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How busy will Atlantic hurricane season be? Depends on who wins unusual battle of climatic titans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:16 GMT

Two clashing climatic behemoths, one natural and one with human fingerprints, will square off this summer to determine how quiet or chaotic the Atlantic hurricane season will be.An El Nino is brewing and the natural weather event dramatically dampens hurricane activity. But at the same time record ocean heat is bubbling up in the Atlantic, partly stoked by human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas, and it provides boosts of fuel for storms.Many forecasters aren’t sure which weather titan will prevail because the scenario hasn’t happened before on this scale. Most of them are expecting a near-draw — something about average. And that includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, saying there’s a 40% chance of a near-normal season, 30% chance of an above-average season (more storms than usual) and a 30% chance of a below-normal season.The federal agency Thursday announced its forecast of 12 to 17 named storms, five to nine becoming hurricanes and...

West Virginia company drops bid to build logging pesticide facility amid fierce opposition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:16 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia logging company hoping to build a toxic-spewing facility in the picturesque Allegheny Mountains has withdrawn an application for an air permit following vehement opposition from residents, regulators said Thursday.The state Department of Environmental Protection said it received a formal notice from Allegheny Wood Products. In a brief letter to the agency dated Wednesday, the company cited “a further review of our business needs” as the reason for the application’s withdrawal.The company wanted to construct a fumigation facility in the Hardy County community of Baker to treat logs before they are shipped overseas. The DEP’s Division of Air Quality had said it tentatively planned to issue the air permit that would let the facility emit up to nearly 10 tons of the pesticide methyl bromide into the atmosphere each year.Local residents have bombarded regulators with opposition to the facility, saying it would be a threat to their heal...

KLM Open Scores

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:16 GMT

ThursdayAt Bernardus GolfCromvoirt, NetherlandsPurse: $2 millionYardage: 7,445; Par: 72First RoundJorge Campillo, Spain33-30—63Pablo Larrazabal, Spain34-32—66Joel Stalter, France34-32—66Andy Sullivan, England34-32—66Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thailand36-31—67Alejandro Del Rey Gonzalez, Spain33-34—67Joost Luiten, Netherlands34-33—67Adrian Otaegui, Spain34-33—67John Parry, England33-34—67Shubhankar Sharma, India33-34—67Dale Whitnell, England35-32—67Marcus Armitage, England33-35—68Marcus Kinhult, Sweden35-33—68Joshua Lee, United States35-33—68Edoardo Molinari, Italy35-33—68Renato Paratore, Italy34-34—68Thomas Aiken, South Africa34-35—69Julien Brun, France32-37—69Todd Clements, England34-35—69Sean Crocker, United States33-36—69Wenyi Ding, China34-35—69Gavin Green, Malaysia35-34—69Rasmus Hojgaard, Denmark35-34—69Masahiro Kawamura, Japan34-35—69Romain Langasque, France35-34—69Mikael Lindberg, Sweden34-35—69Adrian Meronk, Poland35-34—69Richie Ramsay, Scotland36-33—69Marcel Siem, Germany34-35—69...

KLM Open Par Scores

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:16 GMT

ThursdayAt Bernardus GolfCromvoirt, NetherlandsPurse: $2 millionYardage: 7,445; Par: 72First RoundJorge Campillo, Spain33-30—63-9Pablo Larrazabal, Spain34-32—66-6Joel Stalter, France34-32—66-6Andy Sullivan, England34-32—66-6Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thailand36-31—67-5Alejandro Del Rey Gonzalez, Spain33-34—67-5Joost Luiten, Netherlands34-33—67-5Adrian Otaegui, Spain34-33—67-5John Parry, England33-34—67-5Shubhankar Sharma, India33-34—67-5Dale Whitnell, England35-32—67-5Marcus Armitage, England33-35—68-4Marcus Kinhult, Sweden35-33—68-4Joshua Lee, United States35-33—68-4Edoardo Molinari, Italy35-33—68-4Renato Paratore, Italy34-34—68-4Thomas Aiken, South Africa34-35—69-3Julien Brun, France32-37—69-3Todd Clements, England34-35—69-3Sean Crocker, United States33-36—69-3Wenyi Ding, China34-35—69-3Gavin Green, Malaysia35-34—69-3Rasmus Hojgaard, Denmark35-34—69-3Masahiro Kawamura, Japan34-35—69-3Romain Langasque, France35-34—69-3Mikael Lindberg, Sweden34-35—69-3Adrian Meronk, Poland35-34—69-3Richi...

World War II vet from Jamaica was modest, private man who volunteered in Britain’s hour of need

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:16 GMT

LONDON (AP) — When Peter Brown died alone in London without any known family, neighbors made sure that the humble 96-year-old Jamaican man who had volunteered as a teen to fight for Britain in World War II was not forgotten.Hundreds of people – mostly strangers — touched by his story answered the call Thursday, and packed St. Clement Danes Church to give the former flight sergeant a proper send-off.The Rev. Ruth Hake said that when Brown left his Jamaican home at 17 in 1943 there was no promise he’d return home — like millions of others who gave their lives in World War II. “The willingness that he showed then and the next seven years that he served in the Royal Air Force to put his life on the line on behalf of this nation … is a debt that all of us who who have certainly lived our lives in freedom in this country have to honor,” Hake said. “That is why there are so many people here at the funeral of such a modest and unassuming man.”Brown was one of about 5,500 m...

Average long-term US mortgage rate rises to 6.57% this week, highest level since mid March

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:16 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose this week to its highest level since mid March, driving up borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers facing a housing market that’s constrained by a dearth of homes for sale.Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year home loan rose to 6.57% from 6.39% last week. The average rate a year ago was 5.10%.High rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for homebuyers, limiting how much buyers can afford in a market that remains unaffordable to many Americans after years of soaring home prices and limited housing inventory.The median monthly payment listed on applications for home purchase loans in April rose to $2,112, up nearly 12% from a year ago and a 0.9% increase from March, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Thursday. The average rate on a 30-year home loan has risen two weeks in a row, echoing moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to ...

Driver shot at multiple times in 'random' Jeffco shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:16 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Deputies in Jefferson County are investigating a "random and unprovoked" shooting after a victim's car was shot at multiple times while driving down West 32nd Avenue.Around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night, deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office responded to a shooting in the Applewood neighborhood near West 32nd Avenue and Howell Road. According to JCSO, a man was driving west when his car was shot six times by an unknown caliber weapon. State Farm insures driver charged with DUI but won’t pay victim’s claim The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries after he was hit by glass shards that went flying after a bullet passed through his windshield. His passenger was uninjured. JCSO said the shooting appears to be "random and unprovoked."At this time, deputies have not identified a suspect or a suspect vehicle. Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact JCSO.

Restaurant review: Ouzerie Mezedopolio

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:16 GMT

Chaussée d’Ixelles 235What’s good: This family-run restaurant has a lively atmosphere, with high-quality products and authentic Greek recipes. The food menu offers a broad range of mezzes, small dishes which are perfect for sharing: from cold dips such as tzatziki, a yogurt-based dip, and tarama, a fish roe spread; to warm options such as fried calamari, the traditional spanakopita or spinach pie, and tiropita, a cheese pie. The wine menu also does not disappoint. We opted for a flowery and fruity white wine which tasted fresh and conjured up a sunny day on the Greek coast. Do leave some space for dessert. The galaktoboureko, puff pastry with cream, and the portokalopita, a glazed orange cake, were so delicious they left us craving more. What’s not: The place is small and noisy. The restaurant staff is friendly but also busy, so it can be challenging to get their attention. If you are looking for a romantic atmosphere or to have a private conversation, this is not th...

Germany in recession: Berlin braces for budget cut battle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:16 GMT

BERLIN — Europe’s largest economy has money problems for the first time in nearly a decade — and it’s up to three squabbling parties to fix them.Germany has officially fallen into a recession, official figures showed Thursday, with economic output falling by 0.3 percent during the first quarter of the year — the second quarter in a row with a decreasing gross domestic product. The drop was largely attributed to lower consumer spending due to higher prices amid inflation of 7.2 percent.This adds to previously existing pressure on the trio of coalition partners in Berlin’s government to cut costs. That requires tough decisions, but their approaches to the problem are vastly different: The environmentalist Greens want to invest more in things like climate protection by taxing the rich — a prospect rejected by the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP), who want to deregulate. Caught in the middle, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats hope attracting skilled forei...

Alex Murdaugh indicted on 22 federal counts for alleged financial schemes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:16 GMT

(CNN) — A federal grand jury has indicted disbarred South Carolina attorney and double murderer Alex Murdaugh on 22 charges in connection with schemes aimed at stealing money from his clients, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering, the office said Wednesday in a news release.Murdaugh, 54, “has been cooperating with the United States Attorneys’ Office and federal agencies in their investigation of a broad range of activities,” his attorneys, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, said Wednesday in a statement.“We anticipate that the charges brought today will be quickly resolved without a trial,” they said.Murdaugh, a former personal injury attorney, is appealing his conviction this year in South Carolina for murdering his wife and grown son; he was sentenced to life in prison. He’s being held at McCormick Correctional Institution, a ...