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Colorado natural disasters rise 275% over 20 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:06 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Colorado has seen its fair share of wild weather, but over the last 20 years, severe damage caused by hail, tornadoes and wildfires has only increased.The frequency of natural disasters in the state is up by 275% over the last 20 years, according to data from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Men who rushed Coors Field arrested for trespassing, disturbing peace From 2002 to 2021, there were 45 natural disasters in the state, up from 12 recorded between 1982 and 2001.Becky Bolinger, an assistant state climatologist with the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University, highlights two main reasons: an increase in population and changes in climate."Part of the reason is the exposure. You have a lot of people living in the areas where (wildfires) are most destructive, but also we have seen an increase in the number of wildfires and the total area burned from fires in our state,” Bolinger said.This aerial photo shows flood damage in Greeley Colo. during...

After fans rush Coors Field, safety concerns raised

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:06 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — It does not appear any harm was intended, but security concerns were raised when fans rushed Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. at Coors Field on Monday night. Two men are accused of trespassing and disturbing the peace after approaching Acuña on the field, and one of them got his arms around the player, The Associated Press reported. A boy also was cited in the incident.At Coors Field, there are security personnel at games and metal detection devices."Obviously, there was a breach in security that was allowed to happen. I don't know if they are short-handed," said James Allbee, a former law enforcement officer and safety expert. Running onto a sports field isn’t just 15 seconds of fame, it’s also trespassing "Those walls are pretty low and pretty easy to jump over, so there is going to be an inherent risk there," he said. In recent years, MLB has extended the netting to protect fans from foul balls in some areas. Allbee wondered if the netting or some sort of fe...

Student told to remove patches from backpack before returning to class

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:06 GMT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KXRM) — A viral video is sparking outrage from parents and the community after a Colorado Springs student was told to remove a Gadsden flag patch from his backpack.Now the school district is explaining why it said the story was "incomplete," citing other patches the student removed prior to returning to class at the Vanguard School. Which Colorado cities have the highest sales tax rates? The Gadsden flag is a symbol dating back to the American Revolution, which bears the imagery of a coiled snake and the words "Don't Tread On Me." In the video, the original reasoning given by the school for the removal of the patch was the flag's "origins with slavery."Gov. Jared Polis responded to the original video on social media and pointed out the history of the flag: "The Gadsden flag is a proud symbol of the American Revolution and an iconic warning to Britain or any government not to violate the liberties of Americans. It appears on popular American medallions and ...

Father of pilot killed in Pompano Beach helicopter crash questions what went wrong

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:06 GMT

Captain Terryson Jackson’s father proudly spoke about his son who was killed in the fatal helicopter crash-landing in Pompano Beach“I wish something could bring him back because I mean, I feel like the world needs him,” said Oliver Jackson.The pilot’s father described him as a man who put his children first, a man who sacrificed so much for people who needed him.“That’s what he loved to do, he cared about people a great deal,” he said. “But I mean anybody who is a parent, I mean I love my son and there is no replacement for him.”On Monday morning, Jackson and two other crew members were on their way to respond to an emergency, when they had trouble a minute into their flight.“I’m wondering where did the fire come from?” the father said. “And then the whole helicopter that kept spinning and spinning and falls down.”The Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue helicopter crashed into an apartment community, where C...

Gallery: Sox again lose to the Astros, 6-2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:06 GMT

Boston Red Sox 2, Houston Astros 6

Lockport Cave restarts walking tours, taking city official by surprise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:06 GMT

Aug. 28—LOCKPORT — A top city official said he didn’t know the Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride planned to reopen until Monday morning when news outlets began calling him.The Lockport Cave operation had remained closed since June 12, when its tour boat capsized, killing a Niagara Falls man and injuring 11 other passengers. One day later, Jason Dool, Lockport’s chief building inspector, deemed the attraction unsafe for occupancy.Dool on Monday said he has had no recent communication with the operators of the business, which revealed Sunday that it would resume offering candlelight walking tours in the underground space. The announcement didn’t say anything about the boat tours."I had no knowledge that any of this was happening," Dool said in an interview.He said he is waiting to see proof that the company has corrected the electrical issues he found during an inspection one day after the fatal incident.Thomas Callahan, the attractionR...

Idalia strengthens over Gulf of Mexico and is now predicted to hit Florida as Category 4 hurricane

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:06 GMT

By DANIEL KOZIN (Associated Press)CEDAR KEY, Fla. (AP) — Florida residents living in vulnerable coastal areas were ordered to pack up and leave Tuesday as Hurricane Idalia gained steam in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and threatened to unleash life-threatening storm surges and rainfall.Idalia also pummeled Cuba with heavy rains on Monday and Tuesday, leaving the tobacco-growing province of Pinar del Rio underwater and many of its residents without power. Idalia had strengthened to a Category 2 system on Tuesday afternoon, with winds strengthening to 110 mph (177 kph) by Tuesday evening. The hurricane was projected to come ashore early Wednesday as a Category 4 system with sustained winds of at least 130 mph (209 kph) in the lightly populated Big Bend region, where the Florida Panhandle curves into the peninsula. The result could be a big blow to a state still dealing with lingering damage from last year’s Hurricane Ian.The National Weather Service in Tallahassee ...

6 regions targeted in biggest drone attack on Russia since it sent troops to Ukraine, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:06 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian officials accused Ukraine of targeting six Russian regions early Wednesday in what appeared to be the biggest drone attack on Russian soil since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine 18 months ago. Drones hit an airport in the western Pskov region and started a massive fire there, the governor and local media reported. More drones were shot down over Oryol, Bryansk, Ryazan, Kaluga and the Moscow region surrounding the Russian capital, according to the Defense Ministry. The strike in Pskov, which was first reported minutes before midnight, hit an airport in the region’s namesake capital and damaged four Il-76 transport aircraft, Russia’s state news agency Tass reported, citing emergency officials.Pskov regional Gov. Mikhail Vedernikov ordered all flights to and from the airport canceled Wednesday so damage could be assessed during daylight.Footage and images posted on social media showed smoke billowing over the city of Pskov and a large blaze. Vedernikov said t...

EPA head says he’s ‘proud’ of decision to block Alaska mine and protect salmon-rich Bristol Bay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:06 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The nation’s top environmental official said he fully supports his agency’s decision to block a proposed gold and copper mine in Alaska’s salmon-rich Bristol Bay, even as the state of Alaska has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn that action.“Let me be clear, we are very proud of our decision to really evaluate the Pebble Mine project and do what is necessary to protect Bristol Bay,” Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday as he began a four-day tour of Alaska, starting in a Bristol Bay village.The EPA in January vetoed the proposed Pebble Mine, citing concerns with possible impacts on the aquatic ecosystem in southwest Alaska that supports the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery. The region also has significant mineral resources.Last month, the state of Alaska asked the nation’s high court to intervene.“The EPA’s order strikes at the heart of Alaska’s sovereignty...

11 taken to hospital as Delta jetliner hits turbulence near Atlanta airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:06 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Eleven people on a Delta Air Lines flight were taken to the hospital on Tuesday after the plane hit turbulence while heading to Atlanta, officials said.Flight 175 had left Milan, Italy, and was about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport when the crew reported severe turbulence, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which said it will investigate.The Airbus A350 landed safely at the airport shortly before 7 p.m.Eleven passengers and crew members were taken to the hospital, Delta said. It didn’t provide details on their injuries or conditions.The plane was carrying 151 passengers, 10 flight attendants and four pilots, Delta said.“Delta Care Team members are mobilizing to connect with customers,” Delta said in a statement. “Our priority is taking care of our customers and crew who sustained injuries.”The airline said Delta agents were providing food, lodging and re-booking for the uninjured customers.The...