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    Former Clippers forward Nicolas Batum retires after 18 NBA seasons
    • September 22, 2026

    LOS ANGELES — Former Clippers forward Nicolas Batum is retiring following an 18-year NBA career and a long stint with the French national team.

    The 37-year-old Batum announced his retirement in a social media video with his son on Monday.

    “I decided to retire from basketball for several reasons,” Batum told 10-year-old son, Ayden, in the video. “I want to come home and be with you. I’m going to take care of you and make room for others. I think I’ve done my time. My time with France ended two years ago. And the NBA is over too. You know, when you’ve played as much basketball as I have, at some point, you have to know when to stop. … I’ve done everything I needed to do.”

    Batum played two seasons in the French league before being selected in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers as a teenager. The 6-foot-7 forward spent seven seasons in Portland before playing the next five with Charlotte.

    Batum spent most of his final six seasons with the Clippers, with a short stint in Philadelphia in 2023-24. He also was a stalwart on French national teams that won silver medals in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.

    Batum said in the video that France’s semifinal victory over Germany at the 2024 Olympics in Paris was “the best basketball moment I’ve ever experienced.”

    Batum averaged 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 37% from 3-point range during his NBA career. He appeared in 76 playoff games and reached the 2021 Western Conference finals with the Clippers.

    He averaged 4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 74 appearances last season.

    Earlier this summer, the Clippers declined their option on Batum’s $5.9 million contract for the 2026-27 season, leaving him as an unrestricted free agent.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    With the world’s leaders waiting, Trump meets with Mamdani
    • September 22, 2026

    By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE

    NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump’s trip to New York for a speech at the United Nations started Monday with a detour to Gracie Mansion for an hourlong chat — and a trip down memory lane — with Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

    The president, appearing with Mamdani after their meeting, reminisced about his previous visits to the official residence of the city’s mayors and recalled “great ones and some not so great ones” who have led the city in the past.

    “Hopefully you’re going to be a great one,” he said, giving Mamdani a pat on the back. “And you’re off to a start.”

    The meeting was the latest cordial encounter between the Republican president and a democratic socialist mayor, who have struck up a surprisingly warm relationship despite their lack of political overlap, and have tried to find common ground in helping the city they both love.

    With scores of world leaders arriving in the city for the United Nations General Assembly, there Trump stood beside Mamdani on the lawn of the custard-yellow mayoral mansion in Manhattan.

    “I have a lot of meetings right now, very important meetings with heads of different countries, but this is like a little bit of old home week for me,” Trump said, adding “We’ve done so many things from the beautiful home or house or building standing right behind me.”

    Trump and Mamdani told reporters they discussed a potential housing project in the borough of Queens and how to make New York more affordable for the working class.

    They have met at least twice previously and have appeared to maintain some level of contact with one another, though the mayor stays tightlipped about any ongoing conversations with the president.

    The pair of polarizing leaders first gathered in the Oval Office shortly after Mamdani’s election victory last year for a surprisingly cordial confab that centered on ways to help their shared hometown, a detente that came after months of verbal sparring.

    A few months later in February, Mamdani again took a quick jaunt to Washington to present Trump with a mock New York Daily News front page that said “Trump to City: Let’s Build,” as he pitched new housing investments in the city.

    As they did after their first Oval Office meeting, Trump and Mamdani acknowledged their political and policy differences while standing side by side.

    Mamdani was asked about Trump’s decision to bar certain news outlets from the White House, with the mayor saying it was important that those networks, and others, be present for the Gracie Mansion event. Trump then defended his restrictions on the news organizations whose coverage he called biased.

    “It’s interesting because they said they were gonna boycott me. But they never boycott me,” the president said, before adding, “I think that these outlets have an obligation to be fair.”

    Trump’s previous visits to Gracie Mansion included attending the 2003 wedding of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and a 2007 book party for former Democratic U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel.

    After Trump left, Mamdani returned to the lawn to answer a few more questions, telling reporters that he and the president have sharp disagreements but that the relationship has endured nevertheless.

    “I will continue to have conversations with the president, and frankly, anyone who can deliver relief to the people of this city,” Mamdani said.

    Associated Press writer Kimberlee Kruesi contributed to this report from Providence, Rhode Island.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Social Security is phasing out paper checks this year. Here’s what beneficiaries need to know
    • September 22, 2026

    By Jacquelyn Burrer, The Dallas Morning News

    People still receiving Social Security benefits in the mail need to prepare for electronic changes as paper checks are being phased out soon.

    The Social Security Administration plans to complete the transition to electronic payments for beneficiaries by the end of this year, according to the agency.

    Federal law and Executive Order 14247, which went into effect Sept. 30, 2025, require federal benefit payments to be made electronically, with limited exceptions.

    If you’re still receiving benefit payments by paper check, the administration encourages switching to electronic payments as soon as possible.

    “Switching now ensures you receive your Social Security or Supplemental Security income quickly and securely,” the administration said in a Sept. 14 news release.

    How do I switch my Social Security from paper checks to electronic?

    Beneficiaries can create or sign in to their Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount and provide their bank account information to receive payments through direct deposit.

    According to the administration, individuals can also ask their financial institution to send their direct deposit information to the Social Security Administration electronically.

    For people without a bank account, the administration said electronic payments are available through a prepaid debit card offered through the Direct Express program. More information is available at godirect.gov.

    Some people in “extremely rare circumstances” may qualify for an exception to the electronic-payment requirement, according to the Social Security Administration. Individuals who need an exception to switching to electronic payments can request a waiver through the U.S. Treasury by calling 855-290-1545.

    What’s the latest on the 2027 Social Security COLA?

    Social Security recipients are also watching for the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, which will determine how much monthly benefits could increase next year.

    Social Security beneficiaries previously saw a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment in 2026, following a 2.5% adjustment in 2025. For the average retired worker, the 2.8% increase raised monthly benefits from about $2,015 to $2,072, according to the administration’s website.

    The Social Security Administration will announce the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment in October, but a specific date is not available yet.

    The 2027 COLA cannot be calculated until September’s inflation data is released, which is currently scheduled for Oct. 14, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    ©2026 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Republican who oversees South Dakota’s elections endorses a Democrat in the race to succeed her
    • September 22, 2026

    By SARAH RAZA

    SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota’s Republican secretary of state is breaking with her party and endorsing the Democrat running for the office, saying “the integrity, stability, and professionalism of this office is at stake.”

    Secretary of State Monae Johnson lost the nomination at the state GOP convention in June to Heather Baxter, a state lawmaker whose campaign website says she aligns with President Donald Trump and his concerns about “inaccurate voter rolls, mail in ballots, and voting machine issues.” A previous statement on Baxter’s website said she supported getting rid of voting machines in favor of hand-counting ballots, which has been a theme among those pushing conspiracy theories that voting and ballot counting machines can be rigged.

    Johnson said she endorsed Democratic candidate Terrence Davis because he brings law enforcement experience from his years as a state trooper, as well as an educational background in law and policy. The secretary of state’s office on Monday said Johnson would not comment beyond her statement, which was published over the weekend.

    “I am a Republican. Terrence is a Democrat. I understand that this decision will disappoint some people in my party and anger others,” Johnson wrote in a column published in South Dakota War College, a conservative politics blog.

    It’s not clear what impact the endorsement will have in South Dakota, where no Democrat has held statewide office since 2015. The state has voted overwhelmingly for Trump in the past three presidential elections.

    Baxter downplayed Johnson’s endorsement of her opponent.

    “It’s not surprising that she’d rather back someone who won’t change what she has done,” she said in a statement.

    Earlier this year, Baxter sponsored a bill to prohibit the use of automatic tabulating systems, though the legislation ultimately failed.

    A previous version of her website stated that she “advocates for hand-counted paper ballots, no more voting machines.” On Monday, Baxter said she altered the wording because she does not have the power to change the way ballots are tallied and she trusts auditors ”to do what’s best for their counties.”

    Hand-counting ballots has been shown to take far longer and is more prone to error than using tabulator machines.

    Baxter, who won election to the Legislature two years ago, said Trump’s agenda on voting and elections is generally a “reinforcement of current election laws.”

    Since taking office for his second term, Trump has attempted to federalize election operations, even though the Constitution gives states and in some cases Congress that authority. He has tried to put the Postal Service at the center of deciding which voters can receive a mail ballot, attempted to impose a proof-of-citizenship requirement for registering to vote in this year’s midterms and pushed a narrative that noncitizens are marring U.S. elections.

    Six years after he lost his bid for reelection to Biden, Trump continues to spread false claims of widespread voting fraud.

    South Dakota is the latest state where Republican candidates who align with Trump’s views on voting and elections have been on the ballot this year for statewide office, in some cases winning their primaries.

    Johnson’s endorsement of a Democrat to succeed her in the office that oversees elections is a bit of a turnaround. When she campaigned for the position in 2022, she refused to say whether Democrat Joe Biden had won the 2020 election and focused on “election integrity,” a phrase often used by conspiracy theorists who refuse to acknowledge the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

    Last year, Johnson apologized for accidentally releasing information that revealed whether those on the state’s voter rolls were seeking government assistance such as food aid.

    Jim Eschenbaum, chair of the South Dakota Republican Party, said GOP delegates soured on Johnson after she failed to appear before a legislative committee to answer questions about a contract her office had awarded to an electronic poll book company. She eventually was issued a subpoena.

    “An involved citizenry just won’t stand for that from their elected officials, period,” he said in a text to The Associated Press.

    For his part, Davis emphasized that the secretary of state’s office is nonpartisan and that its mission is to serve all residents “honestly and fairly.”

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Newport Beach mails out 400 overseas ballots to start special election
    • September 22, 2026

    Hundreds of ballots for Newport Beach residents living overseas or serving in the Armed Forces have been mailed, marking the first step in a court-ordered special election for three resident-sponsored initiatives regarding council term limits, council district representation and oversight of public meetings and records.

    For the first time in 44 years, the city will administer its own election, which will happen concurrently with the regularly scheduled general election on Nov. 3. Voters will get two ballots, one from the Orange County Registrar of Voters with everything from local council and school board races to the California governor’s race and a second from the city for the three initiatives.

    In a late-night City Council meeting Friday, Sept. 18, Councilmember Erik Weigand argued the city should not send out the special election ballots, saying it would ultimately lead to chaos and confusion that could jeopardize the success of the general election. A council majority disagreed, and his effort to stop the mailing failed.

    “I’m not confident the Registrar of Voters or the Secretary of State is going to provide us enough information to get us the ability to verify all ballots when they get back to us,” Weigand said, following a three-hour closed session meeting with the city’s legal counsel.

    Weigand added that he is especially concerned that no voter guide or pro/con arguments are included with the 400 ballots mailed out to the overseas voters.

    “I feel that leads to a significant amount of confusion,” he said.

    The election was ordered by Orange County Superior Court Judge Julianne Bancroft. Newport Beach had gone to court to challenge whether the initiatives authored by the Newport Beach Stewardship Association had been properly noticed to the public. The city’s appeal of Bancroft’s decision that they were is still awaiting a ruling from the state’s Supreme Court.

    In the meantime, Bancroft has shut down the city’s arguments that the special election runs counter to election laws and the city charter and the time crunch to organize the election is too tight. Most recently, in a final ruling on Sept. 14, Bancroft said any hardship the city now faces in putting together the special election is its own doing.

    The city clerk is working with vendors and a consultant to administer the special election. Ballots to in-town registered voters are expected to go out Oct. 19, Weigand said Friday.

    City officials have been notified by the county registrar and state election leaders that some voter information, such as confidential voter data, can not be provided at this time.

    Nonetheless, City Manager Seimone Jurjis confirmed on Monday that the city continues to comply with Bancroft’s order.

    Councilmember Robyn Grant, who opposed Weigand’s effort on Friday, said that despite the complexities of the special election, she is cognizant of the city’s legal counsel’s advice.

    “There are definite hurdles, and we’re looking for a lawful path forward,” she said, adding that a trial court and the Court of Appeals ordered the special election. “I remain in the same position we were when a majority of us voted.”

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Appeals court favors Trump-backed Missouri congressional map, but Supreme Court will have final say
    • September 21, 2026

    By DAVID A. LIEB

    JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A long-running legal fight over Missouri’s congressional map took another turn Monday when a federal appeals panel ruled in favor of new districts backed by President Donald Trump, even though the U.S. Supreme Court has blocked those districts from being used in the November election.

    A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Missouri should use the new Republican-drawn U.S. House districts in the November election, just as the state did in its August primary. To revert to its prior districts for the general election would violate the U.S. Constitution, the appeals judges said.

    However, the ruling has no immediate impact. That’s because the federal appellate panel delayed the effect of its order for a week to allow time for an appeal. The U.S. Supreme Court already has twice sided against the Trump-backed map and had blocked enforcement of a lower court order favoring the map pending a potential appeal and eventual decision by the high court.

    Missouri currently is set to run its November election with the same congressional districts it used in 2024 and 2022, following prior decisions by both the Missouri Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

    Local elections officials already have sent absentee ballots to overseas citizens and military voters using those districts. State law requires absentee ballots to be available to all other voters by Tuesday.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Election 2026: Props 1 and 37 put $36 billion to California’s housing effort
    • September 21, 2026

    California voters will decide in November whether to authorize two multibillion-dollar housing bonds — one to help fund new affordable homes and another to help buyers afford down payments on newly constructed properties.

    One measure, Proposition 1, would let the state borrow $11.25 billion for a variety of housing efforts, including financing low-income apartments and providing low-interest home loans to veterans and first-time homebuyers.

    The other, Proposition 37, would allow a state agency to sell up to $25 billion in bonds to lend money to homebuyers for down payments on newly constructed properties.

    David Garcia, policy director at UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation, which does not take positions on ballot measures, said Prop. 1 would replenish crucial state programs to “continue building affordable housing throughout California.” He said Prop. 37, meanwhile, could help many residents who qualify for a mortgage but lack savings for a traditional 20% down payment, while also “creating demand for builders to build new housing.”

    Opponents of Prop. 1, however, argue that while jumpstarting housing construction may be a worthy goal, it would be reckless for the state to take on billions in new debt while facing a long-term budget deficit. And although Prop. 37 is designed to pay for itself through buyers’ home loan payments, opponents fault it for not specifying how much borrowers would pay in interest and not prioritizing first-time buyers.

    Neither measure would directly raise taxes, but Prop. 1 would need to be paid from the state’s general fund, potentially reducing money available for other services.

    According to a recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California, 55% of likely voters support Prop. 1, while 61% support Prop. 37. Each requires a simple majority to pass.

    Prop. 1

    The largest chunk of Prop. 1 funding, $7.2 billion, would go toward state programs that provide grants and low-interest loans to developers to build affordable apartments and townhomes. Just over $1 billion would fund mortgage assistance for first-time homebuyers and other programs to encourage homeownership. Most of the remaining roughly $3 billion would support affordable housing programs for farmworkers, students and tribal members.

    The bond funds would help subsidize up to 40,000 multifamily rental units, and provide as many as 40,000 households with mortgage assistance, home repairs and other homeowner support, according to the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.

    Chione Flegal, executive director of Housing California, a pro-housing group backing the measure, said tens of thousands of affordable units are now “shovel-ready” thanks to recent state laws that have rolled back development regulations. But with state housing programs running low on money, she said many of those projects need an additional funding source like Prop. 1 to break ground.

    “You have both an incredible need and the conditions to actually get building quickly,” Flegal said.

    In San Jose, a city-backed, 500-plus affordable housing development at 71 Vista Montana has faced years of delays after multiple attempts to develop it fell apart over funding issues, according to city officials. The City Council approved a new developer this month to move the project forward. Officials endorsed a plan for the developer to submit a financing proposal within three months, secure all funding within two years, and start construction within three years.

    California voters last passed a dedicated state affordable housing bond in 2018, totaling $4 billion. In 2024, voters also approved $2 billion for homeless housing as part of a $6.4 billion mental health bond pushed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom, along with Democratic mayors and state lawmakers, has also backed Prop. 1.

    The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which opposes the measure, argues it would be foolish for the state to take on new debt when it projects multibillion-dollar budget deficits in the years ahead. If the state wants to support housing, it should find money already in its budget, which tops $350 billion this fiscal year, said spokesperson Susan Shelley.

    “The more you pile this debt on, the more difficult the budget process is,” she said.

    Prop. 1 would cost the state between $500 million and $600 million annually for around 25 years — about a quarter-percent of the state’s general fund budget, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. The bond would cost about 15% more than paying upfront with money the state already has, the office said.

    The Prop. 1 campaign has raised at least $8 million from donors including affordable housing developers, civic foundations and construction unions. There is no registered opposition campaign.

    Prop. 37

    Prop. 37 would create a new state program to lend middle-income homebuyers up to 17% of the price of a newly constructed house, condo, townhome or manufactured home. Buyers would pay the remaining 3% to cover the full down payment.

    Buyers would make two monthly payments: one on their conventional mortgage and one on the down payment loan. If approved, the state may adopt a rule allowing down payment loans to cover closing costs, though a final decision would not come until later.

    To qualify for a loan, a household would need to earn no more than double the area median income in the county where the home is located, adjusted for family size. That means in Santa Clara County, which has among the highest median incomes in the state, a family of four would need to earn less than $411,000 a year to qualify. The maximum home sale price would range from roughly $1 million to $1.5 million depending on location.

    Bob Hertzberg, the former Los Angeles state assemblymember behind the measure, said the goal is “to create generational wealth” and provide more Californians “the opportunity to move from being renters to being homeowners.”

    Unlike traditional down payment assistance programs, Hertzberg’s proposal would only apply to newly constructed homes. He said that would incentivize developers to build new housing, particularly condos and townhomes in denser neighborhoods.

    Under the measure, developers who build specifically for the program would benefit from updated construction defect liability rules, which housing advocates have blamed for stalling condo construction in recent years. The new rules would allow developers to ask courts to dismiss lawsuits brought by homeowners over needed repairs if property owners fail to respond within 120 days to developers’ attempts to fix the issues. In most cases, the rules would also cap attorneys’ fees at 30% of a final settlement, judgment, or other legal resolution.

    Proponents say Prop. 37 would spur more than 190,000 new homes statewide. The Legislative Analyst’s Office, however, said it’s unclear whether the measure would increase construction and homebuying. It noted that homeowner borrowing costs and repayment terms are still unknown, which could affect demand for the program.

    While the measure instructs the state to ensure interest rates are “below-market,” rate setting would need to account for demand from investors buying the bonds to fund the program, among other factors. If a homeowner defaults, the bond investors would be on the hook for the loan, not taxpayers.

    The League of Women Voters of California, which opposes the measure, criticized the lack of clarity on rates and the fact that, unlike most other mortgage assistance programs, it does not prioritize first-time homebuyers.

    “California needs homeownership programs that lower families’ total costs, confront racial barriers to building wealth, and support strong communities,” the policy advocacy nonprofit wrote in its ballot recommendation. “Prop. 37 does not meet that test.”

    The California Housing Finance Agency, which runs other homebuying assistance efforts, would be in charge of the new program. The measure would authorize the agency to issue up to $25 billion in bonds, potentially dwarfing other state mortgage programs.

    In large part because the state would repay the bonds using revenue collected from borrowers’ home loan repayments, the measure would not impose any direct costs on the state, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

    The Prop. 37 campaign has raised more than $22 million from donors including the California Association of Realtors and construction unions. There is no registered opposition campaign.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Pea-sized hail anticipated with thunderstorms to hit Yosemite Monday – gusts to hit 40 mph
    • September 21, 2026

    Yosemite, Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra and Upper San Joaquin River are included in a report for strong thunderstorms by the National Weather Service on Monday at 3:30 p.m. The alert is in effect until 4 p.m.

    The storms may bring wind gusts of up to 40 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches).

    “At 3:29 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm near Yosemite South Entrance, moving southwest at 15 mph,” according to the NWS Hanford CA. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”

    Locations impacted by the alert include Yosemite South Entrance, Chilkoot Meadow, Fish Camp, Poison Ridge, Buck Camp Ranger Station and Mariposa Grove.

    The NWS said, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.”

    Lightning on the horizon: Expert safety measures for thunderstorms

    Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, mostly during the summer. It claims the lives of about 20 people annually, according to the NWS. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

    To guarantee your safety in the midst of a thunderstorm, take into account the following recommendations:

    Lightning safety plan:

    • When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
    • Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s a clear indication of nearby lightning.
    • Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

    Indoors safety measures:

    • Once you’re indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors.
    • These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.

    Wait for the all-clear:

    • After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
    • Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly passed, so exercise caution.

    When indoor shelter isn’t available:

    If you find yourself outdoors without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

    • Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, as they expose you to greater lightning risk.
    • Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
    • If you’re in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
    • Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It’s crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.
    • Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

    In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the chances of lightning-related accidents and prioritize your safety.

    Driving through downpours: Safety guidelines for wet roads

    When heavy rain strikes, safety is paramount. Equip yourself with these guidelines from the NWS to navigate wet roads and avoid hazards:

    Beware of rapid water flow:

    In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.

    Maintain safe driving distances:

    Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

    Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

    If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.

    Choose your lane wisely:

    Stick to the middle lanes to minimize the risk of hydroplaning. Outer lanes are more prone to accumulating water.

    Visibility matters:

    Turn on your headlights and be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.

    Watch out for slippery roads:

    Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.

    Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

    Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so with caution.

    Mind your windshield wipers:

    Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas.

    When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

    By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

    For more local weather alerts, visit our Weather Advisory page

    ​ Orange County Register 

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