German president's UK state visit will celebrate strategic ties and recall historic scars

LONDON (AP) — German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be greeted by brass bands and royalty Wednesday when he arrives for a U.K. state visit that will celebrate the close ties between the countries while also remembering the scars of the past.

King Charles III will welcome Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Büdenbender, to Windsor Castle for the start of a three-day tour featuring all the pomp and ceremony the U.K. traditionally rolls out for its honored guests. But there will also be a somber note as Steinmeier becomes the first German head of state to make a formal state visit to Britain in 27 years.

On Friday, the couple will visit Coventry Cathedral to commemorate the Nazi bombing of the city, which killed at least 568 people and destroyed or damaged more than half of its homes on the night of Nov. 14, 1940. It was the single most concentrated attack on a British city during World War II.

Germany has apologized more than once for the Nazi regime's atrocities. And during hisown state visit to Germany in 2023,Charles acknowledged the devastation caused by the war,laying a wreathat the remains of St. Nikolai Church in Hamburg to commemorate the more than 30,000 people who were killed during the Allied bombing of the city in July 1943.

"It's a particularly poignant time in British and German history, so the fact that this is being factored into the state visit clearly is important to both sides," said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine.

While state visitsare hosted by the king,they are scheduled at the request of the elected government to reward friends — and sometimes nudge reluctant partners — with the red carpet treatment only Britain's royal family can provide.

So there will be the glittering tiaras, displays of military precision and a sumptuous banquet served on 200-year-old silver. There's also a huge Christmas tree in St. George's Hall.

But it's a spectacle with a purpose. Britain and Germany are seeking to underscore the bonds between the two countries as they face the challenges of the war in Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump's America First policies, which threaten to upend longstanding trade and security relationships.

The trip will build on the success of Charles' state visit to Germany, when he displayed an ability to properly roll his R's while flipping between German and English in aspeech to the Bundestag, the German parliament.

Making his first state visit since ascending the throne, Charles stressed the long-standing ties between the two countries and the importance of future cooperation.

British officials hope those ties will be cemented by coverage of the glittering events at Windsor Castle.

"It will produce wonderful pictures and these will be seen as symbols for the British public and the German public,'' said Gerhard Dannemann, former head of the Centre for British Studies at Humboldt Universität in Berlin. "And the hope is that ...the German president can emulate,'' what Charles did in 2023.

byNeo

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December 02, 2025

German president's UK state visit will celebrate strategic ties and recall historic scars

LONDON (AP) — German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be greeted by brass bands and royalty Wednesday when he arriv...

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Deadly conflict in the Sahel sends herders fleeing to Africa's coastal cities

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Nouhoun Sidibè was a herder, like his father and grandfather, and took pride in his identity as a pastoralist. That's until the day armed men descended on his home in northernBurkina Fasoand seized all his livestock.

Within minutes on that day in 2020, the father of four lost everything.

For the next three years, he wandered from town to town looking for jobs in the landlocked West African nation that faces growing attacks by armed groups, with some of the fighters linked to al-Qaida. He had no luck, and decided to try neighboring Ivory Coast in 2023.

"I feel very, very lost. I was a chief, and now I have come here and I am working for someone else," the 49-year-old Sidibè told The Associated Press at a stockyard in a swampy wasteland on the outskirts of Abidjan, the Ivory Coast capital. He and other migrants live in a cramped space with no bathroom or kitchen.

Thesprawling conflict in the Sahel, a vast semi-arid stretch south of the Sahara desert, has sent thousands of herders to safer areas on the fringes of Abidjan, where they struggle to adapt to city life with rising costs and soaring unemployment. Sidibè now gets by helping cattle sellers vaccinate their herds.

He said the city was his only option: "You can't keep livestock here, but since I didn't have any anymore, there was nothing stopping me from coming."

That could change. This month, Ivory Coast said it was strengthening security along its northern borders after noting "several unusual flows of refugees from Mali."

Stripped of identity, too

Countries in the Sahel have been fighting armed groups for years, starting with unrest in northern Mali in 2012 that has spread to landlocked Burkina Faso and Niger.

The struggle is reshaping West Africa, with a spike in migration into seaside countries like Ivory Coast.

Experts say armed groups target herders and seize livestock for various reasons, including to finance their operations and exert control over communities. Herding is a major occupation in the Sahel, where the changing climate also creates tensions with struggling farmers — another driver of migration.

Ivory Coast, with its status as a regional hub and steady economic growth, has long been a destination for migrants, according to analysts. But that migration has jumped in recent years after military juntas took power in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and took up the fight against armed groups.

Between January and March of this year, more than 72,000 people fled violence in Burkina Faso and Mali to Ivory Coast, according to data by UNICEF. That's up from the 54,000 recorded by the International Organization for Migration between April 2021 and March 2024.

Nomadic herders are among the most vulnerable people fleeing. They are often ethnic Fulani, Muslims who have faced accusations of sympathizing with or being recruited by armed groups. Many reject those claims and point out they're targeted by the fighters, too.

"There is no Fulani without his cattle, that is his identity," Amadou Sonde, secretary general of the Federation of Burkinabè Fulani Associations in Ivory Coast, told the AP.

Sonde said he has been receiving thousands of people from Burkina Faso and Mali and helping them find jobs, a responsibility that has grown dramatically in recent years. The jobs include drivers, shop assistants and factory workers, often a world away from the pastoral life. Few have completed schooling.

"With the insecurity surrounding livestock and tensions between farmers and herders, there has been a trend among Fulani herd owners to switch to land acquisition, real estate or shops," said Yao Kouamé, a research professor in sociology at Ivory Coast's University of Bouakè.

'The crisis is far from over'

Tanané Ibrahim fled his village in Burkina Faso after armed militants came for his herd of sheep and cattle three years ago. He doesn't plan to return.

"What is the point? The entire population has left for the city. The village is deserted," the 42-year-old said. "The (militants) did not even leave the chickens."

He was surrounded by fellow migrants by the wasteland outside Abidjan where they tend to other people's herds. They huddled as he brewed tea in small tin cups on a charcoal stove.

Experts say the conflict in the Sahel is worsening and there is no chance of the migrants returning home soon.

"The military juntas in the central Sahel states are becoming increasingly overwhelmed by assaults from multiple armed groups. The crisis is far from over," said Oluwole Ojewale, a Senegal-based conflict expert at the Institute of Security Studies.

Like Sidibè, Ibrahim said he is struggling to adapt to city life and learn new skills to survive. He spoke with nostalgia about his nomadic past.

"It was total freedom. You're with your animals, you can rest," he said. "In the city, everything is crazy expensive. You have to work hard to get paid, and when you pay for what you need to live, you have nothing left, so you have to go back to work."

For more on Africa and development:https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

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December 02, 2025

Deadly conflict in the Sahel sends herders fleeing to Africa's coastal cities

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Nouhoun Sidibè was a herder, like his father and grandfather, and took pride in his identity ...

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Georgia inmate ordered Uber to evade deputies, authorities say

A Georgia inmate who is considered "armed and dangerous" used an Uber ride to evade sheriff's deputies after escaping from custody at a hospital, authorities said Dec. 2.

Timothy Shane, 52, escaped from Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta on Dec. 1 at around 1:20 a.m. local time while in deputy custody, according to the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office. Shane had been transported to the hospital at about 8 p.m. on Nov. 30 for a "medical examination after a suicide attempt," the sheriff's office said.

"Shane fled the hospital on foot and stole a SUV parked in the area," the sheriff's office said in anews releaseon Dec. 1. "Shortly after, inmate Shane was involved in an accident and then fled on foot. The owner of the stolen SUV reported a Glock handgun was stolen from the vehicle."

Inan updateon Dec. 2, the sheriff's office said further investigation revealed that Shane had requested an Uber ride to a residence in south Rockdale County, located just outside of Atlanta. Deputies executed a search warrant at the residence but were unable to find Shane, according to the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office warned that Shane is still considered "armed and dangerous." He is now believed to be wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, dark blue pants, and shoes.

"We will continue to follow up on leads as they become available," the sheriff's office said in its update.

Arkansas escaped inmate:Manhunt underway for inmate facing violent felony charges

Georgia fugitive stole vehicle near Mercedes-Benz Stadium

After Shane fled the hospital, the sheriff's office said deputies — along with other local law enforcement — canvassed the "immediate areas of the escaped inmate."

Video footage showed Shane stealing a silver Pontiac Grand Prix near Mercedes-Benz Stadium, just over a mile from the hospital in downtown Atlanta,according to the sheriff's office. The vehicle was last seen traveling on State Route 138 in Rockdale County heading towards Henry County.

Ina statementshared shortly before 9 p.m. local time on Dec. 1, the sheriff's office said he was last known to be located at a Publix supermarket on Highway 155 in Henry County, south of Atlanta. At the time, the sheriff's office said it did not know "if he stole another vehicle or if he is still in that area."

Deputies were sent to the area to investigate and recover the stolen vehicle, according to the sheriff's office. The investigation led to the discovery of the stolen vehicle at the Publix supermarket.

The sheriff's office said it then confirmed that Shane requested an Uber to the residence in south Rockdale County. It was unclear how Shane was able to call an Uber.

New Orleans jailbreak:Final escapee captured in Atlanta

'History of fleeing'

Shane was described as 5-foot-9 with a buzzed haircut, according to the sheriff's office. When he escaped from the hospital, he was wearing a blue hospital gown with no shoes.

The sheriff's office said it believes that Shane is now wearing a red hoodie, dark blue pants, and has shoes.

"Shane has a history of fleeing along with felony drug and weapon charges," the sheriff's office said. "He should be considered armed and dangerous."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Georgia fugitive ordered Uber ride to flee deputies: Authorities

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December 02, 2025

Georgia inmate ordered Uber to evade deputies, authorities say

A Georgia inmate who is considered "armed and dangerous" used an Uber ride to evade sheriff's deputies afte...

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George Clooney ‘Annoyed’ He Lost ‘Thelma & Louise’ Role to ‘Motherf—er’ Brad Pitt: ‘I Didn’t Watch’ That Movie ‘For Years’

George Clooney toldThe Sunday Timesthat he's still upset about losing the role of J.D. in Ridley Scott's 1991 film "Thelma & Louise" to longtime friend and collaborator Brad Pitt.

"I got to the final test for a role in 'Thelma & Louise.' And, motherfucker, Brad got it," Clooney said. "I didn't watch 'Thelma & Louise' for years, because I was annoyed. The part launched his career in film. He was doing sitcoms and crap before, so when it was the thing that could've launched me? Fuck!"

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In the film, J.D. is a rugged vagabond who sparks a fleeting romance with Thelma (Geena Davis). As noted by Clooney, the film cemented Pitt as a bankable movie star. In the years following, Pitt led films like "A River Runs Through It," "Interview with the Vampire," "Se7en" and "12 Monkeys."

The "Jay Kelly" star added that Pitt still taunts him about winning the "Thelma and Louise" role.

"Oh yeah, he still gives me shit," he said. "But, of course, when I saw it, I was, like, well, it had to be that guy."

Clooney had to wait a few years after the release of "Thelma & Louise" to get his movie star break. He became a household name playing Dr. Doug Ross on "ER" from 1994 to 1999. In 1997, he was cast as the titular Caped Crusader in Joel Schumacher's "Batman & Robin." Unfortunately, that movie was critically panned, but a year later, Clooney landed the film that cemented his leading man status: Steven Soderbergh's 1998 thriller "Out of Sight."

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• What's Coming to Netflix in December 2025

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December 02, 2025

George Clooney ‘Annoyed’ He Lost ‘Thelma & Louise’ Role to ‘Motherf—er’ Brad Pitt: ‘I Didn’t Watch’ That Movie ‘For Years’

George Clooney toldThe Sunday Timesthat he's still upset about losing the role of J.D. in Ridley Scott's 1991 fil...

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Jennifer Lopez Shows Off Ripped Abs as She Dances in Flame-Covered Thong Bikini

Jennifer Lopez/Instagram (2)

NEED TO KNOW

• Jennifer Lopez shared a throwback video from her World Pride performance in June to promote her upcoming Las Vegas residency

• In the clip, the superstar dances while wearing a flame-covered bikini

• Jennifer Lopez: Up All Night Live kicks off on Dec. 30

Jennifer Lopezis heating things up before she heads to Las Vegas.

On Tuesday, Dec. 2, the multi-hyphenate, 56, took to Instagram to share a throwback video from herWorld Pride performancein Washington, D.C. in June.

"See you THIS MONTH for The JLo Show in Vegas! Which song do you want me to PLAY ▶️!?" she wrote in the caption.

In the clip, Lopez sports a flame-covered bikini, which features a triangle top and cheeky thong bottoms, and a pair of nude fishnet tights. The ensemble shows off the star's toned abs, which are accentuated by her dance moves.

Fans were stunned by Lopez's ripped appearance and ageless physique.

"56 Where?!??? 😮🔥," one wrote in the comments section.

"Body Goals 🔥❤️," said another.

The "Let's Get Loud" singer hit the stage at the 2025 World Pride Music Festival in Washington, D.C., in multiple glittering looks, including a silver plunging thong bodysuit that was covered in hundreds of clear rhinestones.

The bodysuit, designed by The Blonds, included a plunging neckline and an extremely high cut on the legs, leaving little to the imagination in the front, but offering more coverage in the back with a cheeky cut that showed off her toned backside.

Lopezannounced her Las Vegas Residencyafter hosting the 2025 American Music Awards on May 26.

"SURPRISE JLOVERS!" Lopez captioned anInstagrampost with a promo image of the tour. "We're back! I'm doing a residency in Las Vegas!"

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

She continued: "Join me for Up All Night Live In Las Vegas At The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Dec 30 – Jan 3, & select dates in March! Tickets on sale Friday, June 6 at 10 AM PT. 🤍."

The residency will kick off New Year's Eve week with four performances on Dec. 30 and 31 and Jan. 2 and 3. Lopez will also perform an additional eight shows in March 2026.

The pop star will perform "chart-topping hits from across her legendary career, alongside exclusive new 'never heard before' songs," according to a press release.

The "On the Floor" hitmaker's upcoming Las Vegas stint follows her last record-breaking residency, Jennifer Lopez: All I Have at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. From 2016 to 2018, Lopez played 120 shows in the residency that grossed over $100 million in its nearly three-year run.

Read the original article onPeople

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December 02, 2025

Jennifer Lopez Shows Off Ripped Abs as She Dances in Flame-Covered Thong Bikini

Jennifer Lopez/Instagram (2) NEED TO KNOW Jennifer Lopez shared a throwback video from her World Pride performance in June to promote her...

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Eric Dane 'grateful' to continue acting amid ALS battle

Eric Danehas no desire to quit acting, even amid his battle withamyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Following his appearance on"Brilliant Minds,"the "Euphoria" actor appeared on a Tuesday, Dec. 2 panel hosted by the I am ALS organization to discuss the storyline and the illness.

During the panel, the actor said he has no issue taking on other roles that center around ALS. "I'm fairly limited in what I can do physically as an actor, but I still have my brain, and I still have my speech, so I'm willing to just do about anything. I'll take on any role. From here on out, it's going to have to be ALS-centric. It's going to be very difficult for me to play any other role," he said.

"I'm fine with that," he added. "I'm grateful that I can still work in any capacity."

After nearly a decade of playing the fliratious plastic surgeonDr. Mark Sloanon "Grey's Anatomy," Dane returned to the medical drama genre in a Nov. 24 episode of "Brilliant Minds marking his first role since revealing his diagnosis in April.

He played a firefighter and father with ALS, which causes the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. It was his first time portraying something he is first-handly grappling with, making it emotionally challenging to separate his own experiences from his character's.

Yet, Dane called the role cathartic as an actor and a person. "There were moments it was difficult for me to get the lines out, but overall I was really grateful for the experience," he added.

Eric Dane played Dr. Mark Sloan, aka "McSteamy," on "Grey's Anatomy" for six seasons, but he's not done wooing his audiences yet. In 2025, Dane returned to TV on another medical drama, making his "Brilliant Minds" debut as "Bronx-Gen's favorite silver fox."

Dane revealed in April that he'd been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS. See the actor's career in the spotlight from the early 2000's to now, including here as he attends the "Countdown" premiere and afterparty on June 18, 2025, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane attend the Chrysalis Third Annual Butterfly Ball at a private residence on April 17, 2004, in Beverly Hills, California. The former couple, who share two children, got married that year.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left: Publisher of OK! Magazine Tom Morrissey, general manager of A&E Robert DeBitetto, actor John Stamos, executive producer Craig Zadan, actor Eric Dane and entertainment media director of GLAAS Damon Romine arrive at the premiere of A&E original film "Wedding Wars" at the ArcLight Theater on Dec. 4, 2006, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane and Patrick Dempsey pose during the 33rd annual People's Choice Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 9, 2007, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sara Ramirez and Eric Dane arrive at the 33rd annual People's Choice Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 9, 2007, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, top to bottom: Ellen Pompeo, Kate Walsh, Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Sara Ramirez, Justin Chambers, Patrick Dempsey, James Pickens Jr., Eric Dane and T.R. Knight, winners of the ensemble in a drama series award for "Grey's Anatomy" pose in the press room during the 13th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 28, 2007, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane, left, and Patrick Dempsey, winners of the ensemble in a drama series award for "Grey's Anatomy" pose in the press room during the 13th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Jan. 28, 2007, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane and Ellen Pompeo attend a party for Dane and "Grey's Anatomy" cast members hosted by Men's Heath magazine at Tenjune May 14, 2007, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane arrives at the 12th annual GQ magazine Men of the Year celebration, Dec. 5, 2007, in Hollywood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, right, and Owen Wilson, center, in "Marley & Me." They arrived together at the premiere at the Mann Village Theater on Dec. 11, 2008, in Westwood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lena Gercke and Eric Dane attend a party to celebrate the fifth anniversary of TV channel TNT Serie at Kesselhalle on May 8, 2014, in Munich, Germany.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> The Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, center, and Admiral Dawn Cutler present actor Eric Dane with a shadow box containing Navy medals earned by his father at the TNT "The Last Ship" Washington D.C. screening at The Newseum on June 12, 2015, in Washington, D.C.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane speaks on stage at "The Last Ship" panel at Comic-Con on July 9, 2015, in San Diego, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rebecca Gayheart, right, and Eric Dane with their children, Georgia Dane and Billie Beatrice Dane, at the 16th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on June 3, 2017, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Adam Baldwin, Bridget Regan and Eric Dane at TNT's "The Last Ship" panel and exclusive sneak peek for Season 4 during Comic-Con on July 23, 2017, in San Diego, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Patrick Mahomes, Eric Dane, Lilly Singh and Jared Goff attend the 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left: Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer, Eric Dane, Maude Apatow, Zendaya, Barbie Ferreira, Sydney Sweeney, Sam Levinson and Colman Domingo attend the HBO Max FYC event for "Euphoria" at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 20, 2022, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> John C. McGinley and Eric Dane, right, who was the 2022 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award Recipient, attend the Global Down Syndrome Foundation's 14th annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself fashion show at the Sheraton Downtown Denver Hotel on Nov. 12, 2022, in Denver.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane and his daughters Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Dane attend the premiere of "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on May 30, 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eric Dane shakes hands with Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz during a news conference to discuss health insurance at the Department of Health and Human Services Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on June 23, 2025. During the press conference Kennedy and Oz announced a plan they hope will streamline pre-authorizations for health procedures by health insurance providers.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

From 'Grey's Anatomy' to 'Brilliant Minds,' see Eric Dane's career

Eric Daneplayed Dr. Mark Sloan, aka "McSteamy," on "Grey's Anatomy" for six seasons, but he's not done wooing his audiences yet. In 2025, Dane returned to TV on another medical drama, makinghis "Brilliant Minds" debutas "Bronx-Gen's favorite silver fox."Dane revealed in April that he'd been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS. See the actor's career in the spotlight from the early 2000's to now, including here as he attends the "Countdown" premiere and afterparty on June 18, 2025, in Los Angeles.

Eric Dane says he's glad he found the strength to fight ALS

Following his diagnosis, Dane said he had every right to crawl into bed and cry for two weeks straight.

"I have no reason to be a good spirit at any time on any given day," Dane said. "I was a little bit pleasantly surprised to realize that I wasn't built like that because I thought for sure that was going to be me."

The actor added that it was encouraging to discover he has a buoyant spirit in the face of adversity and that he manages to show up for his loved ones. "It's imperative that I share my journey with as many people as I can because I don't feel like my life is about me anymore," he said. "And it's something I had to wrestle with because I'm a pretty selfish person and I would love for my life to be all about me."

"(But) I don't think I'd be able to move forward if that were the case," Dane added.

On top of being open about his battle with the debilitating illness, Dane has sought to spread awareness about the thousands of others affected by it. On Sept. 29, he met withRep. Eric Swalwellto discuss the diseaseas an ambassador of I am ALS, where the actor vowed to fight until his last breath.

"I want to ring every bell," he said during his speech in Washington, DC. "I have two daughters at home. I want to see them graduate college, get married, maybe even have grandkids. You know I want to be there for all that, so I'm going to fight until the last breath on this one."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Eric Dane doesn't want to quit acting even amid ALS battle

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December 02, 2025

Eric Dane 'grateful' to continue acting amid ALS battle

Eric Danehas no desire to quit acting, even amid his battle withamyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Following h...

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Winter storms blanket the East, while the US West is wondering: Where’s the snow?

Ski season is here, but while the eastern half of the U.S.digs out from wintery storms, the western U.S. snow season has been off to a very slow start.

The snowpack wasfar below normalacross most of the West on Dec. 1, 2025. Denver didn't see its first measurable snowfall until Nov. 29 – more than a month past normal, and one of itslatest first-snow dates on record.

But a late start isn't necessarily reason to worry about the snow season ahead.

Adrienne Marshall, ahydrologist in Coloradowho studies how snowfall is changing in the West, explains what forecasters are watching and how rising temperatures are affecting the future of the West's beloved snow.

What are snow forecasters paying attention to right now?

It's still early in the snow season, so there's a lot of uncertainty in the forecasts. A late first snow doesn't necessarily mean a low-snow year.

But there are some patterns that we know influence snowfall that forecasters are watching.

For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationis forecasting La Niña conditions for this winter, possibly switching to neutral midway through. La Niña involves cooler-than-usual sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean along the equator west of South America. Cooler ocean temperatures in that regioncan influence weather patternsacross the U.S., but so can several other factors.

La Niña – and its opposite, El Niño – don't tell us what will happen for certain. Instead, they load the dice toward wetter or drier conditions, depending on where you are. La Niñas aregenerally associatedwith cooler, wetter conditions in the Pacific Northwest and a little bit warmer, drier conditions in the U.S. Southwest, but not always.

When we look at the consequences for snow, La Niña does tend to mean more snow in the Pacific Northwest and less in the Southwest, but, again, there's a lot of variability.

Snow conditions also depend heavily on individual storms, and those are more random than the seasonal pattern indicated by La Niña.

If you look atNOAA's seasonal outlook maps, most of Colorado and Utah are in the gap between the cooler and wetter pattern to the north and the warmer and drier pattern to the south expected during winter 2026. So, the outlook suggests roughly equal chances of more or less snow than normal and warmer or cooler weather across many major ski areas.

How is climate change affecting snowfall in the West?

In the West, snow measurements date back a century, so we can see some trends.

Starting in the 1920s, surveyors would go out into the mountains andmeasure the snowpackin March and April every year. Those records suggestsnowfall has declinedin most of the West. We also see evidence ofmore midwinter melting.

How much snow falls is driven by both temperature and precipitation, andtemperature is warming.

In the past few years, research has been able todirectly attribute observed changesin the spring snowpack to human-caused climate change. Rising temperatures have led to decreases in snow, particularly in the Southwest. The effects of warming temperatures on overall precipitation are less clear, but the net effect in the western U.S. is a decrease in the spring snowpack.

When we look atclimate change projections for the western U.S.in future years, we see with a high degree of confidence that we canexpect less snow in warmer climates. In scenarios where the world produces more greenhouse gas emissions, that'sworse for snow seasons.

Should states be worried about water supplies?

This winter's forecast isn't extreme at this point, so the impact on the year's water supplies is a pretty big question mark.

Snowpack – how much snow is on the ground in March or April –sums up the snowfall, minus the melt, for the year. The snowpack also affects water supplies for the rest of the year.

TheWest's water infrastructure systemwas built assuming there would be a natural reservoir of snow in the mountains. California relies on the snowpack forabout a thirdof its annual water supply.

However, rising temperatures are leading toearlier snowmelt in some areas. Evidence suggests that climate change is also expected to causemore rain-on-snow eventsat high elevations, which can cause very rapid snowmelt.

Both create challenges for water managers, who want to store as much snowmelt runoff as possible in reservoirs so it's available through the summer, when states need it most for agriculture and for generating hydropower to meet high electricity demand. If the snow melts early, water resource managers face some tough decisions, because they also need to leave room in their reservoirs to manage flooding. Earlier snowmelt sometimes means they have to release stored water.

When we look at reservoir levels in the Colorado River basin, particularly the big reservoirs – Lake Powell and Lake Mead – we see apattern of decline over time. They have had some very good snow and water years, and also particularly challenging ones, including along-running drought. The long-term trends suggest an imbalance between supply andgrowing demand.

What else does snowfall affect, such as fire risk?

During low-snow years, the snowpack disappears sooner, and thesoils dry out earlierin the year. That essentially leaves a longer summer dry period andmore stress on trees.

There is evidence that we tend to havebigger fire seasons after low-snow winters. That can be because the forests are left with drier fuels, which sets the ecosystem up to burn. That's obviously a major concern in the West.

Snow is also important to a lot of wildlife species that are adapted to it. Oneexample is the wolverine, an endangered species that requires deep snow for denning over the winter.

What snow lessons should people take away from climate projections?

Overall, climate projections suggest our biggest snow years will beless snowy in anticipated warmer climates, and thatvery low snow yearsare expected to be more common.

But it's important to remember that climate projections arebased on scenariosof how much greenhouse gas might be emitted in the future – they are not predictions of the future. The worldcan still reduce its emissionstocreate a less risky scenario. In fact, while the most ambitious emissions reductions are looking less likely, theworst emissions scenarios are also less likelyunder current policies.

Understanding how choices can change climate projections can be empowering.Projections are saying: Here's what we expect to happen if the world emits a lot of greenhouse gases, and here's what we expect to happen if we emit fewer greenhouse gases based on recent trends.

The choices we make will affect our future snow seasons and the wider climate.

This article has been updated to correct the references to Denver, which saw one of its latest snowfalls on record.

Adrienne Marshall, Assistant Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines

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