A.M. notes: Tremonton recovers, Utahns protest, scientists reveal ‘hidden continent’

Here’s the news of the morning for Feb. 21.

Tremonton hopes for recovery after flooding

On Sunday, areas around 1650 W. 125 North in Tremonton saw major flooding after snow melted and heavy rain poured into the area, the Deseret News reported.

Tremonton officials hope that Tremonton resident will fully recover from the massive flooding.

Tremonton Police Chief Dave Nance told the Deseret News that he only worries about more bad weather.

"(It) kind of depends on Mother Nature at this point," he said. "If it stays cool like this and no rain, then hopefully it catches up and drains pretty quick."

But Nance told the Deseret News he isn’t acting too optimistic about Tremonton’s future.

"We've made progress," he said. "The water is down quite a little bit. If it warms up and rains more, then we'll probably have the problem return, unfortunately."

Read what Tremonton residents are saying about the flood at the Deseret News.

Utahns protest Chaffetz, Trump in very different ways

Over the weekend, Utahns protested both Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz and President Donald Trump.

Ralliers sang their criticisms of Chaffetz, according to the Deseret News. The group sang anti-Chaffetz songs using the tunes of "The Battle Hymn of The Republic," "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and "This Land Is Your Land."

Sarah Brinton, the organizer of the event, told the Deseret News that she wanted to create a more positive atmosphere for the protest.

"I wanted to say … how I feel about our country, but in a way that was me," she said. "I wanted a positive, happy place, where I can ask what I want."

She also organized meet-and-greet moments between protesters.

Meanwhile, on Monday, a crowd of Utahns met at Washington Square to hold a “Not My President’s Day” rally against Trump. Similar rallies occurred in major U.S. cities like Washington, Los Angeles and Chicago, the Deseret News reported.

Leaders from a number of Utah-based groups — Utah Women Unite, Utahns against Police Brutality, SLC Air Protectors and more — all visited the protest, which was meant to show Trump that these Utahns do not support him, the Deseret News reported.

"We want to let 45 know we are not with him," protesters Deelane Wulle told the Deseret News. "The sooner he is gone the better for all of us."

Trump names new national security adviser

Speaking of Trump, the 45th president announced Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster as the new national security adviser, replacing Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who was fired after spending three weeks in the position because of ties to Russia, according to BBC.

McMaster previously worked as a lieutenant general in the Army, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

He doesn't have any ties to Russia as of yet, according to BBC.

McMaster is known for speaking bluntly and honestly, while also providing thoughtful analysis of military strategy, BBC reported.

Trump said McMaster is "a man of tremendous talent and tremendous experience" who is "highly respected by everybody in the military.”

Read more about McMaster at BBC.

A hidden continent?

Scientists argue in a newly-released paper that there is a hidden continent on our planet, according to The Washington Post.

This content, called Zealandia, may lie beneath the water, just under New Zealand and New Caledonia, both South Pacific islands, the Post reported.

“It stretches beyond both and is two-thirds the size of Australia,” according to the Post.

The researchers said water makes it hard for people to see the continent. Without water, though, it would easily be recognizable.

“If we could pull the plug on the oceans it would be clear to everyone we have mountain chains and a big high-standing continent above the ocean crust,” lead author Nick Mortimer told Reuters.

Read more about the continent at Reuters.

Softball players are really good at dodgeball

This new video from last week shows softball players whipping dodgeballs at their classmates. It has over 1 million views.