SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - Rain returns Wednesday morning and peaks overnight between New Year's Eve and Day with thunderstorm chances and gusty winds.

Flood watches are in effect Wednesday night through Thursday night in southern Santa Barbara County and Ventura County.

Showers linger Friday bringing rainfall forecasts between 1 and 3 inches near the coast, 2 to 6 inches inland from storm number 1 that is moving north from the south.

Multiple pulses of more rain are expected to arrive this weekend through next week from another storm brewing out of the northwest.

The post Flood watch for New Year’s, rainy first week of 2026 appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Por Haley Britzky, CNN

Aproximadamente dos docenas de agentes de ISIS han muerto o han sido capturados en Siria por fuerzas de EE.UU. y aliadas desde los ataques aéreos estadounidenses de principios de este mes, realizados en respuesta a la muerte de dos militares de Estados Unidos.

Casi 25 agentes murieron o fueron capturados entre el 20 y el 29 de diciembre, según un comunicado del Comando Central de EE.UU. (CENTCOM, por sus siglas en inglés) publicado el martes; siete miembros de ISIS han muerto, mientras que el resto fue capturado durante 11 misiones. También se destruyeron cuatro depósitos de armas de ISIS, según el comunicado.

Las misiones se producen tras los ataques a gran escala de EE.UU. el 19 de diciembre en Siria, que impactaron aproximadamente 70 objetivos. Los ataques de represalia se produjeron después de que dos militares estadounidenses y un intérprete civil murieran en un ataque el 13 de diciembre que, según EE.UU., fue perpetrado por ISIS. Un funcionario estadounidense dijo previamente que fuerzas de Estados Unidos y sus aliados habían matado o detenido a unas 23 personas tras el ataque del 13 de diciembre, aparte de las aproximadamente dos decenas citadas en el comunicado del martes.

“No cederemos”, dijo el almirante Brad Cooper, comandante de CENTCOM, en el comunicado del martes. “Estamos firmes en nuestro compromiso de trabajar con socios regionales para erradicar la amenaza de ISIS contra la seguridad de EE.UU. y la región”.

Los dos miembros del servicio estadounidense y el intérprete civil murieron en Palmira, Siria, debido a heridas sufridas “mientras se enfrentaban a fuerzas hostiles”, indicó previamente el Ejército. El Departamento de Defensa dijo que el ataque fue perpetrado por un solo atacante de ISIS.

Los militares fueron identificados como el sargento Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, de 25 años, de Des Moines, Iowa, y el sargento William Nathaniel Howard, de 29 años, de Marshalltown, Iowa. Ambos eran miembros de la Guardia Nacional de Iowa, que comenzó a desplegar aproximadamente 1.800 efectivos en Medio Oriente a principios de este año como parte de la Operación Resolución Inherente, la misión de EE.UU. para derrotar a ISIS. Otros tres miembros de la Guardia Nacional de Iowa resultaron heridos en el ataque.

Los ataques de represalia del 19 de diciembre “destruyeron infraestructuras y sitios de armas de ISIS en todo el centro de Siria”, según el comunicado del martes.

Otros países aliados se unieron a EE.UU. en los ataques, incluido Jordania, que dijo haberlo hecho para evitar que organizaciones extremistas amenacen la seguridad de países vecinos, especialmente después de que ISIS “se reconstituyera y reconstruyera sus capacidades en el sur de Siria”.

Cientos de fuerzas estadounidenses están desplegadas en Siria como parte de la misión de larga data de EE.UU. para combatir a ISIS. El grupo que se refiere a sí mismo como el Estado Islámico no había reivindicado la autoría del ataque que mató a dos estadounidenses, y aunque el Gobierno de Trump prometió represalias contra el grupo terrorista, CNN informó previamente que el Ministerio de Asuntos Interiores de Siria dijo que el atacante era parte del servicio de Seguridad Interna del país.

El presidente Donald Trump, así como los líderes sirios, se apresuraron a desvincular al atacante del incipiente gobierno del país, que ha recibido un fuerte apoyo estadounidense en los últimos meses.

Al día siguiente del ataque, Trump prometió represalias, diciendo que habría “mucho daño para las personas que lo hicieron”.

“Tres grandes patriotas fueron asesinados por gente malvada, y no por el Gobierno de Siria, fue ISIS”, dijo Trump en aquel momento. Tras los ataques de

Kateryna Kon // Shutterstock

2025 was a year of turmoil for many scientists — particularly in the United States, where job cuts and budget slashing have left many reeling. But it was also a year of promising advances in fields from gene therapy to quantum computing.

In the U.S., executive orders by President Donald Trump led to the loss of thousands of jobs in government agencies, including NASA, which oversees space exploration, and NOAA, which runs the National Weather Service, among other vital activities. Thousands of health-related research grants — especially those with any perceived link to diversity, equity and inclusion — were canceled or withheld. And Harvard and other universities saw billions of dollars held back, at least temporarily.

Trump’s budget proposal for 2026 (the U.S. budget had not been finalized as Knowable Magazine went to press) features huge cuts to science funding, including slicing the budget for the National Science Foundation, the main granting agency for basic science research, in half. And cuts that have already been made spell bad news for global efforts to quash diseases and keep climate change in check.

Amid all the bad news, there have also been lives saved, technologies advanced and some very weird science conducted. Here are some of the things that captured Knowable’s attention in 2025.

Vaccine hits and misses

Public health faced big challenges this year. “There have been enormous changes in 2025, really driven by the current [U.S.] administration and their attitude towards both foreign aid and domestic vaccine policy,” says epidemiologist William Moss at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and coauthor of an Annual Review of Public Health article on global vaccinations. The U.S. withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2025, for example, and said it would pull funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Experts are worried that increasing gaps in vaccination coverage will contribute to further outbreaks of infectious diseases previously thought to be under control. This year, for example, measles surged in North America: Canada lost its “measles elimination” status in November, with cases much higher than anything seen in decades, and the U.S. may follow in 2026. Whooping cough is also on the rise.

Over the past 50 years, immunization has saved an estimated 154 million lives globally. Maintaining that is proving hard. The 2020 pandemic caused disruptions to vaccination campaigns, and many have not yet recovered to p

Prostock-studio // Shutterstock

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects millions of people of all ages. While there is no cure, modern asthma medications make it possible for most people to control symptoms, prevent flare ups, and live active lives. With so many asthma treatment options available, it can be difficult to understand how different medications work and which ones may be right for you. SaveHealth, a prescription discount/savings card website, shares the basics.

Understanding asthma medication

Asthma causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, making it harder to breathe. Symptoms may include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can vary in severity and frequency.

Asthma medications are generally used to:

1. Reduce airway inflammation.
2. Relax airway muscles to improve airflow.
3. Provide quick relief during flare ups.
4. Maintain and prevent asthma attacks.
5. Improve overall quality of life.

Doctors usually recommend a combination of long-term control medications and quick relief medications.

Types of asthma medications

Asthma medications are grouped by how they work and how they are used.

Main categories include:

1. Inhaled corticosteroids for long term control.
2. Combination inhalers that include corticosteroids and bronchodilators (long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) and long-acting muscarinic agents (LAMA).
3. Leukotriene modifiers taken orally.
4. Biologic therapies for severe asthma.
5. Rescue inhalers and newer quick relief options.

Understanding these categories makes it easier to compare asthma medication options.

7 asthma medication categories and key prescriptions

Below is a listicle style overview of major asthma medication types, along with commonly prescribed drugs in each group.

1. Inhaled corticosteroids
Inhaled corticosteroids are the cornerstone of long-term asthma control. They reduce airway inflammation and prevent symptoms when used daily.

Common inhaled corticosteroids include:

Savehealth.com can help people save money on asthma medications like Flovent, Pulmicort, and Qvar RediHaler.

2. Combination inhalers

Combination inhalers contain both an inhaled corticosteroid and a long acting bronchodilator. They provide inflammation control and airway relaxation in one device.

Common combination inhalers include:

• Dulera (Mometasone furoate + Formoterol fumarate).
• Symbicort (Budesonide + Formoterol fumarate)
• Advair (Fluticasone propionate + Salmeterol)
• Airsupra (Albuterol + Budesonide), a newer option that combines quick relief

New Africa // Shutterstock

Many people experience the invisible weight of remembering everything that needs to get done to keep life running smoothly. It’s called the mental load, and it can include juggling work deadlines, everyday chores, making appointments, remembering birthdays and everything in between. It’s a lot, and it can take a serious toll on your well-being.

The good news is there’s a simple system that can help clear some headspace and lighten that load. Inspired by productivity expert David Allen’s Getting Things Done method, this system offers a practical way to stay organized, focus on what matters and keep your mind calm and clear. LifeStance Health shares how to create your own.

What is mental load?

Mental load is the invisible labor of keeping track of everything that needs to happen in your life and your household. It’s the constant mental juggling act of remembering who needs what, when things are due, what’s running low and what’s coming next.

Anyone can experience mental load, but research shows it often falls heavily on women and caregivers. Over time, that constant background stress may lead to exhaustion, irritability and even burnout. Understanding what mental load is—and acknowledging it—is often the first step toward managing it.

What is a mental load checklist?

A mental load checklist is a simple tool that may help you get everything out of your head and into a reliable system. Instead of trying to remember every little thing, you capture, sort and prioritize your responsibilities in one place.

This process turns that invisible list in your mind into something tangible you may manage and track.

Sample mental load checklist

Here’s an example of what your mental load checklist might look like. You may create your own digital or printable mental load checklist using these categories or personalize it to your needs.

Daily tasks

• Respond to work emails
• Prep meals or snacks
• Check calendar for appointments

Household tasks

• Grocery run
• Laundry
• Schedule car maintenance

Family and relationships

• Plan family dinner
• Send birthday card
• Coordinate school drop-offs

Self-care

• Meditation or a workout
• Journal
• Set bedtime reminder

How to deal with mental load?

Step 1: Create an inbox system

If a task or idea isn’t written down, it’s likely you’ll forget about it, and it won’t get done. That’s why having an inbox system to jot down every task, thought, idea or reminder as you go about your day is absolutely essential for keeping your mental load light.

Your inbox can be anything. Digital task management apps that sync across devices, notebooks, or even a physical bo