News

Tropical Storm Idalia Takes Aim At Gulf Of Mexico On A Possible Track Toward The US, Forecasters Say

Published

1 year ago

2023-08-28

Kiara Grace

MIAMI, Fla. – Tropical Storm Idalia formed Sunday off the coast of Mexico and is expected to land as a hurricane in the southern United States, according to the National Hurricane Centre.

Forecasters said the storm was about 95 miles (153 kilometers) east-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, at 5 p.m. Sunday, moving northeast at 3 mph (4.8 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (64 kph). Hurricanes have winds of 74 miles per hour (119 km per hour) or higher.

Forecasters predicted that Idalia will become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday and then turn northeast towards Florida’s west coast.

According to the latest Hurricane Centre estimates, Idalia could land in Florida on Wednesday with gusts of up to 100 mph (160 kph). That would classify it as a Category 2 hurricane.

Up to 11 feet (3.4 meters) of ocean water could rush on shore along a broad stretch of Florida’s west coast, sparking worries of severe floods.

At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stated that the forecast is still quite uncertain.

“This thing hasn’t even gotten to Cuba yet, and the water in the Gulf is very, very warm, so that will provide some fuel for this thing to pick up some more speed,” DeSantis explained.

When a tropical storm or hurricane approaches, large areas of Florida’s western coast are vulnerable to seawater spilling onto land and flooding settlements. According to Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Centre, that area of Florida is extremely vulnerable to storm surges.

“So it will not take a strong system or a direct hit to produce significant storm surge,” he explained. “So if you’re anywhere along the Florida Peninsula, let’s say from Fort Myers northward to the Panhandle, you’ve got to be paying attention.”

Forecasters predicted that Idalia will become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday and then turn northeast towards Florida’s west coast.

Storm surge is one of the top concerns in Cedar Key, a fishing community that juts out into the Gulf of Mexico, according to Capt. A.J. Brown, owner of A.J. Brown Charters. The risk is that if the hurricane impacts Florida just to the north, Cedar Key will experience a tremendous surge from being on the storm’s southeastern flank.

Brown noted that there is concern in Cedar Key about a storm surge of two to five feet of ocean water and that if the storm surge hits five feet, “it would cover most everything downtown.”

The iconic Bridge Tender Inn in Bradenton Beach may have to remove a large tent covering the tiki bar area where musicians perform in preparation for Idalia, according to assistant manager Shannon Dunnan on Sunday.

“If we get a big storm, it’ll probably rip that tent in half,” she said.

However, Dunnan stated that the establishment will remain open for now.

The National Meteorological Service of Mexico warned on Sunday of heavy torrential rains and winds of up to 55 mph (89 kph) across the Yucatan Peninsula.

It warned that the storm could trigger everything from high waves to flooding in southern Mexico, primarily near coastal communities in Yucatán and Quintana Roo. It urged citizens to remain vigilant.

Forecasters predicted that tropical storm Idalia will become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday and then turn northeast towards Florida’s west coast.

On Sunday, Florida emergency officials encouraged homeowners to keep their petrol tanks at least half-full if they need to flee.

“This will ensure you can evacuate tens of miles inland to a safe location should the need arise,” said the Florida Division of Emergency Management on social media.

Florida has mobilized 1,100 National Guard personnel, and “they have at their disposal 2,400 high-water vehicles, as well as 12 aircraft that can be used for rescue and recovery efforts,” according to DeSantis, the Republican governor and presidential contender.

“If you are in the path of this storm, you should expect power outages,” he said. “So please prepare for that, especially if this storm ends up coming in the Tallahassee region, because there are going to be a lot of trees that will be knocked down, power lines that will be knocked down – that is just going to happen, so just be prepared for that and be able to do what you need to do.”

The state emergency management office has declared a state of emergency in thirty-three Florida counties.

So far this year, the East Coast of the United States has been spared by cyclones. Tropical Storm Hilary, on the other hand, produced widespread floods, mudslides, and road closures earlier this month in Mexico, California, Nevada, and points north.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently predicted that the 2023 hurricane season would be far busier than expected, partly due to abnormally warm ocean temperatures. The season lasts through November 30, with August and September being the busiest months.

SOURCE – (AP)

News

Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

Published

1 day ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.

The Prime Minister dances.

This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.

Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf

— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

News

Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

Published

1 day ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

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News

Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M

Published

1 day ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
Numbers cannot be repeated
Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
Each play buys 3 lines
Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)