Caitlin Clark scored 16 factors, however the favourite to win Rookie of the Yr couldn’t lead her staff to a win because the Indiana Fever dropped an 86-75 choice to the Las Vegas Aces Wednesday in Indianapolis.

The groups meet once more Friday.

Clark additionally dished six assists and grabbed three rebounds, however shot simply 6-of-22, together with 1-of-10 from 3, one in every of her worst capturing performances of the season.

Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 24 factors.

Clark and the Fever have been on a tear these days, with Clark averaging 25 factors over the ten earlier video games earlier than Wednesday. The Fever have already secured a playoff spot, their first since 2016.

The Aces have been led by MVP favourite A’ja Wilson, who completed with 27 factors, 12 rebounds and three blocks.

Wilson broke the WNBA single-season scoring file late within the first half on a 15-footer. With 5 video games left within the common season Wilson has 956 factors. Seattle’s Jewell Loyd scored 939 final season.

Solely the Minnesota Lynx (10) have received extra WNBA video games because the All-Star/Olympics break than the Indiana Fever (eight).

After a dreadful 1-8 begin, Indiana is now 19-17 and seeded sixth for the upcoming playoffs.

Indiana has proven that it could beat the highest groups within the league on a given day, with victories over Minnesota, New York and Connecticut.

On Wednesday evening, the Fever will hope so as to add Las Vegas to that listing.

The Aces received every of the 2 earlier conferences at dwelling and comfortably coated each double-digit level spreads. 

The final time the groups performed each other, Vegas closed as 13-point favorites, however now, they’re solely laying as little as two factors on the street.

Whereas there’s an opportunity the sportsbooks have dramatically upgraded Indiana’s energy ranking, a greater rationalization for the purpose unfold could be the standing of A’ja Wilson’s proper ankle.

The 2-time MVP missed her first sport in three years and can be a game-time resolution in opposition to the Fever.

Given her uncertainty, if the Aces present any vulnerability, it’ll probably be early within the sport through the first quarter.

Aces vs. Fever odds

Las Vegas Aces outlook

Las Vegas has had roughly a 10-point drop in web ranking (15.3 to five.5) in comparison with final season. 

There’s been a noticeable shift inside the league, as the highest 4 defensive groups have allowed between 94.5 and 95.8 factors per 100 possessions, in comparison with 2023 when the highest 4 had rankings ranging between 97.7 and 100.0.

Las Vegas was the staff that led the league in defensive effectivity final yr, however now it’s not even within the prime 4.

With protection enhancing across the league, Las Vegas isn’t scoring with the identical proficiency because it as soon as did and hasn’t managed to maintain tempo with the higher defensive groups.

Indiana (103.8) has grow to be electrical on offense, trailing solely the Liberty (106.7) and Aces (105.6) in effectivity.

Nonetheless, when the Fever performs at dwelling, their offensive ranking jumps as much as 106.2, which is the second-best mark within the W.

Indiana Fever outlook 

Whereas there was loads of criticism concerning the Fever’s begin, its detractors typically uncared for to say the brutal schedule the staff needed to face.

Indiana performed seven video games in opposition to the Solar, Liberty, Storm and Aces to begin the season.

It was a steep studying curve for the Fever’s rookie level guard, Caitlin Clark, who needed to alter to the league’s physicality.

Nonetheless, these early struggles would possibly’ve been one of the best factor for Clark’s improvement in incomes respect across the league.

There’s no means anybody can dispute her high quality now given all of the WNBA data she’s both damaged or tied in her rookie yr:

• Most assists in a WNBA sport (19)
• Most assists by a rookie in an All-Star sport (10)
• Quickest Participant to succeed in 400 factors and 200 assists
• First rookie to file a triple-double
• Single-season 3-pointers by a rookie

With 4 video games remaining within the common season, Clark can nonetheless add to her accomplishments as she’s 52 factors away from breaking the rookie scoring file (744 factors) set by Seimone Augustus in 2006. 

Clark’s perimeter menace and skill to create simple scoring alternatives for her teammates have resulted in Indiana having a league-best Efficient Area Purpose Proportion (52.1%).

Aces vs. Fever decide

There’s a buzz anytime Clark steps onto the courtroom, and that pleasure is especially heightened in entrance of her dwelling followers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Aces embarrassed the Fever within the two dwelling video games, however Indiana is a very completely different staff from the one they met earlier within the season.

Get the lowdown on the Greatest USA Sports activities Betting Websites and Apps

Within the first quarter, Indiana ranks tenth with a -7.1 Internet Score, however when it’s at dwelling, that quantity jumps to +7.5 with a 109.2 offensive effectivity, second behind solely New York.

When Indiana misplaced each video games to the Aces, it led by 4 factors after the primary quarter in a single and trailed by solely two factors within the different.

The true query is whether or not Indiana can put collectively 4 good quarters in opposition to Las Vegas.

Nonetheless, there’s a good likelihood Indiana begins quick, particularly if Wilson doesn’t play. 

Greatest guess: Fever Q1 moneyline (+104, FanDuel)

Chappell Roan made a daring assertion on the 2024 MTV VMAs—not only for her medieval-inspired outfit, full with a sword and rug, but in addition for a fierce trade that occurred on the crimson carpet.

The incident, which was caught on video, reveals Roan responding after a photographer shouted at her.

Whereas posing for images on the entry to UBS Enviornment in Elmont, N.Y., a photographer impatiently yelled on the rising pop star to “Shut the f–ok up,” prompting the “Good Luck, Babe!” singer to show and ship an unfiltered response: “You shut the f–ok up.”

Waving a finger on the heckler, she added, “Not me, b—h,” earlier than calmly resuming her crimson carpet poses as the group cheered.

Roan has been vocal about her experiences as an artist, particularly with regards to setting boundaries. After the incident, she advised Leisure Tonight, “For somebody who will get lots of nervousness round folks yelling at you, the carpet is horrifying, and I yelled again. You don’t get to yell at me like that.”

Contained in the venue was a extra optimistic expertise for the Missouri native, who took residence her first-ever MTV Video Music Award for Greatest New Artist.

“Are you able to imagine it? We’re on the VMAs!” she exclaimed as she accepted the award. In an emotional speech, Roan devoted the win to the LGBTQ+ neighborhood and those that have supported her. “I dedicate this to all of the drag artists who encourage me… for all of the queer children within the Midwest watching proper now, I see you. I perceive you, as a result of I’m certainly one of you.”

Earlier than accepting her Moon Individual, Roan introduced the warmth on stage with a fiery efficiency of her breakout single “Good Luck, Babe!”

Wearing a go well with of armor, the vocalist lit a fortress on hearth with a flaming crossbow with out lacking a single be aware of the observe, which reached No. 6 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 in August.

Along with this main win, Roan was additionally nominated for Push Efficiency of the 12 months for “Pink Wine Supernova”, and Tune of the Summer time for “Good Luck, Babe!”.

Watch the second Roan confronts a photographer on the 2024 MTV VMAs crimson carpet under.

Katy Perry had her largest fan on-hand Wednesday as she obtained the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

The 143 artist carried out an brisk 20-minute set of a few of her biggest hits on the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards following a candy introduction from her husband Orlando Bloom.

“You fell in love along with her as Katy Perry. I fell in love along with her as Katherine Hudson,” he began. “ her as a worldwide famous person who brings love, mild and her distinctive humorousness to each track she writes and music video she creates.

“I do know her as a mom, as a companion who brings that very same love and pleasure to our household. In moments once we’ve most wanted it, her music and the outstanding world she creates have introduced a way of pleasure and laughter, inspiring generations of individuals from all around the world. She loves along with her complete coronary heart, and it’s form of irresistible. I see her mirrored in every single place in our residence, in her love for her work, however particularly in her love for her followers. Congratulations on this honor, child, I’m so pleased with you. 143!” added Bloom.

Bloom offered his spouse with the award after she served a medley of her songs ‘Darkish Horse’, ‘E.T.’, ‘I’m His, He’s Mine’ with Doechii, ‘California Gurls’, ‘Teenage Dream’, ‘I Kissed a Woman’, ‘Firework’ and ‘Lifetimes’, all of which she carried out “on the primary day of my interval.”

“Who’s taking care of hour daughter?” Perry joked to Bloom, who responded, “Oh, I assumed you have been.”

Perry stated in her speech, “Thanks a lot to MTV for believing in my weirdness from day one and for serving to artists lengthen their worlds past a track. There are such a lot of issues that must align to have an extended and profitable profession as an artist. There aren’t any decade-long accidents.”

She thanked her longtime group at Direct Administration, her label Capitol Information, her dad and mom, her household, Myspace, Warped Tour and “all of the bygone locations the place I discovered a voice, id and neighborhood so early on. Thanks to my associates who have been there when my Jetta was repossessed. My Katy Kats who stood by me for a lifetime and the LGBTQ neighborhood who I acknowledge that I might not be right here with out, and who confirmed me you may be each form and c—. Thanks to Orlando for preserving me grounded, celebrated and doing the dishes. And lastly, for my Daisy, the one flowers I’ll ever want.

“I’m excited once I go searching music at this time and I see all of the superb younger artists who’re working with confidence, company, vulnerability and authenticity. I’ve heard numerous ‘Do that, don’t say that, put on much less, put on extra now, hey don’t minimize your hair.’ One of many largest causes I’m standing right here proper now could be I realized find out how to block out all of the noise that each single artist on this trade has to continuously battle towards, particularly girls. I simply need to say with my complete coronary heart, do no matter it takes to remain true to your self and true to your artwork. Flip off social media, safeguard your psychological well being, pause, contact grass… and do what you have been born to do similar to I used to be born to do that,” added Perry.

Perry releases her seventh studio album 143 on Sept. 20, her first in 4 years following 2020’s Smile.

Insights > Entergy Hurricane Francine replace – 9/11/24, 9:30 a.m.

09/11/2024

Hurricane Francine’s landfall is hours away. The storm is predicted to make landfall later right now close to Vermilion Bay as a Class 2 hurricane. After landfall, the middle is predicted to maneuver northward into Mississippi Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning.

It’s time to deal with staying protected as we finalize our plans to revive service within the storm’s aftermath. We encourage you to finalize your preparations as Hurricane Francine approaches.

Francine is forecasted to make landfall as a hurricane with most winds as much as 100 mph. Most vital is the security of these residing and dealing in communities hit by massive storms or extreme climate. 

Security at all times comes first. Then, restoring energy is the highest precedence and first order of enterprise.

We assemble and arrange the workforce wanted to revive service safely and rapidly to all clients. 

Primarily based on historic restoration instances, clients within the direct path of a Class 1 hurricane can expertise outages for as much as seven days, as much as 10 days for a Class 2 and as much as two weeks for a Class 3.

As soon as our employees can entry the affected areas, we are able to start restoring service to clients by closing circuit breakers, rerouting energy and different means. However we should wait till sustained winds are lower than 30 mph to make use of our bucket vehicles. Important flooding and different accessibility challenges as a result of storm will have an effect on our potential to achieve some areas of our territory and will delay restoration in these communities.

Following a storm, we deploy scouts to evaluate injury. It might take as much as three days earlier than we all know how lengthy till energy is restored. When restoration begins, understand that when you don’t see us working close to you, we could also be engaged on one other a part of {the electrical} system you could’t see however should be repaired to get energy to you.

We’re ready.

• We have now a confirmed plan of steady preparation, planning and coaching. As extreme climate threatens, we monitor, mobilize and act. We stand storm prepared. 
• Along with our regular workforce, we’ve acquired roughly 5,300 restoration employees prepared to revive service for patrons whose energy could also be affected by Francine. As sources proceed to be requested, we anticipate to accumulate as much as roughly 6,400 further sources based mostly on Francine’s present forecast.
  • Complete restoration subject workforce contains firm workers, contractors and mutual help sources numbering roughly 1,800 in Mississippi, 5,700 in Louisiana, and 360 in New Orleans.
• Whereas we conduct year-round reliability work to keep up and enhance the electrical system—together with trimming timber and limbs away from energy strains and different vital tools—there’s ongoing concern in regards to the affect of final 12 months’s drought and different environmental components on vegetation throughout our service space. That is being addressed the place doable within the firms’ preparations.
• Word, whereas our resilience efforts are already underway in some elements of our service space, building started in Louisiana this July on Section I of the accepted resilience plan and can final roughly 5 years.
• We urge clients to stay protected and keep away from downed energy strains and flooded areas. Don’t stroll in standing water or enterprise into areas of particles since energized and harmful energy strains might not be seen.
• We are going to preserve our employees protected throughout a storm response. 
  • Holding our employees protected from worsening climate circumstances could restrict our potential to revive service as rapidly as we’d all like. 
  • We’re dedicated to conserving our workers protected and sheltered throughout harmful intervals brought on by excessive winds, flooding and different extreme storm circumstances. 
• Entergy’s utility nuclear vegetation proceed to perform usually with no threats to operations. Though the storm will not be anticipated to affect our nuclear stations, we’ve entered extreme climate procedures that guarantee our readiness at Waterford 3 and River Bend Station in Louisiana, and Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Mississippi. These procedures embody walk-downs, securing of apparatus and contingency staffing plans.

Hurricanes trigger in depth injury, resulting in prolonged outages for some clients.

Estimates earlier than landfall:

• Earlier than a hurricane makes landfall, we estimate restoration timelines based mostly on the class, depth, ahead pace, rainfall, measurement and monitor of the storm.
• These are solely estimates.​ After a storm passes, we conduct injury assessments to have the ability to present extra particular restoration instances.
• Whereas the vast majority of clients could also be restored faster, a number of the hardest hit areas and/or restoration work that brings further complexities could take longer, for instance, entry issue that requires particular tools, working in marsh land or repairing strains over our bodies of water.
• Prospects may expertise outages as much as the timeframe estimated under, based mostly on the storm’s path and affect:​
  • Class 1 – On common 70% of shoppers are restored in two to 3 days, nonetheless some areas may take as much as seven days​ if in an space hit the toughest. All storms are distinctive and sometimes carry further complexities within the restoration course of that might lengthen restoration instances, akin to entry issue that requires particular tools, working in marshland or repairing strains over our bodies of water.
  • Class 2 – On common 70% of shoppers are restored in 4 to seven days, nonetheless some areas may take as much as 10 days​ if in an space hit the toughest. All storms are distinctive and sometimes carry further complexities within the restoration course of that might lengthen restoration instances, akin to entry issue that requires particular tools, working in marshland or repairing strains over our bodies of water.
  • Class 3 – On common 70% of shoppers are restored in six to 9 days, nonetheless some areas may take as much as two weeks if in an space hit the toughest. All storms are distinctive and sometimes carry further complexities within the restoration course of that might lengthen restoration instances, akin to entry issue that requires particular tools, working in marsh land or repairing strains over our bodies of water.

Estimates after landfall​:

• Every storm brings distinctive challenges, and we attempt to share an correct estimated restoration time to clients inside 48-72 hours following a serious storm.​
• As injury assessments are accomplished, we are able to present higher estimates to clients.​
• Energy is restored quicker in areas with much less injury, whereas restoration instances within the hardest hit areas depend upon the extent of harm to Entergy’s electrical services. ​

We’re storm prepared. 

• When a climate risk is confirmed, we use climate forecasts and pc fashions based mostly on information from previous storms to foretell an estimated length and variety of outages that might happen. 
• We comply with a really detailed, rehearsed plan that has labored properly for us throughout storm restoration.  
• Each storm is exclusive, so whereas plans are rehearsed and in place, we additionally adapt to ever-changing circumstances introduced by Mom Nature. 
• As a storm approaches, we ramp up help. 
  • Entergy workers throughout the corporate have a storm position. They supply the help wanted to maintain the restoration shifting.

Prepared for something. 

• We put together for the worst of what Mom Nature would possibly carry, as a result of our clients dwell in areas liable to a number of the most extreme climate within the nation. 
• Monitoring climate threats is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year job. 
• Storm preparations are carried out three hundred and sixty five days/12 months – from inspections and vegetation administration to coaching and trade collaboration. 
• Transmission and distribution strains and services, together with our energy vegetation, are inspected in preparation for excessive climate circumstances. That is additionally a part of our common upkeep routine – which happens earlier than, throughout and after hurricane season.
  • We examine utility poles yearly and substitute broken or damaged poles when mandatory. 
  • We work proactive upkeep plans all year long, changing outdated tools with extra dependable and fashionable infrastructure.  
  • Timber and different vegetation are a number one reason for energy outages. That’s why we yearly clear right-of-way areas to reduce the affect from fallen timber or branches. We additionally carry out pre-storm patrols of circuits to mitigate any imminent threats inside the correct of approach. 

Prospects ought to put together earlier than climate threatens their space.  

• Make your last-minute preparations. When you shelter in place, there is a bit more time so that you can finalize preparations:
• Make a plan, make a package. Be ready earlier than climate threatens our space. 
  • Consultants agree that having a household emergency plan and a package of the essential provides wanted in an emergency is the easiest way to be ready for extreme climate. 
  • A package of fundamental emergency provides and a primary help package are straightforward to assemble and are good methods to arrange for extreme climate.  
  • Keep in mind to often test the expiration dates on provides and substitute expired objects. 
• Put together your own home. Easy preparations can assist shield your property from storms and their aftermath. 
  • Cowl your home windows with plywood or everlasting hurricane shutters to guard in opposition to excessive winds and flying particles. 
  • Trim timber and shrubs close to your home to assist make them extra wind resistant and reduce the chance of them damaging your home. 
  • Clear out gutters and drainpipes, eradicating any particles. 
  • Herald or safe outside furnishings, decorations, rubbish cans and the rest that prime winds can blow away.
• As a storm approaches, comply with directions from emergency administration officers concerning evacuations or different actions required. 
  • Earlier than leaving, put together your property by turning off the electrical energy on the fundamental fuse or breaker and the water on the fundamental valve. Additionally, test for and safe objects that might trigger injury if blown by excessive winds. 
  • When you evacuate, designate a number of out-of-town contacts whom you might be able to attain extra simply throughout or after the storm.  
  • If no evacuation is named and also you shelter in place, ensure you have fundamental emergency and first help provides. 
  • Replace contact info at myEntergy.com to make sure you obtain vital restoration info. 

Prospects ought to keep conscious and keep protected. 

• Probably the most harmful a part of a storm is usually simply after it has handed. Hazards are throughout us following extreme climate – from downed electrical strains and tools, vegetation and different particles, private generator dangers or flooding risks.  
  • Keep away from downed energy strains and areas of particles. Energized strains might not be seen among the many rubble. Report downed strains instantly by calling 800-9OUTAGE (800-968-8243) and name your native police station or hearth division. 
  • Private turbines are very helpful after a catastrophe, however will also be hazardous. The first hazards to keep away from when utilizing a generator are carbon monoxide poisoning from the poisonous engine exhaust, electrical shock or electrocution and hearth. 
    • Prospects selecting to make use of transportable electrical turbines ought to achieve this in accordance with the producer’s directions. Prospects must not ever join a generator on to a constructing’s wiring with no licensed electrician disconnecting the home wiring from Entergy’s service. In any other case, it might probably create a security hazard for the shopper or our linemen working to revive energy. And it could injury the generator or the home wiring. 
  • Keep alert for pure fuel leaks. When you odor pure fuel, or when you hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and go away the realm instantly. Don’t function electrical switches. If doable, flip the skin fundamental fuel valve off and name your pure fuel supplier away from the potential leak. Entergy fuel clients ought to name 1-800-ENTERGY (800-368-3749). 
  • Water and electrical energy could be a deadly mixture. Don’t stroll in flooded areas or standing water. Do not forget that moist tree limbs can conduct electrical energy. 
  • Return residence solely when authorities advise and you understand it’s protected. Drive solely on roadways and bridges which are satisfactory, and if an influence line falls in your automobile whereas driving, proceed to drive away from the road. As soon as residence, don’t step in water to get to the fuse field or circuit breaker.
• Prospects can be taught extra about storm security on the corporate’s Storm Heart, for instance:
• We have now further info for patrons concerning:

 Prospects ought to report their outages.

• As you make your plans, we’ll preserve you knowledgeable all through about our response.  
• It is extremely vital for patrons to replace their contact info with us to obtain pressing messages.  
• We ship storm and restoration updates by textual content or telephone name to clients who’re signed as much as obtain our notifications. 
• We encourage all clients to test their Entergy cellular app earlier than landfall to make sure you have the newest model or obtain our free app in your smartphone at entergy.com/app/.
• Prospects could obtain our app for iPhone or Android and use it to report an outage or test if energy is restored. To obtain the free app, entry your app retailer or go to: entergy.com/app/.
• You may as well signal as much as obtain our notifications and allow two-way texting. As soon as registered (directions above), textual content OUT to 36778 to report an outage.
• Prospects can report an outage on our web site, by visiting myEntergy.com. You may first log into your on-line account or submit as a visitor.
• Prospects could expertise delays when calling our phone facilities when extreme climate strikes. We encourage them to make use of the opposite fast and simple choices accessible to report an outage, however they could name us at 1-800-9OUTAGE (800-968-8243).

We restore energy as rapidly as it’s protected to take action.

• Each storm is exclusive, however our historical past with storm restoration is a information to predicting the quantity of harm and restoration time following a hurricane.
• Earlier than a hurricane makes landfall, we make estimates on restoration timelines based mostly on the class, depth, measurement and monitor of the storm.
• As we all know, main hurricanes could cause prolonged outage restoration instances. Whereas the vast majority of clients could also be restored faster, a number of the hardest hit areas may take longer depending on the extent of harm to Entergy’s electrical services.

• We attempt to present an estimate of how lengthy it’s going to take to revive most of our clients 48-72 hours after landfall.
• We will present higher estimates as injury assessments are accomplished.
• Energy is restored quicker in areas with much less injury.
• Restoration instances within the hardest hit areas depend upon the extent of harm to Entergy’s electrical services.
• Important flooding and different accessibility challenges as a result of storm will have an effect on our potential to achieve some areas of our territory and will delay restoration in these communities.
• We start restoring energy to clients as safely and rapidly as doable after the storm passes, and the restoration course of is completed in an orderly, deliberate method. This begins with assessing the injury after which restore energy vegetation, transmission strains, substations after which the poles and wires in your neighborhood.

We’re an trade chief.

• We’re a acknowledged chief in storm response.
  • It takes a military to revive a village. That’s the reason Entergy companions with different utilities in mutual help agreements, in preparation of restoring widespread outages that happen after extreme climate.
  • We depend on our steady cycle of planning, preparation, coaching and analysis. Annual readiness drills and coaching, akin to computer-based and occasion tabletops are carried out to advertise and take a look at consciousness.

Francine weakened to a tropical storm Wednesday night after making landfall in Louisiana as a Class 2 hurricane.

At 10 p.m. Wednesday, the storm was bringing heavy rains and gusty winds to the New Orleans space.

The storm got here onshore in Terrebonne Parish as a Class 2 hurricane Wednesday, bringing life-threatening storm surge to the state, and knocking out energy to greater than 250,000 houses.

The Nationwide Hurricane Heart discontinued the hurricane watch it issued for Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, together with metropolitan New Orleans. The hurricane warning for the Louisiana coast from Cameron eastward to Grand Isle was downgraded to a tropical storm warning. Hurricane and tropical storm warnings west of Intracoastal Metropolis have been additionally discontinued.

The place is Francine?

At 10 p.m. CT, Francine was about 35 miles west-northwest of New Orleans. It had most sustained winds of 70 mph, with tropical-storm-force winds extending outward as much as 140 miles from the storm’s heart.

The place is Francine headed?

Francine is predicted to weaken quickly right into a tropical melancholy and a post-tropical cyclone Thursday night time or early Friday because it strikes north into Mississippi.

How has Louisiana been impacted?

Francine was bringing life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds to elements of Louisiana, the Hurricane Heart stated.

Greater than a dozen parishes, together with Orleans, are underneath a twister watch till 11 p.m.

Forecasters stated storm surge might be over 9 toes in St. Mary Parish and Terrebonne Parish. Lake Pontchartrain might see storm surge 4 to six toes.

Southern Louisiana and different areas alongside the Gulf Coast anticipated to see as much as 8 inches of rain into Thursday morning with some areas seeing remoted quantities of 12 inches, which might trigger appreciable flash and concrete flooding.

Forecasters stated the storm surge might convey water between 3 to 10 toes above floor stage in some elements.

Watches in impact

A storm surge warning is in impact for:

• Avery Island Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama Border
• Vermilion Bay
• Lake Maurepas
• Lake Pontchartrain

A tropical storm warning is in impact for:

• Intracoastal Metropolis, Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border
• Lake Maurepas
• Lake Pontchartrain, together with metropolitan New Orleans

Keep knowledgeable

You should definitely monitor updates to remain knowledgeable. Use this information that can assist you and your loved ones keep protected.

Most of us recall the place we have been and the way life modified that day. For Katrina Keefer, residing simply blocks from the World Commerce Middle, the occasions felt strikingly fast and private.

Shock, unhappiness, worry, anger: the 9/11 assaults inflicted a devastating emotional toll on People. Many people watched in horror because the terrorist assaults of September 11, 2001, left practically 3,000 folks useless in New York Metropolis, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. For many who’re sufficiently old to recollect, it’s a day that’s unattainable to neglect. For many people, the reminiscences of 9/11 are firmly embedded in our minds.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Katrina Keefer, now CEO of DCH Well being System, heard a loud growth echo by way of her Manhattan condominium. It was a sound that will eternally change her life and the course of American historical past. That morning, from the roof of her condominium constructing, she watched in horror as America was below assault.

“I used to be in New York Metropolis throughout the most effective of instances and the worst of instances,” mentioned DCH Well being Techniques CEO Katrina Keefer. From the roof of her condominium constructing, Katrina watched because the second aircraft struck the World Commerce Middle. Katrina mentioned she is going to always remember the tragedies of that morning.

Katrina lived simply three blocks from the World Commerce Middle. She remembers listening to the primary aircraft hit Tower 1. The affect was so highly effective, Katrina thought one thing had hit the close by Brooklyn Bridge.

“I regarded out my window and I noticed that visitors was nonetheless transferring,” Katrina mentioned. “That’s when my roommate, who had the tv on, mentioned, “one thing simply hit the World Commerce Middle!” Katrina headed to the roof to see what was occurring.

“I believe the life-changing second for me was, you’ll see these sparkles coming off the primary constructing, and then you definately’d see these objects falling sooner,” mentioned Katrina.

That’s when Katrina realized these have been folks leaping from the home windows of the constructing. “To know this was their alternative was very onerous,” she mentioned. “After which I noticed the second aircraft because it went by way of the second tower. At that time, it nonetheless had not hit me that this was a terrorist assault.”

The state of affairs rapidly worsened because the tenants in her constructing have been advised to evacuate. She rapidly threw some gadgets in a backpack. “I’m a woman from Alabama, so I had my Bible, clear underwear and I ended at each ATM to get as a lot money as it could give me. I knew if I had money, clear underwear and my Bible, I used to be set.”

Katrina mentioned her missions expertise helped put together her for that day. “I knew what I wanted,” she mentioned. “For instance, I didn’t know the place I used to be going to sleep, however I knew my ft could be chilly, so I had socks.”

The streets have been quickly full of smoke and particles as the primary tower crumbled. “I couldn’t see what was imploding,” Katrina recalled. “I may solely see the smoke billowing on the street.” 

For Katrina, navigating the aftermath of 9/11 grew to become a profound studying expertise, one which deeply formed her management fashion. She mentioned, “In my life, I’ve had lots of alternatives to be in so many distinctive conditions, and I’ve discovered from all of them.”

*Components of this text have been excerpted from tales within the Jagwire and Augusta Well being publication.

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The Postal Service’s new supply autos aren’t going to win a magnificence contest. They’re tall and ungainly. The windshields are huge. Their hoods resemble a duck invoice. Their bumpers are monumental.

“You may inform that (the designers) didn’t have look in thoughts,” postal employee Avis Stonum mentioned.

Odd look apart, the primary handful of Subsequent Era Supply Autos that rolled onto postal routes in August in Athens are getting rave critiques from letter carriers accustomed to cantankerous older autos that lack trendy security options and are liable to breaking down — and even catching fireplace.

Inside a number of years of the preliminary rollout, the fleet may have expanded to 60,000, most of them electrical fashions, serving because the Postal Service’s main supply truck from Maine to Hawaii.

As soon as absolutely deployed, they’ll symbolize one of the seen indicators of the company’s 10-year, $40 billion transformation led by Postmaster Basic Louis DeJoy, who’s additionally renovating getting old services, overhauling the processing and transportation community, and instituting different adjustments.

The present postal autos — the Grumman Lengthy Life Car, relationship to 1987 — have made good on their identify, outlasting their projected 25-year lifespan. However they’re nicely overdue for substitute.

Noisy and fuel-inefficient (9 mpg), the Grummans are pricey to take care of. They’re scalding sizzling in the summertime, with solely an old-school electrical fan to flow into air. They’re have mirrors mounted on them that when completely aligned enable the driving force to see across the car, however the mirrors consistently get knocked out of alignment. Alarmingly, practically 100 of the autos caught fireplace final 12 months, imperiling carriers and mail alike.

The brand new vans are being constructed with consolation, security and utility in thoughts, by Oshkosh Protection in South Carolina.

Even tall postal carriers can rise up with out bonking their heads and stroll from entrance to again to retrieve packages. For security, they’ve airbags, 360-degree cameras, blind-spot monitoring, collision sensors and anti-lock brakes — all of that are lacking on the Grummans.

The brand new vans even have a characteristic that grew to become frequent in most vehicles greater than six a long time in the past — air con. And that’s key for drivers within the Deep South, the desert Southwest and different areas with scorching summers.

“I promise you, it felt like heaven blowing in my face,” Stonum mentioned of her first expertise working in an air-conditioned truck.

Richard Burton, one other driver, mentioned he appreciates the bigger payload space, which might accommodate larger packages, and the truth that he can rise up and doesn’t must crouch, serving to him keep away from again ache. The previous vans additionally had a behavior of breaking down in visitors, he added.

Brian Renfroe, president of the Nationwide Letter Carriers Affiliation, mentioned union members are enthusiastic concerning the new autos, simply as they have been when the Grummans marked a leap ahead from the earlier autos, old-school Jeeps. He credited DeJoy with bringing a way of urgency to get them into manufacturing.

“We’re excited now to be on the level the place they’re beginning to hit the streets,” Renfroe mentioned.

The method obtained off to a rocky begin.

Environmentalists have been outraged when DeJoy introduced that 90% of the next-gen autos within the first order can be gas-powered. Lawsuits have been filed demanding that the Postal Service additional electrify its fleet of greater than 200,000 autos to scale back tailpipe emissions.

“Everyone went nuts,” DeJoy mentioned.

The issue, Dejoy mentioned, wasn’t that he didn’t need electrical autos. Relatively, the expense of the autos, compounded by the prices of putting in 1000’s of charging stations and upgrading electrical service, made them unaffordable at a time when the company was reporting huge working deficits each quarter.

He discovered a method to additional enhance the variety of electrical autos when he met with President Joe Biden’s high environmental adviser, John Podesta. That led to a deal wherein the authorities offered $3 billion to the Postal Service, with a part of it earmarked for electrical charging stations.

In December 2022, DeJoy introduced that the Postal Service was shopping for 106,000 autos by way of 2028. That included 60,000 next-gen autos, 45,000 of them electrical fashions, together with 21,000 different electrical autos. He pledged to go all-electric for brand spanking new purchases beginning in 2026.

“With the local weather disaster at our doorsteps, electrifying the U.S. authorities’s largest fleet will ship the progress we’ve been ready for,” mentioned Katherine García of the Sierra Membership, which sued the Postal Service earlier than its resolution to spice up the quantity of electrical car purchases.

Between the electrical autos, lowered tailpipe emissions from optimized mail routes and different adjustments, the company anticipates slicing carbon emissions by 40% by 2030, DeJoy mentioned. The route revisions can even lower your expenses.

This summer time the Postal Service’s environmental battles got here full circle because the White Home honored it with a Presidential Federal Sustainability Award, marking the tip of “an attention-grabbing journey,” DeJoy mentioned.

The honour is a sign of the company’s skill to work by way of complicated issues, be they operational, monetary, technical, political or of a public coverage nature, he mentioned.

“It comes from forging ahead,” he mentioned. “Preserve transferring.”

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Sharp reported from Portland, Maine.