Latest news with #399
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Commentary: The disappearing home and doomed fate of a Grand Teton bear
They called it paradise. The place to be. A mountain realm like no other. A place where the spectacular Teton range rises 6,000 feet above the valley floor, offering one of the most distinct and dramatic mountain fronts in the world. Below the striking peaks, the mighty Snake River meanders through a sagebrush valley dotted with aspen and pine. And it is here that I once met a great grizzly bear. She was known as Grizzly 399. I've been filming in Grand Teton National Park and the Northern Rockies for 20 years. A few years ago, I had the honor of filming 399 when she had her quadruplets. It was the first trip I'd made to Grand Teton to specifically see the great bear. And the last. Why the last? Because I saw what was happening. Could feel what was happening. I wanted to give the great bear space. I didn't want to be chasing her around the park, waiting in my car with heated leather seats, hoping she'd cross the road, all the while hemming her in. I knew what was happening. Full-size commercial jets were flying overhead, landing at an international airport that should never even be there. Dropping off passengers to a growing town that wasn't meant to be there. Driving to stores that should have never been built there. For 28 years, Grizzly 399's world shrunk all around her. Slowly, year by year, she had to make adjustments to the sprawl and greed of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. To the sprawl and greed of the human race. She did the best she could as we humans closed in. As we built more and more storage facilities and hotels and developed properties merely for vacation rentals, we could stuff more cash in our pockets, ultimately sacrificing in the process one of the most beautiful places the world has ever known. She raised her cubs in all this for decades. Navigated through it all, a steady ship in a stormy sea — each wave just a little taller than the last. And yet the people came. More full-size commercial airliners roaring into an international airport. Dropping off people who wanted to 'own a piece of the Tetons.' But when you buy or develop a house next to a national park, you don't capture a piece of that park. You ruin it. What had once been a wild valley slowly turned into the suburbs, and Grizzly 399 handled it all with aplomb. She didn't have to. But she did. More and more photographers swarmed to the Tetons to see her every year. More and more 'investment properties' went up, causing more people to drive the roadways. More stores were built. More drones flew overhead. More airplanes roared in the sky. Each year, her world shrunk. And this past fall, it finally closed in on her. That poor driver didn't kill the great Grizzly 399. We did. You see, Grizzly 399 was not just a bear. She was a symbol of a truly wild animal trying to hang on in a changing world, a world that is all about 'me, me, I, I' and very little of 'Why?' or 'What can I do to help?' This is a world where if the stores start to fade or look a little old, we build the exact same stores 2 miles down the road. And 10 years later, we do it again. And again. Until that's all there is. It never stops. Our need to consume, to stuff our pockets. To turn prairie meadows into self-storage facilities. To pave over everything that is true and wild. To pave over what is real. Grizzly 399 deserved better. The single best way you and I can honor her amazing legacy is to look at what happened to Grand Teton. And not repeat it elsewhere. We can honor her legacy by protecting our national parks by not bringing sprawl to their doorsteps. We can honor her legacy by pulling back on our obsessive need to develop everything and finally showing some tact and humility — the same way she did when dealing with us. You see, Grizzly 399 was so much more than a bear. She is a lesson. And she is teaching us all, still. Always had been teaching us. Because that's just what a great mother does. ____ Michael Hodges, a native of the Chicago area, is a novelist, photographer and Facebook influencer. ___
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Wardha-Ballarshah 4th line approved to fast track rly connectivity in Vidarbha
Nagpur: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved two major railway multi-tracking projects in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, with a combined investment of Rs3,399 crore. Part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the projects aim to strengthen rail infrastructure and improve connectivity across four districts by the financial year 2029-30. The approved projects include the third and fourth lines between Ratlam and Nagda in Madhya Pradesh, and the fourth line between Wardha and Ballarshah in Maharashtra. The new railway lines are expected to enhance capacity, reduce congestion and enable faster movement of freight and passengers along critical routes. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the Centre's decision, thanking Prime Minister Modi and Union minister for railways Ashwini Vaishnaw. He called it a major step for Vidarbha's development. "Under PM Gati Shakti's plan, these new railway lines will enable faster transport of coal, cement, gypsum, fly ash, containers, agricultural goods and petroleum products. It will lead to improved travel convenience, a reduction in logistics costs, lower crude oil imports, and a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bolsas nos olhos? (Tente isso hoje à noite) Revista Saúde & Beleza Saiba Mais Undo This initiative will boost sustainable and efficient railway transportation in the region," he said. According to a statement from the Press Information Bureau, these multi-tracking projects are designed to expand the capacity of Indian Railways and cater to the growing demands of both passenger and freight transport. They will link approximately 784 villages, impacting nearly 19.74 lakh people. Officials highlight that the increased line capacity will help streamline rail operations and facilitate faster and more efficient transportation of essential commodities. The projects are expected to handle an additional freight traffic of about 18.40 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). This will also help alleviate congestion along heavily used routes and optimise supply chains. The projects are also projected to generate around 74 lakh human-days of direct employment during the construction phase. This is seen as a vital step in driving socio-economic development in the region, providing job opportunities and supporting livelihoods. Officials say the integrated approach under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan reflects the govt's commitment to coordinated implementation and seamless connectivity across the country. # PM Gati Shakti Boost Total investment: Rs3,399 crore Total length: 176 km Districts covered: 4 districts in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh Target: FY 2029–30 # Project in Maharashtra # Wardha-Ballarshah Lines: 4th railway line Purpose: Enhance capacity and connectivity, enabling faster movement of coal, cement, and other key goods # Project in MP Ratlam–Nagda Lines: 3rd & 4th railway lines Purpose: Decongest routes and streamline transport of goods and passengers # Economic & social benefits Employment generation: 74 lakh human-days of direct jobs during construction Freight capacity increase: Additional 18.40 million tonnes per annum Impact on Rural Areas: 784 villages to be connected, benefiting nearly 19.74 lakh people Reduced crude oil imports: Less dependency on imports through efficient rail transport # Key commodities Moved Coal, cement, clinker, gypsum, fly ash, containers, agricultural goods, petroleum products # Environmental impact Lower CO2 emissions: Decreased carbon footprint with enhanced rail capacity Sustainable Rail Transport: Aligned with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for green, efficient logistics QUOTE This initiative will lead to improved travel convenience, a reduction in logistics costs, lower crude oil imports, and a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions. It will boost sustainable and efficient railway transportation in the region. Devendra Fadnavis | Maharashtra CM
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Michael Hodges: The disappearing home and doomed fate of a Grand Teton bear
They called it paradise. The place to be. A mountain realm like no other. A place where the spectacular Teton range rises 6,000 feet above the valley floor, offering one of the most distinct and dramatic mountain fronts in the world. Below the striking peaks, the mighty Snake River meanders through a sagebrush valley dotted with aspen and pine. And it is here that I once met a great grizzly bear. She was known as Grizzly 399. I've been filming in Grand Teton National Park and the Northern Rockies for 20 years. A few years ago, I had the honor of filming 399 when she had her quadruplets. It was the first trip I'd made to Grand Teton to specifically see the great bear. And the last. Why the last? Because I saw what was happening. Could feel what was happening. I wanted to give the great bear space. I didn't want to be chasing her around the park, waiting in my car with heated leather seats, hoping she'd cross the road, all the while hemming her in. I knew what was happening. Full-size commercial jets were flying overhead, landing at an international airport that should never even be there. Dropping off passengers to a growing town that wasn't meant to be there. Driving to stores that should have never been built there. For 28 years, Grizzly 399's world shrunk all around her. Slowly, year by year, she had to make adjustments to the sprawl and greed of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. To the sprawl and greed of the human race. She did the best she could as we humans closed in. As we built more and more storage facilities and hotels and developed properties merely for vacation rentals, so we could stuff more cash in our pockets, ultimately sacrificing in the process one of the most beautiful places the world has ever known. She raised her cubs in all this for decades. Navigated through it all, a steady ship in a stormy sea. Each wave just a little taller than the last. And yet the people came. More full-size commercial airliners roaring into an international airport. Dropping off people who wanted to 'own a piece of the Tetons.' But when you buy or develop a house next to a national park, you don't capture a piece of that park. You ruin it. Megan Ross: Changes to the Endangered Species Act clear a path for species to go extinctWhat had once been a wild valley slowly turned into the suburbs, and Grizzly 399 handled it all with aplomb. She didn't have to. But she did. More and more photographers swarmed to the Tetons to see her every year. More and more 'investment properties' went up, causing more people to drive the roadways. More stores were built. More drones flew overhead. More airplanes roared in the sky. Each year, her world shrunk. And this past fall, it finally closed in on her. That poor driver didn't kill the great Grizzly 399. We did. You see, Grizzly 399 was not just a bear. She was a symbol of a truly wild animal trying to hang on in a changing world, a world that is all about 'me, me, I, I' and very little of 'Why?' or 'What can I do to help?' This is a world where if the stores start to fade or look a little old, we build the stores 2 miles down the road. And 10 years later, we do it again. And again. Until that's all there is. It never stops. Our need to consume, to stuff our pockets. To turn prairie meadows into self-storage facilities. To pave over everything that is true and wild. To pave over what is real. Grizzly 399 deserved better. The single best way you and I can honor her amazing legacy is to look at what happened to Grand Teton. And not repeat it elsewhere. We can honor her legacy by protecting our national parks by not bringing sprawl to their doorsteps. We can honor her legacy by pulling back on our obsessive need to develop everything and finally showing some tact and humility — . You see, Grizzly 399 was so much more than a bear. She is a lesson. And she is teaching us all, still. Always had been teaching us. Because that's just what a great mother does.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- New Straits Times
'Datuk' civil servant charged with misappropriating RM200k
SHAH ALAM: A civil servant holding a "Datuk" title has been charged at the Sessions Court with the misappropriation of RM200,000. The accused, Datuk Azlan Johar, 54, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him before judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud. According to the charge, Azlan is accused of dishonestly misappropriating part of an allocation from the Felda Madani Empowerment Programme 2024, amounting to RM200,000, by handing it over to his 57-year-old elder brother for personal use. He allegedly committed the offence inside a Proton X70 that was parked by the roadside in Section 9, Bandar Baru Bangi, on the morning of Sept 7, 2024. Azlan is currently assigned to the Public Service Department. In a separate case in the same court, the managing director of a travel company was charged with misappropriating RM128,399 belonging to the company. The accused, Mohamad Anas Mohamad Naem, 33, pleaded not guilty before Judge Awang Kerisnada. He was accused of committing the offence at a bank branch in Denai Alam between Nov 16, 2023, and Sept 6, 2024. Both Azlan and Anas were charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code for the dishonest misappropriation of property. The offence carries a punishment of up to five years' imprisonment, whipping, and a fine. Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin proposed that each accused be granted bail of between RM20,000 and RM30,000, with one surety each. He also proposed additional conditions, including that both accused surrender their passports to the court and refrain from contacting any prosecution witnesses. Lawyer Zainal Omar represented Azlan, while lawyer Muhammad Kausar Mohd Khairi represented Mohamad Anas. Both requested reduced bail amounts. The court then set bail at RM25,000 for each accused, with one surety, and allowed the additional conditions proposed by the prosecution. The case involving Mohamad Anas was fixed for mention on June 25, while Azlan's case will be mentioned on July 23.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Grizzly — son of famed ‘Queen of the Tetons' — found dead along MT park highway
National Grizzly — son of famed 'Queen of the Tetons' — found dead along MT park highway A son of a beloved grizzly bear known as 'Queen of the Tetons' was hit and killed by a car along the same highway where famed mother was hit and killed in October, officials said. National Park Service One of the sons of a beloved mother grizzly bear known as 'Queen of the Tetons' was hit and killed by a car, just seven months after his famous mama bear was killed in the same way near Yellowstone, officials said. Grand Teton National Park rangers found the bear's body on May 6 along Highway 26 in the park east of the Buffalo Fork River, officials said in a news release. Law enforcement and wildlife rangers coordinated an investigation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and determined the bear was hit by a car and 'made it to a patch of willows about 125 yards from the road,' where it died, officials said. The bear may have been dead for several days before being discovered. Wildlife rangers identified the bear as GB1058, one of the four cubs from GB399 — better known as 'Queen of the Tetons' — in May 2020. He had been spotted occasionally in the park since he was weaned in 2022, but there hadn't been any confirmed sightings of him this spring, officials said. The now 5-year-old bear was 'in good condition for his age and the time of year,' and officials put his body 'back onto the landscape' in the park. Grizzly bear 399 was hit and killed by a car on Highway 26/89 in Snake River Canyon south of Jackson, Wyoming, in October, McClatchy News previously reported. The 28-year-old mother grizzly was the oldest known reproducing grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Both grizzly bears 399 and her son 1058 were featured in a PBS documentary that premiered in May 2024 where she was crowned 'Queen of the Tetons.' The documentary followed her as she raised her four cubs and discussed 'human encroachment in bear country' as one of the threats to their survival, McClatchy News reported. 'Bears, elk, deer, moose, foxes and other wildlife are often near park roadways, difficult to see, and can cross the road unexpectedly,' officials said. 'Drivers are reminded to: Obey the posted speed limit and maintain a safe following distance from other vehicles. Use caution and slow down, especially at dawn, dusk and at night when visibility is reduced. Follow the nighttime speed limit of 45 miles per hour on U.S. Highway 26/89/191. The reduced speed limit gives drivers and wildlife more time to react. Pay attention to your surroundings. Speeding is not the only cause of wildlife collisions; park wildlife are often hit because drivers are distracted. Call Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 307-739-3301 to report wildlife-vehicle collisions, or harassment of wildlife in the park.' Brooke Baitinger McClatchy DC Go to X Email this person Brooke (she/them) is a McClatchy Real-Time reporter who covers LGBTQ+ entertainment news and national parks out west. They studied journalism at the University of Florida, and previously covered LGBTQ+ news for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. When they're not writing stories, they enjoy hanging out with their cats, riding horses or spending time outdoors.
