Tuesday, May 11, 2021 by Valerie Vande Panne (WGCU)
Photo: Mika Baumeister
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It turns out those masks we’ve gotten accustomed to wearing have another benefit, besides reducing the spread of COVID-19.
It seems those COVID masks might just be the thing to mitigate the harm of respiratory irritation due to red tide.
Mike Parsons, professor of marine science at Florida Gulf Coast University, explains that the cells that make up the toxic dynoflagellate can actually break up in the surf, and become a part of the sea spray. People can then breathe the toxin in, and that can lead to various levels of respiratory irritation, including an itchy, scratchy throat and a burning sensation.
Red tide occurs when certain types of algae known as dinoflagellates reproduce rapidly.
A marine scientist at Florida Gulf Coast University notes that the masks we ve grown accustomed to wearing over the past year for COVID-19 may also filter out toxin-laden red tide droplets.
It seems those COVID-19 masks might just be the thing to mitigate the harm of respiratory irritation due to red tide.
Red tide occurs when certain types of algae known as dinoflagellates reproduce rapidly. Red tide algae blooms have been detected recently in Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.
Dr. Mike Parsons, professor of marine science at Florida Gulf Coast University, explains that the cells that make up the toxic dinoflagellate can actually break up in the surf and become a part of the sea spray. People can then breathe in the toxin, and that can lead to various levels of respiratory irritation, including an itchy, scratchy throat and a burning sensation.
May 10, 2021 : By Jacob Couch - Office of Communications & Public Engagement
Coming off a year that many desire to forget, when spring sports came to a halt and many fall sports were delayed, Liberty University Athletics has given Flames fans worldwide a spring sports season for the ages, adding seven conference titles and counting to the trophy case.
In the Spring 2021 semester, all but one of Liberty’s 20 NCAA Athletics programs (football) competed as the university packed in almost a year’s worth of competition into one spring season, dubbing the busy schedule “Super Spring.”
And it was “super” in many ways. Liberty Athletics donned its highest number of ASUN Conference crowns this season, taking titles in Men’s Indoor Track & Field, Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer, Men’s Golf, and Men’s Tennis. The Women’s Swimming & Diving team also claimed victory in the CCSA.
And, like Chris Sale, Crawford spent 2020 rehabbing after Tommy John surgery.
UP NEXT
WHEN: 1 p.m. Sunday
The Red Sox hope Sale’s return is as effective as Crawford’s was on Saturday at Hadlock Field.
Crawford, a right-hander in his fourth season as a pro, tossed four scoreless innings for the Portland Sea Dogs in a 5-1 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats before a pandemic-reduced capacity crowd of 1,835.
It was a textbook performance by Crawford, who established his fastball early – pinpointing on the corners – and then mixed in curveballs and plenty of cut fastballs (yes, Kutter throws a pretty good cutter). He gave up three hits and no walks while striking out five.
Letters to editor for Saturday, May 8, 2021
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DeSantis signs bill to abet election lie
It has taken a while, but Republicans finally concluded that since they have won the popular vote in very few presidential elections in recent years, they are either not popular or there are more Democrats voting than Republicans.
So under the guise of solving a problem that really doesn’t exist, while also trying to give credence to the big lie, as told by the big liar, legislatures in red states are changing rules to reduce chances to vote. Trump clone Ron DeSantis signed it into law (Thursday).