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Prehistoric-looking alligator snapping turtles to be reintroduced into Kansas waters

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Prehistoric-looking alligator snapping turtles to be reintroduced into Kansas waters

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is teaming up with Missouri State University researchers to launch alligator snapping turtles into state waters in autumn of this year.

Juvenile alligator snapping turtles raised at the Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery in Oklahoma will be tagged and released into an area of the Neosho River. 

The Neosho River is a stream of the Arkansas River in eastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma running about 463 miles long and is part of the Mississippi River watershed.

FISHERMAN HOOKS PREHISTORIC 200-POUND ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE BEFORE CATCHING MONSTER ALLIGATOR GAR

The turtles are between 6 and 8 years old.

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“An Alligator Snapping Turtle has not been observed in the state of Kansas since the last known individual was captured in Onion Creek, a tributary of the Verdigris River, in 1991,” said a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks press release. (Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks)

The alligator snapping turtle is the largest species of freshwater turtle. Males typically weigh between 155 and 175 pounds, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

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“Alligator Snapping Turtles from the hatchery have been reintroduced in Illinois, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Reintroduction stockings of roughly 1,200 juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles have occurred on the Caney, Neosho, and Verdigris Rivers in northeast Oklahoma,” said a Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP) press release.

Researchers will be able to track the tagged turtles to determine how far they move. 

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HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 24: A male alligator snapping turtle that is approximately 20-years-old and weighs around 40 pounds is shown after being trapped by the Turtle Survival Alliance-North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group as part of the process of tagging turtles Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018.  He was released after the group attached it with a radio frequency transmitter. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

The dinosaur-like turtles will then be recaptured to determine survival and growth rates. 

Alligator snapping turtles are declining due to habitat degradation and over-harvesting for their meat, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

“Establishment of the species back into Kansas waters is unlikely to happen without human intervention due to several dams that occur on each of these rivers. None of the turtles released in Oklahoma have been captured in Kansas due to these barriers,” according to a KDWP press release.

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“To facilitate Alligator Snapping Turtle recovery in Kansas, KDWP is partnering with researchers at Missouri State University to conduct reintroduction stockings back into Kansas waters. Juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles raised at the Tishomingo hatchery will be tagged and released back into a segment of the Neosho River,”  said a Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks press release. (Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks/Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

The first release is planned for the fall of 2024 with an additional release planned for 2025.

Fox News Digital reached out to Missouri State University researchers for comment.

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Cleveland, OH

Boys basketball postponements, cancellations for Tuesday

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Boys basketball postponements, cancellations for Tuesday


CLEVELAND, Ohio — The following boys basketball games for Tuesday evening are postponed or canceled, starting with ones involving teams in the cleveland.com Top 25:

No. 7 St. Vincent-St. Mary at Youngstown Ursuline

Avon Lake at No. 16 Berea-Midpark

No. 21 Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy at Lake Catholic

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No. 24 Solon at Twinsburg (will be played Feb. 17)

Barberton at Revere (will be played Feb. 18)

Cuyahoga Falls at Copley (will be played Feb. 19)

Field at Mogadore (will be played Feb. 16)

Kenston vs. Mayfield (will now be played Jan. 28 at Mayfield and Feb. 17 at Kenston)

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Maple Heights at North Ridgeville (will be played Feb. 18)

Norton at Orrville

Woodridge at Manchester



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Illinois

Illinois Racing Board suspends Hawthorne Race Course’s license, putting future in jeopardy

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Illinois Racing Board suspends Hawthorne Race Course’s license, putting future in jeopardy


STICKNEY, Ill. (WLS) — The future of racing at Hawthorne Race Course in south suburban Stickney is in jeopardy.

The Illinois Racing Board suspended its harnesses racing license. In a letter sent Monday to Hawthorne’s president and general manager, the state agency said the track failed to prove its financial integrity.

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Jeff Davis, president of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, says the past two months have been rough.

“We don’t really know details, but what we do know is people have not been paid since before Christmas,” Davis said.

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Davis says checks started bouncing, which led to races being canceled over the past few weekends.

SEE ALSO | Hawthorne Race Course not offering window betting for Kentucky Derby amid Churchill Downs dispute

“Six weeks ago, they couldn’t cash a $400 check to a trainer,” Davis said.

The remaining three races left this season are unlikely unless Hawthorne owners can prove financial stability. Hawthorne officials have not returned messages seeking comment on the issue. But it is just one of many issues facing the track. There has been an effort for nearly six years to get an approved casino up and running, but the owners cannot find a partner.

“Horse racing in every state now only survives because it has additional forms of revenue from casinos, slot machines,” said Paulick Report Publisher Ray Paulick.

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Hawthorne is the only racetrack in the Chicago area and has the right to veto another one built within 35 miles. But those in the industry hope a bill before the state legislature will repeal that.

“The harness horsemen are asking the state legislature to take away that exclusivity, because Hawthorne isn’t in a position to build another track if they can’t keep the one they have going,” Paulick said.

READ MORE | Hawthorne Race Course, Illinois’ oldest horse racing track poised to be first with casino

In the meantime, Davis says he hopes the season can be salvaged.

“It really is sad. It’s a 100-year-old business. They’ve been trying, but I don’t know if they have the ability to actually get done what they’ve been awarded to do,” Davis said.

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The Illinois Racing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, and Hawthorne’s owner is scheduled to give an update on the track.

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Indiana

Watch: IU football honored before IU-Purdue basketball game

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Watch: IU football honored before IU-Purdue basketball game


BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — The celebration continues for IU football’s national championship.

Before the IU-Purdue men’s basketball game on Tuesday, head coach Curt Cignetti and some IU football players brought the national championship trophy to half court.

Cignetti also took the mic and thanked the IU fans for their support.

To see the celebration, watch the video above.

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