新媒网 · 跨境数据社区

Since water quality is fresh on your minds due to the recent boil notice, I’m sure you’ll appreciate this episode of pure absurdity. In early-mid 2017, the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office built a shooting range abutting the Saxet Lakes NW of Patriot Park with little fanfare or public scrutiny. It turns out that the range, which likely absorbs well over a million rounds of lead ammunition every year, was built in the floodplain and is a mere 70 feet from the banks of the lakes. The base of the range sits at around 50ft in elevation which is 5-6ft below the floodplain level for that area. In late-August 2017, it was inundated with an estimated 8-9ft of rushing flood water from Hurricane Harvey, and some of the original berms were severely eroded. It now has 8 years of lead accumulation just waiting to be washed into the river, onto surrounding farm land, and further afield in the water table. But the immediate, ongoing threat lies in the extreme soil contamination leaching into the water table that supplies many surrounding residential water wells. The fragmentation and abrasion that occurs upon a bullet impacting soil creates an untold number of particles with exponentially-more chemically-reactive surface area than the original round, which makes groundwater leaching a near certainty. To illustrate the contamination potential of just one round, the Environmental Working Group claims, “A single shot from a 30-30 Winchester containing 8.1 grams of lead could contaminate about 370 cubic feet of soil to Superfund site contamination levels (the equivalent of about 56 bathtubs filled with Superfund site dirt).” [Article: “Lead Pollution at Outdoor Firing Ranges”] Now, scale that up by millions and imagine it concentrated in a single 120ft-long pile of dirt waiting to be spread along the river basin in the next flood while constantly leaching into the groundwater beneath. This issue was passed onto me by a concerned citizen who has exhausted his options for reporting this potential disaster to governmental entities, including getting a pass-the-buck response from TCEQ, which seems to be their typical mode of operation regarding government activities. After much open-meeting urging from the concerned citizen, the entity ultimately responsible—the Victoria County Commissioners Court—approved a lead study which was conducted on 4/12/2025. They claimed the results came back as satisfactory and considered it a closed issue. The study tells a different story. The contracted soil testing company took 21 samples in and around the berms at the range. The berm that gets the most action came back with a lead concentration of 3,770ppm (1 part lead for every 265 parts). For reference and scale, the EPA considers 100-200ppm of lead “acceptable” for residential soil. There is no acceptable level of lead in the blood, and the miniscule amount of 50ppb (0.05ppm) is cause for health intervention. Granted, the berm isn’t being used for residential purposes or playgrounds, but there are at least 20 water wells within a mile of the range with the closest being only 1,800ft away. A recreational lake is only 70ft away and the river is 1.2 miles away. These aren’t great distances for surface water to cover nor are they impossible distances for groundwater to cover. Only one sample was taken from the hottest berm. We think the berm needs to be sampled in several spots to get more reliable data. There may be areas with far higher concentrations. The purpose of this post is to increase exposure to put pressure on the County to cease operations at the shooting range and remediate the contaminated soil to avoid further erosion and leaching. A shooting range simply doesn’t belong in a flood plain or near bodies of water that are regularly fished and skied in. And this doesn't even consider the legality or prudence of building 10-12ft berms that can exacerbate upstream flooding. I’ve included some visuals in the comments to support these claims and have uploaded the soil study PDF to a secure file-sharing site (Mega) for you to evaluate for yourselves. (see link in the comments) I’ve also included contact info for all members of the Commissioners Court. They need to hear from you! The owners of the surrounding wells should also be made aware of the lead source near their homes and over their water table. Speaking of flooding, we have a few more water-related issues up the pipe that were also being addressed by our concerned citizen. STAY TUNED! Please share this post widely and follow us for more.

WEDNESDAY MUSING: WHEN CRIMINALS WEAR CAMOUFLAGE - THE ABDUCTION OF HON. JUSTICE E.G. UMOKORO AND THE COLLAPSING EDIFICE OF NIGERIAN SECURITY: Our collective descent into lawlessness has reached a disgraceful and terrifying new low. On Saturday, around 7:30PM, Hon. Justice E.G. Umokoro of the Bayelsa State High Court, Yenagoa, was abducted at gunpoint in front of Kilimanjaro Eateries, along the Ekeki axis of the state capital. Pause and let that sink in: a sitting High Court Judge - a custodian of justice and a symbol of the rule of law - was brazenly snatched from the street like a petty target by gun-wielding criminals dressed in camouflage. The very uniform meant to represent authority and security has now become a cover for terror. This is no ordinary crime. It is a direct, blasphemous assault on the judiciary - one of the last fragile pillars still holding up our battered republic. Only a few months ago, legal practitioners were gruesomely murdered in Anambra and Benue States. Their killers still walk free. Now, the criminal enterprise has escalated. They no longer just kill in the shadows - they abduct justice in broad daylight. If judges are no longer safe in Nigeria, who then is? When those tasked with upholding the Constitution are hunted by the lawless, what hope is left for the ordinary citizen? What makes this even more chilling is the calculated deception - the use of camouflage uniforms to project false legitimacy. This not only delayed intervention but also completely betrayed public trust. By the time the ruse was uncovered, a High Court Judge had been whisked away - in a state capital, no less - with impunity. We must now confront a sobering truth: Camouflage is no longer a symbol of protection - it has become the perfect disguise for predators. It must be regulated with urgency. Police officers deployed to civilian spaces must be barred from wearing camouflage. That uniform has been hijacked - weaponized by criminals who now blend seamlessly into our communities, manipulating fear and eroding public vigilance. Across Nigeria, insecurity festers - from our highways to homes, from farmlands to courtrooms. Criminals grow bolder. Security agencies appear overwhelmed. And the moral authority of the Nigerian state continues to bleed out, slowly but surely. We cannot afford silence. The abduction of Hon. Justice E.G. Umokoro is not just another kidnapping - it is a violent blow to the very heart of our democracy. It is a loud, chilling indictment of our security architecture and the government’s capacity to protect its most sacred institutions. I call on all security agencies - the Police, DSS, Military, NSCDC - to break protocol, collapse silos, and act with unified urgency and uncompromising resolve to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Hon. Justice Umokoro. Anything less emboldens the enemies of our nation and confirms the collapse of public order. Enough is enough. The judiciary must be protected. Our streets must be reclaimed. Camouflage must no longer be a mask for mayhem. Justice is under siege. And when justice is shackled, none of us is free. #JusticeUnderAttack #BringBackJusticeUmokoro #StopCamouflageAbuse #ProtectTheJudiciary #InsecurityInNigeria #UnitedForSecurity #BarEjioforWrites @EjioforBar June 25, 2025

The Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) has officially conducted the inspection, blessing, and turnover ceremony of its newly established Emergency Command Center last June 24, 2025. This milestone marks the readiness of the city to fully implement the GeoPindot Emergency and Dispatching System, a cutting-edge technology developed by OBX Solutions Technology. The system will significantly enhance the city's emergency response capabilities through real-time monitoring and efficient dispatch coordination. The initiative is made possible in partnership with Converge.IT Solutions, which provided the necessary infrastructure to support seamless operations. This development underscores IGACOS' commitment to strengthening public safety and ensuring rapid emergency response for its citizens.

Our new insights paper published today looks at the evidence on the risks of e-scooters and e-bikes for young riders. It includes data on injuries and fatalities for children and young people, risk factors, and road rules, and includes a number of recommendations to improve safety outcomes – including the introduction of a minimum age of 16 to legally ride these devices in Queensland. We’re providing it to the Queensland parliamentary inquiry into the use and safety of e-bikes and scooters currently underway. You can read the paper on our website at https://www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/safer-pathways-through-childhood .

Congratulations to RCMP Member Tyson Perry! 🎉🥋 We’re proud to celebrate Tyson Perry, an RCMP Member in B.C., for his incredible dedication to his community. Not only does he run a Judo club at Green Timbers HQ where he leads a free women’s self-defence course—empowering participants with valuable skills and confidence, he also helps spread a love of the sport by teaching judo to local youth. This past weekend, Tyson’s commitment to community engagement was recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, a well-deserved honour! Well done, Cst. Perry, and thank you for your outstanding service—on and off the mats! 👏💙

Michigan State Police Trooper Cody Longuski Suspended for Doing His Job & Stopping a Drunk Driver #cops #florida #floridalife #funny #fyp #instagram #love #miami #nature #orlando #police #policecar #policedepartment #policeofficer #reels #scatpack #sheriff #statetrooper #strongwomen #tampa #thinblueline #tiktok #travel #trending #trooper #usa #viral #vote #warning #wesleychapel

HIDDEN HILLS ALERT! Calabasas Pickleball Club put your home at risk! Owners ordered electrical and drainage changes without permits or Regional Planning, increasing fire and landslide threats. Protect yourself: Contact the Building Department now! https://dpw.lacounty.gov/building-and-safety/ or (818)880-4150

⚠️This image of Mt. Trelease above I-70 near the Eisenhower Tunnel should grab your attention: It’s a very large avalanche both in general (D3) and for this terrain feature (R4). We’ve seen a lot of avalanches over the last few days, but this is one of the largest slides reported so far this season. It was remotely triggered by skiers from low-angle terrain. There were at least three parties in the area. Luckily, nobody was involved, but it was a close call. This is an important marker for anyone heading into the backcountry: You can trigger very large avalanches from adjacent slopes or the bottom of avalanche paths–even if you’re hundreds or even 1,000 feet away in gentle or flat terrain. The potential of triggering, and remotely triggering, a large or very large avalanche is why we’ve issued a Special Avalanche Advisory through Wednesday afternoon. This advisory is in place to alert people that dangerous avalanche conditions exist during a busy holiday period when many people are out recreating and enjoying the much-awaited fresh snow. You can enjoy the new snow safely, but you need to be aware of the avalanche danger and take action to avoid it. 🚨The bottom line: You can easily trigger avalanches large enough to injure or kill you and can do so from a long distance. Safe travel will require giving most slopes steeper than around 30 degrees wide buffers. Get the latest information for wherever you plan to travel at Colorado.gov/avalanche . 📷 Mt. Trelease near the Eisenhower Tunnel | southeast-facing slope above treeline |December 31, 2024 #AvySafety #GetTheForecast #FriendsofCAIC #COAvyObs #COAvalancheInfo

As 2025 approaches, the Desert Hot Springs Police Department is taking action to promote safe travel and prevent tragic crashes on the roadways. Starting December 31, DHSPD will begin a Maximum Enforcement Period to crack down on dangerous driving behaviors and protect all road users. This heightened enforcement will run through Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Let’s welcome 2025 responsibly. Drive sober, stay focused and help make the new year safe for everyone on the road. #DriveSober #NYE2025 #UberIsBetterThanJail #DontDrinkAndDrive #DesertHotSprings

El alto cilindraje de los atentados guerrilleros, están estallando la tranquilidad y la vida de los Colombianos #RecuperandoNuestrasCalles

Grand Junction News: CSP holding public meeting in Grand Junction on new commercial motor vehicle chain law.