What the crisis on the Colorado River means for Southern California
LOS ANGELES — Call it water whiplash: As California recovers from one of its wettest months in recent history, the Colorado River is still dwindling toward dangerous lows.
As a result, Southern Californians aren't sure whether to expect shortage or surplus in the year ahead. Though the state is snow-capped and soggy from a series of atmospheric river storms, the region remains under a drought emergency declaration from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. That includes mandatory water restrictions for about 6 million people in and around Los Angeles.
The early-season storms provided some drought relief, but most officials say it would be premature to loosen water restrictions. In fact, the severity of the crisis on the Colorado — and the federal mandate that California and six other states significantly reduce their use of water from that river — means more calls for conservation are likely in the months ahead, according to MWD General Manager Adel Hagekhalil.
The wet start to the year "shouldn't take the momentum away from us continuing to work on building resiliency, recycling water and storing water when we have it," Hagekhalil said. "We should conserve as much as we can so we can save water to have it available when we need it."
—Los Angeles Times
Accused cult leader misused ‘spiritual influence,’ Las Vegas arrest report says
LAS VEGAS — A North Las Vegas courtroom was packed Monday morning with supporters and alleged victims of a former actor accused of operating a cult and sexually abusing women and girls.
Nathan Chasing Horse, a 46-year-old member of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Lakota Tribe, has been accused by multiple women of misusing his “spiritual influence” to operate a cult known as The Circle, according to a Metropolitan Police Department arrest report. Chasing Horse also played Smiles a Lot in the Kevin Costner film “Dances With Wolves.”
Like during his first appearance last week, the courtroom on Monday was full of Chasing Horse’s family and supporters. Some of those in the courtroom wore traditional regalia, and at least one supporter wore a jacket with “Chasing Horse” written across her back. The group of supporters declined to comment following the hearing.
Several of Chasing Horse’s alleged victims were also in attendance Monday, said Rulon Pete, the executive director of the Las Vegas Indian Center. Pete, who spoke with reporters on behalf of the victims, said the women had mixed emotions following Chasing Horse’s arrest. “It’s a good feeling for them, but at the same time it’s like reliving the situations they’ve been through,” Pete added.
—Las Vegas Review-Journal
Sharks attacked 16 people off Florida in 2022, topping the rest of the world
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Sharks bit 16 people in unprovoked attacks off Florida’s waters last year, marking the highest reported number of bites than anywhere else in the world.
Florida again had more reported bites than anywhere else on Earth, according to researchers with the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File, which documents shark attacks each year.
One of those was the attention-grabbing case in the Florida Keys when a Texas woman punched a shark to set herself free. “I felt like I was in a ‘Jaws’ movie at that moment,” Heather West said at the time.
As in previous years, the U.S. had the highest number of bites, and Florida again made up the most in America. None of Florida’s 16 unprovoked bites was fatal, but two resulted in amputations. Florida made up 39% of bites in the U.S., followed by New York, which had eight bites, or 20%.
—South Florida Sun Sentinel
Chinese balloons were spotted near US bases during Trump’s era
WASHINGTON — Alleged Chinese spy balloons were spotted on several occasions during former President Donald Trump’s administration, including three instances where they traveled near sensitive U.S. military facilities and training areas, according to people familiar with the matter.
The balloons were spotted near Texas, Florida and Hawaii, as well as the Pacific Ocean island of Guam, where the U.S. has naval and air force bases – according to the people who requested anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. The balloons also flew near Norfolk, Virginia, and Coronado, California — two ports where the U.S. stations its prized aircraft carriers.
The balloons that overflew Guam and Norfolk were thought to have radar-jamming capabilities, while the flights near Norfolk, where the U.S. stations aircraft carriers, came around the time China was launching its own such vessel.
The balloons near Norfolk and Coronado both flew at a lower altitude over the ocean, but within U.S. air space, according to the officials who served during the Trump administration.
—Bloomberg News
