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Was that actually a tsunami that hit Florida? Yes, but not the kind you think

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

An unexpected culprit toppled beach chairs along the sand at normally calm Clearwater Beach, Florida, last Wednesday. West Coast surfers might snicker at the cause, but the National Weather Service confirms the rare 4-foot (1.2 meter) wave was caused by a kind of tsunami, just not the kind you usually hear about. It was a meteotsunami, a type caused by storms with strong gusting winds, rather than the dramatic tsunamis triggered by earthquakes.WHAT IS A METEOTSUNAMI?According to Paul Close, senior forecaster at the National Weather Service in the Tampa Bay area, when a line of storms tracks over the ocean, there can be 30- to 50-mph (48- 80-kph) winds near the leading edge. The winds push the water, increasing the wave height near the coast before it eventually crashes onto shore. Meteotsunamis only last about an hour because once the leading edge of the storm passes onto land, the action subsides.The meteotsunami was about 2.5 feet (0.8 meters) higher than the forecast wave height ...

Stock market today: Asia mixed after Wall St drifts lower following run-up

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets were mixed Tuesday after Wall Street drifted lower following its latest rally.Shanghai and Hong Kong advanced. Tokyo and Seoul declined. Oil prices rose.Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index lost 0.4% on Monday as tech stocks declined following a rapid run-up while most other stocks advanced. The index is off this year’s high of two weeks ago but still up more than 20% since mid-October.“The moderation from previous overbought technical conditions and extreme bullish sentiment continues,” Yeap Jun Rong of IG said in a report.The Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.5% to 3,166.41 while the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo sank 0.8% to 32,453.74. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 1.3% to 19,052.70.The Kospi in Seoul shed 0.2% to 2,575.68 while Sydney’s S&P-ASX 200 added 0.6% to 7,118.20.New Zealand and Bangkok declined while Singapore and Jakarta advanced.Stock prices surged this year on hopes that a recession expected after the Federal Res...

Oilers’ Connor McDavid caps off historic season with third Hart Trophy

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid won his third career Hart Trophy at the NHL Awards Monday night after scoring the most points in a season since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96.Connor McHart. pic.twitter.com/49RVLLX6cc— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 27, 2023McDavid beat out finalists Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers and David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins with his career-best season. The 26-year-old led the NHL with 64 goals, 89 assists and 153 points while leading the Oilers to a 50-23-9 record.Ben Stelter’s family was on hand to present McDavid with the award.Edmonton’s captain captured 195 of a possible 196 first-place votes, with Pastrnak earning one top-of-the-ballot vote.With Monday night’s result, McDavid becomes only the ninth player to win three or more Hart Trophies, entering into a tie with the likes of Lemieux, Alexander Ovechkin and Bobby Orr for fourth most by a single player.His outstanding season also earned the Richmond Hill, Ont. native the Mauri...

Maestro Muti's Mission: Replenish the 'soul and spirit' with music

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Riccardo Muti, the revered Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director, is stepping down after 13 years leading one of the world’s finest ensembles – but he’s not retiring. In fact, next year he’ll be back conducting with the CSO. “I will come back,” Muti said. “Title or no title. What is important for me is to make music with this great orchestra and for the public of Chicago.”But this week does mark the end of an era. Before his farewell concert Tuesday in Millennium Park, he reflected on his remarkable tenure with the CSO. From the moment he walked on stage as the music director of the orchestra, he has been trying to teach audiences about the importance of listening. “This is a sort of mission I am bringing around the world,” Muti said. The legendary conductor said the art of active listening is fading, as we become distracted by our devices, and separated by our smart phones. “People especially of the new generation spend a lot of times watching things and not thinking,...

Community meeting with Bears President and CEO held in Arlington Heights

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — The Chicago Bears met with officials in Arlington Heights again on Monday about a possible move.The meeting involved the new Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren and was organized by Touchdown Arlington, a coalition of Arlington Heights business owners who support the Bears' move to town."This is a once-in-a-lifetime proposal that will boost the region's economic engine, create thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars in future tax revenues for Arlington Heights and the region," the pro-Bears coalition said in a release announcing the meeting.The Bears purchased Arlington International Racecourse and started tearing down the grandstand jockey and office buildings in late May. Exterior demolition of the facilities at Arlington Park began in mid-June. Arlington Park demolition begins But disputes over property tax values have held up prior commitments to build a new stadium on the 326-acre horse racing site that closed for $197.2 million.Ear...

Vote to potentially close Zilker Park overflow parking lot put on hold

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One of Zilker Park's largest parking options could close soon, pending decisions from Austin's Parks and Recreation Board and city council. Monday night, the Austin Parks and Recreation Board decided to postpone its decision on closing the Polo Field as a parking option. PREVIOUS: New parking meters, price increase in effect at Zilker Park The parking lot, located between Andrew Zilker Road and Barton Springs Road, is open on weekends during the summer and some Fridays for special events or activities, according to the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. The lot has about 750 spaces — equal to the amount of parking in the gravel lot on Stratford Drive. These are the two largest parking options at Zilker Park. A Barton Springs lifeguard spoke in front of the board on Monday about his concerns with closing the lot. "The nightmare of finding a place to park to go to work is significantly increased on peak days primarily during the charging season. Park staff are...

Texas women's hoops host UConn on Dec. 3 in early season marquee matchup

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The mighty UConn Huskies are coming to Austin this season.Part of a home-and-home series after the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team went to Storrs, Connecticut, to play one of the most storied programs in NCAA history, the teams face off Dec. 3 at Moody Center. The game time and broadcast information will be announced at a later date. UConn won last season's matchup 83-76.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersTexas Athletics said right now, the only way to guarantee tickets to the marquee matchup is to sign up for season tickets. A huge chunk of last year's roster is returning from the 26-10 squad that won the Big 12 Conference title and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. All-American point guard Rori Harmon leads the way, along with guard Shaylee Gonzales and forward DeYona Gaston. Amina Muhammed also returns, and the team added trans...

Swansea waitress surprised with $800 tip

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

SWANSEA, Ill. – Stories of accidental tips, while rare, are not uncommon among folks in the service industry. But an $800 tip? No mistake about it.It took waitress Maggie Carty’s breath away.“Well, I was at a loss for words when it all happened,” she said. “I had none.”A family outing brought Karen and Scott Gebke, along with their two children, Emma and Austin, to Fletcher’s Kitchen & Tap in Swansea last week. A family dinner to honor Karen and Scott’s daughter, Alice, who died at birth 18 years ago, on June 21. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW “We were having a family day for our daughter’s birthday,” Karen said. “She would have been 18 last Wednesday. So, every year for her birthday we go out and do a family day.”And on this day, the...

Police search for more child victims in sex predator case

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Webster Groves police are searching for what could be hundreds of child sex abuse victims.It comes after Aaron Pratt, 37, was recently charged with sexually abusing a girl. That investigation led to the discovery of more than 132,000 explicit videos and photos found on electronic devices at Pratt’s home, in the 800 block of Cornell Avenue in Webster Groves.During the investigation, Lt. Jillian McCoy said investigators not only learned of the suspect’s interest in pedophilia but also his grooming techniques.“The main tactic that he used – was with tickling. Also, making that child feel special or indebted to him," she said. "Making the child feel as though they owed him something. And then bribing the child. We saw that quite often, where he would bribe a child. ‘If you do this, I’ll buy you that.’” Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois Webster Groves police are asking parents to recall whether their families have met Pratt through mutual friends,...

Metro adding new security gates at MetroLink stations

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:42:00 GMT

WASHINGTON PARK, Ill. - FOX 2 has the first look at the dramatic changes to every St. Louis area MetroLink stop. Eight to nine months from now, the first four MetroLink stations will have a dramatic security makeover. Ticketed riders will only be allowed through the new, eight-foot-high electronic gates and platform fencing. There will be no more “open” platforms. “You’ll bring your ticket up. The security guard will look at your ticket. If you have valid fare, they’ll use a proxy card to scan you through the gating system,” said Kevin Scott, general manager of security for Bi-State Development. He said most of the stops will eventually have ticketing integrated with the gate system. Riders will be able to get through the gates by swiping their valid tickets or via a phone app.  Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois The Washington Park station and three others in Illinois will be the first to get the security upgrades. Six more stations, ...