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The battle over bullfrogs, as the state considers restrictions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:34:39 GMT

Bullfrogs are the elite athletes of the amphibian world, with a thrilling leap that can surpass 21 feet.But back home in their ponds, they’re nothing but trouble.On the eve of this weekend’s famed Calaveras Jumping Frog Jubilee, state wildlife officials met to ponder the management of a disease-carrying invasive frog with powerful legs, a dopey smile and a dangerous appetite.Even as California spends large sums to help protect populations of threatened native frogs, especially yellow-legged and red-legged species, an estimated 2 million predatory bullfrogs are imported into the state every year.A bullfrog peers above the water in a display at the Trinity River Audubon Center. (Michael Ainsworth/Dallas Morning News/TNS) To tackle the problem, 34 policy proposals are under consideration, some of them aimed directly at the jumping competition itself: Swap the dominant bullfrogs for other species. Monitor the contest to catch any escapees. Restrict the release of contestants. Inglo...

Alec Baldwin leaves a female server at gala ‘visibly upset’ after berating her

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:34:39 GMT

For anyone who thought that Alec Baldwin had learned patience, kindness and humility after enduring the trauma of accidentally killing another human being, you might want to think again.The actor, who is famous for his belligerence towards anyone who crosses him, berated a young female server at the 2023 PEN America Spring Literary Gala Thursday night, Page Six reported. Her offense? She began to set out guests’ dinner plates while he was still standing and talking to someone, a witness told Page Six. Baldwin’s scolding left the young woman visibly “shocked” and upset, a witness said.A short time earlier, Baldwin and his influencer wife, Hilaria Baldwin, were all smiles as they walked the red carpet at the gala, which took place at New York City’s American Museum of Natural History. The gala was Baldwin’s first public appearance since prosecutors in New Mexico dismissed involuntary manslaughter charges against him in the 2021 fatal shooting of cin...

Dixon, Palou swap engines as Ilott gets new car for Indy 500 qualifying

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:34:39 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Scott Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Alex Palou made late engine swaps before the start of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 on Saturday, while Callum Ilott made it onto the track after his Junco Hollinger Racing team was forced to put together a backup car in just over 12 hours.Dixon indicated at the conclusion of Friday’s final practice that something was amiss, even though the Honda cars in the Ganassi garage have been fast all week. But it was a surprise that both Dixon and Palou wound up changing engines, leaving each of them just 30 minutes of practice before they began their four-lap qualifying attempts later in the day.“It definitely puts you in a bit of a compromised position,” said Dixon, the 2018 Indy 500 champion, who is aiming for his third consecutive pole. “We may have to do a few runs to get everything dialed in. I think the car is decent.”The first of two days of qualifying Saturday will determine the fast 12 that will go fo...

Accident involving F-18 fighter jet at Zaragoza airbase as pilot ejects successfully, Spanish defense ministry says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:34:39 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Accident involving F-18 fighter jet at Zaragoza airbase as pilot ejects successfully, Spanish defense ministry says.Source

Kane scores again, Tottenham loses 3-1 to Brentford in Premier League

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:34:39 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Harry Kane scored a goal and lost the game in perhaps his final home appearance for Tottenham.The England captain, who again has been linked with an offseason move away from Tottenham, curled home after an indirect free kick in the eighth minute only for Bryan Mbeumo to score twice and set up another goal in the second half for Brentford in its 3-1 win in the Premier League on Saturday.Tottenham might now struggle to qualify for any European competition for next season, having come into the game in seventh place — the division’s only qualifying spot for the third-tier Europa Conference League.Brentford stayed in ninth place but is only one point behind Tottenham ahead of the teams’ final games of the season next weekend.Kane’s 28th league goal this season was perhaps his best of the campaign as he picked out the top corner with a 25-meter shot after Dejan Kulusevski rolled the ball backward with the sole of his foot at a free kick. It put Kane eight g...

El Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez, Ciudad de México, anuncia el cierre de operaciones por presencia de cenizas del volcán Popocatépetl

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:34:39 GMT

(CNN Español) — El Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez, Ciudad de México, anunció este sábado a la madrugada el cierre de operaciones por la presencia de ceniza volcánica del Popocatépetl.#AICMinformaPor presencia de ceniza volcánica el aeropuerto cerró operaciones a partir de la 4:25 horas. Estaremos informando— @AICM_mx (@AICM_mx) May 20, 2023Cerca de las 9 AM ET, informaron en un nuevo tuit que “por seguridad de las operaciones”, el cierre se extendería dos horas más. “Personal del AICM y aerolíneas, estamos llevando a cabo la revisión y limpieza de pistas y calles de rodaje”, indicaron.#AICMinformaPor seguridad de las operaciones, el cierre del aeropuerto se extenderá por dos horas más, aproximadamente.Personal del AICM y aerolíneas, estamos llevando a cabo la revisión y limpieza de pistas y calles de rodaje.— @AICM_mx (@AICM_mx) May 20, 2023El volcán Popocatépetl, en el centro de México, es uno de los volcanes activos más peligrosos de América L...

Chesapeake mansion, an architectural ‘milestone,’ wants the nation to see it

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:34:39 GMT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — When Horatio Sharpe, the colonial governor of Maryland, started work on Whitehall in the 18th century, the story goes that he hoped the palatial villa on the Chesapeake Bay would win his beloved’s heart. Alas, the young woman fell for Sharpe’s friend and personal secretary instead.But Whitehall’s most recent owners now hope to woo the American people — and perhaps tap Uncle Sam for some help keeping it up.Long overshadowed by grander and more accessible cousins such as Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Whitehall could become a main attraction in the proposed Chesapeake National Recreation Area, according to lawmakers and others pushing for the federal designation.The Annapolis site would offer visitors a jumping-off point to explore the bay’s paradoxical history as the birthplace of American democracy and slavery. The National Register of Historic Places lists it as “a major milestone in American architectural history,” too, because of the scale and quality of a c...

Peony farm reopens for flower picking and picturesque scenery

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:34:39 GMT

WAYNESBORO, Va. (AP) — It might be a good time to smell the flowers.Shenandoah Peonies has opened for its second season. Located on the outskirts of Waynesboro off Stuarts Draft Highway near Troyer’s Fruit & Produce Farm, there are only a few signs along the roadside navigating customers to the farm, where the flowers are laid out in rows in the fields and bloom bright and beautiful beneath the hot sun.The peonies have been blooming quickly for over a week and are planted by Jelte Tjalf, a Dutch-born tulip farmer, and his wife, Tip, with the help of some friends. Originally from Holland, Netherlands, Tjalf said his home country is known for tulip flowers and agriculture due to the mild climate. He moved to the Lyndhurst area to work at a nearby tulip farm.The couple initially created the peony farm to plant wholesale peonies for grocery stores but soon discovered competing with large corporations was too difficult.“Plus, it’s boring, the wholesale industry,” Tjalf said. “Because...

More states are requiring patients to give consent for medical students performing pelvic exams

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:34:39 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A new batch of states are looking to legislate the level of informed consent when it comes to medical students performing pelvic exams for educational purposes on unconscious patients. At least 20 states already have consent laws for this practice. Montana’s governor signed a bill in April, Missouri has legislation that needs the governor’s signature to become law and Ohio lawmakers are also considering it.Colorado lawmakers want to go a step further, with Democratic Gov. Jared Polis expected to sign a bill that one bioethicist calls the broadest she’s seen — and says may go too far — due to a requirement of naming the involved students ahead of time and introducing them to the patients.Proponents “see the Colorado bill as a model we hope other states will pass,” said Elizabeth Newman, public policy director at the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, which testified in favor of the legislation.It’s hard to track and quantify how often medical students ar...

US beats Denmark 3-0 for 5th straight win at ice hockey worlds

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:34:39 GMT

TAMPERE, Finland (AP) — The United States shut out Denmark 3-0 on Saturday to stay perfect at the ice hockey world championship.Alex Tuch scored one goal and added two assists for the United States to earn its fifth victory from five games.Cutter Gauthier broke the deadlock midway through the final period on a power play before Tuch doubled the advantage and Rocco Grimaldi finished it off with an empty net goal.Goaltender Casey DeSmith stopped 22 shots for the shutout.The Americans lead Group A with 15 points and have secured a spot in the quarterfinals. The top four teams from the two eight-team groups advance to the knockout stage.In the Latvian capital of Riga, the Czech Republic beat Norway 2-0 to go top of Group B and earn a spot in the last eight.Dominik Kubalik scored the opening goal with a slap shot on a power play for the Czechs to lead the scoring table at the tournament with seven goals.Later Saturday, Canada is in action against Switzerland in Group B and Latvia plays K...