots of people will be traveling. Here’s what to do if your flight gets canceled or delayed.

Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed across the U.S. this Labor Day weekend as a lot Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the season’s unofficial start: by traveling.

After what’s already been a record-breaking summer for air travel, the Transportation Security Administration predicted its agents would screen more than 17 million people during a holiday period that started Thursday and runs through next Wednesday, about 8% more than last year.

The TSA anticipates Friday being the busiest day. In a sign the summer travel season really is winding down, however, the agency said that fewer than 2 million passengers passed through airport security checkpoints one day this week — the first time that has happened since early March.

If you plan to be part of the crowds heading out of town to enjoy one last blast of summer, here is a rundown of what you need to know.

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports on Labor Day travel.

How is holiday travel going so far?

Busy, as expected, and flight delays were common.

Airlines had canceled more than 200 U.S. flights as of late afternoon on the East Coast, a modest number by current standards. However, more than 4,500 other flights were delayed, led by Southwest and American, according to tracking service FlightAware.

Plenty of people appeared to have heeded experts’ advice to get away as early as possible on Friday.

Lines of cars and passengers appeared at Los Angeles International Airport before the sun was up. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was buzzing early but slowed by midmorning, and parking spaces were still available.

Why travel over a holiday weekend?

Boston resident Dani Fleming flew across the country to visit her son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. She got to the airport at 4:30 a.m. for her departing flight and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the lines moved both there and at San Francisco International Airport.

“The flight was easy. (I) napped for a little bit, watched movies,” Fleming said. “This was a breeze.”

Benjamin Schmeiser and his wife and 16-year-old daughter planned to fly from Chicago to San Diego to attend a concert of 1970s rock bands. It was the family’s first flight together since COVID-19 hit.

“We have been looking forward to this trip for quite some time, and I’m happy that we can get the whole family in on the trip,” Schmeiser said while waiting at O’Hare International Airport. “A lot of us are huge live music fans, and we love sports. Now that travel is open, it’s much more affordable, we’re able to travel a lot more.”

Where are the potential trouble spots?

Weather is the leading cause of flight delays. Forecasts call for rain and maybe scattered thunderstorms from Texas to New England plus parts of Florida over the weekend, spreading over more of the Southeast on Monday.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was still working to restore all services after what airport officials described as a possible cyberattack last weekend. Flights have been running normally all week, but the airport told passengers to arrive extra early and to avoid checking bags, especially on smaller airlines, because of problems with the bag-sorting system.

Michael Novick got to SeaTac 30 minutes earlier than usual and checked three bags for his American Airlines flight to Dallas on Friday. “I was a little concerned about what things might look like, but it was absolutely seamless,” he said. “It was a normal day.”

The only thing out of the ordinary: gate agents checked boarding passes manually, Novick said.

What are prices like?

Motorists are getting a break on gasoline. The nationwide average Friday was $3.35 per gallon, compared to $3.83 a year ago, according to AAA.

For electric vehicles, the average price for a kilowatt of power at an L2 commercial charging station is about 34 cents. The average is under 25 cents in Kansas and Missouri but tops 40 cents in several states, including New Hampshire, Tennessee and Kentucky. Hawaii is the costliest, at 56 cents.

Average airfares in July were down 7.1% from June and 2.8% from July 2023, according to the government’s consumer price index. Steve Hafner, CEO of the travel metasearch site Kayak, said airfares are dropping as the peak summer-vacation season ends.

When is the best time to hit the road?

Early morning or late evening. Transportation-data provider INRIX says traffic will be heaviest between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, when people head home.

When will airports be busiest?

The TSA expects to screen 2.86 million people Friday. That’s impressive, but it won’t rank among TSA’s top 15 days — 14 of which were this year. The single-day record of 3.01 million was set July 7, the Sunday after Independence Day.

TSA says it has enough screeners to keep the time it takes to get through regular lines to 30 minutes or less and to no more than 10 minutes for PreCheck lines.

American Airlines expects to operate 6,400 flights Friday, the same as Thursday, and 6,300 on Labor Day itself.

What should I do if my flight is delayed or canceled?

Check your flight’s status before leaving for the airport. It’s better to be stuck at home than stranded at the airport.

If your flight is canceled, the airline might automatically rebook you. That might not be the best option.

“Get on the phone (to the airline’s help center), get in front of an agent, reach out to the airline via social media if you have to, but find out what the other options are,” says Julian Kheel, the founder and CEO of Points Path, a browser extension that lets users compare fares with deals available using frequent-flyer points.

Kheel said agents at the airport have more leeway to help but might be overwhelmed by the number of passengers needing help. DIY rebooking on the airline website or app might be faster, he said.

Phone tip: If the airline has international help numbers, call one of those to get through more quickly.

What about refunds and reimbursement?

Airlines are required to provide refunds — including for extra fees paid — to passengers whose flights are canceled for any reason. However, they are not required to pay cash compensation, and no major U.S. airlines do. Only Alaska, Southwest and JetBlue even promise travel vouchers if the cancellation is their fault.

If you’re stuck overnight, ask the airline about paying for a hotel, meals and ground transportation. All major U.S. airlines except Frontier promise to help with all three for “controllable” disruptions, according to the Transportation Department’s airline-policy dashboard.

Keep receipts for all out-of-pocket expenses in case you can file a claim later.

A few final tips

— Leave early. Everything will take longer than you expect, including getting through airport security.

— Watch the weather. Even if skies are clear at home, there could be storms at your flight’s destination or along your road route. Have a backup route.

— Don’t check a bag. About one in every 170 checked bags was lost, damaged or stolen in May, the latest month covered by government figures.

— Be nice. “Go with the flow. You don’t need to hate on the customer-service people. They’re doing the best they can,” said Shannon Beddingfield of Texas as she prepared to board a flight to Orlando, Florida.

__

Teresa Crawford in Chicago, Mat Otero in Dallas, Haven Daley in San Francisco and Jae C. Hong in Los Angeles contributed reporting.

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August 26, 2024
August’s full Sturgeon Moon will also be a supermoon
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This month’s full moon will peak on Monday just before 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time and will be the first of the supermoons this year.
What You Need To Know

August’s full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon thanks to abundant lake sturgeon that was caught in the Great Lakes in late summer

This is the start of a string of supermoons that will commence in November

The moon will look “super-sized”
Nicknamed the Sturgeon Moon, it will appear larger and brighter than the other full moons seen thus far this year.

What’s a supermoon?

“A supermoon is when Earth’s lunar sister’s orbit is at its closest to the planet and when it is full,” explains Spectrum News’ space expert Anthony Leone.

Adding, “We don’t always get them because the moon’s orbit is more of an oval. So, when the moon is at its closest orbit to Earth, called a perigee, we get a supermoon.”

He says during this time the moon will appear brighter and look “super-sized.”

This moon is also considered a “Blue Moon,” which has nothing to do with the color. According to NASA, the third full moon that occurs in a season that has four full moons denotes the third one as a seasonal Blue Moon. A monthly Blue Moon would be the second full moon that occurs during the month.

Alternative names

According to the farmer’s almanac, names of moons corresponded with entire lunar months and were derived from Native American, Colonial American and European sources.

The full moon was dubbed the sturgeon moon thanks to the abundant native freshwater fish caught during late summer in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. These prehistoric-looking fish provided an important staple for Native Americans in that region.

There are nearly 30 species of sturgeon worldwide, including the lake sturgeon found in the Great Lakes. The sizes of these fish have evolved from the size of a bass to the size of a car. Unfortunately, due to overfishing in the 19th century, pollution and habitat damage, the lake sturgeon is rare.

Alternative moon names include Flying Up Moon, a Cree term for when young birds leave the nest. Corn Moon, Harvest Moon, Ricing Moon and Black Cherries Moon all refer to a time of maturing crops.

More supermoons?

If you can’t witness this month’s supermoon, Leone says there will be plenty more opportunities. “We will get a celestial treat this year. We will get four supermoons in a row, from August through November.”

He mentions that September’s supermoon will be extra special. “It will also fall on a partial lunar eclipse. This will give the moon a bit of a reddish color to it and that’s because of the way Earth’s atmosphere refracts light.”

Check your local forecast here to see how clouds may affect your viewing.

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 Stacy Lynn

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August 18, 2024
U.S.-Russia prisoner swap puts spotlight on Austin Tice’s captivity in Syria
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The massive prisoner swap involving the U.S. and Russia nearly two weeks ago provided closure for some American families, but a number of U.S. citizens are still being wrongly held overseas.
What You Need To Know

The massive prisoner swap involving the U.S. and Russia nearly two weeks ago puts a spotlight on the plight of Austin Tice, a freelance journalist from Houston, who was abducted in 2012 while reporting on the civil war in Syria

On Wednesday, which marked 12 years since Tice’s abduction, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and other news outlets ran ads calling on U.S. officials to do everything possible to bring Tice home and several Texas lawmakers in Congress sought to put pressure the Biden administration to prioritize Tice’s return

In a statement, President Joe Biden said he has repeatedly pressed Syria’s government to work with the U.S.

Tice’s loved ones and supporters said they rejoice when other detained Americans return home and after 12 years, they hope their family will soon be whole again
A concert Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington marked 12 years since Austin Tice, a freelance journalist from Houston, was abducted while reporting on the civil war in Syria. His family and U.S. officials believe he is still alive.

The concert featured Scotty Hasting, a rising star in country music and an Army veteran of the War in Afghanistan. Tice is a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

“There is more to be done to help a fellow veteran be able to come home, back to the U.S.,” Emily Wilkins, the 117th president of the National Press Club, told Spectrum News. “He shouldn’t be detained. He did nothing wrong, and he deserves to be with his mom, his dad and all of his siblings.”

The commemoration came nearly two weeks after the largest prisoner swap involving the U.S. and Russia since the Cold War. Three Americans and a permanent U.S. resident were among those freed from Russian detention. They are Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian American reporter with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian-U.K. citizen who was critical of the Kremlin.

Their release was the result of a lengthy, painstaking negotiation involving a half-dozen countries.

“I think to a certain extent, they give us a lot of hope to see that another journalist, two other journalists, wrongfully detained, that were able to be released. It shows the power of our government. It shows kind of what we are able to do through advocacy, through awareness,” Wilkins said.

Tice was a 31-year-old freelance reporter for the Washington Post, McClatchy News and other news outlets when he went missing in Syria in 2012. A native of Houston, he was last seen in a video released in September of that year surrounded by unidentified armed men.

On Wednesday, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and other news outlets ran ads calling on U.S. officials to do everything possible to bring Tice home.

Many Texans in Congress from both parties have been outspoken. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, told Spectrum News he spoke with Austin Tice’s father, Marc, on Wednesday morning.

Green said he had a statement from the Tice family, which reads, “We are so glad Evan, Alsu, Paul and Vladimir were released from Russia. It was one of the most complex deals in history. Brittany Griner was released in a historic deal involving multiple complicated events. The Iranian hostages were released in exchange for frozen Iranian assets. So as a family, we ask, ‘when is it Austin’s turn?’ It cannot possibly be any more complicated for him.”

Green said that the Tice family has “waited long enough” and he believes “it’s time to bring Austin home.”

“It’s a matter of will. I think the way is there for us, but we have to have the will to bring him home, as we brought others home,” Green continued.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, led more than a third of the Senate in a bipartisan letter last week urging the Biden administration to prioritize Tice’s return. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also signed on.

“As a beloved son, brother, Eagle Scout, journalist, and veteran, Austin represents the best our nation has to offer, and we are committed to working with you to return him to his loving family. As an American and a veteran, Austin deserves the full and active support of our government to secure his release. We also encourage your administration to utilize all available means to further discourage the hostage taking of American citizens,” the letter reads.

Tice has been held captive for three presidential administrations.

“We have repeatedly pressed the government of Syria to work with us so that we can, at last, bring Austin home. Today, I once again call for his immediate release. The freedom of the press is essential, and journalists like Austin play a critical role informing the public and holding those in power accountable,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.

Biden said he stands in solidarity with Tice’s family, and that he has personally met with Tice’s parents, including his mother Debra Tice. “She has always been passionate, been poised and been eager to do whatever she needs to do to get the job done,” Wilkins said. “I’m honored to be fighting alongside of her.”

Tice’s loved ones and supporters said they rejoice when other detained Americans return home and after 12 years, they hope their family will soon be whole again.
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Reena Diamante

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August 15, 2024
Ernesto becomes a hurricane north of Puerto Rico
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Ernesto has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane. It passed by Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands early Wednesday, bringing torrential rainfall and tropical storm force winds. It continues to produce widespread flash flooding across the eastern Caribbean.

Ernesto formed in the western Atlantic Ocean, becoming a tropical storm on Monday, Aug. 12, and became a hurricane on Wednesday, Aug. 14. It’s the fifth named storm and third hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
What You Need To Know

Ernesto is a hurricane

It’s moving toward Bermuda

It will continue to strengthen
Ernesto is moving northwest to the north Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with max winds of 75 mph. It’s expected to strengthen as it moves further into the western Atlantic. It could become a major hurricane as it approaches Bermuda.

Widespread, heavy rainfall could lead to more flash flooding and mudslides across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands through Wednesday morning and early afternoon. The storm has brought rough coastal conditions as well across the eastern Caribbean.

Most models have Ernesto passing near Bermuda as a hurricane Friday night into early Saturday morning.

Ernesto isn’t expected to directly impact the U.S., but large swells will reach the East Coast late this week into the weekend that will cause life-threatening surf and dangerous rip currents.

Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.

More Storm Season Resources

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 Staff

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August 14, 2024
Having bid farewell to Saban, SEC welcomes Oklahoma and Texas to the mix
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Goodbye, Nick Saban. Hello, Oklahoma and Texas.

For the first time in 17 years, Alabama’s iconic coach won’t be prowling the sidelines in the Southeastern Conference. With one longtime juggernaut headed to an ESPN gig and semi-retirement, two others enter the fray.
What You Need To Know

The Sooners and Longhorns join the powerhouse league three years after announcing their departure from the Big 12

A league that had captured four straight national titles — including two straight from Georgia — before Michigan won it all last season, is now beefed up to 16 teams

For all that, some things haven’t changed: Kirby Smart and top-ranked Georgia are loaded with talent and regarded as the team to beat. Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns bring another current force into the mix with quarterback Quinn Ewers back after leading them to the College Football Playoff
The Sooners and Longhorns join the powerhouse league three years after announcing their departure from the Big 12, and they will not have to face Saban, who won six of his major college record seven national championships with the Crimson Tide.

“I think it’s a partnership of elite with elite,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. “And, again, two programs that in the history of college football take a back seat to nobody. The SEC doesn’t take a back seat to anybody.”

A league that had captured four straight national titles — including two straight from Georgia — before Michigan won it all last season, is now beefed up to 16 teams.

For all that, some things haven’t changed: Kirby Smart and top-ranked Georgia are loaded with talent and regarded as the team to beat. Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns bring another current force into the mix with quarterback Quinn Ewers back after leading them to the College Football Playoff.

Kalen DeBoer takes over in Tuscaloosa after leading Washington to the national championship game. Saban is gone, but the talent at ‘Bama isn’t.

Mississippi and Missouri are also coming off 11-win seasons where both finished in the top 10. They return veteran quarterbacks — Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart and Missouri’s Brady Cook — and enviable playmakers at wide receiver.

Top players to watch

Carson Beck, QB, Georgia: Widely regarded as the Heisman Trophy front-runner going into the season, Beck led the SEC and ranked third nationally with 3,941 passing yards while completing 72.4% of his passes. Some of his top targets are gone, but the Bulldogs are loaded.

Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri: One of college football’s top receivers. Burden was a second-team Associated Press All-American after ranking in the top 10 nationally with 1,212 receiving yards, along with nine touchdowns and 86 catches.

Will Campbell, OL, LSU: The Tigers’ tackle has started 26 games in his first two seasons and allowed only three sacks in 1,687 snaps — all in his freshman year. The 6-foot-6, 320-pounder anchors a line that was among three finalists for the Joe Moore Award.

Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas: Ewers gives the league another experienced, talented passer and a potential Heisman candidate. He has 22 starts under his belt with 5,656 passing yards and 37 passing touchdowns.

Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama: A big-play threat running and passing, Milroe overcame a rocky start to emerge as one of the SEC’s top QBs. He even wound up sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

James Pearce Jr., LB, Tennessee: Emerged as a pass rushing force last season despite starting only three games. The 6-foot-5, 243-pounder tied for the SEC lead with 10 sacks and his 14-1/2 tackles for loss ranked second.

Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU: The 2022 first-team All-SEC pick has 26 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in 27 career games.

Malaki Starks, DB, Georgia: A star on the Bulldogs’ loaded defense, Starks was a first-team AP All-American last season. He was also a finalist for two national awards.

Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma: The two-year starter returns for his senior season with 267 career tackles, 28 of them going for a loss.

New faces

There isn’t a more compelling new face in college football than DeBoer, who has a gaudy 104-12 record in nine seasons as a head coach at various levels.

Mike Elko takes over at Texas A&M after a stint at Duke. Former Oklahoma and Mississippi offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby is the new head man at Mississippi State.

New coordinators abound across the league, but none more intriguing than Bobby Petrino. He takes over Sam Pittman’s offense at Arkansas, where he once reigned as head coach before getting fired in 2012 amid an off-field scandal.

On the hot seat

Pittman’s precarious job situation makes Petrino’s presence potentially both more vital. The Razorbacks managed only one league win and went 4-8 last season.

Florida coach Billy Napier also may need to make significant strides after going 11-14 in his first two seasons. He faces a closing stretch against Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State but did sign five-star quarterback DJ Lagway.

Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea is taking over as his own defensive coordinator after going 0-8 in SEC games last season.

Games to watch

Aug. 31, Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta); Sep. 7, Texas at Michigan; Sep. 21, Tennessee at Oklahoma; Sep. 28, Georgia at Alabama; Oct. 12, Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas); Oct. 19, Georgia at Texas; Oct. 28, Missouri at Alabama; Nov. 9, Georgia at Ole Miss; Nov. 23, Alabama at Oklahoma; Nov. 30, Texas at Texas A&M; Auburn at Alabama, Florida at Florida State.
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Associated Press

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August 14, 2024
U.S. women on cusp of record 8th consecutive gold medal in basketball
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PARIS (AP) — The U.S. women’s basketball team isn’t focused on its record Olympic winning streak or the history the team would make with one more victory.
What You Need To Know

With a victory on Sunday, the U.S. women’s legacy would stretch to 61 consecutive wins in Olympic contests and a record eight straight gold medals

A victory would give Diana Taurasi a sixth consecutive gold medal, making her the most decorated basketball player in Olympic history, breaking a tie with longtime teammate Sue Bird, who won five

Standing in the way is a French team that will be spurred on by a loud, energetic crowd. The game will be a rematch from the 2012 London Olympics, which the U.S. won by 36 points

Sunday’s game will cap off a weekend in which France and the U.S. play for both the men’s and women’s gold medal. It’s the first time that’s happened in Olympic history
The Americans are simply concentrating on beating France and winning the gold medal at the Paris Games on Sunday.

“The winning streak doesn’t mean a lot. But to win it all, it means the world to me,” star A’ja Wilson said. “I can’t really pay attention to a lot of streaks. I feel like that’s just added-on pressure. But to come here and keep the main thing the main thing and winning it, it’s something that going to mean the world to me. To continue to be a part of the legacy, the journey that this team, to wear this jersey and others that have here before me, is awesome. So, it’s going to mean a lot for us.”

With a victory on Sunday, the U.S. women’s legacy would stretch to 61 consecutive wins in Olympic contests and a record eight straight gold medals. That would break a tie with the U.S. men’s program that won seven in a row from 1936-68.

A victory would give Diana Taurasi a sixth consecutive gold medal, making her the most decorated basketball player in Olympic history, breaking a tie with longtime teammate Sue Bird, who won five.

Taurasi has been humble about the potential record, saying she cares more about the team winning than her individual success. It’s been a trying Olympics for her as she hasn’t started the last two games, the first time she wasn’t in the opening lineup since the 2004 Olympics.

Standing in the way is a French team that will be spurred on by a loud, energetic crowd. The game will be a rematch from the 2012 London Olympics, which the U.S. won by 36 points.

“I think it will be an incredible atmosphere. I think that when you play the host country in their country, you expect it to be off the chain,” U.S. wing Breanna Stewart said. “Obviously in Tokyo we played Japan, but there was no spectators. And you want that, you want that loud excitement.”

The Americans have put together strong halves and quarters but still haven’t played a great 40 minutes. That’s been good enough to run through the Olympics so far, with no team able to come within single digits of them.

The French players know they have a tall task in front of them to capture the country’s first gold medal and pull off the monumental upset.

“You have to believe if you want to do something special,” French wing Gabby Williams said. “What I love is, is our connection between us and our belief in each other. And if anything’s going to bring us gold, it’s going to be that.”

French guard Marine Johannes knows who’s on the other team.

“All the best players in the world. But like I said earlier, we have nothing to lose,” she said. “We are going to play hard.”

Sunday’s game will cap off a weekend in which France and the U.S. play for both the men’s and women’s gold medal. It’s the first time that’s happened in Olympic history.
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Associated Press

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August 10, 2024
The Perseid meteor shower peaks late this weekend
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One of the best meteor showers of the year peaks late this weekend into early next week.
What You Need To Know

The Perseid meteor shower has up to 100 meteors per hour

The best time for viewing will fall between midnight and dawn

This meteor shower comes from the debris of Comet Swift-Tuttle
The Perseid meteor shower peaks Sunday night into Monday, but you can catch them the rest of this weekend and even into early next week. While you can spot meteors zooming across the sky after dark, your best opportunity will be after midnight.

As the night goes on, the constellation Perseus–where the meteors appear to originate–will rise higher in the northeast sky. However, you can look anywhere overhead, not just in that direction.

The good news is that the moon won’t be full yet, meaning the light won’t wash out the meteors.

In ideal conditions, this show produces 50 to 100 meteors per hour, or about one or two every minute. Go find a dark place away from city lights and let your eyes adjust to the darkness for at least 15 minutes.

The Perseids produce long, bright trails, making it one of the more visual annual showers.

You might be inclined to photograph these spectacles of light. Like in May, when the northern lights were visible, the best way to capture space phenomena is using a DSLR camera on timer and low exposure.

If opting for your smartphone, it’s best to put it on a tripod or stable platform. Go to settings and use long exposure or night mode.

In this long exposure photo, a streak appears in the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower in 2016. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

We see the Perseids in the late summer as the Earth passes through the dust and debris that Comet Swift-Tuttle leaves behind. The “shooting stars” actually come from grains that are about the size of Grape Nuts, according to Sky & Telescope, that burn in the atmosphere as they zip by at over 130,000 miles per hour.

The nuggets of Grape Nuts cereal are a good approximation of the cometary dust grains that create meteor showers. (Courtesy of Sky & Telescope)

Hopefully clouds don’t get in your way! Check your local forecast here. But if clear skies aren’t in the cards Saturday night, don’t worry. That’s when they should be most active, but the Perseids don’t suddenly start and stop; you can try looking any time around the peak.

This isn’t the last meteor shower of the year. See the others coming up, along with other night sights, right here.

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 Stacy Lynn

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August 7, 2024
Fiji Airways Will Launch Direct Service Between Fiji and Dallas in December

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Fiji Airways Direct Service to Dallas

Fiji Airways announced on Tuesday its first ever non-stop flights between Nadi, Fiji, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas. There’s also a promotion with airfare starting from $699 roundtrip.

The new non-stop 13-hour service will operate three times per week every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Fiji Airways will service this route with its Airbus A350-900 XWB aircraft. It features 301 economy class seats and 33 business class lie-flat, all aisle access seats. The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart on December 10, 2024.

Speaking on the new route, Fiji Airways Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Andre Viljoen said “Introducing a direct service between Fiji and Dallas is a really exciting milestone for Fiji Airways, as we continue to increase Fiji’s connectivity with the United States and beyond offering our guests more convenient travel options.”

The new service to Dallas will complement various other initiatives announced by the airline recently, including its plans to join the American Airlines’ AAdvantage® loyalty program in the coming year and becoming the 15th full-member of the oneworld alliance in 2025.

To celebrate the announcement, Fiji Airways has launched special introductory return airfares from selected points in Texas to Nadi, Fiji, starting from just $699. The airline has also launched airfares from Dallas to Fiji Airways points in Australia and New Zealand starting from $899.

Fares are now available for purchase on the Fiji Airways website at fijiairways.com or via your preferred travel agent. Sale ends 14, August 2024.

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DDG

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August 7, 2024
Tropical Storm Debby bringing heavy rainfall
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Debby has weakened into a tropical storm again as it continues to push inland over the Florida Panhandle. Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Fla., early on Monday, Aug. 5 as a Category 1 hurricane. It will continue to move inland in the Southeast U.S.

Debby strengthened into the second hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. It formed into a tropical storm on Saturday, Aug. 3, and became a hurricane on Sunday, Aug. 4. Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
What You Need To Know

Debby is a tropical storm

It made landfall near Steinhatchee, Fla. on Monday, Aug. 5, as a Category 1 hurricane

It’s forecast to stall out and bring heavy rainfall to the Southeast U.S.
Debby is weakening as it pushes inland. It’s a tropical storm with max winds of 50 mph and is slowly moving northeast. It moved inland along Florida’s Big Bend coast near Steinhatchee and made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane with max winds of 80 mph early on Monday morning.

The track of Debby has it moving across the northern Sunshine State, then moving back over the Atlantic where it will scrape the southeastern coast. It looks to stall along the Southeast coast for several days, bringing inches to possibly feet of rain to the region.

Tropical Storm Warning
- St. Augustine, Florida to South Santee River South Carolina
Storm Surge Warning
- Georgia and South Carolina coast from the Mouth of the St. Mary’s River to South Santee River South Carolina
Debby looks to cross the northern part of Florida and eventually it will slow down to a crawl. This would bring days of rain to the coastal Southeast for areas from Savannah to Charleston.

Areas of flash flooding are possible through the week. The highest rainfall totals will be in parts of coastal Georgia and South Carolina, where significant flooding is expected.

There is a high risk of excessive rainfall for the next three days.

Rainfall totals will climb up to 12 to 15 inches this week with locally higher totals possible

Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.

More Storm Season Resources

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 Staff

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August 5, 2024
Simone Biles captures her seventh Olympic gold medal
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PARIS (AP) — Simone Biles earned her seventh Olympic gold medal by soaring to victory in the women’s vault final at the Paris Games on Saturday.
What You Need To Know

Simone Biles averaged 15.300 for her signature Yurchenko double pike and Cheng vaults to claim a second gold on the event

The 27-year-old is the second woman to win vault twice, joining Vera Casalavska of Czechoslovakia as a two-time gold medalist on the vault

She now has 10 Olympic medals in her career, tied for the third most by a female gymnast

Biles will have two more chances to boost her medal haul in Paris. She will compete in the balance beam and floor exercise finals on Monday
The 27-year-old Biles averaged 15.300 for her signature Yurchenko double pike and Cheng vaults to claim a second gold on the event eight years after she triumphed in Rio de Janeiro.

Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, who finished runner-up to Biles in the all-around final on Thursday, took silver, just ahead of American Jade Carey, who captured the bronze.

Biles is the second woman to win vault twice, joining Vera Casalavska of Czechoslovakia as a two-time gold medalist on the vault. Casalavska went back to back in 1964 and 1968. Biles now has 10 Olympic medals in her career, tied for the third most by a female gymnast. She also boosted her medal count at major international competitions to 40, the most by any gymnast.

The crowd inside a packed Bercy Arena roared when Biles was introduced. Wearing a sequined red leotard, she delivered another show-stopping performance in what could be the last vault competition of her life.

She drilled her Yurchenko double pike, exploding off the block and then flipping backward twice with her hands clasped behind her knees. She landed with a big bounce — a nod to the energy she generates — with her right foot on the out-of-bounds line.

The judges dinged her a tenth of a point for that. It hardly mattered. Her score of 15.700 meant she merely needed to avoid disaster on her second vault to win. Instead, she almost stuck her Cheng, which requires a roundoff onto the springboard, then a half twist onto the block followed by 1 1/2 twists while doing a forward somersault.

The ensuing 14.900 meant the rest of the eight-woman field was going for second.

Andrade, the vault champion in Tokyo, put together two excellent vaults to claim silver and her third medal of the Games after a silver in the all-around and a bronze in the team final. Andrade’s average of 14.966 was well clear of everyone else.

Carey, who slipped during the women’s vault final in Tokyo and finished eighth, earned her third Olympic medal to go with the floor exercise gold she won in Tokyo and the team gold she captured with Biles on Tuesday.

Biles will have two more chances to boost her medal haul in Paris. She will compete in the balance beam and floor exercise finals on Monday.

Yulo wins for the Philippines

Carlos Yulo won the second Olympic gold medal ever for the Philippines, edging defending champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel in the men’s floor exercise finals.

The 24-year-old Yulo scored 15.000, just ahead of Dolgopyat, the defending champion at 14.966. Jake Jarman of Britain claimed the bronze with a 14.933.

Yulo stuck his triple-twisting dismount during his final tumbling pass. He stuck his arms out and roared inside a packed Bercy Arena before walking off the podium.

Yulo joins weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz as Olympic gold medalists from the Philippines. Diaz earned gold in the women’s 55-kilogram division in Tokyo three years ago.

The men’s pommel horse final is also later Saturday. American Stephen Nedoroscik and Rhys McClenaghan of Ireland tied for the top score in qualifying.
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Associated Press

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August 3, 2024
Simone Biles captures her seventh Olympic gold medal
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PARIS (AP) — Simone Biles earned her seventh Olympic gold medal by soaring to victory in the women’s vault final at the Paris Games on Saturday.
What You Need To Know

Simone Biles averaged 15.300 for her signature Yurchenko double pike and Cheng vaults to claim a second gold on the event

The 27-year-old is the second woman to win vault twice, joining Vera Casalavska of Czechoslovakia as a two-time gold medalist on the vault

She now has 10 Olympic medals in her career, tied for the third most by a female gymnast

Biles will have two more chances to boost her medal haul in Paris. She will compete in the balance beam and floor exercise finals on Monday
The 27-year-old Biles averaged 15.300 for her signature Yurchenko double pike and Cheng vaults to claim a second gold on the event eight years after she triumphed in Rio de Janeiro.

Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, who finished runner-up to Biles in the all-around final on Thursday, took silver, just ahead of American Jade Carey, who captured the bronze.

Biles is the second woman to win vault twice, joining Vera Casalavska of Czechoslovakia as a two-time gold medalist on the vault. Casalavska went back to back in 1964 and 1968. Biles now has 10 Olympic medals in her career, tied for the third most by a female gymnast. She also boosted her medal count at major international competitions to 40, the most by any gymnast.

The crowd inside a packed Bercy Arena roared when Biles was introduced. Wearing a sequined red leotard, she delivered another show-stopping performance in what could be the last vault competition of her life.

She drilled her Yurchenko double pike, exploding off the block and then flipping backward twice with her hands clasped behind her knees. She landed with a big bounce — a nod to the energy she generates — with her right foot on the out-of-bounds line.

The judges dinged her a tenth of a point for that. It hardly mattered. Her score of 15.700 meant she merely needed to avoid disaster on her second vault to win. Instead, she almost stuck her Cheng, which requires a roundoff onto the springboard, then a half twist onto the block followed by 1 1/2 twists while doing a forward somersault.

The ensuing 14.900 meant the rest of the eight-woman field was going for second.

Andrade, the vault champion in Tokyo, put together two excellent vaults to claim silver and her third medal of the Games after a silver in the all-around and a bronze in the team final. Andrade’s average of 14.966 was well clear of everyone else.

Carey, who slipped during the women’s vault final in Tokyo and finished eighth, earned her third Olympic medal to go with the floor exercise gold she won in Tokyo and the team gold she captured with Biles on Tuesday.

Biles will have two more chances to boost her medal haul in Paris. She will compete in the balance beam and floor exercise finals on Monday.

Yulo wins for the Philippines

Carlos Yulo won the second Olympic gold medal ever for the Philippines, edging defending champion Artem Dolgopyat of Israel in the men’s floor exercise finals.

The 24-year-old Yulo scored 15.000, just ahead of Dolgopyat, the defending champion at 14.966. Jake Jarman of Britain claimed the bronze with a 14.933.

Yulo stuck his triple-twisting dismount during his final tumbling pass. He stuck his arms out and roared inside a packed Bercy Arena before walking off the podium.

Yulo joins weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz as Olympic gold medalists from the Philippines. Diaz earned gold in the women’s 55-kilogram division in Tokyo three years ago.

The men’s pommel horse final is also later Saturday. American Stephen Nedoroscik and Rhys McClenaghan of Ireland tied for the top score in qualifying.
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Associated Press

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August 3, 2024
Top 100 Dallas Bars: Best Bar Food

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Now that our Top 100 Bars list has been updated for 2024, it’s given us a little time to reflect (and, possibly, sober up). And as we look at all the bars we’ve listed, we thought it would be a good idea to create some subsets of the full list around specific themes…

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Chris Wolfgang

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August 1, 2024
The bioluminescent beetles and how we can protect them
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It’s summer, and you might spend your days at the pool, or hiking on the trails, but popular nighttime activities include catching those glowing beetles. Whether you refer to them as fireflies or lightning bugs, the glow of these insects becomes magical.
What You Need To Know

Lightning bugs and fireflies are the same beetle, just have different names depending on your location

The biggest threat to the beetles right now is habitat loss

Lightning bugs (fireflies) are flying, bioluminescent insects
The ideal weather for these beetles is warm and humid. Unlike most humans, they thrive under these conditions. That’s why summer is when they are present.

Bioluminescence

“Fireflies use a trick called bioluminescence to create their amazing light,” says Dan Zarlenga, with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).

The insects contain an enzyme called luciferase, which produces light, yet very little heat. The glow we see, he adds, “is similar to the chemical reactions much like we see in glow sticks.”

Remi Lynn holds a lightning bug on a warm summer night. (Spectrum News/Stacy Lynn)

Is it a firefly or lightning bug?

One could guess how they got their name, but why do some refer to them as fireflies and others say they are lightning bugs? “Lightning bug and firefly are just different popular names for the same type of insect,” says Zarlenga. But the naming convention comes down to location.

About ten years ago, Joshua Katz, then a PhD candidate from the NC State Department of Statistics, mapped out results from a survey he created on the name of these insects. The results showed nearly 40% of participants used the terms firefly and lightning bug interchangeably, whereas around 30% only referred to them as lightning bugs and the other 30% only considered them fireflies.

Based on his map, areas to the west of the Rockies are more likely to call them fireflies, whereas the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and South are more inclined to refer to them as lightning bugs. New England, Florida and Texas use the terms interchangeably.

Small but mighty

You can find beetles in less developed areas, like forests or meadows or even your backyard, anywhere that contains wood or leaf litter. “The females lay their eggs late summer in wet soil, rotting wood and damp leaf litter,” explains Zarlenga.

The larvae, known as glowworms, live in this damp environment. The worms may be wingless, but he says these larvae are “voracious predators with jaws containing toxins to overpower snails, slugs and other prey.”

Once they reach the mature or adult stage, usually in late spring, they can fly. However, they only last for approximately two months. The light they emit is a means of communication, especially for mating.

When done mating, some females will flash their light for their next meal. They will attract additional males to consume.

Habitat loss

These beetles thrive in warm weather with minimal light pollution. What is threatening their population is habitat loss, says Zarlenga. “Such as paving over fields and forests where they live and the use of pesticides and herbicides, which hurt their numbers by killing them too.”

Excess light pollution isn’t good for lightning bugs either. “It confuses and disrupts their flashes used in communication and mating activities,” he adds.

He says to help the fireflies, “We urge people to limit or avoid the use of these chemicals in their yards, leave some leaf litter and portions of tall grass as habitat, and reduce the use of artificial light.”

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 Stacy Lynn

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July 31, 2024
Simone Biles to compete in all 4 events at Olympic team finals
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PARIS (AP) — A calf injury isn’t going to slow down Simone Biles.
What You Need To Know

Simone Biles will still compete in all four events of the Olympic team finals despite a calf injury

The American gymnastics star tweaked her left calf while warming up for floor exercise on Sunday

Jordan Chiles, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade and 2020 Olympic champion Sunisa Lee, will also compete in all four events

The Americans are heavily favored to win gold after finishing runner-up to Russia in Tokyo three years ago
The American gymnastics star is in the lineup for all four events during Tuesday night’s Olympic team finals.

Biles tweaked her left calf while warming up for floor exercise during qualifying on Sunday. She retreated briefly to have the calf taped but then returned and posted the top scores on floor and vault on her way to topping the all-around.

Last week, U.S. team leaders had considered holding Biles out of the uneven bars in team finals to give her a small break during the Games. Instead, Biles will be part of every event during the finals, when three gymnasts compete and all three scores count. Her husband, Jonathan Owens, is expected to be there.

The Americans are heavily favored to win gold after finishing runner-up to Russia in Tokyo three years ago.

Biles will go last for the U.S. on three events — vault, floor exercise and balance beam — and will be up second on uneven bars.

Jordan Chiles, who finished fourth in the all-around during qualifying behind Biles, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade and 2020 Olympic champion Sunisa Lee, will also compete on all four events.

Chiles, part of the silver medal-winning U.S. team three years ago, will lead off on vault, bars and balance beam and go second behind Lee on floor exercise.

Lee will be the third American on uneven bars, her signature event. She will be second on beam and first on floor exercise.

The only unexpected tweak to the lineup is on floor, where 2020 Olympic floor exercise champion Jade Carey will sit. Carey, who will vault, struggled on floor during qualifying and said afterward she is dealing with an illness.

Hezly Rivera, at 16 the youngest member of the five-woman team, is not scheduled to compete. Rivera was part of the lineup on bars and beam during qualifying, though her scores on each event were dropped from the team total.
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Associated Press

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July 29, 2024
Princess Leia bikini costume from set of ‘Star Wars’ movie sells at auction for $175K

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HOUSTON (AP) — The gold bikini-style costume that Carrie Fisher wore as Princess Leia while making “Return of the Jedi” in the “Star Wars” franchise has sold for $175,000, according to the auction house that handled the sale.

The costume was made famous when Fisher wore it at the start of the 1983 film when Leia was captured by Jabba the Hutt at his palace on Tatooine and forced to be a slave.

The costume, one of the most memorable in the “ Star Wars ” movies, was sold on Friday by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions.

Joe Maddalena, Heritage’s executive vice president, said the costume that was sold was one that was screen tested and worn by Fisher on the movie’s set but ultimately did not make it onto the final version of the film as it was switched out for one that was more comfortable.

The auction house said the costume sparked a bidding war among collectors.

Maddalena said he wasn’t surprised by the attention bidders gave to the costume as well as to a model of a Y-wing fighter that took on the Death Star in the original “Star Wars” film that sold for $1.55 million. He said “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” have very avid fan bases.

“The power of ‘Star Wars’ proves itself again. These movies are just so impactful,” Maddalena said.

In a November 2016 interview with NPR’s “Fresh Air,” Fisher said wearing the costume was not her choice.

“When (director George Lucas) showed me the outfit, I thought he was kidding and it made me very nervous. I had to sit very straight because I couldn’t have lines on my sides, like little creases. No creases were allowed, so I had to sit very, very rigid straight,” said Fisher, who died about a month after the interview.

Richard Miller, who created the costume, said in an interview that’s included in a “Star Wars” box set that he used soft material to build the costume so that Fisher could move around more freely.

“However, she still didn’t like it. I don’t blame her,” said Miller, who was the chief sculptor for Industrial Light & Magic, the visual effects company founded by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas. “I did put leather on the back of it to help it feel better.”

The costume had its share of critics, who thought it sexualized Fisher for the franchise’s male fan base.

In “Interview” magazine in 2015, Fisher told actor Daisy Ridley, who starred in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “You’re going to have people have fantasies about you. That will make you uncomfortable, I’m guessing.” She pushed back against the idea of being a sex symbol and told Ridley to “fight for your outfit.”

___

Follow Juan A. Lozano on X: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70

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July 29, 2024
VP Kamala Harris to attend the funeral service of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

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HOUSTON — Vice President Kamala Harris will return to the Houston area Thursday to attend the funeral service of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.

This will be the vice president’s third trip to the Lone Star State in the last month.

Funeral services will take place on Thursday at Fallbrook Church in Houston, starting at 11 a.m. According to the congresswoman’s office, pre-registration might be necessary for this service.

Jackson Lee passed away on July 19 at the age of 74.

After Jackson Lee passed, Harris called her “a tenacious advocate for justice and a tireless fighter for the people of Houston and the people of America.”

Vice President Harris visited Houston’s Emergency Operations Center on Wednesday to receive a briefing on the recovery efforts after Hurricane Beryl. On Thursday she spoke at the American Federation of Teachers’ 88th national convention.

With a career spanning almost 30 years, many notable political figures are expected to attend the former congresswoman’s funeral service.

President Joe Biden will travel to Houston on Monday to pay his respects, according to a statement from the White House.

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Kelsey Leffingwell

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July 28, 2024
Serious Eats, of Serious Pizza, To Open at Food Hall in Grand Prairie

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Serious Pizza is known in Deep Ellum as a grungy, late-night pizza spot feeding XXL slices pizza to ravenous post-concert crowds. Before the pandemic, local hospitality group Milkshake Concepts bought the spot and cleaned it up a bit, giving it an almost Gap-like sheen and clean mass appeal…

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Lauren Drewes Daniels

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July 26, 2024
Here’s why standing near a tree during a storm is dangerous
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Seven people have been killed in the U.S. this year by lightning and two of them have been in Florida.

Based on the past 10 years, the U.S. averages 12 lightning deaths through July 22.
What You Need To Know

Seven people have been killed in the U.S. in 2024 by lightning and two of them have been in Florida

Some of the deaths happened when people were under or near a tree

Ground current affects a larger area than the strike itself
A 19-year-old man was struck and killed Sunday, June 30 in Davie, Florida, while walking in a park. He was under a tree when the lightning struck.

Florida leads the nation in lightning deaths, now with 90 since 2006, including the two this year.

Both Florida lightning fatalities this year were related to walking in parks. The National Lightning Safety Council offers these tips to people planning to go out for a walk.

http://lightningsafetycouncil.org/Graphics/Tips-For-Walkers-And-Runners.png

Being under a tree is one of the leading causes of lightning casualties. But why is being under–or even near–a tree so dangerous?

When lightning strikes a tree, the energy travels out along the ground’s surface. The ground current affects a larger area and can lead to multiple injuries or deaths.

John Jensenius with the National Lightning Safety Council says the most recent multi-fatality incidents all have one feature in common: trees.

When it rains, don’t seek shelter under a tree. Find a building or a hard-topped vehicle and don’t wait until the last minute to seek shelter. Lightning can strike more than 10 miles away from a thunderstorm.

If you can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck by lightning, even if it’s not raining where you are.

Remember: “When thunder roars, go indoors!”

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 Juli Marquez

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July 26, 2024