Recapping an eventful 2016 –
The National Hollerin' Contest came to an end after 47 years. Low interest prompted committee members to cancel the fundraising event.
Category Archives: Natural Disasters
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits region in eastern Indonesia
Police say a member of the Kennedy family was arrested after a bar fight in the tony resort town of Aspen. Police say a member of the Kennedy family was arrested after a bar fight in the tony resort town of Aspen.
2016 wasn’t the worst year ever
In 2017 will Donald Trump be a madman, setting off wars and eviscerating American institutions, making bargains with the Russian devil at the expense of allies? Picture: Reuters It is easy to think 2016 has been the worst year in US history. Not by a long shot, says Jennifer Rubin.
Pinkerton: Remembering – and Connecting with – the Forgotten Man
The holiday season is a joyous time for most, but not for all. For some-for too many-it's a lonely time.
5 things for Monday, December 26, 2016: Russia plane crash, George Michael
Good morning. Hope you had a great Christmas. Whether at home or back at work, here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door.
Christmas typhoon kills 4, destroys homes in Philippines
The powerful typhoon slammed into the eastern Philippines... . A Filipino woman crosses floodwaters caused by rains from Typhoon Nock-Ten in Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines on Monday, Dec. 26, 2016.
When Tumbleweeds Attack
The image of a lonesome tumbleweed rolling across the plain is synonymous with the American West. But in eastern Colorado, tumbleweeds have become annual invaders, blocking roads and even burying houses.
Weather 18 mins ago 11:40 a.m.USDA: Drought makes 46 Tennessee counties disaster areas
The 46 counties covered by the designation range across the state. Farmers and ranchers in an additional 24 bordering Tennessee counties can qualify for natural disaster assistance, plus 12 in Kentucky, four in North Carolina, two each in Virginia and Mississippi and one in Alabama.
Emergency managers charged over Flint’s lead-tainted water
A criminal investigation of Flint's lead-contaminated water turned to former key officials at City Hall on Tuesday as Michigan's attorney general announced charges against four people accused of keeping residents on a contaminated system that caused the crisis. Darnell Earley and Gerald Ambrose separately were state-appointed emergency managers in Flint in 2014-15 when the city was using the Flint River as a source of drinking water.
Bill Whalen
After Hillary Clinton dropped in on the nation's capital the other day to say a few kind words on behalf of Harry Reid, the exiting Senate Minority Leader, two things stood out. She started her remarks by making a joke about the oddness of the situation .
Extreme Storms Will Be a Lot More Frequent as Climate Warms
The number of heavy downpours in much of the U.S. could increase five-fold by the end of the century, causing flash floods, mudslides and ruining crops, climate researchers predicted Monday. People need to start getting ready for these catastrophic storms now, because most places aren't prepared to handle such extreme weather, the team at the National Center for Atmospheric Research said.
Senate Dem blocks own bill overCalifornia drought language
Retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer was expecting to score one final legislative victory with a major water resources package just before the holidays. But the California Democrat instead got what she would consider a lump of coal: a last-minute policy rider that is now causing her to block her own bill.
Booker, Menendez Applaud Passage of Water Resources Development Act
U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez Dec. 10, 2016 praised Senate passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Ac By Al Campbell, editor - Oh, to have met Francis Pharcellus Church. He authored the immortal editorial in reply to little Virginia O'Hanlon in WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez Dec. 10, 2016 praised Senate passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2016 which includes provisions they have fought for to authorize and expedite Army Corps of Engineers projects, improve the nation's drinking water infrastructure, enhance ecosystem protection, and make investments in the nation's ports and inland waterways.
Drought remains, but outlook is improving
Rain and snow during the last couple of months have led to some improvement after an arid summer, according to the state's Drought Task Force. Yet much the state remains "in some form of drought or abnormally dry," Maine Emergency Management Agency Director Bruce Fitzgerald said in a prepared statement Friday.
S.O.P. Save Our Planet
The man-made environmental catastrophe is the severest issue facing humanity. It should be the number one priority for governments, but despite repeated calls from scientists, environmental groups and concerned citizens for years, short-term policies and economic self-interest are consistently given priority over the integrity of the planet and the health of the population.
Stopgap spending bill to be unveiled as Congress finishes up
A bipartisan bill to speed government drug approvals and bolster biomedical ... WASHINGTON - Congress is quickening its pace toward adjourning late this week, marching toward a final vote on legislation boosting medical research and speeding drug approvals and readying a separate stopgap spending bill to prevent the government from shutting down this weekend. The temporary budget bill, scheduled to be unveiled Tuesday, would keep federal agencies functioning into next spring, giving the new Congress and the incoming Trump administration time to approve more than $1 trillion to fund federal agencies through the Sept.
Shutdown averted, Senate backs stop-gap spending bill
With less than hour to spare, the Senate late Friday backed legislation averting a government shutdown as coal-state Democrats retreated on long-term health care benefits for retired miners and promised a renewed fight for the working class next year. The 63-36 vote sent the stop-gap spending bill to President Barack Obama, who signed the measure early Saturday morning.
House, Senate leaders reach deal on Calif. drought, Flint
House and Senate leaders have reached a bipartisan agreement on a bill to authorize $170 million for Flint, Michigan and other cities beleaguered by lead in drinking water, and to provide relief to drought-stricken California. A vote could be held this week.
Trump faces pushback from base, allies over Romney musings
When U.S. Forest Ranger Jody Bandy confronted the man in the Pisgah National Forest, he said he'd been at the nearby wildfire and "couldn't take it anymore." When U.S. Forest Ranger Jody Bandy confronted the man in the Pisgah National Forest, he said he'd been at the nearby wildfire and "couldn't take it anymore."
Virginia Flood Damage from Matthew Costliest Since Isabel, Officials Say
Virginia suffered only a glancing blow from Hurricane Matthew last month when unprecedented amounts of rain fell, but on Wednesday officials estimated flood damage to be hundreds of millions of dollars, making it the costliest storm since Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Emergency management officials are now renewing calls for residents to get flood insurance, saying a vast majority of homeowners in areas vulnerable to major hurricane storm surge lack coverage.