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Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
With more intense hurricanes, do we also have to prepare for more tornadoes in Florida?
We know that the warming climate, driven largely by fossil fuel emissions, are intensifying hurricanes. But what about tornadoes? To answer our readers' questions on the links between climate change and tornadoes and how we can improve safety, the Herald spoke spoke to hazards geographer Stephen Strader, who studied meteorology and geography at Northern Illinois University, and holds degrees in both. He also researches tornadoes at Villanova University in Pennsylvania., where he's an associate professor of geography and the environment and geography program director. How is climate change affecting the risk of tornadoes? Stephen Strader: We actually know a lot more about climate change and hurricanes than we do tornadoes, because tornadoes tend to be very small – the widest tornado ever recorded is two and a half miles wide, and most are only a few 100 yards wide. Our models are not at that resolution. What is concerning, though, is that it's not uncommon to have tornadoes associated with hurricanes because you have a very violent environment, and you have a lot of moisture. These ingredients tend to produce tornadoes. Now that the rapid intensification of these hurricanes is becoming more frequent, where I'm going to bed and the hurricane is at Category 1, and I wake up and it's a Category 4, the question becomes: how are hurricanes changing and will that produce more tornadoes? If we end up with stronger and slower moving hurricanes producing more precipitation, the guess would be that tornadoes would also increase when they're associated with hurricanes. The scary thing is: We really don't know yet. How far away from a hurricane can tornadoes spawn? Hurricane Milton made landfall on the Gulf Coast, but on the Atlantic Coast, we saw a local record of 46 in a day, with five deaths in St. Lucie County alone. Strader: They can occur 50 to 100 miles away from the center of the hurricane. When we think about a hurricane's impact, it's not just the eye wall. The tornadoes typically are further away from the eye wall. They have to be, because they need a lot of different ingredients than the hurricane. What's scary about that to me is that the hurricane made landfall on the west coast of Florida, so on the east coast, people let their guard down. 'Oh, we're on the safe side of Florida'. But then here come the tornadoes. I think that contributed to a lot of the deaths and damages that we saw. What can we do to better protect our communities from tornadoes – can we zone for them? Strader: We can build stronger structures, enforce codes, retrofit structures – and we do that, but we need to do more of that. You can bring a manufactured home up to really strong codes, above and beyond what is required. It's just expensive. So the question now is, who pays for it, and how do we do that? Zoning is difficult, and frankly, tourism reigns king. No one's going to not build in an area that's going to make them money every day. No developer, no business is going to do that. Tornadoes are rare, hurricanes are fairly rare. So you're asking people to stop doing something that's going to make them money day to day, in favor of being worried about a low probability event. That's tricky. People tend to gamble. But Florida is going to have to start asking the question: Do we zone? And really, it's because of sea level rise and flooding. The insurance companies have pulled out in a lot of states, and that's because it's just too risky. So, are people going to move away, or are they gonna be forced to move away? This Q&A has been edited for brevity and clarity. This story is part of a periodic Miami Herald series where we answer reader questions about climate change. Send us yours at climate@ This climate report is funded by Florida International University, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the David and Christina Martin Family Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald retains editorial control of all content.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Augustas Marčiulionis will agree to Exhibit 10 contract with Lakers
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers made two trades to move up from the No. 55 pick and gain the draft rights to Adou Thiero, an athletic wing from the University of Arkansas. But they didn't stop working after those two deals. They went ahead and signed Eric Dixon, a 6-foot-8, 24-year-old big man from Villanova University, to a two-way contract after he went undrafted. Dixon led the NCAA in scoring this past season with an average of 23.3 points a game. The Lakers are also reportedly set to sign Augustas Marčiulionis, a point guard from Saint Mary's College in Moraga, Calif., to an Exhibit 10 deal. He is the son of Šarūnas Marčiulionis, a former NBA guard who is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The younger Marčiulionis played four years of college basketball, and he averaged 14.2 points, 5.9 assists and 1.3 steals a game while shooting 44.6% from the field and 34.7% from 3-point range this past season. Like his father, he is originally from Lithuania, where he played for Rytas Vilnius of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) before coming to the United States. He is 23 years of age and was named the West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Year in each of the last two seasons.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Chosen' Jesus actor Jonathan Roumie meets Pope Leo XIV in biblical crossover
In a meeting of biblical proportions, the pope and Jesus took a selfie – well, sort of. Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus Christ on "The Chosen," snapped a selfie with the newly elected pope recently, who shared it with fans on social media. Roumie, who has portrayed the holy figure on the Christian historical drama for five seasons, can be seen posing next to Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from America. The photo, shared to Instagram by the pope's official account, was part of a carousel of images showing the pontiff alongside worshipers in Vatican City. "Every time we perform an act of faith addressed to Jesus, we grow in our connection with Him, and His grace is bestowed immediately," the caption reads. "At times we are unaware of it, but in a secret and real way, His grace reaches us and gradually transforms our life from within." 'The Chosen: Last Supper': 'Iconic' scenes, Jonathan Roumie's 'extraordinary' whip skills Followers quickly recognized Roumie's face and began sharing GIFs of him as Jesus in "The Chosen" in the comment section. The show, which first premiered in 2017, dramatizes the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, retelling a well-worn ancient biblical tale with the help of modern Hollywood magic. Roumie, in Vatican City Monday, June 23, after wrapping filming for parts of the series' sixth season in Italy last week, told reporters the visit was a "humbling honor," according to the Catholic News Agency. When 'The Chosen' Jesus met giant serpent Satan: Jonathan Roumie dishes on 16-foot python co-star "The fact we're here now, sitting at the Vatican … is a testament to, I think, how God wants to continue to further this mission to bring more people to Jesus and to bring Jesus to them," he said of the show during a press conference. "When (Pope Leo XIV) was elected, I wept, because I never thought I'd see an American pope in my lifetime," he continued, "to communicate to him in our native language this week is just something I never thought I would see in my life." Pope Leo, who was elected in May to the surprise of close conclave watchers, is the first to hail from the United States in the history of the church. A Chicago native, he attended Villanova University, Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. How accurate is 'Conclave' the movie? Film vs. real process compared, plus how to watch This is not Roumie's first meeting with a pontiff – in 2021, the actor met Pope Francis at another general audience with crowds in the Italian city.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Incredible moment Pope Leo joins in with MLB chants while greeting Vatican visitors
Pope Leo XIV still holds close ties to his homegrown roots in the city of Chicago where he was born and raised. One of the ways he does this is through his love of the MLB's Chicago White Sox. Leo XIV has been holding the office as supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church for only a few months now, but he still remains supportive of the South Siders amidst their struggles. In a recent video taken from what appears to be St. Peter's Square, Leo XIV was seen greeting devout believers who gathered in the plaza. One group of people - those recording the video - began to start chanting 'White Sox, White Sox' as the Pope came driving by. As Leo XIV passed the chanting group, he joined in - with the Pope returning the chants. The Pope - born Robert Prevost - retains close ties to the White Sox as well as his alma mater, Villanova University. Pope Leo joined in on the White Sox chants 😂🗣️ He got HYPED at the end 👏 (via clashroyal3/TT) — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 19, 2025 Last week, Pope Leo donned a White Sox hat as he greeted Vatican visitors, including a pair of newlyweds. It's unclear if the man and woman were from Chicago or how the hat materialized, but the struggling White Sox were all too happy to post some of the images online anyway. '.@Pontifex representing his favorite squad,' read the White Sox post. Fans from the Midwestern metropolis remain stunned to see a White Sox fan in the Vatican. 'Even 3 months ago, you could've given me 1,000,000 to 1 odds and I never would've taken a bet that THE POPE WEARING A WHITE SOX HAT would happen,' one wrote on X. 'As a Chicago area native I could never have imagined a Chicago Pope,' another added. One fan remained so skeptical of the Pope's White Sox allegiance they asked X's AI tool: '@grok is this real?' Grok then confirmed the authenticity of the photos. Despite their favored status at the Vatican, the White Sox are in the midst of another disappointing season. Not only are they 23.5 games out of first in the American League Central at 23-50 entering Thursday, but the team's leading hitter is Miguel Vargas at just .242. Luis Robert Jr., the team's star centerfielder and most recognizable player, is batting just .190. Pope Leo's fandom has been a rare bright spot for the South Siders, who recently unveiled a tribute to their Holiest fan as the White Sox were on their way to a third-place finish. Now, in section 140, Row 19, and Seat 2 at Rate Field on Chicago's South Side, fans can find a graphic installation marking Pope Leo's seat for Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. Chicago would go on to win its first MLB crown since 1917 that year. Footage from the game — Chicago's 5-3 win over the visiting NL-champion Houston Astros — shows a younger Pope Leo in the crowd during his time as prior for the Order of Saint Augustine. There had been some erroneous reporting after he was named Pope that he was actually a Cubs fan, but his brother John Prevost has since put that myth to rest. 'He was never ever a Cubs fan, so I don't know where that came from,' Prevost told Chicago's WGN TV. 'He was always a Sox fan. Our mother was a Cubs fan. I don't know, maybe that clued in there and our dad was a Cardinals fan, so I don't know where all that came from. Footage has emerged of Pope Leo watching Chicago win Game 1 of the 2005 World Series 'And all the aunts, our mom's family was from the north side, so that's why they were Cubs fans.' The club is in the process of being sold to Justin Ishbia, the brother of Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia. The team announced the deal last week. Ishbia will make capital infusions to the team as a limited partner in 2025 and 2026 in order to pay down existing club debt and support ongoing team operations. Under the agreement, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf has the option to sell controlling interest to Ishbia from 2029 to 2033, after which Ishbia can obtain a majority stake.
New York Post
13-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- New York Post
Pope Leo XIV makes waves with his fashion choices
When Pope Leo XIV stepped out on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica to greet the crowd for the first time after his May 8 election, liturgical fashion aficionados around the globe took note: Gone was the simple white cassock and silver cross favored by Pope Francis. Back was the red satin mozzetta shoulder cape, the burgundy stola with gold embroidery and a gold cross held by a double-stranded silken gold cord. Over Leo's first few weeks, the excitement grew among liturgical fashion-conscious Catholics as they noticed new additions to the wardrobe, or rather a return to the old additions of the papal wardrobe: cufflinks, white pants, lace. After Francis' revolutionary papacy, Vatican watchers are now wondering if Leo's return to the past sartorial look means a return to the past on other things too, including more substantial policy issues. But for tailors at the elite handful of liturgical tailoring shops in Rome, there is hope that Leo's return to the fancier garb of popes past will mean a boon to business if Leo's traditional look has a trickle-down effect from the pope to priests and all those in between. 5 Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on May 8, with a red satin mozzetta shoulder cape, burgundy stola with gold embroidery and a gold cross on a silken gold cord. AP The style is a return to form According to the Rev. John Wauck, professor of church communication at the Pontifical Holy Cross University in Rome, Leo's clothing choices are a 'return to form,' and his attire similar to that worn by Pope Benedict XVI, Pope John Paul II and other popes going back to the middle ages. They show 'a respect for tradition,' he said. Such respect for the papal office is important for many conservative Catholics. Many conservatives and traditionalists soured on Francis' informal style and disdain for tradition, which reached its pinnacle with his his crackdown on the old Latin Mass. The old liturgy was celebrated before the modernizing reforms of the 1960s Second Vatican Council; Francis greatly restricted access to the old liturgy, saying it had become a source of division in parishes. Leo has shown strong familiarity with Latin, and has taken to singing the Sunday noontime prayer in Latin. Some traditionalist Catholics are hoping Leo will take the pro-Latin path even further and reverse Francis to allow greater use of the traditional Latin Mass. Massimo Faggioli, professor of theology at Villanova University, where Leo went to college, said it's too early to tell if Leo will reverse Francis' reform. 'It remains to be seen if Leo's more traditional attire and liturgical style means that he will change Francis' strong decisions limiting the so-called 'Latin Mass,'' he said. 5 Leo's clothing choices are a 'return to form,' Rev. John Wauck, professor of church communication at the Pontifical Holy Cross University in Rome, says. AP That said, Faggioli said U.S. conservatives seems particularly happy with Leo's traditional attire, given Francis' disdain for the fashion pomp of the papacy. 'In this sense, Francis might have been a parenthesis or an interlude, more than a changer of the tradition in 'papal style,'' he said in an email. Leo has made other changes, too At his inaugural Mass on May 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV reached out his arm to sprinkle holy water and revealed a shirt with cufflinks, which Francis had largely avoided. He was also wearing an amitto, and an alb held in place by a cingulum. For the non-experts, the amitto is a lacy linen cloth that goes around the neck, the alb is the white tunic worn under the ceremonial vestment, and the cingulum is a braided rope with tassels that serves as a belt. If it weren't for photographers' long lenses relentlessly trained on the pope's every gesture, Leo's switch from Francis's standard black pants to more traditional white papal trousers would have gone completely unnoticed. In addition to the clothing changes, Leo has returned to some other traditions of the Vatican that Francis eschewed. 5 Pope Leo XIV wore cufflinks, which Pope Francis had largely avoided, along with an amitto, which is a lacy linen cloth that goes around the neck at his inaugural Mass on May 18. AP 5 Leo switched from Francis's standard black pants to more traditional white papal trousers. AP 5 Leo has shown himself willing to accept the traditional 'baciamano' or kissing of his ring. AP He has shown himself willing to accept the traditional 'baciamano' or kissing of his ring. Francis disliked having his ring kissed and often pulled his hand away if someone tried to kiss it. 'I think that what we see with Pope Leo is a willingness to embrace tradition, even if it risks seeming perhaps more formal than Pope Francis,' Wauck said. The idea is that 'seeing that tradition as a treasure to be conserved and embraced as opposed to something that makes one feel perhaps a little bit standoffish.' It remains to be seen whether Leo will move into the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace, which stood empty during the 12-year Francis papacy. Francis shocked the world by choosing to live in a small room at the Santa Marta residence at the Vatican, eating his meals in the common dining room. For the Rev. Castro Prudencio, this is all much ado about nothing. 'For Pope Francis it was simplicity. Always. And Pope Leo has taken up what Pope Benedict had and many others. That is what the church is like,' he said.
