Residents of the Outback town of Menindee in New South Wales state complained of a terrible smell from the dead fish.

“The stink was terrible. I nearly had to put a mask on,” said local nature photographer Geoff Looney.

“I was worried about my own health. That water right in the top comes down to our pumping station for the town. People north of Menindee say there’s cod and perch floating down the river everywhere,” he said.

The Department of Primary Industries said the fish deaths were likely caused by low oxygen levels as floods recede, a situation made worse by fish needing more oxygen because of the warmer weather.

Police have established an emergency operations centre in Menindee to coordinate a massive cleanup this week.

State Emergency Operations Controller Peter Thurtell said the immediate focus was to provide a clean water supply to residents.

“There is no need for community concern as the initial assessment has determined multiple viable solutions to maintain water supply to the Menindee township and surrounds,” he said.

State agencies also started to release higher-quality water where possible to boost dissolved oxygen levels in the area.

“We’ve just sort of started to clean up, and then this has happened, and that’s sort of you’re walking around in a dried-up mess and then you’re smelling this putrid smell. It’s a terrible smell and horrible to see all those dead fish,” said Jan Dening, a Menindee resident.

Mass fish kills have been reported on the Darling-Baaka River in recent weeks. Tens of thousands of fish were found at the same spot in late February, while there have been several reports of dead fish downstream toward Pooncarie, near the borders of South Australia and Victoria states.

Enormous fish kills occurred on the river at Menindee during severe drought conditions in late 2018 and early 2019, with locals estimating millions of deaths.

The ambivalence raises questions about whether Trump, though a leading Republican contender in the 2024 presidential race who retains a devoted following, still has the power to mobilize far-right supporters the way he did more than two years ago before the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. It also suggests that the hundreds of arrests that followed the Capitol riot, not to mention the convictions and long prison sentences, may have dampened the desire for repeat mass unrest.

Still, law enforcement in New York is continuing to closely monitor online chatter warning of protests and violence if Trump is arrested, with threats varying in specificity and credibility, four officials told The Associated Press. Mainly posted online and in chat groups, the messages have included calls for armed protesters to block law enforcement officers and attempt to stop any potential arrest, the officials said.

The New York Young Republicans Club has announced plans for a protest at an undisclosed location in Manhattan on Monday, and incendiary but isolated posts surfaced on fringe social media platforms from supporters calling for an armed confrontation with law enforcement at Trump's Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.

But nearly two days after Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday and exhorted followers to protest, there were few signs his appeal had inspired his supporters to organize and rally around an event like the Jan. 6 gathering. In fact, a prominent organizer of rallies that preceded the Capitol riot posted on Twitter that he intended to remain on the sidelines.

Ali Alexander, who as an organizer of the “Stop the Steal” movement staged rallies to promote Trump’s baseless claims that Democrats stole the 2020 election from him, warned Trump's supporters that they would be "jailed or worse” if they protested in New York City.

“You have no liberty or rights there,” he tweeted.

One of Alexander’s allies in the “Stop the Steal” campaign was conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who amplified the election fraud claims on his Infowars show. Alexander posted that he had spoken to Jones and said that neither of them would be protesting this time around.

“We’ve both got enough going on fighting the government,” Alexander wrote. “No billionaire is covering our bills.”

That stands in contrast to the days before the Capitol riot when Trump stoked up supporters when he invited them to Washington for a “big protest” on a Jan. 6, tweeting, “Be there, will be wild!” Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol that day, busting through windows and violently clashing with officers in an ultimately failed effort to stop the congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory.

Since then, about 1,000 participants in the melee have been arrested, many racking up steep legal bills and expressing regret and contrition in court for their actions. Some have complained of feeling abandoned by Trump. And conspiracy theories that the riot was fueled or even set up by undercover law enforcement informants in the crowd have continued to flourish online, with Trump supporters in the last two days citing that angst as a basis for steering clear of a new large-scale protest.

“How many Feds/Fed assets are in place to turn protest against the political arrest of Pres Trump into violence?” tweeted Rep. Marjorie-Taylor Greene. The Georgia Republican also invoked a conspiracy theory that an FBI informant had instigated the Jan. 6 riot.

“Has Ray Epps booked his flight to NY yet?” she tweeted on Sunday.

Epps, an Arizona man, was filmed encouraging others to enter the Capitol. Conspiracy theorists believe Epps was an FBI informant because he was removed from a Jan. 6 “wanted” list without being charged. In January, the House committee that investigated the Capitol attack said the claims about Epps were “unsupported.”

John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab who has tracked the “Stop the Steal” movement online, said anxiety over being entrapped by so-called agent provocateurs feeds a “paranoia that if they go and do violence, they may get caught and there may be consequences.”

“It seems to reduce a lot of people's willingness to make big statements about being wiling to go out” and engage in violence, he said.

A grand jury is investigating hush money payments to women who alleged sexual encounters with Trump. Prosecutors have not said when their work might conclude or when charges could come.

The conflicted feelings over how far to support Trump in his fight against prosecution extends into the political realm as well. His own vice president, Mike Pence, who is expected to challenge Trump for the Republican nomination, castigated Trump in an ABC News interview this weekend as “reckless” for his actions on Jan. 6 and said history would hold him accountable — even as he echoed the former president's rhetoric that an indictment would be a “politically charged prosecution.”

“I have no doubt that President Trump knows how to take care of himself. And he will. But that doesn’t make it right to have a politically charged prosecution of a former president of the United States of America,” Pence said.

The opening day of the House Republican conference in Orlando, Florida, was quickly overshadowed with the news of a potential indictment. Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other House Republicans called the possibility outrageous and criticized District Attorney Alvin Bragg for what they called “reckless crime” in New York City.

McCarthy said he has assembled congressional investigators to probe if Bragg used Justice Department grants to pursue the Trump case. But despite the heated rhetoric toward Bragg, Republican leaders stopped short of Trump’s calls for protesters to “take our nation back.”

“I don’t think people should protest this. I think President Trump, when you talk to him, he doesn’t think that either,” McCarthy said.

The Rockford Historical Society held their annual banquet and presentation at Midway Village Museum Sunday night.

Rockford was chosen by the federal government for an army infantry training camp as the U.S. entered World War I back in 1917. Tens of thousands of recruits trained there.

It had a large economic and social impact on the city, contributing to its growth. Six thousand African American soldiers arrived at Camp Grant, forever changing the demographics of the community.

Camp Grant was on the land where the Chicago Rockford International Airport is now.

One museum director said that this is a story that has not been told in a significant way.

"Camp Grant is really an important story in Rockford's history and it has not been told in an extensive way. That's what we intend to do here at Midway Village," said Patrick O’Keefe, executive director of Midway Village. "That's what our business is, telling the Rockford history to our community members, as well as collecting archives."

The museum is continuing to look for artifacts and stories related to Camp Grant. The exhibit will become part of Midway Village's permanent exhibit space.

It happened in the 600 block of Central Avenue just before 7 p.m. Sunday. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke coming from a bedroom window.

The damage was contained to the bedroom. The fire was controlled quickly.

Crews had a very fast response time since trucks were on the way back from another fire.

The woman was the sole occupant of the house. She was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The fire remains under investigation.

Matt Picarelli, 36, told WPTV that he was surfing at Pepper Park Beach on the state's east coast when he suddenly felt a shark bite down.

As he recalled the frightening moment, Picarelli said the attack happened so quickly that it didn't even feel real. He explained how the shark was next to him before it "took a chomp out of [his] foot" and quickly left.

"Everything happening so quickly, it didn't feel real at all. It felt very surreal," Picarelli told WPTV. Strangers helped Picarelli out of the water and a friend rushed him to an area hospital as he was "bleeding everywhere."

He needed 50 stitches and suffered a broken tendon and chipped bone. Since the attack, Picarelli said that he keeps replaying the bite in his head.

"Every night, I've been having nightmares about it," Picarelli told the outlet. "I'm having sharks, whether I'm in the water or even in a room, coming towards me and biting my leg, biting my arm, biting my side, biting something, and attacking me."

Despite the painful and terrifying experience, Picarelli said he's finding the strength to stay positive because he realizes the situation could've been much worse. He even said that he plans to return to the water eventually. Picarelli plans to let his foot heal for a few weeks before starting physical therapy.

While it isn't clear what kind of shark attacked Picarelli, a massive great white shark recently pinged off the coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. Maple, measuring 11 feet, 7 inches, was last along Florida's east coast in January, according to tracking data.

Florida reported the most shark attacks in the U.S. last year at 16, according to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File.

Sandler, 56, first came to national attention as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live.” After being fired from the cast following a five-year stint, Sandler launched a wildly successful movie career that has spanned more than 30 films, grossing over $3 billion worldwide.

“Adam Sandler has entertained audiences for over three decades with his films, music, and his tenure as a fan favorite cast member on ‘SNL,’” Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter said in a statement when Sandler’s prize was announced in December. “Adam has created characters that have made us laugh, cry, and cry from laughing.”

Sandler's top hits include “Happy Gilmore,” “The Wedding Singer” and “You Don't Mess with the Zohan.” Although primarily known for slapstick comedy and overgrown man-child characters, Sandler has also excelled in multiple dramatic roles such as the films "Punch Drunk Love" and “Uncut Gems.”

Mark Twain recipients are honored with a night of testimonials and video tributes, often featuring previous award winners. Other comedians receiving the lifetime achievement award include Richard Pryor (the inaugural recipient in 1998), Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett and Dave Chapelle. Bill Cosby, the 2009 recipient, had his Mark Twain Prize rescinded in 2019 amid multiple allegations of sexual assault.

The long-running comedy institution "SNL" has provided more than its share of the 24 Mark Twain recipients; Sandler is the seventh cast member to receive the prize, joining Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Will Farrell, Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louise-Dreyfus. Show creator and producer Lorne Michaels won in 2004.

Among those scheduled to honor Sandler on Sunday night, according to the Kennedy Center, are Jennifer Aniston, Judd Apatow, Drew Barrymore, Steve Buscemi, Dana Carvey, Luis Guzmán, Tim Herlihy, Tim Meadows, Idina Menzel, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Ben Stiller.

The ceremony will be broadcast nationally on CNN on March 26.

The voluntary recall was issued Friday by Perrigo Company for certain Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powdered Infant Formula produced at a plant in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

In a notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Perrigo said the recall is "out of an abundance of caution due to the potential presence of Cronobacter sakazakii."

Cronobacter sakazakii is the same bacteria that caused several infections among infants last year, leading to an FDA investigation of formula maker Abbott Laboratories. Abbott has denied any direct link to the cases, two of which involved children who died. Abbott issued a voluntary recall and shuttered a plant for months, contributing to a nationwide formula shortage.

Cronobacter sakazakii is a germ found in the natural environment and can live in dry foods like starches, herbal teas, powdered milk and baby formula, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infections are rare, but in infants, they may include sepsis, a dangerous blood infection, or meningitis, swelling around the spinal cord or in the linings surrounding the brain. The bacteria can also cause bowel damage and can spread throughout the body.

According to Perrigo, none of the distributed formulas have tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii, no "adverse events" have been reported, and no other products made by Perrigo or at the Eau Claire facility are affected.

The instant formula was sold at retailers across the U.S. Anyone who purchased the following units after March 5, 2023, should look at the "lot codes" and "use by" dates on the bottom of the package.

If you have any products with matching codes listed above, you should stop using the product and throw it out. Refunds for impacted products can be requested by contacting the Gerber Parent Resource Center on behalf of Perrigo at 1-800-777-7690.

Last month, Reckitt voluntarily recalled two batches of ProSobee infant formula due to possible Cronobacter sakazakii contamination.

Countries quickly signed off on a summary of global warming research compiled since the "2015 Paris Climate Accord," but disagreements over the main text lasted hours.

Emissions targets, financial aid and how to define vulnerable developing countries were all points of debate. The U.S. took issue with the concept of historic responsibility for climate change.

The UN is expected to publish the full report Monday afternoon.

The products are sold under several brand names, including "Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Kirkland Signature and Trader Joe's."

They were sold at Aldi, Costco and Trader Joe's.

The Food and Drug Administration said that five people have become sick with confirmed or probable cases. Two ended up in the hospital.

Gerber announced the recall of some of its "Good Start SoothePro" formula because it may be contaminated with bacteria. The formula was made between January 2-18 and sold at stores across the country.

The company said that no products have shown any signs of bacterial contamination so far, but the products are being recalled out of an abundance of caution.

Many joined the church for the feast of meatless pasta, since it takes place during lent, omelets, vegetables and Italian pastries.

The tradition came to America through Italian immigrants. The altars would originally be created by families in homes, but it became a community event as people adopted a busier, more modern lifestyle.

Churches now carry on the tradition, placing breads, cakes and cookies in symbolic shapes on the altar, which is then blessed by a priest.

The altar symbolizes the beginning of spring and renewal.

"It's very, very heartwarming, because many of us grew up with this, and you just are so happy that people are still interested to come out," said chairperson Joan Gullow. "We haven't had it for two years because of COVID. We had a carry-out only last year, so it's wonderful to get back to having a full-fledged altar."

Gullow added that she is happy that members of younger generations came out, and that it is important to teach them about this tradition so it does not become a lost event.

Rockton and Roscoe's police and fire departments will take part in a "Battle of the Badges" blood drive, all to benefit the Rock River Valley Blood Center.

The departments invite others in the community to go out and donate blood. Residents can go to the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Station or the Rockton Fire Station from 12-6 p.m. to donate.

The village or city that receives the most donations will get bragging rights, but everyone will help to save lives.

Mayor Tom McNamara has named his choice. He selected Isidro Barrios as the interim 11th Ward alderman.

Barrios has a background as a construction union laborer and foreman. He also worked as an instructor at the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters.

City council will consider Barrios' appointment at Monday's meeting. Aldermen have 30 days to vote.

Barrios would replace Tuffy Quinonez, who died last month after having a stroke.

He had served on the council since 2017.

It will close the stretch between Mill Road and Armer Drive starting on Monday. There will be two alternative routes.

The first will be Harrison Avenue, Mulford Road and Linden Road, while the second will be Harrison and Mill Road.

The whole project, which will expand the bridge and the portion of I-39 underneath, should be finished by December 1.

It happened at Alpine Road and E. State Street around 2 p.m. Parts of the road were still open, but traffic was blocked in two lanes.

One car was left on its side.

The crash blocked those traveling east on State Street and going North on Alpine Road. There was no word on if there were any injuries or what caused the pileup at the time of this writing.

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The city said in a news release the curfew would be from 11:59 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. Monday, with an additional curfew likely to be put in place Thursday through next Monday, March 27. The curfew mainly affects South Beach, the most popular party location for spring breakers.

The release said the two separate shootings Friday night and early Sunday that left two people dead and “excessively large and unruly crowds” led to the decision. The city commission plans a meeting Monday to discuss potential further restrictions next week.

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said in a video message posted Sunday that the crowds and presence of numerous firearms has “created a peril that cannot go unchecked” despite massive police presence and many city-sponsored activities meant to keep people busy.

“We don't ask for spring break in our city. We don't want spring break in our city. It's too rowdy, it's too much disorder and it's too difficult to police,” Gelber said.

The latest shooting happened about 3:30 a.m. Sunday on Ocean Drive in South Beach, according to Miami Beach police. A male was shot and died later at a hospital, and officers chased down a suspect on foot, police said on Twitter. Their identities were not released, nor were any possible charges.

In the Friday night shooting, one male victim was killed and another seriously injured, sending crowds scrambling in fear from restaurants and clubs into the streets as gunshots rang out. Police detained one person at the scene and found four firearms, but no other details have been made available.

Under the curfew, people must leave businesses before midnight, although hotels can operate later only in service to their guests. The city release said restaurants can stay open only for delivery and the curfew won't apply to residents, people going to and from work, emergency services and hotel guests. Some roads will be closed off and arriving hotel guests may have to show proof of their reservations.

Last year, the city imposed a midnight curfew following two shootings, also on Ocean Drive. The year before that, there were about 1,000 arrests and dozens of guns confiscated during a rowdy spring break that led Miami Beach officials to take steps aimed at calming the situation.

Alex Banta, 31, of Quincy, was convicted back in April 2022 for Conspiracy to Deprive Civil Rights, Deprivation of Civil Rights, Obstruction of an Investigation, Falsification of Documents and Misleading Conduct, according to NBC News.

Testimony revealed that Banta, along with co-defendants Willie Hedden and Todd Sheffler, handcuffed 65-year-old Larry Earvin and the Western Illinois Correctional Center and escorted him to the segregation unit vestibule. There are no security cameras in that location.

The guards proceeded to throw him so that his head banged into a wall before kicking, punching and stopping on him. The killing blow came when Banta jumped and landed on Earvin's abdomen with both knees, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass.

Earvin suffered 15 broken ribs and abdominal injuries in the May 17, 2018 beating. He later died on June 26.

Banta faces life in prison, but U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough sentenced him to 15 years for the civil rights charges and five years for the other counts, which will run consecutively.

“You were one of the younger officers caught up in the culture at Western of ‘see no evil’ and ‘snitches get stitches,’ which you learned from your superiors, but it in no way excuses your conduct,” Myerscough said. “The governor has replaced the warden and implemented other reforms, so hopefully this culture has changed already.”

Banta said before his sentencing that he regretted his action and the pain that he caused Earvin's family.

“What type of person does it take to assault a 65-year-old man who’s handcuffed behind his back?” remarked Earvin’s brother Willie Earvin Jr., 74, who testified for the prosecution. “I’m a Vietnam veteran and we weren’t allowed to do that to prisoners.”

Banta said that he was instructed from the very begin to look away from indiscretions.

“On my first day, during orientation, Internal Affairs (officers) asked the supervisory staff to leave and then started to tell us, ‘Forget what you learned at the academy. We do things differently here,’” Banta said. “’Things will happen that you might need to ignore. If things happen with an inmate, aim for the body and not the face.’”

Runners laced up their sneakers for the annual "Shamrock Beer Run" on Saturday, and it is safe to say that folks did not let the cold keep them from running for a great cause.

There was over 600 runners, 200 more runners than last year. They were making dreams come true for sick young adults across the country.

"It's just such a treat to see all these people out here supporting these young adults fighting cancer and their families," said Joe Thompson, Nik's Wish recipient and Alabama Angel.

Thompson said that he came all the way from Huntsville, Alabama to help celebrate St. Patrick's Day weekend at the 7th Annual "Shamrock 5K Beer Run." Nik's Wish is for young adults aged 18-24 who are fighting cancer across the nation.

"Making it possible to do what we do, right," Thompson said. "I mean, that's how you make the magic happen."

Thompson was diagnosed with DIPG last year, a form of brain cancer. His wish is to go to the Kentucky Derby in May. He said that he was happy to meet some of the people that made his wish possible.

"Just to have that sense of relief for a moment, to feel like we are getting away from cancer," Thompson said.

Kelli Ritschell Boehle, founder of The Nikolas Ritschell Foundation, said that they have made over 300 precious moments of joy nationwide.

"That is what we want for our cancer patients when we take them on a wish," Boehle said. "We want them to be silly, we want them to be happy, we want them to have a good time. So, you know, what this is fantastic, just what it means to get a Nik's Wish is right here, right now to create some fun memories with people you love."

Runners not only ran for a good cause, but got a medal and a St. Patrick's Day party. There was a silent auction, music, games, 50-foot shillelagh stick and, of course, beer to warm up.

Thompson said he hopes that he can help others get their wish too.

"I think it is really important so we can get the funding we need to grant the wishing, and the wishes, what we do with that, it is able to help these young kids, not only the young adults like me, but the families," he said.

Nik's Wish Foundation is always accepting donations or volunteers.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the incident happened after an anchor mishap involving 38-year-old Velcky Velasquez and 32-year-old Orlando Ortiz, who celebrated their one-year anniversary by renting a boat for the afternoon.

The couple, who were said to be inexperienced with boats and had to take a class beforehand, also brought their friend Jeffrey Marrero and his two children, ages 10 and 8 years old.

"It is a rough day on the water," Judd said. "The wind's blowing about 20 miles an hour. There's a two-foot chop with white caps, and it's a breezy afternoon."

Despite the rough waters, the group decided to anchor in the middle of the lake. According to the sheriff, Velasquez jumped into the water with the anchor, but she didn't have it tied to the boat beforehand.

"She's just very inexperienced, so she thinks you have to get into the water, put the anchor in, and tie it to the boat," Judd said.

It was at this point that the boat began floating away, and Velasquez began to struggle, so Ortiz and Marrero jumped in to help.

However, the sheriff said as the three boaters tried to get back to the boat, they could not catch up to the vessel. While Velasquez was able to stay afloat, her partner and their friend had trouble.

"Miss Velasquez said she [saw] them struggling to stay about the water," Judd said.

Marrero's 10-year-old child managed to call 911, which notified law enforcement of the situation. Judd said the entire incident occurred in front of the children.

"The 10-year-old is, in essence, responsible for us saving the one lady," the sheriff said.

Responding deputies were able to get help from a fisherman at the scene to look for victims, which led to them rescuing Velasquez.

However, the boat, which carried Marrero's two children, ended up in a swampy region of the lake. A deputy was able to get to the children.

According to Judd, the two missing men are believed to have drowned.

The PCSO Marine Unit is getting help from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office in the search for the men's bodies.

Judd said first responders will not end the search until their bodies are found.

"We don't allow anyone's loved one to stay in a lake, and we show up the next morning," he said. "We're there. We're involved. We're searching for these two missing gentlemen as if they were our brothers or our children."

He said the men could be at the bottom of the lake, which is 16-feet deep in some parts, or elsewhere in the water.

"They will eventually float if we are unable to locate them in the meantime," he said.

While the lake is located next to LegoLand, the theme park released a statement saying that the incident did not happen at its attraction:

A boating incident occurred on Lake Eloise yesterday. While the incident did not occur at our attraction and is not connected with us in any way, our staff is providing comfort to the family and the Hotel boardwalk is being utilized as a command center. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. Please contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for any further inquiries.

LegoLand Florida Resort

The sheriff praised the resort for their assistance in the search and recovery operation, despite them not being involved in the incident.

"LegoLand could not have been a better community partner," Judd said.

Firefighters said the man had been trying to unload the safe on March 9 when he fell and got pinned under it. Firefighters estimated the safe weighed 2,000 pounds.

During the rescue, crews used airbags to stabilize the safe and free the man. He was then immediately airlifted to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

"This was an unusual call for service and is one that most would never think about having to overcome," the department said on Facebook. They said the call exemplified the dedication and readiness of the volunteer team.

Firefighters didn't give an update on the man's condition.

Large safes can tip over if they have heavy doors, which when open shift the balance of the weight forward, and cause them to fall.

Rainier Ballistics suggests mounting gun safes to a wall stud or to the floor to prevent them from tipping over.

On average, 62 people are taken to the emergency room due to furniture tip-over incidents, data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, states can choose not to observe daylight saving time - the time between March and November - but can't choose to stay on daylight saving time year-round.

However, many states have enacted legislation that would put them on permanent daylight saving time if Congressional action gives them the opportunity. A new bill introduced by Representative Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) hopes to do just that.

Rogers' bill, introduced earlier this month, would give states the power to stay on daylight saving time year-round.

“Remaining on Daylight Saving time could have tremendous benefits for the economy and people’s health. Furthermore, changing our clocks twice a year is an unnecessary and outdated nuisance," Rogers said in a statement Monday.

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

What states are awaiting Congressional approval?

At least 19 states have already enacted legislation or resolutions to stay on daylight saving time permanently, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

Those states include Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. California voters authorized a change but legislative action has yet to happen.

Legislators in Arkansas and Oklahoma have introduced bills to remain on daylight saving time permanently if Congress allows states to make such a choice. The bill introduced in Arkansas was later withdrawn.

Lawmakers in Nebraska introduced a similar bill but would also need a third neighboring state to pass a law on the matter, according to the Nebraska Examiner. New Mexico lawmakers are considering two pieces of legislation - one to keep the state on standard time, the other to make daylight saving time permanent if all or part of Texas (specifically, El Paso County, Texas) passes a similar law. In Texas, lawmakers are hoping to pass a resolution that would put the choice between permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time up to voters in November.

Virginia’s state Senate failed to pass a bill last month that would’ve moved the state to year-round daylight saving time. The bill’s author, Republican Senator Richard H. Stuart, said his reason for bringing it forward was because he’s “really tired of changing the clocks twice a year.”

Sen. Rubio's bill, which received bipartisan support, was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Representative Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) introduced companion legislation in the House which has also been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Should Rep. Rogers' bill become law, it's unclear how soon states could observe daylight saving time year-round.

Michigan State Police said between 50 and 100 vehicles were involved in the massive crash on I-96, believed to have been caused by whiteout conditions. It happened around 4:40 p.m. near Knox Road in Portland Township, which is about 20 miles outside Lansing.

"It was just chaos everywhere," said Josephine Davidson and Emily Anderson, who both live in Grand Rapids and were involved in the pileup.

Around 5:30 p.m., MSP said all lanes of I-96 in the area were shut down.

It took several hours for crews to clear all the vehicles away from the scene. Eastbound and westbound lanes between Portland Road and South Grange Road did not reopen until 10:45 p.m., according to MDOT.

“I just remember driving down, looking in the rear-view mirror and just seeing a car fly off the side into the ditch,” Anderson said. “It was honestly like you couldn't see anything but cars and just parts of cars flying off either way.”

Anderson was driving Davidson’s car from Grand Rapids to Grand Ledge – a trip that ended up being a nightmare.

“It just kind of hit whiteout, and then all of a sudden you couldn't really see it until you're about less than 100 feet,” Anderson said. “And you start hitting the brakes and you try to downplay it. We just started sliding out of control and then just kind of plowed through the back of a couple of vehicles.”

They both said that many drivers didn’t have their lights on, making it even harder to see in front of them.

“You could see the car in front of you if they had their lights on, but a lot of cars wouldn’t,” Davidson said. “The car in front of us was white, and they didn’t have any lights on. So you could only see them if you’re that close.”

Anderson said she felt “nothing but panic” as she lost control of the vehicle.

“There was nothing you could do to slow down before hitting the cars,” she said.

She was eventually able to get to the side of the road by pulling the vehicle in between two other cars that she hit. Her tire was slashed so she couldn’t go any further.

Even after she brought her vehicle to a stop, she saw chaos all around her as the pileup only got worse.

“I'm looking around, there's cars going off the side,” Davidson said.

They both estimated there were 100 vehicles involved in the pileup.

“We couldn’t see the back of it,” Davidson said. “I think that stretched for at least a mile behind us, and I couldn’t see the front of it.”

MSP reported a few injuries, but no one was seriously hurt.

“I was just hoping we didn't flip, hoping we didn't roll,” Anderson said. “Luckily we didn't.”

As first responders sorted through the wreckage, drivers waited in their vehicles for hours. Like many others, Davidson’s vehicle is totaled.

“The front bumper is kind of dragging on the ground,” Davidson said. “My tires slashed. The passenger door won't open. I think there was a little bit of damage on the other side on the driver's side. The bumper was missing. The headlight's smashed.”

“We thought, ‘Oh, it’s probably just a mile walk, we can make it,’” Davidson said. “But it was so slippery. I almost slipped just walking.”

After Davidson and Anderson waited in their car for two hours, they decided to walk off the interstate to the exit ramp.

Davidson’s mom picked them up near the exit ramp, finally ending a trip they never imagined would go like this.

“I’m hoping that my mom buys us dinner,” Davidson said with a smile.

A warming and family reunification center was set up at a nearby church for anyone involved in the crash. Buses transported people there.

Tow trucks took vehicles off the interstate to a different church in Portland, Michigan. Some were heavily damaged.

Foods we enjoy each day — like fruits and vegetables, nuts, spice, and even chocolate and coffee — wouldn't be possible without pollinators. They also help to support clean water through their work in plant communities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture explains.

Overall, the work of pollinators has a value of $200 billion every year, according to the USDA. That doesn't take into account the invaluable work they do in our backyard gardens.

When you think of pollinators, your mind may instantly go to bees: honey bees, bumblebees, carpenter bee, whatever it may be. But pollinators also include birds, bats, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, and small mammals.

Honey bees aren't necessarily at the top of the pollinator pyramid though.

"Compared to some other native bees, honey bees are less efficient or unable to pollinate some of our food crops," Susan Carpenter, native plant garden curator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, tells Nexstar. Honey bees are, instead, "domestic animals, maintained and cared for by beekeepers" that can be "detrimental to the wide diversity of native bees" around you.

Flowers aren't the be-all, end-all for pollinators either.

As Carpenter explains, there are some pollinators that use only one or a few flowers. Limited blooming time may not overlap with a pollinator's active time, and flowers that "have been bred for features that are pretty or novel" can restrict pollen and nectar availability, making them "not useful to pollinators." Some of the plants sold at your local nursery may not even be native plants, making it even harder — or impossible — for pollinators to do their job.

Unsurprisingly, treating the plants you have with insecticides may make them toxic to pollinators or reduce reproduction, Carpenter notes. You may also want to avoid treating your lawn, if possible, especially if you have some lawn plants to offer.

Many cities have launched "no mow May" initiatives intended to support pollinators. During these months, residents are encouraged to let their lawns grow without facing otherwise in-place city ordinances that may require frequent maintenance.

"No mow May has been a good way to generate conversation about sustainable lawn care and the financial and environmental costs of chemically treated, low diversity lawns," Carpenter says. "If a lawn has no flowering plants or has flowering plants that don’t bloom in May, letting it grow for a month will not add floral resources. Creeping Charlie, dandelions and violets are three lawn plants that bloom early in the season, so pollinators that visit them can benefit."

When it comes to helping pollinators elsewhere around your yard and in your garden, Carpenter recommends native plants. The USDA lists multiple native pollinator plants by region.

That includes species like the Michigan lily for states in the Northeast and northern Midwest, butterfly milkweed for areas around the Great Smoky Mountains, the Texas bluebonnet across southern Plains states, and the Rocky Mountain bee plant throughout most of the West.

"The same gardening practices that support pollinators will support other life and nature as well — songbirds, animals, and beneficial insects are a few examples of groups that benefit from native plant gardening," Carpenter adds.

The deliveries started about two weeks ago, and seem to be focused in the area of Range View Avenue in the Highland Park neighborhood. They've been showing up at all hours.

One man said he received 13 deliveries in one day, none of which he ordered. His neighbors had similar stories.

Caroline Aguirre said she's received items from "low-fat milk, to a Danish, to chicken McNuggets, french fries, an egg croissant.”

The free food was "a nice treat at first," William Neal said, "Then, when it became too much food at once, we'd try to find places to donate it or give it away."

"It was bag after bag after bag, sometimes three at a time, 3 in the morning, 5 in the afternoon," he added.

One neighbor even put a "no deliveries" sign on his front door, but the surprises kept coming, up to 10 bags a day.

The residents said the names on the orders, primarily fast food, did not match anyone who lives there. Some of the neighborhood's residents don't even have Uber Eats accounts.

Neighbors told KTLA that other delivery services, such as DoorDash and Postmates, have been involved as well, though it's been too difficult to contact any customer service representatives to learn more.

San Francisco-based Uber told the Los Angeles Times that the company has launched an investigation into the bizarre, relentless deliveries.

“I don’t know why brands think this is acceptable,” Bodge says. “It’s another punch to the gut as we’re trying to manage our budgets right now,” she adds, referring to rising prices across consumer goods categories due to inflation. 

The phenomenon known as the “pink tax,” when products and services aimed at women cost more than their counterparts aimed at men, is well-documented across many goods and services. A 2021 paper co-authored by Stephanie Gonzalez Guittar, assistant professor in the sociology department at Rollins College in Florida, found that women pay more for deodorants and lotions, and that personal care products are increasingly differentiated by gender. For example, lotion for women cost an average of $2.97 per ounce compared to $1.86 for men. 

While Equal Pay Day on March 14 focuses on the pay gap between men and women, it can also be a reminder to consider why being a woman so often comes with a higher price tag — and what to do about it.

Here are ways to avoid paying the pink tax.

Opt for gender-neutral products

As Gonzalez Guittar points out, there is no reason why women need to use lavender scents while men stick with pine. Companies also often market multiple products to women — such as separate shampoo, body wash and conditioner — while marketing a three-in-one product to men. 

“These are basic hygiene products that don’t need to be gendered,” she says. Shoppers can save by purchasing more generic or gender-neutral products instead of the gendered versions, she says. “Ultimately, [these products] are pigeon-holing what femininity looks and smells like, and that comes at a price.”

Study the fine print

Gonzalez Guittar urges consumers to take a close look at the ingredients and size information on the packaging to help make more informed decisions before they buy.

“Look at the price per ounce, because women’s products tend to be smaller,” she says, and you can often get a better deal by purchasing unscented products in larger quantities instead. At grocery and drugstores, you can often find the unit pricing on the shelf tag in front of the product. 

Comparison shop in advance

Ian Ayres, a professor at Yale Law School, first identified that car dealers often offered the best deals to customers who were white men with research in the 1990s. Follow-up studies since then have affirmed the persistence of discriminatory pricing along with some progress, especially at online and no-haggle dealerships, Ayres adds.

Consumers can help protect themselves by researching car costs to be more informed negotiators and by checking out financing options in advance.

“You can get a competitive interest rate by shopping around and you don’t need to go through the dealerships,” Ayres says. 

Ask for equal pricing

When it comes to services such as dry cleaning or haircuts, men’s prices tend to be lower, but Bodge says they don’t have to be.

“If I’m having a cotton oxford shirt cleaned, I just ask for the men’s option, especially if the pricing is posted,” she says. “With haircuts it’s trickier, but if you have a short pixie cut, ask for the men’s price.”

Know your rights

California and New York have passed laws against gender-based pricing, which provides a legal recourse for consumers who notice price discrimination based on gender. You can report violations to the New York State Division of Consumer Protection or the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Other states have proposed similar legislation.

“We have to look at how we push back with legislation. When we think about economic justice, we often only think of equal pay, but that’s not the only area where women are experiencing economic injustice,” says Christian F. Nunes, president of the National Organization for Women, an advocacy group dedicated to defending women’s rights. 

“They charge you more, but also underpay you,” says Nunes. “It’s harder to have a sustainable life.”

Prioritize saving

Given the wage gap and women’s longer expected lifespans, it’s essential for women to amass savings to get through the post-retirement years, says Cindy Hounsell, president of the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement, a nonprofit that advocates for women’s retirement security. “People always say, ‘I wish I had saved more,’” she says. 

That means leveraging all available work benefits, such as 401(k)s, as well as cutting back on extraneous spending.

“It makes a big difference how you spend your money,” she adds. She urges people to use online calculators to figure out how much you will need in retirement so you have a clear goal. “Everyone needs a different amount.”

Meanwhile, given the high rates of inflation across many consumer categories, the additional cost of the pink tax only makes it even harder for women to save. 

Says Bodge: “It’s another hurdle that we need to leap over.”

Bianca Clayborne and Deonte Williams were traveling from Georgia to Chicago for a funeral when they were pulled over in Coffee County, Tennessee.

According to the affidavit, the traffic stop was for having dark-tinted windows and using the left lane without actively passing.

After being pulled over, the state trooper smelled marijuana and found about 5 grams of it in the car, according to court documents.

Later on, Clayborne's children were taken into Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) custody after a court ruling. The kids range in age from 4 months to 7 years old.

"When I went to go reach him, the man grabbed me, he said, 'Don't touch him,'" Clayborne said, remembering the moments her children were taken out of her custody. "My oldest child, he looked at me all confused and I just gave him a hug and told him, 'It's not your fault.'"

Clayborne's attorneys said they don't believe this would've escalated in the same way if his clients looked different or were from a different background.

Following the publication of Clayborne's story in The Tennessee Lookout, Tennessee Senate Democrats called for DCS to release the children back to their parents.

"It is outrageous that the state forcefully separated Bianca Clayborne, a breastfeeding mother, and Deonte Williams from their kids and have allowed this to continue for nearly a month. The state exercised extreme and flawed judgment in taking their children and it seems they’ve doubled down on this poor decision," said Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis).

The same sentiment was echoed by Akbari's colleagues.

"It is an unacceptable abuse of power for state officials to rip five children away from their parents over a misdemeanor possession charge when DCS cannot even take care of the kids they already have in custody," said Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis).

In a statement, the Coffee County District Attorney said there is more to the story than Clayborne and her attorneys are publicly releasing.

"Certainly, there are more facts and circumstances that exist that the defendants have chosen not to disclose during their efforts to try this matter in the court of public opinion and the realm of politics. My office will only try this matter in the criminal court of law," said District Attorney Craig Northcott.

Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) said there was a weapon in the vehicle in possession of a convicted felon, but no evidence of those charges being filed has been released to the public.

"We did not arrest the mother, in this particular case, with the intentions of leaving the children with her and that's where we left it," said THP Col. Matt Perry. "The mother had custody of the children when we were done."

According to DCS officials, they can't comment on ongoing cases and emphasized the decision to put children in state custody falls to the courts.

"DCS and law enforcement follow protocol for collecting evidence. Those findings are then presented to the court. In this instance, the evidence resulted in the court placing children in DCS custody," said a DCS spokesperson.

Clayborne's attorneys said DCS has retaliated against them for releasing certain legal documents to the public, but DCS has not responded to comment on that.

Yet, while lawyers and government officials go back and forth, Clayborne said she feels like she is grieving.

"It's like death," she said. "Losing someone you can cope with because they are not with you any longer, but having children out in the world [and] you physically can't see or touch [them], is mind-boggling."

Adam Galagher, 38, of Rochester, and Christina Ankney, 39, of Braddock, are both accused of stealing mail while on the job, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania. Additionally, India Schatzman, 47, of McKees Rocks, is accused of stealing a gift card from the mail.

All three postal workers have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, according to Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.

In the indictments, Gallagher is accused of stealing mail on Oct. 19, 2022, while Ankney is accused of stealing mail on May 19, 2022. Schatzman is accused of stealing a gift card from the mail on Dec. 30, 2022.

If they are found guilty, they could each face up to five years in prison and be fined up to $250,000. A supervised release term could also be issued for up to three years.

The United States Postal Inspection Services conducted investigations into these alleged thefts that lead to the three indictments.

Families who can afford it can open up a college savings plan, sometimes called a 529 plan, but that's not a reality for everyone in America.

The Oakland-based nonprofit Oakland Promise sought to give families a leg up by starting the Brilliant Baby program. Oaklanders who qualify for Medicaid and recently had a baby get a college savings account (CSA) seeded with $500.

The program also offers free financial coaching and educational programming designed to support child development.

"There's a lot of research that points to how financial stress — the taxing nature of financial stress makes it harder to focus on everything... We wanted to reduce financial stress, increase kind of focus and optimism around early development," said Amanda Feinstein, a childhood development specialist who previously founded and directed the Brilliant Baby program.

Researchers studied the impact of the program on parents' educational aspirations after the kids reached 18 months old.

Past research has shown that kids whose parents didn't attend college often have lower educational expectations.

Marc Hernandez, a University of Chicago researcher who helped lead the study, explained how he himself was a first-generation college student and how his family was skeptical of higher education.

"I remember having a conversation with my grandfather, he didn't go to college. It's like, well why do you need to go to college?" he said.

Hernandez found when parents received the seed money, their expectations for their child's academic success increased, with more hope for the future, better self-rated health and less stress.

Parents who got the financial coaching on top of the seed money were more likely to save for their kids' education and more likely to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.

Providing seed money for CSAs has become an increasingly popular program across the country. Pennsylvania, for instance, has been providing $100 for seed accounts for every baby born on or after Jan. 1, 2019.

While the impact on the parents is gradually reported, it's not yet clear what the long-term impact these programs will have on the kids since they're very new, Hernandez said.

"There is no data as far as I'm aware of what the long-term impacts of...CSAs have on college-going because the oldest programs aren't there yet," he said.

Only one other program, Oklahoma's SEED OK, is part of an ongoing long-term study, Hernadez said.

Back in Oakland, the Brilliant Babies recipients are just starting kindergarten.

While short-term reports are promising, the long-term goal is to see if the program will impact attitudes and behaviors among families and help them increase their educational success.

Hernadez adds $500 alone isn't going to get a kid into college.

"Something else is happening because of that $500 that's going to get them there. What is it that's changing? Well one of the things we think is going to change is how the parent thinks about and interacts with that kid," he said.

While the long-term benefits of Brilliant Baby are still being studied, Feinstein said community members impacted by it have described how it has changed their attitudes.

"In some ways, it's about just like starting and knowing that the community, the government...also cares to invest in your child. When we've talked to our families in Brilliant Baby, often they say it matters to me that the Oakland community cares about my child, too," she said.

In today’s consumer culture, “a place for everything and everything in its place” isn’t just a mantra; it’s big business. Nowhere is this more evident than the kitchen pantry.

Most people can relate to finding half-empty cereal boxes squirreled away in the cupboard or letting produce sit just a bit too long in a refrigerator drawer.

But for a subset of social media denizens, such sacrileges would never grace their feeds.

As someone who studies digital consumer culture, I’ve noticed an uptick in glamorized, stylized and fully stocked pantries on TikTok and Instagram, giving rise to a content genre I dub “pantry porn.”

How did the perfectly organized pantry become so ubiquitous in the digital age? And what does it say about the expectations of being a good homemaker?

When pantries became pretty

The pantry – derived from the Latin word for bread, “panis” – was originally a hidden space for storing food. It was purely functional, not a place to show off to others. In the late 1800s, the butler’s pantry emerged as an architectural trend among high society. This small space, tucked between the kitchen and dining room, was a marker of status – an area to hide both the food and the people who prepared it.

Throughout the next century, pantries started being built in middle-class homes. As open floor plans became popular in the 1950s, kitchens emerged into plain view. This design shift paved the way for many modern American pantries to feature sweeping floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall cabinetry and walk-in storage spaces.

Today, over 85% of new homes built in America that are over 3,500 square feet feature a walk-in pantry, reportedly the most desirable kitchen feature for new homebuyers, according to a 2019 report.

Celebrities can be credited – at least, in part – for making the pantry a modern-day status symbol. The Kardashian-Jenner family has long been an exemplar for #pantrygoals, and former “Real Housewives” star Yolanda Hadid has social media fan pages dedicated to her fridge.

In the digital age, social media influencers have stepped in as trickle-down tastemakers who translate symbols of celebrity culture into accessible markers of status for the rest of us.

Meticulously arranged pantries appeal to middle-class sensibilities: Maybe you can’t have a designer kitchen, but you can beautify your bulk food storage.

Move over food porn – make way for pantry porn

Throughout the 2010s, food porn dominated social media. The so-called “camera eats first” phenomenon introduced user-generated images of cooking, eating and staging food.

Consumers’ controversial obsession with food photography resulted in some restaurants banning smartphone photography while other businesses created veritable wonderlands for food-inspired selfies such as the Museum of Ice Cream and The Egg House.

New technology did not invent food porn, but it did catalyze it in new ways. Consumers armed with camera phones could suddenly fetishize meals for the voyeuristic pleasure of their friends and followers. This dynamic of watching and being watched is a hallmark of modern digital consumer culture where nonsexual things are linguistically tethered to porn: food porn, travel porn, book porn, real estate porn. Coupling social media content with the “porn” descriptor acts as shorthand for desirability, gratification and gawking.

Pantry porn is a mashup of infotainment, how-to, lifestyle content and ASMR, a form of sound-driven content intended to relax viewers.

Influencers film themselves shopping for supplies, prepping food, refilling containers, and organizing their pantries – often coupled with hashtags like #pantryrestock, #pantryASMR, and #pantrygoals. They transfer dry goods from the store-bought bags into matching glassware; they stock the home coffee bar with coffee pods and flavored syrups; they refill stackable bins with single-serving snacks; they create multiple types of ice cubes – each with its own dedicated freezer section. Much of this pantry porn is performed against a backdrop of rhythmic ASMR-inspired clinks, glugs, snaps, rips and thunks that appeal to viewers’ pleasure centers.

Like its food porn predecessor, pantry porn thrives on stylizing everyday life in exaggerated ways. But where food porn elicits a desire for gluttonous indulgence, pantry porn taps into a different cultural desire: the orderly arrangement of abundance.

Excess is bad, but organized excess is good

The past decade has ushered in a home organizing revolution.

An entire cottage industry of blogs, books and television shows have introduced people to terms like “decluttering,” “minimalism” and “simple living.”

Minimalism once represented a countercultural lifestyle rooted in anti-consumption: Use less, buy less, have less.

But if pantry porn is any indication, the new minimalism means more is more, as long as the more is not messy. Consumers don’t need less, they need more: more containers, more labels, more storage space.

Storing spices in coordinated glass jars and color coordinating dozens of sprinkles containers may seem trivial. But tidiness is tangled up with status, and messiness is loaded with assumptions about personal responsibility and respectability.

Cleanliness has historically been used as a cultural gatekeeping mechanism to reinforce status distinctions based on a vague understanding of “niceness”: nice people, with nice yards, in nice houses, make for nice neighborhoods.

What lies beneath the surface of this anti-messiness, pro-niceness stance is a history of classist, racist and sexist social structures. In my research, influencers who produce pantry porn are predominantly white women who demonstrate what it looks like to maintain a “nice” home by creating a new status symbol: the perfectly organized, fully stocked pantry.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that pantry porn found its foothold during the COVID-19 pandemic, when shortages in the supply chain surged. Keeping stuff on hand became a symbol of resilience for those with the money and space to do so. This allure of strategic stockpiling is evident in other collector subcultures like doomsday preppers and extreme couponers.

The pressure of the perfect kitchen

The work required to restock, refill, and reset the kitchen is a central element in producing everyday pantry porn.

In my research, I’ve found that this work often falls to women in the household. One TikTok mom goes on a “snack strike,” stating she will not restock the pantry until her children and husband eat what they already have.

Magazines like Good Housekeeping were once the brokers of idealized domestic work. Now online pantry porn sets the aspirational standard for becoming an ideal mom, ideal wife and ideal woman. This grew out of a shift toward an intensive mothering ideology that equates being a good mom with time-intensive, labor-intensive, financially expensive care work.

Sure, all of those baskets and bins serve a functional purpose in the home: seeing what you need, when you need it. But the social pressure to curate a perfect pantry might make some women work overtime. They can’t just shove store-bought boxes of snacks into a cupboard; they must neatly place the grab-and-go snacks into a fully stocked pantry that rivals a boutique corner store.

Pantry porn, as a status symbol, relies on the promise of making daily domestic work easier. But if women are largely responsible for the work required to maintain the perfectly organized pantry, it’s critical to ask: easier for whom?

Clinical trials are underway for a type of intranasal vaccine, which is administered by spraying into the nose, not injecting into the arm. While current vaccines and boosters are very effective at preventing severe disease and death, the hope is that a nasal vaccine would be even better at preventing mild illness.

"These will induce immunity in the mucosa of the nasal pharynx – the site of initial viral replication – and may prevent infection and reduce transmission," said Dr. William Moss, a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Nasal vaccines, because of where they are administered, work to immediately strengthen antibodies in the mucus and nose. "Mucosal immunity," Moss explained, could prevent infection before the virus is able to spread throughout the body.

"Scientists have learned that the virus first infects the nose and throat before sometimes spreading to the lungs, where severe COVID-19 can develop. But the nose and throat are difficult destinations for the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies that develop in the blood after a vaccine is injected into the arm or leg – making those hard-to-reach areas targets for better vaccines," wrote the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Moss said he was "particularly excited" about the potential of a nasal vaccine for COVID-19.

A nasal spray that protects against influenza, FluMist, is already approved and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for those between 2 and 49 years old.

A Phase 1 clinical trial by Blue Lake Biotechnology found its nasal COVID vaccine reduced the risk of symptomatic infection by 86% for three months, NBC News reports.

For comparison, in a much larger study published last year, three doses of an mRNA vaccine were 61% effective at preventing a symptomatic infection with the omicron variant. Three doses were 95% effective at preventing severe outcomes, the study found.

NIAID also pointed to two recent studies that showed one dose of a nasal vaccine introduced into the respiratory tract triggered strong immune responses in hamsters and monkeys.

But a separate trial of AstraZeneca’s vaccine found only a minority of participants had an immune response when given a nasal dose. They also found immune responses were weaker than reactions to intramuscular injections.

While nasal vaccine doses have already been approved for use in some other parts of the world, like China and India, they are likely still a ways off for the United States. Only two types have reached human trials in the U.S., according to NBC News, and those are still in the early stages.

Even if it were approved, it's not clear that enough people would get the new vaccine to make a dent in COVID-19 transmission. The bivalent booster, released last year to target the omicron variant, has only been administered to about 16% of the population, according to CDC tracking.

A new report on seasonal allergies found the growing season has lengthened by more than two weeks, on average. A longer growing season means more days of sniffles, sneezes and headaches for allergy sufferers.

Climate Central, an organization of scientists and journalists focused on studying the impacts of climate change and warming global temperatures, analyzed temperature data from 203 U.S. cities since 1970.

They found allergy season isn't just getting longer, it's also getting more intense.

It's largely because warming temperatures have essentially shortened the length of deep-freeze winters and extended the length of seasons where allergen-producing plants thrive.

"Earlier spring and longer periods of freeze-free days mean that plants have more time to flower and release allergy-inducing pollen," Climate Central wrote in its report.

Of the 203 cities analyzed, 172 (about 85%) saw freeze-free seasons grow longer – many by more than a month.

The cities where allergy season has grown the most since 1970, according to the report, are:

1. Reno, Nevada: 99 days longer
2. Bend, Oregon: 83 days longer
3. Las Cruces, New Mexico: 72 days longer
4. Medford, Oregon: 63 days longer
5. Boise, Idaho: 52 days longer
6. Tupelo, Mississippi: 51 days longer
7. El Paso, Texas: 50 days longer
8. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: 46 days longer
9. Toledo, Ohio: 45 days longer
10. Wheeling, West Virginia: 44 days longer
11. Missoula, Montana: 42 days longer
12. Albuquerque, New Mexico: 39 days longer
13. Concord, New Hampshire: 39 days longer
14. Eugene, Oregon: 38 days longer
15. Jefferson City, Missouri: 38 days longer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees climate change could lead people to suffer more health consequences from allergens. Pollen exposure could lead to symptoms of hay fever and allergic conjunctivitis, and could lead to more asthma attacks for people with asthma.

There were some cities among the 203 analyzed where the growing season is shortening, Climate Central's scientists found. Ottumwa, Iowa; Denver, Colorado; and Waco, Texas all saw their growing seasons shorten by 15 or more days.

They are once again state champions.

Auburn defeated Barrington 430-390 in the 2A championship match Saturday afternoon in Normal.

The Knights also defeated Dunlap, Illinois Math and Science Academy of Aurora and Hinsdale Central.

Auburn has an impressive streak of finishing in the final four at state for the past 20 years. They came in first in 2008 and 2015.

The Facebook group called "Rockford Made It" partnered with the Midway Village Museum for an event that shares the history of the city's breweries and bottlers.

Artifacts from the collections department at the museum were on display. The purpose of the "Rockford Made It" group is to show people the city's past and to give them a sense of pride.

A group admin said that he wants people to understand that things made in Rockford have changed the world.

"It's kind of rewarding, because you see that people care about the history of our town," said Gary Patton. "And that's kind of our goal, is to create pride in our city and to understand our past better. To know who we were and what a great city we've been."

Patton said that he looks forward to see what Rockford's younger generations create that will make a difference.

The New York Times reported that researchers swabbed areas of the market in January 2020, right after authorities shut it down. They discovered large amounts of genetic material that matched the racoon dog in places where COVID-19 was also found.

Raccoon dogs are related to foxes and can transmit the "coronavirus."

The evidence adds to the theory that the virus spread from a wild animal to humans.

Dewayne Smith was a 25-year veteran with the Memphis Police Department. Documents show that Smith ignored Nichols when he said he could not breath and failed to call for medical help.

Smith was also not wearing his body camera during the beating. Nichols died a few days later.

Six other Memphis Police officers were fired following the incident. Five are facing criminal charges.

Smith has not been charged in the case

Republican Governor Mark Gordon signed the bill into law Friday night. A separate measure restricting abortion also became law without his signature.

Medication abortion is already outlawed in states that have total bans, since those bans already prohibit all forms of it.

Wyoming's ban on abortion pills would take effect in July, pending any legal action that could potentially delay that.

The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Stan McClain, would restrict public school instruction on human sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases and related topics to grades 6 through 12. McClain confirmed at a recent committee meeting that discussions about menstrual cycles would also be restricted to those grades.

“So if little girls experience their menstrual cycle in 5th grade or 4th grade, will that prohibit conversations from them since they are in the grade lower than sixth grade?” asked state Rep. Ashley Gantt, a Democrat who taught in public schools and noted that girls as young as 10 can begin having periods.

“It would,” McClain responded.

The GOP-backed legislation cleared the House Education Quality Subcommittee on Wednesday by a 13-5 vote mainly along party lines. It would also allow parents to object to books and other materials their children are exposed to, require schools to teach that a person's sexual identity is determined biologically at birth and set up more scrutiny of certain educational materials by the state Department of Education.

McClain said the bill's intent is to bring uniformity to sex education across all of Florida's 67 school districts and provide more pathways for parents to object to books or other materials they find inappropriate for younger children.

At the committee meeting, Gantt asked whether teachers could face punishment if they discuss menstruation with younger students.

“My concern is they won't feel safe to have those conversations with these little girls,” she said.

McClain said “that would not be the intent” of the bill and that he is “amenable” to some changes to its language. The measure must be approved by another committee before it can reach the House floor; a similar bill is pending in the Senate.

An email seeking comment was sent Saturday to the office of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely seen as a potential 2024 presidential candidate.

The eight-day trial will consider allegations from a complaint filed in 2019 alleging Paltrow was involved in a collision with a Utah skier, Dr. Terry Sanderson, while skiing at Deer Valley Resort in February 2016.

According to the complaint documents, Sanderson was hit by Paltrow while she was skiing on a family vacation on a beginner run at Deer Valley. Sanderson claims Paltrow was "skiing out of control and too fast for her ability."

Sanderson's attorneys say their client was injured in the collision, suffering four broken ribs, a brain injury, and other serious injuries.

Sanderson further claims that, after the collision, Paltrow and Deer Valley employees, including the ski instructor, left him in the snow with serious injuries and failed to contact emergency responders. Court documents also show Sanderson accuses Deer Valley of filing a false report saying he was at fault, allegedly to protect Paltrow. This caused him further emotional distress, he claims.

Paltrow has previously denied any wrongdoing, alleging that Sanderson had actually crashed into her and "delivered a full body blow." She also claimed Sanderson apologized after the collision and said he was fine.

Paltrow filed a counterclaim against Sanderson in 2019.

Deer Valley Resort had requested to be removed from the case, saying Deer Valley's conduct did not put Sanderson in any actual physical danger. Deer Valley's motion also denies Sanderson's claims that the resort did nothing to help and filed a false report after the alleged collision.

Deer Valley Resort was ultimately dismissed from the case in January 2023.

Court documents show Sanderson was initially seeking more than $3 million, but a judge ruled in May 2022 that Sanderson was not entitled to punitive damages, local outlet KSL reported.

The full complaint and counterclaim can be read in their entirety at Nexstar's KTVX.

While the drug might now be legal in the state, there are still limits on how much a person can possess at one time.

With that being said, some residents might be wondering if they can still go to jail for marijuana in the state if they have too much.

Illinois residents can own up to 30 grams of marijuana flower at a time, according to Norml. The penalties for owning more than this depends on the amount, as well as the number of offenses.

Having between 30-100 grams for a first offense is considered a misdemeanor and can lead to a year of jail time. If a person is caught doing it again, it becomes a felony, which can result in up to three years of jail time.

Having 100-500 grams results in the same penalty as a second offense of the amount mentioned above.

The more the amount goes up from here, the more the penalty goes up as well. For example, having more than 5,000 grams in one's possession could lead to 15 years behind bars.

While marijuana is now recreationally legal in the state, it can only be purchased from a licensed dispensary. If a person decides to sell weed by themselves, they can face major penalities.

For example, selling or trafficking more than 5,000 grams of marijuana in the state can lead to 30 years of incarceration and a $200,000 fine.

There is also a limit on the number of plants that Illinois residents can cultivate for their own use. Medical patients in the state can have up to five of their own plants without facing any penalties. If a non-medical patient has five plants for their own use, they will not face any jail time, but there is a $200 fine.

However, the more plants, the higher the penalty. Having more than five is a felony in the state. Having up to 20 plants can lead to a 3-year sentence, while having up to 50 can lead to a 5-year sentence.

Having more than 200 plants can land a person behind bars for 15 years.

Earlier this week, Trump was invited to testify before a Manhattan grand jury in connection with the hush money investigation, according to his lawyer. On Monday, the former president's longtime fixer and former attorney, Michael Cohen, who ultimately made the payments in question, testified before the grand jury.

Both actions suggest an indictment may be coming. If that happens, Trump would become the first former president ever to face criminal charges.

What is the case about?

In the runup to the 2016 election, Trump's longtime attorney Cohen paid porn actress Stormy Daniels $130,000, allegedly to keep her quiet about an affair she claimed to have had with the former president.

Trump has acknowledged that he paid Cohen a "monthly retainer" as part of an agreement to "stop the extortionist accusations made by Daniels," and denied having an affair with her. The former president said the contract had nothing to do with campaign funds, and his company logged the reimbursements as a legal expense.

Earlier in 2016, Cohen had also arranged a $150,000 payment via the publisher of the National Enquirer to former Playboy model Karen McDougal in order to quash a story about a separate alleged affair with Trump. The former president has also denied that allegation.

Cohen pleaded guilty to violating federal campaign finance law in connection with the payments, but Trump has never faced charges. Federal prosecutors said the payments amounted to illegal, unreported assistance to Trump's campaign. They also accused Trump's company of inflating Cohen's reimbursement for tax purposes.

What charges could Trump face?

Manhattan prosecutors may be considering at least two different options — both of which could be difficult to prove.

If Trump's company had a phony retainer agreement with Cohen that Trump knew about, then prosecutors could make the case that the former president falsified business records. That crime is only a misdemeanor under New York law unless prosecutors can prove he falsified the records to conceal another crime.

That separate crime, prosecutors may argue, was a violation of state election law. Authorities could make the case that Trump paid off Daniels to benefit his campaign.

But legal experts say that could be hard to prove.

"The felony charge would be a novel one, and they'd have to show specifically that the payoff was to influence the campaign," NewsNation's Dan Abrams said Wednesday.

Trump's attorney, Joe Tacopina, maintains that no crime has been committed, and said the payment was not related to Trump's campaign.

"(Trump) would have done this if he were the TV star that he was before politics ever entered his world," Tacopina told Abrams.

The legal case against the former president is further complicated by the fact that the prosecution's key witness, Cohen, has previously lied to Congress.

On Friday, Cohen told "Good Morning America" that he was "absolutely" prepared for cross-examination in a potential trial against his former boss.

How likely is an indictment?

Trump was invited to testify before a New York grand jury that has been investigating the hush money payments, according to one of his attorneys. The invitation could signal that a decision on the indictment is coming.

"(An indictment) is becoming more probable, I think now," Tacopina told Abrams.

Tacopina has said the former president has no plans to participate in the investigation.

A number of key people related to the hush money probe have already talked to authorities about the case.

Cohen testified before the grand jury investigating the payments on Monday. Two days later, Daniels met with Manhattan prosecutors and answered questions related to the investigation. Her attorney said she was willing to be a witness should the case go to trial.

Trump himself also said Saturday morning that he anticipates an arrest on Tuesday, claiming in a Truth Social post that he learned of the alleged arrest from "ILLEGAL LEAKS FROM A CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS [sic] OFFICE."

Why now?

It's not entirely clear why Manhattan prosecutors would bring criminal charges against Trump now after federal prosecutors previously declined to do so, though at that time Trump was the sitting president.

The Manhattan DA's office opened its own investigation into the payments in 2019, revisiting it several times while looking into other matters related to Trump's business dealings.

In December, the Trump Organization was convicted of tax fraud in a separate case unrelated to the hush money allegations. A jury found two corporate entities at the Trump Organization guilty on all 17 counts, including charges of conspiracy and falsifying business records, although Trump himself was not on trial.

Tacopina thinks charging Trump now would be a mistake.

"We'll chew this case up," he said. "This would be the worst stain on this DA's legacy."

What about Trump's other cases?

The hush money investigation is just one of many potential criminal cases Trump faces as he mounts his third consecutive White House bid.

Prosecutors in Georgia could bring criminal charges against the former president for allegedly interfering in the 2020 election. The special grand jury in that case wrapped up its work in December and the district attorney will now decide whether to go to a regular grand jury for one or more indictments in the case.

Trump is also facing a federal investigation into the storage of classified documents at his Florida home. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel, Jack Smith, to oversee the probe. The Justice Department has suggested the documents were knowingly withheld after Trump left office.

Smith's office is also looking into Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his potential role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

While doctors say caffeine usually doesn't directly lead to health problems, it's important to be mindful of side effects.

"The (U.S. Department of Agriculture), the (Food and Drug Administration), both of those organizations are going to recommend that 400 milligrams is typically what's deemed safe for most adults," said Shanthi Appelö, a registered dietitian with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

For reference, Appelö said there's about 100 mg of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup of coffee — a cup of tea has 50 mg and a 12-ounce cola has 50 mg. Herbal tea doesn't have caffeine.

Appelö said the half-life of caffeine is four to six hours and some people are more sensitive to it than others.

"After you consume caffeine, half of that caffeine is still going to be present in your system after that time," Appelö said. And people 65 and older process caffeine at an even slower pace.

In younger people, extreme caffeine like powder caffeine can be dangerous and has been leading to emergency room visits for heart issues.

"If you're a tea drinker, switching to herbal teas can be a really good idea. It's also a good idea just to be mindful of how that caffeine racks up throughout the day," said Appelö.

While caffeine can be used safely, health experts still urge caution if users notice any unwanted side effects like gastrointestinal issues, headaches or difficulty falling asleep. As Princeton University says, users may want to consider pulling back on how much caffeine they're getting.

How much is 400 milligrams of caffeine exactly?

Mayo Clinic explains that the safe level of 400 milligrams, give or take, amounts to:

• Four cups of coffee
• 10 cans of cola
• 2 energy shot drinks

Meanwhile, Harvard University data shows 16-ounce energy drinks (which are standard size for these types) can pack a 170 mg punch. Even though caffeine contents vary by brand, you'll want to be extra sure how much you're consuming when it's an energy drink.

“I took meetings poolside, and I timed my flights to happen outside working hours,” she says. “All my work was completed in a timely manner so neither of my bosses ever asked.”

That was back in 2012, when most jobs demanded an in-person presence. About 10 years later, more people are working remotely (or poolside like Smith). According to U.S. Census Bureau data released in 2022, more than 27.6 million people worked primarily from home in 2021. That’s triple the number of people working from home in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even with the rise of remote work, some workers are hesitant or don’t feel the need to tell their employers when they plan to work from another location outside of their home. That’s why they’ve started taking “hush trips,” where employees work from a vacation destination without revealing their true whereabouts to their boss. Often, these workers will take advantage of leisure activities in their off hours, combining work and play into one trip.

Recreational vehicle rental website RVshare commissioned a survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, about hush trips and other travel trends in September 2022. According to the survey, 56% of working American adults said they are “very” or “extremely” likely to partake in a hush trip. And 36% of Generation X and millennials claim to already have one planned for 2023.

For those with employers that are stingy about vacation days, hush trips can provide rejuvenation. However, some employers disapprove of the secrecy and don’t want workers anywhere besides their home office, period. But does it even matter if workers share their whereabouts?

» Learn more: How to rethink "home" and "travel" if your job is now remote

Problems that can accompany hush trips

Amy Marcum, a human resource manager with HR service provider Insperity, warns that hush trips can cause friction if word gets out.

“Some employees may feel that their colleagues are taking advantage of the generous work-from-home policies, leading to conflicts,” she says.

Executive coach Robin Pou points to another negative consequence: the breakdown of trust between employees and managers.

“The leader always finds out, driving them to wonder why the employee was trying to hide something in the first place,” he says. “This erosion of trust can be a cancer to team dynamics.”

Lisa M. Sanchez, a human resources executive at ArtCenter College of Design, says she’s not convinced employees are effective while on hush trips. 

“Who’s motivated to work when there’s a turquoise beach and a fruity drink waiting for them?” Sanchez says. “What does one do if they are called into an impromptu emergency meeting and they are in flight?”

Then there are also security concerns around bringing employer-issued computers out of town or logging onto unknown Wi-Fi networks. Plus, there could be unexpected tax implications for employers if workers are working from another state or country too long.

» Learn more: Best credit cards for remote workers

Why hush trips aren't necessarily a bad thing

The whole premise of a hush trip might help expose problems in the workplace to begin with.

“Leaders need to look themselves in the mirror and wonder what type of environment they've created where their team member doesn't feel comfortable having conversations directly with them,” Pou says.

Business and leadership coach Mariela De La Mora says the need to know where employees are at all times is “unnecessary at best, patronizing at worst.” She says some of her best coworkers were permanent digital nomads.

“Remote work only fueled their productivity and dedication to their role,” she says. “This is especially important when you employ Gen Z and younger millennials who value and expect freedom in their roles — and who won’t as easily abide by policies that feel antiquated.”

How employers can better support employees who want to travel

Whether pro- or anti-hush trips, there’s one thing pretty much everyone agrees on: Time off is important.

“A change in location can spark new ideas, increase productivity, improve morale, lead to higher-quality work and improve work-life balance,” Marcum says.

Sanchez says employers should create clear opportunities for employees to rest. 

“Do not unreasonably deny time off, do not create a 24/7 on-the-clock grind, and avoid engaging employees after work hours,” she says.

As for Smith, she’s since quit those two jobs, and she’s now her own boss. She runs a travel planning company called The Female Abroad. But she says even if she had to report to someone else, she’s pro-hush trips.

The bill, which was introduced in January by Representative Kam Buckner, "provides that a person may drive a motor vehicle if in possession of a digitized driver's license."

It also says that residents will not get a ticket if they are pulled over without a physical driver's license, as long as they have a digital one.

Buckner said that at least a dozen states already have already tested or launched this practice, according to WGN.

“Pull up their phone and have all their information right there,” Buckner said. “(I) embraced this idea that Illinois can come once again to the 21st century and our ability to use technological tools at our disposable to make things easier.”

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias supports the idea, but as a companion to a physical license.

“(The) goal is to modernize the Secretary of State’s office in a manner that allows for an infusion of new technology to better serve customers,” Giannoulias said.

Twenty states in the U.S. have been identified as neurology "deserts" by the Alzheimer's Association, meaning they had a projected shortage of doctors and caregivers specializing in dementia.

Carolyn Berry of Tennessee — one of the 20 "desert" states — says she's aware of the challenges faced by families of those with cognitive diseases. Berry lost both her grandmother and mother to Alzheimer's. 

“There are beautiful moments in caring for the loved one that you are losing,” said Berry, who added that she was lucky to have a large family to help with care.

Berry, however, said even the initial diagnosis was problematic.

“We started suspecting some things in her late 60s, had her tested when she was 70," Berry said. "The testing come back that she was on par with her age, which was not correct."

Kevin Fehr, president and CEO of Amada Senior Care in Tennessee, said the neurology "desert" is partly to blame for the failure of timely diagnoses.

“With the lack of neurologists, folks with a specialty in this area, the diagnosis are often delayed,” Fehr said.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's in 2023. By 2050, that number is expected to increase to almost 13 million.

“It is a very difficult task to hire and retain qualified caregivers in this area, partially because it’s a lower-paying job,” Fehr said. 

Fehr's agency focuses on at-home care, specifically for clients with dementia and Alzheimer's. But in recent years, at-home care has been falling on loved ones amid a statewide shortage in the dementia care workforce.

It's not a problem specific to Tennessee, of course. The Alzheimer's Association reported over 360,000 unpaid caregivers in the state last year, and the organization estimates that more than 11 million Americans are providing similar unpaid care nationwide.

Berry, as one of those caregivers, believes more education, research and training needs to be done.  

“You can see the challenge the healthcare is receiving in general but specifically Alzheimer's and dementia care,” Fehr said.  

Almost everyone experiences these kinds of signs of aging. But there are some people who seem to defy their age. The late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg stayed on the bench until her death at age 87. The “Great British Bake Off” judge Mary Berry, now in her 80s, continues to inspire people all over the world to bake and enjoy life. And actor Paul Rudd was named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2021 at age 52 while still looking like he’s in his 30s. Is age just a number then?

Researchers have focused a lot of attention on understanding the causes and risk factors of age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, osteoporosis and cancer. But many ignore the major risk factor for all of these diseases: aging itself. More than any individual risk factor such as smoking or lack of exercise, the number of years you’ve lived predicts onset of disease. Indeed, aging increases the risk of multiple chronic diseases by up to a thousandfold.

However, no two people age the same. Although age is the principal risk factor for several chronic diseases, it is an unreliable indicator of how quickly your body will decline or how susceptible you are to age-related disease. This is because there is a difference between your chronological age, or the number of years you’ve been alive, and your biological age – your physical and functional ability.

I am a scientist interested in redefining “age.” Instead of benchmarking chronological age, my lab is invested in measuring biological age. Biological age is a more accurate measure of healthspan, or years lived in good health, than chronological age, and doesn’t directly correlate with wrinkles and gray hairs. Rapid agers experience a faster rate of functional deterioration relative to their chronological age.

My grandmother, who lived to be 83 but was bedridden and could not remember who I was for the last few years of her life, was a rapid ager. My grandfather, on the other hand, also lived until he was 83, but he was active, functional and even did my homework with me until he passed away – he was a healthy ager.

With the unprecedented growth of the world’s aging population, I believe that figuring out ways to measure biological age and how to maintain or delay its advance is critical not only for individual health, but also for the social, political and economic health of our society. Detecting rapid agers early on presents an opportunity to delay, change or even reverse the trajectory of biological aging.

Genetics and biological age

Biological aging is multifaceted. It arises from a complex mix of genetic traits and is influenced by factors like microbiome composition, environment, lifestyle, stress, diet and exercise.

Genetics were once thought to have no influence on aging or longevity. However, in the early 1990s, researchers reported the first studies identifying genes that were able to extend the lifespan of a small roundworm. Since then, multiple observations support the influence of genetics on aging.

For example, children of long-lived parents and even those with long-lived siblings tend to live longer. Researchers have also identified multiple genes that influence longevity and play a role in resilience and protection from stress. These include genes that repair DNA, protect cells from free radicals and regulate fat levels.

However, it is clear from studies in identical twins – who share the same genes but not the same exact lifespans – that genes are not the only factor that influences aging. In fact, genes probably account for only 20% to 30% of biological age. This suggests that other parameters can strongly influence biological aging.

Environmental and lifestyle effects

Researchers have found that environmental and lifestyle factors heavily influence biological age, including social connectedness, sleeping habits, water consumption, exercise and diet.

Social connectedness is essential for well-being throughout life. But social connections can be challenging to maintain over time due to loss of family and friends, depression, chronic illness or other factors. Several studies have reported a strong link between social isolation and increased stress, morbidity and mortality.

Similarly, diet and exercise are strong influencers of biological age. Blue zones, which are areas around the world where people live long lives, attribute their successful aging to diet, exercise and social connectedness. Mostly plant-based meals and spurts of activity throughout the day are well-known “secrets” of healthspan and longevity. Although newer studies on the effects of diet interventions such as intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding on longevity have not been rigorously tested, they do show multiple health benefits, including better glucose and insulin regulation

While genetics is difficult to control, diet and exercise can be modified to delay biological aging.

How to measure biological age

Currently, there is no effective test to predict an individual’s health trajectory early enough in life in order to intervene and improve quality of life with age. Scientists are interested in identifying a molecule that is sensitive and specific enough to serve as a unique fingerprint for biological age.

Considering the health and resilience of the individual instead of focusing solely on disease state is important in discussions on biological age. Resilience is the state of adapting and bouncing back from a health challenge and is often more predictive of functional health. A molecular aging fingerprint may provide a tool to help identify people who are less resilient and require more aggressive monitoring and early intervention to preserve their health and help reduce gender, racial and ethnic health disparities.

There are several promising molecular markers that may serve as biological age fingerprints.

One of these markers are epigenetic clocks. Epigenetics are chemical modifications of DNA that control gene function. Several scientists have found that DNA can get “marked” by methyl groups in a pattern that changes with age and could potentially act as a readout for aging.

It is important to note, however, that while epigenetic clocks have been valuable in predicting chronological age, they do not equate to biological age. In addition, it is unclear how these epigenetic marks work or how they contribute to aging.

Another well-regarded marker of biological age is the build-up of dysfunctional cells called senescent or zombie cells. Cells become senescent when they experience multiple types of stress and become so damaged that they cannot divide anymore, releasing molecules that cause chronic low-grade inflammation and disease.

Animal studies have shown that getting rid of these cells can improve healthspan. However, what clearly defines senescent cells in humans is still unknown, making them challenging to track as a measure of biological age.

Lastly, the body releases unique metabolites, or chemical fingerprints, as byproducts of normal metabolism. These metabolites play a dynamic and direct role in physiological regulation and can inform functional health. My lab and others are figuring out the exact makeup of these chemicals in order to figure out which can best measure biological age. A lot of work still remains on not only identifying these metabolites, but also understanding how they affect biological age.

People have long sought a fountain of youth. Whether such an elixir exists is still unknown. But research is starting to show that delaying biological age may be one way to live healthier, fuller lives.

ODFW reported the shooting on Thursday afternoon, though the incident took place months prior in January. The department said the perpetrator killed one elk and severely injured at least three others while illegally shooting at the herd from the road.

Oregon wildlife officials say the man had his gun pointed toward a highway, as well.

On the day of the shooting, OSP Fish & Wildlife Troopers responded to a call from a tip hotline, finding three wounded elk. They later reported that one cow elk was put down due to injuries, and a fourth elk had already been tagged by the perpetrator.

The next day, wildlife officials say that one of the remaining elk likely drowned after running into the Nehalem River. The troopers also had to put down another mortally wounded bull elk. The animals were donated to local tribes and a jail.

The suspect claimed he had permission to hunt from the property owner, who later told officials of seeing the suspect field-dress a carcass before leaving.

“The guy came out and stopped at the road, and started shooting,” the landowner, who asked to remain anonymous, told the ODFW. “I told another hunter, who said the guy shouldn’t have left.  He should have called state police and turned himself in.”

The landowner called the perpetrator and told him to turn himself in to the ODFW. When he did, wildlife officials say the man showed remorse blamed his actions on "elk fever."

The suspect's identity has not been released amid the ongoing investigation. He has been cited for shooting from a roadway, unlawfully taking or possessing an antlerless elk, and unlawfully taking or possessing a bull elk.

The cost of eggs in the U.S. has been on a precipitous rise since last fall, but inflation data show that the average price tumbled by 7% in February.

Suddenly, the average price of a dozen large, white, Grade A eggs fell from $4.82 in January to $4.21 in February.

"Part of that is because we're past the peak demand period," said Rodney Holcomb, an agricultural economics professor at Oklahoma State University.

Holcomb was referring to the traditional high season toward the end of the year when holiday-related cooking causes a spike in demand. For months, supply has been even more strained by avian flu, which led to the slaughter of more than 58 million birds in an effort to contain the virus, according to the Associated Press.

"You've got a short supply — in large part due to avian flu and the impact it had on on our flocks. Then we saw prices just skyrocket more-so than it had in several years," Holcomb said.

February's dip may be partly attributable to farmers finally building back their supply of egg laying hens, which he says takes time, unlike with broiler chickens meant for eating, which are ready in about two months.

"It's going to be six months before she's a really, extremely productive day in, day out, egg-producing hen," Holcomb said. "We lost so many back in the fall that it's taken us a while, into January and February, just to start building our supply of chickens back out."

Easter is coming, will prices stay low?

If you're planning a massive Easter egg hunt, brace yourself for a potentially pricey grocery bill.

"I think we're gonna see prices tick back up," Holcomb said. "There's been a lot of concern about what may happen with egg prices. If you look at USDA Economic Research Service data, out of all their predictions — changes in food prices and different categories for 2023 — egg is by far the highest and the most variable in terms of change."

According to the United States Dept. of Agriculture, egg prices are predicted to increase 37.8% in 2023, but the range of predictions spans from 18.3 to 62.3%.

On Tuesday, Dollar Tree reportedly announced that it would stop selling eggs altogether, citing the inflated prices. In March, 2022, the average cost of a dozen eggs was $2.05. A year earlier, that number was $1.63.

Holcomb said this year some people may see the shelf price and end up going with just a dozen eggs, instead of two or three dozen like in years past.

"All of a sudden those plastic eggs, just filling them with candy and prizes, they're starting to look a whole lot better," Holcomb said. "And if you're gonna boil some eggs in color, hang on to them, because you might as well eat them. They're worth the investment."

In the study, Ancestry.com reviewed phone book listings from across the country to determine the three most popular last names in each state. The company found Smith is far and away the most common.

In fact, Smith only failed to land among the top three surnames in just five states: California, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Mexico and North Dakota.

Smith was an occupational name, meaning a worker who specialized in metal like a blacksmith or farrier, per its English and Scottish roots, Ancestry explains. As of 2004, the average lifespan of people with the last name Smith was 73 years old, compared to the national average of 74.

Other popular surnames included Johnson, Miller, Jones, Williams and Anderson.

Regionally, Ancestry found a handful of differences. For example, Andersons are more common in the Northwest — states like Washington, Idaho, Utah, and into the Dakotas — than elsewhere in the country.

Miller is most commonly found in the Midwest and the Appalachian Mountain regions — Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, and Kansas — while Garcia is popular in Southwestern states like Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada.

The interactive map below shows the most common surname in each state, according to Ancestry:

Hawaii was the only state in which the last names Lee, Wong, and Kim were the most popular. California also had two names — Hernandez and Lopez — that no other state had in its top three.

These names were among the most common in only one state:

• Sullivan: Massachusetts
• Nelson: Minnesota
• Chavez: New Mexico
• Olson: North Dakota

You can view Ancestry's full report here, as well as the meanings and origins behind many common last names.

Reeves, along with “John Wick” director Chad Stahelski, said they are dedicating the upcoming fourth film to Reddick, whom they will “miss dearly.”

“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Lance Reddick,” Reeves and Stahelski wrote, in part, in a joint statement shared with Variety. “He was the consummate professional and a joy to work with. Our love and prayers are with his wife Stephanie, his children, family and friends.”

Several of Reddick’s friends and former co-stars echoed the same sentiments, sharing tributes and memories on social media.

“A man of great strength and grace,” said Wendell Pierce, who starred with Reddick on “The Wire.” “As talented a musician as he was an actor. The epitome of class. An sudden unexpected sharp painful grief for our artistic family. An unimaginable suffering for his personal family and loved ones. Godspeed my friend. You made your mark here. RIP.”

“Lance Reddick was an incredibly nice guy, and an incredibly talented actor. This is heartbreaking. My love goes out to all his family, friends, and collaborators,” director James Gunn tweeted.

Ben Stiller also had kind words for Reddick, who starred with his mother Anne Meara in her play “Afterplay.”

"He was exquisite in that and all he did,” Stiller wrote on Twitter.

Reddick’s representatives confirmed his death Friday, saying the 60-year-old actor passed “suddenly” of natural causes.

“Lance will be greatly missed,” Mia Hansen, the co-founder of Portrait PR, wrote on behalf of the agency in an emailed statement to Nexstar.

In addition to “The Wire” and the “John Wick” franchise, Reddick had recurring roles on series including “Bosch,” Netflix’s “Resident Evil,” “Oz” and “Fringe.” His upcoming credits also include a remake of the 1992 comedy “White Men Can’t Jump,” as well as “John Wick: Chapter 4” and its “Ballerina” spin-off series, per IMDb.

Steven Henson, the Nebraska native who created ranch dressing, invented the now-ubiquitous condiment after moving to Anchorage in 1949 and taking a job as a plumbing contractor in the Alaskan bush, according to a biography of Henson published in the Santa Barbara Independent. Henson concocted the recipe for what would later be dubbed “ranch” dressing somewhat out of necessity, the outlet reported, after taking on a secondary role in the kitchen while “trying to keep his hungry work crews happy.”

"It's tough to feed men up in those bush jobs,” Henson once remarked in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, according to an archived article cited by Tedium. “If they don't like something, they're as likely to throw it at the cook as they are to walk out cursing. I had to come up with something to keep them happy," he added, noting that it was during this time in the then-Alaska Territory that ranch dressing "came into being."

Within just a few years, Henson had reportedly saved up enough money to retire. He and his wife moved to California in the mid-1950s, where they purchased 120 acres of land in the mountains near Santa Barbara (then-called Sweetwater Ranch, according to the Independent) and rechristened it as “Hidden Valley Ranch.”

“I wouldn’t call it a ranch, in reality,” remembered Alan Barker, a former employee at Hidden Valley Ranch who spoke with CBS Sunday Morning in 2021. “There were no animals, there were no crops. It was a motel in the mountains.”

By most accounts, Henson’s “ranch” didn’t attract too many guests. But the ones who did visit reportedly raved about the dressing at the on-site restaurant, with some “asking Steve for jars of his ranch dressing to enjoy at home with their friends and family,” according to the Hidden Valley Ranch dressing brand’s own record.

“From my memory, it was buttermilk, Miracle Whip, some spices and I think some chopped-up shallots — and then, the ingredient that was kept secret: pure MSG,” Barker told CBS News. (Barker also claimed in an earlier interview with the L.A. Times that the dressing called for “buttermilk and mayonnaise,” making no mention of Miracle Whip specifically. Henson, meanwhile, had long before admitted to using MSG in the ranch packets he would eventually sell.)

Henson soon started focusing more on the dressing than the ranch. He provided it to a local restaurant (the still-operating Cold Spring Tavern) and began producing dry seasoning packets to sell off-site, and later through the mail. Customers needed only to mix the contents of the packets with buttermilk and mayonnaise to have their own Hidden Valley Ranch dressing at home.

Henson’s business took off by the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, after which the Clorox Company offered Henson $8 million for the whole operation, the Santa Barbara Independent reported. In the ‘80s, Clorox ultimately developed a shelf-stable bottled version of Hidden Valley Ranch — rather than just a dry mix — that could be shipped to retail outlets.

The debut of Cool Ranch Doritos in 1986 gave the product yet another boost (despite not being affiliated with the Clorox Company), and is credited with introducing idea of ranch dressing as a dip, The New York Times reported in 2018, citing the author of a then-new tome on ranch dressing.

Henson himself sold the physical Hidden Valley Ranch in 1973, but maintained properties in Palm Springs, California, and Sparks, Nevada. He passed away in Reno in 2007, per an obituary in the Reno-Gazette Journal, which means he sadly didn't live to see the invention of kegged ranch dressing, or ranch dressing ice cream.

Even still, Henson once remarked to the L.A. Times that he never could have imagined the trajectory his life would take after mixing up a batch of dressing in the Alaskan bush.

“What started out almost as a lark became a multimillion dollar industry," Henson said.