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Trump’s promises to conservatives raise fears of more book bans in USAs ski resorts across the Pacific Northwest begin to open, anticipation is growing for what experts predict could be an unforgettable season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a 60% chance of La Niña conditions, leading skiers and snowboarders to gear up for a winter filled with fresh powder, stunning views, and epic runs. In the 2023-2024 season, the National Ski Areas Association reported that 60.4 million people hit the slopes nationwide, but only 16.5 million chose the Pacific Northwest. However, that number may rise this season as renowned resorts like Mount Baker, Crystal Mountain, and Stevens Pass prepare for what could be one of their snowiest winters. Here's what you need to know to take full advantage of this potentially record-breaking ski season in the PNW. Why the Pacific Northwest Is Unique I've skied at more than 20 resorts across the United States, from the East Coast to the West Coast. I can attest that skiing in the Pacific Northwest offers an entirely different experience, primarily due to heavy snowfall and the Pacific Northwest's distinct type of snow. According to AccuWeather's Senior Meteorologist Brian Wimer , "Ski resorts on the West Coast, such as in Washington, Oregon, and California, have much more moisture available in comparison to interior Western states like Utah and Colorado." Coastal states experience more frequent snowstorms than ski areas in other parts of the United States. For example, Mount Baker in Washington is famous for being the world's snowiest ski resort , largely due to its prime location close to the coast. Another result of the Pacific Northwest’s location is the snow’s water content, which influences its texture. Areas closer to the ocean tend to have snow with higher water content, while this decreases as you move inland. As water content lowers, snow becomes drier and more powdery, much like the conditions found in the Rockies. While you'll enjoy plenty of powder days in the Pacific Northwest, the snow won't feel quite the same as Colorado's. You can still carve through fresh snow, but it tends to be heavier and wetter, making many PNW skiers opt for thicker skis. The Best Time To Ski in the PNW One of the great things about the Pacific Northwest is how long the winter season lasts. From November to May, there's plenty of time to enjoy the slopes. As someone who loves skiing here, I can confidently say there's no wrong time to visit. However, I recommend coming between January and April, as the mountains receive the most snowfall during this period. The base layers have time to build up, ensuring most runs are open and ready for action. My favorite time to ski in the Pacific Northwest is early spring. While many skiers and snowboarders race to get the first tracks after a fresh snowstorm or overnight grooming, spring skiing in the PNW offers a special experience. The best time to enjoy spring skiing is in the afternoon, so most people don't hit the slopes until lunchtime. You still get the occasional snowstorm, but the warmer temperatures make it unique. There's something about skiing in lighter layers, with many opting for just a t-shirt, that makes it feel like a whole new adventure. La Niña Set to Benefit Top Destinations Experts at the NOAA expect above-average precipitation across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho in early winter, leading to favorable snow conditions at their ski resorts. The Pacific Northwest offers various ski resorts , from charming local mountains to world-famous destinations. With La Niña's predicted snowfall this winter, several spots are worth considering for your trip. My personal favorite in Oregon is Mount Bachelor. Over in Washington, you can't go wrong with Summit at Snoqualmie, Mission Ridge, or Crystal Mountain. And while Idaho might not always be the first place you think of for skiing, the state has some incredible resorts, including Schweitzer and Sun Valley. Unlock Your Ski Season's Full Potential To fully enjoy this ski season, I highly recommend planning ahead and booking your trip to one of the top resorts in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho. In addition, keeping up with weather apps and following resort social media accounts is essential for tracking snowstorms and staying informed. While chasing storms may not be feasible for everyone, it remains one of the best ways to guarantee optimal conditions. If you're anticipating a significant storm and can take time off, seizing that opportunity to hit the slopes could make for an unforgettable ski experience. The Pacific Northwest offers something extraordinary with its heavy snowfall, breathtaking views, and diverse range of resorts. While many skiers and snowboarders anxiously monitor weather forecasts and resort updates, planning early is always smart. By booking your lift tickets, flights, and accommodations at the start of the season, you'll avoid price hikes and set yourself up for an incredible winter adventure in the Pacific Northwest.Sprouts Farmers Market SFM has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 32.99% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 45.92%. Currently, Sprouts Farmers Market has a market capitalization of $12.93 billion. Buying $100 In SFM: If an investor had bought $100 of SFM stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $654.85 today based on a price of $129.31 for SFM at the time of writing. Sprouts Farmers Market's Performance Over Last 5 Years Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers praised Cameron Carter-Vickers and his side’s mentality after they dug out a Champions League point following the defender’s disastrous own goal against Club Brugge. The normally reliable centre-back passed the ball into his own net in the 26th minute after failing to spot goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s positioning. But a brilliant turn and finish on the hour mark from Daizen Maeda changed the game and ultimately earned the Scottish champions a 1-1 home draw. On the opener, Rodgers said: “Mistakes happen and it was just unfortunate. He’s played that pass a million times and it’s gone back and then we’ve been able to play forward. It was just one of those unfortunate moments in the game that happens. “But he’s a really, really tough character. He’s a great guy, he picked himself up. He was really strong and aggressive again in the game and got on with it and had a real bravery in the second half, because he was the one carrying the ball forward for us to start the attack.” Despite the gift, Brugge were worthy of their lead and Rodgers admitted his side were too passive in their pressing in the opening half. Some tactical tweaks – and the introduction of Paulo Bernardo – helped Celtic dominate after Maeda’s equaliser, although Brugge had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside. “I can only credit the players for the second half, because we had to fight,” Rodgers said. “And we’re still one of those teams that’s really pushing to try and make a mark at this level. So to make the comeback, score the goal, play with that courage, I was so pleased. “You want to win but I’ve been here enough times to have lost a game like that, but we didn’t. We showed a real strong mentality and we kept pushing right to the very end and the players did well. “I thought they showed great courage in the second half because we weren’t at our level in the first half. Sometimes a game like that can get away from you, but it didn’t. “We stayed with it, showed that determination, showed that mentality, never to quit, to keep going. And then we were much, much better, much freer in the second half. “So we’re on eight points, nine to play for. We’re still very much on course to get to where we want to get to and still three games to go.” Rodgers added: “It’s 20 games now and we’ve won 16 and drawn three and lost one, so it shows you the mentality is there, and especially at this level, you need to have that.”
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Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened weekAIT Stock Soars to All-Time High, Reaching $277.05The claim: Mexico broke off relations with Canada A Dec. 8 Instagram post ( direct link , archive link ) claims one North American nation has cut diplomatic ties with another. “The Mexican government breaks off political relations with Canada and withdraws your permission to continue mining gold and minerals in the country,” says a narrator in the video. The post was liked 1,000 times in about two weeks. The video was also shared elsewhere on Instagram . More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page Our rating: False There has been no change in the formal relationship between the two countries, according to a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada. Canada, Mexico trade barbs but diplomatic relations unchanged President-elect Donald Trump announced on Nov. 25 that he plans to impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada once he takes office. Trump said the assessments were punishment for illegal immigration and drugs flowing across the borders, and the U.S.’s neighbors immediately criticized the proposal . Trump's equal treatment of the two nations has caused division between them, according to the Associated Press . Ontario Premier Doug Ford said , “To compare us to Mexico is the most insulting thing I’ve ever heard." Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Canadian criticism by saying that Canada has "a very serious problem with fentanyl consumption” and that it “could only wish they had the cultural riches Mexico has.” But the two countries have not severed diplomatic ties, Jean-Pierre Godbout , a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, told USA TODAY. “In 2024, Canada and Mexico celebrated 80 years of diplomatic relations, highlighting their commitment to enhancing and expanding bilateral and North American ties,” Godbout wrote in an email. “Over the past 30 years, their partnership has been strengthened through free trade agreements.” A common sign of worsening diplomatic ties is the closing , sometimes involuntarily , of a nation’s embassy or consulates in another country. Neither Canada nor Mexico mentions such closings on their diplomatic websites, and there are no news reports about such a development. The claim of Canadian mining concessions being terminated in Mexico is also false, Godbout said. More than 130 Canadian mining companies operate in Mexico, according to Godbout, and the Canadian government is not aware of any change to these operations. The Mexican Geological Service makes no mention of any termination of Canadian mining rights this year, nor has Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned any such punitive steps in her news conferences since Trump announced the tariffs. Fact check : No, Mexico did not pledge to stop migrant caravans after Trump tariff threat USA TODAY reached out to the Mexico Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as social media users who made the claim for comment but did not immediately receive responses. AFP also debunked the claim. Our fact-check sources Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here . USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .
DANIA BEACH, Florida (AP) — Border Patrol agents are tasked with enforcing hotly contested immigration policies as many Americans at both ends of the political spectrum look askance at the border — and the agents. That's taking a mounting toll, so the agency is training more among its ranks to become chaplains and provide spiritual care for their fellow agents on and off the job. “That’s a really hard thing to deal with, as things tend to flip from one side to the other, and we’re still in the crossfire,” said Border Patrol assistant chief and chaplaincy program manager Spencer Hatch. Unlike in the military or law enforcement, Border Patrol chaplains are usually lay agents endorsed by their faith denominations who are trained by the agency to become chaplains through a 2.5-week academy. Their numbers have grown to about 240 from 130 four years ago. Three times a year, an academy is held at a different Border Patrol station. About a dozen Border Patrol personnel, plus a few Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management officers, graduated from the most recent academy, held near Miami earlier this month. The program, and a nonreligious, mental-health focused peer support program, were started by grassroots efforts in the 1990s. Chaplains stay in their regular jobs, but are on call to assist. Border Patrol agents say they're motivated by the desire to protect U.S. borders from security threats, including the powerful cartels that control much of the border dynamics. They also often rescue migrants lost and dying in the harsh deserts that line the southern U.S. border. But many agents feel the American public sees them as obstacles to migrants seeking a better life in the United States. They often tell their children to say their parent does “government work” for fear of reprisals, especially in the border communities where they live. That dissonance between upholding a duty they feel proud of, and getting called “terrible names” for it, adds an emotional toll to the already dangerous, often isolating work the agents do. That's where the chaplains come in — to help their fellow 20,000 agents cope and prevent the trauma from degenerating into family crises, addiction or even suicide. While most chaplains are Christian, with a smattering of Muslim and Jewish agents, they don’t offer faith-specific worship and only bring up religion if the person they’re helping does first. Rather, they are a comforting presence during critical moments like assisting a suicidal colleague, notifying a family their loved one was killed on the job, and counseling those dealing with addiction, survivor guilt and other traumas. Those are the scenarios that chaplains-in-training practice role-playing at the academy. They also learn about communication and family dynamics, because constant redeployments — some up to 9 times over 18 months during the record border crossings early in the Biden administration — affect their families too. Hatch teaches about the need to maintain both the “hypervigilance” of law enforcement and the humanitarian instinct to empathize with fellow agents as well as migrants. Many agents say they are especially affected by the plight of migrant children at the hands of smugglers. “One tries to give them support within the limits of what your work allows. I always have the biggest smile,” said a newly minted chaplain, Yaira Santiago, a former schoolteacher who runs a Border Patrol migrant processing center in Southern California. By relying on their faith, their commitment to help their colleagues, and their training, chaplains can make a difference. "Even in moments of uncertainty, your presence is often enough,” said Matt Kiniery, an agent in El Paso, Texas, for 15 years and a graduate of the latest chaplain academy. Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.Germany is searching for answers and grappling with potential security gaps after a car plowed through a Christmas market, killing at least five individuals. The incident has reignited discussions around security and immigration just before a pivotal snap election. The suspect, Taleb A., a 50-year-old psychiatrist with purported far-right inclinations and anti-Islamic rhetoric, remains under investigation as authorities scrutinize his motives. Despite past warnings, questions linger about why more preventive measures weren't taken. The tragedy drew thousands, both supporting and opposing anti-migrant stances, to Magdeburg's cathedral square. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has proposed tougher security laws to safeguard citizens. In contrast, some political leaders have been accused of exploiting the situation for electoral gains. (With inputs from agencies.)