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Drought

Business
Beef Prices Hit Record Highs As Herd Shrinks To 70-Year Low With No Relief In Sight Beef Prices Hit Record Highs As Herd Shrinks To 70-Year Low With No Relief In Sight
Beef Prices Hit Record Highs As Herd Shrinks To 70-Year Low With No Relief In Sight If steak night feels like a splurge and ground beef is denting the budget, you’re not imagining it. Beef prices are climbing to record highs with little sign of easing. According to USDA outlooks released Friday, Sept. 5, the spike is being driven by a deep supply crunch colliding with steady consumer demand.  The US cattle herd is now the smallest since 1951, the result of years of herd liquidation during drought and high feed costs, and rebuilding will take time. Demand, meanwhile, hasn’t cracked. Americans continue to buy beef for its taste and versatility, which keeps pressure on …

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by Joe Lombardi
Weather
Natural Disaster Americans Fear Most Revealed In New Survey As Weather Anxiety Grows Natural Disaster Americans Fear Most Revealed In New Survey As Weather Anxiety Grows
Natural Disaster Americans Fear Most Revealed In New Survey As Weather Anxiety Grows Americans may live with hurricanes on the coasts, blizzards in the North, and wildfires in the West.  But one natural disaster still rises above the rest as the nation’s most feared, a new survey finds. The poll of 2,500 adults, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Master Lock, found that fears shift depending on the region, but a single threat came out on top nationwide.  The threat of a tornado (46 percent) is more terrifying than a tsunami (43 percent), earthquake (35 percent) or hurricane (33 percent), the survey said. Nearly half of respondents said this disaster scare…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Beef Prices Keep Climbing To New Record Highs: Here's What's Fueling Soaring Costs Beef Prices Keep Climbing To New Record Highs: Here's What's Fueling Soaring Costs
Beef Prices Keep Climbing To New Record Highs: Here's What's Fueling Soaring Costs You may want to savor that next steak. It’s not getting cheaper anytime soon. Beef prices have hit an all-time high in the US, driven by a mix of short supply, steady demand, and mounting costs across the cattle industry. According to the American Farm Bureau and industry economists, the national cattle inventory is now the smallest it’s been since 1951. Many ranchers reduced herd sizes — or left the business entirely — after years of drought, inflation, and rising interest rates made farming unsustainable. Add in strong consumer demand and the result is tight supply pushing prices ever h…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Beef Prices Soar To All-Time Highs During Summer Cookout Season: Here's Why Beef Prices Soar To All-Time Highs During Summer Cookout Season: Here's Why
Beef Prices Soar To All-Time Highs During Summer Cookout Season: Here's Why Hot weather isn't the only thing hitting summer cookouts – beef prices are also on the rise. The average price of a pound of ground beef hit a record high of $6.10 in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's 13.7% higher than the average in June 2024. Uncooked steak climbed 8% to $11.49 per pound, according to the Associated Press. The surging beef costs come as the US cattle herd has fallen to its smallest size since 1951, with the US Department of Agriculture reporting just 86.7 million cattle and calves nationwide as of Wednesday, Jan. 1. David Anderson, a liv…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Ground Beef Prices Surge To Record High Before Fourth Of July Cookouts: Here's Why Ground Beef Prices Surge To Record High Before Fourth Of July Cookouts: Here's Why
Ground Beef Prices Surge To Record High Before Fourth Of July Cookouts: Here's Why If you plan on enjoying a burger on the Fourth of July, it may be more expensive than ever. The retail price of a pound of ground beef hit a record high of $5.98 in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's up by 18 cents from April and a 16.2% increase from the May 2024 average of $5.15. An American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) survey puts the retail price even higher, now averaging $6.67 a pound. Feeding 10 people a standard Independence Day cookout – including burgers, chicken, beans, and potato salad – costs about $70.92, or $7.09 a person. While the …

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by Chris Spiker
Weather
La Niña Is Now Here: What It Means For Winter Weather Patterns La Niña Is Now Here: What It Means For Winter Weather Patterns
La Niña Is Now Here: What It Means For Winter Weather Patterns She’s back!  La Niña has arrived, and its global ripple effects are already taking shape.  Cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific, combined with stronger trade winds, are influencing weather patterns worldwide.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed this shift on Thursday, Jan. 9. What Is La Niña? La Niña is part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a natural climate phenomenon that disrupts atmospheric circulation.  During La Niña, cooler Pacific waters can lead to significant changes in rainfall, s…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Breakheart Reservation Fire In Saugus Ignited By 5 Fires, Mass DCR Says Breakheart Reservation Fire In Saugus Ignited By 5 Fires, Mass DCR Says
Breakheart Reservation Fire In Saugus Ignited By 5 Fires, Mass DCR Says A multi-acre brush that has been burning for a week started from five individual fires, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) said. The fires at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus were ignited on Wednesday, Aug. 17, DCR said. Two of the fires later merged into one larger fire and another fire also started, DCR added.  In total, the blaze has burned through 79 acres. Monday rainfall did bring some temporary relief, but the persistent drought conditions in Massachusetts have made it extremely difficult for crews to contain the flames.  Lynnfield Fire Squad 1 …

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Breakheart Reservation In Saugus Still Closed As Crews Battle Massive Brush Fire (PHOTOS) Breakheart Reservation In Saugus Still Closed As Crews Battle Massive Brush Fire (PHOTOS)
Breakheart Reservation In Saugus Still Closed As Crews Battle Massive Brush Fire (Photos) Breakheart Reservation in Saugus has been closed for several days because of a multi-acre brush fire that has shown no signs of stopping.  The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) originally closed the park on Wednesday, Aug. 17 but has since extended the closure until Wednesday, Aug. 24.  UPDATE: @MassDCR has issued the following recreational advisory for Breakheart Reservation in Saugus: pic.twitter.com/J6B6jjuRN9 — MassDCR (@MassDCR) August 21, 2022 While the cause of the fire is under investigation, A DCR official told NBC Boston that these fires are "suspi…

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by David Cifarelli
Weather
List Of All Massachusetts Cities, Towns With Outdoor Water Use Restrictions List Of All Massachusetts Cities, Towns With Outdoor Water Use Restrictions
List Of All Massachusetts Cities, Towns With Outdoor Water Use Restrictions With about 25% of Massachusetts now experiencing extreme drought conditions, many cities and towns in the Commonwealth are limiting outdoor water use to reduce water consumption.  The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) says these restrictions could vary but often include:  Limitations on the hours of the day you may water Limitations on the number of days per week you may water Restrictions to automatic sprinklers or irrigation systems A complete ban on outdoor watering There are about 160 cities and towns that have issued restrictions and a majority of them ar…

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by David Cifarelli
Weather
List Of All Massachusetts Cities, Towns With Outdoor Water Use Restrictions List Of All Massachusetts Cities, Towns With Outdoor Water Use Restrictions
List Of All Massachusetts Cities, Towns With Outdoor Water Use Restrictions With all of Massachusetts now experiencing noticeable drought conditions, many cities and towns in the Commonwealth are limiting outdoor water use to reduce water consumption.  The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) says these restrictions could vary but often include:  Limitations on the hours of the day you may water Limitations on the number of days per week you may water Restrictions to automatic sprinklers or irrigation systems A complete ban on outdoor watering There are about 160 cities and towns that have issued restrictions and a majority of them are m…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Northern Mass Man Dies From 'Out Of Control' Shed Fire Sparked By Propane Torch Northern Mass Man Dies From 'Out Of Control' Shed Fire Sparked By Propane Torch
Northern Mass Man Dies From 'Out Of Control' Shed Fire Sparked By Propane Torch A Chelmsford man had died from his injuries sustained from an outdoor fire that grew out of control while he was using a propane torch, the Department of Fire Services said in a release.  The fire started from a shed at a home at 12 Stearns Street shortly after noon on Wednesday, July 21, the department said.  Upon arrival, firefighters found two people were injured. One victim, an older adult male, was airlifted to a local hospital where he later died, the department said. “Outdoor fire safety is important all year long, but especially while most of Massachusetts is in significa…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Brush Fire Torches 11 Acres At Former Western Mass Landfill Brush Fire Torches 11 Acres At Former Western Mass Landfill
Brush Fire Torches 11 Acres At Former Western Mass Landfill Firefighters from several departments helped contain an 11-acre brush fire that occurred in Hampshire County Tuesday, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said in a release.  Granby firefighters responded to the fire in area of a former landfill at 11 New Ludlow Road around 2:35 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, the department said.  It was soon brought to multiple alarms and required help from several neighboring departments and statewide task forces. Granby Fire Chief Michael O’Neill said the massive blaze was mostly fueled by whipping winds and dry vegetation.  Car 1 and Forestry …

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by David Cifarelli
Weather
NOAA Releases Long-Range Forecast For Summer NOAA Releases Long-Range Forecast For Summer
NOAA Releases Long-Range Forecast For Summer The hot and humid weather this past weekend may have been a preview of what to expect this summer. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there is a better than average chance that it might be a long, wet summer for parts of the region, after the organization and National Weather Service (NWS) released its three-month seasonal temperature and precipitation outlooks for the summer months. According to NOAA, the warmest temperatures are expected in the Midwest, though parts of New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut are expected to see a rise in slight r…

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by Zak Failla
News
A Worcester Reservoir Is So Dry, It Looks Like A Beach At Low Tide A Worcester Reservoir Is So Dry, It Looks Like A Beach At Low Tide
A Worcester Reservoir Is So Dry, It Looks Like A Beach At Low Tide Worcester has taken one of its 10 reservoirs offline due to "low capacity." As of Sept. 30, Worcester's reservoir system was down to 63 percent "capacity," meaning it's only 63 percent full, the Worcester Water and Sewer Department. City officials temporarily closed Quinapoxet Reservoir on Wednesday, Oct. 14. As is true for the entire area, Worcester's water supply has been declining since May due to a lack of rain.  Many communities in Massachusetts have declared droughts.  Over the last 24 years, Worcester's reservoirs have been, on average, anywhere from 77 percent to 100 per…

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by Kristin Palpini
Weather
Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest
Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest The downpour that soaked the region on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 29-30, deposited 1.5-2 inches of rain, but still, much of southern Massachusetts is experiencing extreme drought. According to state data released Thursday, Oct.1, nearly 30 percent of the state is experiencing “extreme” drought - the second highest degree of drought tracked by the state. The worst degree of drought is “exceptional.” The ranking goes, from least to most drought-like conditions, are None, Abnormallly Dry, Moderate Drought, Severe Drought, Extreme Drought, and Exceptional Drought. In…

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by Kristin Palpini