Student unearths 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil on first day of Montana dig: ‘Very exciting’

Published

3 months ago

December 16, 2025

Student unearths 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil on first day of Montana dig: ‘Very exciting’

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A 150-million-year-old fossil from the Jurassic era turned up at a Montana dig site this year — unearthed not by a scientist but by a Connecticut high school student.

Aidan Connor, a senior at Cheshire Academy in New Haven County, found the ancient bone in Red Lodge, Montana, this summer, according to a news release from the academy.

With funding from the Rizzolo-Larson Venture Grant program, the student traveled west with the Elevation Science Institute as part of a dig that involved teenagers across the country.

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On the first day of the excavation, Connor spotted a pinkie-sized finger bone that likely belonged to a small dinosaur during the Jurassic period.

It took the high school senior about an hour to extract the fossil, which is considered relatively quick. The teenager described the experience as “very nerve-wracking.”

Aidan Connor’s summer dig in Red Lodge, Montana, became memorable after he uncovered a Jurassic-era fossil during an expedition. (Aidan Connor/Cheshire Academy)

“A lot of field work, especially paleontology, is trying your hardest not to break very important things,” Connor said, according to the release.

After finding the bone, the student spent the rest of the week “jacketing” other fossils, a process that involves plastering them in order to prevent damage during transport.

“[W]hat we’re most proud of is his polyglot love of learning, and his willingness to combine passion with patience, practice and process.”

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Connor said the whole experience was “quite exciting.”

“[It was] very fulfilling for my inner child,” he added.

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“It was definitely rewarding to finally get it, and many other fossils in the area, prepped for removal.”

Marc Aronson, dean of academics at Cheshire Academy, told Fox News Digital the school community is extremely proud of the diligent student.

The week-long excavation allowed the Cheshire Academy student to practice careful fossil handling while preparing specimens for safe removal. (Aidan Connor/Cheshire Academy)

“Our pride in Aidan goes beyond the discovery he made,” said Aronson.

“What we’re most proud of is his polyglot love of learning, and his willingness to combine passion with patience, practice and process.”

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“Those are essential elements of learning.”

The dean added that Connor is looking at schools offering majors like paleontology and museum studies and is still considering his options ahead of his graduation next spring.

“[It was] very fulfilling for my inner child,” Connor told Fox News Digital. (Aidan Connor/Cheshire Academy)

The Rizzolo-Larson Venture Grant is the school’s way of letting students “do cool stuff,” allowing them to travel across the globe to pursue their passions.

Students have worked on projects in countries like South Africa and Bangladesh, Aronson said.

“Aidan’s work this summer is an excellent example of the ways in which Cheshire Academy helps students unlock not just their potential but themselves,” he added.

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Murder suspect in Baltimore robbery spree was on probation, records show

Published

2 hours ago

March 2, 2026

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Murder suspect in Baltimore robbery spree was on probation, records show

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A Baltimore man faces first-degree murder and multiple armed robbery charges after authorities say he carried out a nine-day crime spree that left a convenience store clerk dead.

Baltimore police said 52-year-old Brian Burrows was arrested in connection with a commercial armed robbery and the fatal shooting of Khaled Saleh Mohamed Alshariki on Feb. 13.

Court records show Burrows has been charged in three separate cases stemming from incidents on Feb. 6, Feb. 13 and Feb. 15. In total, he faces 21 charges, including one count of first-degree murder, three counts each of armed robbery, first-degree assault, use of a firearm in a violent crime and handgun on person.

He also faces two counts each of robbery and second-degree assault, along with charges including reckless endangerment, theft and discharging a firearm.

Brian Burrows faces first-degree murder charges, among numerous others, after police say a nine-day robbery spree left a convenience store clerk dead. (Baltimore City Police)

According to police, officers responded to reports of a shooting around 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 13 and found a 36-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso. The victim, later identified as Alshariki, was transported to a nearby hospital where he died.

FOX45 News in Baltimore reported it obtained charging documents in the cases, which state surveillance footage captured a suspect approaching Alshariki as he worked behind the counter, pulling out a gun, demanding money and firing a fatal shot.

Court records show investigators used facial recognition technology to identify Burrows as a possible match.

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A Baltimore man faces first-degree murder and 20 other charges. (Getty Images)

Two days later, another armed robbery was reported at Family Grocery and Tobacco, about a half mile north of the Broadway store.

Police said witness statements and surveillance footage helped identify Burrows, and investigators allege the video evidence also linked him to the fatal shooting.

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Burrows was arrested Feb. 19 after detectives executed a warrant. (iStock)

Burrows was arrested Feb. 19 after detectives executed a warrant at a home in Linden Heights. He was taken to an intake facility and charged.

Court records also show Burrows had an outstanding probation violation warrant issued in September 2025 in a prior armed robbery case. In that case, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 13 years suspended, and placed on supervised probation before his release.

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Burrows remains held without bond as prosecutors pursue the murder and robbery charges, while the probation violation from his prior armed robbery case remains pending.

Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.

Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.

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Boston, MA

Red Sox rotation contender strikes out four in dominant outing

Published

4 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Red Sox rotation contender strikes out four in dominant outing

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Johan Oviedo’s first outing of the spring last week didn’t go great, as the right-hander walked three over 1 2/3 innings in a performance manager Alex Cora described as “erratic.”

His second outing on Monday went much better.

Oviedo was dominant in Monday’s 7-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, striking out four over three scoreless innings while holding Toronto to two hits and no walks. He was also highly efficient, throwing 25 of his 31 pitches for strikes while drawing five whiffs.

After allowing a leadoff single to George Springer out of the gate, Oviedo got a strikeout and a double play to quickly get out of the first. He followed that by pitching around a harmless one-out single in the second before sending the Blue Jays down 1-2-3 to finish his outing in the third.

Viewed as the likely top candidate to earn Boston’s No. 5 rotation spot heading into camp, Oviedo clearly helped out his cause with the brilliant showing. He will be in line to make his next start on Saturday.

Gonzales smokes one

Justin Gonzales, a hulking 6-foot-7 outfielder and Boston’s No. 6 prospect according to MLB Pipeline’s latest rankings, made the trip up to Dunedin with the big league club and showed off his power in breathtaking fashion.

In the top of the ninth inning the 19-year-old scorched a single that was measured at 117.3 mph off the bat. According to MLB researcher Sarah Langs’ Daily Statcast leaders, that is the second hardest exit velocity recorded by any player so far this spring. The only ball hit harder was Kansas City Royals’ slugger Jac Caglianone’s 120.2 mph double on Feb. 26.

Franklin Arias, a 20-year-old infielder and Boston’s consensus No. 2 prospect, also made the trip and got the start at shortstop. He went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts at the plate but helped turn a double play to end the bottom of the first.

Big day for Gasper

Monday’s lineup consisted largely of players who are likely to start the season in the minor leagues, but even with that being the case, Mickey Gasper made a strong impression.

The Red Sox catcher and utility player led the offense by going 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI. Gasper had an RBI single in the top of the third and followed that by crushing a two-run home run with two outs in the top of the fifth.

Nathan Hickey (1 for 2) also had a two-run home run to put the Red Sox ahead for good in the top of the eighth, Allan Castro (2 for 3, stolen base) hit a game-tying solo shot in the sixth, Max Ferguson (1 for 2, walk) had an RBI double and Braiden Ward went 2 for 3 with a stolen base.

Watson struggles

Ryan Watson, a Rule 5 pick looking to make the Red Sox roster as a rookie, had a tough outing on Monday. The right-hander allowed four runs over 2/3 of an inning on one hit, two walks and a hit by pitch.

Watson led off the inning with a lineout before allowing a single, hit by pitch and a walk to load the bases. He then drew a run-scoring groundout before walking another batter to reload the bases. At that point manager Alex Cora lifted the rookie and all three inherited runners came around to score when minor leaguer Patrick Halligan allowed a grand slam to Blue Jays third baseman Addison Barger.

Coming up next

The Red Sox will host Team Puerto Rico in an exhibition at JetBlue Park on Tuesday night ahead of the World Baseball Classic. Left-hander Jake Bennett will get the start for the Red Sox, and Zack Kelly, Tyler Uberstine, Tyler Samaniego and Vinny Nittoli are all scheduled to pitch for Boston too. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN+, NESN 360 and WEEI 93.7 FM.

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Pittsburg, PA

Record number of peregrine falcons counted in Allegheny County

Published

5 hours ago

March 2, 2026

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Record number of peregrine falcons counted in Allegheny County

Madeline Bartos

March 2, 2026 / 3:41 PM EST
/ CBS Pittsburgh

In the early 1960s, the peregrine falcon population declined so sharply that the raptors weren’t even nesting in Pennsylvania. But now, the National Aviary says a record number have been counted in Allegheny County.

The National Aviary says six peregrine falcons were recorded in the county during the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. The nation’s longest-running citizen science project collects data on bird populations for ornithologists, the aviary says. It also plays a role in guiding conservation action, like what was needed to bring peregrine falcons back from the brink of extinction.

Because of the use of DDT, peregrine falcons were no longer nesting in the state of Pennsylvania by the early 1960s, the aviary said. But after the harmful pesticide, which negatively affects reproduction rates in birds, was banned in 1972, conservation efforts have helped the peregrine falcon rebound. It was removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999 and Pennsylvania’s list in 2021.

The record number of peregrine falcons in Allegheny County is thanks in part to the nest on top of Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning in Oakland. For the past two years, biologists with the Pennsylvania Game Commission have banded chicks born in the nest. Three were banded last year, and two the year before that.

People can watch Carla and Ecco raise their family in the nest on a livestream camera run by the National Aviary. Carla laid her first egg of the breeding season on March 16 last year, so the aviary says the start of another season isn’t too far away.

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