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Maryland’s blue crabs are back in the Chesapeake Bay, but that may not last forever

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:38 GMT

Maryland Department of Natural Resources officials have noticed increased Chesapeake Bay blue crabs since last year’s recorded low.Officials involved in the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey estimated that the number of blue crabs rose from 227 million to 323 million this year.While they were encouraged by the increase in numbers, the department’s acting director of fishing and boating services said the agency would remain vigilant.“We haven’t seen a strong year class since 2019 despite maintaining the spawning stock at a level capable of producing one,” acting director Lynn Fegley said.The department said while several factors impact blue crab reproduction, the number has been below average for the past four years.After seeing a continued decrease in young crabs, the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee took action, holding workshops to begin exploring ways to improve fishery management.“The stock assessment process will kick off later...

Navajo leaders seek tribal members caught up in sober-living Medicare scam in Arizona

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:38 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Navajo leaders on Friday unveiled an operation to find and get needed services to hundreds of tribal members they predict will soon be on the streets of metro Phoenix amid a state crackdown on Medicaid fraud that affected as many as 7,000 Native Americans recruited to illegitimate sober living homes in recent years.Called Rainbow Bridge, the operation is in response to actions announced this week by the state of Arizona against more than 100 unlicensed and fraudulent sober living homes in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Navajo leaders said they will staff a Phoenix operations center to help Navajo tribal members displaced when sober living homes caught up in the fraud investigation are indicted or their Medicaid funding is cut off. “I view this as a humanitarian and a human rights crisis,” said Navajo Attorney General Ethel Branch, adding that the goal is to get victimized people into treatment programs and ultimately back with their families. Branch said she believes ...

Mississippi attorneys argue in lawsuit over trans student’s graduation attire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:38 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Opposing attorneys clashed Friday over whether a Mississippi school district can require a transgender girl to abide by a boys’ dress code as she and her classmates graduate from high school this weekend.The 17-year-old girl, listed in court papers by her initials L.B., had chosen a dress to wear with her cap and gown Saturday at Harrison Central High School in Gulfport, a coastal town about 160 miles (260 kilometers) south of Jackson. Graduating boys are expected to wear white shirts and black slacks, while girls are expected to wear white dresses.Harrison County School District officials told L.B. that she must follow the boys’ clothing rules for graduation, according to a lawsuit that the American Civil Liberties filed Thursday against the district.The lawsuit said L.B. wore dresses to classes and extracurricular events throughout high school, including to a prom last year, and she should not face discriminatory treatment during graduation.“L.B. ...

Md. officials: Unexpected at-home COVID test kit deliveries could be a scam

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:38 GMT

The Maryland Department of Aging is warning state residents who may have received a COVID test kit they didn’t order that their personal information may have been used fraudulently.Although the COVID pandemic has technically ended, investigators are saying they’re seeing fraudulent COVID test kits arriving on doorsteps across Maryland.Medicare coverage for at-home COVID-19 tests ended last week, but the agency said that beneficiaries have been complaining of tests showing up to their home, sometimes by the dozens, and that it could indicate someone is using their Medicare information to bill the federal government.The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General posted a fraud warning about this scam, advising seniors not to give out their Medicare number, as it can be billed for procedures, tests, and even COVID test kits.If you think you may have received a kit you didn’t order, report it to your local Senior Medicare Patrol office.S...

California lawmakers block bill making oil companies liable for some health problems

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:38 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers blocked two big environmental bills Thursday: One that would have ramped up the state’s emissions targets, and another that would have made oil companies liable for the health problems of people who live close to oil wells. They are among the hundreds of bills that did not survive the Legislature’s suspense file, a mysterious process where lawmakers decide — with no explanation — which bills will get a chance to become law later this year and which ones should not move forward.Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that bans drilling new oil wells within 3,200 feet (975 meters) of sensitive areas like homes and schools. But the law hasn’t taken effect because the oil industry qualified a referendum on the 2024 ballot asking voters to overturn it.That referendum angered environmental and health advocates. They decided if the oil industry wanted to block that law, then they would try to pass another law making it easier for oil c...

Hendriks throws live BP, timetable for return from cancer still unclear

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:38 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks took another step Friday in his comeback from cancer, throwing live batting practice, though it remains unclear when he will return to the bullpen.Manager Pedro Grifol said Hendriks threw about 20 pitches and “felt good.” But he also said several times there’s still no timetable on a return and that the organization will determine the next step.“I’m really not gonna get into this further,” Grifol said. “I’m getting asked the same question over and over again. There’s a process to this. We’re gonna sit as a group and we’re gonna take the next step together. That’s it on it. That’s it.”Hendriks went from noticing lumps on his neck last summer to being diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He announced last month he was in remission after having immunotherapy and chemotherapy. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte two weeks ago and made six appearances with the min...

Latinoamericanos en las elecciones municipales en España del 28M: ¿quién puede votar y por qué lo harán?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:38 GMT

(CNN) — Más de 36,5 millones de personas están llamadas a las urnas este domingo 28 de mayo en los comicios municipales y autonómicos de España, según datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE). Es una cita en la que deberán escoger a los alcaldes de más de 8.000 municipios y a los representantes de 12 comunidades autónomas.Elecciones en España del 28M: ¿cuáles son las principales propuestas de los partidos y qué preocupa a los españoles?Para este tipo de elección, el número de electores varía. Para las municipales están convocados 35,4 millones de personas, mientras que en las autonómicas la cifra se reduce a 18,3 millones.En estas cifras, el INE incluye a los extranjeros que tienen derecho a voto, pues no todos pueden hacerlo en ambos comicios.Soy latinoamericano y vivo en España, ¿puedo votar el 28M?Para ejercer el derecho a sufragio en las elecciones autonómicas es necesario tener la nacionalidad española, ser mayor de 18 años y estar inscrito en el censo electoral de la ...

USC athletic director Mike Bohn resigns after 3 1/2 years in charge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:38 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California athletic director Mike Bohn has resigned.USC confirmed the 62-year-old Bohn’s resignation Friday, roughly 3 1/2 years after he succeeded Lynn Swann in the high-profile job.The Trojans’ athletic department experienced a surge of success during Bohn’s tenure, and the school also made the momentous decision to move to the Big Ten in 2024. Bohn was the first AD at USC in 25 years who wasn’t a former Trojans football player with no administrative experience, and the veteran executive led the school’s return to national prominence in multiple sports.Bohn mentioned “ongoing health challenges” in a statement issued to the Los Angeles Times about his resignation, but Bohn and the school provided no clear reason for the surprising move. The Times reported that USC had recently fielded concerns about Bohn’s management style from athletic department employees, but the school and Bohn didn’t mention those concerns in their anno...

Taxed wins Black-Eyed Susan at 11-1; Faiza finishes 3rd in 1st defeat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:38 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Faiza was lurking just behind Hoosier Philly at the end of the second turn, and the unbeaten favorite appeared ready to press for the lead.Turned out there was another horse that was about to leave both of them behind.Taxed raced to an upset victory in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on Friday, closing strong for a convincing win over Hoosier Philly and Faiza. Claimed by owner Richard Bahde last year for $50,000, Taxed won this $300,000 race at Pimlico by 3 3/4 lengths over Hoosier Philly.“I started out in the bull rings in Nebraska with $5,000 claimers and then I met (trainer Randy Morse) and he took me to a whole different level,” Bahde said. “We have had a lot of fun together.”Faiza settled for third for trainer Bob Baffert, who makes his return to Triple Crown racing at Saturday’s Preakness after missing time while suspended. Faiza was a 3-5 favorite after winning her first five races, all in California.“She broke well and was in a good spot. When the running ...

Padres slugger Machado headed to injured list with fractured left hand

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:38 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego Padres slugger Manny Machado was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday because of a hairline fracture in his left hand.Machado was hit by a pitch Monday night. The move was backdated to Tuesday and manager Bob Melvin said there’s a possibility Machado can return when the Padres play at the New York Yankees next weekend.“It’s getting better, but we’ve got an off day coming up, we didn’t feel like he could play this weekend, we can backdate it three, so he’d be able to come back in New York,” Melvin said before the Padres opened a series against the Boston Red Sox. “That’s not something you want to push on top of that. He’s a guy that can play in pain; we saw it last year. We just want to get ahead of this thing and hope he’s 100% when we get to New York.”Like the rest of the superstar-studded Padres lineup, Machado is struggling, hitting just .231 with five homers and 19 RBIs. He was an All-Star...