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Newly built border wall segment further endangers rare desert fish, conservation organization says

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Newly built border wall segment further endangers rare desert fish, conservation organization says

A newly built segment of border wall in southern Arizona will keep out more than just illegal immigrants, a nonprofit conservation organization says.

The border wall segment and a “paved road across Arizona’s California Gulch is blocking streamflow critical to the survival of one of only two U.S. populations of Sonora chub,” a press release from the Center for Biological Diversity reads.

The “rare desert fish” is a “small, moderately chubby fish that feasts on a variety of native food sources and has a unique and distinctly red coloration on the underside when in breeding condition,” the organization says.

“The new wall and road will push these imperiled fish to the brink of extinction,” Krista Kemppinen, Ph.D., a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. 

LINDSEY GRAHAM DEFENDS KASH PATEL IN HEATED EXCHANGE WITH CBS HOST

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A then and now look at the section of border wall in southern Arizona that impacts the endangered Sonora chub fish.  (Russ McSpadden/Center for Biological Diversity)

“The Sonora chub’s survival depends on being able to access scarce desert water on both sides of the border, exchange genetic material with nearby populations in Mexico, and bolster its populations with upstream migrations of fish from Sonora after droughts. The new construction makes all that impossible,” she continued.

The organization drew attention to the matter just days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to retake office and ramp up his border security efforts.

TRUMP TO BE SWORN IN ON BIBLE GIVEN TO HIM BY HIS MOTHER, AND THE LINCOLN BIBLE

Sonora chub endangered fish

A closeup look of the endangered Sonora chub, a “stream-dwelling minnow” that is usually five to seven inches long. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

“Designating California Gulch as critical habitat is more urgent than ever to minimize other threats, such as by keeping cows out of the Sonora chub’s pools,” Kemppinen said in the statement. “It’s also imperative that carefully designed culverts be added to the new border infrastructure to allow at least some semblance of a natural streamflow and migration. If federal officials are serious about saving this fish, they need to act now.”

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Earlier this month, Trump set off a fiery debate over whether Democrats should be to blame for California’s wildfires after he accused Gov. Gavin Newsom of caring more about protecting endangered fish species known as smelt than protecting the state’s residents from wildfires. 

Trump walks along border wall

President Donald Trump speaks with U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott as they participates in a ceremony commemorating the 200th mile of border wall at the international border with Mexico in San Luis, Arizona, on June 23, 2020.  (SAUL LOEB/AFP )

Trump set off a firestorm on Wednesday when he called out Newsom on his Truth Social platform for wanting “to protect an essentially worthless fish” over protecting the water needs of Californians. The comments are not new, however. In the run-up to the November election, Trump made the claim during an October interview with podcaster Joe Rogan.

Neither the Center for Biological Diversity nor the Trump transition team responded to a request for comment regarding this story. 

Fox News’ Alec Schemmel contributed to this report. 

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Los Angeles, Ca

Dangerous winds, critical fire weather continues for Southern California

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Dangerous winds, critical fire weather continues for Southern California

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – Fire officials have deployed all available resources and prepositioned crews in fire-prone areas as much of Southern California remains under a red flag warning overnight.  

In a record fifth alert involving critical fire conditions this season, a Santa Ana windstorm the National Weather Service refers to as a “particularly dangerous situation,” residents, especially those in high-risk fire zones, are urged to stay vigilant through at least 10 a.m. Tuesday morning when the worst of the winds are forecast to subside.  

Peak wind speeds could reach 50 to 70 mph along the coasts and valleys, with some mountain and foothill gusts topping between 60 and 100 mph. 

Areas of particular concern in L.A. County include the northern San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys, Malibu Calabasas and the Santa Clarita Valley, as well as Altadena, Pasadena and areas from La Crescenta to Porter Ranch.  

(National Weather Service)

At least three wind-driven wildfires broke out Monday, one at Griffith Park, another along the 405 Freeway in Granada Hills, which heavily impacted traffic, and another Riverside County.  

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As of 8:30 p.m., the weather service reported on some of strongest gusts to hit the following regions:  

  • Western San Gabriel Mountains at 74 miles per hour 
  • Santa Susana Mountains at 61 miles per hour 
  • Los Angeles County/San Gabriel Valley at 60 miles per hour 
  • Santa Clarita Valley at 54 miles per hour 

“It’s just really scary,” Simi Valley resident Michael Peralta told KTLA’s Chris Wolfe. “I grew up here in the valley and it seems like the winds are getting stronger.”  

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristan Crowley, as well as L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, have both stated that crews are prepositioned and that staffing levels for this windstorm are higher than what the city activated during the Jan. 7 conditions that supercharged the Eaton and Palisades fires.  

“The vegetation is critically dry,” Chief Crowley added. “Everyone here urges the community to stay alert.”  

Residents in fire-prone areas are also urged to pay attention to parking restrictions, which are issued to allow for rapid response and emergency access to hillside communities in case of fire.

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Firefighter extinguish brush fire in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley

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Firefighter extinguish brush fire in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – Firefighters quickly extinguished a brush fire that erupted along the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley on Monday.

The fire was reported at about 4 p.m. on a hillside next to the northbound lanes of the freeway in Granada Hills.

Sky5 footage showed flames and heavy smoke billowing over the road as fire crews arrived on the scene and began digging containment lines.

  • Granada hills fire
  • Granada hills fire

Preliminary reports suggested the blaze was not threatening structures, though firefighters were reportedly worried about embers spreading downrange. Fortunately, Memorial Park Cemetery on the other side of the fire acted as a natural fire break.

Northbound lanes were blocked for around 45 minutes as fire crews battled the fire and eventually brought it under control after it burned three acres, authorities said.

The cause remains under investigation.

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The blaze broke out during yet another Santa Ana wind event in the L.A. area, which prompted the National Weather Service to issue a “particularly dangerous situation” alert, indicating a high fire danger.

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Texas cheerleader accused of poisoning rival's show goat barred from caring for her pets on her own

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Texas cheerleader accused of poisoning rival's show goat barred from caring for her pets on her own

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A Texas teen accused of killing a competitor’s show goat with force-fed poison cannot interact with her own cat, dog or rabbit without adult supervision, according to the latest court order in her felony case.

Aubrey Vanlandingham, 17, admitted to poisoning 6-month-old Willy the goat Oct. 23, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital. She told police the goat’s owner was a “cheater,” and she doesn’t “like cheaters,” according to the documents.

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Vanlandingham is facing a felony charge of cruelty to a livestock animal and is awaiting trial at home after posting $5,000 bond.

A recent court order prohibits her from interacting with or contacting the victim’s family or caring for any animals except her own pets, which she can only visit with her parents or other adults present. She has also been ordered to submit to drug testing, according to the document.

TEXAS TEEN ALLEGEDLY KILLED RIVAL COMPETITOR’S SHOW GOAT IN ACT OF JEALOUSY

Aubrey Vanlandingham, 17, is accused of killing a rival competitor’s show goat by force-feeding it a pesticide. (Williamson County Sheriff’s Office)

In surveillance footage from Nov. 23 handed over to Cedar Park Police by Vista Ridge High School, Vanlandingham can be seen in the school’s barn forcing the animal to drink the pesticide with a dredging gun, “holding the goat’s head as she forces a syringe-like item into the goat’s throat” as it “fight[s] to break free,” according to court documents. 

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She was then seen checking on the goat twice in the next two hours, called the goat owner’s mother to tell her that the goat was “acting funny” and sent a video of the goat convulsing to the other teenager, the court documents show. 

Read the order imposing conditions of Vandlandingham’s bond:

A later court-ordered search of Vanlandingham’s phone included search queries for “How much bleach can kill an animal” and “Poisoning pets, what you should know.”

Willy died in his owner’s arms about 21 hours later, after he was brought into a vet’s office for “sneezing, diarrhea, coughing and shaking.” During a necropsy five days later, the smell of pesticides “permeated the room,” according to the affidavit.

HOUSTON MANHUNT ENDS: SUSPECT ACCUSED OF FATALLY SHOOTING DEPUTY IS SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE

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4-H club medals

Vanlandingham was also a show competitor with her goat, Lacey. (Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)

A pathologist determined the animal’s cause of death was organophosphate intoxication from phosmet, a pesticide commonly used for external parasite control in livestock.

Both Vanlandingham and Willy’s owner were members of the Vista Ridge’s Future Farmers of America.

Vanlandingham had just been named president of the group and was also a cheerleader at the school in the Austin suburbs, the Daily Mail reported. She posted frequently on social media about her own show goat Lacey, who she paraded in animal shows statewide.

TEXAS TRAGEDY: FATHER DIES TRYING TO SAVE TEENAGE SON WHO WAS ACCIDENTALLY SHOT BY SON’S BROTHER

Goat trailer

Goats stick their heads out of a trailer as they head to market after the Junior Market Goat Show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Center March 9, 2018, in Houston. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Prosecutors said Vanlandingham poisoned the younger student’s goat to ensure her own victory at an upcoming event.

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“My minor client and her family are working hard to resolve any legal issues and non-legal issues raised by these allegations, and we are thankful for a judicial process that will let us tell our story,” Vanlandingham’s attorney told KXAN.

The victim’s mother told the Daily Mail the teen does not appear to be remorseful.

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“It’s all bizarre. We want justice served. We don’t want a slap on the wrist. We want to make sure that she is punished. At this point, we don’t feel like she thinks she’s going to be punished, and she needs to be. She needs to take ownership for what she’s done,” the mother told the outlet, adding they want her to go to jail and get mental help.

“You can’t even cheat when it comes to showing goats,” she said. “It makes no sense, so that’s where the jealousy really kind of falls into place.”

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Initially scheduled for this week, the teen’s next hearing has been pushed to March, according to court documents. She could face up to two years in prison or a fine of $10,000 for the charge under Texas law. She has not yet entered a plea. Fox News Digital could not reach her attorney for comment by press time.

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