sabong cockfighting
(CNN) — Texas has sued a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a woman near Dallas, launching one of the first challenges in the US to shield laws that Democrat-controlled states passed to protect physicians after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the lawsuit on Thursday in Collin County, and it was announced Friday. Such prescriptions, made online and over the phone, are a key reason that the number of abortions has increased across the US even since state bans started taking effect. Most abortions in the US involve pills rather than procedures. Mary Ruth Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis, School of Law, said a challenge to shield laws, which blue states started adopting in 2023, has been anticipated. And it could have a chilling effect on prescriptions. “Will doctors be more afraid to mail pills into Texas, even if they might be protected by shield laws because they don’t know if they’re protected by shield laws?” she said in an interview Friday. The lawsuit accuses New York Dr. Margaret Daley Carpenter of violating Texas law by providing the drugs to a Texas patient and seeks up to $250,000. No criminal charges are involved. Texas bars abortion at all stages of pregnancy and has been one of the most aggressive states at pushing back against abortion rights. It began enforcing a state law in 2021 — even before the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and opened the door to state bans — that barred nearly all abortions by allowing citizens to sue anyone who provides an abortion or assists someone in obtaining one. Paxton said that the 20-year-old woman who received the pills — mifepristone and misoprostol, which are typically used in medication abortions — ended up in a hospital with complications. It was only after that, the state said in its filing, that the man described as “the biological father of the unborn child” learned of the pregnancy and the abortion. “In Texas, we treasure the health and lives of mothers and babies, and this is why out-of-state doctors may not illegally and dangerously prescribe abortion-inducing drugs to Texas residents,” Paxton said in a statement. A phone message left for Carpenter was not immediately returned, nor was an email to the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, where she’s co-medical director and founder. Anti-abortion advocates, who legally challenged the Biden administration’s prescribing rules around mifepristone, have been readying provocative and unusual ways to further limit abortion pill access when President-elect Donald Trump takes office next year. They feel emboldened to challenge the pills’ use and seek ways to restrict it under a conservative US Supreme Court buttressed by a Republican-controlled Congress and White House. Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court ruled that a group of anti-abortion doctors and their organizations lacked the legal standing to sue to try to have the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone rescinded. But since then, the Republican state attorneys general from Idaho, Kansas and Missouri have sought to have some of the rules around the pills tightened — including to bar telemedicine prescriptions. Also this year, Louisiana became the first state to reclassify the drugs as “controlled dangerous substances.” They can still be prescribed, but there are extra steps required to access them. Lawmakers in at least three states have introduced bills for next year aimed at barring or restricting use of the pills. “I began to think about how we might be able to both provide an additional deterrent to companies violating the criminal law and provide a remedy for the family of the unborn children,” said Tennessee state Rep. Gino Bulso, who is sponsoring the legislation there that includes a provision barring use of the medications for abortion. The-CNN-Wire TM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.AJMAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 20th Dec, 2024) Al Suwaidi, Director General of , has received Alison Milton, Ambassador of to the , to strengthen partnership relations and economic cooperation, advance intra-regional trade, and explore investment opportunities in key sectors, including , health, tourism, , information , and food. Al Suwaidi highlighted the robust diplomatic ties between the and . He underscored the significance of the meeting as a reflection of 's ongoing efforts to build partnerships and enhance international cooperation to drive economic growth in . During the meeting, Al Suwaidi provided the Embassy delegation with an overview of ’s prominent sectors, with a particular focus on . He highlighted the educational sector, which receives strong attention and support the wise leadership, and the development of an integrated educational infrastructure that aligns with ’s vision to build human capital capable of fulfilling the emirate’s aspirations while enhancing its attractiveness and livability. Al Suwaidi also pointed out the promising opportunities for collaboration between and in and discussed the International and Training Exhibition (AETEX), extending an invitation to participate in its 2025 edition. The delegation was further briefed on ’s advancements in the healthcare sector, including initiatives to improve medical services, expand healthcare and medical tourism, and attract investments driven by medical innovation and cutting-edge technologies. For her part, Milton expressed ’s commitment to deepening partnership and cooperation opportunities with the . She commended the diversity of economic and partnership opportunities in , particularly in the fields of , healthcare, and . The side also expressed its intention to participate in the upcoming edition of AETEX. The meeting concluded with attendees recommending the organization of joint forums to expertise and practices in the field of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). They also highlighted the importance of exploring opportunitiesfor collaboration and partnerships in , leveraging the sector’s rapid advancements, as well as in real estate, construction, information , and the and beverage industries. The importance of exchanging information and statistics to support joint development efforts was also emphasised. To commemorate the occasion, Al Suwaidi and Milton exchanged trophies and souvenirs, reflecting the strength of the growing partnership between and . The meeting was attended by Khalid Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of the Studies and Investment Development Sector, Aisha Al Nuaimi, Acting Director of the Investment and Promotion Department, John , Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy, and several Embassy officials.
By DEE-ANN DURBIN and MANUEL VALDES, Associated Press SEATAC, Washington (AP) — Background music is no longer an afterthought at many airports, which are hiring local musicians and carefully curating playlists to help lighten travelers’ moods . London’s Heathrow Airport built a stage to showcase emerging British performers for the first time this summer. The program was so successful the airport hopes to bring it back in 2025. Nashville International Airport has five stages that host more than 800 performances per year, from country musicians to jazz combos. In the Dominican Republic , Punta Cana International Airport greets passengers with live merengue music. Tiffany Idiart and her two nieces were delighted to hear musicians during a recent layover at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport . “I like it. There’s a lot of people here and they can all hear it,” said Grace Idiart, 9. “If their flight got delayed or something like that, they could have had a hard day. And so the music could have made them feel better.” Airports are also carefully curating their recorded playlists. Detroit Metro Airport plays Motown hits in a tunnel connecting its terminals. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas has a playlist of local artists compiled by an area radio station. Singapore’s Changi Airport commissioned a special piano accompaniment for its giant digital waterfall. Music isn’t a new phenomenon in airport terminals. Brian Eno’s “Music for Airports,” an album released in 1978, helped define the ambient music genre. It’s minimalist and designed to calm. But Barry McPhillips, the head of international creative for Mood Media, which provides music for airports and other public spaces, said technology is enabling background music to be less generic and more tailored to specific places or times of day. Mood Media – formerly known as Muzak – develops playlists to appeal to business travelers or families depending on who’s in the airport at any given time. It might program calmer music in the security line but something more energizing in the duty-free store. “We see it as a soundscape,” McPhillips said. “We design for all of these moments.” There’s a science to Mood Music’s decisions on volume, tempo, even whether to play a song in a major key versus a minor one, he added. “How do we want to affect their mood at that moment?” McPhillips said. “It’s not just like, ‘Here’s a load of songs.’ It’s a load of songs for that 10-minute segment, and then we move to the next 10 minutes.” At the same time, many airports are going low-tech, hiring local musicians to serenade travelers and give them a sense of the place they’re passing through. Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports have more than 100 live performances each year. Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport began a live music program five years ago and now has two stages featuring local artists. Tami Kuiken, the manager of airport music in Seattle, said the Seattle-Tacoma airport launched its live music program about a decade ago after a city commissioner heard live music at the airport in Austin, Texas . “The idea was like, ’Man, why doesn’t Seattle have music? We’re a music city too,” Kuiken said. At first, the airport created a playlist featuring emerging artists along with famous ones like Pearl Jam . Then it decided to try live musicians for a 12-week trial. It was so successful that the airport now features live musicians daily and is building new performance spaces. “People’s anxiety levels are very high when they’re traveling,” Kuiken said. “The feedback that we started getting was that once they got through the checkpoint and they were greeted with music, all of a sudden their anxiety and stress levels dropped.” The programs also benefit musicians, who get paid to perform and gain wider exposure. When Colorado Springs Airport announced a live music program in March, more than 150 musicians applied. It now hosts two two-hour performances each week. David James, a singer and guitarist who plays at Seattle’s airport about once a week, said waking up in time for a daytime gig took some adjustment. But he’s gained new fans from all over the world. “I get really sweet responses from people all the time, saying, ‘That was so soothing to be able to just sit and listen to music in between flights,’” James said. “So it feels like it’s especially therapeutic for people.” Country stars like Blake Shelton and Keith Urban have come through Nashville’s airport and interacted with local musicians, said Stacey Nickens, the airport’s vice president of corporate communications and marketing. Shelton even gave one his guitar. Otto Stuparitz, a musicologist and lecturer at the University of Amsterdam who has studied airport music, said airports should think carefully about their selections. Music that’s meant to be actively listened to – like live music or catchy pop songs – can be very distracting in an already chaotic environment, he said. He has noticed some airports – especially in Europe — turning off piped melodies altogether. But McPhillips said big spaces like airports can feel cold and unwelcoming without background music. “A well-crafted audio strategy is one that people aren’t particularly cognizant of,” he said. “They just know they’re having a good time and that it’s appropriate.” Durbin reported from Detroit.( MENAFN - GetNews) "MarketsandMarketsTM"Fats & Oils market by Type (Vegetable Oils and Fats), Source (Vegetables and Animals), Form (Liquid and Solid), Application (Food and Industrial), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Rest of the World) - Global Forecast to 2029 The global fats and oils market is projected to reach a valuation of USD 271.8 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6%, climbing to USD 323.7 billion by 2029. This growth is fueled by transformative shifts and innovations across diverse sectors, including animal feed, oleochemicals, and biofuels, beyond their traditional culinary applications. In the food industry, vegetable oils and animal fats are integral to processed foods, improving texture, flavor, and shelf life. Key players like palm, rapeseed, sunflower, and soybean oils dominate global consumption due to their multifunctionality in both food and non-food products. Animal fats such as butter and lard remain vital in baking, providing rich flavor profiles. Additionally, specialty oils like coconut, shea butter, and cocoa butter are gaining traction as alternatives to conventional oils due to their unique properties. Regional preferences significantly influence cooking oil choices; for example, rapeseed, sunflower, and olive oils are popular in Europe, whereas palm oil leads in Asia and Africa. Meanwhile, the rise of plant-based diets has spurred global demand for oils like coconut. Fats and Oils Market Drivers : Rising Oilseed Production The expanding global demand for edible oils-essential in food and industrial applications-has driven significant growth in oilseed cultivation. According to Egypt's National Research Center, oilseed crop areas have increased by 82% over the past 30 years. This aligns with OECD projections of global vegetable oil consumption reaching 249 million metric tons by 2022, primarily driven by dietary shifts in the Asia-Pacific region. Soybean production, a major contributor, is expected to hit 41.1 million metric tons by 2030, with top producers like the U.S. and Brazil leading the charge. Innovations in agricultural biotechnology, such as genetically engineered proteins from Nanyang Technological University, have enhanced oil yields by up to 18%, supporting sustainability by meeting growing demand without expanding land use. Fats and Oils Market Opportunities : Growth in Microencapsulation of Fats and Oils Microencapsulation is emerging as a key trend in the specialty fats and oils market. This process enhances the stability, shelf life, and functionality of sensitive ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids, milk fat, and vegetable oils by protecting them from temperature, moisture, and oxidation. These advancements make encapsulated fats and oils ideal for functional foods, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceuticals. Major players are increasingly adopting encapsulation technologies, leveraging matrices like whey proteins and casein blends to produce fat-rich powders for diverse applications. This trend aligns with rising consumer demand for health-focused products and offers significant growth potential in the market. Dominance of Vegetable-Based Fats and Oils Vegetable-based fats and oils are poised to maintain their leading market share due to their versatility, health benefits, and broad availability. Oils like soybean, palm, and sunflower are widely preferred for their culinary and industrial uses, offering essential fatty acids and being perceived as healthier than animal fats. Advances in agricultural practices and biotechnology have ensured a steady supply of vegetable oils at lower costs, further solidifying their market dominance. Download PDF Brochure: Food Applications: Leading the Market The food sector represents the largest application segment for fats and oils, driven by their essential role in flavor enhancement, texture improvement, and preservation. Fats and oils contribute to desirable properties such as crispiness and richness in cooking and baking while serving as carriers for fat-soluble vitamins and flavors. Growing demand for processed and convenience foods, coupled with increasing consumer interest in diverse culinary experiences, reinforces the prominence of food applications in the fats and oils market. Asia-Pacific Dominates the Fats and Oils Market Share . The Asia-Pacific region holds the largest market share in the fats and oils industry, driven by rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and shifting dietary preferences toward processed and convenience foods. The region's growing population and expanding middle class have significantly increased the demand for edible oils used in cooking and food processing. Additionally, the surge in fast food consumption and the development of the food service industry contribute to the market's growth. Strong economic progress and enhanced distribution networks further solidify Asia-Pacific's leading position in the global fats and oils market, boasting the highest CAGR. Leading Fats and Oils Manufacturers : The key players in the market are ADM (US), Wilmar International Ltd (Singapore), Cargill, Incorporated (US), Bunge (US), Kaula Lumpur Kepong Berhad (Malaysia), Olam Agri Holdings Pte Ltd (India), Manildra Group (Australia), Mewah Group (Singapore), Associated British Foods plc (UK), United Plantations Berhad (Malaysia), Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (Japan), Fuji Oil Co., Ltd. (Japan), Oleo-Fats (Philippines), Borges Agricultural and Industrial Edible Oils, S.A.U. (Spain), K S Oils Limited (India), CSM Ingredients (US), SD Guthrie International Zwijndrecht Refinery B.V. (Netherlands), Musim Mas Group (Singapore), Richardson International Limited (Canada), and AAK AB (Sweden). ADM (US) ADM is a food manufacturing company that is primarily involved in the production of food & beverage ingredients, feed & feed ingredients, industrial ingredients, biofuels, and naturally derived alternatives to industrial chemicals. The company operates through four business segments, namely, Ag services & oilseeds, carbohydrate solutions, nutrition, and others. The company offers oils derived from vegetable sources for food, industrial, and fuel applications. The Ag Services and Oilseeds segment encompasses worldwide operations involving the sourcing, trading, transportation, and storage of agricultural raw materials. It also covers the crushing and further processing of oilseeds like soybeans and soft seeds (such as cottonseed, sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, and flaxseed) into vegetable oils and protein meals. The products from oilseeds, produced and marketed by this segment, serve as ingredients for food, feed, energy, and industrial customers. Wilmar International Ltd (Singapore) Wilmar International Ltd is one of the leading agribusiness companies. The company is involved in the cultivation of palm oil, crushing oilseed, refining edible oil, milling & refining sugar, and specialty fats. The company operates through four business segments, namely food products, feed & industrial products, plantation & sugar milling, and others. Under its food products segment, Wilmar processes, brands, and distributes a wide variety of edible food products, including vegetable oils, sugar, flour, rice, noodles, specialty fats, snacks, bakery and dairy products, ready-to-eat meals, and central kitchen products to wholesalers and distributors in China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Africa. During FY2023, the company expanded its operational capacities across several countries and regions, including China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Ghana, India, The Netherlands, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. These expansions encompassed diverse activities such as refining of edible oils, crushing of oilseeds and palm kernels, extraction of rice bran, milling of flour, palm oil, and sugar, packing of edible oils, rice, and flour, manufacturing of specialty fats, and production of cakes. Request Sample Pages: About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarketsTM has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines – TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies – helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. MENAFN19122024003238003268ID1109014540 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
TORONTO — The Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts signed American running back Kevin Brown on Friday. The five-foot-nine, 205-pound Brown rushed for 522 yards on 101 carries in 12 games last season with the Edmonton Elks. He added 22 catches for 138 yards before finishing the '24 campaign on the CFL club's practice roster. In 2023, Brown ran for 1,141 yards and four TDs with Edmonton. He also had 28 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown. Brown, 28, spent three seasons with the Elks, running for 2,149 yards (six-yard average) and five TDs. He added 74 catches for 536 yards and a touchdown in 37 regular-season games. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. The Canadian PressAfter Juan Soto's megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soon
Last Mile Delivery Market in North America to Grow by USD 18.78 Billion (2024-2028), Driven by US B2C E-Commerce and AI-Powered Market Evolution - Technavio
KSE-100 climbs 470 points as market hits 8-year high in trading volume KARACHI: The KSE-100 index closed higher by 470 points on Friday amid falling lending rates while the market witnessed the highest ready volume after eight years. The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index increased by 469.83 points or 0.48 per cent to 97,798.23 points against 97,328.4 points recorded in the last session. The highest index of the day remained at 99,623.04 points while the lowest level was recorded at 97,471.12 points. Mohammed Sohail, CEO of Topline Securities, said the Pakistan Stock Market is witnessing a remarkable resurgence, with trading activity hitting record highs. “Today’s cash/ready volume at the [PSX] surpassed the Rs45 billion mark (approximately $160 million), a milestone not achieved in over eight years,” he said. The KSE-30 index increased by 288.27 points or 0.95 per cent to 30,480.71 points against 30,192.45 points. Traded shares increased by 280 million shares to 1,249.092 million shares from 969.907 million shares. The trading value rose to Rs45.475 billion from Rs35.167 billion. Market capital, however, narrowed to Rs12.518 trillion against Rs12.525 trillion. Of the 449 companies active in the session, 112 closed in green, 296 in red and 41 remained unchanged. Ahsan Mehanti, an analyst at Arif Habib Corp, said that the stock market rally was driven by favourable investor sentiment, alongside regulatory or banking sector adjustments that may have encouraged a shift towards equities. This week, banks implemented a levy on large depositors as a strategy to comply with tax regulations or avoid higher taxation. He said that higher global crude oil prices, rupee stability and surging forex reserves played a catalyst role in the record surge at the PSX The highest increase was recorded in Nestle Pakistan Limited, which rose by Rs83.69 to Rs6,700 per share, followed by PIA Holding Company Limited B, which increased by Rs78.04 to Rs998.24 per share. A significant decline was noted in Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited, which fell by Rs85.01 to Rs19,015 per share; Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited followed it, which closed lower by Rs61.72 to Rs1,023.1 per share. Analyst Nabeel Haroon at Topline Securities said a rally was observed at the exchange led by the banking sector as the index gained to make an intraday high of 2,295 points (up by 2.36 per cent) largely on a rumour that the Pakistan Bankers Association has tabled the removal of MDR on savings deposits for conventional banks. Some profit-taking was observed later during the day as investors confirmed that the authorities had not confirmed the rumour. The KSE-100 index settled at 97,798 (up by 0.48 per cent). The top contribution to the index came from the banking sector as MEBL, BAHL, MCB, HBL, BAFL and HMB cumulatively contributed 1,139 points to the index. Traded value wise HBL (Rs2.8 billion), PSO (Rs2.3 billion), MARI (Rs2.1 billion), FFC (Rs1.93 billion) and OGDC (Rs1.74 billion) dominated the activity. HCAR closed near its lower circuit (down by 9.97 per cent). Pressure in the automobile assembler can be attributed to its Q2MY25 result on Friday, where the company posted an EPS of Rs1.8 (down by 62 per cent YoY and up by 27 per cent QoQ). The result came lower than industry expectations. WorldCall Telecom remained the volume leader with 177.135 million shares which closed higher by one paisa to Rs1.39 per share. K-Electric Ltd followed it with 124.131 million shares, which closed lower by 8 paisas to Rs5.31 per share. Other significant turnover stocks included Hascol Petrol, Fauji Foods Ltd, Treet Battery Ltd., BO Punjab, Sui South Gas, PIA Holding Company, Cnergyico PK and Pak Int. Bulk. In the futures market, 310 companies recorded trading, 79 of which increased, 230 decreased, and one remained unchanged.FAA Completes Review Of Southwest Airlines: No Significant Safety Issues
Global stocks end mostly up with DAX crossing 20,000 for 1st timeFORESTVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A major storm moving through Northern California on Thursday toppled trees and dropped heavy snow and record rain after damaging homes, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands in the Pacific Northwest. Forecasters warned that the risk of flash flooding and rockslides would continue, and scores of flights were canceled at San Francisco's airport. In Washington, more than 320,000 people — most of them in the Seattle area — were still without power as crews worked to clear streets of electrical lines, fallen branches and debris. Utility officials said the outages could last into Saturday. Meanwhile on the East Coast, where rare wildfires have raged, New York and New Jersey welcomed much-needed rain that could ease the fire danger for the rest of the year. The National Weather Service extended a flood watch into Saturday for areas north of San Francisco as the region was inundated by the strongest — a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows through the sky over land — this season. The system roared ashore Tuesday as a “bomb cyclone,” . Communities in Washington opened warming centers offering free internet and device charging. A number of medical clinics closed, forcing appointments to be rescheduled. “I’ve been here since the mid-’80s. I haven’t seen anything like this,” said Trish Bloor, who serves on the city of Issaquah’s Human Resources Commission, as she surveyed damaged homes. Up to 16 inches (about 41 centimeters) of rain was forecast in southwestern Oregon and California's northern counties through Friday. The Sonoma County Airport, in the wine country north of San Francisco, received 6.92 inches (17.5 centimeters) Wednesday, breaking a record dating to 1998. In nearby Forestville, one person was hurt when a tree fell on a house. Small landslides were reported across the North Bay region, including one on State Route 281 on Wednesday that caused a car crash, according to Marc Chenard, a weather service meteorologist. Rain slowed somewhat, but “persistent heavy rain will enter the picture again by Friday morning,” the weather service's San Francisco office said on the social platform X. “We are not done!” Dangerous flash flooding, rockslides and debris flows were possible, especially where hillsides were loosened by recent wildfires, officials warned. Scott Rowe, a hydrologist with the weather service in Sacramento, said that so far the ground has been able to absorb the rain in Butte and Tehama counties, where the Park Fire burned over the summer. “It’s not necessarily how much rain falls; it’s how fast the rain falls,” Rowe said. Northern Mendocino and southern Humboldt counties received between 4 and 8 inches (10 and 20 centimeters) of rain in the last 48 hours, and similar amounts were expected over the next 48 hours, forecasters said. Wind gusts could top 50 mph (80 kph). The storm system, which first hit the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday, reached the status of “ ,” which occurs when a cyclone intensifies rapidly. A winter storm watch was in place for the northern Sierra Nevada above 3,500 feet (1,066 meters), with 15 inches (38 centimeters) of snow possible over two days. Wind gusts could top 75 mph (121 kph) in mountain areas, forecasters said. Sugar Bowl Resort, north of Lake Tahoe near Donner Summit, picked up a foot (30 centimeters) of snow overnight, marketing manager Maggie Eshbaugh said Thursday. She said the resort will welcome skiers and boarders on Friday, the earliest opening date in 20 years. “And then we’re going to get another whopping of another foot or so on Saturday, so this is fantastic,” she said. Another popular resort, Palisades Tahoe, is also opening Friday, five days ahead of schedule, according to its website. The storm already dumped more than a foot of snow along the Cascades in Oregon by Wednesday night, according to the weather service. Forecasters warned of blizzard and whiteout conditions and nearly impossible travel at pass level. Falling trees struck homes and littered roads across western Washington, killing at least two people. A woman in Lynnwood was killed when a large tree fell on a homeless encampment, and another in Bellevue died when a tree fell on a home. More than a dozen schools closed in the Seattle area Wednesday, and some opted to extend the closures through Thursday. In Enumclaw, east of Seattle, residents were cleaning up after their town clocked the highest winds in the state Tuesday night: 74 mph (119 kph). Resident Sophie Keene said the powerful gusts caused transformers to blow out around town. “Things were exploding, like, everywhere,” Keene told the Seattle Times. “Like the transformers over by the park. One blew big, it looked like fireworks just going off.” Ben Gibbard, lead singer of the indie rock bands Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service, drove from his Seattle neighborhood Thursday morning to the woods of Tiger Mountain for his regular weekday run, but there were too many trees blocking the trail. “We didn’t get hit that hard in the city,” he said. “I just didn’t assume it would be this kind of situation out here. Obviously you feel the most for people who had their homes partially destroyed by this.” In California, there were reports of more than 20,000 power outages on Thursday. Only 50 vehicles per hour were allowed through part of northbound Interstate 5 from 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Redding to 21 miles (34 kilometers) south of Yreka due to snow, according to California's Department of Transportation. Transportation officials also shut down a two-mile (3.2 kilometer) stretch of the famed Avenue of the Giants, a scenic drive named for its towering coast redwoods, due to flooding. About 150 flights were delayed and another two dozen were canceled early Thursday at San Francisco International Airport after hundreds of delays and dozens of cancelations the previous day, according to tracking service FlightAware. Parched areas of the Northeast got a much-needed shot of precipitation Thursday, providing a bit of respite in a region plagued by wildfires and dwindling water supplies. More than 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain was expected by Saturday morning in areas north of New York City, with snow mixed in at higher elevations. “Any rainfall is going to be significant at this point,” said Brian Ciemnecki, a weather service meteorologist in New York City, where the first drought warning in 22 years was issued this week. “Is it going to break the drought? No, we’re going to need more rain than that.” Har reported from San Francisco, and Weber from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Hallie Golden and Gene Johnson in Seattle; Martha Bellisle in Issaquah, Washington; Sarah Brumfield in Washington, D.C.; and Michael Hill in Albany, New York, contributed.