Latest news with #MississippiRiver
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
Union Pacific to Buy Norfolk Southern in $85 Billion Railroad Deal
Union Pacific, a freight rail giant, announced on Tuesday that it had reached an agreement to acquire Norfolk Southern, another large railroad, in a deal worth $85 billion. The merger would create the United States' first coast-to-coast rail network and span some 50,000 miles across 43 states. But the deal would put around two-fifths of rail freight in the hands of one company, raising fears that it would reduce competition in a crucial industry. Union Pacific, which operates west of the Mississippi River, and Norfolk Southern, whose tracks are mostly east of it, said the combined company would deliver freight faster by eliminating the need to switch railroads and opening new routes.. 'Railroads have been an integral part of building America since the Industrial Revolution, and this transaction is the next step in advancing the industry,' Jim Vena, chief executive of Union Pacific, said in a news release on Tuesday. The new company would be called Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad. Union Pacific said it was offering a combination of cash and stock for Norfolk Southern. 'It will make the railroads more efficient,' said Tony Hatch, a veteran rail analyst at ABH Consulting. 'And it adds reliability, which is the biggest rail issue.' The combined company would have over 50,000 employees, four-fifths of whom belong to unions. The merger announcement comes two and a half years after a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, upending life in the town for months. Last year, the company fired of its chief executive for having an affair with its chief legal officer. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Wall Street Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
A Tiny Company Is Vouching for Risky Insurers in Hurricane Country
LaPlace, La., is the sort of town that is becoming a no-go zone for major insurance companies. Sandwiched between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain outside of New Orleans, it is only about 10 feet above sea level and has an alarming history of serious storms and flooding. So Nadia Hart was happy that Lighthouse Excalibur Insurance, a small Louisiana insurer with an 'A' rating for financial stability, was willing to write a policy on her three-bedroom house in town. 'My broker told me that they were a good insurance company, a good rating, and so I went with them,' she said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
8 people hurt following boat explosion in Wisconsin, DNR investigating
PRESCOTT, Wis. (WFRV) – Authorities in western Wisconsin say there were no deaths, but eight people were hurt following a boat explosion on Saturday. According to a release from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, officials are investigating an incident where a boat carrying 11 people exploded on the Mississippi River near the City of Prescott. Officials say the boat's operator attempted to start its engine twice, and on the third attempt, the boat's engine exploded. Sheboygan Police Department investigating hit-and-run after bystander drives victim home The 11 people on board the vessel at the time were ejected from the boat. None of the boat's passengers were killed in the incident, but eight of them needed medical treatment at a nearby hospital. As attempts were made to put out the fire on the exploded boat, the vessel drifted into a second boat and caused some fire damage. All fires were extinguished, and no other information is available as the DNR continues to investigate the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
2 days ago
- Climate
- Forbes
Extreme Heat Warnings: Here's What To Know About Heat Wave Gripping Much Of U.S.
Millions of Americans are under heat alerts Monday as a heat wave brings triple-digit temperatures or heat indices to nearly half the continental United States, according to the National Weather Service—with the heat expected to impact the parts of the Southeast and the Mississippi river the hardest. Extreme heat warnings were issued for states along the Mississippi River and other parts of the ... More country, and temperatures in New York could reach into the 90s. AFP via Getty Images Extreme heat warnings—the NWS' highest level of heat alert—were issued for several states along the Mississippi River, including southern Illinois and Indiana, western Tennessee and Kentucky, southeastern Missouri, eastern Arkansas, and parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. Similar extreme heat warnings were issued for much of Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, as well as parts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Ohio. At least 15 more states were placed under heat advisories, the NWS said. Several regions could see the heat index—or what the temperature feels like when combined with humidity—rise well into the triple digits: coastal Georgia and South Carolina could see heat index values rise as high as 115 degrees, New Orleans could rise as high as 114 degrees, and parts of Mississippi and Louisiana could reach heat indices of 120 degrees. Much of the coastal Northeast is also under a heat advisory, with temperatures expected to reach the high 90s or lower 100s in New York City on Monday. Tampa, Florida, broke its all-time heat record Sunday afternoon when the mercury reached the 100 degree mark at Tampa International Airport for the first time ever. The city's previous record was 99 degrees, set in 2020. Forecasters are predicting the temperature to reach the high 90s or low 100s again Monday, with a heat index rising as high as 112 degrees. Leesburg, a city in central Florida north of Orlando, broke its heat record Sunday after reaching 100 degrees as well, and the rest of the region is bracing for more potentially record-breaking triple-digit temperatures Monday and Tuesday. Big Number At least 175 million. That's how many people are under heat advisories, according to an estimate by AccuWeather on Monday. In regions under the extreme heat warnings, the NWS recommends people stay out of the sun and in air conditioning. Limit exercise and "strenuous activity' to mornings and evenings, drink enough fluids, do not leave children or pets in cars, and check up on vulnerable family members and neighbors, the NWS says. Experts also warn Americans to monitor for signs of heat exhaustion—including heavy sweating, clammy skin and fainting. Heat stroke, a more severe condition that occurs after the body reaches an internal temperature above 103 degrees, is a major danger during heat waves, and can cause a rapid pulse, headaches, dizziness, nausea and fainting. When Will The Heat Wave End? Forecasters are predicting much-needed relief for much of the affected areas by the second half of the week, with many of the extreme heat warnings expiring by 8 p.m. on Wednesday or 6 a.m. on Thursday. A cold front will push over a large portion of the country next week, according to forecasters at the Weather Channel, and cooler-than-average temperatures are more likely than extreme heat in much of the Northeast and Midwest in the next 6-10 days, according to the NWS. However, temperatures will still be higher than average for much of south Florida and the Southwest, according to the NWS. Tangent Extreme heat has already disrupted travel, creating adverse conditions for flights and causing problems at the nation's airports. Over 3,900 flights were delayed as of 2 p.m. EDT on Monday, according to online tracker FlightAware. Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta had the highest number of delays.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What are those two castle-like towers near the Chain of Rocks Bridge?
ST. LOUIS – If you've ever walked across the historic Chain of Rocks Bridge or even driven along Interstate 270 near the Missouri-Illinois border, there's a good chance you've noticed two striking, castle-like towers rising from the Mississippi River. They may look like something out of a fairytale or the Medieval Times, but they're actually relics of St. Louis' innovative past, once playing a vital role in the city's water system. These towers are simply known as St. Louis Water Intake Towers No. 1 and No. 2, built over a century ago to help regulate the city's water systems and supply clean drinking water. Perched atop massive pedestals in the Mississippi River, the towers were once part of an advanced system designed to draw in fresh water upstream before it could reach more polluted sections downstream. Connected to onshore facilities by underground tunnels, the towers drew in river water, which was then processed and filtered before it reached local water supplies. For many decades, the towers were viewed as a crucial innovation to improving public health in a growing industrial city, specifically by providing clean water to residents. Intake Tower No. 1, built in 1894, was designed by architect William Eames in a Richardsonian Romanesque style. It features a white stone exterior, a green-prism shaped roof facing north and intricate cube-like stone detailing facing the south. Intake Tower No. 2, built in 1915, was designed by the firm Roth and Study in Roman Renaissance style. The tower stands out with a beige stone facade, a black roof and a thin green trim that separates the roof from its cylindrical and rectangular sections. Tower No. 2 is located just a few hundreds yard downstream of Tower No. 1. In the early 20th century, utility crews even camped inside the towers to ensure continuous operation and manage water flow between the two intake points. Both towers were designated as city landmarks by the 1970s, though were decommissioned sometime around the Great Flood of 1993. Neither one is in full service, though they continue to captivate travelers with their unique architecture. In 2015, FOX 2 had a rare opportunity to explore inside Tower No. 2 with St. Louis utility crews, capturing views of the preserved pumps, pipes, ladders and structural elements that once kept water flowing to St. Louis. FOX 2 also revisited the site from the Chain of Rocks Bridge in April, offering a fresh look at the historic towers and their lasting impression on the riverfront landscape. All in all, the towers stand as monuments of the city's engineering legacy and ambitious efforts to modernize its water infrastructure. Rising from the river unlike much else, the towers remain a hidden gem of St. Louis often overlooked but nearly impossible to forget. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
