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Tracking the Tropics: Atlantic heating up ahead of peak hurricane season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:00:08 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — It's been an active week in the tropics with a total of four named storms spread throughout the Atlantic basin. But as we near the peak of hurricane season, can we expect this trend to continue?The National Hurricane Center has been keeping tabs on four separate storm systems — The closest of which to the U.S. mainland is Tropical Storm Franklin.TS FranklinFranklin is expected to dump heavy rains across portions of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola Wednesday into Thursday as it pushes north toward Bermuda. The NHC says the heavy rainfall will bring the threat of flash floods and mudslides to the area.However, little change in strength is forecast during the next couple of days as Franklin moves across Hispaniola. Some strengthening is possible Thursday into Friday as Franklin moves northeast over Atlantic waters.Former Tropical Storm EmilyThe remnants of former Tropical Storm Emily were last located several hundred miles northeast of the Leeward Islands.Some developmen...

Gas leak in Bastrop prompts evacuations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:00:08 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN New Today's top headlines for Aug. 23, 2023.BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Bastrop said a residential gas leak has led to evacuations.The city said a residential gas line was hit near the Wilson Street and Beech Street intersection.According to a statement, the Bastrop Fire Department arrived, and eight residents have been evacuated as of 11:15 a.m.The city said CenterPoint Energy was en route to the site of the leak.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum may miss GOP presidential debate after basketball injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:00:08 GMT

MILWAUKEE — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum may not be able to participate in Wednesday’s Republican presidential debate after he injured himself playing basketball and was taken to the emergency room.Campaign spokesman Lance Trover said Wednesday that it was “unclear if he will be able to stand at the debate.” He didn’t say what type of injury it was but said Burgum’s team would have more information later. The injury, which occurred Tuesday while Burgum was playing with campaign staff, was first reported by CNN.Missing the two-hour debate would be a major setback for Burgum, who is the least known of the eight candidates expected to take the stage in Milwaukee on Wednesday night. The first debate of the GOP primary, which early front-runner Donald Trump has said he’s skipping, is the best opportunity for Burgum to introduce himself to voters.Burgum, a wealthy businessman, qualified for the debate after offering $20 gift cards to donors who gave his campaign a $1 contribution — helpi...

Eastbound I-94 ramp closure in Washington County begins Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:00:08 GMT

The ramp from eastbound Interstate 94 to Minnesota 95/St. Croix Trail in Lakeland will close at 5 a.m. Monday and will remain closed until Sept. 18, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.The ramp closure is necessary to allow construction crews to pave the eastbound lanes of I-94 through this area, according to MnDOT.MnDOT crews are in the process of resurfacing the pavement and making other improvements to I-94 between Highway 120/Century Avenue and the St. Croix River. The work, which will be completed this fall, will improve safety, traffic flow and ride smoothness, MnDOT officials say.(Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Transportation)Motorists can bypass the ramp closure by using eastbound I-94, Manning Avenue, Hudson Road S. and Highway 95/St. Croix Trail.All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather dependent and subject to change.For more information, go to mndot.gov/metro/projects/i94oakdale-stcroix.Related ArticlesLocal News | ...

News access suffering from Meta temper tantrum

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:00:08 GMT

You’ve likely noticed some changes to your Facebook feed recently, as Meta has officially barred all news from its platforms across Canada in response to Bill C-18, or the Online News Act.You might have a few questions. We did too. First and foremost, what does this mean for the Sunny South News on Facebook?Well, any posts we make are immediately hidden, as well as any and all of our previous posts. This means no photos, stories, links, ledes or postings of any kind can be seen on our Facebook pages.But that doesn’t mean our newspapers are going away. In fact, this only amplifies the importance of print and online journalism in regions like ours, though it will create some obstacles in the community — and it won’t be just journalism facing the short end of that stick.Saskatchewan RCMP told The Canadian Press this week that the move will affect the way they relay information, as is most certainly the case with police detachments across the country, which rely on the reach of media ou...

Town of Coaldale issues notice to residents to conserve water

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:00:08 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsThe Town of Coaldale is calling on residents to do their part conserving water as persistent hot and dry temperatures are causing shortages in storage basins in the region.Several southern Alberta water basins are experiencing lower than usual water levels at this point in the year.Following several updates since the start of the irrigation season, St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) published an update from General Manager, Dave Westwood on Aug. 16, informing irrigators “the drought conditions persist in Southern Alberta and the headworks and our internal reservoir storage levels are significantly below average for this time of the irrigation season.”Westwood said in the notice the SMRID has observed a decline in usage over the past week as crops reach maturity, and harvest season is underway, but said SMRID will continue to monitor District usage and storage daily and provide updates as is necessary.The Town of Coaldale issued a notice the fo...

District contributions for Canadian Foodgrains Bank exceed expectations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:00:08 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsOrganizers have reported the two successful harvests in Picture Butte and Coaldale for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank will add hundreds of thousands of dollars in aid to the charitable organization.Following the Lethbridge-Coaldale Foodgrains project’s harvest and barbecue on Aug. 15, a harvest took place at the Picture Butte and District Foodgrains 2023 Growing Project the next day at the growing site just outside of the Town of Picture Butte.Alberta Regional Representative for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Ary Vreeken said the cash contributions at the Lethbridge-Coaldale Harvest on the previous day totalled over $28,000 in cash, in the “innocuous little donation bucket,” and Vreeken was optimistic the Picture Butte harvest event would see the generous donations continue.“We have a great group of supporters here in Picture Butte,” and said funds raised by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank were able to reach 1.1 million people in over 35 countries.Final num...

Coaldale basketball player signs with Pronghorns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:00:08 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsThe University of Lethbridge has signed Carson Bartsch of Coaldale to play for the university’s men’s basketball team this fall.The accomplished player recently graduated from Kate Andrews High School after a successful high school athletic career.This past June, Bartsch received the 2022-2023 Career Athlete Award from Kate Andrews in addition to various Athlete of the Month awards at the school. Earlier this year, Bartsch was a recipient of the second team all-star award during the Southern Alberta Interscholastic Administrative Council (SAIAC) League awards night held at Chinook High School in Lethbridge. These awards are voted on by all coaches within the SAISC League comprising the Southern Alberta High School Football League, Southern Alberta High School Volleyball League, Southern Alberta High School Girls Basketball League, and the Southern Alberta High School 4A Boys Basketball League.On Aug. 15 the University of Lethbridge’s athletics announc...

“Farming in the Dustbowl” exhibition on display at Coaldale Public Library

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:00:08 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsThe Coaldale Public Library is displaying the works of artist Carol Bromley Meeres until August 30.The exhibit, made possible by the Travelling Exhibition Program (TREX) is a program organized through the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) which brings travelling exhibitions to various venues across Alberta, including small towns such as Coaldale, where residents might not otherwise have regular access to gallery spaces, and a bid to make art more accessible.Alberta-born visual artist Carol Bromley Meeres’ work takes on environmental and social issues, and her work explores colour, texture and historical mediums such as cyanotypes which impart a unique texture and detail on her work.The current series, entitled, “Farming in the Dustbowl” references this time in history in a thoroughly-researched and detailed collection of images.Nearly 100 years ago, in the 1930’s the prairies were subjected to a period of severe drought, which came to be known as ...

Greenwood ASP amendment approved

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:00:08 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsSome driveways in Coalhurst can be increased following a recent ASP amendment approval.Coalhurst town council discussed the amendment during their regular Aug. 15 meeting.Bylaw 433-22 would amend Bylaw 389-17, or The Greenwood Estates Area Structure Plan, to increase the driveway widths from 5.5 meters to 5.8 meters.The Town had previously received an application from property owners to obtain a Land Use Bylaw waiver for their property in order to allow the existing 5.8-meter-wide driveway to stay in place. The LUB currently allows for driveway widths of 5.5 meters. The waiver was not granted based on the driveway widths, as the Greenwood Estates ASP sets driveway widths at a maximum of 5.5 meters only. An amendment to the ASP would be required in order to allow for the oversized driveway to remain, and it would apply to all properties within the development.An application was then made to amend the ASP to increase the driveway widths. Council had pe...