SEVERE STORMS IN MIDWEST AND PLAINS MAY RENEW FLOODING AccuWeather.com
Severe Storms in Midwest and Plains May Renew Flooding
State College, Pa. -- June 27, 2008 -- AccuWeather.com reported heavy thunderstorms will blast the Upper Midwest and central Plains today, threatening to renew dangerous flooding in the mid-Mississippi Valley.
A cold front diving down from Canada's Prairie Provinces today will ignite an outbreak of severe weather across the Upper Midwest and central Plains. The thunderstorms will erupt as incoming cooler air slices into the warm, moist air flowing north from the Gulf of Mexico. The presence of a strong jet stream will add to the instability in the atmosphere.
The strongest thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging winds, pounding hail, frequent lightning, and drenching downpours. The greatest threat for tornado development will be over the central Plains. The strongest storms later today will erupt from Wisconsin to eastern Kansas and Oklahoma.
Flash flooding will continue to be a concern today, especially in the flood-ravaged mid-Mississippi Valley as runoff fills small streams and floods low-lying areas. The storms this week are feeding more runoff into the larger rivers, slowing or reversing the receding water levels.
The Mississippi River is expected to rise to 38.6 feet Sunday evening at St. Louis, while the river will crest at 37.2 feet this afternoon in Winfield, Mo.
Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday tied its daily rainfall record of 1.43 inches set in 1937. Most of the rain fell in two hours, flooding a portion of Interstate 80 and city streets.
Showers and thunderstorms will persist across the Upper Midwest on Saturday as the potentially damaging thunderstorms shift to the lower Great Lakes and Tennessee Valley. Potentially damaging thunderstorms will shift into the East this weekend
[6/27/08]
FRONT RUNNERS NEW YORK HOLDS 27TH ANNUAL GLBT PRIDE RUN IN CENTRAL PARK NEW YORK CITY – New York Road Runners and Front Runners New York- the city’s premier running club for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight allies - team up for the 27th time to produce the annual Pride Run, a five-mile race in Central Park. With prize money offered for top male and female finishers, this race draws some of the best competition in town.
“What began as a small gathering in the early eighties with a few hundred runners has grown into a true world class event for both the athletes and thousands of spectators.” said Front Runners President Michael Benjamin. “And we are thrilled to have New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn join us for opening remarks and to blow the starting horn.”
This year’s Pride Run is expected to be the largest on record with more than 3,000 competitors vying for more than $5,000 in cash and prizes. Front Runners New York has attracted both local and national sponsors including its premier sponsor, Continental Airlines, as well as New Balance, Crunch Gym, Urban Athletics and Gym Bar. Additionally, the cast of Broadway’s hit show Mamma Mia will sing the national anthem prior to the start of the race.
According to Benjamin: “Front Runners New York fosters a safe environment where athletes of all shapes and sizes are welcome—gay or straight, black or white, old or young, competitive or casual. The pride run offers a unique opportunity to celebrate diversity in a very visible way and sends the message that discrimination of any kind should never make it to the starting line.”
For additional information on Front Runners New York or to sign up for this event visit: www.frny.org or www.nyrr.org/races/2008/r0628x00.asp.
WHAT: Front Runners New York 27th Annual GLBT Pride Run
WHEN: Saturday, June 28, 2008, at 9:00 a.m.
WHERE: Central Park, New York (details to come)
Front Runners is New York’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender running club with nearly 500 active members in all 5 boroughs, Long Island and New Jersey. Founded in 1979, Front Runners New York is affiliated with more than 100 clubs internationally that were inspired by Patricia Nell Warren’s novel The Front Runner. For more information visit www.frny.org.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008, New York Road Runners is dedicated to promoting the sport of distance running, enhancing health and fitness for all, and responding to community needs. For more information visit www.nyrr.org. -30-If you would rather not receive future email messages from Human Rights Campaign, let us know by clicking here.Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036 United States > Full Story. [6/20/08]
OHIO APPEALS COURT ISSUES RULING IN CASE REPRESENTING LESBIAN MOTHER 'The court has reaffirmed that parents may make enforceable agreements to share child custody in order to protect children's best interests, just as parents have done for almost 150 years, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.' > Full Story. [6/17/08]
State College, Pa. -- June 10, 2008 -- AccuWeather.com reported earlier today that severe storms erupting tonight over the Plains would not only bring new concerns for flooding, but would also spawn tornadoes.
Major cities in path of potentially destructive storms tonight include: Omaha, Topeka, Des Moines, Minneapolis and Wichita. On Thursday, the system and the same concerns will shift into the Midwest and middle Mississippi Valley. Areas likely to be targeted by the storms Thursday include: Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Kansas City and Tulsa.
"We expect this activity to continue at least until midnight over the Plains," AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist John Feerick said. "So far, there are 28 reported tornadoes from Minnesota to North Central Kansas. There are some feisty storms out there, so we can expect that number to double or even triple by the end of the night."
Feerick said there have been two confirmed tornado reports in Douglas County west of Omaha. Local Iowa press has reported that a tornado hit a scout camp in western Iowa, injuring 40 with possible fatalities.
Daytime heating added to the instability over the Plains. Tonight, severe storms containing heavy rain, large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes will erupt from western Oklahoma to Minnesota.
PRIDE NIGHT @ KINGS ISLAND FRI AUGUST 29, 2008 Fuel Up With Extra Savings! We changed the date – for Kings Island Pride Night to Friday August 29, 2008. The earlier date, allows The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Greater Cincinnati to show some love by offering free parking for the first time to our loyal guests. > Full Story. [6/11/08]
The African-American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community of South Carolina and its allies will be out and proud during the month of June as the state holds its Third Annual SC Black Pride, June 25-29, 2008 in Columbia, SC.
With a provocative theme of "Black Pride: 365," it promises to be better and bigger than the groundbreaking first and second prides. Organizers anticipate a record 2,000 South Carolinians and out-of-town guests will participate in its many special events, official parties, and a Community Expo.
§ The official week begins Wednesday, June 25th with a Welcome Reception at the chic Tappas Bar and Restaurant, Club Hush (1004 Gervais) in which Mayor Bob Coble will present us with a City Proclamation and be joined by various other dignitaries.
§ We have an outstanding artistic event --- A Night Out with the Arts --- where we will feature Readings by Writers both well-published and emerging Black LGBT authors and the excerpt from a musical production, For the Love of Harlem by the Carolinas Black Pride. It has only a $12.00 charge and is occurring on Friday, June 27th, 6-9 PM, at the Columbia Musical Festival Association's ArtSpace, 915 Pulaski Street,
§ It will reach a climax at the day-long Community Expo on Saturday, June 28th, 11- 5:30 PM, at the Margarette Miller Center (1509 Fontaine), and the Community Awards and Jazz Reception, on Sunday, June 29th, 3-5pm, Eau Claire Print Building (3909 Ensor Ave.) Featured at the Expo will be a bevy of local talent as well as Mini-Ball endorsed by the South Carolina Ball Council.
To further stir up the buzz there will be "fun-raisers" leading up to Black Pride including:
§ Sunday, June 15th – Free Volunteer Training & Appreciation Dinner, 6-8pm (Harriet Hancock Center) § Wednesday, June 18th – Pre-Black Pride 70's Party, "Light Under Sun" (Club Fusion)
"Our purpose is to celebrate the often subjugated creativity, beauty, dignity, and brilliance of South Carolina's Black LGBT community," says Dr. Todd Shaw, Chair, of the SC Black Pride Committee. "The double whammies of racism and homophobia attack we same-gender loving sisters and brothers. And now's the time the Black community understand how much we contribute to the larger freedom struggle and the larger society understand how much we contribute as loving mothers, fathers, teachers, preachers, and young leaders."
Speaking of preachers, one of the events that promises to be highly informative is the Thursday, June 26th, 7:00-8:30pm, Town Hall Debate at the University of South Carolina Law School Auditorium: "Because the Bible Told Me So: Is Homosexuality a Sin?" WIS News 10 anchor Craig Melvin has agreed to serve a moderator.
Among an exciting and diverse panel of ministers and theologians will be the dynamic Bishop Tonyia M. Rawls, one of the first two women newly elevated to bishop in the Unity Fellowship Church Movement --- the largest Black gay-led Christian Church in the United States. Bishop Rawls believes, "I look forward to an open dialogue where we really have an opportunity to explore how together as a community we can move to place of being more affirming, welcoming, and supportive of families [lgbt and otherwise] as a whole."
All are welcomed! To learn more about this Pride's many empowering events refer to: South Carolina Black Pride, P.O. Box 8191, Columbia, SC 29202, www.southcarolinablackpride..com; info@southcarolinablackpride.com. > Full Story. [6/11/08]
NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE ACTION FUND APPLAUDS NEW YORK ASSEMBLY FOR HISTORIC VOTE ON TRANSGENDER RIGHTS WASHINGTON, June 3 - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund applauds the New York Assembly's passage today of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA). The bill, which passed by a 102-33 vote, now moves to the state Senate. The measure seeks to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression in housing, employment, credit and public accommodations and would add gender identity or expression to the state's hate crimes law. > Full Story. [6/4/08]
State College, Pa. -- June 4, 2008 --AccuWeather.com reports the first heat wave of 2008 will begin on Friday across the Northeast. The air mass that will enter the region is the same one that produced record heat over the southern Plains during the past several days.
A relatively seasonable air mass will be in place on Thursday, even cooler than normal over coastal areas of New England, but a warm front will open the floodgates and allow heat and humidity to pour over the region. It remains to be seen how many records will fall in the Northeast, but it looks like most areas will have heat through the weekend and into early next week.
A heat bubble is already gripping the southern Plains and Desert Southwest. These two regions will also have to endure winds gusting past 45 mph at times today. The high winds have prompted the issuance of wind advisories.
The strongest wind gusts will be reserved for the afternoon and evening hours across the Desert Southwest. Motorists should be prepared for blowing dust to dangerously lower visibility in a short period of time. Red flag warnings are in effect to warn residents of the elevated fire danger that also exists.
COLUMBUS GAY MEN’S CHORUS TO PRESENT ROCKET MAN COLUMBUS, April 28, 2008 - The Columbus Gay Men's Chorus (CGMC) wraps up its 18th season with a spectacular tribute to the music of Sir Elton John. No keyboard, sunglasses, or costume change will be safe when CGMC pulls out all the stops in this musical extravaganza! > Full Story. [6/4/08]
Atmosphere Over the Central Plains Exploding with Powerful Thunderstorms
Could Spark Widespread Dangerous Storms and Tornadoes
State College, Pa. -- May 29, 2008 -- AccuWeather.com reports the atmosphere over the central Plains is exploding with powerful thunderstorms this evening, producing long-lived destructive tornadoes, damaging winds, heavy rain, and large hail that will continue through the night.
Cool air dropping out of the Rockies is clashing with the warm moist air flowing out of the Gulf of Mexico, while a strong jet stream and daytime heating have added instability to the atmosphere. The setup is sparking a widespread outbreak of dangerous storms stretching across the central Plains tonight, and eventually reaching into the Midwest Friday.
Storms through the night will shift from the high Plains to the western shore of Lake Michigan. However, the area of greatest concern for destructive widespread tornadoes will be eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
According to AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist John Kocet, the combination of ingredients has created "extreme turmoil in the atmosphere over the Plains that will continue through the night." Kocet adds the setup will produce massive thunderstorms that could reach as high as 10 miles into the atmosphere.
Everyone in the region should be alert for rapidly developing storms and should be prepared to take potentially life-saving action at a moment's notice, especially during the overnight hours.
Nearly 1,200 unconfirmed tornadoes have been reported since Jan. 1. The number of actual confirmed tornadoes will be lower since one tornado is typically sighted multiple times. The record for the most tornadoes in one year set in 2004 is 1,817, while the 10-year average is 1,254.
UPDATE: Tornadoes and Flooding in the Plains
A relatively seasonable air mass will be in place on Thursday, even cooler than normal over coastal areas of New England, but a warm front will open the floodgates and allow heat and humidity to pour over the region. It remains to be seen how many records will fall in the Northeast, but it looks like most areas will have heat through the weekend and into early next week.
central Plains is exploding with powerful thunderstorms this evening, producing long-lived destructive tornadoes, damaging winds, heavy rain, and large hail that will continue through the night. 
continue through the night." Kocet adds the setup will produce massive thunderstorms that could reach as high as 10 miles into the atmosphere. 
