Costa Mesa is calling ‘citizen scientists’ to join in City Nature Challenge bioblitz

Science and Health

Costa Mesa is encouraging residents to explore their own backyards, neighborhoods and city parks in search of wild animals and plant species they can help catalog, using a smartphone app, in a City Nature Challenge “bioblitz.”Coinciding with Costa Mesa’s annual Earth Day celebration — which takes place at City Hall on April 26 — the four-day challenge asks participants to download the iNaturalist app and then, from April 25 through 28, observe and report what they find through photos and notes.Those unfamiliar with iNaturalist and how it works are invited to attend a workshop at the city’s Fairview Park on April 19, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., where they can make observations and help with the restoration of a coastal sage scrub site.Started as a casual competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2016, the now-global City Nature Challenge is a friendly contest to see whose citizens can document the greatest number of wild species within a defined time period.The event not only inspires people to get out in nature, but provides a living picture, in real time, of Costa Mesa’s natural biodiversity. It also tracks wildlife and plant species residing in places that scientists and researchers may not be able to access, said City Councilwoman Arlis Reynolds, who plans to participate in this year’s challenge.“It has literally been the source of the discovery of new species, or finding species that science thought were extinct, or lived in places we didn’t think they lived in — and that’s all coming from regular people,” Reynolds said Thursday.Of the more than 2.1 million animal species living on the planet, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, more than 500,352 have been recorded by “citizen scientists” through the iNaturalist app, the nonprofit network reports on its website.In Costa Mesa alone, 9,623 observations have been recorded of 1,264 different plant and animal species. For this year’s challenge, Costa Mesa sightings can be cataloged in iNaturalist under Orange County, where citizens have already signed up and are letting other cities join in the fun. An exotic Mandarin duck was one of nine spotted at Costa Mesa’s TeWinkle Park in 2021. Officials are asking residents to join in a City Nature Challenge April 25-28, in which they document plant and animal sightings. (File Photo) Fairview Park administrator Kelly Dalton said the smartphone app is an easy and accessible way for people to engage in citizen science and learn about their natural surroundings.“We use it when we’re out in the field to document plant species observed along the trails or when we’re determining if [a plant] is native or non-native and needs to be removed,” he said. “It’s a great tool — at the snap of your finger, within a few seconds, you can take a photo and learn more about a species and where it comes from.”Reynolds said Costa Mesa is filled with treasures just waiting to be discovered.“Go find nature in your backyard,” she added. “You don’t have to go to Yellowstone or Yosemite. There’s so much around you on your street — look around you and notice.”Ahead of the City Nature Challenge, April 25-28, Costa Mesa’s Parks & Community Services Department will hold an iNaturalist workshop April 19, from 9 to 11:30 a.m., near the entrance of Fairview Park, 2525 Placentia Ave. The city’s annual Earth Day Festival takes place April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive. Admission is free. A coyote eats a rodent it on the fields of Costa Mesa’s Fairview Park in 2021. (File Photographer)

Fewer medical tourists are arriving in Baja California, industry representatives report

Travel

Health tourism is on the decline in Baja California thus far this year, with industry representatives saying the slump is partly due to economic tension between Mexico and the United States.In 2024, the northern border state received 3.5 million foreign visitors seeking medical or dental care. Local hotels often advertise travel packages and special rates for medical tourists who contributed roughly US $2 billion to Baja California’s economy, according to Fox News.
Tijuana is popular destination for U.S. and international medical tourists. (Barbara Zandoval/Unsplash)
Clinics in the state of Baja California, just south of the U.S. border, are popular with medical travelers from the U.S. and Canada. Medical centers in Baja that feature health services certified by the Joint Commission International and Mexican authorities can be found via the Medical Tourism Mexico website.
Medical Health Cluster, a health consultant firm based in Tijuana, reported a 20% to 40% drop in surgery patients arriving in Baja California through the first three months of the year.
“We have seen a certain decrease in the United States from last year,” Abraham Sánchez, president of the Medical Health Cluster, told Telemundo, adding that “the socio-political economic environment has hindered patients from coming.”
Sánchez also conceded that international competition has increased “as countries like Costa Rica, Turkey, Thailand … have very aggressive campaigns to promote services.”
Beyond the friction between the U.S. and Mexican governments, local health sector representatives said problems related to the rule of law have hurt the industry.
Ricardo Vega Montiel, president of the Baja Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery College cited violence in cities such as Tijuana and reports of unlicensed doctors and clinics throughout Baja California as deterrents.
Medical Health Cluster said requests for bariatric surgery — gastric bypass and other weight-loss procedures — have declined since the procedures are now covered by U.S. insurance policies.
According to Medical Tourism Magazine, Mexico can provide equal or even higher quality treatments to patients than what they might find at home, and at a significantly lower cost.
Plastic surgery and other elective procedures are significantly cheaper in Mexico than in the U.S., though problems with unlicensed practitioners deter some would-be medical tourists. (Freepik)
Medical tourists can save from 30% to 80% on procedures ranging from cardiac surgery to orthopedics to plastic surgery, Mauricio Reyes Morales Vázquez, the president of the Los Cabos Association of Medical Tourism, told El Sudcaliforniano newspaper. Los Cabos is located in the state of Baja California Sur.
For example, Reyes said cardiac catheterization can cost more than US $200,000 in the United States, whereas in Los Cabos it costs roughly US $50,000.
Top medical tourism procedures in Baja California include dental, plastic surgery, bariatric surgery and orthopedics. Ophthalmology, neurology and fertility treatments are also popular among health tourists.
With reports from Telemundo, El Sudcaliforniano and Fox News

ECERDC secures RM1.4b investments in Pahang in Q1 2025, creates 700 jobs, boosts eco-tourism and agriculture

Travel

KUANTAN, April 11 — The East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) continues to strengthen economic growth in Pahang by realising RM1.4 billion in investment in the first quarter of this year (1Q 2025).In a statement, ECERDC said the amount represents 25 per cent of the East Coast Economic Region’s (ECER) annual investment target of RM5.6 billion for Pahang, reinforcing the state’s position as a sustainable and increasingly attractive investment destination.“The manufacturing sector is the main contributor, accounting for 53 per cent of total investment, followed by the oil and gas sector at 45 per cent, focused on the development of chemical facilities.“The services sector made up the remaining two per cent through renewable energy projects including mini-hydro and biomass plants, in line with the country’s green growth agenda and contributing to a more diverse and balanced investment ecosystem,” ECERDC said.Meanwhile, Pahang Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, said that the achievement clearly demonstrates Pahang’s appeal as a strategic investment destination, particularly in the high-tech manufacturing sector and the oil and gas industry.The investments have created over 700 job opportunities, thereby contributing to the state’s economic growth, he said during the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) Pahang Implementation and Coordination Committee (ICC) Meeting held here yesterday.Wan Rosdy also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting and facilitating strategic investments that stimulate growth, create quality jobs, and promote long-term sustainable industrial development.As part of efforts to develop the state’s tourism sector, ECERDC announced the completion of two major infrastructure projects aimed at boosting ecotourism and heritage-based tourism.“This includes the upgrade of the Old Town of Pekan, completed on December 22, 2024, and the enhancement project of the Turtle Conservation and Information Centre in Cherating, which was completed on April 8.“Both projects reflect ECERDC’s ongoing commitment to strengthening cultural and ecological assets to support sustainable tourism,” the statement read.In related developments, ECERDC has signed a cooperation agreement with the Pahang State Secretary Corporation and the Pahang State Farmers’ Organisation (Pasfa) to implement a high-impact programme aimed at raising the income of the bottom 40 per cent (B40) group and the hardcore poor.This collaboration involves the implementation of the People’s Income Initiative — Farmer Entrepreneur Programme (IPR-Intan) in the Jerantut and Lipis districts, focusing on expanding modern agricultural management in rural areas.ECERDC said the project will be implemented by Pasfa on state-owned land, covering an area of 7.43 hectares in Jerantut and 7.03 hectares in Lipis.“The project will involve chilli cultivation using a smart fertigation system at both locations, with 30 participants each. It is scheduled to start in May and is expected to generate a monthly income of around RM2,000 for each participant,” it shared.ECERDC chief executive officer Datuk Baidzawi Che Mat said IPR-Intan is an important initiative aligned with the Ministry of Economy and ECERDC’s efforts to enhance food security and promote sustainable agriculture.“Through the application of modern technology and strategic collaboration with capable private sector partners, this programme not only has the potential to increase food production but also ensure stable monthly income for participants, thereby contributing to a more holistic approach to addressing poverty,” he added. — Bernama

Two HPSD students debut artificial intelligence project at science fair

Science and Health

Chastin Martel

Lakeside Leader

Dax and AK from Prairie River Junior High School (PRJHS) represented High Prairie School Division (HPSD) at the Peace Country Regional Science Fair held in Peace River on March 18, says a news release.Their science project was about two things: ACAI (Artificial Communicative Active Intelligence) and the future of education.The project took two years of innovation and hard work, says the release.ACAI was designed to explore the question, could an AI (Artificial Intelligence) robot assist a real teacher?Dax and AK designed a classroom support tool that could answer student questions in real time. It was made out of a Raspberry Pi 5 8 GB, a monitor, mouse, keyboard, microphone, speakers, 3D printed parts, and external cables.Both students fundraised and spent significant time to teach themselves how to code, says the release.“One of their many technical achievements was teaching the robot how to remove punctuation from its verbal responses,” says the release.The robot the students made is stationary, but in the future, Dax and AK are hoping to make it more mobile and responsive to the different grade levels in a school.HPSD commended the students on their innovation.“We are incredibly proud of their efforts and excited to see where ACAI takes them next!,” says the release.

AK (left) and Dax pose for a photo in front of their classroom support tool at the regional science fair on March 18.Photo courtesy of HPSD

Weis Earth Science collection may move to Appleton museum, but not everyone is on board

Science and Health

MENASHA (WLUK) — A resolution from Winnebago County is calling for the sale of the UW Oshkosh Fox Cities Campus.Outagamie County would sell it’s half of ownership to Winnebago County for $1.The resolution also notes The Weis Earth Science Museum, which opened in 2002, saying it’s collection may move to Appleton.“We’ve been very concerned that those assets would be picked up and leave the Fox Valley, and the History Museum wanted to see if we had a role in trying to preserve those locally,” said Dustin Mack with the History Museum at the Castle in Appleton. Mack told us they’ve been in discussions with Winnebago and Outagamie County to receive the Weis’ collection via donation.One complication being that their exhibit that will house the Weis’ collection is around 2,000 square feet smaller.“It will be downsized a little bit, but I think by using the space wisely, we’ll be able to get the same quality content in a smaller, slightly smaller footprint,” he said.Not everybody is on board with the potential relocation put forward by the Winnebago County Property Committee.That includes Dr. Don Mikulic, a curator at the Weis.“Well, this is in contention because we don’t want to move, and we’re best served by staying here,” he explained. “We work very closely with the Barlow Planetarium, we have lots of school groups share tours and stuff.”Mikulic said the museum space was built specifically for the Weis collection and would sit empty if they move.It would also mean a lengthy cataloguing effort.“You have to go through the entire collection, take each specimen, wrap it up accordingly, check it off in an inventory, pack it up and move it. That takes professional people a long time. So we have 20,000 or more specimens here, that’s going to take weeks if not months.”Mack said that while timing is not set in stone for the move“We’re optimistic, and we’re hopeful that we’re going to be able to repurpose these exhibits and have them on display at some point this summer, or by next fall for sure.”

Male suspect apprehended at Airdrie business appears in court May 8

Business News

A Carstairs resident, arrested at an Airdrie business during the execution of a search warrant, appeared in court on the afternoon of April 10. 

The court adjourned the matter of Lex Matt Bronee, 59, on the grounds of defence to obtain and review disclosure. 

Bronee is scheduled to appear next in court on May 8, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. 

An operation conducted by the Didsbury RCMP and Airdrie Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) led to Bronee’s arrest, on 14 charges. 

At the time of arrest, Bronee was in possession of the list of things mentioned below. 

$1,900 cash
55.9 grams suspected cocaine, pre-packaged for three individual sales;
6.4 grams of suspected MDMA, pre-packaged for 13 individual sales;
Approximately 48 grams of suspected psilocybin mushrooms
Assorted regulated CBD/THC products (balms and tinctures);
26 packages of illicit cannabis edibles;
Approximately 1.3 kg. of cannabis believed to be possessed for illicit sales;
567 g of suspected hash believed to be possessed for illicit sales;
Approximately160 grams of suspected cannabis extracts believed to be possessed for illicit sales;
A taser

He was arrested during a search of an Airdrie business executed by the Airdrie CRU, while the Didsbury RCMP executed the search warrant at a residence in Carstairs. 

Bronee was later released on $500 bail and was scheduled to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Airdrie.

During the search of the Carstairs residence, a butane extractor (called a BHO lab by CLEAR) was located. This extractor is volatile in nature if not monitored/operated correctly, and possessed an explosion/fire risk to the public of Carstairs.

Additionally, approximately 250 illicit cannabis plants; approximately 10 pounds of psilocybin (magic mushrooms); three firearms; a taser; and multiple ounces of cannabis extracts, were also seized from the same residence. 

RCMP’s Clandestine Lab Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) Team, Didsbury RCMP and Olds CRU provided assistance in the operation. 

The investigation was initiated when Didsbury RCMP received information that suspects were using a butane extractor, as well as in possession of multiple controlled substances. 

Bronee has been charged with the charges mentioned below. 

Assault
Uttering threats (x2)
Trafficking Controlled Substance (MDMA)
Possession of a prohibited weapon knowing its possession is unauthorized (Taser)
Possession of property obtained by crime
Possession of a prohibited weapon contrary to Order  (x3)
Careless use (storage) of a firearm (x2)
Possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized (x2)  
Possession for the purpose of trafficking (PPT) controlled substance (x4) Cocaine, Psilocybin and MDMA
Making shatter with the use of butane (production of cannabis by the use of an organic solvent) – S.12(1)(B) Cannabis Act (CA)
Possessing shatter made personally (not made by governing body) – Sec. 8(1)(b) Cannabis Act.
Trafficking (sell) illicit Cannabis – Sec. 10(1)(a) CA.
Possession for the purpose of trafficking (selling) illicit Cannabis – Sec. 10(2) CA.
An organization is prohibited from possessing cannabis – Sec. 8(1)(f) CA. 

Meet the Irish ‘Colourtokers’ who use colouring books to get through a stressful day

Arts & Culture, Books

Sitting down with a colouring book and markers at 29 is not exactly how I imagined spending my evenings, if you asked me 10 years ago. However, opening a blank page in my Girl Moments colouring book and working on a colourful scene is sometimes the only thing that gets me through a stressful day.No matter how pressured my day has felt, taking time to curate an image carefully always leaves me feeling grounded and relaxed. In that moment, my main focus is on choosing the best colours to bring my image to life, staying inside the lines and creating shadows and textures. The sound of the marker moving back and forth on the page lulls me while I work.Colouring for mindfulness isn’t a new concept, but with the inception of the TikTok trend ‘Colourtok’, it has taken on a new look. In a 2017 study by psychology researchers at the University of Otago in New Zealand, it was discovered that those who engage in colouring for as little as 10 minutes a day experienced reduced symptoms of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.Currently undergoing a resurgence, popular Colourtok books differ from the mandala colouring books we saw trending in recent years. Mandala art involves colouring in geometrical shapes to enter the brain into a peaceful state. Moving away from shapes and spirals, Colourtok sees wannabe artists, like myself, colour and bring to life various comforting scenes.Book options vary from the aforementioned Girl Moments, which depict scenes like a girl making breakfast in the kitchen while her cat watches at her feet, or a girl watering flowers in a greenhouse. Another book popular among Colourtokers is Cosy Friends, which illustrates various endearing cartoon animals doing things like baking and shopping together. These sketches bring an added layer of relaxation as they immerse you in the scene you’re creating, eliciting feelings of cosiness and calm.“Through colouring, a person develops a single focus awareness,” says mindfulness-based psychologist Geraldine Griffin. “By focusing on one object, the participant reduces the amount of ‘mental chatter’ or thinking in the brain. Then they come into a more embodied sensory awareness, allowing the nervous system to rest and abide in a calmer state. If the person colouring continues to be absorbed in focusing on colouring, the more relaxed they become and the more pleasurable and meditative the experience is.”Age is just a number Adele Miner: Colouring for mindfulness isn’t a new concept, but with the inception of the TikTok trend ‘Colourtok’, it has taken on a new look. Picture: Gareth ChaneySometimes when I’m colouring I imagine myself from an outsider’s perspective and feel a little silly. Here I am, at almost 30-years-old, using a colouring book and markers to relax myself. Shouldn’t I be doing more ‘adult things’ with my life? Like buying a house, or having children.While thoughts of being a bit long in the tooth to spend my free time colouring creep in, I’m quickly reassured by other Irish Colourtokers online who also enjoy the activity greatly. Like 31-year-old Shauna Barcoe from Co Kildare. Sharing her creations with her followers online (@shaunabarcore94), Barcoe says she feels no embarrassment around her hobby. “I took up colouring as it’s a calming hobby. It gets me out of my head and I was looking for a way to reduce my phone screen time too, which it has done,” she says. “I would have no embarrassment letting other people know that I colour in colouring books. I think TikTok has completely normalised adult colouring and I’ve even had friends and family ask for recommendations on markers etc. 
It’s just a hobby at the end of the day, so no one should feel shame about it, especially if it brings joy.
For some, colouring can be a way to tap into your inner child, whether you coloured as a child or not. It can even be healing for those who experienced trauma during childhood, as Griffin explains: “Colouring can help a person tap into their inner child even if they didn’t colour much during childhood. Clients neglected as children can find colouring a useful way of becoming still and mindful. It is like the inner child who was ‘starved’ of playful activities, is still there waiting to be seen, heard and cared for and this can be healing.”‘It brings out my creative time’ Rebecca Whiteley from Co Kildare says that colouring is very nurturing for her inner child. “When I started colouring as an adult it was reminiscent of my childhood. I was a very creative child, I was obsessed with colouring and all things stationery, the only difference now is I have more money so I can spend more on different colouring books and quality markers and supplies.”The 22 year old says that through the Colourtok corner of TikTok, she found her hobby, however, feelings of self-doubt almost prevented her from beginning it. “At first, it was overwhelming because you see masterpieces online that other people create. I felt pressure to be good myself. But once you let go of the idea of being perfect, it’s very relaxing and rewarding to create art. It brings out my creative side through trying different techniques like patterns, textures and shading.” To combat feelings of perfectionism, Griffin recommends not overthinking it. “Studies have linked colouring to reduced stress, mood improvement, and increased mindfulness. While these studies are encouraging, if you enjoy colouring, it’s best not to overthink it. Its value is getting out of your head, calming the body and opening the heart to creativity, not how perfect the finished product is.”

OKC Asian Chamber to host first-ever business conference at Innovation Hall on April 24th

Business News

The Greater OKC Asian Chamber of Commerce is hosting it’s first ever business conference this month. It’s the Limitless Business Conference, happening April 24th from 7:30am until 5pm at Innovation Hall downtown.Daniel Pae and Ernest Abrogar joined Living Oklahoma live in studio to give us all the details.This one-day event offers tracks in entrepreneurship, professional development, and financial strategies. It features expert speakers, like tech founder Piyush Patel.Tickets are still available. Members get a special ticket offer of $45 per member before it’s open to the general public for $95 per participant.For more information, visit their website here. Or check them out on Facebook as OKC Asian Chamber.

U.S. Cellular plans to lay off 86 workers in Washington state

Technology

U.S. Cellular will lay off 86 workers in Washington state starting June 2, according to a new filing with the state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) system.

The Chicago-based wireless company agreed to be acquired by T-Mobile in a $4.4 billion deal announced in May 2024. It plans to slash about 4,100 positions nationally.

Many affected employees may be offered new jobs with T-Mobile, according to messages from U.S. Cellular to government officials.

The acquisition, which also includes select spectrum assets, still needs regulatory approval. The deal will help Bellevue, Wash.-based T-Mobile expand its coverage in rural areas.