Posted 4:21 pm Thursday, January 24, 2013
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P.M. update: Whitehouse man guilty, assault weapon legislation, dung beetle navigation news
TylerPaper.com video
Whitehouse man found guilty
A Whitehouse man who shot and killed his former girlfriend as she came through the window of his home was found guilty by a jury in the 114th District Court this afternoon. Larry Smith, 68, shot and killed Sandra Greenhaw last March 16. Smith told police he thought she was an intruder. He faces up to life in prison. Punishment phase of the trial begins this afternoon.***
Assault weapons ban legislation introduced
Senator Dianne Feinstein today rolled out a controversial piece of gun control legislation, a ban on assault weapons similar to the one that expired in 2004.
With stricter definitions of an “assault weapon,” Feinstein is pushing to make the manufacture or sale of new guns illegal.
The proposal is already receiving pushback from some senators and the likelihood of it being passed by both chambers is deemed slim by supporters and opponents alike.
The ban is part of a slew of legislation introduced in the aftermath of the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut and recommended by President Barack Obama. But even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has expressed doubt that the assault weapon ban could be approved by the Senate.***
With stricter definitions of an “assault weapon,” Feinstein is pushing to make the manufacture or sale of new guns illegal.
The proposal is already receiving pushback from some senators and the likelihood of it being passed by both chambers is deemed slim by supporters and opponents alike.
The ban is part of a slew of legislation introduced in the aftermath of the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut and recommended by President Barack Obama. But even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has expressed doubt that the assault weapon ban could be approved by the Senate.***
Dung beetles navigate using the Milky Way
Finally, Birds and humans use stars to navigate (at least, our pre-Google Maps ancestors did), but can insects map their routes?
For dung beetles, a new study says the answer is yes. The African insects appear to find their way via the Milky Way. It’s the first evidence that any insect can orientate themselves with the sky, and the first evidence that any animal uses the Milky Way as a map of sorts.
“Even on clear, moonless nights, many dung beetles still manage to orientate along straight paths,” said Marie Dacke of Lund University in Sweden. “This led us to suspect that the beetles exploit the starry sky for orientation — a feat that had, to our knowledge, never before been demonstrated in an insect.”
Dung beetles are so named because they search out piles of dung to roll into balls (yes, that’s dinner). They roll the balls in a straight line so that they won’t risk having their meal stolen by other beetles.***
Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the morning!
For dung beetles, a new study says the answer is yes. The African insects appear to find their way via the Milky Way. It’s the first evidence that any insect can orientate themselves with the sky, and the first evidence that any animal uses the Milky Way as a map of sorts.
“Even on clear, moonless nights, many dung beetles still manage to orientate along straight paths,” said Marie Dacke of Lund University in Sweden. “This led us to suspect that the beetles exploit the starry sky for orientation — a feat that had, to our knowledge, never before been demonstrated in an insect.”
Dung beetles are so named because they search out piles of dung to roll into balls (yes, that’s dinner). They roll the balls in a straight line so that they won’t risk having their meal stolen by other beetles.***
Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the morning!
