Hurricane damage, election may cloud future of new Tampa Bay Rays stadium deal

Hurricane damage, election may cloud future of new Tampa Bay Rays stadium deal

https://media.tegna-media.com/assets/WTSP/images/c04297b0-d20e-4aae-9642-7e67e17a61a5/20241031T233429/c04297b0-d20e-4aae-9642-7e67e17a61a5_750x422.jpg Big decisions loom over repairs to Tropicana Field, the larger deal to replace it and the team’s decision to play in Tampa next year. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — No longer shaded by Tropicana Field’s dome, the famous Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill sits right outside its non-existent roof. “We’re looking to maybe pivot and do some more concerts, do some fundraisers, have more music. We’ll figure something out,” Owner Mark Ferguson said, adding baseball…

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Tillis gives emotional testimony as he fights for hurricane relief in western NC

Tillis gives emotional testimony as he fights for hurricane relief in western NC

Sen. Thom Tillis demanded urgent action in an emotional plea to the Senate for Helene relief in western North Carolina. Sen. Thom Tillis gave a passionate testimony on Wednesday, calling for additional federal relief for North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene during a hearing with the Senate Appropriations Committee.  During his testimony, Tillis described how many people lost their homes and businesses, telling Senate lawmakers about the catastrophic damage in western North Carolina. Helene is…

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Ask the Meteorologist: How often do droughts happen after hurricanes?

Ask the Meteorologist: How often do droughts happen after hurricanes?

There has been a huge difference between the rain we saw before Helene vs. the rain we’ve seen since Helene. Rain before vs. after Helene in Raleigh, NC It turns out there was a study in 2022 at Florida State University that looked into how often drought developed after landfalling tropical systems. Since 2000, it’s actually rare to see that happen. Four of the 30 storms analyzed had a flash drought develop shortly after their…

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The White House’s Christmas tree is a symbol of resilience for hurricane-hit North Carolina farms

The White House’s Christmas tree is a symbol of resilience for hurricane-hit North Carolina farms

22 seconds ago The official White House Christmas tree, a 20-foot Fraser fir, is seen at the Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Newland, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco) NEWLAND, NC (AP) — The Cartner family had known since last year that one of their farm’s Christmas trees would be headed to the White House this winter. But then Hurricane Helene struck, unleashing a deadly deluge across western North Carolina, including Avery County, where Cartner’s…

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The White House's Christmas tree is a symbol of resilience for hurricane-hit North Carolina farms

The White House's Christmas tree is a symbol of resilience for hurricane-hit North Carolina farms

NEWLAND, N.C. (AP) — The Cartner family had known since last year that one of their farm’s Christmas trees would be headed to the White House this winter. But then Hurricane Helene struck, unleashing a deadly deluge across western North Carolina, including Avery County, where Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm has stood for decades. Though the farm lost thousands of trees to a mudslide, many more survived, including a 20-foot conical tree that dwarfs most of…

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Hurricane Helene isn't the only big storm North Carolina is still recovering from

Hurricane Helene isn't the only big storm North Carolina is still recovering from

Almost two months after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on western North Carolina, Republican lawmakers grilled officials Monday over how they handled two other hurricanes that hit the state several years ago. As part of a massive $3.9 billion Helene recovery package presented to legislators last month, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper included a request for more money to finish housing projects in eastern North Carolina still pending from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in…

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Warm winter ahead: WRAL Severe Weather outlook doesn't look good for snow lovers

Warm winter ahead: WRAL Severe Weather outlook doesn't look good for snow lovers

It’s that time of year again! The WRAL Severe Weather team is ready to unveil our winter weather predictions. This year, we analyzed four key factors: La Niña, accumulated cyclone energy or ACE, Siberian snow cover and climate trends. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there’s a 60% chance that a La Niña will develop later this month. In La Niña years, storm tracks stay north of our region and keep the…

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Recovery continues for western NC nearly two months after Hurricane Helene

Recovery continues for western NC nearly two months after Hurricane Helene

Nearly two months after Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, the region is still hurting with a long road to recovery. While efforts to rebuild are underway, many local businesses and their employees continue to face significant challenges. Ed Haag, a restaurant worker in the area, said the economic strain has been felt deeply by both workers and residents. “I see a lot of people who are scared, and there’s a bit of desperation,”…

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Recovery continues for western NC nearly three months after Hurricane Helene

Recovery continues for western NC nearly three months after Hurricane Helene

Nearly three months after Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, the region is still hurting with a long road to recovery. While efforts to rebuild are underway, many local businesses and their employees continue to face significant challenges. Ed Haag, a restaurant worker in the area, said the economic strain has been felt deeply by both workers and residents. “I see a lot of people who are scared, and there’s a bit of desperation,”…

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Cast of Scandal reunites to show support for western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene

Cast of Scandal reunites to show support for western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene

NORTH CAROLINA, USA — The cast of Scandal is reuniting for one night only to show support for western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. There will be a script reading by former cast members and Shonda Rhimes will be opening the reading.  The event will feature Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn, Guillermo Diaz, Scott Foley, Katie Lowes, Joshua Malina, Joe Morton, George Newbern, Jeff Perry, Cornelius Smith, Jr., Darby Stanchfield and Bellamy Young. Young’s hometown is…

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Tropical Storm Sara threatens to bring flash floods and mudslides to Central America

Tropical Storm Sara threatens to bring flash floods and mudslides to Central America

6 minutes ago Photo: NOAA MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Sara formed Thursday in the Caribbean Sea and was expected to cause life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides across portions of Central America, including Honduras, forecasters said. The storm was expected to stall and meander near the coast of Honduras through the weekend, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Heavy rain also is forecast for Belize, El Salvador, eastern Guatemala and western Nicaragua. The storm is…

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Hurricane-stricken Tampa Bay Rays to play 2025 season at Yankees' spring training field in Tampa

Hurricane-stricken Tampa Bay Rays to play 2025 season at Yankees' spring training field in Tampa

By Curt Anderson, Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays will play their 2025 home games at the New York Yankees’ nearby spring training ballpark amid uncertainty about the future of hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field, Rays executives told The Associated Press. Stuart Sternberg, the Rays’ principal owner, said in an interview that Steinbrenner Field in Tampa is the best fit for the team and its fanbase. At about 11,000 seats, it’s also…

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Utah scores 3 goals in 2 1/2 minutes in 3rd, Vejmelka has 49 saves in 4-1 win over Hurricanes

Utah scores 3 goals in 2 1/2 minutes in 3rd, Vejmelka has 49 saves in 4-1 win over Hurricanes

By MATTHEW COLES, Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY — SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Nick Bjugstad scored his second goal of the game to cap the Utah Hockey Club’s three-goal flurry in a 2 1/2-minute span of the third period in a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night. Jack McBain and Mikhail Sergachev also scored for Utah, which won at home after losing three of four on the road. Michael Kesselring had…

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Driver dies after crashing off hurricane-damaged highway in North Carolina

Driver dies after crashing off hurricane-damaged highway in North Carolina

5 minutes ago Photo: Junaluska Fire Department WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A driver has died after going around a barricade and driving off the edge of a hurricane-damaged North Carolina highway that became a symbol of Hurricane Helene’s destruction. Photos of Interstate 40 with multiple lanes washed out by Helene near the Tennessee state line drew widespread attention after the storm as the region was largely cut off by numerous road closures. Emergency workers from Tennessee…

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Body buried in North Carolina carried to Tennessee by Hurricane Helene floodwaters

Body buried in North Carolina carried to Tennessee by Hurricane Helene floodwaters

ERWIN, Tenn. (Gray News) – A body that was buried in North Carolina was washed into Tennessee due to flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in September, according to Erwin Police Chief Regan Tilson. Officials said the body was buried in Whitson Cemetery in Yancey County in 2006. The flood waters washed the body to Unicoi County. Details about the identification of the body were not released. Helene brought widespread devastation to western North Carolina, causing…

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