Redistricting and low morale could be trouble for Democrats

A growing sense of gloom is developing among Democrats in Congress with less than a year before the 2022 midterm elections. With every Democrat that announces they’re not seeking reelection, the mood worsens.

Morale in Congress is already low among Democrats. As they look ahead to 2022 and what could be a trying election cycle, the belief is that the retirement wave has yet to crash.

23 members of the House Democratic Caucus have already announced they will not seek reelection in 2022. While high profile retirements by the party in power are not uncommon before a difficult midterm election cycle, the sentiment now is that more departures are coming. A combination of political winds tilting to the Republicans that has carved up what were once easy races for Democrats and low morale among House members could spell disaster before the 2022 elections.

“We have a problem here,” Representative Cherri Bustos said. “There are way too many people serving as members of Congress that I not only don’t look up to, but also have no respect for. I hate to even have to say that.”

First elected in 2012, and representing Western Illinois, Bustos announced earlier this year that she was retiring. “I’m looking for a new chapter in my life,” she told CNN. It’s clear though the current standing of Congress loomed over the decision. “While there are some Democrats who aren’t team players, the bulk of them are Republicans who refuse to raise the deficit in order to help put people back to work. At the same time, they ballooned the deficit when they passed former President Trump’s tax cuts.”

“When you only have a three-or-four-vote majority and you see people in tough districts announcing they will not seek another term, everybody worries about what’s ahead,” Bustos stated.

Republicans have also seen some powerful members announce they will not seek reelection. Kevin Brady, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, announced he will retire and become CEO of the Trump Media and Technology Group.

Retirements are a problem for Democrats, as the party in power, simply cannot afford. With a very slim majority in the House and polls showing a potential Republican swing, any slight change can prove disastrous.

What’s even more worrisome is retirements are stacking up. Representative Peter DeFazio of Oregon, and chair of the House Infrastructure and Transportation Committee, announced he will not seek reelection. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, and chair of the House Space, Science, and Technology Committee, announced she will not run for reelection as well. Kentucky Representative John Yarmouth, who chairs the House Budget Committee, also will not seek reelection.

It’s not just committee chairs that worry Democrats. It’s also districts that will be difficult to keep in 2022. Wisconsin Representative Ron Kind, who represents a district that voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, announced he will not seek reelection. Republicans are confident they can flip the seat in 2022. Arizona Representative Ann Kirkpatrick, who represents the state’s Second District, announced she will retire as well. Before her 2018 victory, the district was held by a Republican. New York Representative Tom Suozzi announced his intent to run for governor and will vacate his Long Island District. The seat could become competitive if Democrats face a difficult cycle.

All of the retirements have been hailed by Republicans. “Every retirement demoralizes Democrats further and forces them to spend more on defending competitive seats,” Michael McAdams, who is a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said. “No one wants to run as a Democrat this cycle.”

So far though, Democratic leaders – at least publicly – are rejecting the idea Democrats have a retirement problem.

“It’s pretty standard stuff. Anybody who serves in this Congress knows these are personal decisions. I’m not that worried about it. I think Republicans are going to have at least one good idea for America. They can’t do it with tricks and stacking the deck,” Senator Patrick Maloney, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told CNN’s Manu Raju.

There is a sense inside the caucus that things are not what Maloney and others want the public to believe.

Representative Filemòn Vela, a Texas Democrat who announced earlier this year he will not seek reelection, believes Democrats will do fine if they can get control of inflation and COVID by the summer. “I won’t say we keep the majority because it is such a tough cycle. If by November, we are still in the middle of the COVID crisis and inflation is sky high, we have a problem.”

Vela also added that if those issues continue to pester Democrats, you have the same problem you did in 2010 when Democrats lost 63 seats and control of the House. “It’s a valid concern. If we had been in the middle of midterms earlier this year, I think seats like mine would have been lost. I don’t think that will happen next year.”

Major League Soccer to diversify hiring process

 Major League Soccer announced that effective immediately, teams will be required to advance at least two non-White candidates to the final round of interviews. The league previously required teams looking for new coaches or staff members to interview at least one “diverse candidate,” similar to the National Football League’s “Rooney Rule.” The policy has been updated to require teams to keep at least two non-White candidates in every round of the interview process. Teams that fail to follow the guidelines will be fined. The league will also update the hiring requirements every year.

New England Revolution goalkeeper Earl Edwards was one of the players who helped develop the new policy. He commended the decision as a step towards a real culture shift of working together openly and transparently. Colorado Rapids Coach Robin Fraser, who also helped develop the policy, said that it would give more exposure to Black candidates and create more opportunities within the black community.

Here are the notable updates to the MLS policy:

• Teams will be required to advance at least two non-White candidates to the final round of job interviews, and one of the candidates must be Black or African American.

• Teams must provide proof that they have created an equal interview process for all candidates.

• The league will expand its definition of underrepresented groups to include "Black or African American, Hispanic/Latino(a), American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, Canadian Indigenous, Canadian First Nations, Women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community."

• Teams must publicize vacant positions to a league-wide diversity portal.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber stated that when the league was founded in December 1993 as part of the United States’ bid to host the 1994 World Cup, a clear and purposeful focus on diverse hiring practices is necessary for any organization to succeed. He believes the changes made today and to the work began before the inaugural season in 1996 will continue to diversify the league at every level. The new policy will ensure more Black candidates will be interviewed for technical positions and will result in tangible changes to the racial makeup of technical staffs across the league.

The updated policy is one of several initiatives designed to combat a growing problem of racism throughout professional soccer. The league also has a diversity committee made up of staff, head coaches, club executives, current, and former players to help ensure MLS is open to all players.

Dash miss playoffs; look ahead to 2022 season

The Houston Dash fell to the Washington Spirit on Halloween and missed the playoffs. Needing a win or draw, the Dash lost 1-0 to the eventual NWSL champions.

When asked about the season, head coach James Clarkson told The Striker Texas he does not know where to start.

“It’s for sure been a rough time. You’ve had the pandemic and the Olympics. That’s made it difficult for everybody to stay completely focused on soccer.”

When asked why players tend to stay in Houston, Clarkson said that it begins with treating the players as humans. “They're just regular people that happen to be good at soccer. I don't look at them as just soccer players. I think it's important that there’s a balance there. Everybody has an opinion. Everybody wants to express their opinion. And I think it's important that we create an environment where people feel comfortable doing that and knowing that they have the support of the staff and the organization.”

Since becoming the head coach prior to the 2019 season, Clarkson has made it clear that the organization will not tolerate harassment or bad behavior. “This is a place where you can express yourself. Regardless of race, religion or whatever it is. This is an environment that we're trying to create where everybody's in. It's an inclusive environment and in their day to day, we want to make sure that it's a place that they really want to come to work.”

What started out as a promising season turned out to be the opposite. The Dash have yet to win the NWSL Cup since joining the league in 2014.

“It's obviously disappointing. There's a lot of reflection going on.”

I said this to the players, as we got into that final quarter of the season. If we don't achieve what we'd set out to do this year, we'll have missed a really big opportunity. And we missed a really big opportunity. It's the last time that that team is going to be together. It's been a good run, but we will look back on this, not just now or next season, but over time, and it will be really tough to deal with because we've really missed a massive, massive opportunity,” Clarkson said.

“I look at the performances all over the season. We've been inconsistent. There's been some outstanding performances. And then there haven't necessarily been too many horrific ones. Reign away was obviously the worst. There’s been too many individual errors this year that have cost us goals, that have cost us points,” Clarkson said about missing the playoffs.

Clarkson's next step is figuring out who he will protect between Jane Campbell and Kristie Mewis, who are both on the U.S. Women's National Team. Only one can be protected. 

When asked about the changes he would like to see, Clarkson said that he wants to see higher standards in facilities. “We also need more fans. I'd love for us to have 10,000, 12,000 in the building. The atmosphere some days when there's been 4,000 has been great. The support of the fans this year has been terrific. That would be one of the highlights of the year, is the support of the fans at home. But how do we double that? That's where we need to get to. I was down in Mexico City the other week. I went to watch Club America against Tigres and there were 10,000 people. It feels important when it's full. That's a proper atmosphere. It's a proper game of football. That's what we need throughout the league. Hopefully, we can get there,” Clarkson said. 

Another thing that Clarkson said needs to change is how the media covers the NWSL. “I think there needs to be better media coverage, there needs to be better TV coverage. There needs to be much more coverage of the teams. Not just locally, but nationally, there needs to be much more attention put on it. We only get reported on when there's bad things, and then everybody jumps on the bandwagon. They're missing the fact the product on the field is outstanding.”

Will any of Clarkson's wishes come true? Can the Dash finally hoist the NWSL Cup? We won't know until the 2022 season gets underway. 

Ted Segal holds first interview with Dynamo and Dash fans

 Ted Segal holds first interview with Dynamo and Dash fans

On September 14, new Dynamo and Dash majority owner Ted Segal had a chance to answer questions from fans.

Questions ranged from how he plans on rebuilding the teams to what’s next for BBVA Stadium.

When asked about how he plans to build a contentious team, Segal replied that spending should not be near the bottom of the league due to the size of the Houston media market. He also said that having most of the lower bowl closed off for Dash games does not make a good impression. “We want to have the entire lower bowl filled for Dash games and hopefully have the stadium completely sold out with every seat filled.” He added that even a full lower bowl is better for marketing the teams.

“One thing that will help is to bring more fans to Dash games. That will allow us to open up more seats and potentially draw in television revenue since most Dash games are only available online.”

When asked what he’s looking for in a general manager, Segal said that past success is going to be a large factor. “Whether it’s in Major League Soccer or FIFA, someone with a proven track record of winning will be at the top of the list. They also need to have a proven track record of successfully developing their youth league or academy.”

Will the new GM and majority owner turn the teams around, or will Houston once again be denied a soccer championship? The last time either the Dash or Dynamo won a championship was in 2007 when the Dynamo won the MLS Cup for a second time in a row.

Dash defeat NC Courage, fall to Portland Thorns

 On July 17, the Houston Dash faced current NWSL champion NC Courage and walked away with a 2-1 victory. This was Houston’s second win over the Courage in team history. Playing in her 100th NWSL game, Shea Groom got the scoring started in the 9th minute on an assist by Veronica Latsko. Seven minutes later, North Carolina tied the game on a goal by Kristen Hamilton. In the 62nd minute, Gabby Seiler scored to make it 2-1 Houston. That would be the final score.

On July 24, the Dash were home against the Portland Thorns and fell 1-0. 35 seconds into the game, Portland’s Sophia Smith scored what would be the game winner.

The Dash are home August 1 against NYNJ Gotham FC. Kickoff is set for 6pm on Paramount +

Dash defeat OL Reign, fall to Chicago Red Stars

Coming off a victory against Orlando Pride on June 26, the Houston Dash looked to make it two wins in a row over the July 4 weekend.

After an hour delay due to severe weather, the Dash kicked off around 8 pm against OL Reign.

After a scoreless first half, Houston took the lead in the 50th minute when Shea Groom found former Reign player Jasmyne Spencer for the goal.

Houston would score again in the 57th minute when Katie Naughton leaped over OL Reign defenders and put a header in the goal to secure the victory. 

Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell did not disappoint in her last game before she joins the U.S. Women’s National Team for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. 

On July 11, Houston hoped to win three in a row when they travelled to Chicago, IL to face the Red Stars. However, things would not go in Houston’s favor as they fell 2-1. 

Jasmyne Spencer would find Veronica Latsko in the 62nd minute for the team’s only goal. Things then went quickly downhill. 

Shea Groom scored the first goal for the Red Stars in the 73rd minute after attempting to clear the ball in the penalty area. Another own goal by former Red Star player Katie Naughton sealed the victory for Chicago in the 76th minute. As with the first own goal, Naughton attempted to clear the ball out of the penalty area, but was unable to do so. 

The Dash travel to face two-time NWSL champion North Carolina Courage on Saturday at 6:00 pm. Fans can follow the action on Paramount + or Twitch. 

The next home game is July 24 at 7:30 against the Portland Thorns. 

Dash fall to Racing Louisville FC, defeat Orlando Pride

On June 20, the Houston Dash faced expansion team Racing Louisville FC and fell 1-0 after not playing for two weeks due to an international break.

Louisville would score the only goal in the 71st minute when Ebony Salmon found her way through two defenders and scored at the top of the goal box.

On June 26, which also was LGBT Pride Night, the Houston Dash came out with their second win of the season. Houston defeated Orlando 2-1. Houston has yet to lose to Orlando after 8 meetings so far.

Houston opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Tigres loaner Maria Sanchez punched the ball past Orlando keeper Ashlyn Harris. Houston would test Harris again in the 20th minute, but the goal was denied. Veronica Latsko would score the second goal in the 27th minute on a header from Sophie Schmidt.

The Dash tested Orlando early and often throughout the match.

Orlando’s only goal came in the 49th minute when Gunny Jonsdittor headed a ball off a pass from Marta.

The Dash return to BBVA Stadium July 2 when the OL Reign come to town.

Houston hopes to make it two wins in a row as well.

Wine Country still trying to recover

By now, we have all heard of the devastation caused by the wine country wildfires in 2016. With a new fire season in full swing, many parts of the area still are trying to recover. Many residents forced to flee last fall are facing the same situation again.

The Tubbs fire, as the event was known, began in November 2017 amid dry vegetation and brush. With little rain and the hot Diablo winds off the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains, conditions were prime for an out of control fire.

Northern California is no stranger to wildfires. Situated between the Sierra and Cascade mountain ranges, the hot winds from the desert southwest pound the area during the summer and fall. These winds dry out the vegetation and help fuel existing wildfires into raging infernos. This year was no different. It was only a matter of time before an inferno erupted.

In October 2016, during the peak of fire season, crews were stretched to the limit battling wildfires in the West. At approximately 9:45 pm, fire crews were about to come face to face with a monster wildfire. Cal Fire dispatchers received word of a brush fire and quickly alerted nearby crews of the incident. It would turn out to be one of the most devasting fires in Northern California history.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, crews had just extinguished a grass fire nearby when word got out of another fire close by. In order to get an idea of the situation and determine a plan of attack, Santa Rosa Fire Chief Tony Gossner climbed a ridge to get a better view of the fire. The wildlife preserve set in Sonoma County’s thickly wooded hills was just 6 miles away, and Gossner knew that it was a uniquely dangerous spot. The winds this Sunday night were stiff, and parched grass and tinder-dry trees filled the valleys leading straight to town. Gossner drove up a hill to take a look. Off in the distance, as he crested the slope, was an orange glow, angry and wide.

“My God,” he thought. “We’re in trouble.”

Sometime in the half hour before that radio dispatch — Cal Fire records say 9:45 p.m. — something had ignited in the woods in neighboring Napa County, near tiny Tubbs Lane just north of Calistoga. October is high fire season in California, and all evening the dreaded Diablo winds, dry and reaching hurricane speed, had been blasting through the area at up to 80 miles an hour in 80-degree weather. All that was needed was a spark somewhere.

The Tubbs Fire would be the most lethal and destructive of the fires to scorch the wine country that year. What made this one unique was not how it started, but the fast pace at which it would move. Hurricane force winds, some clocking as fast as 80 miles an hour, tore through the region.

By night’s end, driven by capricious winds, the swarm of conflagrations would hopscotch seemingly everywhere across an astonishing 100 square miles of Wine Country, growing into the worst wildland urban cluster of fires in state history. At least 40 people would die and more than 5,000 structures would be incinerated. One of the nation’s most popular tourist regions would be ravaged, the fires’ unstoppable fury continuing day after day as fire crews struggled to tame them.

While investigators still are not sure of the cause, Jon Keeley, a fire ecologist at UCLA, said the strongest likelihoods are arson or human-induced accidents, a careless match, a spark from a muffler or power lines slapping against trees in the high winds.

Pacific Gas and Electric, or PG&E, which is responsible for providing power to large parts of California has been cited as a probable cause for its failure to maintain the trees and brush along the path of its power lines. Firefighters estimate that at times, the flames raced 230 feet per minute and, inconceivably, threw embers a full mile ahead of the fire front. It moved so fast that chickens, cats and other animals were charred where they stood, left standing like blackened statues.

Gently spread across Napa and Sonoma counties, the region known as Wine Country is a slow-paced land of vineyards, ranches, suburban tracts and touristy getaways connected by winding, tree-lined lanes and a few key highways. A woodsy cousin to San Francisco, it’s a land of stone-castle tasting rooms, ramshackle farmhouses, old family homes and placid suburbs. Visitors flock to its wineries and world-renowned restaurants throughout the year.

By 7am the next morning, the winds backed down in the growing gray light of dawn and everyone took hope that maybe some relief was in sight. It was not to be. A long, hellish week lay ahead.

When the sun finally crested the horizon around 7 a.m., the smoldering tableau of Santa Rosa instead drove home a sense of hopelessness.

Gossner had only a moment to take in the sight. “The sun came up,” he said, “and ... holy smoke.”

A firefighter for 27 years and a chief for four, he has spent his career fighting fires, trying to save lives. This one left him at a loss for words.

“It was just ... unstoppable,” he said. He pursed his lips, struggled to keep his face a mask of authority. But sadness in his eyes betrayed him.

“You get a pit in your stomach,” the chief managed. “It’s terrible.”

According to The Washington Post, since the autumnal fires, Sonoma and Napa counties have been in deep recovery mode while the grapevines have been sound asleep. But come spring, the region will shift from restoration to renewal.The plants will bud, the winemakers will pour and the visitors will raise their glasses to California Wine Country, which needs a drink now more than ever.

The numbers are startling. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire, for short) reported 21 major wildfires in the area, including the Tubbs and Nuns fires, which consumed nearly 95,000 acres and 7,000 structures in Sonoma and Napa. The inferno wiped out entire neighborhoods, such as Coffey Park and Fountaingrove in Santa Rosa. More than 40 people lost their lives.

“It was like a dragon’s breath was being shot at him,” Rene said of the flames that thwarted winemaker Dan Barwick, who was trying to check on Paradise Ridge. “Things were just crazy, with the glow, the flames and the burning homes.”

‘There were terrible winds and a week of hot weather,” said Lorraine, a volunteer at the Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen.

“The personal stories and accounts convey the intensity and emotion of that experience,” Jeff said. “It’s interesting to look at what remains.”

Dash get first win of 2021 season after going winless

The Houston Dash kicked off the 2021 season with a visit to NY/NJ Gotham FC on May 15. Things did not turn out in Houston’s favor as the Dash were defeated 1-0 on a goal by Midge Purce in the 15^th minute of play.

On May 23, the Dash hoped to turn things around when Kansas City NWSL came to BBVA Stadium for a Sunday night match.

Kansas City would get the scoring started with a goal by Amy Rodriguez in the 13^th minute. Kansas City would then get a yellow card issued to Elizabeth Ball in the 53^rd minute. Houston would then get a yellow card issued to Sophie Schmidt in the 57^th minute. The Dash would then tie the game in the 60^th minute on a goal by Rachel Daly. One minute later, Kansas City would see a second yellow card issued to Taylor Leach. Kansas City native Shea Groom would give Houston a 2-1 lead after a goal in the 66^th minute. Things seemed to be in Houston’s favor when Elizabeth Ball was issued her second yellow card and a red card suspension in the 69^th minute. However, Kansas City would take advantage of playing with 10 players and tie the game two minutes into stoppage time.

Houston would then play the Washington Spirit in Houston due to construction delays at Segra Field on May 26. Again, things did not work in favor as the Dash fell 2-1.

Rachel Daly would score the only goal for Houston in the 9^th minute. Washington would then tie the game in the 21^st minute on a goal by Ashley Sanchez. Discipline was a problem for both teams. Andi Sullivan would be issued a yellow card in the 44^th minute. One minute later, Houston’s Haley Hanson would get a yellow card as well.

Tied at the half, Houston hoped to walk away with a draw. Things appeared that way when Andi Sullivan was issued a second yellow card and a red card ejection in the 50^th minute. Forced to play with 10 players, Washington took advantage when Ashley Hatch scored in the 70^th minute to give the Spirit the lead and ultimately the win.

Winless through three games, Houston hoped to get their first win on May 29 at home against the Chicago Red Stars.

Things did not start out in Houston’s favor though. A Chicago goal by Mal Pugh in the 4^th minute gave the Red Stars an early lead. However, the Dash would respond in the 17^th minute with a goal by Nichelle Prince to tie the game at 1 goal each. Sophie Schmidt would then give the Dash the lead and the win with a goal in the 82^nd minute of play.

Four games into the season, the Houston Dash currently sit in sixth place and would make the playoffs if the season ended today.

If the Dash can’t capitalize on playing with extra players, this season will be a very long and drawn out one.

Veronica Latsko could raise the bar

 Houston Dash player Veronica Latsko is definitely ready to raise the bar in more ways than one. The Pittsburgh native is currently applying to law school. She wants to be a civil rights lawyer and focus on women’s rights. Club Eleven recently caught up with her at Agora Coffee in Houston, TX.

When asked why she wanted to apply to law school while still under contract with the Dash, Latsko responded by saying that she really got into that path during her second year at the University of Virginia when she got involved with sexual assault survivors and prevention programs. “That really drove me towards having a degree in public policy. From there, I wanted to expand and have some kind of legal credentials so I could make effective changes.”

And then in 2018, the Houston Dash drafted her and law school took a back seat. “At one point, I was not even sure if I was going to get drafted by a team and play pro or if I was going to law school. I had already taken the LSAT exam, and then things sort of happened,” she told Club Eleven.

When asked what stood out to her during her rookie campaign, Latsko said that pay and housing issues stood out. “You’re making the equivalent of poverty level wages in eight months. The other four months, you don’t get paid and don’t have a place to live. You have to figure that out.”

There have been some changes since 2018. Players are now guaranteed housing and pay for the entire year. Prior to those changes, many players would spend the offseason playing in Australia. “You’re a professional athlete and you should be paid the entire year,” she said.

The main difference between the National Women’s Soccer League and Australia contracts is a guarantee. In Australia, the contracts are fully guaranteed. In the NWSL, the contracts are semi-guaranteed. This means any club can trade a player at any point in the season.

Latsko is also part of the NWSL Player’s Association and is on the Collective Bargaining Agreement Committee. “With the CBA, we lay out the demands to not only start the season, but to keep it going as well,” Latsko said.

When asked why she’s applying to law school in the middle of her soccer career, Latsko said that there is no shortage of women’s rights violations in professional soccer and that was all she needed. With her LSAT score about to expire, if she doesn’t apply to law school now, she will have to retake the exam and start over.

When asked why she wanted to pursue civil rights, Latsko stated that everything she has seen showed her there is always a demand for civil rights lawyers.

Whether or not she gets accepted into law school, Veronica Latsko will always be advocating for women’s rights and equality.

Dash players hold virtual Q&A ahead of season opener

On Thursday, March 11, Houston Dash players Shea Groom and Katie Naughton held a Q&A session with season ticket holders ahead of the season opener. 

Before fans got a chance to ask questions, Shea and Katie reflected on the preseason preparations so far. 

"The team we have now is very competitive," Shea said. "We want to win every day."

Katie Naughton said that head coach James Clarkson likes to mix up the teams so nobody is on the same team twice. 

When asked how the team feels about opening day, Katie said that she was excited to open Challenge Cup play against her former team, the Chicago Red Stars. "It was a sweet feeling to beat them last time."

Shea Groom said she was pumped. "We want more fans in the stands," she stated. The biggest statement came when she said people still don't believe the team can contend for a title. This was after winning the Challenge Cup last summer too. 

When asked what it was like to scrimmage against the University of Texas Women's Soccer team, Shea said it felt like a youth game and a very bizarre feeling. 

One of the favorite questions asked was who is the better prankster in the locker room. Both Shea and Katie agreed the honor went to Shea who loves to hide stuff belonging to her teammates. 

When asked what it was like to beat her former team in last summer's Challenge Cup Final, Katie said it was a sweet feeling and a great experience. 

Asked about the best advice received, Shea said that you need to find what makes you special while Katie said that finding your friends was important. 

One thing both players agreed on was the lack of support from fans. "If we are going to prove people wrong, we need the support," they said. 

When asked about the odds to defend the Challenge Cup and win the NWSL Cup, Shea said she was willing to bet on it. Katie said it was a challenge and a chance to prove the team's identity.

Finally, when asked about the upcoming season, both agreed it was needed after not really having a season last year. 

Will the Dash go back to back in the Challenge Cup? Will they win the NWSL Cup? Will they end up missing the playoffs completely? We find out when the NWSL season officially kicks off. 

Unprecedented winter storm cripples Houston

It started out as any other Valentines Day in Houston. Little did anyone expect a winter storm would cripple the city for days. The storm dumped snow, ice, and freezing rain on the city and ended up forcing power companies to cut power to millions of residents. 

Houston Mayor Slvester Turner is demanding to know why the state's power grid was completely unprepared. Even Governor Abbott is launching an investigation into what went wrong. 

My power went out at about 6:30 pm on Monday. I was hoping it wouldn't last long and was just part of the rolling blackouts. Tuesday came and still no power. Wednesday came and by about 2:30, the power was finally back on. 

This isn't the first time Houston has been hit with winter weather. It happened in January 2018, but that time, the power grid wasn't under so much strain. 

The winter storm that hit this time strained the power system so much due to the entire state of Texas being under a winter weather warning of some kind. This forced the state's energy grid to go into conservation mode due to sub-freezing temperatures throughout Texas. 

And the winter weather is not over yet. Another winter storm is projected to hit Thursday, plunging temperatures into the 20's. 

Will an investigation into the state's power grid system lead to changes? Many fuming Texans are hoping the answer is yes. 

Why you should be worried about winter weather

 Not all winter storms bring snow. 

While certain types of winter storms can bring large parts of the country to a standstill, it is crucial that forecasters do their best to get the type of winter weather expected right the first time.

Winter precipitation in a nutshell

There are three basic types of winter weather. This includes snow, sleet, and freezing rain. What type of precipitation will fall depends on the air temperature at different levels of the atmosphere.

If the air temperature in the atmosphere is below freezing, snow is expected. If there is mix of warm air in the upper part of the atmosphere, but cold air in the lower part, you can expect sleet. Sleet results when the warm air produces rain. As the rain hits the cold air, it freezes just before hitting the surface. This is what most people hear during winter storms. 

If the atmosphere is above freezing until right at the surface, you get freezing rain. This is the most dangerous and can result in black ice on surfaces. Because it freezes to anything on contact, widespread power outages can happen when power lines sag and collapse under the heavy weight. 

Why get it right the first time?

While a lot goes into forecasting a winter storm, the hardest part is actually knowing what type of precipitation will result. 

Deciding where the rain ends and snow begins is especially important in places where snow is a daily part of winter. Cities and states need to know when to deploy plows, de-icing machines, airport winter maintenance crews, and close schools. This is just the beginning too. 

We often hear about the rain-snow line, but what exactly is it? Simply put, it's the point where the rain ends and the snow begins. 

If inaccurately forecasted, a city expecting to get only rain could end up with snow. This can be disastrous in places like Houston, Texas. The city is not used to snow and ice accumulation and relies on sanding to keep roads and bridges open. 

The same is true if a city is expecting snow and ends up with rain. Taxpayer money will have been wasted on unnecessary plowing and de-icing efforts. 

Most people living in the South can recall at least one "snow day" where no snow fell. Key decisions need to happen overnight when wintry weather is expected to happen during morning hours. If the temperature is warmer than expected, you have a busted forecast. 

Why bridges and overpasses freeze first

During winter weather, bridges and overpasses freeze first due to having air on all sides. This results in faster cooling than road surfaces. 

You also can have what is known as a wintry mix, which encompasses a little of everything. 

Forecasters have the important job of knowing what type of precipitation will fall, where it will fall, and when a transition from one type of precipitation to another will occur. While it's challenging and never perfect, modern technology has greatly helped forecast when and where winter storms will hit.