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Can the woolly bear caterpillar actually 'predict' winter weather?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:12:53 GMT

(WHTM) -- You may have heard that the woolly bear caterpillar can 'predict' whether or not we have a mild or a harsh winter. But is that true?According to folklore, the amount of black on the woolly bear in autumn varies equally with the severity of the coming winter where the insect is found.  If the woolly bear is mostly black, it will be a very harsh and severe winter. If the woolly bear has an orange stripe, it means that the winter will be mild.  The wider the red-orange band is, the more mild the upcoming winter will be. NOAA releases 2023-2024 winter predictions However, the National Weather Service (NWS) said this is merely a myth, and the caterpillar cannot predict what winter will bring. According to the agency, the coloring of the woolly bear has to do with its age, species, and what it has been feeding on. The better the growing season, the larger the caterpillar becomes and in turn, gives the insect a narrower red-orange band in the middle. So this band ca...

VIDEO: Car slams into wall at high speed in Juarez neighborhood

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:12:53 GMT

JUAREZ, Mexico (Border Report) – A red 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo slammed into a wall in a residential neighborhood of Juarez late Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Security camera video shows the red Chevrolet leave a busy avenue and crash at high speed against the cinder-block barrier around a home at the corner of Lote Bravo and M. Rojas in Southeast Juarez. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Police at the scene said the 22-year-old male driver survived with minor injuries and was taken into custody. The noise of the impact brought out several families, some of them with their children in tow, to watch the vehicle that remained partway into the wall.

Democrats seek upset in Mississippi governor's race

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:12:53 GMT

Mississippi’s gubernatorial race next week could be surprisingly competitive as Democratic challenger Brandon Presley seeks to unseat Republican Gov. Tate Reeves in the deep-red state. Despite Mississippi’s status as a conservative stronghold, Democrats see an opportunity to flip the governor’s mansion, pointing to Reeves’s relatively low approval ratings and concerns about a long-running welfare scandal in the state as he seeks his second term as governor. The GOP holds a trifecta in the state — meaning it controls the governor’s office, as well as the state House and Senate — while former President Trump won the state by roughly 16 points in 2020. But the nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report shifted its assessment of the gubernatorial race last week from “likely” to “lean” Republican. Reeves “still has the edge,” analyst Jessica Taylor wrote for Cook Political Report, but Presley's “unusually strong challenger” status has made the race “a comp...

Texas remains No. 7 in AP Top 25, Oklahoma falls 7 spots after Bedlam loss

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:12:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The top nine teams went unchanged in the latest Associated Press Top 25 rankings released Sunday, leaving the Texas Longhorns in the No. 7 spot.Despite issues the Longhorns had against Kansas State, they still came away with a 33-30 overtime win. The Wildcats were No. 25 in the poll when they played Texas but are now outside of the rankings.Full AP Top 25Mississippi moved into the top 10 at No. 10 with its 38-35 win over Texas A&M. Oklahoma lost its second game of the season 27-24 to Bedlam rival Oklahoma State, and the Sooners tumbled seven spots to No. 17. The Cowboys jumped into the rankings at No. 15 with the win.Notre Dame dropped 10 spots to No. 22 following a 31-23 loss to Clemson, quarterbacked by former Westlake star Cade Klubnik. Instant Analysis: Unpacking a wild Longhorns win Lousiville and Oregon State moved up four spots to Nos. 11 and 12 while Utah and Tennessee both jumped five spots to Nos. 13 and 14.The undefeated Liberty Flames of Conference ...

New ACC residency program addressing Central Texas teacher shortages

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:12:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new program launched by Austin Community College this summer is working to minimize teacher shortages impacting school districts throughout the Central Texas region.Thirteen candidates are part of the program's inaugural year in operations, said Michelle DeLeon, ACC's teacher residency coordinator. Those candidates completed program coursework this past summer before beginning this academic year working alongside a classroom teacher to have hands-on experience. PAST COVERAGE: ACC to launch 2 new education certifications amid teacher shortage Right now, ACC is collaborating with three area school districts on the residency program. As the school begins preparations for year two of the program, DeLeon said she hopes to see more district partnerships to help build out a local talent pipeline."[The program has] been a wonderful success," she said. "Getting that hands-on experience has been really great for them, and we're getting great feedback from the residents, fr...

Tommies men’s basketball begins life after Andrew Rohde with tough game at Cal

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:12:53 GMT

There were times last season, when the St. Thomas men’s basketball team was rolling to a 19-win season and a fourth-place finish in the Summit League, that it was fair to ask, Where would this team be without Andrew Rohde?Beginning Monday night, when they travel to the Bay Area to play the University of California Golden Bears, this year’s version of the Tommies will start to provide the answer.Coach Johnny Tauer’s team returns 11 players, but the loss of the do-everything Rohde, who transferred to Virginia after a brilliant freshman season in St. Paul, ensures that the Tommies, while still relying on their share-the-ball, team-basketball approach, will have a new look.“Part of our job as coaches is to use the offseason to develop guys,” Tauer said. “You figure out their unique skill sets, then you put them in the right spot. One of our biggest challenges is, how do we get this group to grow into their roles?”In particular, the Tommies will be counting on sophomores Kendall Blue, a ...

What a debut! Josh Dobbs rallies Vikings to incredible 31-28 win over Falcons

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:12:53 GMT

ATLANTA — Josh Dobbs traded his newly minted Vikings jersey for a Superman cape on Sunday afternoon at Mercedes Benz Stadium.That set the stage for the 28-year-old journeyman quarterback less than a week after the Vikings acquired him at the trade deadline. He got the ball back with 2 minutes, 8 seconds left on the clock, needing a touchdown to win the game. Not a problem.In a moment that could end up defining this season, Dobbs led the Vikings on an 11-play, 75-yard drive, culminating with a touchdown pass to receiver Brandon Powell. That put the Vikings on top for good in a 31-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons that fans will be telling their grand kids about in the future.In the end, Dobbs finished 20 of 30 passing for 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and 66 yards and another touchdown rushing. All in a game that he entered as the backup quarterback not expecting to play in his wildest dreams.After the Falcons went ahead 3-0 early in the game, the Vikings had something rollin...

Timberwolves’ winning formula — the NBA’s best defense

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:12:53 GMT

Karl-Anthony Towns walked into the Timberwolves’ locker room after Saturday night’s victory over Utah, looked at the television and saw the final tally.Wolves 123, Jazz 95.“Man,” Towns said, “we just don’t let teams score over 100.”Four times in 87 regular-season and playoff games last season, the Timberwolves held their opponents under 100 points. They’ve matched that total through in this season’s first five games this fall.Their early defensive performance is a marvel in the modern-day game. You simply don’t contain opponents to the production level to which Minnesota is holding its opponents.The Timberwolves are surrendering a league-best 101.2 points per 100 possessions — 2.3 points better than Orlando, which touts the second-best defensive rating. For reference, the best defensive rating in the NBA last season was 109.9.Minnesota has been even more fearsome defensively in the half court. Removing transition from the equation, the Wolves are allowing just 82.9 point...

Jim Brickman to perform at Universal Preservation Hall

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:12:53 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Universal Preservation Hall will be kicking off their season of holiday-themed shows with a performance by pianist Jim Brickman. The concert is scheduled for November 17 at 7:30 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Brickman has earned two Grammy Award nominations and 32 different Top 20 radio hits across his multi-decade career. The show, titled “HITS LIVE! with A Little Bit of Christmas" will feature classics from Brickman's discography such as “Valentine” and “Love of My Life”, as well as holiday favorites like “The Gift". Universal Preservation Hall is located at 25 Washington Street in Saratoga Springs. You can buy Jim Brickman tickets online by visiting the venue's website.

USC fires defensive coordinator Alex Grinch with 2 games left in regular season

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:12:53 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch on Sunday with two games left in the Trojans' disappointing regular season.Head coach Lincoln Riley dropped his longtime top assistant one day after USC (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) gave up 572 yards and 52 points to No. 5 Washington in the Trojans' third loss in four games.USC’s defense has played poorly for the past six games, and the Trojans have fallen out of the College Football Playoff race after a 6-0 start despite a prolific offense led by Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. USC was unranked in Sunday's AP Top 25 for the first time in Riley's two-year tenure at the school.Defensive line coach Shaun Nua and inside linebackers Coach Brian Odom will serve as USC's co-defensive coordinators for the remainder of the season, which includes games against Oregon and UCLA before a bowl game. Taylor Mays, the former USC safety who has been a defensive analyst this season, was promoted to an on-field role working wit...