Sizzling heat wave blankets US Southwest

LOS ANGELES - Much of the western United States baked for a third day on Wednesday under a punishing heat wave that has set temperature records, prompted health warnings and strained power grids.

Although a shift in the weather has provided some relief to northern states, including Montana and Idaho, the worst was still to come for California and parts of the Southwest, National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Schoening said.

"We're in a long-duration heat wave across the Western U.S.," Schoening said. "Across the desert Southwest extending into California we're still ramping up the temperatures throughout the rest of the week."

Salt Lake City, Utah, on Tuesday tied its all-time high temperature since record-keeping began in 1894, at 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius). Phoenix tied a record for this date at 115 degrees and Needles, California, in the Mojave Desert near the border of both Nevada and Arizona, hit 121 degrees, also tying a daily record.

The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings across the U.S. West, warning that such conditions can be dangerous, even fatal. No deaths had been reported from the brutally hot weather as of Wednesday afternoon.

"Try not to spend too much time outside during the hottest part of the day. Wear light clothing, stay hydrated," Schoening said, adding that residents should be "keeping an eye on pets, checking on the elderly, not leaving anyone, including kids or pets in hot cars."

WILDFIRE DANGERS

The weather service also issued red flag warnings of high fire danger in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. Major wildfires were burning in Colorado and Arizona.

Wildfires scorched more than 6,500 square miles (17,000 square km) of land in 2020, destroying hundreds of Californian homes during a particularly fierce fire season.

The unusually severe late-spring heat wave was the result of a high-pressure ridge that built over southwestern deserts, weather service meteorologists say, and could not be blamed directly on global warming.

"But studies show that as the climate changes and it gets warmer, we will see more of these anomalous events over time," Schoening said.

The brutal heat triggered a surge in electricity demand as residents cranked up air conditioners and fans. Texas and California, the two most populous U.S. states, urged energy conservation.

California's grid operator issued a "Flex Alert" for Thursday evening, telling residents to turn off unneeded appliances and office equipment between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. and thermostats higher.

California and Texas both imposed rolling blackouts over the last year to avoid a power system collapse, California due to the heat in August 2020 and Texas in February 2021 after a deep freeze that left millions without heat.

Much of the U.S. Southwest is also in the grip of a drought that has cut hydropower supplies, leaving rivers running dry and prompting ranchers to sell livestock.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates most of the state's power system, projected demand would break the June record, set on Monday, in the coming days.

(Reporting by Scott DiSavino in New York, Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico, Aishwarya Nair in Bangalore and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Leslie Adler)

-reuters-

Mysterious monolith reportedly disappears in US desert

LOS ANGELES, California - A mysterious metal monolith found in the remote desert of the western United States, sparking a national guessing game over how it got there, has apparently disappeared, officials said.

The Bureau of Land Management in Utah said Saturday it had received "credible reports" that the object had been removed "by an unknown party" on Friday evening.

The bureau "did not remove the structure which is considered private property," it said in a statement.

"We do not investigate crimes involving private property which are handled by the local sheriff's office."

The shiny, triangular pillar which protruded some 12 feet from the red rocks of southern Utah, was spotted on November 18 by baffled local officials counting bighorn sheep from the air.

After landing their helicopter to investigate, Utah Department of Public Safety crew members found "a metal monolith installed in the ground" but "no obvious indication of who might have put the monolith there."

'2020 RESET BUTTON'

News of the discovery quickly went viral, with many noting the object's similarity with strange alien monoliths that trigger huge leaps in human progress in Stanley Kubrick's classic sci-fi film "2001: A Space Odyssey."

Others remarked on its discovery during a turbulent year that has seen the world gripped by the Covid-19 pandemic, and optimistically speculated it could have a different function entirely.

"This is the 'reset' button for 2020. Can someone please press it quickly?" joked one Instagram user.

"Somebody took the time to use some type of concrete-cutting tool or something to really dig down, almost in the exact shape of the object, and embed it really well," Nick Street, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety told the New York Times.

"It's odd," he added. "There are roads close by, but to haul the materials to cut into the rock, and haul the metal, which is taller than 12 feet in sections -- to do all that in that remote spot is definitely interesting."

Some observers pointed out the object's resemblance to the avant-garde work of John McCracken, a US artist who lived for a time in nearby New Mexico, and died in 2011.

His son, Patrick McCracken, told the Times recently that his father had told him in 2002 that he would "like to leave his artwork in remote places to be discovered later."

Although officials had refused to disclose the object's location out of fear that hordes of curious sightseers would flock to the remote wilderness, some explorers had been able to track it down.

Instagram user David Surber said he trekked to the monolith using coordinates posted on Reddit. 

"Apparently the monolith is gone," he posted later. 

"Nature returned back to her natural state I suppose. Something positive for people to rally behind in 2020."

Agence France-Presse

Utah bans LGBTQ conversion therapy for children

Utah is now the 19th U.S. state to ban conversion therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity in lesbian, gay, transsexual, bisexual and queer children.

The ban in the Republican-dominated state, which took effect on Wednesday, exempts members of the clergy, lay pastors, and spiritual counselors not licensed by the state from the ban.

Despite those limits, "this is still a big victory in a very conservative state," said Mathew Shurka, 31, of Long Island, New York.

He describes himself as a "survivor" of such therapy and is co-founder of Born Perfect, a nonprofit group pushing for conversion therapy bans across the United States.

Conversion therapy involves a variety of psychological and spiritual practices aimed at changing sexual orientation and gender identity in the belief that homosexuality and transgender identity are mental illnesses.

The American Psychological Association has called the treatment harmful to young people. The American Medical Association has said that conversion therapy does not work and can trigger depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide attempts.

Virginia's state senate approved a ban on Tuesday, and the bill is now being sent to the Democratic-controlled House of Delegates, where it is expected to pass, said Shannon Minter, a San Francisco gay activist working with Born Perfect.

In Utah, the ban takes the form of a regulation. Craig Hall, a Republican state representative, championed legislation that would have banned the therapy, but it failed to pass last year.

He credited support from the influential Mormon Church, to which 62 percent of Utah's 3.1 million residents belong, for the governor's decision to enact the new regulation. The church, opposes same-sex marriage and its doctrine teaches that same-sex relationships are sinful.

Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormon Church's formal name, had previously opposed the legislation because it did not explicitly exempt clergy.

"We worked very closely with them on the (new) language," Hall said.

"The administrative rule has the same effect as law, and it governs all licensed therapists and doctors," he said.

A church representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hall noted that the state does not license pastors and ministers.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert, a Republican, had no comment on the issue on Wednesday, said spokeswoman Brook Scheffler.

In a press release in November, Herbert said the rule change was needed "to end the harmful practice of conversion therapy on minors."

“The stories of youth who have endured these so-called therapies are heart rending, and I’m grateful that we have found a way forward that will ban conversion therapy forever in our state,” he said.

Troy Williams, executive director of the activist group Equality Utah, said that while the rule does not affect unlicensed counselors, he hopes it sends a message.

"There are a lot of therapists and life coaches still out there who run these camps, and they're dangerous," Williams said. "But hopefully with Utah taking a strong stand, this will get the word out." (Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

4 dead after bus carrying Chinese tourists crashes in Utah

LOS ANGELES, United States - At least four people were killed and up to 15 others critically injured when a bus transporting Chinese tourists crashed on Friday near Bryce Canyon National Park in the western US state of Utah, local authorities said.

The Utah Highway Patrol said the crash took place in the morning about 11 kilometers from the park entrance, forcing the road to be shut as ambulances and rescue vehicles rushed to the site.

It said a total of 30 people, including the driver, were on board the bus as it headed to the famous park.

"Four have been killed 12-15 with critical injuries and 10 more with minor to serious injuries," the Highway Patrol said in a tweet.

It posted pictures of the mangled bus, with its roof partly caved in, lying on the side of the main highway leading to the park entrance.

"The bus was traveling east bound when it ran off the road and rolled into the guardrail," the Garfield County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook message that described the crash as "horrible."

It said the injured were transported to various hospitals, some by helicopter.

China's embassy in Washington said on Twitter that it had initiated its emergency protocols and sent personnel to assist the victims.

Utah Governor Gary Hart expressed sadness over the tragedy.

"My heart sank when I heard the news that a tour bus crashed near Bryce Canyon," he said in a tweet. "I grieve with all who lost loved ones in this crash and I'm grateful for the quick work of first responders, as well as all those who are volunteering to act as translators."

Bryce Canyon is one of the most visited national parks in the US, attracting some 1.5 million tourists every year.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Gwyneth Paltrow counter-sues Utah man over ski collision, seeks $1

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow on Wednesday counter-sued a retired optometrist who went to court against her over a 2016 ski slope collision in Utah, saying he caused the crash and was seeking to exploit her fame and fortune three years later.

Paltrow, 46, seeks a symbolic $1 in damages from Terry Sanderson, 72, who sued her last month for $3.1 million in Summit County District Court in Utah over the Feb. 26, 2016, incident at Deer Valley Resort in Park City.

“Resolution of this counter claim will demonstrate that Plaintiff (Sanderson) ran into Ms. Paltrow and nonetheless blamed her for it in an attempt to exploit her celebrity and wealth,” attorneys for the actress wrote in the 18-page complaint.

Attorneys for Sanderson could not immediately be reached for comment by Reuters on Wednesday afternoon.

Sanderson announced his lawsuit against Paltrow at a news conference last month in Salt Lake City, saying that he was skiing on a beginner slope when he heard a “hysterical scream” from behind before he was struck between the shoulder blades by the actress.

The retired eye doctor, who said he had skied for more than 30 years, said he suffered four broken ribs and a traumatic brain injury from the blow, which had left him with short-term memory loss.Sanderson also claimed that Paltrow skied off without a word following the impact, in violation of a local ordinance requiring skiers involved in a collision to stop and help the injured.

In her counter-suit, Paltrow alleged that it was Sanderson who struck her from behind, delivering a “body blow.” The actress said that during the brief encounter, Sanderson apologized and assured her that he was not hurt.

Paltrow, who won the 1998 best actress Academy Award for her role in “Shakespeare in Love,” is also known for her Goop website and store promoting healthy eating and stress-free living.

Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Peter Cooney

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Romney announces Utah Senate bid

WASHINGTON - Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, announced on Friday he would run for a U.S. Senate seat in Utah, confirming months of speculation about a return to national politics.

"I've decided to run for United States Senate because I've decided I can help bring Utah's values and Utah's lessons to Washington," Romney, who is seeking to replace retiring Senator Orrin Hatch, said in a video posted to Twitter.

Much of Romney's video focused on Utah values versus the Washington culture.

"Utah has a lot to teach the politicians in Washington," he said. "... Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world. Washington sends immigrants a message of exclusion. And on Utah's Capitol Hill, people treat one another with respect."

Trump has called for building a wall on the country's border with Mexico and limiting legal migration.

Romney, the son of former Michigan Governor George Romney, served as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. Before that, he helped found the buyout firm Bain Capital and gained prominence after stepping in to lead the organizing committee for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics after a bribery scandal.

Romney first sought the presidency in 2008 but lost the Republican nomination to Arizona Senator John McCain. Four years later, Romney won the party's nomination but was defeated by incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama.

Romney is the front-runner in the November election in Republican-dominated Utah. According to the Federal Election Commission, the field includes five other people, including a Salt Lake City councilwoman and a Marine Corps veteran.

The race will be Romney's second for the Senate. In 1994, he failed to oust Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy from his seat in Massachusetts.

Hatch, 83, the most senior Republican in the Senate, said last month he would not seek an eighth term. Trump had urged Hatch to run again in an apparent attempt to head off Romney.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Romney excoriated Trump as a "fraud" who was "playing the American public for suckers." Trump responded that Romney had "choked like a dog" in his race against Obama.

However, after Trump won the presidency in November 2016, he briefly considered whether to pick Romney as his secretary of state.

Trump had lobbied Hatch to run for re-election in 2018 in what was viewed as an effort to prevent Romney from getting into the Senate. Trump and Romney spoke in January after Hatch announced his retirement, a White House official said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, who had been Romney's vice presidential running mate in 2012, said in a statement on Friday that he was thrilled with Romney's decision to run for Senate.

"His campaign has my unwavering support and the people of Utah will be getting an accomplished and decent man when they make him their next Senator," Ryan said.

Republicans hold 52 of the Senate's 100 seats but that majority is not always big enough to pass the Trump agenda.

Romney had successful treatment for prostate cancer in 2017, a source close to him said in January.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Winter inversion bring bad air to Utah

PROVO, Utah - Marathon runner Ruthie Veater normally trains for her long-distance races outside, but due to the fact that northern Utah has had some of the worst air in the nation this year, she's been keeping her workouts indoors.

"Running outdoors when the air is really bad, it kills me. I feel like I'm suffocating," Veater said.

The cause of the smoggy skies is winter inversions, which is unique to Utah because of the region’s Wasatch Mountains. Inversions take place when a layer of warm air sits between mountain ranges and keeps cold air and pollutants from vehicles and fireplaces from escaping.

"The air is full of contaminants. It's just really dirty," Veater said.

The Salt Lake City area has recently had some of the country's highest air quality index. Earlier this month, the AQI rose to 120, a number that signifies unhealthy conditions for sensitive groups.

"It also affects people that have a lot of health issues, like respiratory distress," said Veater, who has worked as a registered nurse for 35 years.

"When they have lung problems, it's hard for them to breath," she said.

The registered nurse also said that it's not a bad idea for even healthy people to avoid the poor air.

"I would suggest staying indoors when there's an inversion. You don't need to be outdoors. You don't need to be breathing this nasty air," she said.

In an effort to clean up the air, the state has proposed a permanent winter-long ban on wood burning in counties that have the worst problem. For now, though, residents can only hope for relief through Mother Nature.

According to local weather forecasters, the dirty air will remain in Utah until a storm system is strong enough to push it out of the valleys.

Read more from Balitang America

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

David Archuleta Endorses PHL Clothing Brand

MANILA, Philippines – “American Idol” Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta remains a busy bee in his remaining days in the country, shooting for the popular clothing brand Bench, which he now endorses.

The 21-year-old singer happily tweeted, “Having fun at the @benchtm photoshoot! Good times with the Bench family haha,” on Feb. 13.

Several minutes before David tweeted, the clothing brand’s proprietor, Ben Chan, posted a teaser also via Twitter—a close-up photo believed to be of the young star, covering his eyes with his left hand, smiling broadly.

“@BCbench Guess who's the next @benchtm endorser ? ?@benchtm instagr.am/p/G79nu2DMn_/,” Ben tweeted.

He later on posted a behind-the-scenes photo of David.

“David in between takes of photo shoot for @benchtm and FIX Hair products. Welcome to the BENCH family,” the businessman said.

Speculations brewed that the Utah native will endorse Bench after he was seen at a dinner party tendered on Feb. 10 for the brand’s recently launched endorser, “Pretty Little Liars” star Lucy Hale. The two even exchanged tweets after their meeting.

“Ok so I met one of the most adorable people ever w/ the most incredible voice @davidarchie seriously...what a talent,” Lucy posted on Feb. 10.

To which David responded, “@lucyyhale Haha, thanks Lucy. Good to see you here. Hope you have a great stay in the Philippines!”

According to Ben, David will be officially launched as endorser on Feb. 17.

David and Lucy join the league of Bench's international endorsers such as Taiwanese singer-actor Jerry Yan, "Vampire Diaries" star Michael Trevino, and Fil-Am singer-songwriter Bruno Mars.

With his several visits to the country in the past, as well as shooting for the TV5 series “Nandito Ako” and recording for his OPM album “Forevermore,” David apparently has grown more comfortable being in the Philippines. In a recent interview with Bulletin Entertainment and other members of the media, he enthused, “The whole Philippines has captured my heart.”

After his commitments here and abroad, David will embark on a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, putting his music career on the back seat.

“So many people say—and for me too—music is one way of serving a mission. But it's not the same thing… Those missionaries changed my mom’s life and changed my life, the way I grew up, the way I was raised, and what is important to me. They've sacrificed so much, they leave their families... and everything that's comfortable and easy and convenient to them to become closer with God and to be closer with other people. Learn how to love the hard way... that's what I feel would be very great to have in my life,” he related.

source: mb.com.ph

David Archuleta The Emotional Announcement We All Saw Coming ...

David Archuleta made a pretty big announcement about his personal life at a concert in Utah last night ... but to people who know the guy, it probably wasn't that shocking.

The former "American Idol" runner-up told his home crowd ... that he's ... (wait for it) ... putting his music career on hold for two-years to fulfill a full-time mission with the Mormon church!!

The announcement was pretty emotional -- with the crowd erupting in cheers ... and David breaking down and crying on stage.

20-year-old Archuleta explained, "It's not because somebody told me that I was supposed to do it, not because that I no longer want to do music anymore, but it's because it's the feeling that I felt that I need to do next in my life."

source: http://www.tmz.com/2011/12/20/david-archuleta-announcement/#.TvGpsVs6hog