Latest news with #TampaBayTimes
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tampa Breaks Heat Record as Heat Dome Bakes Eastern U.S.
Records are starting to fall to the continuing heat dome that is covering much of the eastern U.S. More than 250 million people in the U.S.—nearly three quarters of the population—are experiencing moderate, major or extreme risk of heat effects on July 28, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. The warnings come as a heat dome continues to smother the eastern U.S.—and records are starting to fall under the oppressive heat. Perhaps most surprisingly is that, on July 27, the current heat dome pushed Tampa, Fla., into triple digits Fahrenheit for the first time since monitoring began during the 1890s, according to the Tampa Bay Times. 'We're frequently over 90—for three, four months a year, almost every day it gets above 90,' says Tyler Fleming, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Tampa Bay office. 'But getting to 100 takes a lot of heat, so it's never happened in the recorded history of Tampa.' Surrounded by water, Tampa—and Florida at large—is usually cursed with enough humidity to keep the overall air temperature, as a thermometer measures it, a bit lower. It takes a lot of energy to heat up water (think about how long it takes to bring water to a boil on the stove), so it takes more energy to heat up humid air to a given temperature than it takes to heat up dry air to the same point, Fleming explains. [Sign up for Today in Science, a free daily newsletter] READ MORE: Heat Is More Than Just Temperature—Here's How We Measure It He says there wasn't any special factor that caused Tampa's heat record to occur on Sunday beyond the extremity of the current situation. 'We've been close many times; we've been to 99 several times before,' Fleming says. 'It was just a strong heat wave—that was just enough to push us over the edge.' Tampa is the highest-profile city to see a heat record fall. But the current bout of extreme heat has tied record temperatures in several other cities, including Jacksonville, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C. Climate change is increasing the odds of breaking heat records everywhere because the global temperature is now higher overall and extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and hotter and lasting longer. A brutal heat dome has smothered much of the eastern U.S. since last week, with the worst conditions beginning in the Midwest, traveling to the East Coast and then settling over the Southeast. The heat dome is the result of a remarkably large ridge of high pressure that has been stalling over the region. 'When that high pressure is overhead, it pushes the air down,' Fleming says. 'As the air sinks, it compresses and heats up.' If you live in an affected area, check out Scientific American's science-backed tips for staying healthy in extreme heat and for keeping your house cool. The current heat dome is expected to linger for several more days until the high-pressure system migrates westward, which, Fleming says, should return the region to what he calls 'a more typical summer pattern.' But for now, huge portions of the country remain at risk from the sweltering heat. The NWS HeatRisk map calculates the number of people exposed to different categories of heat risk. On July 28, 16 million people are at extreme risk, which NWS describes as 'rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with no overnight relief'; another 135.9 million are at major risk. The map estimates that by July 29, more than 12 million people will remain at extreme risk, and nearly 150 million will be at major risk. And as of July 30, nearly 115 million people are expected to be at major or extreme risk. The widespread high risk will not begin to abate until July 31. Solve the daily Crossword
NBC News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Republicans across the country are pushing bills to stop government 'weather modification'
'They're upset over what they call chemtrails they see in the sky,' Greene said of constituents who have contacted her about the issue. 'They're continually upset about it, and they're engaged on it. But it hadn't gotten there on a wide scale. Remember the flooding in Dubai? That was one of the first times I saw, like, 'Oh, this went mainstream, and people are paying attention.'' A Democrat who works on environmental policy said the episode has them feeling as bleak as ever about the future of their field. 'I saw someone tweet the other day a picture of the sky, and it was blue,' this person said. 'And then 20 minutes later, there were clouds. And they said, 'How is this possible?' And I'm like, have people just never looked up?' This person said the focus on geoengineering has crystallized in their mind as the next stage of the Republican response to the impact of climate change. 'It went from 'we don't believe in climate change' to 'we actually believe in this other thing,'' this person said. 'It absolutely is their response to climate change.' Greene and Burchett's legislation still has a long road ahead of it before it could become law, which Greene acknowledged in the interview. But in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed such legislation into law last month. That bill was a high-level priority for Republican state Attorney General James Uthmeier, DeSantis' former chief of staff. At Uthmeier's urging, the state's Republican-dominated Legislature passed a bill this year that makes weather modification and geoengineering a third-degree felony punishable by a fine of up to $100,000. The bill passed with only Republican votes. 'Florida does appear to have seen evidence of weather modification activities in the state,' a spokesman for the attorney general's office said. 'We don't yet know what impacts cloud-seeding or aerosol releases have on environmental or human health, which is all the more reason why Florida wants to raise public awareness and stop weather modification experiments in the state.' In Florida, a decades-old law requires permission from the state for anyone to alter the weather. State officials told the Tampa Bay Times that no one has ever applied under the law. In a letter this month, Uthmeier warned publicly owned airports across the state that they must be in compliance with the new law, which requires public airports to report planes with weather modification devices to the state, and suggested that weather modification may have triggered the flooding in Texas. 'Because airports are most likely to catch those who seek to weaponize science in order to push their agenda, your compliance with these reporting obligations is essential to keeping our state safe from these harmful chemicals and experiments,' Uthmeier wrote this month. The Trump administration is also trying to address the concerns. This month, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin directed readers to his agency's new resources on geoengineering and contrails. (Contrails are naturally forming condensation trails from rockets and other aircraft.) Those new websites shut down claims of government weather control, saying the government was not engaged in solar geoengineering testing and that the 'federal government is not aware of there ever being a contrail intentionally formed over the United States for the purpose of geoengineering or weather modification.' Bartolotta highlighted the new information now available on the EPA's website, saying its mention of the issue is more evidence that her concerns are valid and adding that she is worried about potential adverse health impacts. 'I know so many people today, they're finally noticing, and it gets worse and worse and worse,' she said. 'Every single day, you can't look at the sky and not see huge stripes sprayed by all these planes every single day and every night.'
Scientific American
a day ago
- Climate
- Scientific American
Tampa Breaks 100 Degrees F for First Time on Record as Heat Wave Bakes Eastern U.S.
More than 250 million people in the U.S.—nearly three quarters of the population—are experiencing moderate, major or extreme risk of heat effects on July 28, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. The warnings come as a heat dome continues to smother the eastern U.S.—and records are starting to fall under the oppressive heat. Perhaps most surprisingly is that, on July 27, the current heat dome pushed Tampa, Fla., into triple digits Fahrenheit for the first time since monitoring began during the 1890s, according to the Tampa Bay Times. 'We're frequently over 90—for three, four months a year, almost every day it gets above 90,' says Tyler Fleming, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Tampa Bay office. 'But getting to 100 takes a lot of heat, so it's never happened in the recorded history of Tampa.' Surrounded by water, Tampa—and Florida at large—is usually cursed with enough humidity to keep the overall air temperature, as a thermometer measures it, a bit lower. It takes a lot of energy to heat up water (think about how long it takes to bring water to a boil on the stove), so it takes more energy to heat up humid air to a given temperature than it takes to heat up dry air to the same point, Fleming explains. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. He says there wasn't any special factor that caused Tampa's heat record to occur on Sunday beyond the extremity of the current situation. 'We've been close many times; we've been to 99 several times before,' Fleming says. 'It was just a strong heat wave—that was just enough to push us over the edge.' Tampa is the highest-profile city to see a heat record fall. But the current bout of extreme heat has tied record temperatures in several other cities, including Jacksonville, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C. Climate change is increasing the odds of breaking heat records everywhere because the global temperature is now higher overall and extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and hotter and lasting longer. A brutal heat dome has smothered much of the eastern U.S. since last week, with the worst conditions beginning in the Midwest, traveling to the East Coast and then settling over the Southeast. The heat dome is the result of a remarkably large ridge of high pressure that has been stalling over the region. 'When that high pressure is overhead, it pushes the air down,' Fleming says. 'As the air sinks, it compresses and heats up.' If you live in an affected area, check out Scientific American 's science-backed tips for staying healthy in extreme heat and for keeping your house cool. The current heat dome is expected to linger for several more days until the high-pressure system migrates westward, which, Fleming says, should return the region to what he calls 'a more typical summer pattern.' But for now, huge portions of the country remain at risk from the sweltering heat. The NWS HeatRisk map calculates the number of people exposed to different categories of heat risk. On July 28, 16 million people are at extreme risk, which NWS describes as 'rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with no overnight relief'; another 135.9 million are at major risk. The map estimates that by July 29, more than 12 million people will remain at extreme risk, and nearly 150 million will be at major risk. And as of July 30, nearly 115 million people are expected to be at major or extreme risk. The widespread high risk will not begin to abate until July 31.
Axios
6 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Pinellas schools face for cuts because of Trump's funding freeze
Pinellas County Schools is bracing for cuts now that the Trump administration has frozen nearly $9 million in grant money the district expected to receive, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Why it matters: Students return to classes in a few weeks, but whether there will be enough staff to support them is unclear. The district relies on federal funds for more than 40 jobs, and without them, cuts are expected. Catch up quick: The Trump administration is sitting on billions of dollars in federal grants, which help school districts across the U.S. afford programs such as migrant education and English language instruction. On June 30, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it would withhold funds to review compliance with the " president's priorities" — just one day before the scheduled disbursement. Trump released before- and after-school funds under pressure, but funding for migrant education, professional development, English learner services and academic enrichment remains frozen. The latest: The school district will hold a forum on Thursday at 6pm in the Administration Building's conference hall to explain the impact of the funding freeze to "families, staff and stakeholders." "It's important for the public at large to see how these cuts are affecting their schools," Pinellas County Board member Katie Blaxberg told the Times. Attendees will have the chance to voice their concerns during a moderated question-and-answer session. Driving the news: Pinellas won't include the grant money in its budget until it is released, according to the Times. Pinellas County Superintendent Kevin Hendrick told the newspaper that there are ways to fund some of the affected positions, but he didn't offer many specifics. Zoom out: Across the country, $6.8 billion in federal education grants have been frozen, including almost $400 million earmarked for Florida schools.
Gulf Today
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Alligator Alcatraz detainees describe what it's like now
Nicolas Villamil and Juan Carlos Chavez, Tribune News Service One worked in a celebrated restaurant in Miami's Design District. Another is an aspiring DJ. An Italian passport holder was already preparing to leave the US. All three ended up at Alligator Alcatraz, a vast compound of tents and trailers built to hold up to 3,000 migrants deep in the Florida Everglades. In the weeks since Gov. Ron DeSantis invoked emergency powers to build it, just who is actually in Alligator Alcatraz — and the conditions they encounter — have become contested topics. While President Donald Trump vowed that the detention center would hold 'some of the most vicious people on the planet,' a roster of detainees obtained last week by the Times/Herald revealed that of 700 names listed, more than a third had only immigration violations but no criminal record in the United States. Last week, Tampa Bay Times reporters visited the detention center — located in Collier County but built at an isolated airstrip that is owned and operated by Miami-Dade County — and spoke by phone to seven detainees or their family members about their arrests and their experiences inside Alligator Alcatraz. Though four of the seven detainees were arrested in Florida and charged with felonies, court records show that many of the charges were dropped. It's unclear how many were convicted. Some of the family members declined to identify themselves to the Times out of fear they could face deportation. Here's what the detainees and their families and friends told us. Fernando Eduardo Artese, 63, Broward: Artese was arrested in Jupiter in late June while driving his RV with one goal: to leave the country. Artese was headed to Colorado with his wife, Mónica Riveira, and their daughter, Carla, he said in a phone interview with the Tampa Bay Times. The plan was to drive through California, cross into Mexico, travel through Central America, and reach Argentina, Artese's home country. 'We were ready for this,' Artese said. But on June 25, the police stopped Artese and discovered a warrant was out for his arrest. In March, he had been fined in Broward for driving without a license. He missed his traffic court date because he feared being detained, according to his family. Artese was taken to the US Customs and Border Protection facility in West Palm Beach on the day of his arrest, he said. Six days later, he was handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and taken to Alligator Alcatraz. 'This is a concentration camp. They treat us like criminals, it's a pursuit of humiliation,' Artese said. 'We're all workers and people fighting for our families.' Before his arrest, Artese spent nearly a decade in the United States. He has Argentine and Italian citizenship. He came in through Spain using his Italian passport under the visa waiver program, which allows short visits of up to 90 days without a visa. He overstayed. His family followed in 2018. His wife, 62, has a student visa, and their 19-year-old daughter came with her legally. The family lived in Hialeah in Miami-Dade County, where Artese ran a camera installation business. Last year, they moved to a mobile home park in Broward County. Nicolás Esbir, 30, Miami: Esbir flew to the United States from Chile on a tourist visa in January 2021. He arrived with his girlfriend, who was fleeing a dangerous personal situation, according to the girlfriend, who asked not to be named. The couple married in 2022 and requested asylum. While they waited, both paid taxes and obtained work permits and Social Security numbers. They have two U.S.-born daughters. Esbir was arrested May 22 at the Miami Design District location of El Turco, a Turkish restaurant — recognized by the Michelin Guide — where he works as a chef. He was held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center longer than a month, his wife said. Esbir's wife had filed a temporary order of protection against him in April, she said. They were considering divorcing after a 2024 domestic dispute. Her understanding was that this filing would not lead to his arrest or affect his immigration status. Esbir had a hearing in late June and should have been released no later than 48 hours later, she said. Instead, his wife said, he was kept in the jail four days past what should have been his release date until he was moved to the ICE-ERO Center in Miramar on July 2. Esbir was taken to Alligator Alcatraz the next day. Gokhan Yuzbasioglu, one of El Turco's founders, told the Times he wrote a letter advocating for Esbir and described him as a disciplined and skilled worker. Jordin Castillo, 43, Miami: Castillo had lived in Miami for nearly two decades before he was detained by immigration officials. He had built a small business called Jordin Paint, he said. The company allowed him to make a decent living and to give others the opportunity to work. Castillo had some legal troubles. Miami-Dade court records show felony charges dating back to 2019 for drug possession, which was dropped; a concealed carry violation, with no action taken; and fleeing from police, for which he served six months' probation. But his sister, who asked not to be named, described him as a man of good character and a loving brother, friend and dad. 'He's proud of the life he built,' she said. Last month, Castillo was arrested on suspicion of habitually driving without a license, court records show. He was taken to Alligator Alcatraz on July 3. Six days later, Castillo said, he was handcuffed and left outdoors in the sun as a punishment for attempting to go on a hunger strike inside the detention center, he said in a phone interview. As mosquitoes swarmed him, Castillo pleaded with guards to bring him inside, he said. He was kept outside for nearly three hours. There are fights between detainees over scarce amounts of food, and COVID-19 cases have spread inside one of the cells, Castillo said. A spokesperson for the Florida Division of Emergency Management refuted Castillo's account. 'No guards are harming detainees or leaving them in the sun — that is a lie,' said Stephanie Hartman. 'Officers are highly trained and follow all federal and state detention protocols.' Castillo's girlfriend, who asked not to be named, said she speaks on the phone daily with Castillo. His booming voice has softened and weakened since he was detained, she said. Daniel Muela Gomez, 31, Orlando: Gomez, an employee of Hubbard Construction in Orlando, said he was pulled over for speeding on June 25. Despite having a work permit, a driver's license, a Social Security number and paying taxes, Gomez has been detained since this traffic stop, he said. An extensive background check on Gomez did not turn up any criminal charges in Florida with the name or age he gave the Times. Gomez said he requested asylum from Ecuador upon arriving in the United States through its southern border. He was working legally while he waited for asylum to play out. He was eventually hoping to bring his four children to the US so that they could live in a safer country with a better economic situation. 'I came to this country to help my family,' he said. Inside the detention center, Gomez said guards force detainees to either eat their food during scheduled meal times or throw away what's not eaten. Saving food for later is not permitted, he said. Hartman, the spokesperson for the Division of Emergency Services, said food is not used as punishment. She said detainees receive a meal upon arrival and three meals a day.
