Reuters: Severe levels of dryness persisted in the nation's midsection, south and in the western half of the country, though the land area suffering from the worst of it was shrinking, according to a weekly drought report issued on Thursday.
The U.S. Drought Monitor, issued by state and federal experts, said drought areas in the "moderate to exceptional" range reached 46.13 percent, up from 44.85 percent a week ago. But the numbers reflected an increase in moderate and severe levels and a decrease in the...