Latest news with #FrancisScottKeyBridge
Washington Post
24-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Maryland could see an onslaught of lawsuits over Key Bridge failures
The state of Maryland could be facing an onslaught of wrongful death and negligence lawsuits related to its upkeep of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was destroyed last year when a massive cargo ship lost power and crashed into a critical support pillar, killing six people. Though no civil litigation against the state has commenced yet, more than 20 people and businesses have sent letters to Maryland State Treasurer Dereck Davis saying they intend to sue the state for its failures to keep the Baltimore bridge's roadway — and the people using it — safe from tragedy. Attorneys representing those alleged victims have estimated the total payout amount could exceed billions of dollars.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Oyster restoration efforts ramp up near Key Bridge collapse site to improve water quality
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has resumed oyster restoration efforts near the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse for the first time in nearly a year. More than 31,000 oysters were planted on Wednesday at Fort Carroll, a sanctuary reef a short swimming distance from where the bridge collapsed in March 2024. WJZ joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation on the Patapsco River to help plant the oysters. Kellie Fiala, the Maryland Oyster Restoration Coordinator with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, says oysters are a natural filter feeder that filters up to 50 gallons of water each day, which clears the way for better water quality and more wildlife. "It's critical," Fiala said. "Oysters used to be a critical part of the economy here, the environment here, and so what we're really trying to do is reconnect people to the water in a healthy and positive way, but also improve the water quality here." Oysters thriving despite Key Bridge collapse WJZ joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for an oyster restoration effort in March 2024, the day before the Key Bridge collapsed. Fiala said the collapse sparked fear that the debris would stir up sediment and smother the oysters. But, fortunately, underwater surveying shows the oysters are alive and thriving. More than 500,000 oysters to be planted this summer The Chesapeake Bay Foundation expects to plant about 500,000 oysters in the waters this summer. The oysters being planted at Fort Carroll this summer have been growing throughout marinas in the Harbor, tended to by volunteers. This process of "oyster gardening" helps oysters survive their first year of life, when they're most vulnerable. "We want them to improve water quality, provide habitat, and ecosystem services in Baltimore for the people here," Fiala said. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation said more than six million oysters have been planted in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. According to the Department of Natural Resources, Maryland's oyster population has more than tripled in the past 20 years. Oysters are crucial for Maryland's economy Oysters are important for the Chesapeake Bay's ecosystem, as well as Maryland's economy. Maryland's seafood industry accounts for about $600 million annually to the state's economy. Within the last three years, Maryland has collected a record number of oysters. Oysters also help improve the Chesapeake Bay's water quality, with adult oysters filtering up to 50 gallons each day, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that water clarity improvements to the bay could drive up property values in Maryland.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Wild conspiracy theory links Mountain Dew to 9/11 and other disasters - and the ominous event coming next
A wild conspiracy theory has emerged from the depths of the internet, claiming that new Mountain Dew flavors have foretold deadly disasters across the US. The unusual claim comes from content creator Maverick Bailey, known for his unconventional takes, who believes major events have strangely coincided with the launch of certain Mountain Dew flavors. 'It seems like every time they make a big push with a new flavor, it correlates with a certain event,' Bailey said during a recent interview. He pointed out that Star Spangled Splash was released in 2024, shortly before the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge —its patriotic name eerily echoing the national symbolism of the event. Similarly, hit shelves just three months before 9/11, with theorists drawing a connection between the flavor's name and the emergency alert status that followed the attacks. Bailey also connected other flavors to the Maui wildfires and t he global CrowdStrike blackout that crippled millions of Windows devices last year. Now, he's sounding the alarm over Mountain Dew's upcoming flavor, Baja Midnight, set to launch this summer. 'This new flavor could be referring to the Witching Hour, which is at 12:00,' Bailey shared in an Instagram video. 'My guess is that we are going to see something very weird, on a paranormal level, or something that is going to make us question everything.' He added that it could even signal a devastating cyber blackout. Mountain Dew commented on Bailey's Instagram video discussing the wild theory, saying: 'Keep your voice down.' While Mountain Dew made a joke about the theory, there is no evidence to support any of Bailey's claims Bailey shared his latest update on The Maverick Files, where he outlined connections he's drawn between Mountain Dew flavors and major disasters. He pointed to Code Red that launched in May 2001, just months before the 9/11 attacks—an event widely referred to as a 'Code Red' emergency. In 2019, Mountain Dew introduced Maui Burst, a pineapple-flavored soda. Bailey claims it foreshadowed the 2023 wildfires that devastated Maui. While the devastating event happened in 2023, years after the flavor hit shelves, Bailey and other conspiracy theorists are sure there is a link. A Facebook user shared an image showing a can of Maui Blast with the caption: 'No such thing as coincidence. He pointed to Code Red that launched in May 2001, just months before the 9/11 attacks—an event widely referred to as a 'Code Red' emergency 'It's not predictive programming. It's the script—they know it, write it, and implement it.' On August 8, 2023, high winds and dry weather caused wildfires to develop in Lāhainā, Upper Kula, Upper Makawao and Olinda on the island of Maui. These wildfires affected approximately 1,550 parcels and 2,200 structures and were one of the deadliest US wildfires in at least the past 100 years. At least 201 people were confirmed dead as a result. Bailey also linked the 2024 flavor Star Spangled Splash to the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, noting that Key wrote the 'Star-Spangled Banner.' The patriotic theme, he suggests, is no accident. On March 26, the ship suffered a power outage and crashed into one of the Key Bridge's support columns, causing the entire bridge to come down and killing six construction workers. Mountain Dew reintroduced its Pitch Black in 2023 for a limited-time and made it exclusive in October 2024. Bailey believes the flavor foretold the July 2024 CrowdStrike outage that caused widespread IT disruptions. He pointed out that Pitch Black, with its ominous name and dark branding, coincided eerily with what he called the 'biggest IT blackout of all time.' The CrowdStrike blackout affected more than eight million devices around the globe, shutting down airlines, airports, public transit, healthcare and financial services. Bailey's theory was discussed on the Sunday Cool podcast this month, which focuses on comedy and conspiracy theories. The hosts, Josh Hooper and and Andy DeNoon, also highlighted that Mountain Dew is owned by Pepsi that worked with the CIA in the 1970s. Worried that President Salvador Allende's socialist agenda could jeopardize PepsiCo's operations in Chile, then-chairman Donald Kendall contacted President Nixon directly. Following Kendall's requests, the CIA organized a plot to overthrow Allende, including providing arms to the Chilean opposition. 'Does the CIA work with Pepsi?' Hooper asked during the podcast. DeNoon replied: 'I think it is confirmed at this point.' .
