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Extensive winter rain likely to heighten wildfire risk in California

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:33 GMT

(KSWB) – While relentless precipitation across California has eased some of the state’s most concerning environmental conditions, the risk of wildfires along the western coast is likely to increase for residents moving into the dry season.Because of the recent storms, much of the vegetation that had stunted growth over the last few years due to extreme drought has been replenished, but according to experts, this flush could become the perfect tinder for fast-moving wildfires as the plants dry out in the months ahead."When you build up your vegetation to those levels, the fire risk goes up. Just logically, there's more to burn," said Dr. Chris Potter, an ecologist with the Earth Sciences Division at NASA’s Ames Research Center. "That's sort of the downside for our wet years." When will it stop raining in California? Here’s what meteorologists are saying Satellite imaging from NASA's Landsat Program indicates that the state's vegetation cover has recuperated from lows in growth last...

How Iran Won the U.S. War in Iraq

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:33 GMT

In January 2015, as Islamic State militants were waging an offensive across Iraq and Syria, an Iranian intelligence officer known among his colleagues by the code name Boroujerdi sat down for a meeting with an important official: then-Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.The meeting, held at Abadi’s office in Iraq’s presidential palace in Baghdad, took place “without the presence of a secretary or a third person,” according to a report about the discussion contained in a leaked archive of cables from Iran’s shadowy Ministry of Intelligence and Security.Abadi was a member of Iraq’s exiled political class, mostly Shia, who had returned to take power following the U.S. invasion. The two men discussed a range of topics, including the threat of ISIS to the Iraqi state, the role of foreign powers like Turkey and Saudi Arabia in the region, and, finally, the position of the West. On at least one point, they agreed: Despite the threat of ISIS and other regional powers, the political conditi...

The bitcoin bounce: what comes next?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:33 GMT

Markets this year are roiling, uncertainty abounds and the U.S. government has had to step in to rescue two large American banks in recent days. So why is bitcoin, considered among the riskiest bets of them all, rising so fast? Just months ago, all forms of cryptocurrency appeared to be going up in flames, with bitcoin plunging from almost $50,000 at the start of 2022, to less than $17,000 when 2023 rolled around.Bitcoin has since soared more than 60% and it climbed another 8% Friday above $27,000, all in an era of mass layoffs in the tech sector and widespread anxiety about stability in the U.S. banking sector. So what happened? The pandemic was an era of massive growth for both technology companies and crypto. That surge began to wane in late 2021 as people began to travel, go out to restaurants or catch a show. They spent much less time in front of screens and at the same time, the government stimulus checks that allowed people some financial cushion began to run out. Crypto bega...

AP source: Seahawks reach deals with Julian Love, Devin Bush

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:33 GMT

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks continued the overhaul of their defense on Friday by reaching agreement on a two-year deal with versatile safety Julian Love, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Love’s agreement is worth up to $12 million and came after Seattle announced the signing of former first-round linebacker Devin Bush to a one-year deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the team had not announced Love’s signing. Love’s addition continues Seattle’s spending at the safety position having already heavily invested in Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs and the likelihood of a deal in the future for Ryan Neal.Love, who turns 25 on Sunday, started 16 games last season for the New York Giants and recorded career highs in tackles and interceptions. Love played a variety of defensive back positions for the Giants before settling in at safety last season and thriving in the role. Bush’s signing c...

States opt against changes to embattled voter roll system

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:33 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Election officials from states enrolled in a bipartisan effort to ensure accurate voter lists decided Friday against making changes to the rules that had been pushed by Republicans, some of whom had already decided to leave the system after it was targeted by conspiracy theories tied to the 2020 election. The Electronic Registration Information Center, known as ERIC, has a record of combating voter fraud by identifying those who have died or moved between states. Yet it also has drawn suspicion among conservatives after a series of online stories last year questioning its funding and purpose.Earlier this month, Republican election officials from Florida, Missouri and West Virginia said they planned to withdraw from the group, joining Louisiana and Alabama. Former President Donald Trump, on social media, has called on every Republican-led state to leave, characterizing it as a “terrible Voter Registration System that ’pumps the rolls’ for Democrats and does...

Michigan State muscles past USC 72-62 in March Madness

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:33 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Joey Hauser scored 17 points and No. 7 seed Michigan State clamped down defensively on No. 10 seed Southern California in the second half on Thursday for a 72-62 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament’s East Region.Coach Tom Izzo’s Spartans (20-12) will face the winner of the Vermont-Marquette matchup on Sunday for a spot in the Sweet 16. Marquette coach Shaka Smart sat on press row for part of the second half to get a closer look at what could be his next opponent.Smart watched as Michigan State ramped up its defensive intensity after halftime to muzzle the streaky Trojans (22-11), who were knocked out in the tournament’s first round for the second straight year.Tyson Walker and Jaden Akins added 12 points apiece for Michigan State, which held USC to 34% shooting in the second half. It felt like every possession was a challenge for the Trojans, who only stayed within range with some late 3-pointers and some atrocious free-throw shootin...

Washington State’s March Madness soundtrack? Shania Twain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:33 GMT

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Man, the Washington State women’s basketball team has felt like big winners since they adopted Shania Twain’s monster 1997 hit “Man, I Feel Like A Woman” as the their theme song on their run into March Madness.The Cougars sing Twain’s song in the locker room before games. And after they unexpectedly won the Pac-12 Tournament title, the opening riff blared on the speakers and the team about drowned out Twain, gleefully singing along about men’s shirts, short skirts — and becoming the lowest-seeded team to ever win the conference tourney.“We truly are a team of karaoke,” forward Ula Motuga said Friday. “The bus ride, there’s no doubt someone’s got a speaker going and then other people will sing along. Some can sing, some cannot. But it’s fun. It’s something that bring us together.”Motuga, who’s from Australia, has even used the opening line, “let’s go, girls” as a team anthem. Twain, on tour and unavailable for comment, has become a fan. T...

South Florida women rally to beat Marquette 67-65 in OT

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:33 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu scored 22 points and Elena Tsineke’s jumper with 31.2 seconds left in overtime put South Florida ahead for good in a 67-65 victory over No. 9 seed Marquette to start the women’s NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Golden Eagles (22-11) had a final look to win, but Mackenzie Hare’s 3-pointer went inside the rim and rolled out with a second to play. The Bulls (27-6), who didn’t lead for the game’s first 38 minutes, rallied several times including from 47-36 down in regulation to tie their mark for wins in a season.Breaking the record this year won’t be so easy as South Florida is likely to face the No. 1 overall seed and defending champion South Carolina, undefeated on the year and a huge favorite to advance over No. 16 seed Norfolk State in the Columbia pod’s late game.The Bulls appeared to have the game won at the end of the fourth quarter, ahead 59-55 after Tsineke’s 3-pointer with 31.7 to play. But ...

K-9 detects 13 pounds of fentanyl pills, 128 grams of cocaine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:33 GMT

EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) -- Several pounds of illegal fentanyl pills and 128 grams of cocaine were seized during a traffic stop near the town of Gypsum last week, the Eagle County Sheriff's Office said in a release. The Gore Range Narcotics Interdiction Team pulled over a car traveling eastbound on Interstate 70 for traffic violations on the morning of March 8. The Sheriff's Office said "indicators of further criminal activity were observed," at which point a K-9 was brought in to investigate the vehicle. $800K worth of cocaine seized in Summit County The K-9 alerted its handler to the driver's side door where 128 grams of cocaine were found in a backpack. Thirteen pounds of M30 fentanyl pills were also found in the spare tire compartment, the Sheriff's Office said. Thirteen pounds of fentanyl pills and 128 grams of cocaine were seized in a traffic stop in Interstate 70 near Gypsum (Photo credit: Eagle County Sheriff's Office)Thirteen pounds of M30 fentanyl pills were seized in...

Did you see the sun pillar light up the sky?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:33 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you were looking up at the sky during sunrise on Friday morning and noticed a ray of light shooting up from the sunrise, you were not alone.Several viewers shared with FOX31 that they saw the pillar of light in the sky. 10 breathtaking spring hikes to take in Colorado Here are some of the photos we received:Sun pillar on March 17, 2023 (Gil Ochoa)Sun pillar on March 17, 2023 (Gil Ochoa)Sun pillar March 17,2023 (Tim Deger)What is a sun pillar?The National Weather Service said that a sun pillar can appear as a shaft of light extending vertically above the sun, most often at sunrise or sundown."They develop as a result of ice crystals slowly falling through the air, reflecting the sun’s rays off of them," the NWS said.If you are hoping to spot one on another day, the NWS said to look to the horizon when the sun is low and cirrus clouds are present. Cirrus clouds are the thin, wispy clouds.