Ken Perko skis at Liberty Park on Thursday. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says the current snowstorms are a very good begin, however the subsequent few months will play a important position within the state water provide. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information)
Estimated learn time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Snow is clearly on Gov. Spencer Cox’s thoughts this week, as he is kicked off two of his newer media appearances by expressing his appreciation for the freshly fallen snow.
The Nationwide Climate Service experiences that Alta obtained at the least one other 4 inches in a single day, tacking onto the 4 ft of snow that it has already obtained this week. Many mountain places have additionally obtained at the least 2 ft of snow since Sunday, particularly within the Wasatch Mountains.
“Clearly, this has been superb for our snowpack,” Cox stated, firstly of his month-to-month PBS information convention Thursday.
Advertisement
The statewide snowpack at present comprises 5.8 inches of water collected for the reason that 2023 water yr began on Oct. 1, in line with Pure Assets Conservation Service information accessed Thursday morning. That determine is about 150% of regular for the midway level in December. There’s variation amongst Utah’s 16 snowpack basins however each basin is faring effectively, bouncing between 118% and 191% of regular.
Total, precipitation ranges within the mountains are additionally above regular for this level within the yr. All of those figures matter as a result of Utah’s snowpack assortment and subsequent spring runoff account for about 95% of the state’s water provide. The water within the snowpack helps refill the state’s reservoirs, which have been depleted by drought. The complete system is at present listed at 43% full, per Utah Division of Water Assets information.
This graph exhibits Utah’s present snowpack assortment (in black) in comparison with current historical past. The blue line represents most assortment, the inexperienced represents regular assortment (based mostly on 1991 to 2020 information) and the crimson represents minimal assortment. Utah is listed at 150% of regular as Thursday. (Photograph: Pure Assets Conservation Service)
That stated, it is solely a robust begin. Utah’s snowpack is listed at 37% of the median peak, which suggests the statewide determine wants to almost triple the gathering for the reason that begin of October to achieve the conventional of the previous few many years.
This is the reason Cox is hopeful that the stormy tendencies will proceed because the season progresses.
The excellent news is Utah is effectively forward of schedule. There are 110 days left earlier than peak season in early April. The dangerous information is that Utah’s winters usually characteristic ebbs and flows, so for each pocket of frequent storm exercise — such because the previous two weeks — there are pockets the place nothing occurs. These lulls can stall snow assortment, or worse, trigger untimely soften.
“Pretty much as good as it has been, in the event you take a look at the charts, we’re actually within the early phases of the snowpack yr,” Cox stated. “Essentially the most important months are literally February, March and April, when that snowpack actually climbs. So whereas we’re actually excited and grateful, we nonetheless have an extended approach to go to have sufficient snowpack to fill our reservoirs and pull us out of this drought.”
Advertisement
It isn’t simply this season, both. Due to the severity of Utah’s present drought — combined in with the two-decadeslong “megadrought” — specialists have repeatedly cautioned that it’s going to take many good snowpack seasons to assist all reservoirs get better from the consequences of drought.
As they are saying, it usually takes as a few years to go away a drought because it takes to enter it.
That is why the governor reiterated most of the similar messages since taking workplace, calling on Utahns to be aware of how they devour water.
“I urge you to preserve water and to proceed to hope for snow and rain,” he stated. “We want all the assistance we will get.”
Advertisement
×
Associated tales
Most up-to-date Atmosphere tales
Carter Williams is an award-winning reporter who covers normal information, open air, historical past and sports activities for KSL.com. He beforehand labored for the Deseret Information. He’s a Utah transplant by the best way of Rochester, New York.
According to Jake Fischer during his NBA rumors chat on Bleacher Report, Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson are both available. But he also says that the Utah Jazz would prefer to keep Walker Kessler. (Big shoutout to David J. Smith for the notice on this one.)
Enjoyed @JakeLFischer‘s NBA rumors chat. He says Sexton and Clarkson are both available, but that he thinks the Jazz prefer to keep Walker Kessler. It would take a major package to entice them to move him (So not the ones I see many LAL fans suggesting).https://t.co/dQnlHeInf3
This is not something new regarding each of these players but it does provide some clarity with Kessler. But this idea that it would take a “major package” to get him reminds me of something. Oh, that’s right, all of last offseason where we heard the same thing with Lauri Markkanen. That ended up turning into nothing, and we’re seeing the same playbook. Utah is happy with Kessler, but if there’s a team out there to give a major overpay, it sounds like Utah won’t turn that down. Looking back at this offseason and how it panned out. Teams like the Warriors and Kings, who were very interested in Markkanen, certainly look like they might regret not paying the huge price tag.
As far as Sexton and Clarkson, it seems pretty obvious that Utah is likely going for the highest possible package they can get for Collin Sexton. That may take time but Utah needs to think about the ramifications of having Sexton potentially costing them losses down the road. Utah is in an extremely tight race for Cooper Flagg and should think about making a move sooner than later to make that more possible.
TikTok has long known its video livestreams encourage sexual conduct and exploit children yet turned a blind eye because it “profited significantly” from them, according to newly unsealed material in a lawsuit by the state of Utah.
The accusations were made public on Friday, ahead of a scheduled Jan. 19 ban on TikTok in the United States unless its China-based owner, ByteDance, sells the popular social media app.
President-elect Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to put that ban on hold.
TikTok has long known its video livestreams encourage sexual conduct and exploit children yet turned a blind eye because it “profited significantly” from them, according to newly unsealed material in a lawsuit. AFP via Getty Images
TikTok, for its part, has said it prioritizes safe livestreaming.
Advertisement
Utah’s original lawsuit accusing TikTok of exploiting children was filed last June by the state’s Division of Consumer Protection, with state Attorney General Sean Reyes saying the TikTok Live streaming feature created a “virtual strip club” by connecting victims to adult predators in real time.
Citing internal TikTok employee communications and compliance reports, Friday’s largely unredacted complaint said TikTok learned of the threats Live posed through a series of internal reviews into the feature.
It said a probe known as Project Meramec uncovered in early 2022 how hundreds of thousands of 13-to-15-year-olds bypassed Live’s minimum-age restrictions.
It said many children were then allegedly “groomed” by adults to perform sexual acts, sometimes involving nudity, in exchange for virtual gifts.
The complaint also said a probe launched in 2021, Project Jupiter, found that criminals used Live to launder money, sell drugs and fund terrorism including by Islamic State.
Advertisement
According to the complaint, a probe known as Project Meramec uncovered in early 2022 how hundreds of thousands of 13-to-15-year-olds bypassed Live’s minimum-age restrictions. Shutterstock
In addition, an internal December 2023 study “documented what TikTok admits is ‘the cruelty’ of maintaining Live with its current risks for minors on the app,” the complaint said.
User safety
TikTok had fought the disclosures, citing confidentiality concerns and its interest in “preventing potential bad actors from getting a roadmap” to misuse the app.
A Utah state judge, Coral Sanchez, ordered the release of much of the previously redacted material on Dec. 19.
“This lawsuit ignores the number of proactive measures that TikTok has voluntarily implemented to support community safety and well-being,” a TikTok spokesperson said on Friday.
“Instead, the complaint cherry-picks misleading quotes and outdated documents and presents them out of context, which distorts our commitment to the safety of our community,” the spokesperson added.
Advertisement
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes says the TikTok Live streaming feature created a “virtual strip club” by connecting victims to adult predators in real time. AP
In October, a bipartisan group of 13 states and Washington, DC, separately sued TikTok for allegedly exploiting children and addicting them to the app.
“Social media is too often the tool for exploiting America’s young people,” Reyes said in a statement on Friday.
“Thanks to Judge Sanchez’s ruling, more of TikTok’s shocking conduct will now be public through this unredacted complaint,” he added. “(The) full extent of its culpability can be demonstrated at trial.”
President Joe Biden signed a law authorizing the TikTok ban last April, addressing concern TikTok could gather intelligence on American users and share it with the Chinese government.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether to put the ban on hold on Jan. 10. It is expected to rule quickly.
Utah Hockey Club (17-15-6, in the Central Division) vs. Dallas Stars (23-13-1, in the Central Division)
Dallas; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
Advertisement
BOTTOM LINE: The Utah Hockey Club visit the Dallas Stars after Lawson Crouse’s two-goal game against the Calgary Flames in the Utah Hockey Club’s 5-3 win.
Dallas is 23-13-1 overall with a 10-3-1 record in Central Division play. The Stars have a 13-6-1 record in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent.
Utah has a 4-6-1 record in Central Division games and a 17-15-6 record overall. The Utah Hockey Club serve 10.9 penalty minutes per game to rank second in NHL play.
Saturday’s game is the third time these teams square off this season. The Stars won the previous matchup 3-2.
TOP PERFORMERS: Matt Duchene has 15 goals and 20 assists for the Stars. Roope Hintz has seven goals and one assist over the past 10 games.
Advertisement
Dylan Guenther has 16 goals and 18 assists for the Utah Hockey Club. Clayton Keller has five goals and eight assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Stars: 6-3-1, averaging 2.8 goals, five assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.1 goals per game.
Utah Hockey Club: 5-4-1, averaging 2.8 goals, 5.3 assists, 4.1 penalties and 9.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Stars: None listed.
Utah Hockey Club: None listed.
Advertisement
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24982514/Quest_3_dock.jpg "Meta’s ‘software update issue’ has been breaking Quest headsets for weeks")
