Scientists at the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, along with the U.S. Forest Service, found the hidden aquifer while looking at drill holes left behind by previous geothermal experiments and realized the rock was still wet further down than previously thought.
How does the discovery compare to Lake Mead?
Researchers say the reservoir water totals are at least 81 cubic kilometers, tripling Lake Mead’s capacity.
“It is a continental-size lake stored in the rocks at the top of the mountains, like a big water tower,” earth scientist and the study’s co-author Leif Karlstrom said.
The Cascade Range extends for about 700 miles from northern California to British Columbia, and has been built up by volcanic activity over millions of years.
The high Cascades, within Oregon, where volcanic rocks date back 8 million years, have smooth slopes and ongoing volcanic activity. Meanwhile, the older Western Cascades that date to 45 million years ago, are filled with canyons and valleys carved by flowing streams.
The researchers used the gradual shift between these two zones to study how volcanic processes have affected the region over time, with the reservoir discovery coming as a complete surprise.
What does the discovery mean?
Researchers say the untapped source of water is a reason to celebrate, but caution that it’s fed by snow, and snowpack is expected to decline significantly in the Cascades in the coming decades.
“If we don’t have any snow, or if we have a run of bad winters where we don’t get any rain, what’s that going to mean?” USFS Geologist Gordon Grant said. “Those are the key questions we’re now having to focus on.”
Could Iowa grow in size? Lawmaker proposes bill to buy 9 Minnesota counties
President-elect Donald Trump’s desires for U.S. expansion into places like Canada, the Panama Canal and Greenland is inspiring state lawmakers to try something similar. An Iowa lawmaker introduced a bill this week to expand the state by purchasing the nine Minnesota counties that border it.
Lawmaker Michael Bousselot made the Trump parallel clear in a post on X. He said he wanted to “Make Minnesota Iowa again.”
Bousselot said the bill would provide the residents of southern Minnesota with lower taxes and better management. It’s a reference to Iowa’s control by the Republican Party and Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.
Iowa’s pitch to expand into Minnesota isn’t the only state expansion gaining traction lately.
Seven Illinois counties voted in favor of ballot language suggesting they should consider splitting from the rest of the state.
Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, a Republican, told Politico he’d be open to welcoming the mostly rural, Republican-leaning counties looking to leave heavily Democratic Illinois. “We’d love to have conversations with them about joining our state,” Huston said.
Switching over would require approval from lawmakers in both Indiana and Illinois. In a statement to Politico, a spokesperson for Illinois Democratic state House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch called the move a “partisan stunt.”
Thirteen Oregon counties have also voted on language that supports joining Idaho, but Oregon has not moved toward altering its borders. Meanwhile, despite prior progress, Idaho’s efforts died during last year’s legislative session.
There is precedent for a state shifting its borders. In 1820, Massachusetts gave up control of what is now Maine when it became a state. Likewise, in 1863, West Virginia separated from Virginia to show its support for the Union during the Civil War.
Out-of-state groups step up to alleviate overwhelmed Los Angeles pet shelters
The Southern California wildfires have caused unprecedented damage. While homes and communities are left smoldering, hundreds of pets are now displaced, injured or in need of urgent care.
The wildfires have displaced hundreds of pets, pushing local shelters to their limits. Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles rescued 155 dogs and cats in a single day. Of those, 70 found foster homes immediately.
Pasadena shelter sees record intake
Pasadena Humane Society has taken in more than 400 animals, many suffering from burn injuries. One of the youngest survivors is a 5-day-old puppy found under a collapsed building.
Although grateful for the outpouring of support, the Pasadena shelter announced on Sunday, Jan. 12, that it has received so many donations and supplies that it can no longer accept additional items.
Out-of-state shelters provide relief
Out-of-state shelters are stepping in to help. A Seattle rescue flight transported dozens of cats and dogs to their city, easing the burden on Los Angeles’ shelters.
Similarly, shelters in Texas, Oregon and Washington have taken in displaced animals. An NBC affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth reported that 150 additional dogs and cats arrived on Sunday.
Elias Weiss Friedman, better known as The Dogist on social media, partnered with several shelters to transport dogs to a Best Friends Animal Society location in Utah.
It’s not just cats and dogs in need. Some shelters have rescued horses, donkeys and even sheep. With so many animals displaced, shelters are working quickly to identify and reunite pets with their owners or find them new homes.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 9-2 that Oregon’s law did not violate Project Veritas’ First Amendment rights. Their ruling overruled a 2023 decision by a smaller panel of judges from the same court.
Democratic presidents appointed eight of the nine judges who voted in favor of upholding the law. Republican presidents appointed both dissenting judges and the majority of judges who ruled in the 2023 decision.
The court sided with Oregon, pointing out its law did not discriminate based on content. Instead, the law focused more generally on protecting the right to privacy.
The majority referenced investigative reporting done in the past without video cameras or tape recordings. Reporters and activists, they said, could share what they found after going undercover.
“Powerful exposés authored by people like Nellie Bly, Gloria Steinem, and John Howard Griffin clearly demonstrate what our court has long recognized: ‘hidden mechanical contrivances’ are not ‘indispensable tools’ of newsgathering,” Circuit Judge Morgan Christen wrote in the majority’s opinion.
Oregon’s recording ban includes exceptions for people recording felony crimes endangering human life. It also allows for recording law enforcement officers doing official duties.
Project Veritas attorney Benjamin Barr told Reuters that courts should protect secret recordings “just as robustly as it has long shielded traditional practices, like safeguarding the venerable reporter’s notepad.”
Barr said Project Veritas will appeal the case to the Supreme Court.
5 dead, thousands of homes destroyed as fires rip through Los Angeles area
Five wildfires now burn in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, leaving death, destruction and devastation in their paths. And the infernos led President Joe Biden to cancel his final international trip in office. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.
5 dead, thousands of homes destroyed as fires rip through Los Angeles area
At least five wildfires were burning in the heavily populated Los Angeles area of California on Thursday, Jan. 9, destroying thousands of homes and putting millions of lives in danger. At least five people died from the blaze and more than 100,000 evacuated their homes.
Dry conditions and strong winds continue to fuel the flames.
The newest fire, the Sunset Fire, sparked Wednesday night in the famous Hollywood Hills region. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s latest update at 11:50 p.m. PST on Wednesday, the blaze engulfed 60 acres at 0% contained.
The Palisades Fire remains the biggest threat, covering over 17,000 acres at 0% containment.
Officials said it destroyed at least 1,000 buildings, making it the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history.
The deadly Eaton Fire near Pasadena and Altadena spanned more than 10,000 acres at 0% contained. All five reported deaths were linked to the Eaton Fire.
Fire crews made headway on the Hurst Fire in the San Fernando Valley, containing about 10% of the blaze that spread to almost 900 acres, according to CalFire.
Crews made the most progress in fighting the Lidia Fire in Acton, about 50 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. That fire scorched about 350 acres, but CalFire said it was 40% contained.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said more than 7,500 firefighters, including crews from Oregon, New Mexico, and Washington state, are battling the flames.
More than 7,500 firefighting personnel are on the ground working with local and federal partners to respond to California's ongoing historic wildfires.
Southern California residents — please remain vigilant tonight. Listen to local officials and be ready to evacuate if you're…
While mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for certain areas, officials told everyone in the area to pack a go-bag and be prepared to leave.
Celebrities among victims to lose homes in California wildfires
With tens of thousands of people impacted by the ongoing wildfires in California, come countless personal stories of loss, grief, shock and, in some cases, gratitude. Among those affected in the Los Angeles County and Hollywood area are some famous names.
Celebrities shared their accounts of the devastating scenes, something many said is like out of a movie.
“This Is Us” star Mandy Moore posted videos to her Instagram account of the fiery destruction in Altadena, writing, “I love you, Altadena. Grateful for my family and pets getting out last night before it was too late. Honestly, I’m in shock and feeling numb for all, so many have lost, including my family … our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together.”
“Seeing our home burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience. The devastation is unimaginable. To know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly heartbreaking,” Hilton wrote.
Actor Billy Crystal released a statement with his wife after losing his Pacific Palisades home.
“Janice and I lived in our home since 1979,” Crystal said. “We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this.”
James Woods, who once starred on the television show “Shark,” openly wept in a CNN interview as he talked about his immense loss and the search for his neighbors.
As the fires spread across the hub of the entertainment world, organizers postponed multiple movie premieres, TV productions and award shows.
The Critics Choice Awards, originally scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 12, have been moved to Jan. 26. The Oscar nominations announcement was pushed back two days to Jan. 19.
An NHL hockey game involving the Los Angeles Kings was postponed Wednesday night. The NFL said it is monitoring the conditions as the Los Angeles Rams are slated to host a playoff game Monday night, Jan. 13.
Biden to deliver eulogy at Carter’s funeral, Trump to attend
On Thursday afternoon, President Joe Biden will deliver the eulogy at the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral.
President-elect Donald Trump will also attend the funeral. Trump, along with his wife Melania, were among those to pay their respects as the 39th president was lying in state at the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday.
After the funeral, Carter’s body will take one final trip back to his home state of Georgia where he will be buried next to his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn.
While in Washington on Wednesday, Trump held a private meeting with Republican senators at the Capitol to discuss a strategy for top priorities heading into his second term. While speaking to reporters, Trump called the wildfires in California “a true tragedy.”
Biden announced Wednesday he canceled his final international trip of his presidency. He said he will remain in Washington, D.C., to monitor the deadly fires in Southern California.
Biden was set to take part in a three-day trip to Rome and the Vatican where he would meet with Pope Francis and the Italian president. His announcement came just hours after meeting his first great-grandchild, born at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Capitol police arrest man who brought machete to Jimmy Carter viewing
As thousands of Americans paid their respects to Carter at the Capitol, authorities arrested a man Wednesday at a security screening for people waiting to view the late president as he lies in state in Washington.
Capitol police said the man, identified as Washington resident Mel Horne, carried a machete and three knives in a bag. Authorities spotted the weapons as the bag went through an X-ray machine. Horne now faces multiple charges of carrying a dangerous weapon.
Capitol police also said officers arrested a Virginia man who lit a bag containing accelerants on fire on top of his car near the Capitol. They do not believe the two incidents were connected.
Port strike averted after tentative deal reached
Longshoremen reached a tentative new contract deal Wednesday with shipping and port companies along the East and Gulf Coasts of the U.S., averting a potentially crippling strike for now.
The United States Maritime Alliance, which represents ship lines and port operators, and union International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) said they’ve agreed on a six-year deal. However, the agreement is not official until ratified by union members.
The ILA represents 50,000 members who fill 25,000 jobs at 14 ports from Maine to Texas. If this deal wasn’t reached, port workers were set to go on strike beginning next Thursday, Jan. 16.
Details of the agreement have not yet been publicly released, but sources close to the matter said it addresses a key sticking point for workers: automation.
In October, Longshoremen agreed to a wage increase of 62% over six years, and the two sides pushed other issues into 2025 to end a three-day strike.
Airbnb.org providing free, temporary housing for displaced California residents
Airbnb.org, the nonprofit founded by Airbnb, is providing free, temporary housing for people displaced by the Los Angeles County fires. The organization partnered with the non-profit 211 LA to connect those who lost their homes or have been forced to evacuate with a free place to stay.
Colorado is now the 2nd state to allow psychedelic therapy
Colorado is now the second state in the country to legalize the use of psychedelics to help treat mental health issues, like post-traumatic stress and depression. A state law passed in 2022 just went into effect Wednesday, Jan. 1, allowing the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the chemical compound found in psychedelic mushrooms.
Just this month, Colorado Springs passed an ordinance extending the state prohibition on healing centers from 1,000 feet to 1 mile from certain locations, like schools. While psychedelics are still illegal in most states, and on the federal level, Colorado’s law decriminalizes the personal use of five naturally occurring psychedelics.
To be treated with psilocybin, patients will have to go through a risk assessment, preliminary meetings and follow-up sessions, and remain with a facilitator while under the drug’s influence. The psilocybin will also be tested, and the companies that grow them are to be regulated by the state.
This form of treatment is advocated by many U.S. military veterans, who say traditional treatments for combat-related mental health issues don’t work for them. So many veterans have turned to this illegal method for relief that the Department of Veterans Affairs announced last month it’s setting aside $1.5 million to study psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD, and other issues.
Oregon is the only other state to legalize the practice, with treatments having started there in June 2023.
The two were last seen on Christmas Eve. Authorities said the men likely died from exposure due to severe weather and inadequate preparation.
Unbiased. Straight Facts.™ Right at your fingertips.
Welcome back to trustworthy journalism.
The search involved more than 60 volunteers, including canine units, drone teams and ground searchers. A U.S. Coast Guard air asset equipped with infrared technology also assisted.
Search crews faced freezing temperatures, snow, heavy rain and rugged terrain. Despite the challenges, officials commended the volunteers for their dedication and expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
The victims’ vehicle was located near Willard, Washington, using footage from a newly installed law enforcement camera system. This led search teams to a heavily wooded area where the bodies were ultimately discovered.
While Bigfoot sightings are frequently reported, concrete evidence remains elusive. Skamania County even has a law protecting Sasquatch, penalizing harm to the creature with fines and possible jail time.
The names of the deceased have not yet been released. Authorities emphasized the importance of preparation and safety when venturing into remote wilderness areas.
Biden, Trump, former US presidents pay tribute to Carter
Tributes are pouring in for former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away in Plains, Georgia, at 100 years old Sunday. And 179 people are dead after a plane crash in South Korea. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.
Former President Jimmy Carter dies at 100
Former President Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia, who served as the 39th president of the United States and the longest-lived president in American history, died Sunday, Dec. 29, at 100 years old.
Unbiased. Straight Facts.™ Right at your fingertips.
Welcome back to trustworthy journalism.
The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization founded by the former president and his wife, said there will be public observances in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., followed by a private interment in Plains, Georgia. President Joe Biden issued a proclamation Sunday evening declaring Jan. 9 a National Day of Mourning.
Biden, Trump, former US presidents pay tribute to Carter
Over six decades, Jill and I had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend.
But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. pic.twitter.com/irknhZ6CJY
Tributes from around the world poured in after the news of Carter’s death hit Sunday afternoon. Biden, President-elect Donald Trump and other former presidents were among those who paid tribute to Carter.
Biden delivered remarks in a live broadcast Sunday evening, calling Carter a “remarkable leader” and a “dear friend.”
“What I find extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people all around the world, all over the world, feel they lost a friend as well, even though they never met him, and that’s because Jimmy Carter lived a life measured not by words but by his deeds. Just look at his life, his life’s work. He worked to eradicate disease, not just at home, but around the world. He forged peace, he advanced civil rights, human rights, promoted free and fair elections around the world. He built housing for the homeless with his own hands, and his compassion and moral clarity lifted people up and changed lives and saved lives all over the globe. We may never see his like again. You know, we can all do well to try to be a little more like Jimmy Carter.”
President Joe Biden
Trump released a statement saying, “The challenges Jimmy faced as president came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.”
Former President Bill Clinton also issued a statement, saying, “From his commitment to civil rights as a state senator and governor of Georgia; to his efforts as president to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David; to his post-presidential efforts at the Carter Center supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at habitat for humanity—he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world.”
Former President George W. Bush called Carter a man of “deeply held convictions.” Bush added, “His efforts to leave behind a better world didn’t end with the presidency. His work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center set an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations.”
Former President Barack Obama highlighted Carter’s single term as president, saying, he “believed some things were more important than reelection — things like integrity, respect, and compassion.” Obama added, “Jimmy Carter believed, as deeply as he believed anything, that we are all created in God’s image.”
179 killed, 2 survive plane crash at South Korean airport
More details emerged from a fiery plane crash in South Korea that left 179 people dead in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. It happened Sunday at Muan International Airport, 180 miles south of Seoul.
The jetliner skid off the runway into a concrete fence and burst into flames after its landing gear possibly failed to deploy. Only two people survived. South Korean officials said the survivors were crew members and did not appear to have any life-threatening injuries.
Not long before the crash, the control tower issued a warning about birds and gave the crew permission to land in a different area. The pilot reported a bird strike, but the exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Officials said the crew also sent out a distress signal shortly before the crash.
South Korean transportation officials said it could take months to figure out exactly what happened.
The plane that crash-landed was a Boeing 737-800, marking the latest incident involving the company. Boeing’s 737-800 is in a different class than its 737 Max jets, which were involved in fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
At least 4 killed by storms that spawned tornadoes across the Southern US
A least four people are dead after a storm system tore across the Southern U.S. over the weekend. National Weather Service meteorologists received dozens of reports of tornado damage across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Crews are conducting surveys to assess the damage.
The NWS confirmed at least five tornadoes hit near Houston, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 28, killing one woman and destroying or damaging dozens of homes. A man in North Carolina died in what a state trooper described as a “freak accident” after a tree fell on the pickup truck he was driving.
The storms also killed two people in Mississippi, while at least 10 other people were injured across the state.
2 men found dead after failing to return from Sasquatch search
Two Oregon men were found dead in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwestern Washington on Saturday after they disappeared last week while searching for Sasquatch. Sasquatch, also known as “Bigfoot,” is a mythical creature said to inhabit forests in North America.
A relative reported the men missing Christmas Day after they failed to return from their search.
Authorities said the men appear to have died from exposure and were not prepared for the “brutally cold weather”. They have only been identified as a 37-year-old and a 59-year-old from Portland.
‘Mufasa,’ ‘Sonic’ battle for top spot at holiday box office
It was a battle at the box office over the holiday weekend between a fast-moving hedgehog and a brave lion. In the end, Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” overtook Sony’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” on the Christmas box office leaderboard.
The “Lion King” prequel edged out the “Sonic” sequel over the five-day stretch, bringing in nearly $64 million. “Sonic” garnered just under $60 million.
However, according to traditional weekend box office numbers, it was “Sonic” that came out on top $38 million to $37 million.
Cat food recalled after testing positive for H5N1 and feline dies
Oregon health officials are warning cat owners to throw out a brand of frozen pet food. This comes after the food tested positive for bird flu and a house cat died after eating the product.
Health officials say the deceased cat “strictly” stayed inside and wasn’t exposed to the virus in any other setting, noting that the virus detected in the pet food and the cat “were exact matches.”
Veterinarians say H5N1 is particularly deadly for cats, especially big cats.
Earlier this week, it was reported that at least 20 exotic cats died from bird flu at a Washington state animal sanctuary, including tigers, bobcats and mountain lions.
The cause of the outbreak at the sanctuary is still unknown.
However, wildlife officials at the sanctuary say that the virus can infect large cats who eat birds with the virus or other contaminated products. Furthermore, they say that cats’ symptoms can start off subtle but progress rapidly, which may lead to “death within 24 hours due to pneumonia-like conditions.”
The Golden State has also declared a state of emergency over the spread of H5N1 with reportedly the highest number of infected cattle herds and human cases nationwide.
Still, U.S. health officials say the risk to humans remains low but urge individuals working with farm animals to wear protective equipment.
Supermarket chain Albertsons announced Wednesday, Dec. 11, that it filed a lawsuit against Kroger. The suit comes after a district judge in Oregon blocked a $25 billion merger between the two companies.
Albertsons claims Kroger didn’t do what was necessary to get regulatory approval for the deal.
“Albertsons is seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger to make Albertsons and its shareholders whole,” the company said in a statement. “In addition to the $600 million termination fee, Albertsons is entitled to relief reflecting the multiple years and hundreds of millions of dollars it devoted to obtaining approval for the merger, along with the extended period of unnecessary limbo Albertsons endured as a result of Kroger’s actions.”
In October 2022, the two grocery giants agreed to what would have become the largest U.S. merger in supermarket history. If the deal had gone through, Kroger and Albertsons would have accounted for roughly 5,000 stores.
At the time, they said it would help them compete with Amazon and Walmart. Both companies have made big plays in the grocery store space.
But District Judge Adrienne Nelson said Tuesday, Dec. 10, the deal would harm customers. Nelson discounted the Amazon competition aspect, pointing out grocery stores have a specific role in the consumer landscape. She also said the merger’s impact on competition must not be underestimated.
“Kroger willfully breached the Merger Agreement in several key ways, including by repeatedly refusing to divest assets necessary for antitrust approval, ignoring regulators’ feedback, rejecting stronger divestiture buyers and failing to cooperate with Albertsons,” Albertsons said in the statement.
Kroger has yet to respond to the lawsuit publicly.
In terminating the deal, Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran says the company is ready for the next chapter.
“Over the last two years, we have invested in our core business and in new sources of revenue, while enhancing our capabilities through the rollout of new technologies,” he said in a statement.
As news of the lawsuit came out, both companies’ stocks opened trading up on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
