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Prolonged drought still bringing trouble for lower Mississippi River

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:43 GMT

An extended drought is causing low water levels in key shipping channels like the Mississippi River, and officials trying to address the problems say the fix is out of their hands.“Rain across the Mississippi River Valley is really what we need, and in the Ohio River Valley, the Missouri River Valley,” Matt Roe, a spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers, said this month.But the National Weather Service is forecasting little to no rain and a continuing drop in water levels in the Lower Mississippi River until at least early December.A truck reverses to get loaded with fertilizer coming from a barge on the Mississippi River in Finley, Tennessee, in the US South, on October 11, 2023. For the second straight year this largest North American river has sunken to record low levels amid ongoing drought, leaving the majestic Mississippi as a mere shadow of its former self.From the Great Lakes in the north to Louisiana in the south, plants are taking over newly exposed river banks. Salt wat...

Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson misses sixth straight game with hamstring injury

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:43 GMT

DENVER — Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson is getting close to returning from his hamstring injury. He’s just not going to do that until he’s back at 100 percent.After initially listing him as questionable, the Vikings downgraded Jefferson to out leading up to Sunday’s road game against the Denver Broncos. It marked the sixth straight game the 24-year-old receiver has missed since suffering his hamstring injury last month.The fact that Jefferson sat out wasn’t surprising considering the way he has slowly progressed through the recovery process over the past couple of weeks. Though he has started to ramp things up in practice, Jefferson still has not been a full participant since being designated for return from injured reserve.There’s no doubt the Vikings have been exercising caution with Jefferson as they prepare for the stretch run. They have reiterated they won’t rush him back, and while they could activate him next week before hosti...

Woman dies in St. Louis County crash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:43 GMT

BLACKJACK, Mo. -- A fatal car crash at Jerries Lane and Parker Road has left one dead and two injured. Responding to a call at 10:51 AM, officers found that a Chevy Equinox had veered off Parker Road, striking a speed limit sign. The driver collided head-on with another vehicle.The passenger in the second vehicle died from her to injuries at the hospital. The driver of that vehicle is being treated for serious injuries, while the Equinox driver is in critical condition.The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information can contact St. Louis County Police at 636-529-8210.

Nuggets can’t overcome Nikola Jokic’s foul trouble against Cavaliers, lose fourth consecutive road game

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:43 GMT

CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers were missing two of their three leading scorers, but then again, the Nuggets were missing their two best players, it turned out.That wasn’t the plan, but it’s how a 121-109 loss to the depleted Cavs unraveled Sunday. Already missing the hamstring-strained Jamal Murray, the Nuggets were battling uphill against Nikola Jokic’s foul trouble all night as they erased one double-digit deficit but failed to overcome another. The result was their fourth consecutive road loss and their first time losing back-to-back games since Games 3 and 4 of their second-round playoff series to Phoenix in May.Donovan Mitchell, inescapably intertwined with Murray ever since their electrifying battles in the 2020 bubble, fittingly missed the game with an identical injury to the same ankle, while Caris LeVert was also ruled out before tip. Without them, the Cavaliers were still more than capable against the defending champions, led by 26 points from point guar...

A few wobbles aside, the Avalanche is a destructive force of nature in third periods this season

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:43 GMT

NASHVILLE — The Colorado Avalanche are the kings of the NHL in the third period so far this season.That feels like a very weird sentence to digest, given the two embarrassing losses to Vegas and St. Louis, the latter of which included coach Jared Bednar calling his club’s third period against the Blues the worst he’s seen among the 500-plus in his tenure.But it is irrefutably correct, as of Sunday morning. After decimating Dallas in the third period Saturday night during a 6-3 comeback win, Colorado led the league in total third-period goals with 28 and on a per-game basis at 1.75. Only three clubs had allowed fewer than the 13 goals the Avs have yielded in the final period.Colorado has a plus-15 goal differential in the third — no other team is better than plus-9.“Maybe we feel a little guilty for coming out slow, you know?” Avs forward Fredrik Olofsson said. “We talk about wanting to come out with a good start, but we stuck with it. Maybe it’s a...

Vikings 7, Broncos 3: Joshua Dobbs finds Josh Oliver for 3-yard touchdown

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:43 GMT

After a 1-5 start, the Broncos are one a hot streak, winning three in a row. Can they keep up the momentum? Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Vikings at Empower Field at Mile High.Live updatesSecond-quarter updatesTouchdown, Vikings (6:56 p.m.): Joshua Dobbs shrugged off a sack attempt and connected with Josh Oliver for a 3-yard touchdown. Vikings 7, Broncos 3 with 14:53 to go. — Joe NguyenFirst-quarter analysis — Broncos 3, Vikings 0Sean Keeler, sports columnist: If you’re the Vikes, why throw?Mark Kiszla, sports columnist: And Kareem Jackson is not a dirty player?First-quarter updatesRunning game (6:53 p.m.): If I’m the Vikings, I will run the ball for the entire game. Denver gave up 72 rushing yards in the first quarter. — Ryan McFaddenWide open? (6:46 p.m.): It looked like Wilson had tight end Nate Adkins wide open down the right sideline but didn’t look in that direction. — Ryan McFaddenField goal, Broncos (6:31 ...

High winds whipping through parts of Southern California

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:43 GMT

As strong north to northeast winds moved into the Southland Sunday and are expected to last until Tuesday, the National Weather Service forecasts a brief warming trend followed by colder temperatures starting Thanksgiving Day.  Peak wind gusts of 40 to 60 miles per hour have been recorded in many of the mountain and foothill communities Sunday, with 30 to 50 mile per hour gusts in some valley and coastal areas. “The northerly winds certainly are affecting the San Fernando Valley this afternoon and evening, with sustained winds at 29 miles per hour,” KTLA Weatherman Kaj Goldberg said. “We’re going to see northeasterly winds move into Southern California around midnight tonight.”  The short-lived rise in temps will be accompanied by Santa Ana Winds, prompting a High Wind Warning for parts of Ventura County until Monday at 3 p.m. The intense gusts bring the potential for downed trees and powerlines. Power outages are also possible, and motorists are encouraged to be cautious,...

10 Freeway in downtown L.A. set to reopen Monday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:43 GMT

The 10 Freeway through downtown Los Angeles, once thought to be so badly damaged by fire that it would need to be demolished, will instead reopen by Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced at a news conference Sunday morning.Newsom was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to provide an update on the repair efforts."This thing opens tonight," he said. "It will be fully operational tomorrow [and] ready for the commute." Structural integrity assessment results indicated that the damage to the freeway was not as bad as originally thought, allowing officials to announce that the restoration process could be completed within three to five weeks.Workers near a sign that reads "I-10 open on Monday" on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (KTLA)When all is said and done, the restoration process will be completed eight days ahead of schedule, Newsom said.Mayor Bass confirmed on social media that the 10 "is going to be safe to drive on" ...

Photos: Brock Purdy throws perfect game for San Francisco 49ers since 1989

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:43 GMT

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy found himself with a perfect 158.3 passer rating when his third touchdown strike Sunday found George Kittle on a 3-yard throw in the third quarter, for a 27-7 lead. Purdy finished 21-of-25 for 333 yards and no turnovers.Purdy became the first 49ers quarterback (with at least 15 pass attempts) to do that since Hall of Famer Joe Montana in 1989.During that final touchdown drive, however, a negative sight unfolded that could have long-term ramifications for the 49ers’ defense: Safety Talanoa Hufanga was carted off with a knee injury, which he sustained failing to make an open-field tackle on Rachaad White.For the second straight season, the 49ers (7-3) have just a four-day turnaround after playing the Bucs before visiting the Seattle Seahawks, this time for a Thanksgiving night affair with first place on the line. After that comes an NFC Championship Game rematch Dec. 3 at the conference-leading Philadelphia Eagles, before a Dec. 10 return to...

Kurtenbach: Brock Purdy’s ‘not completely content’ with a perfect QB rating. That tells you everything about the 49ers’ star

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:43 GMT

SANTA CLARA — An old Vince Lombardi quote sums up 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s performance Sunday:“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence,” the former Packers coach is credited with saying.But Purdy, according to one metric, was perfect on Sunday. He became the first quarterback in 49ers history to post a perfect quarterback rating (158.3) in a game with more than 20 pass attempts.“What an honor,” Purdy said.“At the same time, there’s still some plays and stuff I wished I had back. I’m not completely content with that.”Yes, if we want to be pedantic alongside the Niners’ quarterback, he did throw four incomplete passes against Tampa Bay.Tisk, tisk.But while Purdy might have missed out on true perfection, the 49ers’ second-year quarterback was unquestionably excellent in San Francisco’s 27-14 home win. Purdy threw for 333 yards on 21-of-25 passing with three touchdown...