Along Californias North Coast, so much marijuana is grown that the region has become known as the emerald triangle. As states hash out laws regarding humans use of pot, though, some point out that its not just a human concern: Fish and wildlife proponents say salmon are feeling the negative effects of the marijuana industry.

It takes a huge amount of water to run pot farms, and many marijuana growers draw that water from rivers. And NPR reports that pesticides and fertilizers are also being found in those rivers where Chinook and other salmon swim.

NEWS: Why Are Sockeye Salmon in Trouble?

According to Scott Bauer, a fisheries biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 24 tributaries of the Eel River went dry last summer. Its unlikely that Chinook and Coho salmon will return in large numbers in coming years, he told NPR. Some fear they wont return to certain rivers at all.

I have nothing against people growing dope, Dave Bitts, a Humboldt County commercial fisherman and the president of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations, told NPR.

But if you do, we want you to grow your crop in a way that doesnt screw up fish habitat. There is no salmon-bearing watershed at this point that we can afford to sacrifice.

NEWS: Killer Whales Die Without King Salmon

Its not the first inkling that animals and cannabis dont mix: This summer, a study found that rat poison used on pot farms may be killing fishers, a sensitive species of medium-sized mammals, in the southern Sierra Nevada.

Exposure of wildlife to pesticides has been widely documented, but this is a fundamentally different scenario," said wildlife biologist Dr. Kathryn Purcell.

In marijuana cultivation sites, regulations regarding proper use of pesticides are completely ignored and multiple compounds are used to target any and all threats to the crop, including compounds illegal in the U.S., she said.

The rest is here:
California Pot Farms Could Put Salmon at Risk

Police are looking for information after a man was allegedly pepper sprayed at a party in the area of Albert Street South early Saturday (Jan. 11) Kawartha Lakes Police Service Kawartha Lakes This Week

(LINDSAY) Police are looking for information after a man was allegedly pepper sprayed at a Lindsay party early Saturday (Jan. 11).

Kawartha Lakes Police and EMS were called to the area of Albert Street South at about 2 a.m. after someone driving by noticed a man rolling around in the snow on a lawn after being allegedly pepper sprayed at a nearby party. The man was taken to hospital for treatment.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police at 705-324-5252 or make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or online at http://www.khcs.ca.

OTHER POLICE NEWS

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Man allegedly pepper sprayed at party

MOULTRIE Dolly and Bud Stringer, both cancer survivors, will pass a torch, that was lit for them by friends during their battle with cancer. Run for a Reason, a 5K and one-mile fun run, organized by the couples friends to help them, will be held this year, on Saturday, Feb. 8, to honor Jacob Martin, a four-year-old who is battling a malignant brain tumor.

When adversity strikes, it is the love and support of your God, family, friends and your community that gets you through it. Our family was so blessed, and we wanted to give back. Jacob and his family were the perfect fit. They are so strong in their faith and their desire to beat this illness. We are honored to be able provide some assistance to them on their journey, said Dolly.

According to Christie Cooper, Jacobs great-aunt, Dolly Stringer wanted to continue the Run for a Reason campaign and honor a local resident who is battling cancer each year.

She was drawn to Jacob and chose him as the honoree in the Second Annual Run for a Reason, Cooper said.

In July of last year, Jacob, who is the son of Grant and Lindsay Martin of Moultrie, was diagnosed with a Gliomatosis Cerebri tumor, which is a rare, aggressive, high-grade tumor that does not respond to chemotherapy. Instead, he has been taking radiation treatment over the past year and, Cooper said, he has responded well to it.

As of his last MRI, which was made in November, the tumor has shrunk by 35%, she also said.

On July 4, of last year, Jacob had a seizure after waking from a nap and, after a trip to Colquitt Regional Medical Center and later Archbold Memorial, the Martins found themselves on the way to Childrens Hospital of Atlanta in Egleston. After an MRI was performed, the doctors told the family that the mass that has been discovered in Jacobs brain had been there for approximately two to three years and was inoperable. Since, according to the doctors, the tumor seemed to be asleep, Jacob was released from the hospital.

In August, the family took a last minute trip to Disney World so that Jacob and his sister, Addison, could enjoy it while he was still feeling good. Jacob started getting sick including losing his hearing completely. On discussion with their doctors at Childrens Hospital, they took him back to Atlanta. At that time, it was decided that Jacob would start the radiation treatment. After his tenth treatment, his hearing started to return and he regained his energY.

The Martins would like to thank the community for all of their prayers and support throughout this process. God has done some mighty powerful work in Jacob over these past few weeks and with continued prayer and trust in Him, we know we will continue to see improvement, the family stated in an article which was run in The Observers Faces of Courage publication in September of last year.

The Stringers were both diagnosed with cancer in 2012 Dolly with breast cancer in April and Bud with melanoma in August. Bud decided to surprise his family by shaving his head in support of Dolly whose head he had shaved before she went through chemotherapy. The melanoma was found at that time and doctors told Dolly that if it had not been found, Bud would not have survived to see Christmas.

Continued here:
Stringers' "Run for a Reason" to aid Jacob Martin

by MARIE SAAVEDRA

WFAA

Posted on January 13, 2014 at 10:58 PM

Updated yesterday at 11:00 PM

ARLINGTON Imagine pouring yourself a cool glass of gritty grass clippings. Not appetizing, right?

Unfortunately, thousands of North Texans are now getting water out of the tap with a similar smell and taste.

"Like, if somebody was to mow their lawn and get part of the dirt area you know how it flies up and theres that smell? thats exactly what it tastes like and it smells like," said Rachel Pann of Arlington.

H20 with an earthy odor is now pouring out of her faucet. She noticed it Sunday night after making iced tea with her husband.

"He took the first taste and he said, 'Wow, this tastes like dirt... this tastes off,'" she recalled. "He dumped it out, made another one... same outcome."

Now that soil-scented water is everywhere in her dishwasher, shower, and in thousands of other homes.

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Tap water takes on unsavory flavor in Tarrant County

Lawn Care tips Kansas City - Topeka/ Proper watering
Jeremy of TooGreen Lawn Care LLC goes over Lawn Care tips / Topeka - Kansas City, proper wateirng for Kansas lawns. We offer $20 off you first lawn treatment...

By: TooGreen Lawn Care

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Lawn Care tips Kansas City - Topeka/ Proper watering - Video

What is an audiologist?

Audiologists, who have earned undergraduate and doctorate degrees in the field of audiology, evaluate and treat patients with hearing and balance disorders. Audiologists determine the type and severity of hearing loss and develop a treatment plan, which may include fitting for hearing aids and assistive listening devices.

Who is likely to need an audiologist?

Hearing loss is the third most common health problem in the United States, and contrary to common belief, it does not occur only in elderly people. More than one-half of the 36 million Americans with hearing loss are younger than age 65. Anyone with any degree of hearing loss can benefit from an audiologist's expertise.

What causes hearing loss?

One of the most common preventable reasons for hearing loss is exposure to excessive or consistent loud noise. Other reasons for hearing loss include ear disease or trauma, family history and genetics, certain illnesses and medications, and deterioration of hearing due to the aging process.

Who is most likely to have hearing loss related to noise?

Occupations and pastimes commonly associated with hearing loss include musicians and people working in the music industry, farmers, military members, pilots, certain dental/medical occupations, motorcyclists, hunters and target shooters and racers. Also, hearing loss can be related to home or every day activities such as lawn mowers, vacuums, drills and saws.

What are the symptoms of hearing loss?

Common symptoms include tinnitus (ringing of the ears); difficulty communicating, particularly in crowds or where there is background noise; frequently asking others to clarify conversations; muffled speech; and avoiding or withdrawing from social situations.

Read the original here:
What you need to know about an audiologist

It's time to start working on your yard. I know. It's cold out there and there are playoffs going on. Nevertheless, it's still time for you to get started on your lawn. To help you in this endeavor, below is a month-by-month calendar for you to use as a template.

January: If necessary, water your lawn. You can apply herbicides to kill any winter weeds but I don't recommend it. Winter weeds are going to be gone by late spring. But, if you want to go that route, you can use post-emergent herbicides for broadleaved weeds such as 2-4, D, dicamba and mecoprop.

February: Water as needed. In the later part of the month, apply a pre-emergent herbicide to stop spring and summer weeds from getting started. Pre-emergent herbicides include Amaze, Betasan, Haltz, Penulum, Preen and Surflan.

March: If you haven't already, apply pre-emergent herbicides early in the month. Rake up dead leaves. If your grass has already begun to grow, apply a balanced fertilizer.

April: Repair dead or damaged areas in your lawn. Once a fungal disease is in your lawn, you can't cure it. You should apply a fungicide as a prophylactic treatment. Put out an insecticide. Synthetic pyrethroids such as bifinthrin, cyfluthrin and lambda cyhalothrin will last two to three months and will have to be reapplied at least once during the growing season. Products containing imidicloprid, a systemic, will last all year with only one application. But systemics have to be applied when your lawn is actively growing and not before.

May: Apply a second dose of pre-emergent herbicide. Spot treat weeds with one of the mixtures containing 2-4D, dicamba and mecoprop.

June: If you didn't apply an insecticide, start looking for chinch bugs. They start to show up in hot weather.

July: If you have any weeds, use Image (for nutsedge). Any other herbicides have temperature restrictions.

August: Too hot to do anything. Stay inside, consume adult liquid refreshments and keep cool.

September: Apply a balanced fertilizer and pre-emergent herbicide in the later part of the month.

Originally posted here:
Get to work in that yard

SALISBURY TWP., Pa. -

State police have identified the truckers involved in Wednesday's fiery crash involving two 18-wheelers.

The accident happened around 11 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 78 in Salisbury Township, just west of the Summit Lawn interchange.

A tractor trailer driven by Luis Nunez, 42, of Union City, N.J., was slowly climbing the hill on I-78 at around 10 mph when it was rear-ended by a second tractor trailer, driven by Albert W. Couch, 45, of Antioch, Tenn., police said.

A third truck was traveling behind the other two trucks, and the driver saw the collision. Troy Richards stopped to help pull Couch out of his cab, which caught fire a short time later.

Couch's cab also helped catch the rear trailer of Nunez's truck on fire.

Couch's passenger, Brandon Daniels, 27, of Hermitage, Tenn., and Nunez's passenger, Diogenes Valedez, 54, of Englewood, N.J., along with Couch and Nunez, were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The highway was closed for more than two hours.

Go here to see the original:
State police release names of truckers in I-78 crash on Wednesday

Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter Posted: Wednesday, January 8, 2014, 5:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new kind of implant may offer people suffering from sleep apnea an alternative to wearing an air mask while they snooze, researchers report.

With the implant, a pacemaker delivers electrical impulses to a nerve that controls the tongue and maintains the muscle tone of a sleeping person's upper airway, according to a study published in the Jan. 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

These impulses reduced nightly sleep apnea events by about 68 percent, according to the results of the one-year clinical trial. The technology also decreased by 70 percent the number of times that a person's blood oxygen level dropped due to sleep apnea.

Not surprisingly, patients reported a 40 percent improvement in their ability to stay awake during the day, the researchers added.

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person's breathing pauses or grows shallow while they are asleep. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, in which the person's airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep, according to the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Left untreated, the condition disrupts sleep and causes a person to feel drowsy during the day. Long-term health consequences can include heart disease, insulin resistance and high cholesterol, said study author Dr. Patrick Strollo.

Doctors most often treat obstructive sleep apnea by asking patients to use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine while they sleep, said Strollo, co-director of the Sleep Medicine Institute at the University of Pittsburgh and director of the university's Sleep Medicine Center.

With CPAP, patients wear a nose and mouth mask attached to an motor, and the mild air pressure maintained by the pump keeps their airway from collapsing -- much in the way that an air pump keeps an inflatable holiday lawn decoration from flopping over.

Read this article:
Chest Implant Might Help With Hard-to-Treat Sleep Apnea

Gisborne has only three days water supply left if residents dont reduce their use of water. Gisborne District Council needs every business, every organisation and every resident to reduce their use of water by at least a third, says deputy Chief Executive Peter Higgs.

"Water consumption reduced marginally yesterday but nowhere near enough. Gisborne does not have enough water to meet the current demand. On Sunday and Monday we used 23,000 m3/day. This must reduce to 14,000 m3/day to avoid turning the taps off."

"Luckily Gisborne has a standby treatment plant at Waipaoa that is supplying water to the city. This is being topped up by water from the Te Arai stream that is feeding through the Waingake Treatment plant. Together they are providing a small supply of water. With careful use this should ensure the city has enough water for essential use only."

"If demand for water is not drastically reduced we will have to have periods of time where we have rolling water stoppages - times when you will turn on the tap and there will be no water. Council will not allow the city to completely run dry."

Council has put a number of things in place to reduce water consumption.

There is a complete ban on the use of hoses - no washing your car, watering your lawn and garden or filling swimming pools etc. People really should just be using water to drink and for hygiene reasons. If you see your neighbours or anyone else wasting water please let Council know.

There is now a total fire ban in place in Gisborne city. No fires of any description should be lit and no permits will be issued. "With the supply of water so limited it is a risk we cannot afford to take, says Mr Higgs. "Any fire outside of the city must have a permit."

"Water crisis response manager Dave Hadfield is in contact with the citys top 20 industrial water users. All have water shortage contingency plans which they are being asked to action immediately. By doing this now it is hoped there will be minimal disruption to industry as many enter their busy processing season."

Gisborne is running out of water because its main water supply has been damaged by a land slide. The main water pipe from the Mangapoike Dam into the Gisborne District Council water treatment plant was knocked out on Monday at 3am.

"The break is in the pipe line from the dam into our water treatment plant. The water in your tap has still been treated. Engineers and geotechnical experts have a plan to fix the pipe and get the water flowing again. This will take 8-10 days."

Read more from the original source:
Total city fire ban to help Gisborne water crisis