Latest news with #EmergencyAlertSystem
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota TV alert cuts off Stanley Cup OT winner at worst possible moment
Minnesota TV alert cuts off Stanley Cup OT winner at worst possible moment originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final was as good as it gets, with the Edmonton Oilers beating the defending champion Florida Panthers 4-3 in overtime. There's no question that Minnesotans eyes were glued to TV screens when Connor McDavid found Leon Draisaitl for the winning goal at exactly 10:44 p.m. CT. Just one problem: Game 1 was played on the first Wednesday of an even month, and 10:44 p.m. is when Minnesota runs emergency alert tests on television. Sign up for our BREAKING WEATHER newsletters At the precise moment that McDavid delivered the pass to Draisaitl, the game was interrupted by the distinctive, screeching tone and the full-screen emergency alert screen. Watch: The test interrupted the live feed from the game with 32.4 seconds left in overtime, and Draisaitl's shot found the back of the net with about 31.9 seconds remaining. A half-second later would've allowed Minnesotans to see the goal. It was like a cross-check to the kidneys for the State of Hockey, which despite eight consecutive first-round playoff exits by the Minnesota Wild, is always plugged into the Stanley Cup Final while dreaming of what it would be like to watch Kirill Kaprizov score an overtime winner in a championship series game. For Minnesotans who didn't get to see the full game-winner, here you go. It was beautiful. Just so you're aware next time, Minnesota conducts emergency alerts on television as part of the Emergency Alert System. The statewide EAS test is deployed on the first Wednesday of each month. Outdoor sirens typically sound at 1 p.m., but the television tests occur at 1:44 p.m. in odd months and 10:44 p.m. in even months. Note: The test doesn't air on streaming services, so Minnesotans who watched the game on YouTube TV or other streaming platforms didn't experience the interruption. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Native leaders, advocates gather for Emily's Law bill signing ceremony
Gov. Katie Hobbs participates in a bill signing ceremony for House Bill 2281 ion May 21, 2025. Photo by Shondiin Silversmith | Arizona Mirror Surrounded by the flags of Arizona's 22 Tribal Nations, Indigenous leaders, advocates, and officials gathered with Gov. Katie Hobbs on May 21 to witness the ceremonial signing of a long-awaited law. ' We are here because the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people demands our full attention and collaboration,' Hobbs said. 'It demands action and it demands solutions.' Hobbs officially signed House Bill 2281, the Turquoise Alert System bill, into law on May 13, establishing a new system to issue state-wide alerts for missing Indigenous or endangered persons using the federally authorized Emergency Alert System. The alert applies to anyone younger than 65 who does not meet criteria for an Amber or Silver Alert. An Amber Alert is activated when a minor is abducted, and a Silver Alert is for when a person over the age of 65 or who has a cognitive or developmental disability goes missing. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX If a person who is 18 or older goes missing in Arizona, a public alert of their disappearance is not available nor required. That's a hurdle that many Indigenous families are familiar with. The Department of Public Safety will oversee the new alert system. Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis said that the new alert system closes jurisdictional and age-related gaps, which will help better serve Indigenous people who go missing or could be in danger. 'The language provides for collaboration between Tribal, state and local police, and as we know from the success of the Amber Alert system, the sooner law enforcement and the public are alerted to potential danger, the stronger the likelihood that endangered individuals can return home safely,' he said. Lewis collaborated with Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, who sponsored the bill, which passed through the legislature with unanimous support. ' I applaud all of the members of the legislature for their support for this bill and for taking this important step to addressing this longstanding, missing and murdered Indigenous crisis that continues throughout our state,' Lewis said. Arizona is the fifth state to implement a missing and endangered Indigenous persons alert system. The other states are California, Washington, Colorado and New Mexico. The bill is known as Emily's Law in honor of 14-year-old Emily Pike, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe who went missing and was later found dead earlier this year. ' Every year, tens of thousands of people go missing who fall outside the criteria for an amber or silver alert,' Hobbs said. 'Emily Pike was one of those people. Her life and her story mattered.' Hobb announced that the state is contributing $25,000 to the San Carlos Apache Tribes' reward for information on Emily Pike's murder. Hobbs said the contribution comes after meeting with San Carlos Apache tribal leaders and asking them how the state could help support the investigation. The total award is now $175,000. ' I urge anyone with information to contact the Gila County Sheriff's Office or the FBI,' Hobbs said, adding that Emily Pike would have turned 15 on May 15. 'She should have celebrated with her friends and family. Her family deserves this justice,' she added. 'And in her honor, I am proud to sign Emily's Law to establish the Turquoise Alert in Arizona.' Lewis said the law will not bring Emily Pike back, but he hopes that Emily's Law will prevent another Indigenous relative, child, or teen from suffering the same fate. ' With the implementation of the Turquoise Alert System along with the Amber Alert System and Silver Alert System, together, we can collectively all work together to protect our children, our elders, our most vulnerable, our tribal members, and act quickly to bring them to safety,' he added. Emily Pike's mother, sister, and uncle, Allred Pike Jr., attended the signing. Her uncle spoke on behalf of the family, expressing that he is conflicted about the name, Emily's Law, because his niece is no longer here. ' She was murdered. She was dismembered. She was tossed to the side of the road like she didn't matter,' he said. 'She was our daughter, our niece, our granddaughter, our cousin, our friend, and we're here to tell you that she mattered, her life mattered.' Allred Pike said that it was hard to be at the signing, but the family understands that Emily's Law is a step in the right direction to move forward. 'We just don't want this to happen to anyone else out there and to make sure that this law helps save lives for other missing and murdered Indigenous women,' he added. The new Turquoise Alert System will operate in parallel with the Missing and Endangered Person alert code, a national alert code adopted by the Federal Communications Commission in the fall of 2024. The national code is being established in Arizona and is expected to be launched by the summer. DPS will establish the Turquoise Alert System, a quick response system designed to issue and coordinate alerts following the report of a missing Indigenous or endangered person. The alert would only be issued at the request of a law enforcement agency investigating a missing person report. DPS would approve and issue the alert, but for it to be issued, the missing person must be an Indigenous or non-Indigenous endangered person under the age of 65. Due to state work on implementing the FCC's new alert code for the last year, Hobbs said that the Turquoise Alert System can be implemented immediately when the law goes into effect, 90 days after the close of the legislative session. 'The Turquoise Alert will be ready by the end of this summer, and I'm so glad that we are able to come together in a bipartisan way to pass common-sense legislation that will increase public safety,' Hobbs said. More than 10,600 Indigenous people were reported missing in the U.S. in 2023, roughly 3,300 of whom were 18 or older, according to the FBI. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System reported that more than 23,700 missing persons cases were in the database at the end of 2023, and 255 of those were for Indigenous people. In 2021, Arizona was ranked as having the third-largest number of unresolved cases of missing Indigenous people in the country, according to NamUs. Currently, there are 93 cases of missing Indigenous people in the NamUs database for Arizona. The Urban Indian Health Institute reported that Arizona also has the third-largest number of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in the country. Their study reported 506 known cases in 71 urban areas across the country, 54 of which were in Arizona, including 31 in Tucson. There is still no comprehensive database that provides accurate numbers or data related to missing and murdered Indigenous peoples across the country. Without a centralized system among the thousands of federal, state, and tribal entities, the information available remains limited. When examining the numbers, it's important to note that Indigenous people make up only about 6% of Arizona's population. The state has three major metropolitan areas, all home to large Indigenous populations. Each of Arizona's 22 tribal nations has many tribal members living on their tribal lands. The recommendation for a missing endangered persons alert in Arizona was first made in 2022 by the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls ad hoc committee and has continued as a recommendation by the task force. Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, D-Coal Mine Mesa, said getting Emily's Law signed is a milestone, but that advocacy work will continue. Hathathlie, a member of the Navajo Nation and advocate for MMIP, said there have been discussions regarding jurisdictional issues, training requests and educational needs to address MMIP, but the work must be done collaboratively. 'We need to stop working in silos,' she added. 'We need to come together and have these difficult conversations because every single day, we have another missing person.' Rep. Myron Tsosie, D-Chinle, who is also from the Navajo Nation, said that Emily's Law brings some relief for Indigenous peoples and their families who have fought to have their voices heard. 'Our voices are being heard,' he said. 'This brings some relief to our tribal communities, not only here in Arizona, but across the country.' Tsosie said the fight for MMIP must continue and the community must help raise awareness. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE UPDATE: This story's headline has been updated for clarity.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Residents survey the damage after tornado touches down in Bennett
BENNETT, Colo. (KDVR) — First responders and residents are surveying the damage after a tornado caused serious destruction in parts of Bennett. Ronnie was outside of her home in Bennett on Sunday afternoon when she noticed an alert on her phone. Tornadoes touchdown in NE Colorado, egg-sized hail reported: Photos, NWS data 'There was no wind, you think that there's going to be this precursor, this like, earth-shattering event to let you know that there's another event coming,' Ronnie said. 'The only warning I had was my phone went off, and it sounded like an Amber Alert or something. And I checked it out, and it was one of those weather alerts.' Right after the weather alert, footage Ronnie shared with FOX31 captured what rolled in. 'There's just this wall of this like tsunami of brown material headed my way,' she said. 'We occupied the safest room and it was just here. And I remember being shocked at how long it was here. Then I came back out and saw it, and it was just a beautiful day except for the war zone.' Rampart Search and Rescue deployed to the Bennett area to assist on Sunday. 'There was quite a bit of devastation, and so you feel for the folks that, you know, have lost everything,' David Haskin, chief of Rampart Search and Rescue, said. 'The house behind me, we just found out that the house was just sold. I don't know if the new people are here in town or they're out of town, but that will be a little bit of a shock for them when they find out the devastation of it. Haskin and the volunteer search and rescue team flew drones to help the damage assessment team, helped to block roads with downed power lines and responded to homes to make sure residents were not stuck under debris. 'A family didn't have power, so they were looking at a way that they could get water for their livestock,' Haskin said. 'We reached out to the Adams County Public Works Department to see if they could bring a tender in to fill up their water bales.' At least 20 structures damaged by tornadoes in eastern Colorado on Sunday Ronnie said community members and volunteers came out quickly to help in the midst of the chaos. 'The community really kicked in,' Ronnie said. 'There was probably about, I would say, easily 30 plus people out here last night, late into the night.' Adams County's emergency notification process is managed by AdCom-911 using the CodeRed system. The sheriff's department tells FOX31 that residents also receive notifications from the National Weather Service through the Emergency Alert System. You can learn more about these systems here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
When is a ‘destructive' severe thunderstorm warning issued?
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A severe storm pushed through portions of Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Jefferson and Shelby counties that prompted a 'destructive' severe thunderstorm warning Sunday morning. People were woken up very early Sunday to their phones buzzing from an Emergency Alert System notification for up to 80 mile per hour winds. While people expect the emergency system to alert them during a tornado warning, some wondered why this alarm was also sounded for a severe thunderstorm warning. In 2021, the National Weather Service rolled out new branding for severe thunderstorm warnings by creating categories based on the threat level. For instance, it was realized that a severe storm producing extreme winds or hail should earn its own label compared to a standard severe storm with relatively less destructive winds or hail. The definition of a severe thunderstorm warning is a storm producing winds of at least 58 miles per hour or up to quarter-sized hail in diameter. That 2021 decision led to two new types of severe thunderstorm warnings. The 'considerable' type is for winds of at least 70 miles per hour or golf ball-sized hail. The 'destructive' warning is for winds of at least 80 miles per hour or baseball-sized hail. When a 'destructive' severe thunderstorm warning is issued, the EAS is prompted to alert cell phones and televisions, which is why many people were caught off guard early Sunday because there was no tornado warning. While that isn't the first severe thunderstorm warning with a 'destructive' tag in central Alabama, this part of the country does not receive them often. Typically, only about 10% of severe thunderstorm warnings have a destructive tag associated with them. Meteorologists urge people to take shelter when a 'destructive' tag is issued since those winds are reaching hurricane-force strength, which is strong enough to produce substantial damage similar to a weak tornado or hurricane. Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team: Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - Congress must prioritize emergency readiness over industry gridlock
One of the enduring lessons from my three terms in Congress and decades in law enforcement, including as Orlando's chief of police, is that even the best ideas often take time to become law. Some bills move quickly, while others require years of persistent effort and negotiation. That's the nature of democratic governance. What's essential is to keep pushing for progress, while recognizing that we should always seize opportunities to pass legislation that can help keep people safe. We have such an opportunity today. Currently, there is a debate unfolding around music royalty reform and protecting America's public warning infrastructure. As an original sponsor of the Music Modernization Act, I've long supported efforts to ensure American musicians are treated fairly — especially in this digital age. Artists and performers deserve to be compensated for their work. While the Music Modernization Act was a major step in the right direction, I clearly understand there is still much work to do in Congress. There are not yet enough votes yet to expand the Music Modernization Act. However, a bill created to protect America's public warning infrastructure — the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act —currently has overwhelming bipartisan support, including a filibuster-proof majority of co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate. Unfortunately, some music industry stakeholders, understandably frustrated with the slow pace of royalty reform, are advocating that Congress refrain from passing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act unless further royalty reform legislation is passed alongside it. As a former police chief who led public safety efforts during major storms and other emergencies, and as a member of Congress who served as chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery, I can say, without hesitation, that this would be a mistake. Both issues deserve serious consideration from Congress, but only one of them, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, has the bipartisan support needed to pass right now. I have firsthand experience on how critical AM radio can be when other systems fail during emergencies. Passing this bill is a necessity for public safety. As former Acting Homeland Security Secretary Pete Gaynor put it, when the Department of Homeland Security, Congress, FEMA and the FCC worked together to create an emergency management system capable of withstanding even the worst disasters, they made AM radio the lynchpin of the system because public safety officials can depend on it even when other platforms fail. It has worked tremendously well. The Major Cities Chiefs Association, which represents 70 of the U.S. largest cities' police departments, has said that, 'when disasters strike, the [National Public Warning System and Emergency Alert System] are often the only means by which first responders and the citizenry can access and share emergency updates. This is due to their continued use of the nation's tried-and-true 'fail-safe' communication method — AM radio.' Indeed. When cell towers go down and the internet goes dark (as they often do during hurricanes and other extreme weather events), AM radio keeps broadcasting. We saw this during the recent storms that tore through the Southeast, including my home state of Florida. In those moments, AM radio was a lifeline. Local officials used it to communicate evacuation routes, shelter locations and emergency updates. During Hurricane Helene, CNN called it 'a lifeline.' That's why law enforcement, fire service and emergency management professionals across the country support this bill. Public safety professionals know that the absence of AM radio would make their jobs harder — and put lives at risk. FEMA has even said that if automakers continue removing AM radio, 'millions' of Americans could lose access to 'critical, live saving' information during disasters. I understand the desire to see broader royalty reform and I hope Congress will reach consensus soon. However, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is about public safety, and we must not delay or derail public safety legislation that is ready to become law now. Doing so does not help anyone, including the very artists music lobbyists are trying to help. I was proud to have served in Congress. I know this is not an either-or choice. It's a test of whether Congress can walk and chew gum at the same time. Congress must move now to meet its primary obligation — to keep the American people safe. Here's hoping it does. Val Demings was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 10th District from 2017-2023, where she served as chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery. She was chief of the Orlando Police Department from 2007-2011. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
