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. 

Valpo falls to Miami (OH) to move to .500

On December 8, Valpo traveled to Oxford, Ohio to face the Miami University Redhawks. Valpo would lose the game 67-49. 

A run spanning the first and second quarters of the game proved too much for the Crusaders to overcome. 

The two teams traded baskets at first with Valpo holding an early 8-6 lead. Then things unraveled in a hurry. Miami went on a 12-3 run starting at 8:33 in the first quarter to give the Redhawks an 18-11 lead. The scoring run continued in the second quarter with Miami outscoring Valpo 12-2 over the first seven minutes. This increased the Miami lead to 17 points. 

Valpo would counter with a fast-break layup from junior Shay Frederick and a three-pointer by senior Caitlin Morrison on consecutive possessions. This would cut the lead to 12, but the Redhawks would score the final five points to push the lead up to 35-18 going into halftime. 

The Crusaders went on a 10-2 run after Miami scored the first two baskets of the third quarter. Junior Carie Weinman had five points and an assist that cut the lead to 41-28 with 6:52 to play in the quarter. However, Valpo was unable to get any closer after that. 

What killed Valpo was shooting only 31.6 percent from the field and 5-27 from the three-point line. Miami shot 41.7 percent and hit 7-19 from the three-point line. 

After four straight road games to open the season, Valpo returns to the ARC on December 12 for the home opener against the Western Michigan Broncos. Tip is slated for 1 pm. 

Two B1G wins for Valpo Women

In what may seem like deja vu, it was not. The Valparaiso Women's Basketball team beat the Purdue Boilermakers on December 6 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Playing for the second time in five days, the women showed no signs of fatigue. The final score was 52-47 in favor of Valpo.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Crusaders had a five point lead. But a bunch of back and forth baskets over the first four minutes allowed the Crusaders to outscore the Boilermakers 10-8. A three-pointer from junior Carrie Weinman with 4:03 to play in the game pushed the Crusader advantage to double digits for the second time after leading 47-37. 

What killed the Boilermakers were four missed baskets over the final 44 seconds of the game. The only point came from a free throw. 

Senior Grace White came up with key back to back possessions in the final 75 seconds of the game after the Boilermakers had cut the lead to one. That would ultimately secure the win. 

It was only the second time the Crusaders have knocked off Purdue, and the first time since dropping the nationally ranked Boilermakers in Valparaiso on December 10, 2008. With the win over Illinois, Valpo has defeated at least two Big Ten teams in the same season for the first time. 

The team joins only the 2001-2002 and 2008-2009 squads to knock off multiple power conference teams in the same season. The 2001-2002 squad knocked off Wake Forest of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten opponent Michigan. The 2008-2009 squad beat Florida State of the Atlantic Coast Conference as well as Purdue from the Big Ten. 

Things did not go well for Purdue at all. The Boilermakers shot just 27.3 percent and could not make a single three-point shot.

In the first three games, opponents have made 8 of 59 from the three point line. 

Can Valpo keep the momentum going as the season continues? Time will tell. 

A B1G Win for Valpo over Illinois

Facing the University of Illinois Illini in Champaign, IL Wednesday, the Valparaiso Crusaders looked to rebound after dropping the season opener Sunday afternoon. 

It was a HUGE win for the Crusaders after dropping the previous four meetings by at least 19 points each. The Crusaders earned their first win over the Illini and the first over a power five conference opponent since 2012. 

Valpo held Illinois scoreless over the last 2:54 seconds to walk away with a 62-59 victory at State Farm Center in Champaign. 

Senior Caitlin Morrison put Valpo up for good with a layup and 0:42.8 to play in the game. 

Trailing by five going into the fourth quarter, it seemed the Illini would walk away victorious once again. The Crusaders surrendered the first basket to Illinois, but bounced right back on a three-pointer by junior Carrie Weinman. That cut the lead down to one. Another three-pointer by sophomore Cara VanKempen tied the game at 56 with 6:41 to play.

The next few minutes would become a defensive showdown as both sides stepped up the intensity. For a stretch of five minutes, only three points, all by Illinois, were scored. This put the Illini up 59-56 with under two minutes to play. 

The biggest basket perhaps came when senior Grace White as on Valpo's first possession under two minutes, drove down the left side and finished up and over two Illinois defenders from the block to make it a one point lead for Illinois. 

Illinois missed two shots on the next possession and that led to Valpo calling a timeout after rebounding the second missed shot to advance the ball into the frontcourt with only 0:49.3 to play. The inbounds went to White, whose attempted drive on the right side got cut off. Morrison would flash down the middle of the paint and caught a perfect pass from White. The easy bucket put Valpo up 60-59 with 0:42.8 left in the game. 

 Wienman came up with a block on an inside effort by Illinois on the defensive end. The forced foul put Valpo in the bonus. White would split the pair of free throws with 0:26.5 to push the lead to 61-59 in favor of Valpo. 

Illinois would come down and miss two crucial free throws that could have tied the game and possibly sent it to overtime. Freshman Lauren Gunn corralled the second free throw after being put back in the game on the previous defensive possession. Gunn would draw the foul and split the pair of free throws to put Valpo up 62-59 with 0:10.7 to play. 

The final desperation three-point attempt by Illinois to tie the game and send it to overtime was off the mark and the rebound bounced around until the final buzzer. This would secure the win by Valpo over Illinois and send the team into a locker room frenzy. 

Head Coach Mary Perry Evans stated that the older players on the team have made so much progress over the years. They work hard and put in the effort to be in the position to win big games. "I am so proud of how they responded this week after a tough loss on Sunday. They came out with their only goal being to try and get a win."

Evans thinks the Missouri Valley Conference is one of the best in the country. "My staff and I have to schedule non-conference games that will prepare us for conference play." 

Next up for the Crusaders is a trip to West Lafayette, Indiana and a matchup with the Purdue Boilermakers. That game tips off Sunday afternoon at 1pm. Fans can watch the game on Big Ten Network Plus or listen on WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso). This is the second of back to back Big Ten opponents for the women. Their third and final Big Ten opponent is the Wisconsin Badgers. That game is at the Athletics-Recreation Center and tips off on December 20 at 2pm. 

The other two home games are December 12 against Western Michigan at 1pm. That game will be on ESPN3. The second home game is December 16 against Xavier. That game is on ESPN+ and tips off at 1pm. No fans are allowed in the Athletics-Recreation Center due to the COVID pandemic. Only family members of players and media personnel are permitted. 

New York Subway to celebrate 115 years of service

If you're like me and love to travel back in time, the 115th birthday celebration of the New York Subway is for you. 

New York Transit Museum director Concetta Bencivenga told ABC7 that families, friends, and visitors come in droves this time of year. We love to host them here at the museum. It's a really special time."

One of the most popular events is a trip back in time aboard the vintage subway cars. 

"Starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving and continuing until New Year's Day, the cars will start at the F line subway station on Second Avenue on Manhattan's Lower East Side and will end at the Harlem station," Bencivenga said while sitting in a 1960s Blue Bird subway car. These cars carried riders to the world's fair during the 1960s. 

One of the biggest displays though is the fleet of vintage cars that are on both sides of a decommissioned subway station set for a giant swing party.

"Four swing bands spaced throughout the museum will provide the music. We have partnered with New York Distillery and will have a cocktail called the 'Bee's Knees,' which is a rip on a prohibition era cocktail. We're really excited about that." 

This is the sixth year of hosting the December 12 party. 

"Things like the incandescent light bulbs, rattan seats, ceiling fans, and ads reflecting the period bring back the nostalgia. What better way to have a swing party?" 

The events are very popular and draw interest from people who come to New York City for the holidays.

The best part? You just tap or swipe your fare card and you're ready to go. 

Valpo Women drop season opener to Bowling Green

In their first game since March, the Valpo Women's Basketball Team hoped to start off on a high note against Bowling Green. That was not the case as the Crusaders fell to the Falcons 70-60 Sunday afternoon in Ohio. 

After a slow start by both sides, Bowling Green took a 13-8 lead after the first quarter. The second quarter saw the Falcons make eight of the first 11 points to increase the lead to double digits. Valpo responded with seven points of their own, including a three from junior Shay Frederick to pull within three at the halfway mark. 

The Crusaders cut the deficit to one point three different times, but could never take the lead. Bowling Green went into halftime leading 38-34. 

Senior Grace White got Valpo on the board 30 seconds into the second half with a basket and cut the lead to 38-36. A five minute scoring drought though proved disastrous as Bowling Green increased their lead to seven at the midway point of the third quarter. 

Bowling Green pushed the lead to 46-36 with under 3:00 to play in the third quarter before the Crusaders would score seven points in 48 seconds. 

Senior Marlee Profitt answered a Falcon three-pointer with one of her own. Then freshman Leah Earnest converted a fast break layup off a steal by junior Carrie Weinmann. Proffitt would then steal a rebound away from Bowling Green and put it in. 

An inside basket from Grace White in the final 40 seconds of the third quarter capped an 11-2 Crusader run and made the Falcon lead 48-47 to start the fourth quarter. 

The Crusaders were unable to continue the momentum as Bowling Green scored 13 points over the first five minutes to ultimately put the game out of reach for Valpo. 

Head Coach Mary Perry Evans said that getting the chance to play someone other than ourselves was exciting. She also said the team got careless in the fourth quarter and that cost them the game. 

Valpo continues its four game road trip with a stop in Champaign, Illinois to take on the Illini. Tipoff is slated for 5 pm on Wednesday. Fans can watch the game on Big Ten Netowork Plus or hear the game on WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso). 

Questions remain in Breonna Taylor’s death

 Ever since the death of Breonna Taylor on March 13, no definitive answer as to who should be  charged has been made clear.  

Taylor’s ex-boyfriend was the target of the botched, no-knock, fatal raid that killed Taylor in her  Louisville apartment. According to Louisville Police, the ex-boyfriend was using Taylor’s  current apartment as a drug stash house. This turned out to not be the case. No drugs or money  were found. The ex-boyfriend was also in custody.  

The only officer that was charged was Brett Hankinson. The only charge he got was wonton  endangerment for firing his weapon into a neighboring apartment during the raid.  

The officers not only knew they had the wrong apartment, but that the suspect was also in  custody. There was no reason to execute the raid.  

Kentucky Attorney General, Daniel Cameron has refused to charge the officers involved with  murder. His reason is that the raid was justified, even though all the evidence says the opposite. 

If Cameron wants to keep his job, he needs to charge all three officers with murder.  

Taylor’s current boyfriend, Kenneth Walker recounted to CBS This Morning the painstaking  details of the night of March 13. 

“We had just gone out to eat on a date. After getting home, we decided to play UNO and watch a  movie. I heard a loud knock at the door and asked who it was.” After not getting an answer after  several repeated attempts, Walker grabbed his gun. 

“I'm a million percent sure that nobody identified themselves. If they had knocked on the door  and say who it was, we could hear them. It was dead silent. If it was the police at the door and  they just said, 'We're the police," me or Breonna didn't have a reason at all not to open the door  to see what they wanted.” 

The door flies off the hinges and Walker fired one shot thinking he was defending the apartment  from burglars. The police then return fire 32 times from all directions. They end up striking  Taylor, who would later succumb to her injuries.  

After the gunfire stopped, Walker said that Taylor was alive and breathing. “I call my mother as  I’m holding my girlfriend. I told my mother that the door had been breached and that someone  had shot Breonna. My mother is freaking out and tells me to call 911, so I do.” 

The call has since been made public. Walker’s voice can be heard telling the operator that  “someone has kicked in the door” and shot Breonna.  

“If I knew it was the police, I would not have called the police for help,” Walker told CBS This  Morning. “I hung up on 911 and call Taylor’s mother.” 

“I don’t think I realized it was the police until I was on the phone with Breonna’s mom. I thought  the police were coming for help because I called 911.”

Thinking the people outside were medics, Walker went to them, only to face guns drawn and  threats of “dogs and whatever else.” 

After telling one of the officers he was not hit, the officer responded by saying it was  unfortunate.  

No officers have been charged with Taylor’s death.  

Since the trial, several of those on the grand jury have spoken out, even taking issue with  Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s public characterizations of the panel.  

In a September 23 news conference, Cameron said that his investigation found that the two  officers who opened fire from Taylor’s doorway were justified because the officers were  returning a shot fired by the boyfriend. Because of that, the six possible homicide charges were  not applicable.  

The grand jury did not agree that certain actions were justified, nor did it decide the indictment  should be the only charges in the case.  

One grand juror said the panel was never given the option to weigh homicide charges. “The  grand jury did not have homicide offenses explained to them. They never heard anything about  those laws. Self-defense or justification was never explained either,” according to another grand  juror.  

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Taylor’s family, said that Cameron  whitewashed what he presented to the jury.  

“We know what we suspected: Attorney General Daniel Cameron took the decision out of the  grand jury’s hands. He did not allow the grand jury to do what the law says they have the right to  do. This failure rests squarely on Daniel Cameron,” Crump said.  

Cameron has repeatedly said that he remains confident in the grand jury’s presentation. While he  disagrees with the judge’s ruling that jurors should be allowed to speak, he will not appeal it.  Cameron has said he did not present murder charges because investigators the wanton  endangerment charges against Hankison would hold up in court. 

“As the special prosecutor, it was my decision to ask for an indictment that could be proven  under state law. Indictments obtained in the absence of sufficient proof under the law do not  stand up and are not fundamentally fair to anyone,” Cameron said in a statement.  

While there are still many questions, Cameron needs to come out and admit that police botched  the raid and are responsible for her death.