Latest news with #Alaskan
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Social enterprise hit by 'disaster' as thief swipes £5,000 worth of equipment
Green Aspirations is a social enterprise focused on reconnecting people to their environment, through woodlands based at the Cardross Estate, Port of Menteith. A rural Stirling social enterprise was left reeling this week after a brazen thief stole equipment worth £5,000. Green Aspirations is a social enterprise dedicated to reconnecting people with their environment, operating from woodlands based at the Cardross Estate, Port of Menteith. The enterprise was established by Paul Cookson, who now manages the company alongside his partner Jo Edwards. They were devastated to find that several crucial tools had been pinched upon their return from holiday last weekend. Green Aspirations offers workshops, kids holiday clubs, events, products (charcoal, traditional games, other small items), volunteering opportunities, and sustainable woodland management – all focused on imparting traditional rural skills, such as green woodworking and blacksmithing. The emphasis is on teaching people to create things themselves and encouraging them to consider the origins and manufacturing processes of items. The enterprise has been operational since 2013. An online fundraiser has now been launched to help the group replace the stolen items. Jo told the Stirling Observer: "We had around £5,000 of equipment stolen that's really essential in what we do, so it's been a real blow, but at the same time, people are being really generous with their donations and offers of help, which has been amazing." Among the stolen items were two chainsaws – a STIHL 231 and a STIHL 661 , am Alaskan chainsaw mill, a generator, a circular saw, and various hand tools. Jo added: "The chainsaws are an integral part of the charcoal side of the business, and we're probably the second biggest charcoal producer in Scotland, so losing them is a bit of a disaster. "We buy our charcoal wood from the Cambusbarron Development Trust, and then process it on our site, so we've had to borrow a chainsaw this week to keep that going. "The chainsaw mill is used for preparing materials for workshops, so we've had to postpone the workshop we had planned for this weekend, as we can't get the pieces ready. While we've not cancelled, it does mean that the weekend we've moved it to now can't be used for any other workshops. "The other tools are also used for workshop prep, as well as helping us make the traditional games – stocked in Made in Stirling, so we'll have to find another way to keep that going while we sort things out." Regarding financial struggles, Jo added: "We're around 90 per cent supported through income we generate ourselves, rather than through grant funding, so all of this means that if we don't generate the income, then we can't pay our bills, or our one member of staff who works with us a couple of days a week. "We rarely pay ourselves as it is, although we were nearly at that point before this happened, so [this is] just another frustration." The Crowdfunder page states: "As a social enterprise, we operate on a pretty tight budget. So when something like this happens – the theft of a number of pretty expensive bits of kit – it really sets you back. We're looking for various sources of funding to help us replace what's been taken, but we're looking at all the avenues we can. So we're hoping you can help!".
Mint
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
The Best Restaurant in the US Serves Italian Food in Boulder, Colorado
if you're looking for the best country in America right now, you'll want to head to Boulder, Colorado. Frasca Food & Wine, whose specialty is the lesser known cuisine of Friuli in northeast Italy, snagged the title of best restaurant from the James Beard Foundation at an awards ceremony on Monday night in Chicago. The casually refined 21-year-old restaurant, from chef Lachlan McKinnon Patterson and acclaimed sommelier Bobby Stuckey, specializes in dishes like cappelletto affondato — burnt flour pasta with green and white asparagus and sheeps milk ricotta — and Alaskan halibut with green strawberries, wild ramps and baccala, the salt cod dish. The vast wine list is world-wide famous; it won Beard's outstanding wine program award in 2013. 'We are so humbled to have won outstanding restaurant,' said Stuckey after taking the stage to accept the award. 'This August, Frasca turns 21 years old and this award is for the communities of Boulder, Denver and Colorado.' It was the one winning Colorado restaurant in the national awards. Otherwise it was New York City's night. Of the 13 big deal national awards, New York dominated with four. Among the big wins for the Big Apple were the title of outstanding restaurateurs, which went to Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, operators of the wildly popular Le Veau d'Or on the Upper East Side, as well as Le Rock, in Rockefeller Center and Frenchette downtown. Outstanding hospitality went to Atomix, from Ellia and Junghyun Park, the gamechanging fine dining Korean restaurant that last year was ranked No. 6 in the Worlds 50 Best restaurant list. The outstanding chef is Jungsik Yim, chef and owner of Jungsik, the dynamic Korean dining room which made news in New York last year when it broke into the three Michelin star restaurant club. Outstanding cocktail professional is Ignacio Jimenez, better known as Nacho, at Superbueno in Manhattan's East Village, where the specialty is engaging riffs on classics like the vodka y soda, a crystal clear drink mixed with guava and pasilla. 'I can't describe how honored I feel to represent cocktails and their crucial role in hospitality,' he said, after the win. Jimenez also spotlighted the hard working Latin American restaurant community that he represents. 'I'm largely motivated by representing my heritage, both as a Mexican and as a New Yorker. It shines a light on the work that my community does every day and is a huge platform to create more opportunities for those that look like me, who aren't always afforded the same opportunities and come from where I come from.' Likewise, Vijay Kumar, who was named best chef: New York in the regional awards for his cooking at Semma downtown, paid tribute to his native country and current hometown. 'For one of the grandest cuisines in the world, Indian food has been overlooked for far too long and it has been incredibly powerful to reclaim that unapologetically with such regionality and emotion. And there's no better place to do it than New York.' Among the other regional chef winners was Nando Chang, who won the title best chef South for his outstanding Nikkei cuisine at Itamae AO in winners were named at Chicago's Lyric Theatre. The restaurant awards, which launched in 1991, have been based in Chicago since 2015. The city will host the awards through 2027. But its long tenure as host did not result in more than two awards for the night: Kumiko was named outstanding bar and Oriole's Noah Sandoval won best chef: Great Lakes. Ironically, before the awards set up shop in Chicago a decade ago, they were based in New York. Organizers thought that moving them away from the Big Apple would help spread out the national awards across the country. But this year, that didn't help; New York's hospitality community was unstoppable. Following is a list of all the winners. Outstanding Restaurant Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO Outstanding RestaurateursLee Hanson and Riad Nasr, Frenchette, Le Veau d'Or, and Le Rock, New York, NY Outstanding Chef presented by HiltonJungsik Yim, Jungsik, New York, NY Emerging Chef Phila Lorn, Mawn, Philadelphia, PA Best New RestaurantBûcheron, Minneapolis, MN Outstanding BakeryJinJu Patisserie, Portland, OR Outstanding Pastry Chef or BakerCat Cox, Country Bird Bakery, Tulsa, OK Outstanding Hospitality Atomix, New York, NY Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages ProgramCharleston, Baltimore, MD Outstanding BarKumiko, Chicago, IL Best New BarIdentidad Cocktail Bar, San Juan, PR Outstanding Professional in Beverage ServiceArjav Ezekiel, Birdie's, Austin, TX Outstanding Professional in Cocktail ServiceIgnacio 'Nacho' Jimenez, Superbueno, New York, NY Best Chef: CaliforniaJon Yao, Kato, Los Angeles, CA Best Chef: Great Lakes Noah Sandoval, Oriole, Chicago, IL Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic Carlos Delgado, Causa and Amazonia, Washington, D.C. Best Chef: Midwest Karyn Tomlinson, Myriel, St. Paul, MN Best Chef: Mountain Salvador Alamilla, Amano, Caldwell, ID Best Chef: New York State|Vijay Kumar, Semma, New York, NY Best Chef: Northeast |Sky Haneul Kim, Gift Horse, Providence, RI Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific Timothy Wastell, Antica Terra, Amity, OR Best Chef: South Nando Chang, Itamae AO, Miami, FL Best Chef: Southeast Jake Howell, Peninsula, Nashville, TN Best Chef: Southwest Yotaka Martin, Lom Wong, Phoenix, AZ Best Chef: TexasThomas Bille, Belly of the Beast, Spring, TX This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists raise red flag over concerning trend among polar bears — here's why it has bigger implications
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has estimated that there have been sharp declines in Alaska's polar bear population. Alaska polar bears face serious threats because of rising global temperatures and human activity. As Defenders of Wildlife reported, approximately one-tenth of the global polar bear population lives around Alaska's Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea. The estimates of their numbers from earlier this year signal that polar bears' livelihood is at risk, and their long-term survival prospects are dim. The FWS estimated that only approximately 819 polar bears are in the Southern Beaufort Sea population. Bears in this region saw a 40% population decline during the 2000s. They are considered one of the most at-risk populations of polar bears worldwide. Along the Chukchi Sea, the FWS estimated the polar bear population to be around 2,937. Although this population is considered more stable than that of the Beaufort Sea, officials aren't fully confident in the accuracy of this number since tracking them is quite challenging. The Alaskan polar bear population's decline is attributed to sea ice declines and behavioral changes, as bears must spend more time on land in the summer. Oil and gas development also threatens polar bear habitats because drilling and dirty energy exploration projects displace them and destroy the resources they need to survive. Declining polar bear populations disrupt the Arctic food chain and the people and animals who rely on the region's natural resources. Polar bears are the top predators in the region and help balance the natural ecosystem. Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated issue to just Alaska. Polar bears also struggle to survive in other regions, while even grizzly bears are dying in increasingly disturbing numbers because of environmental conditions and extreme weather shifts. Polar bear population declines indicate the overall health of the Arctic environment and are a cultural symbol for Indigenous communities. Protecting and rebuilding their populations is crucial to preserving regional biodiversity and cultural heritage. Fortunately, scientists have been improving polar-bear tracking strategies to monitor their populations and inspire conservation efforts. Reducing our world's reliance on dirty energy and choosing clean energy for power can slow the steadily rising temperatures and help protect polar bears. As an individual, you can spread the news about declining polar bear populations by discussing critical climate issues like sea ice melt and oil drilling with people you know. You can also contact your elected officials to urge them to support sustainable policies that protect polar bears. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Alaska's first-ever Heat Advisory issued as Fairbanks sees temps soar
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – For the first time, the National Weather Service office in Fairbanks, Alaska, has issued a Heat Advisory, marking a significant shift in how Alaskans are alerted to unusually warm conditions. Until recently, Fairbanks and other Alaskan forecast offices didn't have the ability to issue such advisories, instead relying on Special Weather Statements to alert the public about sudden heat. That changed on June 2, when adjusted procedures granted Alaskan offices the authority to use the Heat advisory product, aligning them more closely with practices used across the Lower 48. The criteria for when an alert is issued vary across the Last Frontier, with some areas along the North Slope needing only to reach 75 degrees, while Fairbanks' threshold is a warmer 85 degrees. The NWS office in Fairbanks anticipates several upcoming days will hit at least 85 degrees, so a Heat Advisory will go into effect for the city's more than 30,000 residents. How The Weather You're Accustomed To Affects National Weather Service Heat Warnings, Advisories An observed temperature of 85 degrees is 15-20 degrees above average for mid-June, but it's still well below the all-time record of 96 degrees, set in 1969. While the temps may seem modest compared to those seen during heat waves in the Lower 48, locals said the alert reflects the region's unique vulnerabilities in coping with unusual warmth. For example, the Haas Energy Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, estimates that about 7% of households across the state have sufficient air conditioning. The lack of A/C, combined with actions like closing blinds and curtains to block over 20 hours of sunlight during meteorological summer, can interfere with a building's natural ventilation and cause indoor temperatures to climb to uncomfortable levels. Additionally, with more than 50 million acres of wilderness protected by various conservation groups, the state offers endless outdoor activities, and many Alaskans spend a large portion of their day outside. So, when temperatures reach the mid-80s, it can place stress on a population more accustomed to the 60s and 70s this time of year. Us Coast Guard Unveils First Polar Icebreaker In More Than 25 Years For now, Alaskan NWS offices still won't issue what are known as Heat Watches or Heat Warnings, which are reserved for more extreme heat impacts typically seen in the Lower 48. Forecasters said cities such as Anchorage and Juneau will rarely meet the criteria for a Heat Advisory, since the cooling influence of the North Pacific Ocean plays a major role in moderating temperatures. However, Fairbanks is farther inland and well removed from ocean influence, making it more vulnerable to heat waves, dry spells and wildfires, which can also affect air quality. On average, the city's warmest high temperature reaches about 74 degrees during early July before starting its daily plunge and reaching the lower 60s by the time summer article source: Alaska's first-ever Heat Advisory issued as Fairbanks sees temps soar
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A Senator Was Forcibly Removed And Handcuffed At A Press Conference, And Now Gavin Newsom's Response To It Is Going Mega Viral
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was holding a press conference when Senator Alex Padilla from California came into the room saying, "I am Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary." That's when he was forcefully removed from the room and handcuffed. Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin captured the video that is now ALL over social media: BillMelugin_/Twitter: @BillMelugin_ Another video obtained by NBC News shows the senator being handcuffed: jacobsoboroff/Twitter: @jacobsoboroff Melugin reported that he was temporarily detained, saying, "I'm told Noem is in a room meeting with Senator Padilla right now. After I stopped recording, my team witnessed him being taken to the ground by FBI personnel and he was temporarily detained. Awaiting further details on what happened out of our view." Related: "Honestly Speechless At How Evil This Is": 26 Brutal, Brutal, Brutal Political Tweets Of The Week He also said Noem and Padilla had a meeting after, "Noem tells me she had a 10-15 minute meeting with Padilla and they swapped phone numbers. Says it was cordial and beneficial. He had concerns about ICE operations & they opened up a line of communication. Said it was a good meeting and things are okay between the two of them (outside of all the political reaction happening now)." People are obviously pretty shook up by this. "no longer shocking that we are living under corrupt authoritarian thugs," one person commented. Related: The Internet Is Having A Field Day Over Marjorie Taylor Greene's Tweet About Homeschooling With An Altered Map Another person said it "Feels like uncharted territory." And this person wrote, "I've never seen a sitting United States Senator being forcibly confronted in this way." A TON of politicians are also chiming in, like Representative Becca Balint from Vermont, saying, "There's no word to describe physically assaulting a US Senator for attending a press conference and asking a question other than authoritarianism." Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut called it a "very, very serious moment," saying, "This is a United States Senator being violently removed from a public briefing. Many of are reaching out to Senator Padilla right now and there are facts we need to gather, but this is a very, very serious moment." Rep. Mark Takano of California said, "They cannot deal with dissent of any kind. They will rough up citizens, protesters, even U.S. Senators." CBS journalist Alan He reported Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski said, "I've seen that one clip. It's horrible. It is shocking at every level. It's not the America I know." And Gavin Newsom's response is the most viral of all: "If they can handcuff a U.S. Senator for asking a question, imagine what they will do to you." Homeland Security responded to Newsom's tweet, saying, "Senator Padilla chose disrespectful political theatre and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem. Mr. Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers' repeated commands. @SecretService thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately. Secretary Noem met with Senator Padilla after and held a 15 minute meeting." Governor Newsom's Press Office responded to their response, saying, "'Didn't identify himself'? It's the FIRST THING out of his mouth in the video. You've detained a mayor. A judge. A union leader. Now a U.S. Senator. You've deployed Marines on U.S. soil. If a President did this abroad, we'd have a word for it: Dictator." Also in In the News: JD Vance Shared The Most Bizarre Tweet Of Him Serving "Food" As Donald Trump's Housewife Also in In the News: AOC's Viral Response About A Potential Presidential Run Has Everyone Watching, And I'm Honestly Living For It Also in In the News: A NSFW Float Depicting Donald Trump's "MAGA" Penis Was Just Paraded Around Germany, And It'
