Tag Archives: Warnings

Health

Warnings from right and left about Johnson & Johnson vaccine’s link to rare disease

Leave a comment

EXCLUSIVE: Following the Food and Drug Administration warning of a possible link between the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barré Syndrome, conservatives and liberals alike are sounding the alarm that the disease has been linked to vaccines in the past.

GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME REPORTED IN FEW JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE RECIPIENTS: WHAT IS THE RARE NERVE DISORDER?

The FDA warned in a bulletin Monday that Guillain-Barré is a possible side effect of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine, noting that “in most of these people, symptoms began within 42 days following receipt” of receiving the single shot, but “the chance of having this occur is very low.” 

Of the 12.5 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines administered so far, there have only been around 100 cases of Guillain-Barré. Of those, 95 were hospitalized and one person died, according to the FDA.

FDA WARNS ON POTENTIAL JOHNSON & JOHNSON COVID-19 VACCINE LINK TO RARE DISORDER

But critics from both sides of the political aisle warn that such links are not being taken seriously enough.

“To date, I do not believe federal health agencies have taken the signals from their own safety warning systems seriously,” Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson (R) told FOX in an exclusive statement. “The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) has now reported more deaths in less than seven months following Covid vaccination, at 5,247, than VAERS has recorded over its 31-year history for all other vaccines, at 5,051.”

He explained, “In 1976, in reaction to 400 to 500 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome and 25 deaths from it, the entire swine flu vaccine program was shut down.”

“Obviously, in 2021 we are taking a different approach to vaccine safety signals,” Johnson continued. “VAERS may not prove causality, but these numbers suggest it is an early warning system that should be taken seriously.”

Johnson, who is not an anti-vaxxer, added, “The American people deserve transparency and as much information as possible from the federal government so they may make an informed choice about their own health.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Johnson isn’t alone. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the son of the late U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, also raised concerns over the link between Guillain-Barré and vaccines in an exclusive statement to FOX News. 

Kennedy – who founded the Children’s Health Defense to raise awareness about vaccine risks and was a darling of the left for his environmental activism until COVID-19 vaccines were released – also issued a reminder of how the swine flu vaccine was linked to Guillain-Barré.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“In the VAERS database, J&J accounts for 20% of the GBS cases when Johnson & Johnson vaccine accounts for only 3.8% of the vaccines given,” he wrote. “While the FDA has issued the warning for Johnson & Johnson, as of July 2, 2021, Moderna has 174 cases of GBS and Pfizer has 208 cases. So clearly, there is a problem. To put these Moderna and Pfizer GBS numbers into historical context, in 1976, 450 cases of GBS shut down the Swine Flu pandemic vaccine campaign.”

Kennedy added, “It cost the U.S. government hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation to the victims.”

Read original article here

US

Tropical Storm Elsa: Millions under tropical storm warnings and flash flood watches as Elsa moves up the East Coast

Leave a comment

Early Friday morning, Elsa was about 5 miles east of Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to the National Hurricane Center, and racing to the northeast.

Elsa is bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and a tornado threat to the region. It will be near Boston in the afternoon and move into the Atlantic off Canada late Friday evening, CNN meteorologist Monica Garrett said.

As Elsa moves near Long Island and southern and coastal New England, heavy rainfall could lead to considerable flash and urban flooding. Flash flood watches are posted for more than 40 million people from New Jersey to Maine.

Winds could gust up to 65 mph, and rotating storms moving inland from the outer bands could cause some brief tornadoes from Long Island to New England.

A tropical storm warning is still in effect from southern New Jersey to near Boston.

Elsa already has caused tornadoes, multiple injuries and at least one death in Florida and Georgia this week.

In New York, roads and subways looked “straight out of a disaster movie Thursday,” CNN affiliate WCBS reported. Cell phone video showed water streaming down the steps of 149th Street subway station, and waist-high water at 157th Street.

“The concrete above ground does not absorb the water. The water comes through the vents down the stairs in those waterfalls, and then if the drains at the street level can’t handle the water, it goes over the curb and makes things even worse,” Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair Sarah Feinberg said, according to WCBS.

No stations were flooded Friday morning, MTA spokesperson Renee Price said. Crews were out working all night, and normal operations have resumed, Price said.

The MTA was pre-positioning crews and equipment in Long Island, where the storm was forecast to be most pronounced.

The MTA, which manages the subway system and other rail lines, bridges and tunnels, also banned empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks on its seven bridges and in its two tunnels until at least noon Friday.
The storm was moving at 25 mph and has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Much of the Northeast will likely see 2 to 4 inches of rainfall by the weekend.

Even when Elsa’s center passes an area, residents there can still expect to see heavy bands of rainfall on the outskirts.

Tornadoes reported across the South

Tornadoes were reported across northern Florida and southeastern Georgia on Wednesday, including an EF-2 tornado that caused multiple injuries and damage at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Kings Bay, Georgia.

Elsa’s first US target was Florida — and it caused damage and one death near the Georgia-Florida border.

The system made landfall Wednesday along the Gulf Coast in Taylor County, Florida, the NHC said. Roads flooded in Steinhatchee, CNN affiliate WCTV reported.

In Jacksonville, winds from Elsa caused a tree to fall on two cars during an afternoon commute, killing one person, Jacksonville fire rescue Capt. Eric Prosswimmer said. A possible tornado touched down Wednesday evening, according to Mayor Lenny Curry.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the flash flood alert for portions of the Northeast. It is a flash flood watch.

CNN’s Ganesh Setty, Jason Hanna, Gregory Lemos, Laura James, Rebekah Riess, Hannah Sarisohn, Devon Sayers, Amir Vera, Taylor Ward and Amanda Watts contributed to this report.

Read original article here

World

Track Elsa Live: Tropical storm warnings issued along NY, NJ, CT coasts; Flash flood watch across the Tri-State

Leave a comment

NEW YORK (WABC) — Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued from New Jersey to Massachusetts as Elsa approaches the Tri-State region.

The National Hurricane Center says Elsa is pouring rain across the Carolinas and gaining speed, moving toward the northeast near 20 mph.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts.

Watch: Elsa batters the Carolinas

The storm is expected to bring heavy rain to our area Thursday night into Friday.

RELATED: How the Tri-State area is preparing for Elsa

The National Weather Service says the tropical system could produce 2 to 3 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts possible.

The Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for coastal New Jersey, along Long Island from East Rockaway Inlet to the eastern tip along the south shore and from Port Jefferson Harbor eastward on the north shore, and from New Haven, Connecticut to Sagamore Beach, Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

Check here for the latest advisories from the National Weather Service

Tropical Storm Elsa made landfall in Taylor County along the north Florida coast late Wednesday morning.

WHAT THE NEW YORK AREA CAN EXPECT

By Thursday night, Elsa will reach the Mid-Atlantic including just east of Washington, D.C. and into Philadelphia. Flooding rain and gusty winds will be the biggest threat.

Thursday:
Dry this morning with an increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Widespread showers and thunderstorms may develop this evening and continue into Friday.
An isolated strong to severe storm producing sudden gusty winds cannot be ruled out.
Elsa will begin to make its approach late tonight into early Friday morning.
Rainfall rates exceeding one in per hour for more than an hour are likely between 12:00 AM – 6:00 AM.
There’s a reasonable worst case of peak winds reaching 25 to 30 MPH with 35 to 40 MPH gusts, with the strongest winds along the coastline.

Friday:
The center of Elsa will pass quickly to the southeast of the city between 5:00 AM – 8:00 AM.
Heavy rain will continue intermittently through the early morning and begin to taper off around noon.
Winds will begin to subside around noon with rapidly improving conditions expected after 2:00 PM.
A total of 2.00 – 3.00 inches of rainfall is expected between today and Friday with locally higher amounts possible.
A high risk of life threatening rip currents will continue through Friday and potentially into Saturday.

While Elsa can bring heavy rain, the fast-forward movement of the storm should help to limit excessive rainfall and the threat of widespread flooding.

Elsa will also track close enough and have enough strength to bring wind gusts of 40-60 mph to coastal New Jersey and Long Island.

If Elsa’s track shifts farther west, some of the heavier rain and gusty winds could move inland.

Stay with the Eyewitness News AccuWeather team for updates.

RELATED ELSA COVERAGE
Live tracking Tropical Storm Elsa
Preparing for Elsa across the Tri-State
Long Island braces for Tropical Storm Elsa
The 7-day AccuWeather forecast

———-
* Get the AccuWeather App
* More AccuWeather
* Follow us on YouTube
* More local news
* Sign up for free newsletters
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

Copyright © 2021 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.



Read original article here

World

Elsa’s tropical storm warnings, watches extend along Florida’s west coast

Leave a comment

As Tropical Storm Elsa nears Central Cuba Monday, tropical storm warnings and watches have extended along Florida’s west coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. At 5 a.m. on Monday, the center of Tropical Storm Elsa was located 110 miles east-southeast of Cayo Largo, Cuba, according to forecasters. Elsa was moving toward the northwest near 14 mph with maximum sustained winds at 65 mph.>>TRACKING ELSA: The latest maps, models and pathsElsa is forecasted to move across central and western Cuba on Monday, then pass over near the Florida Keys on Tuesday.After Elsa passes the Florida Keys, forecasters expect the storm to move near or over portions of Florida’s west coast on Tuesday and Wednesday. Elsa is expected to go through some strengthening, before weakening as it moves over Cuba.Related: Video shows storm damage in Barbados from Elsa The National Hurricane Center says a couple of tornados are possible for south Florida Monday into Tuesday.Forecasters are also warning on tropical storm conditions in the Florida Keys by Monday night. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area along the west coast of Florida beginning Tuesday.>> WESH 2 News 2021 Hurricane Survival Guide>> Surviving the Season: Hurricane Season 2021A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:The Cuban provinces of Cienfuegos and Matanzas.A Hurricane Watch is in Effect for: The Cuban province of Camaguey A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:The Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus,Villa Clara, Mayabeque, and Havana The Florida Keys from Craig Key westward to the Dry TortugasWest coast of Florida from Flamingo to Englewood A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:Cayman Brac and Little CaymanThe Cuban province of ArtemisaThe Florida Keys from east of Craig Key to Ocean Reef Florida BayFlorida BayWest coast of Florida from Englewood northward to the Aucilla River A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:The west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach northward to the Suwannee RiverPHN0eWxlPi5lbWJlZC1yYWRhciB7IGNsZWFyOiBib3RoOyBoZWlnaHQ6IDEwMHZ3OyB9IEBtZWRpYSBvbmx5IHNjcmVlbiBhbmQgKG1pbi13aWR0aDogNDEuMjVyZW0pIHsgLmVtYmVkLXJhZGFyIHsgaGVpZ2h0OiA1MDBweDsgfSB9PC9zdHlsZT4KPHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiIHNyYz0iaHR0cHM6Ly93aWRnZXRzLWx0cy5tZWRpYS53ZWF0aGVyLmNvbS93eHdpZGdldC5sb2FkZXIuanM/Y2lkPTI4Mjg1MjgwMSI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+CjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9ImVtYmVkLXJhZGFyIiAgcm9sZT0ibWFpbiIgIGFyaWEtbGFiZWw9IlJhZGFyIE1hcCBmcm9tIFRoZSBXZWF0aGVyIENvbXBhbnksIGFuIElCTSBCdXNpbmVzcy4gWW91IG1heSBiZSBhYmxlIHRvIGZpbmQgdGhlIHNhbWUgY29udGVudCBpbiBhbm90aGVyIGZvcm1hdCwgb3IgeW91IG1heSBiZSBhYmxlIHRvIGZpbmQgbW9yZSBpbmZvcm1hdGlvbiwgYXQgV2VhdGhlci5jb20iPgo8d3gtd2lkZ2V0IHR5cGU9Im1hcCIgbGF0aXR1ZGU9IjMwLjIxMDU2MDYiIGxvbmdpdHVkZT0iLTc5LjMyOTA3OCIgbWVudWl0ZW1zPSIwMDE1LDAwMDEsMDAxNywwMDIxIiBtYXBpZD0iMDAyMiIgbWVtYmVyaWQ9IjExNjkiIHpvb21sZXZlbD0iNCIgc3RhbmRhbG9uZT0idHJ1ZSIgb3BhY2l0eT0iLjYiIGZ1bGxzY3JlZW49InRydWUiIGhlYWRlcj0iZmFsc2UiIGpzPSJsdHMiIGFuaW1hdGU9InRydWUiPjwvd3gtd2lkZ2V0Pgo8L2Rpdj4=

ORLANDO, Fla. —

As Tropical Storm Elsa nears Central Cuba Monday, tropical storm warnings and watches have extended along Florida’s west coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.

At 5 a.m. on Monday, the center of Tropical Storm Elsa was located 110 miles east-southeast of Cayo Largo, Cuba, according to forecasters. Elsa was moving toward the northwest near 14 mph with maximum sustained winds at 65 mph.

>>TRACKING ELSA: The latest maps, models and paths

Elsa is forecasted to move across central and western Cuba on Monday, then pass over near the Florida Keys on Tuesday.

After Elsa passes the Florida Keys, forecasters expect the storm to move near or over portions of Florida’s west coast on Tuesday and Wednesday. Elsa is expected to go through some strengthening, before weakening as it moves over Cuba.

Related: Video shows storm damage in Barbados from Elsa

The National Hurricane Center says a couple of tornados are possible for south Florida Monday into Tuesday.

Forecasters are also warning on tropical storm conditions in the Florida Keys by Monday night. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area along the west coast of Florida beginning Tuesday.

>> WESH 2 News 2021 Hurricane Survival Guide

>> Surviving the Season: Hurricane Season 2021

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

  • The Cuban provinces of Cienfuegos and Matanzas.

A Hurricane Watch is in Effect for:

  • The Cuban province of Camaguey

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

  • The Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus,
    Villa Clara, Mayabeque, and Havana
  • The Florida Keys from Craig Key westward to the Dry Tortugas
  • West coast of Florida from Flamingo to Englewood

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

  • Cayman Brac and Little Cayman
  • The Cuban province of Artemisa
  • The Florida Keys from east of Craig Key to Ocean Reef Florida Bay
  • Florida Bay
  • West coast of Florida from Englewood northward to the Aucilla River

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:

  • The west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach northward to the Suwannee River

Read original article here

US

Live updates, tornado warnings, storm reports

Leave a comment

Scroll down for live updates on the threat of a dangerous severe weather outbreak forecast for central Alabama. Track the storms with WVTM 13 Live Doppler Radar above. If there is a tornado warning in the area, live TV coverage will be streaming above.Be sure you have multiple ways of getting severe weather alerts. Get the WVTM 13 app and turn on the alerts. Click here for the latest school closures.Follow WVTM 13 on social media too! Click here to follow on Facebook. Click here to follow on Twitter.—LIVE UPDATES4:50 p.m.A confirmed tornado was located over northeastern Birmingham, moving northeast at 55 mph towards Trussville. 4:45 p.m.Tornado Warning for Jefferson County until 5:30 p.m. A severe storm capable of producing a tornado was located over northeast Birmingham, moving northeast at 55 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here. —4:43 p.m.Alabama Power says there are nearly 17,000 outages statewide.—4:35 p.m.A large and extremely dangerous tornado was located near Greensboro moving northeast at 55 mph. Storm chasers reported a large, wedge tornado five miles north-northwest of Greensboro.—4:30 p.m.Tornado warning for Hale County until 5 p.m. A large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Sayerville, seven miles west of Greensboro, moving northeast at 50 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here. —4:10 p.m.Tornado Warning for Hale and Tuscaloosa counties until 5:15 p.m. At 4:10 p.m., a tornado producing storm was locating near Union, eight miles north of Eutaw, moving northeast at 40 mph. Watch live coverage above or click here.— 4 p.m.Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade is reporting three fatalities and two injuries after a possible tornado strike in the Ohatchee and Wellington area. Wade also said multiple structures were damaged or destroyed. Click here to learn more.— 3:53 p.m.Latest update on road conditions from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency:AL 119 West of I 65 report of trees down blocking the roadwayUS 231 near the Etowah County Line closed due to mudslideUS 280 Eagle Point Area closed due to tornado damage—3:51 p.m.Tornado Warning continues for Blount County until 4:45 p.m. At 350 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Hayden, or 12 miles southwest of Cleveland, moving northeast at 60 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here. —3:45 p.m.Tornado Warning for Blount and Jefferson counties until 4:45 p.m. At 3:43 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Warrior, or 11 miles north of Gardendale, moving northeast at 60 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here. —3:43 p.m.Alabama Power says there are currently about 14,000 outages in metro Birmingham. —3:28 p.m.Video and images of extensive tornado damage in Shelby County are coming into the WVTM 13 Newsroom. One of the hardest hit areas we’ve seen so far is in the Eagle Point neighborhood. Click here for more.3:15 p.m.Tornado Warning for Cherokee until 4 p.m. At 3:13 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Piedmont, moving northeast at 40 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here.—3 p.m.Tornado Warning for Cherokee and Etowah counties until 4 p.m. At 2:57 p.m., a tornado producing storm was located near Jacksonville State University, or near Jacksonville, moving northeast at 45 mph. “Long lived supercell continues to produce a tornado in northern Calhoun County. Radar confirmed tornado will move just north of Jacksonville, and is heading toward Piedmont.” —2:53 p.m.A confirmed tornado was located near Alexandria, seven miles west of Jacksonville, moving northeast at 45 mph.2:50 p.m.Tornado Warning for Calhoun County until 3:30 p.m. “Radar CONFIRMED tornado heading toward the Wellington community,” NWS Birmingham said. “TAKE SHELTER NOW if you are its path. This supercell storm has produced significant damage along its path.”Watch live coverage above or click here.—2:45 p.m.Tornado Warning for Calhoun County until 3:30 p.m. At 2:43 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located over Ohatchee, or 10 miles northwest of Saks, moving northeast at 40 mph. —2:35 p.m. Tornado warning continues for St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m.At 227 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Ragland, or 11 miles northeast of Pell City, moving northeast at 50 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here.—2:20 p.m.Tornado warning continues for St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m. At 2:20 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Riverside, or near Pell City, moving northeast at 45 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here.—2:10 p.m.Tornado warning continues for St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m. At 2:07 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Bald Rock, or near Moody, moving northeast at 40 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here.—2:05 p.m.There are several reports of extensive damage in Helena and Pelham. “Helena has received major damage as a result of the tornado,” Helena police said. “All phone lines to HPD are down. Call 911 if you need emergency assistance. Please stay out of the area of Old Town on Hwy 261.”Pelham police reported numerous houses damaged in Chandalar, utility lines down at the Pelham Civic Complex and along Hwy 31 and Hwy 119.”We have received multiple reports of damage in different areas of Shelby County,” the sheriff’s office said. “This includes trees and power lines down across the roadway. Please avoid driving on the roadway unless absolutely necessary to allow public safety personnel time to clear these areas.” —2:02 p.m.Tornado warning continues for Pickens County until 2:30 p.m. At 2:01 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Carrollton, moving northeast at 50 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here.—1:59 p.m.Tornado Warning continues for Shelby, St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m. A confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Vandiver near Leeds moving northeast at 40 mph. “Tornado, with a history of considerable damage, is moving from northeastern Shelby County into St. Clair County,” NWS Birmingham said. “Pell City is in its path.”Watch live coverage above or click here.—1:48 p.m.Tornado warning continues for Shelby County until 2 p.m. At 1:47 p.m., a confirmed large and destructive tornado was located over Mount Laurel, or near Chelsea, moving northeast at 45 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here.—1:45 p.m.Tornado warning for Shelby, St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m. At 1:45 p.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Mt. Laurel near Chelsea, moving northeast at 45 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here.—1:36 p.m.A confirmed large and destructive tornado was located over Indian Springs Village near Hoover, moving northeast at 45 mph. “TORNADO EMERGENCY! Radar confirmed tornado, with a history of producing damage, is moving down the SR-119 corridor, toward Meadow Brook, Inverness,” NWS Birmingham said. “Lee Branch businesses need to expedite their tornado plans NOW!”Watch live coverage above or click here.—1:33 p.m.Tornado Warning continues for Jefferson and Shelby counties until 2 p.m. At 1:30 p.m. A large and extremely dangerous tornado located over Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Pelham, moving northeast at 45 mph. Areas near Spain Park, Oak Mountain High School, Meadowbrook and Inverness are in the path.—1:29 p.m.Tornado Warning for Pickens County until 2:30 p.m. At 1:28 p.m., a severe thunderstorm warning capable of producing a tornado was located over Paulette, 17 miles southwest of Aliceville, moving northeast at 45 mph. Watch live coverage above or click here.—1:20 p.m.A confirmed tornado was located near Helena moving northeast at 40 mph. South of downtown Helena and north of downtown Pelham are in the path.Watch live coverage above or click here.—1:10 p.m.Tornado Warning continues for Jefferson and Shelby counties until 2 p.m.At 1:08 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Tannehill Ironworks State Park, 11 miles northwest of Montevallo, moving northeast at 40mph. Downtown Helena and the Oak Mountain Amphitheater area of Pelham are in the path. “Radar confirmed tornado will move across northern Shelby County,” NWS Birmingham said. “Everyone north of Calera and south of Homewood is in the path of this dangerous storm, and needs to TAKE COVER NOW!”Watch live coverage above or click here.—1 p.m.Confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado located near West Blocton, 13 miles west of Montevallo, moving northeast at 45mph. South of Helena and downtown Pelham are “in the crosshairs.” “Tornado debris signature has returned, near West Blocton,” NWS Birmingham said. “Tornado now confirmed by radar, and some tree damage reported in the same area. Everyone in northeast Bibb County needs to be in a safe location NOW!”—12:51 p.m.Tornado Warning for Jefferson and Shelby counties until 2 p.m. NWS reports a confirmed tornado moving northeast toward Helena, Alabaster, Pelham, Chelsea.A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over West Blocton, or 9 miles north of Centreville, moving northeast at 45 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here.—12:42 p.m.Tornado Warning for Bibb and Tuscaloosa counties continues until 1:15 p.m. At 1241 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Eoline, or 10 miles northwest of Centreville, moving northeast at 45 mph.NWS says tornado warned storm will ride along close to the Tuscaloosa and Bibb County line, heading in the general direction of Vance, Woodstock, and West Blocton. This remains a dangerous storm.Watch live coverage above or click here. —12:34 p.m. Tornado Warning for Bibb and Tuscaloosa counties until 1:15 p.m. The NWS says a confirmed tornado was located near Low Gap, 13 miles northwest of Brent, moving northeast at 45 mph.—12:30 p.m. Tornado Warning for Bibb and Tuscaloosa counties until 1:15 p.m.At 1230 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Low Gap, or 15 miles west of Brent, moving northeast at 45 mph.At 1211 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Moundville, or 16 miles north of Greensboro, moving northeast at 40 mph.Watch live coverage above or click here.—12:10 p.m.Tornado Warning for Hale County continues until 12:30 p.m.:At 1217 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Moundville, or 17 miles south of Tuscaloosa, moving northeast at 40 mph.At 1206 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Akron, or 13 miles northeast of Eutaw, moving northeast at 45 mph.At 1157 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Akron, or near Eutaw, moving northeast at 45 mph. At 1151 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Eutaw, moving northeast at 40 mph.At 11:43 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Allison, or near Eutaw, moving northeast at 45 mph. —12:05 p.m.Tuscaloosa County EMA—11:35 a.m.Tornado Warning for Greene and Hale counties until 12:30 p.m. At 11:35 a.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Boligee, or 10 miles southwest of Eutaw, moving northeast at 45 mph.—11:25 a.m.A tornado watch has been issued until 8 p.m. for the following Alabama counties: Bibb; Blount; Calhoun; Cherokee; Chilton; Choctaw; Clarke; Colbert; Cullman; Dallas; DeKalb; Etowah; Fayette; Franklin; Greene; Hale; Jackson; Jefferson; Lamar; Lauderdale; Lawrence; Limestone; Madison; Marengo; Marion; Marshall; Morgan; Perry; Pickens; Shelby; St. Clair; Sumter; Talladega; Tuscaloosa; Walker; Washington; Wilcox; Winston.—11:04 a.m.Interstate 65 in Cullman is closed due to flooding, Alabama State Trooper say. “At approximately 9:45 a.m. Thursday, March 25, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was notified of flooding along Interstate 65 near the 308 mile marker, in the Cullman city limits. Both northbound and southbound lanes in that area will be closed for an undetermined amount of time. Troopers with ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division are on scene and working with the Alabama Department of Transportation crews to detour traffic through exit ramps. ALEA will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates accordingly.” Click here to see the traffic map.The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency also says it is closing the following driver license offices:Jasper Office located in the Walker County Courthouse (Closed at 10 a.m.) Centreville Office located in the Bibb County Courthouse (Closed at 11 a.m.) Oneonta Office located in the Blount County Courthouse (12 p.m.) Linden Office located in the Marengo County Courthouse (12 p.m.) Scottsboro Office located in the Jackson County Courthouse (2 p.m.) Cullman Office located in the Cullman County Courthouse (Closed at 9 a.m.)—10:55 a.m.The National Weather Service in Birmingham is warning people that the severe weather threat will continue well after the morning storms move out. “There will be a break in activity for many, maybe even some clearing skies (sun is not good on a day like today, makes storms strong), but we are not done until tonight.”—10:40 a.m.The University of Alabama is suspending operations at noon due to the severe weather threat. “With the impending threat of severe weather, including the high risk of tornadoes and dangerous weather in West and Central Alabama, normal UA operations will be suspended at noon today through 5 a.m. Friday. Employees who live in areas of higher risk are encouraged to leave earlier after consulting with their supervisors.”— 10:30 a.m.WVTM 13 Meteorologist Stephanie Walker shares the latest forecast below:— 10 a.m.Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has issued a state of emergency for 46 counties ahead of the anticipated severe weather. The state of emergency goes into effect at 10 a.m. The state of emergency includes: Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Lowndes, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox and Winston counties. “Once again, Alabama finds herself facing the threat of severe weather. I urge all Alabamians to closely monitor the weather system as it continues to impact portions of our state, especially if you are in the line of the highest risk storms,” Ivey said. “We will continue following this system and stand ready to provide any assistance we are able, should the need arise.” — 9:59 a.m.A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Jefferson and St. Clair Counties until 10:30 a.m.— 8:40 a.m.A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Cullman County with the threat of 60 mph winds and large hail.—

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

Scroll down for live updates on the threat of a dangerous severe weather outbreak forecast for central Alabama. Track the storms with WVTM 13 Live Doppler Radar above. If there is a tornado warning in the area, live TV coverage will be streaming above.

Be sure you have multiple ways of getting severe weather alerts. Get the WVTM 13 app and turn on the alerts. Click here for the latest school closures.

Follow WVTM 13 on social media too! Click here to follow on Facebook. Click here to follow on Twitter.

—

LIVE UPDATES

4:50 p.m.

A confirmed tornado was located over northeastern Birmingham, moving northeast at 55 mph towards Trussville.

4:45 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Jefferson County until 5:30 p.m. A severe storm capable of producing a tornado was located over northeast Birmingham, moving northeast at 55 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

—

4:43 p.m.

Alabama Power says there are nearly 17,000 outages statewide.

—

4:35 p.m.

A large and extremely dangerous tornado was located near Greensboro moving northeast at 55 mph. Storm chasers reported a large, wedge tornado five miles north-northwest of Greensboro.

—

4:30 p.m.

Tornado warning for Hale County until 5 p.m. A large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Sayerville, seven miles west of Greensboro, moving northeast at 50 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

—

4:10 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Hale and Tuscaloosa counties until 5:15 p.m. At 4:10 p.m., a tornado producing storm was locating near Union, eight miles north of Eutaw, moving northeast at 40 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

4 p.m.

Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade is reporting three fatalities and two injuries after a possible tornado strike in the Ohatchee and Wellington area. Wade also said multiple structures were damaged or destroyed. Click here to learn more.

—

3:53 p.m.

Latest update on road conditions from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency:

  • AL 119 West of I 65 report of trees down blocking the roadway
  • US 231 near the Etowah County Line closed due to mudslide
  • US 280 Eagle Point Area closed due to tornado damage

—

3:51 p.m.

Tornado Warning continues for Blount County until 4:45 p.m. At 350 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Hayden, or 12 miles southwest of Cleveland, moving northeast at 60 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

3:45 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Blount and Jefferson counties until 4:45 p.m. At 3:43 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Warrior, or 11 miles north of Gardendale, moving northeast at 60 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

3:43 p.m.

Alabama Power says there are currently about 14,000 outages in metro Birmingham.

—

3:28 p.m.

Video and images of extensive tornado damage in Shelby County are coming into the WVTM 13 Newsroom. One of the hardest hit areas we’ve seen so far is in the Eagle Point neighborhood. Click here for more.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

3:15 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Cherokee until 4 p.m. At 3:13 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Piedmont, moving northeast at 40 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

3 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Cherokee and Etowah counties until 4 p.m. At 2:57 p.m., a tornado producing storm was located near Jacksonville State University, or near Jacksonville, moving northeast at 45 mph. “Long lived supercell continues to produce a tornado in northern Calhoun County. Radar confirmed tornado will move just north of Jacksonville, and is heading toward Piedmont.”

—

2:53 p.m.

A confirmed tornado was located near Alexandria, seven miles west of Jacksonville, moving northeast at 45 mph.

2:50 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Calhoun County until 3:30 p.m. “Radar CONFIRMED tornado heading toward the Wellington community,” NWS Birmingham said. “TAKE SHELTER NOW if you are its path. This supercell storm has produced significant damage along its path.”

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

2:45 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Calhoun County until 3:30 p.m. At 2:43 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located over Ohatchee, or 10 miles northwest of Saks, moving northeast at 40 mph.

—

2:35 p.m.

Tornado warning continues for St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m.At 227 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Ragland, or 11 miles northeast of Pell City, moving northeast at 50 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

2:20 p.m.

Tornado warning continues for St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m. At 2:20 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Riverside, or near Pell City, moving northeast at 45 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

2:10 p.m.

Tornado warning continues for St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m. At 2:07 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Bald Rock, or near Moody, moving northeast at 40 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

2:05 p.m.

There are several reports of extensive damage in Helena and Pelham.

“Helena has received major damage as a result of the tornado,” Helena police said. “All phone lines to HPD are down. Call 911 if you need emergency assistance. Please stay out of the area of Old Town on Hwy 261.”

Pelham police reported numerous houses damaged in Chandalar, utility lines down at the Pelham Civic Complex and along Hwy 31 and Hwy 119.

“We have received multiple reports of damage in different areas of Shelby County,” the sheriff’s office said. “This includes trees and power lines down across the roadway. Please avoid driving on the roadway unless absolutely necessary to allow public safety personnel time to clear these areas.”

—

2:02 p.m.

Tornado warning continues for Pickens County until 2:30 p.m. At 2:01 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Carrollton, moving northeast at 50 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

1:59 p.m.

Tornado Warning continues for Shelby, St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m. A confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Vandiver near Leeds moving northeast at 40 mph. “Tornado, with a history of considerable damage, is moving from northeastern Shelby County into St. Clair County,” NWS Birmingham said. “Pell City is in its path.”

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

1:48 p.m.

Tornado warning continues for Shelby County until 2 p.m. At 1:47 p.m., a confirmed large and destructive tornado was located over Mount Laurel, or near Chelsea, moving northeast at 45 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

1:45 p.m.

Tornado warning for Shelby, St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m. At 1:45 p.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Mt. Laurel near Chelsea, moving northeast at 45 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

1:36 p.m.

A confirmed large and destructive tornado was located over Indian Springs Village near Hoover, moving northeast at 45 mph. “TORNADO EMERGENCY! Radar confirmed tornado, with a history of producing damage, is moving down the SR-119 corridor, toward Meadow Brook, Inverness,” NWS Birmingham said. “Lee Branch businesses need to expedite their tornado plans NOW!”

Watch live coverage above or click here.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

—

1:33 p.m.

Tornado Warning continues for Jefferson and Shelby counties until 2 p.m. At 1:30 p.m. A large and extremely dangerous tornado located over Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Pelham, moving northeast at 45 mph. Areas near Spain Park, Oak Mountain High School, Meadowbrook and Inverness are in the path.

—

1:29 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Pickens County until 2:30 p.m. At 1:28 p.m., a severe thunderstorm warning capable of producing a tornado was located over Paulette, 17 miles southwest of Aliceville, moving northeast at 45 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

1:20 p.m.

A confirmed tornado was located near Helena moving northeast at 40 mph. South of downtown Helena and north of downtown Pelham are in the path.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

1:10 p.m.

Tornado Warning continues for Jefferson and Shelby counties until 2 p.m.

At 1:08 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Tannehill Ironworks State Park, 11 miles northwest of Montevallo, moving northeast at 40mph. Downtown Helena and the Oak Mountain Amphitheater area of Pelham are in the path.

“Radar confirmed tornado will move across northern Shelby County,” NWS Birmingham said. “Everyone north of Calera and south of Homewood is in the path of this dangerous storm, and needs to TAKE COVER NOW!”

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

1 p.m.

Confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado located near West Blocton, 13 miles west of Montevallo, moving northeast at 45mph. South of Helena and downtown Pelham are “in the crosshairs.”

“Tornado debris signature has returned, near West Blocton,” NWS Birmingham said. “Tornado now confirmed by radar, and some tree damage reported in the same area. Everyone in northeast Bibb County needs to be in a safe location NOW!”

—

12:51 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Jefferson and Shelby counties until 2 p.m. NWS reports a confirmed tornado moving northeast toward Helena, Alabaster, Pelham, Chelsea.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over West Blocton, or 9 miles north of Centreville, moving northeast at 45 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

—

12:42 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Bibb and Tuscaloosa counties continues until 1:15 p.m.

  • At 1241 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Eoline, or 10 miles northwest of Centreville, moving northeast at 45 mph.

NWS says tornado warned storm will ride along close to the Tuscaloosa and Bibb County line, heading in the general direction of Vance, Woodstock, and West Blocton. This remains a dangerous storm.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

—

12:34 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Bibb and Tuscaloosa counties until 1:15 p.m. The NWS says a confirmed tornado was located near Low Gap, 13 miles northwest of Brent, moving northeast at 45 mph.

—

12:30 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Bibb and Tuscaloosa counties until 1:15 p.m.

  • At 1230 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Low Gap, or 15 miles west of Brent, moving northeast at 45 mph.
  • At 1211 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Moundville, or 16 miles north of Greensboro, moving northeast at 40 mph.

Watch live coverage above or click here.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

—

12:10 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Hale County continues until 12:30 p.m.:

  • At 1217 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Moundville, or 17 miles south of Tuscaloosa, moving northeast at 40 mph.
  • At 1206 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Akron, or 13 miles northeast of Eutaw, moving northeast at 45 mph.
  • At 1157 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Akron, or near Eutaw, moving northeast at 45 mph.
  • At 1151 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Eutaw, moving northeast at 40 mph.
  • At 11:43 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Allison, or near Eutaw, moving northeast at 45 mph.

—

12:05 p.m.

Tuscaloosa County EMA

—

11:35 a.m.

Tornado Warning for Greene and Hale counties until 12:30 p.m. At 11:35 a.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Boligee, or 10 miles southwest of Eutaw, moving northeast at 45 mph.

This content is imported from Facebook.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

—

11:25 a.m.

A tornado watch has been issued until 8 p.m. for the following Alabama counties:

Bibb; Blount; Calhoun; Cherokee; Chilton; Choctaw; Clarke; Colbert; Cullman; Dallas; DeKalb; Etowah; Fayette; Franklin; Greene; Hale; Jackson; Jefferson; Lamar; Lauderdale; Lawrence; Limestone; Madison; Marengo; Marion; Marshall; Morgan; Perry; Pickens; Shelby; St. Clair; Sumter; Talladega; Tuscaloosa; Walker; Washington; Wilcox; Winston.

—

11:04 a.m.

Interstate 65 in Cullman is closed due to flooding, Alabama State Trooper say.

“At approximately 9:45 a.m. Thursday, March 25, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was notified of flooding along Interstate 65 near the 308 mile marker, in the Cullman city limits. Both northbound and southbound lanes in that area will be closed for an undetermined amount of time. Troopers with ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division are on scene and working with the Alabama Department of Transportation crews to detour traffic through exit ramps. ALEA will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates accordingly.”

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Click here to see the traffic map.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency also says it is closing the following driver license offices:

  • Jasper Office located in the Walker County Courthouse (Closed at 10 a.m.)
  • Centreville Office located in the Bibb County Courthouse (Closed at 11 a.m.)
  • Oneonta Office located in the Blount County Courthouse (12 p.m.)
  • Linden Office located in the Marengo County Courthouse (12 p.m.)
  • Scottsboro Office located in the Jackson County Courthouse (2 p.m.)
  • Cullman Office located in the Cullman County Courthouse (Closed at 9 a.m.)

—

10:55 a.m.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham is warning people that the severe weather threat will continue well after the morning storms move out. “There will be a break in activity for many, maybe even some clearing skies (sun is not good on a day like today, makes storms strong), but we are not done until tonight.”

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

—

10:40 a.m.

The University of Alabama is suspending operations at noon due to the severe weather threat. “With the impending threat of severe weather, including the high risk of tornadoes and dangerous weather in West and Central Alabama, normal UA operations will be suspended at noon today through 5 a.m. Friday. Employees who live in areas of higher risk are encouraged to leave earlier after consulting with their supervisors.”

—

10:30 a.m.

WVTM 13 Meteorologist Stephanie Walker shares the latest forecast below:

—

10 a.m.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has issued a state of emergency for 46 counties ahead of the anticipated severe weather. The state of emergency goes into effect at 10 a.m.

The state of emergency includes: Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Lowndes, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox and Winston counties.

“Once again, Alabama finds herself facing the threat of severe weather. I urge all Alabamians to closely monitor the weather system as it continues to impact portions of our state, especially if you are in the line of the highest risk storms,” Ivey said. “We will continue following this system and stand ready to provide any assistance we are able, should the need arise.”

—

9:59 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Jefferson and St. Clair Counties until 10:30 a.m.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

—

8:40 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Cullman County with the threat of 60 mph winds and large hail.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

—



Read original article here

Health

Public health experts losing ‘credibility’ with continued COVID warnings: Dr. Marty Makary

Leave a comment

Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marty Makary joined “Your World” Monday to discuss whether the medical establishment was in danger of losing the trust of Americans after the CDC urged caution as more states lift coronavirus restrictions.

MAKARY: When you have a [coronavirus] case today, it’s very different from a case in the fall or the spring of last year. So I don’t think it’s honest for public health officials to use fear to tell people that we could flare into another surge. There’s fewer susceptible people left out there. We need to be vigilant with the new strains, but we’re doing better with the vaccines.

If you could look back on what Biden COVID task force member Michael Osterholm said, the darkest days were still ahead. That was not true. Remember the “twindemic,” how influenza was going to combine with COVID and cause a catastrophic epidemic from those two in combination? Didn’t happen. We didn’t have flu that year. Remember the surge on top of a surge that was supposed to happen over the summer? People are getting a sense that the risk is declining and they’re correct. A lot of this stuff is causing people to lose credibility with the public health community.

Look at the data. Airplanes are not a super spreading source. If you look at people on planes, where there’s good ventilation and wearing masks, we’ve seen good safe air travel. People need to know when they get their vaccine, there’s a reward for that. The reward is once you wait four weeks from the first dose, you can be liberated. You can live a normal life. That should be our messaging. Certainly we’re going to watch the variants closely. For now it’s clear that even in parts of the country where there’s high dominance of B.1.1.7 mutation, you’re seeing cases plummet there: Texas, Florida, Southern California. So we have to put things in perspective. Remember that isolation kills people too.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW

Read original article here

US

Feds on high alert Thursday after warnings about potential threats to US Capitol

Leave a comment

The joint warning from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday underscores a broader effort by federal agencies to avoid repeating the mistakes made ahead of January 6, when officers were overtaken by a violent pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol. Those intelligence sharing and planning failures have been laid bare over the last two months in several hearings and have been a focal point of criticism from lawmakers investigating the violent attack that left several people dead.

The violent extremists also discussed plans to persuade thousands to travel to Washington, DC, to participate in the March 4 plot, according to the joint intelligence bulletin.

One source noted to CNN that it is mostly online talk and not necessarily an indication anyone is coming to Washington to act on it.

Some of the conspiracy theorists believe that the former President will be inaugurated on March 4, according to the joint bulletin. Between 1793 and 1933, inauguration often fell on March 4 or a surrounding date.

US Capitol Police acting chief Yogananda Pittman told Congress earlier Wednesday that her department had “concerning intelligence” regarding the next few days in Congress — but said it wouldn’t be “prudent” of her to share the “law-enforcement sensitive” intelligence in a public hearing or public format.

Pittman assured lawmakers, though, that her department is in an “enhanced” security posture and that the National Guard and Capitol Police have been briefed on what to expect in the coming days.

Increased communication

There has been a concerted effort among federal agencies to communicate the possible threats ahead of March 4 in a way they failed to do before January 6.

The effort to improve preparation extends to communicating with state and local officials. DHS held a call Wednesday with state and local law enforcement officials from around the country to discuss current threats posed by domestic extremists, including concerns about potential violence surrounding March 4 and beyond, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

While specific details from the call remain unclear, both sources said the overarching message from DHS officials is that addressing threats posed by domestic extremists requires increased communication and intelligence sharing across federal and state and local entities, as well as a shift in how law enforcement officials interpret the information they receive.

In a clear sign federal agencies are working to avoid the same communication failures for which they have been roundly criticized since the Capitol attack, DHS officials are stressing that law enforcement should not view intelligence solely through the lens of whether a threat qualifies as “credible and specific,” but use the warnings coming from DHS, FBI and other partner agencies to inform decisions about their security posture, even if the information provided falls short of pointing to an imminent attack or violence, the sources said.

Federal officials are emphasizing the point that gaps in intelligence sharing left law enforcement unprepared for the chaos that unfolded on January 6, even though they were notified of potential violence days before the attack, and that going forward, bulletins issued by DHS and FBI indicate a threat is serious enough to be communicated to relevant entities, even if the intelligence is based primarily on online chatter or other less definitive indicators, the sources said.

DHS acting intelligence chief Melissa Smislova testified Wednesday that DHS is “completely dissatisfied” with the results of the department’s “efforts leading up to January 6th.”

She told lawmakers that the department is re-examining how it distributes information and coordinates with partners. “We thought that it was sufficient and clearly it was not,” she said.

“We will do better,” she added.

Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has called on the department to evaluate its operational posture at the tactical and strategic level, specifically the ability to respond to a potential emerging situation within the Capital region, a US official told CNN.

Election fraud conspiracies

Perceived election fraud and other conspiracy theories associated with the presidential transition may contribute to violence with little or no warning, according to the bulletin, which is part of a series of intelligence products to highlight potential domestic violent extremist threats to the Washington, DC, region.

“Given that the Capitol complex is currently fortified like a military installation, I don’t anticipate any successful attacks against the property,” said Brian Harrell, the former assistant secretary for infrastructure protection at DHS. “However, all threats should be taken seriously and investigations launched against those who would call for violence. We continue to see far-right extremist groups that are fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories quickly become the most dangerous threat to society.”

In the current environment, “You really cannot underestimate the potential that an individual or a small group of individuals will engage in violence because they believe a false narrative that they’re seeing online,” the US official said.

The false narrative of a stolen election is still drawing the attention of domestic extremists, the official said, adding that there are people “in the domestic extremist world who are calling for acts of violence in response to that narrative.”

Although March 4 is a concern to law enforcement, it’s not a “standalone event,” the official said; rather, it’s part of a “continuum of violence” based domestic extremist conspiracy theories.

“It’s a threat that continues to be of concern to law enforcement. And I suspect that we are going to have to be focused on it for months to come,” the official said.

The bulletin also notes that militia extremists “have allegedly threatened an attack against the US Capitol using explosives to kill as many members of Congress as possible during the upcoming State of the Union address, according to (the) US Capitol Police Chief.”

Pittman warned last month that militia groups involved in the January 6 insurrection want to “blow up the Capitol” and “kill as many members as possible” when President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress.

At the time, Pittman said law enforcement remains concerned about threats by known militia groups “with a direct nexus to the State of the Union” address.

CNN’s Whitney Wild and Jim Sciutto contributed to this report.

Read original article here

US

N.J. weather: Winter storm warnings issued with heavy wind-driven snow, dangerous driving conditions expected

Leave a comment

The National Weather Service has upgraded its winter storm watches to winter storm warnings in advance of a slow-moving coastal storm that could dump more than a foot of snow on much of New Jersey and bring fierce winds that could trigger flooding along the Shore and make driving difficult.

The warnings advise drivers that dangerous road conditions are likely late Sunday night and through much of the day on Monday as the snow gets heavy and strong gusty winds cause blowing snow that will reduce visibility.

“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” the storm warnings say, noting the heaviest snow and strongest winds could impact the morning or evening commutes on Monday.

Here’s a breakdown of the storm warnings, watches and advisories issued so far in New Jersey, and what times they will be effective:

Winter storm warnings

Camden County

  • Effective: 10 a.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Tuesday
  • Forecast: Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

Gloucester and Salem counties

  • Effective: 10 a.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Tuesday
  • Forecast: Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations of 7 to 13 inches, along with a light glaze of ice and winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean counties

  • Effective: 1 p.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Tuesday
  • Forecast: Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 7 to 13 inches, with winds gusting as high as 45 mph

Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Warren

  • Effective: 5 p.m. Sunday to 1 p.m. Tuesday.
  • Forecast: Heavy snow expected, with total snow accumulations of 11 to 15 inches and winds gusting as high as 35 mph.

Winter weather advisories

Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties

  • Effective: 10 a.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Tuesday
  • Forecast: Snow expected, with total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches and winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

Coastal Ocean County

  • Effective: 10 a.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Tuesday
  • Forecast: Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and winds gusting as high as 55 mph.

Winter storm watch

A winter storm watch is in effect at midnight Monday (late Sunday night) and continues through 6 a.m. Tuesday in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties. Heavy snow is possible, with snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, and winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

This is the latest snow forecast for most of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, updated by the National Weather Service Saturday afternoon.National Weather Service

Updated snow forecast map for parts of N.J.

In an updated forecast map issued late Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly office increased its snowfall projections in some counties and lowered them in others. Among the notable changes from the morning map to the new map:

  • Early projections of 8 to 12 inches of snow have been boosted to 12 to 18 inches in several counties, including Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Morris.
  • Early projections of 6 to 8 inches of snow have been upped to 8 to 12 inches in Sussex and Warren.
  • Early projections in the Vineland area of Cumberland County went down slightly, from 6 to 8 inches of snow to 4 to 6 inches.
  • Early projections in the Toms River area of Ocean County went down, from 6 to 8 inches to 3 to 4.

Costal flood watch

  • A coastal flood watch has been issued in coastal Ocean, eastern Monmouth, Middlesex, Ocean, southeastern Burlington and western Monmouth, effective from 7 a.m. Monday to 5 p.m. Tuesday. The watch says 1 to 2 feet of inundation above ground level is possible in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways
  • A coastal flood watch has been issued in coastal sections of Atlantic and Cape May, effective from 7 a.m. Monday to 5 p.m. Tuesday.

With these types of levels, “widespread roadway flooding occurs in coastal and bayside communities and along inland tidal waterways. Many roads become impassable. Some damage to vulnerable structures may begin to occur.”

Live weather radar

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

Read original article here

Business

Dow Jones Futures: Apple, AMD, Nvidia Lead But Stock Market Rally Warnings Grow Louder; Intel Headlines Earnings Movers Late

Leave a comment

Dow Jones futures tilted lower Thursday night, along with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures. The Nasdaq again led the stock market rally to fresh highs, with tech giants Apple stock, Amazon.com (AMZN), Intel (INTC), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Nvidia (NVDA) fueling the gains.




X



But the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite is becoming increasingly extended, raising the risk of a pullback.

Key Earnings Late

Intel jumped the gun, reporting earnings just before the close. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), IBM (IBM) and CSX (CSX) reported quarterly results late Thursday.

Intel earnings and sales beat views while the Dow Jones chip giant also guided higher for Q1. Incoming CEO Pat Gelsinger, who takes over on Feb. 15, committed to keeping the chip giant’s manufacturing business, despite calls from some investors to shed those assets. Intel stock fell 5% overnight. That was after soaring 6.5% to 62.46 on Thursday, with some of those gains coming in the last few minutes on the early earnings release. Intel stock has been running on the announcement Gelsinger, Intel’s former CTO, will become chief executive. But it’s still far from a buy point.

Intuitive Surgical earnings and revenue rose slightly, rebounding from declines in the prior two quarters. The maker of the da Vinci robotic surgical system gave preliminary revenue figures last week. ISRG stock fell slightly in extended trade after closing up 10 cents at 798.67. Intuitive Surgical stock looks set to dip back below a 792.64 buy point. It could try to find support at the 10-week line again as it builds a short consolidation on top of the prior base.

IBM earnings topped views, but sales missed, once again declining vs. a year earlier. IBM stock tumbled overnight after rising 1.2% to 131.65 on Thursday. The Dow tech giant has a 131.98 buy point in a bottoming base. But it’s still in a long-term downtrend, with weak fundamentals for years.

CSX earnings missed while revenue topped. CSX stock was little changed overnight after closing down 1.7% to 91.61, around its 50-day line. An early January breakout from a flat base quickly fizzled, though the 93.80 buy point is still valid, according to MarketSmith analysis.

Why This IBD Tool Simplifies The Search For Top Stocks

Tech Giants Eye Buy Points

As for other tech giants, Apple (AAPL) rose to just below a buy point. Amazon stock climbed toward possible early entries after regaining its 50-day line Wednesday. AMD stock moved back above key levels and within a prior buy zone. Nvidia stock rebounded from key support, but investors likely want to see a little more strength first.

But looming earnings — as well as the extended stock market rally — complicate buying any of those tech giants. Apple and AMD stock have earnings next week. Amazon is also next week. Nvidia isn’t due for a few weeks, but may move on AMD’s earnings and guidance.

Apple, AMD and Nvidia stock are on IBD Leaderboard. Apple stock is on SwingTrader. AMD stock and Nvidia are on the IBD 50.

Find The Best Long-Term Investments With IBD Long-Term Leaders

Dow Jones Futures Today

Dow Jones futures fell 0.2% vs. fair value, with Intel and IBM stock weighing on the blue-chip index. S&P 500 futures lost 0.15% while Nasdaq 100 futures retreated 0.2%.

Bitcoin continued to slide, falling below $30,000 Thursday night, down $10,000 from a week earlier and the all-time high of nearly $42,000 on Jan. 8.

Remember that overnight action in Dow futures and elsewhere doesn’t necessarily translate into actual trading in the next regular stock market session.

Join IBD experts as they analyze actionable stocks in the stock market rally on IBD Live.

Coronavirus News

Coronavirus cases worldwide reached 98.04 million. Covid-19 deaths topped 2.09 million.

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. have hit 25.18 million, with deaths above 419,000.

Newly reported U.S. Covid cases continue to trend lower, with hospitalizations and deaths also turning down.

U.S. coronavirus vaccinations hit 1.6 million on Wednesday as the pace continues to improve.

President Biden signed new executive orders to increase vaccine production and to impose mask mandates in airplanes and airports, as well as on federal property.

Stock Market Rally

U.S. Stock Market Today Overview
Index Symbol Price Gain/Loss % Change
Dow Jones (0DJIA) 31176.01 -12.37 -0.04
S&P 500 (0S&P5) 3853.07 +1.22 +0.03
Nasdaq (0NDQC ) 13530.92 +73.67 +0.55
Russell 2000 (IWM) 212.51 -1.88 -0.88
IBD 50 (FFTY) 46.12 +0.46 +1.01
Last Update: 4:24 PM ET 1/21/2021

The stock market rally continued to advance, once again led by tech giants.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost a fraction in Thursday’s stock market trading. The S&P 500 index edged higher. The Nasdaq composite climbed 0.55%. The Nasdaq 100, which includes Apple, Amazon, Intel, AMD and Nvidia stock, popped 0.8%.

Apple stock, a member of the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite, rose 3.7% to 136.87. That’s just below a 138.89 cup-with-handle entry. Apple earnings are on Jan. 27.

Amazon stock climbed 1.3% to 3,306.99, flirting with a trend line starting with the Sept. 2 peak. Investors also could use 3,350.75 as another early entry. Amazon earnings are due Feb. 2.

AMD stock rallied 3.1% to 91.53, back above its 50-day and 21-day lines and back above an 88.82 double-bottom buy point. Shares rose 2% overnight after initially falling following the Intel earnings report. AMD competes with Intel in PC microprocessors and data center chips. AMD earnings are due Jan. 26.

Nvidia advanced 3.75% to 554.70, above its 50-day. Several short-lived moves above the 50-day line have fizzled, so investors likely should wait until NVDA stock decisively clears at least the Jan. 11 high of 558.44 before starting a position.

Key ETFs

Growth stocks were mixed, with chips clearly leading.

Among the best ETFs, the Innovator IBD 50 ETF (FFTY) rose 1% to a fresh all-time high, while the Innovator IBD Breakout Opportunities ETF (BOUT) dipped 0.2%. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) edged down 0.4%. The VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH) climbed 1.55%, with AMD, Nvidia and Intel stock all notable components.

IBD Stock Of The Day Hits Buy Zone, Building On Gains

Stock Market Rally Extended

The Nasdaq composite is now 8.1% above its 50-day moving average, picking up from Wednesday’s 7.8% and the highest since Sept. 2. (With Apple stock and other tech giants rallying, the big-cap Nasdaq 100 is now 7% above its 50-day.) Further, the Nasdaq is 4.1% above its 21-day exponential moving average, the most since just after the early November follow-through days.

When the Nasdaq is 6% or more above its 50-day line, that’s a yellow flag. The odds of a pullback are higher. The market doesn’t have to retreat right away, but the more extended it gets, the higher the risk of a significant pullback or correction.

In August, the Nasdaq was generally at least 6% above the 50-day, with Apple stock and Tesla (TSLA) leading a big-cap rally. As of Aug. 25, the index was more than 8% extended, but it kept going. It finally reached 11.6% above the 50-day line on Sept. 2. But on Sept. 3, the Nasdaq plunged 5%, wiping out all the gains after Aug. 25. By Sept. 8, the third day of the pullback, the Nasdaq had wiped out essentially all of August’s gains, closing slightly below the 50-day line. It’s a classic example of the stock market rising on a escalator, falling on an elevator.

Ideally, the stock market rally would move sideways or drift lower over several weeks. Last week the major indexes did retreat modestly, but only enough to bring the Nasdaq from extended to “almost extended.” A bigger pullback or longer sideways action would be helpful.

But, as always, the stock market rally is going to do what it’s going to do.

What Investors Should Do

With that in mind, what should investors be doing? Right now, the stock market rally is working. There’s no need to get defensive. Investors may want to consider selling some stocks into strength, taking some profits. You probably should be cautious about starting new positions and adding exposure, especially if you’re on margin. Breakouts that happen just before a market pullback are highly likely to run into trouble.

Most importantly, have a game plan if the stock market rally does reverse. Where will you take partial profits and which stocks are your core holdings? Then stick to those rules.

Read The Big Picture every day to stay in sync with the market direction and leading stocks and sectors.

Please follow Ed Carson on Twitter at @IBD_ECarson for stock market updates and more.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

IBD 50 Stock Offers New Entry After Prior Breakout

Catch The Next Big Winning Stock With MarketSmith

Best Growth Stocks To Buy And Watch

IBD Digital: Unlock IBD’s Premium Stock Lists, Tools And Analysis Today



Read original article here