Researchers say the number of western monarch butterflies wintering in California declined by 30% last year.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The number of western monarch butterflies wintering in California declined by 30% last year, likely due to wetter conditions, researchers say. Volunteers visiting sites in California and Arizona around Thanksgiving recorded more than 230,000 butterflies, with the number expected to reach 330,000 by 2022, according to the nonprofit conservation group Zarces Society. That's what it means. In 2020, the number of butterflies is only 2,000. But even though the butterflies have recovered, their numbers are still far below what they were in the 1980s. Scientists say climate change and the destruction of monarch habitat are also to blame for the low numbers.
Are insects attracted to light?New research shows it's confusion, not fatal attraction
WASHINGTON (AP) – Many scientists have long thought that moths and other flying insects are simply attracted to bright light. But new research suggests that's not necessarily what's happening. Rather than being attracted to light, the researchers believe that artificial light at night may actually disrupt the flying insect's natural navigation system. So they fly around in confusion around porch lamps, street lights, and other man-made signs. Instead of flying directly toward the light source, the insects actually tilt their backs toward the light, the researchers said. The results were published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.
Burnt remains of priceless Jackie Robinson statue stolen from Kansas public park discovered
Firefighters have discovered the burnt bronze remains of a priceless statue of Jackie Robinson that was stolen from a public park in Kansas last week, authorities said. A Wichita police spokesperson said the fire department received a call about a burning trash can at Garvey Park in the city's south side around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday and found what appeared to be fragments of the statue. It honors the first player to break Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947. Wichita police said they were in talks with the prosecutor's office and promised to make an arrest. A fundraising campaign is underway to replace the statue.
Andrew Tate loses lawsuit seeking legal deregulation as human trafficking scandals continue
A Romanian court has announced judicial restraints against influencer Andrew Tate while his case continues with charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal organization to sexually exploit women. The appeal was dismissed. On January 18, the Bucharest Court of Appeal upheld another court's decision to extend the restrictions on Tate for 60 days. Mr Tate's appeal was rejected more than a year after he was first arrested near Bucharest along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women. Romanian prosecutors formally indicted all four in June last year, but they deny the charges.
Unusual whale that died off the coast of Massachusetts may have been entangled, authorities say
Federal authorities say a rare whale found dead off the coast of Massachusetts shows potential evidence of injury from becoming entangled in fishing gear, one of the most pressing threats to the species. did. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it received a report of a dead female northern right whale off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on Sunday. There are fewer than 360 right whales and they are vulnerable to gear entanglements and collisions with large ships. NOAA said initial observations indicate the rope was entangled near the whale's tail.
Massachusetts state trooper arrested for accepting bribe to pass commercial driver's exam
BOSTON (AP) — Two current Massachusetts State Police troopers and a former Massachusetts State Police trooper are among six people charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office with allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for passing scores on a commercial driving test. It was announced that two people were included. State Police Sergeant Gary Cederquist, 58, of Stoughton, and Officer Joel Rogers, 54, of Bridgewater, are currently on the force. Former Florida police officers Calvin Butner, 63, and Perry Mendez, 63, were arrested. All four are facing more than 70 charges, including conspiracy to falsify records, racketeering, and making false statements.
Gayle, wife of economic development leader Joe Manchin, hospitalized after car accident
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – Gayle Manchin, wife of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin and chair of the Appalachian Economic Development Council, was hospitalized along with a colleague after a car accident in Alabama. Manchin and Guy Rand were injured Monday in Birmingham while traveling from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport to a nearby hotel. Joe Manchin said in a statement that his wife is in stable condition, but as a precaution she will remain hospitalized for several days. Rand is also at the facility, but his condition has not been disclosed. Gayle Manchin is the federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development partnership between the federal government and 13 state governments that covers 423 counties.
Oklahoma asks teachers to return up to $50,000 in bonuses after state mistakenly paid them
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Some Oklahoma educators are being forced to pay back up to $50,000 in teacher hiring bonuses that were improperly paid to them by the state Department of Education. Christina Stadelman said she was devastated to learn she had to pay back $50,000. Most of that money had already been spent on home renovations and a down payment on a new car. Some lawmakers from both parties have criticized Superintendent Ryan Walters for mistakenly approving the bonus payments. State Rep. Mark McBride said lawmakers are working to increase oversight of the bonus process and teachers should not be forced to pay for the agency's mistakes.
Amtrak engineer seriously injured after passenger train collides with milk truck at Colorado railroad crossing
DENVER (AP) – Authorities say an Amtrak train collided with a milk truck at a railroad crossing in northeastern Colorado, seriously injuring the engineer and sending three passengers to the hospital for treatment. did. A 31-year-old truck driver failed to yield to an oncoming Amtrak train Monday night and drove through a railroad crossing with a stop sign, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Neither the truck driver nor his passenger were injured. The accident derailed an eastbound California Zephyr train, but only caused the locomotive to roll over, according to the State Patrol.The crash is still under investigation
Anchorage's 'snow pandemic' sets record for earliest 100 inches of snowfall
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — There's been a lot of snow this winter, even by Alaskan standards. The new storm dumped nearly 17 more inches of snow on Anchorage, bringing the total snowfall for the season to more than 100 inches. Alaska's largest city was the first to reach that goal, with collapsed roofs, snow-filled roads and abandoned schools. The previous snowfall record was February 3, 2012, and that winter was the snowiest on record at 134.5 inches. Anchorage has already set a record for this year's snowfall, with plenty of time left in the season, making it the eighth-highest snowfall of the year.
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