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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 3 March 2023
Half of California freed from drought thanks to rain, snow

By JOHN ANTCZAK "The rain has improved
Associated Press California soil moisture and
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tre- streamflow levels, while the
mendous rains and snow- snow has increased moun-
fall since late last year tain snowpack to much
have freed half of Cali- above-normal levels," the
fornia from drought, but monitor said. "Most Cali-
low groundwater levels re- fornia reservoirs have re-
main a persistent problem, filled with water levels near
U.S. Drought Monitor data or above average, but
showed Thursday. groundwater levels remain
The latest survey found low and may take months
that moderate or severe to recover."
drought covers about 49% As of Thursday, the wa-
of the state, nearly 17% of ter content of the Sierra
the state is free of drought snowpack, which provides
or a condition described about a third of California's
as abnormally dry. The re- water, was 170% of the his-
mainder is still abnormally torical average on April
dry. 1, when it is normally at its
"Clearly the amount of wa- peak, according to the
ter that's fallen this year state Department of Water
has greatly alleviated the State Route 138 winds through snow-covered trees near Hesperia, Calif., Wednesday, March 1, Resources.
drought," said Daniel Swain, 2023. Department officials plan
a climate scientist at the Associated Press to conduct a Sierra snow
University of California, Los measurement on Friday
Angeles. "It has not ended millions of people, agricul- Water authorities began most benefit from copious and hold a briefing on how
the drought completely ture and industry were told boosting allocations and, precipitation, including the remaining month of
but we're in a very different to expect only a fraction of after a few largely dry snowfall measured in feet California's traditional snow
place than we were a year requested allocations. weeks, powerful storms with rather than inches. season will impact the
ago." The turnabout began with arctic air returned in Febru- The central Sierra and foot- state's water supplies.
California's latest drought a series of atmospheric ary, creating epic vistas of hills are now free of drought Swain said the snowpack
began in 2020 and no relief rivers that pounded the white-capped mountains or abnormal dryness for could become the larg-
appeared in sight heading state from late Decem- while shutting down high- the first time since January est ever observed in parts
into this winter. ber through mid-January, ways and ski resorts and 2020, the monitor said. The of California. The outlook
Three months ago virtu- building a huge Sierra Ne- burying communities in central coast from Mon- calls for a continuing wet
ally all of California was in vada snowpack, causing enough snow to collapse terey Bay to Los Angeles pattern, particularly for
drought, including at ex- flooding, toppling trees roofs. County is also now drought- northern parts of the state,
treme and exceptional lev- and smashing the coast The monitor shows three free, along with two coun- and more feet of snow, he
els. Water agencies serving with extreme surf. regions have received the ties on the far north coast. said.q

No bail for Pennsylvania man with explosives in suitcase

ted packing explosive ma- being placed on an air- batteries, and two GFCI did not speak.
terials, fuses and a lighter in plane is to their credit." outlets taped together with "No one has posited one
a suitcase he checked for A defense lawyer sug- black tape," prosecutors conceivable theory on
a commercial flight to Flori- gested that Muffley only wrote in a detention mem- how this thing could have
da and fled the Lehigh Val- wanted to set off fireworks orandum filed Thursday. gone off. That was not go-
ley airport when he feared on a Florida beach, where "His actions seriously jeop- ing to happen inside of a
arrest, federal authorities he said the one-time con- ardized the lives of airport bag," McDonald said.
said in a court document struction worker sometimes workers and patrons, and if However, Carlos found
filed Thursday. cares for an ailing grandfa- the explosive had not been probable cause to uphold
Marc Muffley, 40, of Lans- ther. intercepted, the flight's both charges.
ford, called his girlfriend for However, U.S. Magistrate passengers and the air- Muffley was arrested at his
a ride when he heard his Pamela A. Carlos agreed craft," the memo said. home Monday night, hours
name being paged at the to detain him without bail, Muffley is charged with after he had checked in
airport, and soon switched finding that Muffley was possessing an explosive in for the Allegiant Air flight at
This drivers license photo his phone number to avoid both a flight risk and a dan- an airport and possessing the Lehigh Valley Interna-
released in an FBI affidavit
shows alleged suspect Marc being tracked, prosecutors ger to the community. or attempting to place an tional Airport. The flight was
Muffley, who was arrested said. Authorities said the fact explosive or incendiary de- bound for Orlando.
Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, after "The danger he created ... the explosive powder vice on an aircraft, accord- His record includes misde-
an explosive was found is simply astonishing," Assis- was packed in the same ing to a criminal complaint. meanor arrests for drug
in a bag checked onto a tant United States Attorney checked bag with the oth- The defense lawyer, Jona- possession, theft and driv-
Florida-bound flight at Lehigh Sherri A. Stephan said at er items increased the risk than McDonald, argued ing under the influence,
Valley International Airport
in Allentown, Pa., federal a Thursday court hearing, of an explosion. that the items were not "in- which led to a few jail stints,
authorities said. when she asked a judge "The baggage also con- cendiary" and therefore did the memo said. His girl-
Associated Press to deny bail. "The fact TSA tained a can of butane, a not meet the requirements friend told authorities he
(the Transportation Security lighter, a pipe with white of the second charge. Muf- feared being arrested at
By MARYCLAIRE DALE Administration) was able powder residue suspected fley attended the hearing, the airport on an outstand-
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A to immediately locate this to be methamphetamine, which was held via video- ing child support warrant,
Pennsylvania man admit- device and prevent it from a wireless drill with cordless conference, from jail but authorities said.q