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Virginia proposes adding 12 plants, including kudzu, to noxious weeds list

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:27 GMT

Virginia is considering adding 12 more plants to its noxious weeds list, a compilation of species that are banned from use in the state because of the damage they provide to ecosystems.On Thursday, the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services held a public hearing on the proposed additions. No one spoke during it, but one comment was submitted via the state’s online regulatory Town Hall website from Chesapeake resident Rogard Ross, who said he “strongly agrees” with the additions.“You should also add English Ivy, Japanese Stilt Grass, and Linden Viburnum,” wrote Ross.  “These are all terribly invasive plants in our local parks in Chesapeake, Virginia.”The public comment period is scheduled to end Friday, Dec. 8.The plants proposed to be added to the list are:Two-horned trapaGarlic mustardChinese yamAutumn oliveLesser celandineBicolor lespedezaAmur honeysuckleJapanese honeysuckleCommon reedKudzuJapanese knotweedSiberian elmTwo-horned trapa would be added as a “tier 2” noxious weed,...

Today in History: December 10, Nelson Mandela is mourned

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:27 GMT

Today in HistoryToday is Sunday, Dec. 10, the 344th day of 2023. There are 21 days left in the year.Today’s Highlight in History:On Dec. 10, 2013, South Africa held a memorial service for Nelson Mandela, during which U.S. President Barack Obama energized tens of thousands of spectators and nearly 100 visiting heads of state with a plea for the world to emulate “the last great liberator of the 20th century.” The ceremony was marred by the presence of a sign-language interpreter who deaf advocates said was an impostor waving his arms around meaninglessly.On this date:In 1817, Mississippi was admitted as the 20th state of the Union.In 1861, the Confederacy admitted Kentucky as it recognized a pro-Southern shadow state government that was acting without the authority of the pro-Union government in Frankfort.In 1898, a treaty was signed in Paris officially ending the Spanish-American War.In 1958, the first domestic passenger jet flight took place in the U.S. as a National Airlines Boeing...

Konecny scores 2, Hart has 36 saves as Flyers beat Avalanche 5-2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:27 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Travis Konecny scored two goals, Owen Tippett had a goal and an assist, and Carter Hart stopped 36 shots to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.Travis Sanheim and Joel Farabee also scored, and Bobby Brink had two assists as the Flyers won their fourth straight and improved to 10-3-1 in their last 14 games. Philadelphia moved into second place in the Metropolitan Division one season after finishing with the worst record in the Eastern Conference.Nathan MacKinnon and Josh Manson scored for Colorado, which lost for the fifth time in six games (1-3-2). Ivan Prosvetov finished with 29 saves.The Flyers took control in the second period building a 3-1 lead after goals from Tippett and Sanheim 2:16 apart in the middle of the period. After Colorado pulled within one heading to the third period, Konecny scored on a penalty shot with 10:29 remaining after he was held by MacKinnon on a breakaway. It gave Konecny three stra...

State officials, workplaces trying to improve mental health among young Marylanders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:27 GMT

Declining mental health among young people is an ongoing issue, as lawmakers, workplaces and even local schools look for solutions to help kids and adolescents who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide.DiLeonardo said that world events have contributed to issues in mental health among that generation and urged medical providers and local leaders to plan on incorporating mental health services that are sensitive to those needs, especially as Gen Z is expected to make up 30% of the workforce by 2030.“Every generation has a number of events that really affect the way that we view the world. Gen X, we have different ones than baby boomers, than the millennials, than Gen Z,” DiLeonardo said. “But think of the kind of overarching things that they’ve had to deal with: financial instability, ongoing conflict, and then non-stop access to the internet.”She pointed to active shooter drills in school, ongoing military conflicts and the 9/...

Matthews scores twice, Samsonov makes 18 saves in Maple Leafs’ 4-0 win over Predators

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:27 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Auston Matthews scored twice, Ilya Samsonov made 18 saves for his first shutout of the season and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Nashville Predators 4-0 on Saturday night.Samsonov has 11 NHL shutouts. He got the start after Joseph Woll sprained an ankle Thursday night in a 4-3 victory in Ottawa.“Some shock,” Samsonov, who watched Matt Murray deal with a string of injuries last season, said of his teammate going down. “Not too fun to see.”David Kampf and Noah Gregor, into an empty net, also scored to help Toronto improve to 14-6-4. William Nylander added two assists, and John Tavares had one for his 998th career point.“We played, finally, 60 minutes — full game,” Kampf saod. “Every line rolling … hopefully we can keep it going.”Kevin Lankinen stopped 33 shots for Nashville. The Predators had won three in a row and nine of 11.“Didn’t play very good,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said. “I don’t think any of us played very good.”Kampf opened the scoring with 5:45 lef...

Chicago White Sox acquire veteran catcher Max Stassi from the Atlanta Braves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:27 GMT

The Chicago White Sox teamed up with the Atlanta Braves for another trade Saturday, acquiring catcher Max Stassi and cash considerations in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.Stassi, 32, has been on the move in recent days. He was dealt from the Los Angeles Angels to the Braves with infielder David Fletcher on Friday in exchange for first baseman Evan White and left-handed pitcher Tyler Thomas.Now he’s in line to provide catching depth for the Sox.It’s the second deal involving the Sox and Braves this offseason. The franchises paired up for a six-player deal Nov. 16 when the Sox sent reliever Aaron Bummer to the Braves for right-handed pitcher Michael Soroka, left-hander Jared Shuster, infielders Nicky Lopez and Braden Shewmake and minor-league right-hander Riley Gowens.Stassi missed all of 2023 because of stints on the injured list with a left hip strain and the restricted list due to a family medical issue.He has a career .212/.295/.361 slash line with 41 ...

What’s next for the Chicago Cubs after Shohei Ohtani agrees to a record 10-year, $700M deal with the LA Dodgers?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:27 GMT

The Chicago Cubs won’t be welcoming Shotime to Wrigley Field.Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a 10-year, $700 million contract, the biggest in Major League Baseball history. The Cubs were among the teams vying to sign Ohtani but for the second time fell short in their efforts to land him.Ohtani, 29, announced the deal on Instagram on Saturday, and his agent, Nez Balelo, confirmed the terms of the contract.“This is a unique, historic contract for a unique, historic player,” Balelo said in a statement.The Cubs were among seven finalists to sign Ohtani in 2017 when he made the jump from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB. In the lead-up to signing with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani also met with the Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants.At the time the Cubs were coming off their third consecutive year of reaching at least the National League Champi...

King tides to hit San Diego coast this week and Christmas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:27 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A warning for those who may be planning to go out in the water this month, high tides are expected to reach heights of over 6 feet along the shores of San Diego County through Friday and again for the full cold moon on Christmas, creating hazardous swimming conditions. With a new moon forecast for this week, happening specifically on Tuesday at 6:32 a.m. EST, king tides are expected for our coastlines, so swimmers and surfers should be vigilant. The high tides will also pay a visit on Christmas, just in time for the full cold moon, which peaks on Dec. 26. San Diego Zoo Safari Park works to protect heart of 51-year-old gorilla King tides can create extremely low tow tides as well.Higher than normal tides usually happen during a new moon or full moon, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), or during specific seasons. This week, it's from a new moon. We just had high tides at the full moon around Thanksgiving, that brought over 7 foot w...

Iran bans Mahsa Amini’s family from traveling to receive the European Union’s top human rights prize

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:27 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian authorities banned members of the late Mahsa Amini’s family from traveling to receive the European Union’s top human rights prize on her behalf, a civil rights monitor reported. Amini’s death while in police custody in 2022 sparked nationwide protests that rocked the Islamic Republic.The U.S.-based HRANA said late Saturday that authorities have refused to allow Amini’s father, Amjad, and two of her brothers to fly out to Strasbourg, France, to receive the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Reports said only the family’s lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, would be able to travel to receive the award on their behalf. The EU award, named for Soviet dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is “the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work,” as per the EU Parliament website.Earlier in Sep...

Bangladesh opposition party holds protest as it boycotts Jan. 7 national election amid violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:27 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Hundreds of opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party supporters protested Sunday to mark International Human Rights Day, as the country gears up for a general election on Jan. 7 that the opposition says should be held under a non-partisan, caretaker government.The party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is boycotting the election, leaving voters in the South Asian nation of 166 million with little choice but to re-elect Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League for a fourth consecutive term.At Sunday’s protest in front of the National Press Club in downtown Dhaka, opposition activists said they do not think a fair and free election can take place under Hasina’s watch. The gathering took place weeks after a massive opposition rally on Oct. 28 turned violent.The party’s decision to boycott the polls comes amid a monthslong crackdown that has reportedly seen hundreds of opposition politicians jailed and critics silenced, an allegation auth...