Newsbytes – Smithsonian to Milpitas, Winter Storm Cara, Climate Change, South Dakota Ghost Town

By: Staff Writers Amber Lee and Mallika Gupta

Local – Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit Comes to Milpitas Library

The Milpitas Public Library is currently hosting the traveling exhibit Exploring Human Origins, sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution and American Library Association. The free exhibit started on November 25 and is open until December 22. It aims to educate people about scientific discoveries regarding human evolution and promote discussion of what it means to be human. There are displays like 3-dimensional skull replicas and interactive digital presentations, as well as workshops led by paleoanthropologists, scientists who study ancient human fossils. The Milpitas library is the only location in California out of 19 libraries nationwide that are hosting Exploring Human Origins.

 

National – Winter Storm Cara Causes Flooding and Icy Roads

Winter Storm Cara moved through the Central Plains and the Midwest during the Thanksgiving weekend, causing at least 14 deaths in Texas and Kansas. Many of the casualties were from heavy flooding or car accidents on icy roads. Temperatures dropped below freezing, and storm weather contributed to dangerous driving conditions. In addition, flood warnings were declared in parts of Texas and Arkansas, while ice storms in Oklahoma caused blackouts for more than 78,000 people. In areas of Kansas, there were freezing rains, extensive ice accumulation, and power outages.

 

International – World Leaders Tackle Climate Change

Leaders of 150 nations, along with 40,000 delegates from 195 countries, are attending the Conference of Parties, an annual forum to try to tackle climate change on a global level. The leaders aim to agree on reductions in greenhouse gas emissions meant to hold global average temperatures short of a 2 degrees Celsius increase over preindustrial global temperatures. President Obama recognized the role of the US in creating climate change and its role in solving the issue, agreeing that the deal should be global in nature, assertive, and flexible.

 

­Quirky – South Dakota Ghost Town on Sale for $250,000

The entire 6-acre town of Swett, located about 100 miles southeast of Rapid City, South Dakota, is on sale for a quarter of a million dollars. Realtor Stacie Montgomery said potential buyers from the US and beyond have expressed interest since she first listed the property for sale in June 2014. Swett’s population had peaked at 40 residents in the 1940s when it had a post office and grocery store. The town currently includes a tavern, three-bedroom house, and a former tire shop. Offers have included a call from a Russian movie production company interested in filming there.