Latest news with #Russell
The Hill
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Democrat calls for renaming of Russell Senate Office Building
Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) is urging senators to rename the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill because of former Sen. Richard Russell's history of opposing civil rights and avowing white supremacy. 'Throughout his career, Senator Russell engaged in constant lobbying on behalf ofopponents to Civil Rights,' Green wrote in a letter to senators Thursday about the Georgia Democrat who died in 1971. 'Perhaps most telling of his beliefs, during a lengthy filibuster against anti-lynching legislation, Senator Russell professed a willingness to uphold 'white supremacy in the social, economic, and political life of our state.'' 'His public assertions, including ones that declared America 'a white man's country' and his outspoken opposition to 'political and social equality with the Negro,' further underscored his divisive ideology,' Green added. Russell, who was Georgia's governor for two years in the 1930s, held his Senate seat for nearly four decades until his death. Green asked senators to revert to using the name 'Old Senate Office Building' for the structure built in the early 1900s that 33 senators and five committees currently occupy. It was named in honor of Russell the year after he died. 'It has long past time to remove this insult to people of goodwill from a building paid for and maintained with public funds,' Green wrote. 'The notion that the Senate cannot agree on a new permanent name does not prevent the Senate from reverting to the previous name, which was 'The Old Senate Office Building,' until a new permanent name is approved.' Green sponsored a House resolution in 2020 urging senators to change the name, but the effort was opposed by the then-Republican senators from Georgia. 'Renaming the Russell Senate Office Building is a powerful step in rejecting Russell's legacy rooted in racial division and oppression,' Green said in a statement on his renewed push. Georgia Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock both took office in 2021. Warnock is the state's first Black senator, and Ossoff is the first Jewish senator from Georgia. Ossoff and Warnock's offices didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment on whether they support the change.
France 24
a day ago
- Sport
- France 24
Russell signs new deal at Premiership champions Bath
The 32-year-old kicked 13 points and added an impressive interception in Saturday's 23-21 victory over Leicester in the Premiership final at Twickenham. The win was Bath's first Premiership title in 29 years and sealed a treble, with the European Challenge Cup and the Premiership Rugby Cup already secured. Russell, who joined Bath in 2023, has made 45 appearances and scored 420 points in all competitions for the club. "I have loved my time here at Bath," said the playmaker, part of the Lions squad for their upcoming tour to Australia. "It's a great team and a great club. We've come a long way over the last couple of years and I am really looking forward to staying here and seeing what the club can achieve." Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan, who has transformed the team side from rock-bottom finishers in 2021/22 to league champions, said: "Finn is one of the world's best 10s, a player who performs in the big moments and more importantly he's an incredible team man and a family man. "He is one of the lads, his training is exceptional, and he's added so much to our group." © 2025 AFP
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Peter Dowdall: How to give lupins the TLC they need to thrive
A noxious weed in one country is often a treasured garden gem in another, and believe it or not, lupins fall into this category. In parts of New Zealand and Northern Europe, Lupinus polyphyllus, the species behind many of our cultivated garden hybrids, is an invasive. In New Zealand's South Island and in countries like Finland and Sweden, it spreads rapidly, covering entire riverbanks and roadsides with spectacular, towering spires in blues and purples. Whilst the displays may be breathtaking and draw tourists in their droves, in these fragile habitats, the plant crowds out native species and alters the natural balance by enriching the soil with nitrogen, favouring invasive growth over indigenous flora. Its spread also disrupts river systems, threatening the survival of rare birds and native wildlife. In our gardens, the lupins we grow, mainly derived from Lupinus polyphyllus but bred into stable hybrids like the famous Russell strains, are generally well-behaved. They are short-lived perennials that often need a bit of mollycoddling to encourage them to thrive. Far from being invasive, they usually vanish within a season or two. They were once the stars of early summer, loved for their upright form and bold colours. Their rise to fame came largely thanks to George Russell, a railway worker from York with a passion for plant breeding. Over decades, he selected and stabilised hybrid lupins for rich colour, tighter flower spikes, and stronger garden performance. His Russell hybrids exploded onto the horticultural scene in the 1930s and quickly became a fixture of the cottage-style border. They can be tricky, and I have often found them to be short-lived, fussy about conditions, and prone to attack from both pests and disease. In spring, the newly emerging lupin shoots emerge like a gourmet feast for slugs and snails. Control them at this stage to allow the plant to establish, use barriers of sheep's wool pellets, slate mulch, crushed eggshells or sharp horticultural grit around the base of plants. Then there are the aphids; lupins are loved by greenfly and blackfly, and more recently, the lupin aphid, which is a large, pale grey/green aphid that has become a serious pest of garden lupins in recent years. Unlike smaller aphid species, the lupin aphid tends to appear in dense, dramatic infestations, often on the undersides of leaves and along the flowering stems. Entire plants can be overwhelmed within a day or two, with distorted growth and wilting, or stunted flowers. The sheer volume of aphids can physically weigh down stems and produce large quantities of sticky honeydew. What makes them particularly challenging is that natural predators like ladybirds and hoverflies often arrive too late or in insufficient numbers to provide effective control. Because of this, early intervention is key. Avoid using chemical sprays, which will do far more harm than good. If infestations are caught early, a sharp jet of water or pruning off the worst-affected shoots will keep them in check. A homemade garlic spray will make the plants unpalatable to aphids without upsetting the wider ecosystem. Our warm and damp climate creates the ideal conditions for the development of many fungal infections, such as powdery mildew and grey mould. Good air circulation is crucial. Don't cram plants too closely together, and water early in the day so foliage dries quickly. If mildew does appear, remove the affected leaves and dispose of them; don't compost them, as they can end up spreading the spores. Once attacked by aphids, the lupins' resistance to infections is lowered, so controlling the insects is vital. Lupins growing at Lake Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand. File picture Despite all these challenges, lupins are worth the effort when they succeed. The key is giving them what they need. They like full sun and free-draining, slightly poor soil, not the rich, moist compost we tend to offer everything else. Avoid waterlogged ground, particularly over winter, or the roots will rot. Shelter them from strong winds, as the flower spikes are prone to snapping. If your garden is exposed, stake them early or grow them through low supports. To give yourself every chance of success, choose your variety wisely; the Russell Hybrids remain some of the best to grow. Look out for cultivars like The Governor, My Castle or The Chatelaine. For smaller spaces or containers, the Gallery series offers a compact alternative with all the flair of their taller cousins. Definitely worth seeking out are the West Country lupins, a newer range bred in Devon for better vigour, richer colours, and improved weather resistance. These plants tend to produce dense, uniform flower spikes and come in some truly spectacular shades. Cultivars like Persian Slipper, in a rich blue and cream, or Masterpiece, with its deep purple and orange tones, are particularly eye-catching, whilst L. Blossom is the most beautiful and delicate, pale pink. To prolong flowering, cut back the main flower spike just as it starts to fade. This often encourages a second flush from side shoots. Lupins are worth the effort. There is something joyful about them, a reminder of the glory days of gardening when every border had its spires and every June came with a riot of colour. They might not last forever, and they might ask a bit more than many more modern plants, but perhaps, that's part of the charm.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Decision made on Finn Russell's future as three-year deal agreed for Scotland stand-off
Russell helped Bath win their first English title in 29 years Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Finn Russell has ended speculation about his future at club level by signing a new contract with Bath which ties him to the team until June 2028. The Scotland stand-off helped Bath triumph in the Gallagher Premiership final on Saturday, adding the trophy to the European Challenge Cup and Premiership Cup they won earlier in the season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Russell, 32, has been an integral part of the success and his fine form has seen him linked with a number of clubs, including a return to Racing 92 in Paris where he spent five seasons. Finn Russell enjoys Bath's Premiership final win over Leicester with his daughters. | Getty Images But Russell has opted to extend his stay at Bath, signing a new three-year contract. "I have loved my time here at Bath," said Russell. "It's a great team and a great club. We've come a long way over the last couple of years, and I am really looking forward to staying here and seeing what the club can achieve." Russell joined Bath from Racing on a three-year deal in summer 2023. He helped them reach the Premiership final in his first season but they lost to Northampton Saints at Twickenham. They went one better this season, beating Leicester in the final to become English champions for the first time in 29 years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "The fans have been outstanding since I got here," added Russell. "We've had some big results at home and that's just our way of giving back to the fans and trying to represent them in the right way. 'The way the club is developing and with the young players coming through, the belief and confidence that we've got week-to-week is just growing. There are some brilliant new signings coming in as well who will be great additions to the club, and I can't wait to get started next season.' Scotland's Finn Russell has signed a new three-year contract with Bath. | PA Russell has made 45 appearances for Bath in two seasons, scoring 420 points across all competitions, including four tries. He ended 2024-25 with 183 points in the Premiership. Head coach Johann van Graan, who has transformed the club's fortunes, said tying Russell down on a new deal was a great bit of business. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "It's amazing news," van Graan told the Bath website. "Finn is one of the world's best 10s, a player who performs in the big moments and more importantly he's an incredible team man and a family man."
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland fly-half Finn Russell signs new Bath Rugby contract
The Brtish & Irish Lions ace will remain with the club until 2028 after agreeing fresh terms. Russell joined Bath in 2023 and has now pledged his future to the club after a season where he ended as leading point scorer in the Gallagher Premiership. Russell said of signing his new deal: 'I have loved my time here at Bath. It's a great team and a great club. We've come a long way over the last couple of years, and I am really looking forward to staying here and seeing what the club can achieve. Read more: 'The fans have been outstanding since I got here. We've had some big results at home and that's just our way of giving back to the fans and trying to represent them in the right way.'
