Des Moines, IA The grass is starting to turn green and a turfgrass specialist with the Iowa State University Extension says its time to begin working on our lawns. I-S-U horticulture professor Adam Thoms says the first thing he does is to pick up all of those twigs, sticks and other debris that gathered during the winter so it wont get stuck in the mower or dull its blade.

The stores are full of heavy fertilizer bags and they can be pricey. What ingredients should we be looking for in a fertilizer for the yard?

Some Iowans may be finding large grey spots in their yards, which he says can be fixed without too much trouble.

Now is also the time to hit those pesky weeds that seem to creep back every year.

If youre planting grass this spring, he warns do -not- use any crabgrass prevention products as theyll keep your grass seeds from germinating.

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Spring's here & it's time to start working on our lawns KCHA News - KCHA News

Ticks commonly overwinter by nesting in groups; taking refuge under the soil, ground litter, and snow cover which acts as an insulating blanket, sheltering them from the frigid winter temperatures. When warmer weather arrives, they position themselves on vegetation and wait patiently, front legs outstretched, for any warm-blooded host to pass by; a behavior known as questing. When one does, the tick latches on and soon begins taking its next blood meal.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases have become a significant public health issue in New York. Its imperative that you protect yourself, your family, and your pets when enjoying the outdoors.

According to some experts, ticks have been on the planet for about 120 million years; literally forever.

In the journal Nature, Volume 206, Issue 4988, pp. 1060-1061 (1965),an article titled Ticks in Egypt in 1500 BC? by D.R. Arthur,featuresa drawing dating back to the 15th Century BC showing what are believed to be three ticks fixed firmly to the ear of a hyena. And a recent autopsy on a 5,300-year-old mummy indicated the presence of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

In his Historia Animalium, Aristotle (384322 B.C.) describes the tick as a disgusting parasitic animal generated from couch grass. The Roman scholar, Pliny the Elder (2379 A.D.), in his extensive natural history of the world, Historia Naturalis, denotes an animal living on blood with its head always fixed and swelling, adding that this animal is frequent on cattle, sometimes on dogs. He goes on to call them the foulest and nastiest creatures that be.

German physician, Alfred Buchwald, first described the chronic skin rash now known as Lyme disease in 1883. It wasnt clinically recognized, however, until 1975, when a group of children and adults in and around the hamlet of Lyme, Connecticut, were suffering from skin rashes followed very quickly by arthritic conditions, headaches, and fatigue. All cited being bitten by ticks. Researchers called the condition Lyme disease, but the cause remained a mystery until 1981, when medical entomologist and self-described tick surgeon, Wilhelm (Willy) Burgdorfer,discovered the infectious agent that causes Lyme disease, a bacterial spirochete that now bears his name;Borrelia burgdorferi.

Lyme disease (or Lyme borreliosis) is one of the fastest-growing vector-borne infections in the United States with, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 400,000 new cases reported annually. Untreated, Lyme disease can become severely debilitating; affecting joints, the heart, the brain, and/or the central nervous system.

Roughly half a million Americans currently grapple with late-stage Lyme disease, for which there is no recognized cure. Long-term antibiotic use remains controversial.

The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, more commonly known as the deer tick, is the primary vector for Lyme disease.

With geographic spread and steadily increasing incidence of Lyme disease, theres an urgent need for homeowners, public health officials, and the pest control industry to learn how to manage and/or control the unrelenting tick problem.

Treating clothing and gearwith products containing 0.5% permethrin can provide extremely effective protection. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing, and camping gear and will remain protective, even after several washings. Read the product label and be sure to follow the directions carefully. The label is the law! You can also buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.

When hiking or camping, avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter and stick to the center of the trails.The wider the trail and the less vegetation it has beside and within it, the less risky it will be.

When you come indoors, check your clothing, gear, and pets carefully. Tumble drying clothes on high heat for 10-15 minutes will kill ticks.

Conduct a full body check of yourself and your children. Take a shower. And call your doctor if you get a fever or a rash.

Simple steps you can take toreducepotentialexposuretoticks include:

For more information about ticks, tick diseases, and how to avoid them and protect yourself and your family, visit Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Franklin Countys online resource, Tick Talk, atfranklin.cce.cornell.edu/gardening-grounds/tick-talk

Top photo: Attached black-legged tick credit: NY State Integrated Pest Management

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Ticks: They're baaaaaaack - - The Adirondack Almanack - Adirondack Almanack

Polly Powers Stramm| For Savannah Morning News

This isnt a typical lost dog-found dog story. Instead, its the tale of a three-legged beagle who faced a heartbreaking start in life, was rescued by a dog lover but went missing before the two completely bonded.

Most of all, the story of Snoop the beagle shows how people from all walks of life can come together for a common goal to find a dog who desperately needed a second chance at love.

Last fall, Snoop was a throwaway dog living on the streets in Effingham County and was believed to have been used for hunting and later abandoned. Neighbors kept seeing the little beagle but never saw the man they thought was her owner. They began feeding the skittish dog and became concerned when they noticed that one of her back legs was injured. The Effingham animal shelter was notified and someone there, in turn, called One Love Animal Rescue, which has a history of helping injured animals find forever homes.

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Robin Fay volunteers for One Love and offered to foster Snoop until she was ready for adoption. The dog was evaluated by a veterinarian, but her injured hind leg was too far gone to be saved. On top of everything else Snoop had gone through, she had heart worms. She was treated with medicine that caused a bad reaction and had to spend a few days at the vet, further traumatizing her, Robin said.

During the first part of February, One Love decided that Snoop was ready to be adopted, but Robin had grown attached to Snoop and asked for a week to think about the situation.

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After a few days I knew I couldnt give her to someone else, Robin said, adding that Snoop, who is 2, seemed so sad and neglected.

I had never seen a dog (who) wouldnt wag its tail, she added.

Robin decided to adopt Snoop and became what is known in animal rescue circles as a foster fail. On Feb. 12, Snoop officially joined Robin and her animal family a group that includes cats, Tao and Sushi, and a 13-year-old Border Collie named Jersey, who was 10 when Robin rescued him.

Snoop was still getting adjusted to a loving home when she pulled away from Robin while they were on a walk in the Ardmore neighborhood. Robin was holding a lightweight leash that was attached to the dog collar when the pounding of a nail gun spooked Snoop.

More: Volunteers needed as Savannah nonprofits continue their work

The sound of the nail gum scared her and she bolted, pulling the leash from her new owners hand, Robin recalled. With the leash dragging behind her, Snoop ran toward Atlantic Avenue and disappeared into what seemed like thin air. Robin looked for Snoop for more than three hours, then took to social media and other means to try to find the newest addition to her family.

I did everything I could think of, said Robin, who created fliers, sent posters to friends and social media contacts, and visited Chatham County Animal Services on a regular basis. The hunt for Snoop had a domino effect strangers who saw the posters told their friends and so on and truly became a citywide effort, she explained.

The chatter (about Snoop) on social media was crazy, Robin said.

Meanwhile, Robin and others continued to spread the word. Radio deejay Mark Robertson made announcements and police patrolling were on the lookout for a three-legged beagle dragging a leash.

There were no sightings of Snoop for about a week. Then, she was spotted, first around the Starland District and then at 35th and Price streets, some 20 blocks and many busy streets from home.

More: Engaging books get kids moving, improve literacy: Savannah Live Oak Libraries

Somewhere along the way, Robin had read that dogs gravitate toward railroad tracks, a theory that jived with one of the sightings. One night Robin packed up a lawn chair, put a leash on Snoops buddy, Jersey, and set up a makeshift camp in a lane near the crosstown train tracks. It wasnt long before she spotted Snoop peeking out from a patch of weeds not too far away.

She ran toward Jersey and then ran back across the street, Robin said. I never knew her to bark but she started baying. It was the weirdest thing.

Snoop took refuge, of sorts, behind a fence surrounding a group of apartments. Eventually, two rescuers arrived to help Robin and the three women walked in circles around the parking lot trying to coax Snoop into coming their way.

More: Top 10 birds killed in flight because of urban, suburban landscapes

But the frightened dog had gone into full-on survival mode and played peek-a-boo with them until about 3:30 a.m. when they finally called it a night. Robin and others planned to return in the morning with enticing treats like a rotisserie chicken.

The next day, shortly after they had gathered at the apartments, one of the rescuers managed to grab Snoop and hand her off to Robin. At first, not knowing who to trust, Snoop wiggled and struggled to escape Robins loving embrace.

She finally settled down and never struggled again, said Robin who cradled Snoop in her arms. I didnt want this dog to think another human had abandoned her.

Robin credits Jersey with showing up for Snoop during the rescue attempts.

(Jersey) was a champion through it all, she said.

Robin is grateful and amazed at the countless folks who helped her find Snoop. During her search, she even visited homeless camps.

First, I thought I was incredibly lucky to have (Snoop) back, she said. Now I know how incredibly blessed I am to have gotten her back with the support of so, so many.

As soon as Snoop got home, she drank plenty of water and ate, then settled down for a long nap. The next day she didnt even mind being bathed, Robin said.

Funny thing, people who had never seen anything but her flyer have now recognized her at Hull Park or in our front yard, Robin said.

Robin also is happy about something else.

The sweet little three-legged beagle has started wagging her tail, likely indicating that she finally could trust and love a human.

Contact Polly at 912-657-3877 or pollparrot@aol.com. See more columns by Polly Powers Stramm at SavannahNow.com/lifestyle/.

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For the love of a lost three-legged dog, Savannah community responds - Savannah Morning News

Gardening isn't just about plants. Its about the entire ecosystem those plants can support.

As winter phases into spring across the U.S., gardeners are laying in supplies and making plans. Meanwhile, as the weather warms, common garden insects such as bees, beetles, and butterflies will emerge from underground burrows or nests within or on plants.

Most gardeners know how beneficial insects can be for their plots.Flies pollinate flowers. Predatory bugs, such as thespined soldier bug, eat pest insects that otherwise would tuck into garden plants.

As ascientist whose research involves insectsand as a gardener, I know thatmany beneficial insect species are decliningandneed help from humans. If youre a gardener looking for a new challenge this year, consider revamping all or part of your yard to support beneficial insects.

Some gardenerschoose native plantsto attract and support helpful insects. Often, however, those native plants are surrounded by vast expanses of lawn.

The vast majority of insect species find blades of grass as unappetizing as we do. Yet, lawns sprawl out across many public and private spaces.NASA estimated in 2005that lawns covered at least 50,000 square miles of the U.S.about the size of the entire state of Mississippi.

A well-manicured lawn is a sure sign that humanity has imposed its will on nature. Lawns provide an accessible and familiar landscape, but they come at a cost for our six-legged neighbors. Grasses grown as turf provide very few places for insects to safely tuck themselves away, because homeowners and groundskeepers cut them shortbefore they send up flowering spikesand apply fertilizers and pesticides to keep them green.

Entomologists have a recommendation: Dig up some fraction of your lawn and convert it into a meadow byreplacing grass with native wildflowers. Wildflowers provide pollen and nectar that feed and attract a variety of insects like ants, native bees, and butterflies. Just as you may have a favorite local restaurant, insects that live around you have a taste for the flowers that are native to their areas.

This bold choice will not just benefit insects. Healthier insects support local birds, and meadows require fewer chemical inputs and less mowing than lawns. The amount of attention lawns demand from us, even if we outsource the work to a landscaping company, is a sign of their precarity.

A meadow is a wilder, more resilient option. Resilient ecosystems are better able to respond to and recover from disturbances.

EntomologistRyan Gott, integrated pest management and quality control specialist at Maitri Genetics in Pittsburgh, describes lawns and meadows as two opposite ends of a resiliency spectrum. As far as basic ecological functions go, a lawn does not have many. A lawn mainly extracts nutrition and water, usually receiving outside inputs of fertilizer and irrigation to stay alive, and returns very little to the system, he told me.

Native flowers, by definition, will grow well in your climate, although some areas will have more choices than others, and growing seasons vary. Native plants also provide a palette of colors and variety that lawns sorely lack. By planting them as a meadow, with many different flowers emerging throughout the growing season, you can provide for a diverse assortment of local insects. And mowing and fertilizing less will leave you more time to appreciate wildlife of all sizes.

There are many different types of meadows, and every wildflower species has different preferences for soil type and conditions. Meadows thrive in full sunlight, which is also where lawns typically do well.

Not every yard can support a meadow, but you have other ways to be a better, more considerate neighbor to insects. If you have a shady yard, consider modeling your garden after natural landscapes like woodlands that are shady and support insects.

Whats important in landscaping with insects in mind, or entoscaping, isconsidering insects early and oftenwhen you visit the garden store. With a few pots or window boxes, even a balcony can be converted into a cozy insect oasis.

If youre gardenless, you can still support insect health. Try replacing white outdoor lights, whichinterfere with many insects feeding and breeding patterns. White lights also lure insects into swarms, where they are vulnerable to predators.Yellow bulbs or warm-hued LEDsdont have these effects.

Another easy project is using scrap wood and packing materials to create simple hotels forbeesorladybugs, making sure to carefully sanitize them between seasons. Easiest of all,provide water for insects to drinktheyre adorable to watch as they sip. Replace standing water at least weekly to prevent mosquitoes from developing.

Many resources across the U.S. offer advice on converting your lawn or making your yard more insect-friendly.

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation publishes aguide to establishing meadowsto sustain insects. Local university extension officespost tips on growing meadowswith specific instructions and resources for their areas. Gardening stores often have experience and carry selections of local plants.

You may find established communities of enthusiasts for local plants and seeds, or your journey could be the start of such a group. Part of the fun of gardening is learning what plants need to be healthy, and a new endeavor such as entoscaping will provide fresh challenges.

In my view, humans all too often see ourselves as separate from nature, which leads us to relegate biodiversity to designated parks. In fact, however, we are an important part of the natural world, andwe need insectsjust as much as they need us. As ecologistDouglas Tallamyargues in his book, Natures Best Hope, the best way to protect biodiversity is for people to plant native plants and promote conservation in every yard.

This story originally appeared inThe Conversation, and is reprinted here with permission.

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OBSERVER Photo by Valory S. IsaacsonChautauqua Lake/Westfield/Broctons Luke Waters (12) finds the end zone as Cassadaga Valley/Falconers Karsen Depasquale attempts to make the tackle Saturday night

FALCONER With high school football returning to the gridiron for an unusual springtime start, teams were forced to prepare on a much shorter schedule than normal.

And in Saturdays game between Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton and Cassadaga Valley/Falconers readiness proved to be one of the defining factors.

The Thunderbirds were able to power by the Golden Cougars at Bill Race Field on Saturday night, 26-14. CL/W/B scored all of its points in the first half after falling behind 8-0 and used its edge in the turnover battle to force short fields for quick scores.

We didnt do a really good job during this short season, said Golden Cougars coach Dan Greco. They did better than us with the short preparation.

The game started off well for the Golden Cougars. After forcing a turnover on downs on the Thunderbirds opening drive, Cassadaga Valley/Falconer needed just six plays to find the end zone as quarterback Dalton Caldwell found Landon Mower for a 24-yard touchdown pass on third-and-15. The two-point conversion was punched in by running back Noah Abram, and the Golden Cougars found themselves in front, 8-0 with just under eight minutes to go in the first quarter.

The Thunderbirds drove to the Cassadaga Valley/Falconer 7-yard line and went for it on a fourth-and-4, but were stopped. Everything appeared to be going in the Golden Cougars favor.

But the turning point would quickly follow.

After three straight incompletions from Caldwell, the Golden Cougars were forced to punt on fourth and 10 at their own 20. They attempted a quick punt that was not executed well enough, and the TBirds came up with a huge block, setting themselves up at 5-yard line. CL/W/B made quick work, as Luke Ormsby scored on the very next play, followed by quarterback Luke Waters hitting Ricky Syper on a two-point conversion to tie the game, 8-8, with two minutes to go in the first. That blocked punt, according to Greco, was the turning point of the game.

The kick down here turned it around, Greco said. We wanted to quick-kick it, but it got blocked. That really changed momentum and got them excited.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Golden Cougars couldnt corral it, and the Thunderbirds got another possession with a very short field, and Ormsby scored his second touchdown in the opening minutes of the second quarter, putting CL/W/B up 14-6.

The Golden Cougars punted away the ball on their next possession, and it looked like the Thunderbirds had another quick score on a deep pass from Waters, but the play was called back due to a penalty. A few plays later, after a 59-yard hookup from Waters to Gavin Sauerland, it looked like momentum would switch back to F/CV, as Ormsby put the ball on the ground at the Golden Cougar 22-yard line.

But on the very next play, the Golden Cougars handed the ball right back with a fumble of their own. With just a brief interruption for the Thunderbirds offense, who got to pick back up effectively where they left off, Waters scored on a 2-yard carry to extend the lead to 20-6.

History would almost repeat itself on the next Thunderbirds possession.

Following another Golden Cougar punt, CL/W/B would turn the ball over on downs at the Golden Cougars 37-yard line. This gave CV/F a chance to cut back into the lead right before halftime, but Caldwell threw an interception on the next snap, giving CL/W/B the ball back right at the 37.

We talk about it all the time, said Thunderbirds coach Ryan Gibbs. We cant let stuff snowball. When we make a mistake, we have to turn it up on the very next play. Im proud of the defense for getting the ball back.

The Thunderbirds would score in one play, as Waters connected with Sauerland again, to extend the Thunderbirds lead to 26-8 heading into halftime. The only touchdown in the second half came very late in the fourth quarter, as Abram found the end zone for the Golden Cougars to cut the score to its eventual final of 26-14.

Ormsby and Waters each showed up big for the Thunderbirds. Waters was 11 of 24 passing for 141 yards, while rushing and throwing for a touchdown. Ormsby had 21 carries for 94 yards rushing and two scores.

Luke Waters didnt play football last year, Gibbs said, but we talked him into coming out. Hes our leader, without question, and he played a great game. And Ormsby had some good, tough carries, and played tough on defense, too.

For the Golden Cougars, Caldwell went just 3/10 passing for 44 yards, throwing a touchdown and an interception, while Abram ended up with 15 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown.

Were going to work, Greco said. Were not packing it in. Its just one game, and well go to work next week and fix what we can.

The win for Gibbs was his first at the helm of the program, and he was treated with a Gatorade bath from his players following the game.

I have a lot of respect for that team tonight and Dan Greco, Gibbs said. Its pretty special to me. Im going to enjoy myself for a bit.

He doesnt have much time to relax, however, as his team is next in action against Clymer/Sherman/Panama next week. Meanwhile, the Golden Cougars also have a tough task, as the Fredonia Hillbillies will pay them a visit. Greco knows that if Fredonia quarterback Nick Whitfield is good to go, his team will need to tighten up its pass defense.

If their quarterback is ready, I hear great things about him, Greco said. We will have to play a whole lot better than we did tonight in coverage.

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NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 14: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees gives a fan a baseball while warming up in the eighth inning for the first time after being activated from the disable list earlier in the day against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 14, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Lost in the New York Yankees embarrassing Opening Day performance against the Toronto Blue Jays was the moment in which a fan tried to steal from Aaron Judges glove.

Judge caught the final out of the top of the ninth inning in foul territory near the seats along the right field line and was met by a number of fans who were enjoying Opening Day (at the moment).

One fan was having such a good time (perhaps a few pints deep?) that he thought itd be a good idea to attempt to swipe the baseball from Aaron Judges glove. Guess thats what happens when youre stuck in the house for a year and start warping your own brain.

Luckily, Judge gave the guy a pass.

The big man himself knows how difficult it was for fans being unable to attend games since the 2019 postseason and the bottled up excitement that came with it. What else did we expect from Judge, whos always so calculated with his responses.

Judge himself had a rough day, so he was likely just treating others the way he wanted to be treated. The slugger went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts and failed to bring home a run in both the seventh and ninth innings with runners in scoring position (one was a BRUTAL GIDP).

Yankees fans would rather not get into it, but he also took a ton of strikes and allowed the Blue Jays pitchers to either get ahead in the count or rebound after falling behind. Not very Judge-like.

But dont say he didnt try to hook up the spectators at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. He tossed a foul ball to a spectator and this guy completely beefed it.

All around, it was a bad day for the Yankees and their fans. Forgettable performances by all parties. Fans acting a fool, the players simply not doing their jobs, and a loss on Opening Day to kick of a 2021 season that has sky-high hopes.

Maybe on Saturday we can get some more hits and fewer nimrod fans? Thatd sure make everyone feel better.

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Yankees: Aaron Judge comments on fan who tried to steal ball from his glove - Yanks Go Yard

Doug Fraser|Cape Cod Times

HARWICH Thanks to COVID-19, the proposal for Harwich, Dennis and Yarmouth to form a regional wastewater district that will build a new treatment plant in Dennis was postponed a year. But voters in all three towns will get to vote on the agreementat town meetings this spring.

Last month, Harwich selectmen voted to place an article on their annual town meeting warrant asking voters to approve joining the Dennis Harwich Yarmouth Clean Waters Community Partnership. Yarmouth selectmen have also put it on their spring town meeting warrant.

Laurie Barr, the Dennis town administrators executive assistant, said selectmen have not yet voted to put articles on the warrant, but Suzanne Brock, a member of the towns Wastewater Implementation Committee, said her committee, which includes a representative from the selectmen, voted to place it on this springs warrant.

Last year, select boards from all three towns approved putting the article on their 2020 town meeting warrants.

The goal is to reap the savings of regionalization as opposed to each town building its own treatment facility.

An estimate provided by consultant David Young of CDM Smith showed the cost of building the wastewater treatment facility, installing the main pipe bringing sewage to the plant and the discharge infrastructure would cost approximately $289 million if each town built its own facility. A regional plant was estimated to cost $213 million, and that $76 million savings was augmented by $6.5 million in the annual cost savings for operations and maintenance of a regional facility.

It cant be overlooked that the efficiency of the regional approach ends up saving each town a lot of money, said Yarmouth Selectman Mark Forest, chairman of the board.

Cape Cod and all of Southeastern Massachusetts is dealing with a wastewater contamination problem that has degraded the water quality of coastal bays, rivers and ponds. Nitrogen and other contaminants in wastewater discharge largely from individual septic systems but also road runoff and lawn and agricultural practices acts like lawn fertilizer promoting the rapid growth of algae in the water. The algae outcompete other native plants and use up the oxygen in the water-creating dead zones.

Cape Cod's cleanup is detailed inwhat is known as Section 208 of the Clean Water Act regional plan. That update, which included more regional approaches,is the result of a 2014 settlement agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Conservation Law Foundation.

CLF has filed more lawsuits in recent years as they see progress moving too slowly in Cape towns. The implicit threat is having a judge decide how the Capes cleanup will proceed instead of towns determining the best and most cost-efficient solutions.

Understandably, financing projects with price tags in the hundreds of millions of dollars had been the big hang-up for most towns, andfor Yarmouth in particular. After a failed vote in 2011, Yarmouth officials decided to remove wastewater projects from the property tax base by using a combination of a surcharge added to the short-term rental tax, a dedicated state clean water fund from the short-erm rental tax, Community Preservation Act money, revenues from solar power projects, and betterments assessed for those who are served by the sewage system.

The DHY regional agreement, which was approved by the state Legislature in 2019, directly stems from the updated regional plan with a watershed approach instead of town by town. Approval of the agreement at town meetings this spring would create a seven-member Wastewater Partnership Commission that oversees the project from construction to annual operation.

Yarmouth will have the highest level of wastewater flowing to the plant and bears the largest burden of construction and other costs, so the commission will include three representatives from Yarmouth, and two each from Dennis and Harwich.

Yarmouth Department of Public Works Director Jeff Colby said that once the agreement is approved, the commission would start contracting for design work on the treatment facility. Unlike major municipal projects that come to town meeting for approval of funds to do design, engineering and construction phases, the towns would be billed by the district for the work, and taxpayer and voter input into the process would go through the wastewater commission, said Colby.

But an additional layer of review was built into the process as the Clean Waters district has to go to select boardsfor approval of their budget and projects, said Colby. Colby said the project will need two years for design and another two for construction with the first flow of sewage to the plant in 2025.

We might be able to tighten that up, Colby said.

The project still seems to be in line for all three towns to take advantage of Massachusetts Department of Transportation road work on Route 28, scheduled for 2024, to save millions by incorporating sewage pipe installation in that project.

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CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) Pediatricians are on the lookout for a complication from COVID-19 in young patients, some of whom didnt realize they already had the virus.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C, has affected 50 children in the Chicago area, including Janiya Johnson of Portage, Indiana.

Her mother Oshunda said the 5-year-old was sick in December and despite several visits, doctors couldnt figure out what was wrong.

Initially, her fever and lack of hunger was diagnosed as the flu. After a couple of days Janiya became lethargic.

When Oshunda took her to the doctor again, Janiya was rushed to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, where they were met by a team of doctors and nurses.

Frank Belmonte, Chief Medical Officer for Adovcate Childrens Hospital, said children with MIS-C are having a delayed reaction to a COVID infection in which the entire immune system is revved up and its starting to attack other organs in the body.

Like COVID, MIS-C is more prevalent among children of color.

Dr. Belmonte said it can appear four to six weeks after an infection. Hospitals are primed to watch for cases following COVID spikes, he said.

Treatment can vary, with some patients needing steroids or blood pressure medication, while others may require ventilators.

After three days in the ICU, Janiya was eventually released from the hospital. She tells WBBM Newsradio shes working on getting 2 million followers on TikTok.

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Tags on many storm drains in southern Pennsylvania remind people not to dump hazardous materials because that waste runs into the Susquehanna River and ultimately to the Chesapeake Bay.(Photo: Scott Fisher)

Restoring the Susquehanna watershed and saving the Chesapeake Bay mightseem like a huge task, involvingbig projects from stream restoration, to updating wastewater treatment systems, to mitigating the damage caused by mine discharges, to changing farming practices.

But there are some simple things that you can do to contribute to the effort. They may seem like little things, but if enough people adopt the practices, environmentalists believe they can have a large impact.

More: Killing the Chesapeake: Special report on how the Susquehanna River harms the bay coming Feb. 3

Repeat after me: dandelions and clover in the lawn are not bad.(Photo: Henry Homeyer)

Use less fertilizer or stop using it entirely. Certainly, everyone wants to have a nice, lush lawn, but commercial fertilizers contain nitrogen and phosphorus, major sources of pollution to the river watershed and the bay. The compounds run off into drains during rainstorms, and the chemicals flow downstream to the river and the bay.

Rain barrels collect rainwater that flows from the gutter and drips down a chain into the barrel.(Photo: Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record)

Build or buy a rain barrel and save that rain to water your lawn or garden. That way, storm water has a better chance of being absorbed than running off. Or, build what's known as a rain garden in your yardlush native-plant gardens that absorb rain water and/or filter it. Think of it as having your own wetland.

Dog feces contains nutrients that harm the river and bay.(Photo: MachineHeadz, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Dogfeces contains a lot of the same nutrients that pollute the watershed, in addition to harmful bacteria and worms and other biohazards. As a benefit, you don't have to worry about scraping it off your shoes after mowing the lawn.

Air pollution is a major source of nitrogen in the river and bay.(Photo: ViewApart, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

In addition to help with air quality, driving less results in fewer emissions that contribute to a third of the excess nitrogen flushed into the bay every year. Consolidate trips, carpool, use public transit or bike or walk when you can.

Turn off the lights and conserve electricity.(Photo: Scott Fisher)

Turn off the lights and conserve electricity. Power plant emissions are also a source of nitrogen pollution, so the less electricity you use, the fewer emissions are spewed into the atmosphere.

Don't dump toxic things like motor oil into storm drains, as those pollutants can run into the river and bay.(Photo: Scott Fisher)

It may beobvious, but properly dispose of used motor oil, antifreeze, paint and household cleaners. And don't flush unused prescription drugs down the toilet. Many wastewater treatment plants cannot filter out compounds in the drugs and they wind up in the river, harming wildlife, which, in turn, harms water quality. Your local waste management service can provide information about proper disposal of such materials.

Michael Helfrich, carries a bike up the banks of the Codorus Creek he pulled from water during a cleanup session on Saturday, July 18, 2015.(Photo: Jason Plotkin)

Alot of litter washes downstream and winds up in the bay. So pick up litter and keep trash out of the bay. It's not just aesthetic. Litter contains toxic chemicals that endanger and poison fish that mightwind up on our dinner tables.

Lobbying lawmakers on environmental issues is one way to help save the river and bay.(Photo: Buzz60)

Contact your local, state and federal representatives and let them know that you support policies that contribute to a clean environment.

Sources: The Maryland Department of the Environment and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

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8 simple things YOU can do to restore the Susquehanna River and save the Chesapeake Bay - York Daily Record

Harrisburg, PA The Pennsylvania Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP), Agriculture, and Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced today that state and local partners made record progress in 2020 on the Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan (Phase 3 WIP) to improve the health of Pennsylvanias share of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

In a year of significant challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, when any partnership with as many moving parts as the Phase 3 WIP couldve fallen apart, we achieved a record level of progress, said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. We ended the second year of Phase 3 WIP implementation with every county now signed on to help and people reaching out to get involved, as well as notable progress by the wastewater, farming, and other sectors.

Nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) pollution and sediment build up in streams, rivers, and lakes as a result of human activity, such as using too much fertilizer, plowing and tilling agricultural fields, and stripping away trees and vegetation, increasing streambank erosion.

While EPA is still reviewing 2019-2020 numeric data, its initial assessment credits Pennsylvania with its third largest annual nitrogen reduction in 2019-2020. Wastewater treatment plants contributed 73 percent, their largest annual nitrogen reduction in 35 years. This was due primarily to more accurate reporting of actual versus estimated pollutant levels.

EPA credits Pennsylvania with its sixth largest annual phosphorus reduction in 2019-2020. Wastewater treatment plants contributed 61 percent, their second largest annual phosphorus reduction in 35 years.

Farmers contributed 25 percent of the nitrogen reduction and 32 percent of the phosphorus reduction, which is their largest annual phosphorus reduction since 2010. Better accounting of implementation of nutrient and sediment reducing practices, such as the state-required agricultural erosion and sediment control and nutrient and manure management plans, was one contributing factor.

Increasingly efficient application of fertilizers was another contributing factor. EPA research shows that of all states in the watershed, Pennsylvania has had the largest historical decline in agricultural surplus, or excess nitrogen and phosphorus that isnt absorbed by crops.

Despite the challenges of 2020 to the agriculture industry, farmers stepped up to meet their commitments to reducing nutrient and sediment loads to the bay by developing and implementing conservation plans, using fertilizers more efficiently, increasing the use of no-till technology, and planting cover crops, said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. We know that we need to cultivate tomorrow to feed the future, and that requires stewardship of our resources today.

Many types of best management practices and projects help reduce nutrient and sediment water pollution, including applying fertilizer efficiently, planting trees on streambanks, installing fencing to keep livestock out of water, practicing no-till farming, managing manure correctly, and restoring streams and floodplains to more natural conditions.

Also, according to EPAs initial assessment, Pennsylvania carried out nutrient and manure management, cover crop, soil and water conservation planning, and non-agriculture erosion and sediment control best management practices at twice the rate in 2019-20 as its long-term annual rate.

Although the pandemic made it difficult to get boots on the ground in 2020, state and county partners persevered in engaging landowners for upcoming projects and launching or completing current projects.

Streamside buffers and converting grass to trees or meadows are natural ways for agricultural and residential landowners to create cleaner water and improve the stewardship of their land, said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. Not all eligible landowners are aware of their value, so our efforts last year focused on making it easy for landowners to understand the benefits of these practices and connect them with funding and experts available to guide them.

All 34 counties that were asked to develop and carry out plans to reduce their share of nutrient and sediment pollution have signed on to do so.

Lancaster County, which is pursuing the largest nutrient reduction goal in Pennsylvanias share of the watershed, began or completed projects at many municipal, farm, or other sites in 2020, including the City of Lancaster, Culliton Park, Murry Ridge Park, Paradise and Rapho townships, Woerth It Hollow Farm, and other locations.

We've definitely had success with on-the-ground project implementation. The funding that DEP gave us for CAP implementation, and the flexibility of those dollars, has been extremely helpful, said Allyson Gibson, Lancaster Countywide Action Plan coordinator. We appreciate being able to get that to projects on the ground quickly and be responsive to the local decision making.

Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Susquehanna counties are among the northern counties developing CAPs in 2021. The three counties will share a plan coordinator but create individual CAPs.

By working together with local stakeholders to develop clean water action plans for each county, well identify opportunities for improving water quality that align with unique local needs and interests, said Josh Longmore, Executive Director of the Luzerne Conservation District. Through our regional partnership on a planning grant from DEP, well also be able to develop plans that take into account our shared challenges to reducing pollutants in the Susquehanna River, its local tributaries, and eventually the Chesapeake Bay.

Actions to help foster a healthy watershed benefit all aspects of Pennsylvanians lives, from providing safe drinking water to protecting soil quality for better crop yield, reducing flooding, and providing outdoor recreation enjoyment and employment.

We forged a new level of state, local, and sector partnership in 2018 to develop a truly viable watershed plan from the ground up, said Secretary McDonnell. Today were seeing just how strong that partnership is. Real commitment to improve water quality has taken root.

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State and Local Partners Made Record Progress in Second Year of Chesapeake Bay Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan - Governor Tom Wolf