Interviews

On this week's 1430 Connection, Rebecca Tingle, executive director of Anne Arundel County CASA, and Tracey Lane, case supervisor and training/program coordinator for Anne Arundel County CASA, join WNAV's Donna Cole to explain the life-changing and life-saving work the organization does for some of the most overlooked and vulnerable residents of Anne Arundel County - children that have been abused and are in the foster care system. These kids need someone with their best interests in mind representing them in the court system and that's where court appointed special advocates come in.

For more information on Anne Arundel County CASA, to make a donation or to volunteer, visit https://aacasa.org

Welcome to the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2023. Take a look at what we saw and who we talked to on Induction Day.

We got to spend some time at the Anne Arundel County Police Department K9 Training Center today and for a very specific reason.

Kris Valerio Shock, president and CEO of Leadership Anne Arundel (LAA) joins WNAV's Donna Cole on this week's 1430 Connection. Topics discussed include what LAA does, what the organization has done for the community and a big anniversary this year.

For more information about Leadership Anne Arundel, visit https://www.leadershipaa.org/

Some major work is needed on Thomas Point Lighthouse and caretakers want to get it all done this year. They say that would help with keeping costs down. But they're going to need some help.

For the GoFundMe page, visit https://www.gofundme.com/save-the-thomas-point-lighthouse

For tours and more information on volunteer needs, visit https://uslhs.org/about/thomas-point-shoal-lighthouse/tours

We had the opportunity to visit the Fort George G. Meade, Md Military Working Dog Kennel and visit with the dogs and their handlers. We learned a lot about some of our local, two and four-legged miltiary members.

For more on the military working dog adoption program, visit https://www.37trw.af.mil/Units/37th-Training-Group/341st-Training-Squadron/

On this week's 1430 Connection, it's part two of the interview by WNAV's Donna Cole with Retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Frank Kuncir about the poisoning of wildlife, including bald eagles, on and near the Delmarva Peninsula.

Governor Hogan has indicated, "Our administration is taking these incidents very seriously and doing everything we can to prevent further damage to our ecosystem and the Bald Eagle population." But is that true?

These cases have been happening for years with well over 35 bald eagles and other wildlife killed by carbofuran poisoning, since the EPA phaseout of carbofuran began, and many more mass mortality cases that happened before. The state has known about these cases for years. Kuncir explains how a state law making the possession of carbofuran illegal would help law enforcement professionals bring these cases to justice. He also explains how, if such a law was enacted, could be implemented.

WNAV reached out to the Governor's office on May 11 and again this week asking if the administration is considering an Executive Order to make possession of carbofuran illegal. We've not received an answer to that specific question. We've also asked why there has been no action before to enact a state law making the possession of carbofuran illegal when these bald eagle poisonings have been going on for so long. We have not yet received an answer on that question. We will update our listeners and social media followers if we get a response to those questions.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture has reminded the public that the use and sale of carbofuran (commonly known as Furadan) is ILLEGAL under state and federal law. Violations of Maryland’s Pesticide Applicator Law are subject to a fine of up to $25,000 and/or prison. Violators may also be subject to further penalties from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

On December 31, 2009, the EPA revoked all food tolerances for the pesticide carbofuran, equating to a ban of the product. While it is not illegal to possess an unregistered or banned pesticide, it must be stored in compliance with state regulations and may not be used, sold or traded. The public is urged to responsibly dispose of carbofuran immediately. For directions on proper disposal of pesticides, contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Regulation Section at 410-841-5710 or pest.reg@maryland.gov.

Bald eagles are protected by federal laws. The USFWS is offering a reward of up to $10,000 to eligible individuals for information that furthers this investigation. If you have any information about any of these cases, you can make an anonymous report, 24/7, to Maryland Wildlife Crime Stoppers by calling or texting, 443-433-4112, email mwc.dnr@maryland.gov, or report violations using the department’s free mobile app. Dispatchers will alert the nearest patrol officer. If the tip leads to the arrest and conviction, the Maryland Wildlife Crime Stoppers board of directors may issue a reward.

Part one of interview with Kuncir is here - https://youtu.be/uV_nLRBOhQs

A State Law That Currently Doesn't Exist Could Help in Prosecuting Bald Eagle Poisoning Cases

Prosecuting the bald eagle poisoning cases (we're at over 35 documented now) could be aided by a state law - that doesn't exist. This, according to retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Frank Kuncir, who investigated these cases for years. That law would make it illegal to possess carbofuran. It is illegal to use, buy or sell carbofuran, but possessing it is not illegal.

The Governor's office has stated, "Our administration is taking these incidents very seriously and doing everything we can to prevent further damage to our ecosystem and the Bald Eagle population." On May 11, WNAV's Donna Cole reached out to Mike Ricci, Director of Communications for Governor's office, and asked if an executive order to enact a law making it illegal to possess carbofuran was being considered. At that time, he told us, "I'll look into it." We haven't heard anything since and we have reached out again.

This conversation between WNAV's Donna Cole and Kuncir is a small segment of part two of the interview - it airs this Friday at 2 on WVAV. Part one aired last Friday and can be listened to here -https://youtu.be/uV_nLRBOhQs)

WNAV's Donna Cole is in the studio with Sue Pitchford, president of Anne Arundel Women Giving Together (AAWGT) for this week's 1430 Connection. What is Anne Arundel Giving Together? And what work are they doing to make lives and the community better? The organization has distributed over $1,100,000 to 40 organizations in 12 years - we'll hear more about that and how other nonprofits might be able to benefit from the money being raised by AAWGT.

For more information on AAWGT, visit www.givingtogether.org

While you might not like snakes, they are protected in Maryland. In other words, it's against the law to kill them. We talked to Scott Smith, a wildlife ecologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, today to learn more about what snakes do for the environment & why they're protected.