Humans aren’t the only ones struggling with the impact of this season’s weather storms.

Over 200 animals, mostly stray dogs or dogs lost during the storms, were brought to the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency in California this week and need homes.

“A lot of them are scared,” said SASA executive director Vaughn Maurice. “You can hear them crying and barking in the background. It really is a very sad situation.”

Staff are over capacity and working hard to reconnect the animals with their rightful owners. But with overcrowding and slowed adoptions due to the weather, dozens are being sent to shelters as far as states away.

One such partner shelter is in Idaho, where dozens of dogs were already sent to await new owners.

The problem with this transition is the agency does not have enough crates to transfer the animals safely and comfortably. They are currently asking the public for donations of any new or used crates, particularly for larger dogs. More than 70% of the agency’s dogs weigh over 50 pounds.

SASA is also seeking temporary foster parents to help with the influx of stray dogs.

Staff say adoptions have slowed down because of the weather and the impact it’s had on residents. The challenge is finding locals to take them in.

“I think right now there’s other communities that aren’t as inundated with stray dogs as what we’re seeing in Stanislaus County,” said rescue coordinator Chandra Looney.

With more rainfall coming this week, SASA staff expect plenty more animals will come into their care.

“Many of the dogs don’t appreciate being out in the rain,” Looney said. “Thunder and lightning can be scary to a dog.”

Maurice is also hoping people will volunteer with tasks as simple as coming and spending time with the animals.

“They’re beautiful animals,” Maurice said. “We love each and every one of them and we want to make sure they have the right outcome and find a good home as quickly as possible.”

Watch the video above for the full story.

After weeks of increases that pushed mortgage rates close to 4%, the climb took a break last week.The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.89% in the week ending Feb. 24, down slightly from 3.92% the week before, according to Freddie Mac.Even with this decline, mortgage rates have increased by more than a full percent over the past six months, said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's chief economist."As we enter the spring homebuying season with higher mortgage rates and continued low inventory, we expect home price growth to remain firm before cooling off later this year," he said.This past week, factors including geopolitical uncertainty weakened rates on 10-year Treasuries, said Danielle Hale, Realtor.com's chief economist, pushing rates down."As the world reacts to developments in Ukraine, the uncertainty will likely mean a pause in the recent pace of increases," she said.Still, mortgage rates remain 84 basis points higher than just 9 weeks ago as expectations for economic growth, inflation and monetary policy have gone through a major reset, Hale said.There have only been two similar spikes in recent history, she said: One immediately following the 2016 election, when rates jumped 85 basis points in 10 weeks, and the other during the 2013 'taper tantrum,' when rates surged 116 basis points in 11 weeks."In both cases, home sales momentum slowed in the following year due to the impact on affordability, since rising rates mean higher homeownership costs even if home prices are unchanged," Hale said.This is especially true for those putting a smaller amount of money down on a home, Realtor.com found.A 3.9% interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for a typical $375,000 home with a 10% down payment translates to monthly payments of $1,592. That is about $228 higher than in December 2020, Hale said. For a buyer putting down 20%, the monthly payment is $1,415 or $203 more.Higher costs of homeownership ultimately impact a buyer's ability and interest in home buying.Applications for mortgages dropped to their lowest level since December 2019 last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association."Higher mortgage rates have quickly shut off refinances, with activity down in six of the first seven weeks of 2022," said Joel Kan, MBA's associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting."Purchase applications, already constrained by elevated sales prices and tight inventory, have also been impacted by these higher rates and declined for the third straight week," he said.The monthly mortgage payment on the typical U.S. home rose 31% in the last year, according to an analysis by Zillow, as skyrocketing home prices and rapidly rising mortgage interest rates delivered a "one-two punch" to home buyers' budgets.In January 2021, a buyer purchasing the typical U.S. home, which was then worth $271,650, with a 20% down payment and a conforming, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, would have paid $885 a month, Zillow found. By this January, after the typical home rose to $325,667 and mortgage interest rates shot up, that same payment had risen 31% to $1,162 a month.According to Zillow, that average monthly mortgage payment is the highest on record. It is even higher than the record set in July 2006 of $1,118, when mortgage rates were a whopping 6.76%.Higher borrowing costs will likely push buyers to seek out lower-priced homes, according to the analysis by Jeff Tucker, senior economist at Zillow, meaning buyers may move to a more affordable area, try to wait out rates or delay a home purchase altogether.

The National Association of Realtors sees signs that the housing market could normalize in the new year.

Even though interest rates are rising, they say rates will still stay historically low — and that comes with perks.

"Interest rates will lock in for the next 30 years and (buyers) know exactly what your payments are going to be," said Jessica Lautz with the National Association of Realtors. "If you are renting right now, your rent is likely to increase next year, and that's going to stay, along with inflationary pressure. That's probably going to increase as landlords know that they can really increase that rent, and that's going to be difficult."

The National Association of Realtors predicts more inventory coming to the market next year. That could help slow down rising prices.

The association says the most important thing potential buyers need to know is how much to save and have for closing costs and down payments. Buyers should also track the fundamental changes brought on by the pandemic that can allow them to look for properties in less expensive areas.

"The other big thing that's different is the idea of what people want in their home, because CEOs are allowing that flexibility for remote work, and that's going to continue for the foreseeable future — at least a hybrid schedule that allows buyers to look at overlooked areas that they probably counted out in the past," Lautz said.

COWETA, Okla. — Late Sunday night, a possible tornado touched down in Coweta, Oklahoma, leaving behind damage throughout its path.

The tornado hit the city around 10:45 p.m. near Coweta High School.

Went back into our KJRH radar data and this shows the tornado approaching the Coweta area, going through Coweta, then the rotation decreased before 11p. #2News #OkWx pic.twitter.com/x3uLpVnX2m

— Brandon Wholey KJRH (@BrandonWholey) October 11, 2021

The storm reportedly damaged several homes near the high school, as well as the school itself. Reported damages include fallen tree limbs, fallen power lines, and debris found in yards across Coweta.

Emergency crews arrived in Coweta early Monday morning and are responding to the damage.

Coweta Public Schools also canceled in-person and virtual classes scheduled for the week to assess the damage done in the area.

2 News Oklahoma

The Phillips 66 gas station across the street from the school had damage to its roof after the storm rolled through. It was closed at the time the storm hit.

The City of Coweta confirms there are no injuries or fatalities that have been reported following the storms on Sunday night.

Power lines are still being repaired at this time.

Senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tulsa, Chuck Hodges, told the Associated Press that crews would go out sometime Monday to assess and see how many tornadoes struck.

Another city in Oklahoma, Anadarko, also saw buildings damaged, the news outlet reported.

Baseball-sized hail was also reported in Norman.

Oklahoma wasn't the only state rocked with severe storms on Sunday.

According to the AP, severe weather also hit parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas with heavy rains, lightning, and wind.

The AP reported that survey crews were heading out to the southwestern part of the state to see if tornadoes supposedly caused damage.

In Kansas City, the NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Chiefs was delayed for an hour due to lightning.

Ryan Love at KJRH first reported this story.

Recovery efforts began ramping up on the burnt hills and valleys of Placer County in northern California soon after Cal Fire announced on Thursday the River Fire was 100% contained. "We are on day three or four of sifting trying to find any kind of keepsakes," said Windy Dougall.Dougall, with her hands covered in ash, searched through the familial property where her sister's and parents’ house stood. She said even most of the metal on their property melted during the fire."This right here was the garage, that's actually my first car," said Chuckling Dougall, pointing toward the shell of a 1966 Ford Mustang. "At this point, there's nothing really salvageable."The Dougall family has lived on the same property for the last 15 years. Windy, along with her father, continues to search through the ash, hunting for one of the most meaningful things her mother left behind after her passing, which was just two weeks before the fire."I'm looking for the diamonds out of my mom's wedding ring. It's just such a really slow laborious process," Windy Dougall said.The Dougall family's two homes are among the 102 residential properties reportedly destroyed in the wildfire. "The River Fire caught us all by surprise," said Mike Basich, whose business caught fire last year and whose home burned down last week.Long-time resident Jim Lee remarked on how close the flames felt in downtown Colfax."The glow right behind the trees, and the billows of smoke just rising like crazy," Lee said.Neighbors, like Christian Kinsey, threw "Welcome Home" breakfasts for the many evacuees that recently gained full access to their property. "We are, you know, so heart-torn for our friends who lost everything. You know everybody in the neighborhood wanted to do something, the problem is we don’t know what to do," Kinsey explained. The nonprofit, Soroptimist, held a relief center for fire survivors at 55 School Street. Officials with the nonprofit said they've had several donations."Just the generosity of so many people to have given what they have given," said Karen Miller, with Soroptimist."It is devastating for these people, and they have broken down just in tears. If all we do is give them a big hug, and give them some support, and they leave with a little bit of a smile on their face, then we’ve done our job," Miller said.

CINCINNATI —

Much of Over-the-Rhine has been remade, the Cincinnati riverfront has been revitalized and now Price Hill is starting to think its time could soon arrive.

There was some groundwork for a neighborhood renaissance laid years ago. Now, new single-family home construction is in the works.

After decades of deterioration and decline, Price Hill brims with captivating views and potential.

Don Johnson of Cutler Real Estate walked around his old stomping grounds Friday to show us some of it.

"From this property we're going to have four and on the other side we're going to have six townhouses," he pointed out at the far southern end of Grand Avenue.

Dozens of infill lots like the one at Mt. Hope have been bought up for market-rate housing.
You heard that right. The market seems to be light-years from where it was just a few summers ago when properties could be had for $40,000 and $50,000.

"It's a whole different market over here now," Johnson said. "It really picked up momentum."

He grew up around here as an Elder grad and handles sales and marketing for the homebuilder, who also grew up around here as an Elder grad.

Kim Knoppe made his mark in Columbus and came back to find lots of empty lots and no plan beyond tear downs.

"And it just struck me that what that area needed was new home construction, something that would lift the entire neighborhood up," Knoppe told us during an interview today.
He has control of close to 80 lots throughout the city, including Harrison, Sayler Park, Mt. Auburn and East Riverside Drive.

He is still in buying mode and will break ground for new home construction on Hawthorne Avenue in Price Hill next week. The homes will be in the $400,000 range.

Knoppe is hoping for a ripple effect throughout the west side.

He is candid about the risk, saying he doesn't know if it'll go and that he feels a little like Don Quixote.

"Read the book, saw the opera," he said with a hearty laugh. "It takes that kind of risk sometimes to turn the table."

Knoppe is playing off the success of the Incline District where the Public House is a regional magnet.

He grew up on Grand Avenue and now just four blocks away he is planning to construct ten three-story, three-bedroom, two-car garage homes with rooftop terraces.

"I can't tell you what a warm feeling it gives me to be able to go into my old neighborhood and improve it," he said.

We saw the type of breathtaking view he plans to capitalize on with wood beam ceilings, brick fronts and 15-year tax abatements.

"Young people get good jobs and they move out of Price Hill. And they would love to be there with family and friends. So, hopefully, they'll be attracted to this type of housing as well," he said.

One woman in a new condo overlooking the Ohio River told us the neighborhood is ripe for change.

"It'll take a while," she said and then added, "I love it here."

CINCINNATI — When heavy rain starts, so does anxiety.

Just ask Hyde Park resident Adam Bankovich.

"We went in our basement and, sure enough, the storm drain had exploded, hitting the ceiling, which is about 9 feet ceiling down there, and then it just kept bubbling up. Shop vac was full," he told WCPO Thursday.

Bankovich said it's not the first time rainwater and sewage have overflowed into his home. Last year, it flooded three times and once before that in 2016.

"It's super frustrating," he said. "The claims process is just hours, weeks, months of our time that we can't get back."

According to the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, the agency received more than 400 reports of "possible sewer backs" in the last 24 hours since Wednesday night's torrential rains.

Nine of those were on Astoria Avenue, an area with a history of flooding.

MSD had already installed sewer-backup prevention at two homes on that block, with eight more — including the Bankovich's — still in line.

But he said he's been waiting for more than a year.

"It's frustrating; it's maddening," he said. "Everyone is doing their best, and we're just living through it, but every single time it happens it's invasive to our home and our comfort to our home."

A few blocks over, resident Nick McKee said the feeling is mutual.

"The anxiety we feel from the second there is rain that is absurdly heavy is there constantly, and then it's a mad dash to get as many things up out of the basement as we can," he said.

McKee said his sewer drain has backed up into his yard, rising about two feet, and his basement and garage are also flooded.

He said he wants a permanent fix.

"What they have with respect to the claims system is a Band-Aid instead of a real solution," he said. "And if you pay the claims, it may be cheaper than the billions of dollars it costs to fix it.

"But maybe the billions of dollars it costs to fix it is what they need to do."

CINCINNATI —

A terrifying scene played out over the weekend in Anderson Township. Video shows fireworks being shot off at homes early in the morning.

“If it hit an evergreen or hit the house in the wrong place, a wooden housed it would go up in smoke,” Jim Thompson, owner of Lucy Blue Pizza, said.

At Lucy Blue Pizza, you can enjoy a hot slice and good conversation, but all the talk now, according to Thompson, is the video from Royal Green Drive.

“It feels like a prank, but yes that's serious. If it's a roman candle, they have potential of starting a pretty good size fire,” Thompson said.

Thompson has employees that live in what they say is normally a quiet area. It's all that's being talked about among friends and family who are all wondering who could do something so irresponsible.

“That completely was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen,” Lucy Blue Pizza employee Bella Bolin said.

Bolin has heard fireworks in the area, but what she saw on video goes well beyond holiday fun.

“Shooting roman candles out of a moving car? I wouldn't think that would be very fun especially if they have it on camera and they're going to get caught,” Bolin said.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone this behavior is illegal and dangerous. They say all their units have been notified to be on the lookout. For Jim Thompson, he hopes whoever is behind this stops before something serious happens.

“They're in that age group where they want to have fun, but I don't know if they understand the risk and the consequences that come along with that,” Thompson said.

If you recognize the car in the video or know who is responsible, reach out to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.