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How and why do lightning bugs glow?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:04 GMT

(WHTM) - It is a sure sign of summer when you begin to see those lightning bugs (or fireflies) glow across the land. But have you ever wondered how they glow and why? North Carolina State University says these insects are not flies or bugs; they are actually soft-winged beetles that really produce light, an ability called bioluminescence. The university says this is relatively rare in living organisms.To produce this light, fireflies use special organs in their abdomens. There they combine a chemical called luciferin, oxygen and enzymes called luciferases. Scientists believe these insects control the flashing by regulating how much oxygen goes into the organ that produces the light. Every species of lightning bug has its own signaling system, the university says. Males fly around at a certain height during a certain time at night and flash a unique signal. Females sit on the ground waiting for the males. When a female sees a male sending out a signal specific to her species, she wil...

What's Texas' hottest day on record?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:04 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — We're just shy of a month into summer but you may already be longing for a break from the heat. Here in Texas, August is typically the hottest month. But you can guarantee there will be some scorchers before then.But have you ever wondered: What was the hottest day ever recorded in Texas? What’s the hottest it’s ever been in Texas? The hottest maximum temperature ever recorded in Texas happened twice: First on August 12, 1936, in Seymour, northwest of Dallas, and again on June 28, 1994, in Monahans, a city near Odessa, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The recorded high that day was 120° — that’s hotter than the 113° August average for Furnace Creek in Death Valley. Does turning the air conditioning off when you’re not home save energy? Even though 120° is hot as heck, it’s still nowhere near as hot as the highest recorded in the U.S. — that record belongs to Greenland Ranch, California, where the temperature hit 134° back on July 10,...

Jerome Johnson: Rethink Summit Avenue (and I-94) to save Summit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:04 GMT

St. Paul city council’s recent approval of the one-size-fits-all Summit Avenue bike trail was disappointing, as much for its flawed justification logic as for its puzzling failure to consider safer, more pervasive and more egalitarian trail network alternatives.It defies logic that the approved off-street “on-boulevard” trail could be faster or materially safer for cyclists than existing on-street bike lanes when it will have just as many street and driveway crossings, where collisions occur, and just as many signalized intersections.   And how is replacing a Summit Avenue trail, functionally in-kind, deemed equitable while less affluent Rondo area locales remain conspicuously underserved by sustainable mobility alternatives?Met Council can stop this charade by withholding regional trail network funding.  MNDOT can contribute by accommodating a true regional trail within its “Rethinking I-94” initiative.  And St. Paul can follow suit by “Rethinking Summit” into a less intrusive, mor...

Letters: Sad to see litter and broken glass in downtown St. Paul

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:04 GMT

Basic needs firstI was not surprised by the “This once-great city” Letter to the Editor in Thursday’s paper.My husband and I visited the St. Paul Farmer’s Market last weekend. We were saddened to see streets and sidewalks filled with litter and even broken glass.I was born in the city and my family has a long history there. It is disturbing to see the downtown looking so uncared for and unloved. Why would anyone want to live there or even visit?The letter writer mentions the proposed bike pathway on Summit Avenue, which would cost millions of dollars.As a child I was taught that before splurging on “extras” like vacations, you first had to make sure your basic needs were provided for.You can spend millions to create a fancy “extra” bike path.  But if it’s in the middle of a dirty city, I suspect your priorities are misplaced.Lael Belisle, White Bear LakeJust a plea for basic empathyPolitical correctness in American politics mainly refers to the conscious act of uph...

Denver weather: National Weather Service issues heat advisory for Front Range

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:04 GMT

Denver will see sunny skies and temperatures in the low 90s Sunday before the thermometer creeps closer to 100 degrees on Monday, according to the National Weather Service at Boulder.The agency issued a heat advisory for Denver and the entire I-25 corridor that will be in place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. Temperatures on Monday are expected to reach about 99 degrees across the region, which the weather service warned could be dangerous for people who spend time outside.Sunday’s weather will be hot but not quite that hot — city temperatures should top out at about 92 degrees, the weather service predicted. Denver residents can expect clear, sunny skies.Related ArticlesWeather | Denver weather: Chance for p.m. showers and storms, scorching heat on the way Weather | Denver weather: Sunny and warm, possible afternoon/evening storms, ahead of intense heat Sunday Weather | Denver weather: Hot and sunny, possible brief afternoon rai...

Rapidly spreading ‘Rabbit Fire’ continues to scorch over 7,500 acres in Riverside County 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:04 GMT

The “Rabbit Fire” that broke out on Friday night is continuing to spread and force evacuations near Beaumont. According to fire officials, the blaze has torched 7,600 acres and remains 10 percent contained. Mountainsides near the 79 Freeway were seen charred by the wildfires as early as 6 a.m. Sunday morning, and authorities confirmed that flames did briefly cross the freeway late Saturday night before crews were able to contain them. The two biggest challenges firefighters face are accessing the remote area that the fire is spreading through and mitigating the effects of the large amounts of dry brush in the area, but fighting the blaze at night is proving to be a key tactic in extinguishing it. “As the earth cools down, the wind will go in the reverse direction of where it was coming to,” said Cal Fire Deputy Chief Lucas Spelman. “In this area we’ve been having fires over and over the last few weeks because of the heat and how dry it is.” The “Rabbit Fire” that...

Car flies 30 feet off PCH, crashes into rocks; no occupants found 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:04 GMT

A car was found overturned on its roof after careening off Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura County early Sunday morning. The vehicle was discovered off PCH near Point Mugu State Park around 12:40 a.m. with no driver or passengers nearby. Fire crews and K9 units were called in to search for the occupants of the vehicle, but no individuals were located. A car was found overturned on its roof after careening off Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura County early Sunday morning. (RMGNews)A car was found overturned on its roof after careening off Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura County early Sunday morning. (RMGNews)A car was found overturned on its roof after careening off Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura County early Sunday morning. (RMGNews) Violent crash kills 1, severely injures 4 in Van Nuys It was reported that they fled southbound along the beach, but that report could not be confirmed. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. 

Meeting to be held Monday on 2021 Chevron Richmond spill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:04 GMT

(BCN) -- Contra Costa Health is holding a meeting Monday to discuss an independent report on a spill at Chevron's Richmond Refinery Marine Terminal in 2021. The spill sent up to 757 gallons of a diesel water mixture into the Bay south of the Richmond Long Wharf on Feb. 9, 2021. No oiled wildlife or public health impacts were reported at the time, but an oil sheen could be seen from Point Molate to Brooks Island along the city's waterfront. Bay Area heat wave: Here’s how hot it’s expected to get today Contra Costa Health (CCH), the county's health department, commissioned a third-party review of the spill that can be found here. Monday's meeting on the report is planned at the Bermuda Room at the Richmond Convention Center at 403 Civic Center Plaza from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and will also be available via Zoom link. The report by the firm AcuTech, which was hired by the county, concluded that a cement-lined carbon steel pipe failed due to internal corrosion. The report fo...

Annual AIDS Walk happening today in San Francisco

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:04 GMT

(KRON) -- The San Francisco AIDS Walk is back for its 37th year. It is the largest AIDS fundraising event in all of Northern California that's expected to draw thousands of attendees. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony along with a pancake breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Bay Area heat wave: Here’s how hot it’s expected to get today The 5K is set to start at 10:30 a.m. at Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park. Those participating in the walk are asked to check in by 10 a.m.KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Organizers are urging attendees to use public transportation or ride share services as parking is limited around the area. Traffic and road closures will affect John F. Kennedy Drive, Traverse Drive, JFK Promenade and Bowling Green D...

Man arrested in Millbrae for Home Depot robbery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:04 GMT

(KRON) -- A man was arrested in Millbrae following a robbery at an East Palo Alto Home Depot on Saturday, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. Bay Area heat wave: Here’s how hot it’s expected to get today Officers responded to the store after a man grabbed a cash register and threw it to the ground, causing the machine to break open. The suspect took around $300 before fleeing the area, police said. San Mateo County Sheriff's deputies used license plate reader cameras to track down the getaway car and arrested the suspect, Mark Johnson of Nevada, in Millbrae around 4:30 p.m.KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }The 46-year-old was booked into the San Mateo County Jail.