Wednesday Morning News – August 26

Weather: Special Weather Statement – Rainfall amounts of 30 to 50 mm, with local amounts up to 70 mm possible in areas that receive several thunderstorms.

• Today – Showers with risk of a thunderstorm. Wind south 20 km/h becoming light late this morning. High 19.
• Tonight – Cloudy with 60 percent chance of showers. Risk of a thunderstorm early this evening. Wind becoming north 20 km/h after midnight. Low 12.

News Tidbits:

• Sad to hear of Dolly Parton death. Many songs will remain on my playlist, but I will forever be grateful for her work in literacy via the Imagination Library.
• The last of Marineland’s beluga whales and dolphins have left Canada. They have all been relocated to accredited aquariums in the United States and Spain. Over the years 88 belugas and many dolphins spent all or part of their lives at the now-closed Marineland for 62 years. Of the 88, 36 were captured off the east coast of Russia; the other 52 are their children or grandchildren. 15 are still alive of the 36, with the oldest probably Gemini, captured in 1999. Of the 52 who were born into captivity, 15 are also still alive. The youngest, Rain, was born in 2019, just as the Ending the Captivity of Whales & Dolphins Act, which bans further breeding of captive whales and dolphins was passed.
  • Shed Aquarium (Chicago) – 10 belugas (including Sierra, Acadia, Osiris, and Lillooet)
  • SeaWorld (San Antonio) – 13 belugas (including Bertie Botts and Frankie)
  • SeaWorld (San Diego) – 3 belugas (Cyprus, Jasper, and Xavier).
  • Georgia Aquarium – 2 belugas (Zephyr and Balor).
  • Oceanogràfic València – 2 belugas (Cleopatra and Jelly Bean (oldest born into captivity at 18)) alongside Canada’s last 4 captive dolphins (Echo, Lida, Marina, and Tsunami)