pileofcrapola

Almost three years after a Bumble Bee Foods worker was killed when he was accidentally locked inside a pressure cooker he was repairing, his employer will have to pay $6 million for “willfully violating worker safety rules” as part of a settlement agreement announced by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.

The payout for the man’s nightmarish death is the largest known payout for workplace safety violations involving a single victim in a California criminal prosecution, reports the Los Angeles Times.

In October 2012, a 62-year-old worker stepped inside a 35-foot oven at the company’s Santa Fe Springs plant so he could fix something inside the machine, which is used to sterilize cans of tuna. Other plant workers didn’t realize he was inside, loaded a bunch of carts inside it, shut the door and started the oven. As the temperature reached up to 270 degrees, the worker inside died and his remains were found by another plant worker.

“You don’t have warm blood running in your veins if you’re not affected by the way this guy died. It’s horrific,” Hoon Chun, assistant head deputy district attorney for the office’s Consumer Protection Division told the LAT. The CPD helped prosecute the case. “I cannot imagine a worse result of violating safety rules than something like this.”

Bumble Bee will have to change the way things work at its plant, paying $3 million to replace outdated tuna ovens with new ones that don’t require people to go inside them. Newly enhanced safety measures like video cameras installed at those ovens, training for employees about safety rules and safety audits of equipment will also be required.

The company will also pay $1.5 million in restitution to the man’s family, $750,000 to the district attorney’s Environmental Enforcement Fund and an additional $750,000 in combined fines, penalties and court costs.

“I hope it sends a message that safety rules are not a recommendation, they are a legal requirement,” Chun said. “I’m hoping people will … realize shortcutting safety rules to make a few extra bucks and improve the bottom line is not a tolerable equation.”

In April, the company was charged with three counts of willfully violating safety rules, causing death — a felony. If Bumble Bee complies with the terms of the settlement agreement with the district attorney’s office, it will plead guilty to one misdemeanor count after 18 months.

“While this resolution will help bring closure with the district attorney’s office, we will never forget the unfathomable loss of our colleague… and we are committed to ensuring that employee safety remains a top priority at all our facilities,” Bumble Bee Foods said in a statement.

Two Bumble Bee employees were also hit with the same felony charges in April: the director of operations in charge of safety, and the company’s safety manager, who had responsibilities for safety on the plant floor.

The director of operations agreed to do 320 hours of community service, to pay $11,400 in fines and penalty assessments and to take work-safety classes. If he complies with those conditions, he can plead guilty to a misdemeanor at his sentencing in 18 months.

The safety manager pleaded guilty on Wednesday and was sentenced to three years of formal probation, ordered to complete 30 days of community labor and take work-safety classes. He’ll also have to pay $19,000 in fines and penalty assessments. He’ll also have the chance to have the charge downgraded to a misdemeanor in a year and a half.

Both workers are also required to make public statements admitting guilt for their roles in the man’s death.

The victim’s family thanked investigators, prosecutors and others for “ensuring that safe work practices are implemented” at Bumble Bee.

“Certainly, nothing will bring back our dad, and our mom will not have her husband back, but much can be done to ensure this terrible accident does not happen again,” a statement from the family said.

Bumble Bee Foods to pay $6 million in death of worker in pressure cooker [Los Angeles Times]

Editor’s Note: Healthy Paws is a new column sponsored and written by the owners of Clarendon Animal Care, a full-service, general practice veterinary clinic. The clinic is located 3000 10th Street N., Suite B. and can be reached at 703-997-9776.

With all the hot weather we’ve had recently, you may notice that your pet is drinking more water than normal… this likely is just par for the course, but when should you be concerned?  How much is too much?  

Polydipsia is the medical term for increased thirst, and polyuria the term for increased urination.  It is often very difficult at the onset to know whether the problem lies primarily with increased thirst (increased thirst drives the increased urine volume) or increased urination (increased urine volume drives increased thirst, as urine is not being concentrated effectively); problems that lead to increased urination tend to be more common causes in both dogs and cats.  The symptoms of polyuria and polydipsia are frequent causes for veterinary visits; often it is urinary accidents or inappropriate urination that may finally bring the problem to light, as quantifying thirst and/or urination can be quite tricky at home, especially if there are multiple pets in the household.  

Some of the more common reasons for increased thirst include behavioral issues (“psychogenic polydipsia” (i.e. drinking for “fun”),  fever, pain, or neurological disorders.  Increased urination can be caused by something as simple as a urinary tract infection or as complex as: electrolyte abnormalities, diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent diabetes), kidney insufficiency or failure, liver disease, elevated thyroid level, drugs (such as the common corticosteroid prednisone, or the anti-seizure medication phenobarbital), infection of the uterus, or abnormalities of the body’s resting steroid levels (Cushing’s disease and Addison’s disease).

When a patient initially presents for the complaint of increased thirst and/or urination, the first step is to verify that there is, in fact, increased thirst or urination. The diagnostic work-up is started with a physical exam and thorough history to determine if there are any other factors that may be contributing to the symptoms. We then often have the owner quantify the water intake over a several days period (which is much easier in a single dog or cat household), in addition to running a urinalysis to determine how well the urine is concentrated. One of the most basic tests that can be run is to check the concentration of a first morning urine sample (often the most concentrated sample of the day) – if it is dilute then we know there is an issue and additional work up is warranted. Blood work is often part of the initial work-up as well, as we can assess kidney and liver function, and rule out conditions such as kidney failure or diabetes as well as to give clues about other metabolic disorders that would necessitate further investigation.

As mentioned above, quantifying thirst and especially urination may be difficult; but, since they go hand-in-hand the majority of the time, quantifying thirst is a bit more straight-forward and is a good starting point. Normal water consumption can be very variable, but averages around 50-60 mL/kg/day for both cats and dogs (i.e.  4-¾ to 5-¾ cups per day for a 50 pound dog).  Anything over 80-100 mL/kg/day is considered polydipsia (i.e.  7-½ to 9-½ cups per day for that same 50 pound dog).

Though it can be tempting to restrict water intake in a pet that is having urinary accidents in the house or needing to go out with increased frequency, this is very rarely recommended, and in the rare cases where it is indicated it should be done only with supervision from your veterinarian. Restricting water in the face of underlying metabolic or infectious diseases could lead to dehydration (sometimes severe) and decompensation of the underlying problem.

So, if you are concerned that your pet might be hitting the bowl a little too hard be sure to talk to your pet’s veterinarian!

The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARLnow.com.

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WASHINGTON — Fairfax County police are pleading with residents to stop feeding wild animals, such as raccoons, foxes, squirrels and coyotes.

It is a growing problem in neighborhoods around the area, and it can lead to negative consequences for both homeowners and wildlife.

“People feed wildlife just because they want to enjoy them on their property and be able to have close encounters that you normally wouldn’t be able to see,” said Katie Edwards, wildlife management specialist with the Fairfax County Police Department.

Residents are typically well-meaning when they feed wild animals using pet food, peanuts, bread and table scraps.

However, it is doing the wildlife more harm than good, causing the animals to lose their ability to get food naturally.

Additionally, wild animals can be dangerous when they become too comfortable around humans, growing more aggressive and bold.

“Under natural conditions, these animals would pose little risk to people and their pets. It is through the act of feeding wildlife, that animals often become a nuisance or potential hazard,” Edwards said.

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This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Anna, a Maltese/Poodle mix who could use a loving home.

Here is what her people at Caring Hearts Rescue have to say about her:

Named after a Disney Princess, Anna was found wandering the streets alone and ended up in a rural Virginia shelter.

She is an 8-year year old Maltese/Poodle mix and weighs a mere nine pounds. She has wiggled right into the hearts of everyone she has met. The transporters and vet staff were quite smitten with her. Her foster mom writes, “Oh my goodness, is this girl ever sweet! Not a mean bone in her body! She is a total love bug.”

Anna is quiet and a little shy but warms up very quickly to her humans. She is content being by your side or sitting on your lap. She dances around in circles when it is time to eat…but eats like the classy little lady she is.

She is very pretty, with big brown eyes and silky soft white hair.

Anna recently had her spay surgery and a complete dental and is in tip-top shape. Like most rescue dogs, Anna is getting a refresher course on house-training. She does fine with the other dogs in her foster home.

Are you and Anna a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and $100 in Becky’s Bucks.

Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?

Email news@Restonnow.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.

Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.

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Romo the dog, a long time beloved fixture of the Adams Morgan neighborhood in D.C., is settling into his new life in Arlington.

The 150 pound bull mastiff/pit bull mix became well known in D.C. for his habit of sleeping near an open window in owner Tiffany Scourby’s condo. Passersby took to the droopy dog, and a Facebook page and Twitter account dedicated to Romo soon sprang up.

Romo, along with Tiffany and her husband Peter Scourby, moved to the Forest Hills townhouse community in the Arlington Ridge neighborhood earlier this summer. So far, Peter says Romo has taken to his new life outside of the city.

“He’s enjoying the space more,” said Scourby. “We went from 1,000 square foot condo to 3,000 square feet.”

Although Scourby says there aren’t any windows in the new home with quite the foot traffic of Romo’s Adams Morgan haunt, the pooch has been given a bed by a window and has scoped out prime napping spots around his new home.

The couple says that like their dog, they are enjoying the newfound space Arlington affords.

“I’m a Virginia boy,” said Scourby. “I like the ‘burbs, and I wanted space. There’s a country club down the street, and I can see the Washington Monument from my house.”

Romo’s Facebook page has more than 3,000 likes and counting, and since moving the couple has discovered that some of their new neighbors are long-time Romo fans.

“When we first got here, a neighbor we hadn’t met yet said, ‘Oh my God, that looks like that Romo dog!,’” said Scourby. “When we told her it was him, she just screamed. Apparently she was one of his followers on Facebook.”

The move to Arlington won’t be the only change for Romo this summer. Peter says Tiffany is eight months pregnant and is due this September.

“[Romo’s] gonna have a little brother soon,” he said.

Photos via Facebook

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Smithsonian officials say five critically endangered Cuban crocodiles have hatched at the National Zoo’s Reptile Discovery Center.

Officials said Wednesday that the crocodiles hatched between July 29 and Aug. 7. Officials say the crocodiles’ mother, Dorothy, laid 24 eggs May 12, and 10 were fertile. Officials say those were moved to an incubator, and half of the eggs developed during the entire gestation period.

Officials say crocodile embryos develop into a male or female crocodiles depending on the incubating temperature of the eggs. Keepers kept the eggs at a temperature range to hatch males as part of a survival plan for the species, but it is too early to definitively determine the crocodiles’ sex.

Cuban crocodiles are found only in two swamps in Cuba.

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This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Miso, a 7-month-old Shiba Inu puppy, who loves going to the dog park.

Miso is new to Arlington but loves meeting people and dogs. He also likes eating, sleeping and watching TV. Here’s what Miso had to say about himself:

Hello! My name is Miso, which is pronounced like the soup that you find in restaurants. I am a Shiba Inu who was born on Jan. 15, 2015. My mom and dad bought me from a pet store in Bethesda, Maryland when I was 2 months old. I have been living in Arlington since then and have enjoyed meeting so many people and dogs! I have also become quite the ladies’ man since living here.

Some of my favorite things include eating, sleeping and watching TV. I do occasionally love going to the dog park when it’s not too hot out. My favorite part of the dog park is playing with my friends and rolling in the sand. I mostly roll in the sand because I know my mom will give me a refreshing bath when I get home. When I am not at the dog park you can find me playing with my many toys at home or playing fetch with Dad. I am in the process of losing my teeth so my parents have bought me lots of bones which I have found is better to chew on than the furniture.

After a long day of dog walks, chewing and playing I will end the evening in my bed curled up with my favorite stuffed animal.

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week?Emailoffice@arlnow.comwith a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Arlington and Northern Virginia.

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Prince William County crime report Washington Post These were among incidents reported by Prince William County police. For information, call 703-792-7245. DUMFRIES AREA. THEFTS/BREAK-INS. Mountain Laurel Loop, 3200 block, 3:28 a.m. Aug. 2. Two unlocked vehicles parked in a driveway were ... and more »

Mapping 15 years of violent crime in DC Washington Post Last week, the District, Measured blog reported an uptick in gun violence in D.C. this summer and charted which neighborhoods have seen the biggest surge in crimes involving a gun over the last year (Petworth, Brightwood, Stanton Park, Capitol Hill and ...

WASHINGTON – There’s lots to like about spending the waning days of the summer in the nation’s capital.

In August, that demoralizing work commute is a little less demoralizing. There are tons of free or nearly free things to do. You even win back some of your personal space, since the stream of tourists and their selfie-sticks trickles down this time of year (but they’re definitely still around!).

Peak tourist season during warm weather month is mid-March through July, said Kate Gibbs, a spokeswoman at Destination D.C., which promotes tourism in D.C.

“August is really a good time to be in D.C.,” Gibbs said.

So, really. August in D.C. What’s not to like?

We asked Twitter followers to to tell WTOP what they felt was the best and the worst thing about August in D.C. The best: The fact that fewer people are around.

@WTOP No reservations needed at popular restaurants

— GrandstandFan (@GrandstandFan) August 11, 2015

The worst? Annoying tourists and the late-summer heat.

@WTOP those that don’t follow escalator protocol #StandToTheRight

— dlayphoto (@dlayphoto) August 11, 2015

@WTOP worst thing: it’s the temperature of the sun. #DCinAugust

— Pierre Smith (@P_Smith003) August 11, 2015

Do you agree? Is this really the best — and the worst — August has to offer in D.C.? Tells us what you think. Participate in WTOP’s poll or send us a tweet with the #DCinAugust hashtag.

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WASHINGTON — One Georgetown couple is hitting the roof because some people are running through their neighborhood — well, hitting their roof.

It’s called free running, also known as parkour, and it’s featured on the “American Ninja Warrior” TV series, but when it came to their own house, Shelley Clark and Andy Leddy called the police, NBC Washington reports.

Clark says that she was tipped off when her cat came running into the house looking over its shoulder. She says she went out to investigate, expecting to see a hawk, when she found “two faces peering over the edge of my roof.” She says the house is historic, and the roof is old and fragile.

Leddy says he found the pair in an alley, and that they confessed to the free running.

“That’s really not the best place to be doing this,” Leddy says he told them, and they called the police, who said they were familiar with the practice and that it’s happening more often.

Clark was philosophical about it, though: “I figure if protective service doesn’t get them, some combination of Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton will.”

See a report from NBC Washington:

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M&Ms aren’t as aggressively into new and exotic flavors as, say, Nabisco’s Oreo cookies, but they have experimented with holiday-themed flavors like gingerbread, pumpkin spice, vanilla shake, birthday cake, and candy apple. Now they’re expanding into another pretty standard flavor in the Flavors of Fall repertoire: pecan pie M&Ms have been spotted at Walmart.

Not pecan M&Ms, of course, because that would mean figuring out how to integrate a whole new type of nut into the candy-shelled candies. These are humble chocolate candies with artificial pecan flavoring to them, probably disappointingly similar to the flavor blasted on the pecan pie Pringles that were available a few years ago.

Flavored M&Ms usually aren’t all that interesting, since there isn’t much you can do with a palette of milk chocolate and artificial flavorings. The pumpkin spice ones, for example, just had a light cinnamon flavor.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Pecan Pie M&M’s [The Impulsive Buy]

If you’ve had a can of Sun King beer recently, you might’ve been holding a vessel bearing one man’s personal feelings on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and never have known it. That man is named Biscuit, he works on the brewery’s canning line, and he thinks “TOM BRADY SUX,” according to the “Born on” date on the bottom of more than 20,000 cans of beer.

Sun King Brewery is in Indianapolis, the home of the Colts, where its beer is sold at Lucas Oil Stadium. Though the brewery isn’t taking credit for the anti-Brady stance, it’s still on board with football loyalty.

The canning shenanigans (shecanigans?) date back to May 13, in the midst of the DeflateGate controversy that had everyone buzzing, notes the Indy Star.

“It was a prank by Biscuit,” Sun King co-owner Clay Robinson told the Indy Star of the cans of Wee Mac Scottish Ale that came off the line with the Brady message. “It wasn’t an idea we came up with at all. Every day, we change the thing on the bottom of our cans. One of the guys running the canning lines had to come up with something. Biscuit is his name. So Biscuit put ‘Tom Brady Sux.'”

Biscuit is still employed by Sun King, but now he has to submit a list of sayings he’s going to stamp on the cans each week.

If you’re a fan of the Colts, or Sun King, or even Tom Brady, you might be out of luck trying to get your own can, as that batch’s shelf life is nearing its end.

“I assume most were consumed and recycled without anyone noticing,” Robinson said.

*Thanks for the tip, Chuck!

How ‘Tom Brady Sux’ ended up on Sun King beer cans [Indy Star]

Back in June, McDonald’s was mum on whether or not there was truth to reports that it would up the beef in its Quarter Pounder. Today, we received confirmation as the company has officially added 0.25 ounces to the burger. But now that there’s more meat between the buns, will it mean more money from our wallets?

CNBC reports that the Golden Arches quietly increased the size of its Quarter Pounder sandwich from 4 ounces before cooking to 4.25 ounces before cooking and hasn’t yet decided if more beef should equate to a higher cost.

Sources close to the company say that the chain’s franchise operators will decide if the bigger burger needs a bigger price tag.

While McDonald’s didn’t provide details on how much the burger weighs after it hits the grill, the previous 4 ounce version clocked in at 2.8 ounces after cooking.

The change was first spotted on McDonald’s nutrition webpage, which provides descriptions of its menu items – including their weight before cooking.

According to CNBC, the more sizable burger comes after McDonald’s reported an uptick in beef prices, saying on an earnings call recently that costs rose about 1% in the last quarter.

McDonald’s quietly changes its Quarter Pounder size [CNBC]

Curious about that spooky Masonic temple on 16th Street? Let's go inside. Washington Post “I'll eat crumbs off of Dan Brown's table any day,” said S. Brent Morris. Brent, author of several books on Freemasonry, didn't mean that literally. He would not actually consume tiny bits of stale bread from the table of the best-selling author of ...

WTOP

The cat-sized rodent who escaped at the National Zoo has died Washington Post Macadamia, the bold young rodent who escaped his cage at the Smithsonian National Zoo last month, has died. The zoo said that he might have injured himself running around his habitat. In a statement, the zoo said that Macadamia's July 13 adventure, ... Agouti Who Briefly Escaped Cage at National Zoo DiesNBC4 Washington Large rodent who briefly escaped cage at National Zoo diesWTOP all 26 news articles »

NBC4 Washington

Daredevils Run Between Georgetown Rooftops NBC4 Washington News4's Darcy Spencer talks to a Georgetown couple who spotted "roof jumpers" in their neighborhood. Daredevils jump between rooftops and other urban structures for fun and games. (Published Monday, Aug. 10, 2015). Updated 3 hours ago. The trending ...

As a staff consisting mostly of retired Girl Scouts, we’re big supporters of their seasonal cookie-slinging sales force every year. Yet the Girl Scout Cookie empire has been expanding, and you can find the most distinctive and famous flavors on the shelves of different sections of your favorite stores, in departments ranging from the ice cream aisle to the toy aisle to the cosmetics aisle. News of granola bars almost deserves a big yawn.

The flavors will be Thin Mints (of course) and Caramel Coconut, and will be about 100 calories per bar. That’s an improvement over the standard cookie, at least, because a granola bar lasts for several bites, and it would be harder to eat an entire box in one sitting. Not that I’ve ever done that with Thin Mints. Nope.

Quaker says that the bars will hit stores later this month, and they’ll be available from Target and other store that usually sell granola bars. We aren’t really sure how well mint and oats go together, but assume that it is not terrible. Update: One of our staffers lives in what was apparently a test market for the granola bars, and purchased them on her own. She reports that they “taste like regular Quaker Chocolate Chip granola bars except slightly mintier,” and that they were tasty enough to buy again when the Quaker brand bars were on sale and cheaper than the store brand version.

While Burger King might be technically older than McDonald’s Corp., it’s certainly not older than the Book of Kells, a 9th Century illuminated manuscript of the New Testament Gospels. But when Trinity College Dublin tried to trademark the Book of Kells name and related “BK merchandise,” Burger King’s legal eagles objected, claiming it would infringe on the fast-food giant’s marks.

Trinity College was attempting to register a global trademark for the famed manuscript, which was created around 800 CE, so that it could raise funds to preserve the school’s collection of rare books.

The university is working with UK publisher Thames & Hudson to create products based on the illustrations in the Book of Kells, which has been held at Trinity’s Old Library for more than 60 years.

But when the trademark application came up in the U.S., Burger King objected because of the use of the letters “BK,” even though there was no intention of printing outtakes from the Book of Kells of burger buns or soda cups.

Two companies can trademark the same names, so long as their is minimal chance for confusion that the two marks might represent only one company.

The school tells the Independent that it was it was eventually able to convince Burger King to back down from the trademark challenge — because it was being ridiculous.

“Eventually, they understood that Trinity College was not interested in the fast-food business,” a rep for the school explains.

[via Irish Central]

General Motors gets to join Fiat Chrysler and Tesla in an unenviable lineup this week: Using cheap gadgets and text messages, researchers have proven they can hack that most traditional of cars, the Chevy Corvette. And worse still is that this line of attack will work on basically any car with a computer in it, which is to say… all of them.

As Wired explains, the flaw that would allow anyone to zap your car over a local wifi network first requires a physical component: you, or someone else, has to put a cheap, widely-available gadget in the vehicle first. That’s the good news. Here’s the bad: plenty of drivers are signing up to put those gadgets in their vehicles already. And the worse: the attack could also work on “practically any other modern vehicle.”

The gadget is a 2-inch-square dongle that insurance companies and trucking fleets plug into vehicles to monitor their location, speed, and efficiency.The particular vulnerable device is made by a French company and distributed worldwide. In the U.S., it’s used by corporations like Metromile, an insurance start-up that uses the trackers to charge customers rates on a miles-driven basis. (The company has a partnership with Uber, to offer discount insurance to those drivers.)

The security researchers demonstrated that those dongles can be vulnerable to a “carefully-crafted SMS message.” Those messages can be used to transmit commands to the car’s internal network, the CAN bus that controls major vehicle functions.

In their demonstration, the researchers turned the windshield wipers on and off and also, more worryingly, both activated and cut the brakes. They added that the brake tricks only work at low speeds due to safety features built into the car’s computer, but that they could also hijack critical features like locks, steering, and transmission.

As with other demonstrated security flaws, the problem is far larger than just one device. This particular dongle is already being patched, but there are others out there — and where vulnerabilities exist, someone will find and exploit them.

Insurance company Progressive offers an optional similar tracking to its customers. Commercial fleets regularly use some kind of tracker. And federal fleets of 20 vehicles or more are now also required to use metric and tracking systems to improve efficiencies when possible.

In other words, unsafe, exploitable devices are already out there, and will be everywhere soon. It’s just one more avenue where every consumer needs to be aware of the risk, and where every company needs to do everything it can to make sure its bases are covered.

Hackers Cut a Corvette’s Brakes Via a Common Car Gadget [Wired]

WASHINGTON — Before Susie the cat’s owner died, she left a letter for the person she hoped would adopt the orange tabby.

Fifty-five days after being dropped off at a shelter, Susie was adopted.

Katherine Zenzano, community outreach coordinator for the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center in Derwood, Maryland, says it’s one of the more bittersweet shelter stories.

In May, a man delivered Susie to the Montgomery County shelter, explaining his mother had passed away, and cats were not allowed where he lived. His mother had written a note before she died, he explained, anticipating that Susie would have to find a new place to live.

In the note, Susie’s owner explained the tabby cat was shy. Zenzano says the woman who eventually decided to adopt Susie had experience with shy cats in the past.

“And she just felt she had the ability to work with Susie and wanted to give her the home that she needed,” Zenzano said.

Among the quirks Susie’s past owner described: The cat doesn’t like to go outdoors, and while tolerant of the family dog, never really enjoyed spending time close to dogs.

Zenzano didn’t name either the past owner of the cat or the new adoptive owner, but the shelter did include a snapshot of Susie in her carrier, ready to be taken to her new home with her new friend for life.

WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report. 

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OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith, one of 12 players in NFL history with 900 catches, says he will retire after this season — his 15th in the league.

The five-time Pro Bowler spent his first 13 season with Carolina. He intends to leave after the second season of a three-year contract with Baltimore. He informed his teammates Monday before practice at training camp.

“I’ll look back and enjoy things,” Smith said. “I feel like it’s time. My body feels great, but not everybody gets this opportunity.”

The 36-year-old receiver made his decision in April. Last season he caught 79 passes for 1,065 yards and six touchdowns to help the Ravens reach the second round of the playoffs.

Smith has 13,000 receiving yards and 70 touchdown receptions for his career. He was a third-round draft pick in 2001 and has played 14 or more games in all but one season.

“I don’t want to hold on,” Smith said. “Jerry Rice is the best receiver to ever play, but I don’t believe that chasing whatever it is to chase for four more years would be conducive to my family or me. I would be having to give up something.”

Smith is the Panthers’ career leader in catches and was released by Carolina after the 2013 season. His wife, Angie, and four children live in Charlotte, N.C., a factor that contributed to his decision despite his estimation that he could play two or three more years.

“It’s very difficult,” Smith said. “I enjoy my family, so it’s kind of tough to see them in spurts.”

The Ravens signed Smith last year to lead a young group of receivers. He quickly reinforced his reputation for being a fierce competitor.

“I don’t think you can get by in this league without a guy with that personality,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s just a guy who is a pit bull. He’s like Daddy pit bull and he’s got all these little young pit bulls that he’s trying to raise up the right way. He’s going to force you to practice every single day or he’s going to humiliate you.”

After the Ravens lost to New England in the 2014 divisional round in January, general manager Ozzie Newsome advised the veteran receiver to think about his future. Members of the organization were not surprised by Smith’s decision to retire at the end of the season.

“Ozzie asked me to think about it,” Smith said. “He’s great at what he does and he can look at guys’ eyes and kind of see things. He said to take my time. I knew that I wanted to give it one more try. I worked out and said, ‘You know what? This is it.'”

After signing with the Ravens last year, Smith said his biggest goal was to win a championship after falling short with Carolina against New England in the Super Bowl. He is now prepared to make one final run at the ring.

“I’m not really a big gambler, but the analogy is all my chips are on the table,” Smith said. “We’re going to see what the dealer gives me.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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WASHINGTON — Say hello to Dime. With his stubby little legs (maybe there’s a Basset or corgi among his ancestors?), this 4-month-old puppy couldn’t be any cuter.

Like most puppies, Dime is energetic and playful. He will need lots of exercise and guidance, as well as someone to teach him appropriate manners around other dogs. An obedience class at the Washington Animal Rescue League might be just the ticket.

So if you’re up for some puppy kisses and playful antics, stop by WARL and meet Dime.

About WARL: Founded in 1914, the Washington Animal Rescue League is the oldest animal shelter in Washington D.C. Its mission includes rescuing, rehabilitating and finding homes for animals who have no where else to go. The League also supports animals through affordable veterinary care, community outreach and education. Learn more about the Washington Animal Rescue League at www.warl.org.

If you are thinking of adding a furry friend to your family, check out these other great shelters in the area:

Maryland

Humane Society of Charles County
(301) 645-8181
71 Industrial Park Dr. PO Box 1015 Waldorf, Md. 20604

Humane Society of Charles County offers a low cost spay/neuter program to the public. Please call or visit our website for more information. The shelter is also looking for more foster parents to help its animals.

Prince George’s County Humane Society
(301) 262-5625
P.O. Box 925 Bowie, Md. 20718
Prince George’s County Humane Society is also looking for foster parents. For more information, contact the organization.

PAW — Partnership for Animal Welfare
(301) 572-4729
P.O. Box 1074 Greenbelt, Md. 20768

Paws Animal Kingdom
(301) 920-2318
P.O. Box 11531 Takoma Park, Md. 20912

Montgomery County Humane Society
(240) 773-5960
14645 Rothgeb Dr. Rockville, Md. 20850

The Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County
(301) 740-2511
12 Park Ave. Gaithersburg, Md. 20877

D.C.

Washington Humane Society
(202) 576-6664
1201 New York Ave. NE 20002

ASAP — Alliance for Stray Animals and People
(202) 331-1330
P.O. Box 65438 Washington, D.C. 20035-5438

Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue
(202) 575-2210
Approved applicants may attend monthly adoption meets that are usually held at the house of a volunteer in either Northern Virginia or Southern Maryland.

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue
(202) 741-5428
Lucky Dog is a foster home organization and does not run a dedicated housing facility.

Northern Virginia

A Forever Home
(703) 961-8690
A Forever-Home is a nonprofit dog rescue group that operates in the Northern Virginia/Washington Metropolitan area.

Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P.
(301) 299-6756
Lab Rescue of the LRCP is a volunteer driven, nonprofit organization that rescues, fosters and places homeless, abused, and/or abandoned Labrador retrievers.

FOHA — Friends of Homeless Animals
(703) 385-0224
All visitors must speak to a Friends representative before receiving directions to their shelter location.

SPCA of Northern Virginia
P.O. Box 100220 Arlington, Va. 22210-3220
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
(703) 746-4774
4101 Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, Va. 22304

Animal Welfare League of Arlington
(703) 931-9241
2650 S. Arlington Mill Dr. Arlington, Va.

Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation
(703) 295-3647
P.O. Box 223953 Chantilly, Va. 20153

HART — Homeless Animal Rescue Team
(703) 691-HART
P.O. Box 7261 Fairfax Station, Va. 22039-7261

King Street Cats Rescue and Adoption
(703) 231-7199
25 Dove St. Alexandria, Va. 22314

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The post Pet of the Week: Dime appeared first on WTOP.

D.C. Firefighter, 7 Other Locals Compete on 'American Ninja Warrior' Finals NBC4 Washington Eight D.C.-area locals will compete for $1 million on Monday night's airing of a competition no American has ever completed. The eight are among those representing the Northeast region in NBC's "American Ninja Warrior" finals in Pittsburgh: Mike ... and more »

If you’re planning an end-of-the-summer road trip, you’re in luck: Gas prices across the country are pretty low right now, dropping about 6% in the last month to just $2.59 a gallon on average. But if you’re planning to hit the highways and byways this fall, your luck is about to get even better at the pump, as experts say gas prices could fall below $2 a gallon next month.

Though both oil and gas prices are down right now, gas will get even cheaper after Sept. 15, when stations are no longer required to sell the more expensive summer blend of gasoline that meets environmental standards. Once that less-expensive gas hits stations and peak summertime demand slows down, it’s likely that gas prices will drop steeply.

“There will be thousands, even tens of thousands of stations below $2 by the time we’re into football season,” Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst for the Oil Price Information Service, which tracks retail prices for AAA told CNNMoney. Today there are only 50 stations nationwide that are below $2, he adds.

Crude oil is down by 16% right now, which could bode well for customers at the pump during September and October’s anticipated gasoline glut.

“If you have these crude oil prices in the autumn, you’d be looking at prices 60 to 70 cents lower than today,” Kloza said.

Gas prices poised for a steep drop [CNNMoney]

It’s hard enough for some people to keep plants alive and thriving on the face of the Earth, but a team of astronauts on the International Space Station have green enough thumbs that they’ve managed to cultivate plants in space. Today, they’ll get to eat the fruits of their labors, chowing down on the first-ever lettuce grown in space.

Fresh food is rare in space, and there isn’t a lot of room for refrigeration. Most fresh things get consumed immediately upon arrival in orbit. But space missions are getting longer, especially if we ever want to move a colony to Mars, so researchers have focused on how to grow greens in space for those long hauls.

The red romaine lettuce called “Outredgeous” was planted, grown and now harvested in space, Business Insider reports, as part of a NASA experiment called Veg-01. Scientists have been working on an effective way to grow plants in orbit, using a technology dubbed “Veggie” that combines the efforts of NASA and an aerospace research company called Orbital Technologies Corporation.

There are all kinds of factors that don’t exist on land: No gravity means water and soil won’t stay put, and roots tend to grow in weird directions. Not to mention a lack of rain or sunshine inside a metallic space station.

The plant growth system cultivated by astronauts thrives in zero gravity, in something akin to a tiny greenhouse. The Veggie system uses plant “pillows” as a bed for roots with a water reservoir below. Its lightweight structure made from special fabrics is filled with soil, fertilizer and seeds. Red and blue LEDs provide the colors of light that plants use for photosynthesis.

The set of Veg-01 pillows used for this batch were set in motion on July 8 and have grown for 33 days. Astronauts will get to eat the lettuce today, as part of a six-hour live-stream event on NASA TV that began just before 10 a.m. EDT on Monday, that also includes the Russian crew performing a spacewalk.

Anticipation was already running high last night, and puns were on point:

Here’s more info on the science behind space lettuce:

Imagine you wake up one day to find out that you suddenly owe nearly $100,000 on a house you’ve never owned, in a city where you’ve never resided. Should be easy enough to sort that out, right? Tell that to the Florida man who has spent the better part of two decades trying to convince creditors he didn’t buy property in Philadelphia when he was 12 years old.

The man’s saga, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, goes back to 1998, when he learned of a $98,293 judgement against him from a bank. The money was related to a property in Northeast Philadelphia that had gone into foreclosure.

The building had apparently been purchased by someone with a similar name, but in 1972, when the alleged debtor wasn’t even a teenager, let alone trying to invest in real estate.

He was the victim of lazy “skip tracers,” who do their best to connect names and dates and locations in the hopes of tracking down the correct person, but who sometimes fail miserably by, for example, not taking into account that this man could not possibly have ever owned this property.

Through a little research on his own, the man believes he may have found the correct debtor with his same name. Unfortunately, that man died back in the 1970s.

And yet, he continually receives demands for payments for significant amounts of money. There was the law firm demanding nearly $32,000. A collections action dating back to 1986 valued at $12,000. A 2011 collection notice for a city water bill he never paid, because he never lived there.

He’s been able to shoo them off as they pop up, but they just won’t go away.

Most recently, a Philadelphia law firm demanded $7,323 for delinquent taxes owed — again, by someone other than him — to the city and its school district.

There is a bright spot at the end of this long tunnel. A lawyer at the firm trying to collect this latest debt tells the Inquirer that the info from the third-party skip tracer has been flagged as wrong, which could cut down on the number of people trying to collect these age-old debts owed by someone else. Or that bright spot could just be the next debt collection train coming to barrel him over.

Over the past several years, Delta Air Lines has been at the center of numerous tragic stories of regarding pet transports. Now, a family who was flying their cat on the airline from San Diego to Baltimore is hoping their tale of loss ends on a happy note.

ABC 10 News reports that an hour after a San Diego couple dropped off 5-year-old Mickey at the Delta cargo office Friday night for his trip to be reunited with his owner – the couple’s 12-year-old niece who recently moved out of state – he was missing.

The couple says they received a phone call from the airline informing them that the cat had escaped its cage and was wandering the tarmac.

“My heart dropped, I just said ‘where is my cat, what happened?’ ‘He opened the cage,’ that’s what they said, he opened the cage,” the girl’s aunt tells ABC 10 News.

The couple claims that the cage – which they took a picture of before leaving – was not secured with zip-ties by Delta employees.

A spokesperson for Delta says the airline is aware of the missing animal and has worked with the family to locate it.

Since learning of the cat’s escape, the couple has been at the San Diego International Airport setting up traps and handing out flyers with Mickey picture in hopes that the animal will be found safe.

Couple claims Delta Airlines lost niece’s cat [ABC 10 News]

In this month’s Recall Roundup for food and supplements, turkey sausage might contain parts of a conveyor belt, a variety of products may be contaminated with nuts, raw pet foods keep testing positive for foodborne bacteria, and mozzarella cheese might be contaminated with egg.

Our monthly Recall Roundups have grown so expansive that we’ve had to separate them into two separate posts: one for consumer goods, and one for consumables.

If you have any of these listed items in your pantry, refrigerator, or freezer, first check the varieties and flavors against the ones listed on the recall site or press release, then check expiration date or lot numbers.

When there’s a match, don’t panic! If an item is listed as having undeclared walnuts and you’re not allergic to walnuts, for example, you don’t have to do anything at all. You can keep the item, eat it, not eat it, or return it to the store or the manufacturer for your own peace of mind.

Items that may be contaminated with pathogens or foreign objects are worrisome for everyone, and you should return them to the retail store where you bought them, or contact the company for a refund and further instructions.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Angry Orchard Hard Cider – Bottles may explode when opened.

SNACKS
KellBran Caramel Popcorn – Contains undeclared milk
Vic’s Original Popcorn – Contains undeclared milk
Veggie Evolution Kale Crisps Zen Nori – Contains undeclared soy.
CocoNoNut Cacao-Nectar Bar – May contain undeclared almonds.
Natural Grocers brand Caribbean Nut & Fruit Mix – May contain Macadamia nuts contaminated with Salmonella.

NUTS
Mahina Mele Farms Macadamia nut products – May contain Salmonella.
Maya Split Cashews – May contain Salmonella.

CANDY
Kilwin’s Milk Chocolate Caramels – May contain undeclared cashew.

DAIRY
Bella Rosa Grated Parmesan Cheese (BJ’s Wholesale Clubs) – May contain undeclared egg
Kraft Singles – Packaging poses choking hazard

VEGETABLES
Real Foods Harvest Slaw Kit and Broccoli Salad Kits (Salads sold in Haggen stores) – May contain undeclared peanut ingredients

PACKAGED MEALS
Good Food Made Simple breakfasts containing turkey sausage – Imported from Canada without proper inspection
Golden Gourmet French Toast Sticks with Turkey Patty & Peaches – Sausage may contain pieces of a conveyor belt

CONDIMENTS AND SPICES
Kroger Garlic Powder, Cinnamon, Pepper, and “artificial bacon covered chips” – Possible Salmonella

SUPPLEMENTS
Nutrition Resource Services Whey and Casein Products – De not declare that the products contain dairy.

FISH
Osamu Corporation Yellow Fin Tuna Chunk Meat – May contain Salmonella

PET FOOD
Bravo Chicken Dog and Cat Food – May contain Salmonella
Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Chicken Formula for dogs – May contain Salmonella
The Natural Dog Company 12″ Tremenda Sticks pet chews – May contain Salmonella.
Vital Essentials Frozen Beef Tripe Dog Treats – May contain Listeria.
Stella & Chewy’s Dog and Cat Foods – May contain Listeria.
Boulder Dog Food Company Turkey Sprinkles – May contain Salmonella

MEAT
Aspen Foods (Koch Poultry, numerous private-label brands) Stuffed Chicken Breasts – Possible Salmonella
Barber Foods stuffed chicken breasts – Possible Salmonella
Ambassador Beef Summer Sausage – Contains undeclared pork
The Sausage Factory sausages – Misbranding

There have been a number of very high-profile security flaws in Android phones this summer. The good news is, the makers of the hardware and software are now pledging to roll out updates to everyone more often. The bad news? “Everyone” doesn’t actually mean “everyone.”

Reuters reports that Google, maker of the Android operating system, as well as Samsung and LG, makers of many of the most popular phone and tablet lines, will begin pushing regular, monthly security updates to owners of their devices.

That news comes on the heel of a vulnerability in Samsung Galaxy phones that left an estimated 600 million users vulnerable to hack attack, as well as another flaw endemic to all Android phones that affected the better part of a billion users.

Samsung and Google have both been responsive to learning of their security flaws; Samsung had an update ready for their Galaxy phones two days after the exploit became widely known, and Google had already identified and patched their Stagefright vulnerabilities by the time stories about it hit the media.

However, both companies, along with LG, are now trying to be more proactive and less reactive in the wake of the high-profile exploits. Instead of throwing patches out after everyone has said, “holy crap, a billion phones?!,” they will now be deploying monthly security updates to all users.

But here’s the catch: if you bought your phone from a wireless company, as so many millions of us do, you’re not the “user” who gets the update. Your carrier is. And it’s anyone’s guess how long AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon will sit around waiting before pushing updates over the air to their subscribers.

A Samsung executive confirmed to Reuters that his company had no way of forcing the carriers that buy devices in bulk actually to install the fixes, and said that some companies might only do it for high-end users. “If it’s your business customers, you’ll push it,” he told Reuters.

The hundreds of millions of us who are not large corporations, on the other hand, will have to continue to wait our turn.

Google, Samsung to issue monthly Android security fixes [Reuters]