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How 'burn scars' could create disaster during monsoon season in Southern California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:19 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Monsoon season began in the Southern California this week and the National Weather Service is bringing awareness to the possible impacts of debris flows in the region.As the seasons shift, monsoon weather patterns are more likely to occur. When it comes to areas in the US Southwest, monsoonal flow draws in warm, moist air from Mexico that then produces periodical thunderstorms from mid-June until the end of September.NWS says these weather events can cause bouts of heavy rain that then creates flash flooding. In areas that have "burns scars," or terrain with scorched soil and vegetation caused by wildfires, this flooding can bring notorious debris flows. Monsoon Season begins in Southern California The burned soil can be as water repellant as pavement, according to NWS, so chaos could occur during periods of high intensity, short duration rainfall. This is especially true for steep sloped area with "burn scars." Under the influence of gravity, NWS says masses of left...

Collapsed stretch of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia to reopen within 2 weeks, governor says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:19 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The collapsed stretch of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia will reopen within two weeks, Pennsylvania’s governor said Saturday, after joining President Joe Biden on a helicopter tour over the critical stretch of highway closed to East Coast traffic since last weekend.“We are getting it done here in Philly,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a briefing at Philadelphia International Airport after the flyover that included members of Congress and the city’s mayor.Biden outlined the substantial initial federal commitment and longer term support for a permanent fix for the vital roadway. “I know how important this stretch of highway is” to Philadelphia and the Northeast Corridor, he said. “Over 150,000 vehicles travel on it every day, including 14,000 trucks. … It’s critical to our economy and it’s critical to our quality of life.’’Shapiro, offering a timeline that would be welcome news to commuters and long-haul truckers alike, said with Biden at his side...

Highway safety agency reports power problems in 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUVs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:19 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Multiple U.S. owners of Hyundai’s popular Ioniq 5 electric SUV have complained of completely or partially losing propulsive power, many after hearing a loud popping noise, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Saturday.The agency said in a notice posted online that it received 30 complaints about the problem in 2022 models, of which it estimated 39,500 were on U.S. highways.The Office of Defects Investigation at the NHTSA has opened a preliminary investigation and says Hyundai indicated in an initial review that a power surge was damaging transistors, preventing vehicles’ 12-volt battery from recharging.A Hyundai spokesperson did not immediately respond to phone and email queries from The Associated Press asking if the complaints might lead to a service recall. Technical problems accompanying automakers’ growing global rollout of electric vehicles to fight climate change have included battery recalls because of the potential for fir...

15 injured as Baltimore bus crashes into 2 cars, building

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:19 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Fifteen people were injured Saturday when a mass transit bus crashed with two cars before hitting a building in Baltimore, police said.Baltimore police said officers responded to a Maryland Transit Administration bus crash at about 10:20 a.m. A preliminary investigation showed that the bus crashed with a Lexus and a Nissan before coming to rest in a building. Police said 15 people were injured. Two of the injuries are possibly life threatening, police said in a news release.No further details were immediately released by police. The cause of the crash was under investigation.The Associated Press

Vegas Golden Knights victory parade expected to rival New Year’s Eve on Strip, planners say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:19 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tens of thousands of Vegas Golden Knights fans, maybe more, are expected at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip on Saturday for a Stanley Cup victory parade and a rally to mark the team’s first-ever NHL championship.Las Vegas police prepared Friday for upwards of 100,000 people to cram viewing areas along Las Vegas Boulevard for a celebration that planners were comparing to annual New Year’s Eve fireworks shows that in past years have drawn estimates of 400,000 people. Unlike a winter midnight, evening temperatures are expected to be in the 90s.The Strip will be closed for the motorcade, which is set to begin at 7 p.m. near Flamingo Road and proceed about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) to Tropicana Avenue before a fan rally at Toshiba Plaza and the Park District in front of T-Mobile Arena.Police said road closures will be from about 4:30 p.m. until after celebrations end. Glass bottles, large bags, luggage and backpacks are prohibited, along with coolers, strollers and collap...

Coast Guard offloads cocaine worth $186M in Miami seized in Caribbean, Atlantic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:19 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard has offloaded cocaine in Miami worth an estimated $186 million that was seized in international waters of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.The Coast Guard said in a news release that more than 14,000 pounds (6,400 kilograms) of cocaine was intercepted recently in nine separate cases. Twelve suspected drug smugglers were arrested on a variety of charges.The drugs were brought ashore in Miami on Friday.Coast Guard helicopters and ships as well as Customs and Border Protection air and sea assets took part in the seizures and arrests.“This teamwork is imperative to the identification, interception and seizure of vessels engaged in illicit trafficking and a testament to the hard work of these crews,” said Coast Guard Lt. Peter Hutchison.The Associated Press

Body pulled from Chicago River near Salt Shed: Police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:19 GMT

CHICAGO -- A body was pulled from the Chicago River in West Town Saturday morning, police said. According to Chicago Police, the victim, an unidentified man, was recovered from the water near the 1300 block of North Elston Avenue near the Salt Shed around 9:45 a.m. Multiple shot near Lincoln Park Zoo: Chicago Police Police said the man was pronounced dead don the scene. Detectives are conducting a death investigation. There was no further information provided and WGN will update as new information surfaces.

1 dead after 2 US tourists pushed into ravine at German castle; American under arrest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:19 GMT

MUNICH (WCIA) – A U.S. tourist visiting Germany was killed this week after she was attacked by an American man and pushed down a steep slope at Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, authorities in Germany said.Another woman who was also pushed into the ravine has been hospitalized.The University of Illinois confirmed to Nexstar's WCIA that the woman killed in the attack was 21-year-old Eva Liu, a recent graduate who received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in May. The other victim, 22 year-old Kelsey Chang, had also gradated in May with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering."Our University of Illinois family is mourning the senseless death of Ms. Liu and the attack on Ms. Chang," said Robin Kaler, a university spokesperson. "Both had just graduated in May and should have been able to celebrate such an important accomplishment without the fear of such a tragic outcome. Our thoughts are with Ms. Chang as she recovers and with both of their families as they grieve." US ...

June rent report: Rent growth is cooling, but prices remain high

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:19 GMT

(NerdWallet) - Renters may still be feeling the sting of skyrocketing price increases from two years ago, but at least those costs are unlikely to worsen this year, according to data from the real estate website Zillow.For about a year, typical rent prices have been slowing down nationwide, and May was no exception, according to the latest Zillow rental data. But lease prices remain above pre-pandemic levels.The report, released June 6, shows typical rent prices are now $2,048 — an increase of 4.8% from one year ago. It marks another month of slowdown in annual growth rates since the peak of 17% in February 2022, according to Zillow.Jeff Tucker, senior economist at Zillow, says this spring leasing season is close to normal compared with the past three very abnormal years. During that time, the rental market moved from sluggish in 2020 to overheated in 2021 before beginning to cool in 2022, he says.“It’s been several months in a row of slightly below or below normal monthly rent grow...

BMW M exec confirms death of dual-clutch, manual gearboxes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:19 GMT

(Motor Authority) -- There was a time when opting for the manual transmission, and later the dual-clutch transmission, over an automatic was a no-brainer for anyone serious about performance.The choice of transmission isn’t so straightforward these days as modern automatics are shifting much quicker than before and are just as fuel-efficient or even more frugal than the alternatives.But it seems, at least among the automakers, the winner has already been decided: the conventional torque converter-based automatic.Speaking with Top Gear in an interview published on Wednesday, Dirk Hacker, BMW M’s head of development, said the dual-clutch transmission is already dead at BMW M, and the manual is also on its way out.“The double clutch, from BMW M’s point of view these days, it’s gone,” he said. “It’s now manual or automatic, and automatic electrified for the future.”The advantages dual-clutch transmissions once offered over automatics, such as their lighter weight and superior ...