Latest news with #PaulFlynn
RTÉ News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Kevin McStay will be worried by Mayo's lack of energy
Paul Flynn believes that Mayo manager Kevin McStay will be most concerned by the lack of energy and his side's disappointed work-rate during their surprise defeat to Cavan at home. Cavan produced a stunning second-half display in MacHale Park to blow their All-Ireland series group wide open when they claimed a fully deserved 1-17 to 1-14 victory over Mayo. In truth, the scoreline was generous to Mayo, who were able to put a gloss on the game that their performance didn't deserve with an Aidan O'Shea goal deep into injury-time and a couple of late points. Cavan played to their strengths and were cruising to a comfortable win when they led by eight points after 70 minutes, while Mayo looked a shadow of the side that topped Division 1 in this year's league campaign. Speaking on The Sunday Game, Flynn claimed that the listless display will be a serious headache for McStay. " Cavan were by a distance the better team and the thing that will bemuse the Mayo fans and Kevin McStay's management team the most is just that lack of energy," he said. " Whenever about anything else, they would have to ask, 'What did we really do really well against Galway?' And it was: 'We outworked them, we stripped them, we didn't give them any time on the ball'. "That's just a basic fundamental that you'd expect from your team every time, and they didn't get it today. "Cavan outworked Mayo and that was the foundation for Cavan's win, that alongside the fact that their forward unit just wasn't clicking, the scores were coming from midfield. "Niall Carolan did a fantastic job on Ryan O'Donoghue and didn't allow him to have an impact from play. "So all the credit is to go to Cavan for this. But when Mayo do look at themselves, they'll be really disappointed with their work rate and the turnovers that they didn't get." Dessie Dolan was slightly more charitable to the Green and Red and claimed that the reason they looked so poor was because Cavan controlled the tempo and pace of the game at all stages. "Mayo didn't get rhythm because they weren't let get rhythm," he said. "I think Cavan, throughout the game deserved to win. "They were very competitive, they were brave on the breaks and defensively, they were well set. They were very organized throughout and then they got some great scores with some great leaders. "Is it a surprise that Cavan put in that performance? Yes, it is. Going down to Castlebar I don't think people gave them a chance. "People probably felt it should have been routine for Mayo, but Cavan were fully deserving of their win and it was an excellent performance from Ray Galligan's men."
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Overwhelming support from Maine lawmakers to require insurance coverage for PFAS blood tests
Though almost everyone in the U.S. likely has some level of PFAS in their blood, testing can show the specific level a person has. (Photo by TEK IMAGE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY via Getty Images) Both chambers of the Maine Legislature have thrown overwhelming support behind legislation that would require insurance carriers in Maine to cover medically necessary blood tests for so-called forever chemicals. The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed LD 582, which would require health insurance carriers to cover blood tests for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, when they are deemed medically necessary. The House of Representatives then voted 115-26 in support of its passage Wednesday with backing from all Democrats and many Republicans. The bill will go back to each chamber for enactment votes before it can be sent to Gov. Janet Mills for final approval. Because the bill will require some funding, it also needs to be included in the upcoming budget. Thirty years ago, Rep. Paul Flynn (R-Albion) received a letter that the dairy farm next to his home would be spreading sludge on its land. At the time, he was told there was nothing to worry about. But like many Maine residents, he now lives in an area surrounded by PFAS, which are also known as forever chemicals because of their durability. 'This is something that has snuck up on us,' Flynn said on the House floor Wednesday. 'It is in front of us, and it is very, very real.' The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has identified more than 1,000 sites throughout the state that could be affected by former sludge application. The state has a robust response program that currently provides technical and financial assistance to more than 80 farms with varying levels of contamination. That work will continue thanks to legislation passed earlier this year enshrining the program into law. But contamination isn't just contained to the land. It can get into waterways, drinking wells and ultimately, people's bloodstreams. Exposure to the chemicals has been linked to health concerns including cancer, liver damage, pregnancy complications, increased cholesterol levels and more. Workplace exposure is high for firefighters, chemical manufacturers and ski wax technicians while communities exposed to spills of PFAS-laden products, like the one in Brunswick last summer, also face risk. The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday it is changing the standards for certain types of PFAS in drinking water that were finalized under the Biden administration and could have lowered exposure for millions of Americans. While the federal agency is weakening the limit for some of the forever chemicals, it is maintaining others but delaying the deadline to meet the standards. Rep. Shelley Rudnicki (R-Fairfield) said she has had her blood tested three times since her community received notification of high PFAS levels. The tests showed high levels of the forever chemicals in her body. However, she said she couldn't support LD 582 because she doesn't believe in mandates. 'I'm not a fan, obviously, of the PFAS, but I'm also not a fan of the mandates, so I will be voting against this,' Rudnicki said on the House floor. She also raised concerns that the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee suggested the state use money from the PFAS Fund to help defray costs. Mills created the fund in 2022 to help address contaminated farmland and the Legislature appropriated $60 million for that use. The committee also amended the bill to prohibit insurance carriers from imposing any cost-sharing to cover the blood tests, and pushed back the start date to apply to health plans issued or renewed after Jan. 1, 2027. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
RTÉ News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Flynn: Louth trajectory must deliver glory in Leinster football final
And so for the first time in 15 years the Leinster football final will not feature Dublin. Meath and Louth will contest this year's decider on 11 May and it was the same two counties that featured in 2010, a game where Joe Sheridan's controversial goal gave the Royals a narrow victory. Now under the stewardship of Robbie Brennan, Meath caused a surprise when getting the better of Dessie Farrell's men in Sunday's provincial semi-final in Portlaoise. And while not wanting to gloat after the Dubs' defeat, Enda McGinley, speaking on The Sunday Game, said: "Dublin will be disappointed with the result tonight but everybody else in the country will be delighted and that's a Tyrone man saying they're delighted with the Meath win." It's not just Meath fans celebrating after the Royals dethroned Dublin in spectacular fashion in the Leinster SFC, according to Enda McGinley 📺 Watch on @rte2 and @rteplayer — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 27, 2025 The Tyrone All-Ireland winner, no doubt echoing the views of many, feels that Dublin are not the force they once were. That said, he gave credit to Meath for they way they closed out the game at Laois Hire O'Moore Park. "Meath were fantastic but Dublin are not the team they were," he remarked. "They obviously lost key men over the winter and their performances have been hit and miss, crucially they have been a hit in Croke Park this year but a miss outside of Croke Park. "I think that fed into Meath believing in themselves this year. We've been used to teams giving Dublin a good fight, maybe in a winning position, and then Dublin grinding it down and seeing it out. There was an air of inevitability and that game felt like that today. Up in the room where we were watching it we were saying 'this isn't the normal Dublin team' and sure enough Meath got the critical scores at the end." Louth and Meath will head into the Leinster SFC final full of belief that they can be crowned provincial champions, but it's the Wee County that Paul Flynn fancies at Croke Park 📺 Watch on @rte2 and @rteplayer — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 27, 2025 Fellow analyst Paul Flynn is now looking forward to the provincial showdown in a fortnight's time and fancies Louth, this after the Wee County saw off Kildare in Sunday's other semi-final. "Meath will probably go in as favourites after toppling the Dubs but if you were to ask me I think Louth will be the fancied team, " he said. "Louth got over the hoodoo when beating Meath in the group stage of the championship in Inniskeen last year. "They have leaders who stepped up today and Craig Lennon got two goals in that game last year. It's so exciting and it's about who can manage the occasion the best. For Louth it's their third Leinster final in a row which is really impressive. It shows their consistency at provincial level and where their trajectory is at. But now there are no more moral victories, they have to go and win it. That's what will be on their minds and they have to manage that occasion."
South Wales Argus
25-04-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Ruth Jones MP on representing Newport West and Islwyn
It was also the sixth anniversary of another day I will never forget – my first election to Parliament on April 4, 2019. Every day, I am grateful for the opportunity to represent the communities that made me who I am – growing up in the Gaer, going to Duffryn High School (now The John Frost School) and raising my family in Allt-yr-yn. Last year, the two historic constituencies of Newport West and Islwyn came together and the legacy of Labour legends like Neil Kinnock and Paul Flynn. We spoke to thousands of residents during the election, from Blackwood to Marshfield and everywhere in-between. If we didn't speak to you on the doorstep, hopefully you received a leaflet or saw our work on the campaign trail online. The election did not just deliver a new, UK Labour government, the first in 14 years. It also produced the most female House of Commons in history. It is another source of pride for me to be one of 263 women MPs in this Parliament, and the first ever woman MP to represent the people of Islwyn. I promised during the campaign I would find a new base in the constituency and on April 4, we officially opened our Newbridge office. We have rooms dedicated to the Chartists and women in politics, including a replica Chartist mural and old-school political posters from the 19th and 20th centuries. I would like to give special thanks to Newport councillor Dave Mayer for turning our Chartist idea into a reality. It was the star attraction of our office opening party and guests found it both beautiful and fascinating in equal measure. I would also like to thank Don Touhig and Sam Flynn for cutting the red ribbon beside me. You are the best of our movement and exemplary representatives of Newport West and Islwyn. I would like to thank my friends and colleagues for joining me on this memorable occasion and, last but not least, the people of Newbridge for a wonderfully warm welcome. We are very happy to be here and I promise to fight your corner not just in our constituency office in Victoria Terrace but in Westminster too. The fact an ordinary girl like me, from Duffryn High School, can represent you in the House of Commons is something I will never take for granted. I am grateful to everyone who put their faith in me last summer as your voice for change in this decade of national renewal. The work has just begun. Ruth Jones is MP for Newport West and Islwyn
USA Today
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The blobfish, 'bullied his whole life,' named fish of the year in public vote
The blobfish, 'bullied his whole life,' named fish of the year in public vote "It's time for the blobfish to have his moment in the sun." Show Caption Hide Caption Small ocean creature hatches in woman's hand A couple walking along a St. Pete Beach in Florida came across an unusual egg, a clearnose skate fish hatched and swam off. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, especially in New Zealand. A New Zealand-based environmental nonprofit, the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, announced over the weekend its annual "Fish of the Year" winner, which was none other than the blobfish. "The blobfish had been sitting patiently on the ocean floor, mouth open waiting for the next mollusk to come through to eat. He has been bullied his whole life and we thought, 'Stuff this, it's time for the blobfish to have his moment in the sun,' and what a glorious moment it is," radio show More FM hosts Sarah Gandy and Paul Flynn said in a news release. More than 5,500 New Zealanders participated in the "Fish of the Year" competition, up from 1,021 in 2024, the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust reported. What is a blobfish? The flathead sculpin, commonly known as the blobfish, gained widespread popularity after it was named the world's ugliest animal during the 2013 British Science Festival. The blobfish is recognizable for its pink blob-like body, droopy, downturned mouth and large, saggy nose. Over the past decade, the fish has been made into countless memes, appeared in different forms of media and of course, sold as squishy plush toys. But the blobfish isn't all the "blobby" in it's natural habitat. In the cold, dark depths of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans − between 1,970 to 3,940 feet deep − the blobfish looks quite different, more like a "normal" fish, in fact. Scientist Richard Arnott told National Geographic that the fish only looks so gooey because of rapid depressurization when its brought to the surface. At the depths the blobfish resides, the pressure can be a hundred times stronger than on land, according to National Geographic. At around 3,280 feet down, human lungs and other air-filled spaces would collapse. To survive under this pressure − literally − the blobfish's body has a high water and fat content. Jelly-like flesh makes the blobfish less dense than water, allowing it to easily move around, according to National Geographic. Blobfish are known as lie-in-wait predators, meaning they lay on the seabed, waiting for anything that passed by to eat up. This allows them to preserve energy. As for reproduction, blobfish reproduce in groups, laying about 100,000 eggs in each nest, National Geographic states. Blobfish parents stay close to their nests as their eggs develop. Are blobfish endangered? Blobfish are not listed as an endangered species, but human activity has caused an increased amount of danger to the fish's livelihood. Deep-sea fishing and bottom trawling, when a weighted fishnet is dragged across the sea floor, are considered some of the blobfish's key predators. What is the Fish of the Year contest? Started in 2021, the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust's Fish of the Year competition serves as an educational opportunity for New Zealanders to learn more about marine life who may be endangered or live in a fragile ecosystem, the trust's website states. In 2021 and 2022, the Eagle Ray took home first place. In 2023, the Oceanic Manta Ray won and last year, the Spotty took home the crown. Who were the Fish of the Year runner-ups? According to the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, the top nine fish, following the blobfish were: No. 2: Orange roughy No. 3: Longfin eel and tuna No. 4: Whale shark No. 5: Big-bellied seahorse and manaia No. 6: Great white shark and mangō taniwha No. 7: Lamprey and piharau No. 8: Spine-tailed devil ray and whai Rahi No. 9: Basking shark and reremai No. 10: Blue cod and rāwaru Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
