Sherman A1
Sherman A1's JournalVirginia-Class Submarine Montana (SSN 794) Delivered to US Navy
America’s largest shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) on Friday delivered the newest Virginia-class fast-attack submarine to the U.S. Navy.
Montana (SSN 794), which successfully completed sea trials last month, is the 10th Virginia-class submarine to be delivered by HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division and the 21st built as part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics’ Electric Boat.
“We continue to be proud of our partnership with the U.S. Navy in delivering the most advanced ships in the world to our warfighters,” said Jason Ward, Newport News Shipbuilding vice president of Virginia-class submarine construction. “The results of the Navy’s board of inspection and survey during sea trials are a testament to our priorities of safety and quality. We are proud of our team of shipbuilders for delivering these critical capabilities to the Navy and the nation.”
More than 10,000 shipbuilders from Newport News Shipbuilding and Electric Boat have participated in Montana’s construction since the work began in May 2015. The submarine was christened by the ship’s sponsor, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, during a ceremony in September 2020.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/virginiaclass-submarine-montana-ssn-495011
Maersk Picking up 50,000 Stranded Containers at Russian Ports
Shipping group Maersk still has vessels calling at Russian ports to deliver containers booked before the invasion of Ukraine began and to pick up around 50,000 containers stranded in Russia, Chief Executive Soren Skou said on Tuesday.
The company has temporarily halted new container bookings to and from Russia, as a consequence of what the Kremlin calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine.
“We have about 50,000 of our containers in Russia today. Most of them are empty, they are our property,” Skou said.
“We need them, and we are very reluctant to leave them in Russia. For this reason, we still have some port calls in Russia,” he said.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/maersk-picking-stranded-containers-495032
Containership Runs Aground in Chesapeake Bay
A 1,095-foot containership has run aground in the Chesapeake Bay, near Craighill Channel in Maryland.
The U.S. Coast Guard said it is working with Maryland Department of the Environment to coordinate the refloating of containership Ever Forward, after its watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region received the initial report of the grounding at 9 p.m., Sunday. The ship had just left the Port of Baltimore and was en route to Norfolk, Va.
No injuries, pollution or damage to the vessel have been reported.
The Coast Guard has issued a safety marine information broadcast to mariners in the area stating that a safety zone will be in place during salvage operations.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/containership-runs-aground-chesapeake-bay-495010
RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, MARCH 14
Mason Clark, George Barros, and Kateryna Stepanenko
March 14, 5:00 pm ET
Russian forces made small territorial gains in Luhansk Oblast on March 14 but did not conduct any major attacks toward Kyiv or in northeastern Ukraine. Russian forces continue to assemble reinforcements and attempt to improve logistical support in both the Kyiv and southern operational directions. Ongoing Russian efforts to replace combat losses with both Russian replacements and non-Russian sources, including Syrian fighters and the Wagner Group, are unlikely to enable Russia to resume major offensive operations within the coming week.
Key Takeaways
Russian forces conducted several limited attacks northwest of Kyiv on March 14, unsuccessfully attempting to bridge the Irpin River.
Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations east of Kyiv and continued to prioritize improving logistics and reinforcing combat units.
The continued ability of Ukrainian forces to carry out successful local counterattacks around Kharkiv indicates that Russian forces are unlikely to successfully bypass
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-14
Much more at link
Popular EPCOT attraction to close permanently
LA BUENA VISTA, Fla. (WKRC) — A popular attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort's EPCOT is set to close for good after running for less than three years.
While guests have plenty of upcoming features to look forward to, some inspired by popular movies like "Moana" and "Guardians of the Galaxy," the EPCOT Experience will be shutting down.
The resort's website describes the EPCOT Experience as a 360-degree "series of engaging exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation, energy and excitement driving the park’s unprecedented evolution."
An Instagram post from Disney architect and designer Zach Ridley confirmed the attraction, which opened just years ago in October of 2019, will be closing on March 14.
https://krcgtv.com/news/entertainment/popular-epcot-attraction-to-close-permanently-walt-disney-world-resort-theme-amusement-park-family-entertainment-epcot-experience-exhibit-orlando-lake-buena-vista-florida-cincinnati-ohio
'Grandma Virginia' McLaurin, longtime DC public servant, celebrates her 113th birthday
WASHINGTON (WJLA) — Virginia McLaurin, one of DC’s most famous citizens, is celebrating her 113th birthday.
McLaurin gained national attention when she visited and danced with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the White House.
After the White House visit, McLaurin said she could finally die happy after meeting the Obamas.
She told The Associated Press that when she saw the president and first lady Michelle Obama in the flesh, “I was so happy, I started dancing.”
https://krcgtv.com/news/offbeat/grandma-virginia-mclaurin-longtime-dc-public-servant-celebrates-113th-birthday-barack-obama-michelle-obama-globetrotters-dc-council
North Carolina woman's efforts to keep 'FART' license plate losing steam
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — An Asheville woman's clash with North Carolina's Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to keep her custom license plate might be stalled.
Karly Sindy's license plate was on her truck for Sunday’s event, but her effort with the DMV to keep it there permanently has apparently run out of gas.
More than a dozen gathered at Richmond Hill Park in Asheville on Sunday to support the Friends of Asheville Recreational Trails, better known as the "FART" club.
The effort was formed when Sindy went on Reddit for suggestions she could give the DMV for keeping her custom "FART" license plate after someone complained. Sindy said she registered for the plate in the fall of 2021 as a joke and was surprised when the DMV approved it. The plate recently arrived in the mail.
https://krcgtv.com/news/offbeat/fart-license-plate-north-carolina-karly-sindy-friends-of-asheville-recreational-trails-nc-dmv-division-of-motor-vehicles
Eggsellent job: Utility workers, sheriff's office team up to safely move screech owl eggs
JENSEN BEACH, Fla. (WPEC) — Things should be looking up for some screech owls in a nest, way near the top of a new power pole in Jensen Beach.
Actually, they’re still eggs, but they’ll become screech owls.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said they were discovered by workers from Pike Electric who removing an old utility pole.
Those workers called the sheriff’s office’s Animal Services division, and they came up with an idea to move the owls while keeping them safe.
https://krcgtv.com/news/offbeat/screech-owl-eggs-utility-pole-jensen-beach-workers-move-relocate-pike-electric-shannon-mcgee-josh-hamel-animal-services-martin-county-sheriffs-office
Department of Natural Resources awards $50k grant to Iberia
JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Department of Natural Resources awarded a $50,000 grant to the city of Iberia to evaluate the city’s wastewater system.
According to a news release, the city will use the grant to identify wastewater system improvements, meet permit requirements and reduce infiltration of storm water into sewer collection pipes.
The grant will also help cover engineering costs.
Dru Buntin, Director of the Missouri Department of Natural resources, said wastewater systems are crucial to every community.
https://krcgtv.com/news/local/department-of-natural-resources-awards-50k-grant-to-iberia
Pharmacies face job shortage, stresses of medical field
JEFFERSON CITY — As healthcare workers are still reeling from the devastating spike in cases of COVID-19 from this winter's Omicron variant, pharmaceutical workers are, similarly, facing severe strains.
Several pharmacies nationwide, and in Mid-Missouri, are facing worker shortages, reduced hours, and even unexpected closures.
"There are pharmacists out there," Ron Fitzwater, the Executive Director of the Missouri Pharmacy Association, an advocacy group, said.
"There's not enough revenue coming to be able to support that kind of overhead, and the patients suffer. I mean, we don't have access here in Jefferson City to a 24-hour pharmacy anymore."
Fitzwater said, for years, the healthcare system has attempted to maximize profits, often at the expense, he said, of pharmaceutical workers on the frontline. After the pandemic, pharmacy employees were met with a surge in demand for both COVID-19 tests and, eventually, vaccinations, on top of their routine practice.
https://krcgtv.com/news/local/pharmacies-face-job-shortage-stresses-of-medical-field
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