Latest news with #MattBishop
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Map Shows Eight States Under Flood Warnings Amid Thunderstorms
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued flood warnings and advisories across eight southern U.S. states on Thursday as severe thunderstorms brought heavy rain and raised the risk of rapid flooding. Official alerts listed Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina as areas currently under a range of flood-related warnings. Why It Matters This wave of flood warnings followed earlier destructive thunderstorms that impacted the South, resulting in widespread property damage, power outages, and at least one death. Those storms are predicted to continue into Friday, with heavy rain and thunderstorms likely from Texas into the southeast. What To Know The NWS has issued flood advisories and warnings for rivers across multiple states as days of heavy rainfall mean they are more likely to break their banks and flood. Vehicles sit in floodwater during Hurricane Beryl on July 8, 2024, in Houston, Texas. Vehicles sit in floodwater during Hurricane Beryl on July 8, 2024, in Houston, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Motorists are advised not to attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas, while pedestrians are warned not to walk alongside rivers in flood warning zones. Lowland areas and farms may also be affected, according to the NWS alert. Officials warned that persistent rainfall and the threat of more thunderstorms could lead to additional flooding in urban centers and rural zones alike. In addition to floods, the thunderstorms are bringing other hazards to the region as well, including "large to very large hail," damaging wind gusts, and tornados, according to a forecast from the NWS. Flooding could remain a concern for several states currently dealing with the excessive rainfall. According to the NWS Climate Prediction Center's six- to 10-day precipitation outlook, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas have a slight chance of above-normal precipitation. Meanwhile, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana are expecting normal precipitation for this time of year during the same period, whereas South Carolina has a chance of below-normal precipitation. What People Are Saying NWS meteorologist Matt Bishop, who works at the Fort Worth office, told Newsweek: "May is definitely one of our more active times of year. In fact, March, April, and May are typically fairly active as far as thunderstorms go, not just here but all throughout the Plains and southern part of the U.S. We've gotten enough rain here recently to where it has caused some river flooding." Bishop added:"Flooding is another one of those hazards that comes along with the active thunderstorm season we have." Most NWS flood warnings said: "Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles." What Happens Next The storms are expected to continue through until the weekend. Rivers can take time to recede, so most flood warnings are in place "until further notice."
The Guardian
21-02-2025
- The Guardian
‘Breathing in the fragrances of the Atlas cedar trees': readers' favourite places in Morocco
The calm city of Khenifra is well worth a detour from the main tourist routes of Morocco. It enjoys a lovely location on the banks of the Oum Er-Rbia river and is surrounded by the Atlas mountains, which keep the air fresh, clean and invigorating for strolling around. It's also just a short bus ride away from the Khenifra national park. I spent two days hiking there enjoying beautiful lakeside walks breathing in the fragrances of the Atlas cedar trees. Don't miss the source of the Oum Er-Rbia and its gentle waterfall, tumbling down the reddish rocks. Joe Taghazout, a 30-minute drive north of Agadir, is already on the map as a surf destination, but as the sun goes down the town's skatepark is the place to head. Built in just a few weeks on public ground by 100 volunteers from around the globe, it's become a community hub, as well as a place for visitors to gather and witness some epic tricks against the stunning ocean backdrop. Skateboards and safety gear are available to rent, and lessons are available. Because the scene feels more inclusive than at UK parks, you may well be Guardian Travel readers' tips Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage - The Medina Stories food tour (about £35 a head) in Marrakech is just fabulous. The guide, Rachid, is a trove of historical and culinary expertise, taking you to more than a dozen off-the-beaten-track stalls, bakeries, cafes and restaurants to snack on all manner of local delicacies, from homemade yoghurt and breads to cow spleen sandwiches and snails. You end up drinking mint tea overlooking the bustle of Jemaa el-Fnaa. It's a brilliant entry to the medina for disoriented tourists. We even took our toddler and he absolutely loved it, except the snails. Matt Bishop On the road between the legendary fort of Aït Benhaddou and the desert paradise of Merzouga is a little-known town called Agdz, a peaceful haven with a huge ancient casbah. In the north of the town, surrounded by palm and pomegranate trees, the casbah is a relic of the caravan trading route to Timbuktu, and is a maze of mud-brick houses and fortifications. Having the opportunity to walk freely through such a vast historical site without any interruption or fee was a unique The steep, craggy mountains of the Ameln valley in the Anti-Atlas tower over the many Amazigh villages dotted along the valley floor. Ancient houses and minarets cling to the mountainside. Occasionally, you may hear sounds from behind a courtyard wall, but mostly it's a quiet and enchanting place where you could spend weeks following the narrow paths between the villages. There are a handful of guesthouses – Bio Beldi in Ait Omgas has a simple, spacious two-bedroom apartment (€55 a night, B&B). The restaurant downstairs serves delicious dishes using food from the The unpretentious and magnificently named Taha the Grandson restaurant on the promenade of Agadir was a real find among the more tourist-oriented beachfront places to eat. It is run by Iraqi Taha as a work of devotion to his late grandfather. We found friendly and helpful service, delicious Middle Eastern food (the Iraqi lentil soup was a delicious starter) and an expert lesson in how to make a proper cup of mint tea (it's all in the pouring). On top of the wonderful food, it proved excellent Lunt Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion Last November, my best friend and I attended the third Zamane festival in the small oasis town of M'Hamid El Ghizlane, on the edge of the Sahara. From Marrakech we drove through the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas mountains, stopping at our leisure to let the natural beauty of the surroundings and its people sink into our souls. We stayed in a beautiful and affordable casbah in the city of Ouarzazate. In the early evening of the first day of the festival we arrived and immersed ourselves in the music, the colours and the energy. A remarkable three-day celebration of nomadic life with the soundtrack of desert blues (a fusion of blues and rock from the Sahara). The performance of the headliner, Bombino, was a fitting climax to the whole unforgettable experience. Humberto Pena Rabat was the city break I didn't know I needed. Often overlooked by tourists in favour of Marrakech or Fez, it offers a Moroccan experience that feels refreshingly unhurried. Wandering its medina, I was charmed by the warm greetings of locals, happy to help or simply let me browse their spices, leather and perfumes without the pressure I found elsewhere. Just steps away, the restless Atlantic Ocean provided a peaceful escape, with breezy walks along the shore clearing my mind. The city also has a sleek, modern tram system, making exploration effortless (and even offering free wifi). Visit before the secret gets We travelled around Morocco last year and were pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get around by bus and train. We also booked accommodation as we went – hostels and riads. Some of the beautiful riads were tucked away down tiny alleyways; it seemed unbelievable that we'd ever find them. A great place was Atlantic Hostel in Essaouira (£15 per person). It was friendly, simple and clean, and had the most wonderful rooftop terrace. For vegetarian food, we'd recommend Veggie Pause in Taking a seven- and eight-year-old to Marrakech for half-term was, some said, madness. However, we wanted to show our granddaughters life beyond Spain. They delighted us by fearlessly embracing colourful, multi-scented alleyways and bazaars, waterfalls where free-roaming monkeys yanked their pigtails, beautiful Majorelle gardens, calming Berber villages in the Atlas foothills and sunset desert camels. The Bohemian Jungle was our riad base: a magical, fantastic, music-filled paradise with Moroccan ivy reaching from roof garden to pool. The icing on the cake, a dressing-up room!Diana Rees
Chicago Tribune
14-02-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Elgin News Digest: Township mental health board awards $1.15M in grants; Tibetan monks to be in residency at ECC in April
Township mental health board awards $1.15M in grants The Hanover Township Mental Health Board has approved $1.15 million in grant funding for 33 agencies. Among the Elgin-area agencies to receive grants are: Ecker Center for Mental Health, $180,500 for therapy, substance abuse and crisis services; Easter Seals of DuPage and Fox Valley Region, $90,000 to provide outpatient medical rehabilitation to Hanover Township residents and $30,000 for mental health treatment for youth and to assist clients with developmental disabilities; Family Service Association of Greater Elgin, $48,000 for therapy services; Centro de Información, $40,000 for family-centered mental health services; About Behavioral Change, $17,500 to provide substance abuse counseling and education; Hopeful Beginnings, $20,000 for its maternal mental health program. To view the complete list of grant allocations, go to Tibetan monks to be in residency at ECC in April The Mystical Arts of Tibet world tour featuring the monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery will be in residency April 8-12 at Elgin Community College. The monks will participate in a variety of activities open to the public, including rituals, ceremonies and lectures on Tibetan meditation, philosophy, art and culture, according to a news release. A highlight of the residency will be the creation of a sand mandala, a traditional Tibetan Buddhist art form featuring intricate designs made with colored sand. The residency culminates at 7 p.m Saturday, April 12, with 'Sacred Music, Sacred Chants for Peace and Healing,' which combines traditional multiphonic chanting and sacred music, the release said. ECC received a $10,000 Challenge America award from the National Endowment for the Arts to pay the residency. For more information or to purchase tickets for 'Sacred Music, Sacred Chants for Peace and Healing,' go to or call the box office, 847-622-0300. Bishop memorial concert being held at River Street Tavern A concert in memory of music educator Matt Bishop will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at River Street Tavern, 102 N. River St. in East Dundee. The all-ages event is sponsored by The Wooden Elephant Foundation, a nonprofit set up in Bishop's honor to provide scholarships to District 300 high school seniors to continue their education, according to a social media post for the event. There will be no cover charge to attend the memorial but donations for the scholarship program will be accepted. Bishop, a 34-year-old Elgin resident, died Feb. 24, 2024. He was a music teacher at Dundee Middle School and at one time served as conductor and artistic director of the Elgin Youth Choir. He also worked with the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin to establish an annual concert series and served as music director for Children's Theater of Elgin, Fox Valley Theater Company, Marquee Main Stage Theater, Schaumburg on Stage and Point 2 Productions. For more information on the concert, call 224-293-2033. For information on the foundation, go to
