Latest news with #Nigro
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Abilene Zoo at forefront of preserving endangered secretary birds
ABILENE, Texas () – Pam and Jagger are the resident secretary birds at the Abilene Zoo, and Zoo Animal Care Supervisor Philip Nigro considers them an important pair. The population of this species has been declining in recent years, and the Abilene Zoo is the only institution accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that has a breeding pair. This month, they welcomed their fourth chick, which is the first secretary bird chick to be successfully bred in the United States this year. 'We just love to see things like this, to help an animal that not very many people probably know needs a lot of help because it's very endangered,' said Nigro. Abilene Zoo celebrates new bison calf & secretary bird chick Secretary birds are native to Africa, where they can most commonly be found hunting in tall grass. Their preferred diet helps to control pest populations such as insects, rodents, and snakes. Pam and Jagger hatched their first two chicks just three years ago, and those chicks were transferred to the Phoenix Zoo. Their third was born in 2024 and currently resides at the Abilene Zoo, where it was raised as a species ambassador. 'So he actually is more trained to go into classrooms or with children or more big groups of people and they can see them up close,' Nigro most recent chick is still too young to tell what its sex is and has not yet been named. Nigro says the baby chick was born about the size of a tennis ball and is now about the size of an American football at just under a month old. Once it has fully matured, Nigro says the chick will likely be transferred to another zoo. The repeated success of Abilene's secretary birds in breeding, Nigro says, is a positive trend for the species as a whole. Abilene Zoo welcomes birth of rare secretary chick 'This is a very big victory for the species. It's a big victory for Zoos, and at Abilene, we're here just trying to find out how we can better preserve these great birds,' said Nigro. There will soon be even more opportunities for the public to see the happy family, as the Abilene Zoo will begin holding earlier hours on Monday, June 2nd, for 'Roaring Mornings,' during which the zoo will be in operation from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
29-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Twins offense erupts against Guardians — and their bullpen catcher bulks up
CLEVELAND — In the minutes after Monday night's blowout victory, Twins players roared in delight and counted aloud, the number soaring beyond 50. The raucous celebration was loud enough to disrupt the postgame press conference of manager Rocco Baldelli, who addressed the media in the hall steps away from the clubhouse entrance. Advertisement 'I don't know what's going on in there, but I'm liking the sounds of it,' Baldelli said. 'It's almost like it sounds like someone's body surfing or something.' Nobody was surfing, nor were Twins players tallying up the copious amount of runs they produced in an 11-1 pounding of the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field for the team's fourth straight victory. Instead, Twins players cheered on the efforts of new bullpen catcher Frank Nigro, who does 10 pushups in the bullpen for every run his new team scores. After completing 110 pushups for the relief corps during the game, Nigro dropped down and gave the entire clubhouse 54 more after a victory that lends credence to the idea the Twins aren't done yet despite starting the season 7-15. Monday's win improved their record to 13-16 overall. Nigro's pushups are part of a bet he made with old teammates. A popular former Twins minor-leaguer who took over when former bullpen catcher Connor Olson retired last offseason, Nigro arrived at spring training 20 pounds lighter than when played for Double-A Wichita in 2023. His old friends bet him he couldn't gain 15 pounds of weight without a sharp increase in body fat percentage. 'At this rate, I think he's on his way,' reliever Brock Stewart said. Mostly dormant for the team's first 22 games, the Twins offense is keeping Nigro active the past week. In their past seven games, the Twins, who established a season high with 17 hits on Monday, are averaging six runs a game, scoring 11 twice, including Friday's victory over the Los Angeles Angels. All this from a team that averaged 3.4 runs a game during their abysmal start. 'We're on a pretty good roll,' said second baseman Edouard Julien, who jump-started the Twins by belting the first pitch of the game for a solo home run to center. Advertisement Julien's homer off Gavin Williams signaled the start of a long evening for Cleveland, which needed six pitchers, including position player Will Wilson. After Julien homered, singles by Carlos Correa and Ty France and an RBI double by Ryan Jeffers provided a glimpse of what was to come. Williams, who owned a 2.12 ERA in four career starts against the Twins, struggled to throw strikes against a patient Twins bunch. Newcomer Jonah Bride, who went 3-for-5 with an RBI, singled with one out in the second inning ahead of walks by Harrison Bader and Julien, which loaded the bases. Byron Buxton made it count with a two-run single to extend the lead to 4-0. The long second inning was the last for Williams, who allowed four earned runs and seven hits. Three innings later, the Twins began to pile on. Bride and Bader each produced two-out RBI singles to make it a six-run game in the fifth. Designated for assignment by Miami earlier this month after a 4-for-40 start and acquired for cash on April 16, Bride is faring well with the Twins after adjusting his swing. He also singled in a third-inning at-bat and lined out in the ninth, marking a 7-for-14 start since joining the Twins. France extended the lead to 8-1 in the sixth inning with a two-run double to center and scored on a two-out RBI single by Mickey Gasper, who also had two hits. Jeffers extended the lead to 11-1 in the eighth inning with a two-run homer off Wilson, who pitched the final two innings for the Guardians. All nine Twins starters finished with at least a hit, as did the team's most recent acquisition, Kody Clemens, who doubled ahead of Jeffers' homer as a pinch hitter. The outpouring was plenty more than pitcher Bailey Ober needed. Outstanding and efficient, Ober limited the Guardians to one run over 7 2/3 innings even though the long offensive innings required him to throw in the batting cage several times to stay sharp. The blowout victory also ensured a long night for Nigro, one which had teammates howling and cheering, and one they'd like to replicate soon. Advertisement 'Every time we score a run I do 10,' Nigro said. 'I did 110 during the game. … When I played, I was heavier. I came into spring very skinny. They don't think I can gain 15 pounds of muscle.' At their current rate, he's got a shot. Stewart said the bullpen's newest addition fits in well for a multitude of reasons. Having worked with several of the team's pitchers in the minors, Nigro is familiar. He also has an easygoing personality and is a hard worker, which makes him seem like a natural fit. After recommending Nigro to the coaching staff, Stewart wasn't surprised to learn the name was suggested several times over after Olson announced his retirement. 'It was a slam dunk,' Stewart said. 'We knew he was going to be a morale guy and a guy for the culture. It's been great so far. He keeps us loose out there.' Kody Clemens hits a double in his first at-bat with the Minnesota Twins! — Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) April 29, 2025 At least for now, Luke Keaschall won't need surgery as the non-displaced fracture in his right forearm heals. But even after an additional medical opinion revealed Keaschall could simply be allowed to heal, the Twins won't reevaluate their talented young infielder for at least a month, trainer Nick Paparesta said. 'It's probably going to be a couple months before he's back into playing games,' Paparesta said. Matt Wallner is healing well ahead of Keaschall, but he only began to play catch on Saturday, has yet to swing a bat and finally jogged on a treadmill on Monday. Paparesta said Wallner, who suffered a Grade 3 left hamstring strain on April 15, would be reevaluated when the team returns home next week. The Twins are much more bullish on Willi Castro and Royce Lewis, who are both closing in on returning to the lineup. Out with a right oblique strain, Castro continues to perform most baseball activities, including hitting from the right side. Castro will hit from the left side on Tuesday, which should give the Twins a better idea of whether he could return in time for the Red Sox series starting on Friday. Advertisement Lewis will play 10 innings as the team's designated hitter during a doubleheader for Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, with a full game at third base slated for Wednesday. Though he'd potentially be an option for games in Boston starting Friday, it's likelier Lewis will play several more games over the weekend and return when the Twins open a homestand on May 6. 'We want to try to do whatever we can to try to mitigate it occurring again within that same calendar year, within that same season,' Paparesta said. 'To do that, you have to stress the tissues, you have to get his workload capacity, and you have to get his innings capacity up, similar to what we were doing in spring training with a lot of these guys.' Also down with a hamstring strain, Austin Martin is in the middle of his running progression at St. Paul and is potentially a week away from playing in games. Martin has yet to run the bases. Michael Tonkin (right shoulder strain) is scheduled for a pair of multi-inning performances for St. Paul. Five days after he cleared waivers and became a free agent, Matt Canterino is back with the Twins. Canterino, who had shoulder surgery on March 16 and is out for at least the remainder of the season, signed a two-year minor-league deal with the Twins. Uber-talented and frequently injured, Canterino has a 1.48 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 85 career minor-league innings. He hasn't pitched in a game since July 30, 2022. (Top photo of Ty France after hitting a double that scored two runs: Jason Miller / Getty Images)
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists sound alarm about phenomenon observed in trees across the Western US: 'A lot of value to humans'
Trees play a major role in your life, from your morning walks to shading your house from the sun. Unfortunately, warming temperatures, wildfires, insects, and disease are wiping trees out faster than they can regenerate. According to a new study by Colorado State University published in Nature Climate Change, tree populations are declining because of these disturbances and are not regenerating fast enough in cooler climates. The study examined 25,000 plots in the Western United States, not including coastal states. It also reviewed 30 years of disturbance data. And while trees were not expected to regenerate in the hottest areas, researchers didn't expect 15 species not to gain ground in cooler regions. The shrinking ranges were similar in undisturbed areas as they were in areas disturbed by wildfires, insects, and disease. Tree migration — the plants' gradual moving of territories away from environmental stressors — encounters obstacles, which include seed elimination from wildfires, insects, and disease. Cooler climates tend to be at higher elevations, and gravity makes it difficult for seeds to migrate uphill. The paper suggested humans should assist the trees with migration because warming temperatures will likely outpace regeneration. Katie Nigro, the lead author, said more local studies are needed to determine which species can survive in each location. "Trees provide a lot of value to humans in terms of clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat and recreation," Nigro said. Trees can even improve the value of your home. According to Money, "Numerous studies show that homes with trees have anywhere from 3.5% to 15% more value than those without." Additionally, trees can reduce your electric bill by $10, even by providing just 17% shade, per Trees for Energy Conservation. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The Nature Conservancy said trees also generate biodiversity. As Nigro noted, they offer habitat for wildlife, and that diversity is essential for humans. The Royal Society said that biodiversity is vital for the air humans breathe and the food they eat. For instance, pollinators help produce approximately one-third of the food humans eat. Reforestation projects are vital for this cause, and major conservation efforts are under way. For example, a Minnesota forest restoration project restored a lost area to full glory. Organizations working on these causes cannot do it alone, so donating to them can help them implement their work. There is hope for the future, but people may have to accept change. "Our future forests might look different and contain different trees than they do today," Nigro said. 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
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Local Special Olympics athletes surprised with news of joining Team Pennsylvania
After months of practice and preparation, two local athletes find out they're going to a national competition next year. Not everyone can call themselves an Olympian, but Thursday night two local women reached that athletic status. Weather, more delays pushes back opening of new Edison Elementary Hard work has gotten Reshema Sedziak and Mary Nigro several gold medals and first-place ribbons, but now that hard work is taking them even further. Thursday night the two women were surprised with the news that they will be representing Team Pennsylvania at the 2026 Special Olympics in Minnesota, starting a new journey for the athletes. 'It feels really good to be selected and I'm proud of myself, all my accomplishments,' Sedziak said. I got so excited and I'm like, 'Yay, I get to go to Minnesota,' because I've always wanted to be there and see what it's like,' Nigro said. Erie Co. Sheriff Chris Campanelli seeking re-election Sedziak is an Erie County resident and will be competing in golf at the Special Olympics and Nigro is from Mercer County and will be competing in bowling. The women will join 3,000 other athletes around the nation at the games in June 2026. Now those two athletes will be hopping on a plane to Minnesota for the 2026 Special Olympics, and when they heard the news here on Thursday, emotions were running high. 'It feels really good to know that I'm able to do this, and that I can bowl a good score,' Nigro said. 'I was nervous, I thought they were going to announce my husband's name, but they announced my name. I'm like, 'What?'' Sedziak recalled. Team Pennsylvania's golf coach met his newest player for the first time at the event at 5 Iron Golf. He said he's ready to get to work with Sedziak. 'Actually, one of the first things she said to me is that she's never flown before, and I used to be terrified of flying, so I was trying to tell her a little about that, but I'm really looking forward to practicing,' Marc McCarey, Team Pennsylvania's golf coach, went on to say. Steelers selected to play 2025 home game in Ireland McCarey and Sedziak wasted no time practicing for the big competition, hitting the golf simulator shortly after the announcement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
