Midwest
Ohio representatives making waves to name an official state fish
Ohio has a fish to fry when it comes to naming an official aquatic representative for the state.
An effort to name a state fish has had a multi-year battle since 2003, with lawmakers recently making waves.
State representatives in Ohio passed a bill Wednesday to declare “The fish, sander vitreus, commonly known as the ‘walleye,’ [as] the official fish of the state,” the legislation said.
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Walleye fish are abundant in Lake Erie and can be found upstream to the first dam in several of the larger tributaries to the lake, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (Ohio DNR).
Walleyes are common fish found in Lake Erie, the shallowest of the five great lakes. (iStock)
As the 11th largest lake in the world by surface area, Lake Erie is the fourth largest and the shallowest of the five Great Lakes, stretching 241 miles long.
Walleyes are commonly between 14 and 22 inches long and 2 to 4 pounds, but they can reach 36 inches and 16 pounds.
Officials with the Ohio DNR estimated in 2023 that the population of adult walleye was 89 million.
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They also found that the 2024 adult walleye population prediction is within the top 25% of the past 30 years, which is comparable to the 1980s when Lake Erie became recognized as the “Walleye Capital of the World.”
The eyes of walleye fish are visible, the colors are light olive such as this fish that was found in northern U.S. and Canadian lakes. (iStock)
While there are many other fish in the sea, some representatives feel strongly that the walleye is the best choice.
“Our walleye fishing brings people from all over the world and contributes $1.2 billion to the Ohio economy,” Representative Jennifer Gross said in a statement emailed to Fox News Digital.
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Walleyes are a freshwater fish that lives in natural lakes, rivers and reservoirs, preferring cooler water temperatures. They can be found in both shallow and deep water, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS)
“”The largest walleye ever caught was 42 inches long and weighed 25 pounds. The oldest reported age for a walleye is 29 years,” the FWS reported.
Walleyes are commonly between 14 and 22 inches long and 2 to 4 pounds, but they can get up to 36 inches and 16 pounds, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. (iStock)
Governor Mike DeWine would sign such a bill if it reached his desk, a representative in the governor’s office told Fox News Digital in an email.
Indiana reportedly is another state without an official state fish.
As for Iowa, legislation to designate an official state fish was introduced earlier this year. The unofficial state fish of Iowa is currently the Iowa darter.
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KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel was in Kalamazoo on Thursday to discuss rising energy prices in the state.
She is pointing the finger at the Trump administration, and the federal push to keep a local coal plant in operation.
J.H. Campbell Plant in West Olive was built in the 1960s, and was planned to close down. Nessel said it’s costing Michiganders every day.
“Consumers Energy cannot use long-term coal contracts to save money, and the aging facility requires extensive repairs, so the plant costs some more to operate than it could ever recoup in profits,” Nessel said.
“And that’s a whopping $615,000 loss every single day that that plant is forced to stay open,” she added.
The U.S. Department of Energy issued another emergency order in May keeping the facility online through mid-August. The plant had originally been scheduled to close in May 2025.
The Department of Energy said the decision is centered on energy reliability, though Nessel said coal-fired plants are a major cause of climate change.
“I think since we’re here to talk in part about the J. H. Campbell plant, it’s worthy to note that coal fired plants are the single single largest source of emissions that cause and create climate change, such as what’s affecting us right now,” Nessel said in regards to the hazardous pollutants that blanketed most of Michigan on Thursday.
Fires in the past burned more frequently in western Canada, but recent years have seen that trend migrate eastward, with large fires now burning in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic provinces, Prof Chasmer said, leading to more noticeable smoke in densely populated cities like Toronto and New York.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Cases of cyclosporiasis continue to multiply across the country, and the state of Missouri’s count is no different.
As of Thursday morning, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has reported 80 cases of the disease this week, which has been linked to “explosive diarrhea” across the country.
Days ago, the case number was 43.
Cyclospora is a parasite that can cause a type of food poisoning called cyclosporiasis. The most notable symptom people report is frequent, watery diarrhea. This is different than the occasional diarrhea and should be taken seriously, the health department stated.
The state of Kansas has listed 55 cases of the disease, with 25 of those in Johnson County.
On Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services identified lettuce and other greens in salad as a potential source of the outbreak. There, more than 3,300 cases have been reported.
As that was taking place, fast-food giant Taco Bell issued a statement acknowledging it had “voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities.”
Symptoms of the cyclosporiasis occur two to 14 days after exposure and may include:
- frequent watery diarrhea
- loss of appetite and weight
- abdominal cramps and bloating
- nausea
- low-grade fever
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