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Opinion: Some might say it’s futile, but pulling invasive thistles sows hope

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:38 GMT

For the past few years, I’ve participated in “Thistle Thursdays,” targeting a popular trail near Jackson, Wyoming. The weekly weed party was organized in 2019 by Morgan Graham, wildlife habitat specialist with the Teton County Conservation District, and it attracts more volunteers each year — 16 of us in 2023.To slow the steady march of musk thistle, a fast-spreading weed from Eurasia, we spend Thursday morning each week bending down to tackle these interlopers. We know what we do is a drop in the bucket, but right here, along this trail, we see results.Joining Morgan is a mixed crew: native plant enthusiasts, elk hunters, employees of non-profits and the Forest Service, plus “youngsters” in their 30s and retirees like me.My friend Mary, nearly 80, wins the prize as the oldest and most enthusiastic of the crew. While we were waiting for a friend at a trailhead this summer, she spotted a musk thistle on a steep slope, went to her car for some gloves and signaled for me to follo...

Browns QB Deshaun Watson out for rest of season with shoulder fracture; rookie to start vs. Steelers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:38 GMT

By TOM WITHERS (AP Sports Writer)CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson’s season is over, once again leaving the Cleveland Browns without a franchise quarterback.Watson will miss the rest of his second year with Cleveland after sustaining a fracture in his throwing shoulder, an injury that came during his best performance since joining the team following a controversial trade in 2022.“I’m still in disbelief,” Watson said Wednesday.Watson will undergo surgery to repair the fracture in his right shoulder, which happened during Sunday’s 33-31 win in Baltimore on an unspecified hit in the second quarter. The team said an MRI revealed a displaced fracture to the glenoid.The Browns (6-3) must go forward without Watson and coach Kevin Stefanski said rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3).It will be the second start for Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round pick from UCLA who made an emergency start on Oct. 1 against B...

Los Angeles Rams moving practice facility to Woodland Hills

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:38 GMT

The Los Angeles Rams are moving their practice facility from a temporary site in Thousand Oaks to Woodland Hills ahead of the 2024 NFL season, the team announced on Tuesday. Their new facility will be located on property at West Oxnard Street and Canoga Avenue which Rams owner Stan Kroenke acquired last year. Wednesday's announcement was made at the adjacent Topanga Village shopping center, which was also part of the 100-acre acquisition.A rendering of the Rams' new practice facility in Woodland Hills, CA. (Los Angeles Rams)"This is a monumental day for the Los Angeles Rams as we can now call Woodland Hills and the City of Los Angeles our home," said Rams COO Kevin DemoffA rendering shows the practice facility will consist of two 100-yard football fields, office space and meeting rooms, as well as weight and training rooms and spaces for players’ lockers, media staging areas and meal rooms. Relocating the Rams practice facility is the first step of Stan Kroenke’s long-term visi...

Los Angeles County confirms first flu death of 2023-24 season

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:38 GMT

Los Angeles County has recorded its first flu death of the 2023-24 season, according to the Department of Public Health.The person who died was only identified as an "elderly resident with multiple underlying conditions," and they were not vaccinated against the flu, Public Health said in a press release."Although most people recover from influenza without complications, this death is a reminder that influenza can be a serious illness," the press release said. "Pneumonia is the most common complication of the flu. Flu can also aggravate underlying health conditions like heart disease or asthma. Annually, thousands of people nationwide are hospitalized or die from influenza-associated illness."Public Health officials advise that everyone over 6 months old be vaccinated against the flu, which spreads alongside fellow respiratory viruses RSV and COVID-19, creating a "tripledemic" that can overwhelm health care providers.If you do become sick with the flu, antiviral medications can less...

Man dead after being struck by 2 hit-and-run drivers in Harbor Gateway, LAPD says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:38 GMT

A male pedestrian is dead after he was hit separately by two vehicles minutes apart in the Harbor Gateway area of Los Angeles Tuesday night.The man, whose identity has not been released, was in the roadway of Normandie Avenue north of Knox Street when he was first struck a few minutes after 9:30 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department said in a news release. That vehicle then fled without stopping to help.Two minutes later, another vehicle struck the man again before also fleeing the scene.The man was declared dead at the scene.A reward of up to $50,000 is available for information leading to the hit-and-run drivers.Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Flannery at 323-421-2561 during business hours.During non-business hours or on weekends, contact 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) orgo directly to lacrimestoppers.org.

Filmore man arrested for burglary hours after being released from jail

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:38 GMT

A man was arrested in connection to a residential burglary hours after he was released from jail, authorities with the Ventura Police Department announced Wednesday.The suspect, 30-year-old Filmore resident Oscar Ramos, was taken into custody for "burglary and resisting, delaying, or obstructing police officers" on Tuesday. Ramos was eventually booked at the Ventura County Jail, the same place he was released from that morning, a news release said. 10 Freeway fire set with ‘malice intent,’ Newsom says On Tuesday, a resident who lives on the 600 block of County Square Drive in Ventura was notified that the suspect had gained entry into their home. The resident was not home at the time and officers responded to the scene shortly after.Authorities didn't disclose the resident's identity. Ramos initially walked out of the home but retreated inside when he saw police officers. About 20 minutes later, Ramos exited the house and was taken into custody.Before his recent arrest, Ramos was ...

Sarah Farmer-Herrera Killed in Motorcycle Accident on Gary Road [San Tan Valley, AZ]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:38 GMT

37-Year-Old Female Motorcyclist Dies after Colliding with Truck near Empire BoulevardSAN TAN VALLEY, AZ (November 10, 2023) – Sarah Farmer-Herrera died Saturday night in a motorcycle crash on Gary Road and Empire Boulevard on November 4th.The incident occurred at approximately 11:00 p.m. Dispatchers responded after receiving multiple calls in the area.Per reports, Farmer-Herrera was operating a southbound motorcycle. Meanwhile, a truck driver attempted to turn left in front of the rider, resulting in a collision. Upon impact, the motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries.Medical personnel later pronounced 37-year-old Farmer-Herrera deceased, due to the extent of her condition.In addition, the driver of the truck driver remained in the area and cooperated with the investigation. At this time, a blood result is still pending to determine if DUI played a factor in the deadly crash.An active investigation is still currently underway. Once available, more details will be rele...

Despite ruling, UK will still try to send migrants to Rwanda

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:38 GMT

By Jill Lawless | Associated PressLONDON — The British government said Wednesday it will still try to send some migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda, despite the U.K. Supreme Court ruling that the contentious plan is unlawful because asylum-seekers would not be safe in the African country.In a major blow to one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ‘s key policies, the country’s top court ruled that asylum-seekers sent to Rwanda would be “at real risk of ill-treatment” because they could be returned to the conflict-wracked home countries they’d fled.Sunak, who has pledged to stop migrants reaching Britain in small boats across the English Channel, said the ruling “was not the outcome we wanted” but vowed to press on with the plan and send the first deportation flights to Rwanda by next spring.He said the court had “confirmed that the principle of removing asylum-seekers to a safe third country is lawful,” even as it ruled Rwanda unsafe.S...

Man shot while riding in vehicle on Castro Valley freeway

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:38 GMT

CASTRO VALLEY — A man was shot while driving Tuesday evening on Interstate 580, the California Highway Patrol said.Three other occupants of the vehicle were not injured.They were able to drive to a medical center, where the CHP was notified. The man shot, a passenger in the vehicle, was transferred to a hospital with a wound that was not considered life-threatening. His age and place of residence were not released.The shooting happened about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the eastbound lanes of I-580 near  Fairmont Drive.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Witness with ‘great hearing’ now charged in murder case where a Baby Yoda doll and AC Transit bus provided key evidence Crime and Public Safety | After judge’s disqualification, double-murder case against East Bay man returns to Fairfield courtroom Crime and Public Safety | New trial date set for Bay Area pair charged with 2018 killing Crime and Public Safety | Fentanyl-...

Minnesota braces for wild ‘super pigs’ from Canada

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:38 GMT

With wild “super pigs” just across the border in Canada and feral hogs slowly expanding their range in nearby states, the Minnesota Legislature has asked the state’s Department of Natural Resources to make a plan to thwart any wild swine invasion.Lawmakers earlier this year ordered the agency to review protocols, regulations and laws dealing with feral hogs as well as mink farms, and report back in 2024 on any changes that should be made to make sure the state is ready. The Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health and Department of Health also are part of the effort.Canadian researchers have called wild pigs “ecological train wrecks” that can cause soil erosion, degrade water quality, destroy crops and prey on small mammals and birds.The researchers at the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Wild Pig Research Project made headlines earlier this year when they reported the nation’s population of large, wild pigs was growing rapidly and essentially uncontrollable — ni...