Can THis happen? THE HOMECOMING CENTENNIAL IS A BIG DEAL FOR THE UNIVERSITY, BUT SHOULD IT BE MOVED DUE TO COVID-19?
N E WS
NEWS
Mysterious seeds from China are appearing in American mailboxes— including Oklahoma Ryan Novoz ins k y, E d itor In C h ie f, @ryann ovo6 2
Thousands of Americans— including Oklahomans —have reportedly received mysterious seeds in the mail from China in the past few days. Because of this, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has released a statement about the potential dangers that can come from planting these. “USDA urges anyone who receives an unso-
licited package of seeds to immediately contact their State plant regulatory official or APHIS State plant health director,” the statement read. “Please hold onto the seeds and packaging, including the mailing label, until someone from your State department of agriculture or APHIS contacts you with further instructions. Do not plant seeds from unknown origins.” Planting seeds from unknown origins could cause a variety of issues. Oklahoma State Univer-
sity extension assistant director Randy Taylor has been working hard to warn people of these potential dangers. “Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants or be harmful to livestock,” Taylor said in a report on OSU’s website. “This is not just an Oklahoma-level threat.” The OSU extension team is also helping with the collection and disposal of the seeds. The team is working with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture,
Food and Forestry and encourage Oklahomans to do the following if they receive mysterious seeds in the mail: If the package has already been opened, place all contents – seeds, envelopes and packing material – in a zip-lock bag, write your name and city on the bag and then send an email to vance@ag.ok. gov with that information. If the seeds have been planted, they should be dug up and shaken for loose soil before follow-
ing the previous step. After the seeds are secured, Oklahomans should dispose of them by mailing the bagged contents in another package to Morgan Vance at the Agriculture Department, 2800 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, 73105, bring the package to the front desk of that department or bring them to a local OSU extension facility. The seeds have been reported in all 50 states as of Wednesday. At this time, the USDA is collecting more information
The Agriculture Department is looking into the origins of mysterious packages of seeds with Chinese mailing addresses delivered to recipients who say they never ordered them.
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
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regarding the origin of the seeds. “We don’t have any evidence indicating this is something other than a ‘brushing scam’ where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales,” the statement read. “USDA is currently collecting seed packages from recipients and will test their contents and determine if they contain anything that could be of concern to U.S. agriculture or the environment.”
Lansdowne, Heather [KDA]
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
OCOLLY.COM
C OV E R
NEWS
Opinion: The homecoming centennial deserves to be moved C h ris Becker , Digital editor, @ B h r is_Cec ker
Homecoming is a weeklong celebration at Oklahoma State, but this year’s celebration is special in more than one way. This year’s homecoming is the centennial celebration, and there’s a chance that the COVID-19 pandemic cancels or postpones the event. The OSU Alumni Association should use the 2020 Olympics decision as a model and push
the 2020 homecoming celebration to 2021. The centennial event deserves better than a thrown-together pandemic-plagued event. The homecoming football game and celebrations bring pride throughout the entire town of Stillwater. It also brings pride to everyone involved with OSU in one way or another. With this celebration being the 100th celebration, it deserves to bring the most pride to the citizens of Stillwater and fans of
OSU and not be limited at the hands of COVID-19. This homecoming deserves to be treated even better than a normal homecoming celebration. It deserves a celebration like never before without a global pandemic hanging over the heads of the supporters. The week-long celebration has multiple events that bring people from all over the country to extremely tight quarters. The Walkaround brings thousands of people
into the streets around the Greek neighborhood packed into large groups for long periods of time. According to the Alumni Association website the Walkaround is the “biggest and best” tradition of Homecoming. Not only would the event itself most likely lead to the large spread of COVID-19 among the event goers, but the preparation for the event is rigorous and would make the people preparing the house decorations more at risk to test posi-
tive for COVID-19. All pomping for house decorations take place in the basement of fraternity houses with poor ventilation, which makes it easy for COVID-19 to spread among students. All it takes is one student to catch the virus and spread it throughout the fraternity and sorority houses. The entire Greek community is intermingled with one another, which provides a perfect breeding ground for an outbreak. With the chances of a
violent outbreak at the hands of preparing and celebrating the historic event in OSU’s grand history, the risk is too great to risk the 100th homecoming to be remembered in a negative light. The 2020 homecoming should take place in 2021, just like the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The homecoming would still mark the centennial celebration and have even more of an impact on supporters and students.
Adam luther
Large crowds are a concern due to COVID-19.
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Horoscope
FOR RELEASE JULY 30, 2020
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Today’s Birthday (07/30/20). Fortune favors your physical work and health this year. Grow stronger with consistent practice. Adapt to unexpected professional circumstances. New possibilities inspire you to renewed vitality this summer. Winter social changes lead to a deliciously romantic phase. Prioritize your heart, health and happiness. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) ‚Äî Today is a 7 ‚Äî Regarding travel and education, check for hidden dangers. Communication glitches are likely. Don’t stick your neck out. Ask about conditions and listen. Talk about dreams. Taurus (April 20-May 20) ‚Äî Today is an 8 ‚Äî You’re especially perceptive. Use intellect and creativity to solve a financial puzzle. Clarify the obscure. Talk about dreams. Communication helps. Detail the previously nebulous. Gemini (May 21-June 20) ‚Äî Today is an 8 ‚Äî Envision and plot. Avoid sensitive subjects or controversies with your partner. Talk about dreams, wishes and imaginings. You can see what’s broken. Clean and mend. Cancer (June 21-July 22) ‚Äî Today is a 7 ‚Äî Communication breakdowns and unlucky circumstances serve as backdrop. Engage in positive discussions to benefit your health and work. Imagine what could be possible. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) ‚Äî Today is an 8 ‚Äî Prioritize love, romance and family. Pick your battles. Steer the conversation toward a sense of possibility. Creative arts and games satisfy. Share an inspiring vision. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ‚Äî Today is a 7 ‚Äî Domestic projects flourish. Take advantage of an intuitive and creative moment. Avoid controversy. Map priorities and list possible projects. Avoid distractions. Work a transformation. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ‚Äî Today is a 7 ‚Äî Words are easily twisted today. The less said, the fewer corrections. Review and edit comments carefully. Avoid thoughtless snark. Keep messages focused, measured and clear. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ‚Äî Today is an 8 ‚Äî Manage existing business before expanding. More money is coming in, but don’t spend what you don’t have. Get expert support. Talk to bankers, guilds and associations. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) ‚Äî Today is a 6 ‚Äî Don’t rush to a decision. Do the research to avoid falling for a scam. Access your sense of balance and fairness. You’re growing stronger. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ‚Äî Today is an 8 ‚Äî Review options and take the best elements from each. It’s easy to forget or lose things. Accept compliments and assistance. Make key connections. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) ‚Äî Today is an 8 ‚Äî Connect with friends. Find out how everyone’s doing. Share resources, information and connections. Widen your circle. Collaborate for shared gain. Promote cooperation and teamwork. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) ‚Äî Today is a 7 ‚Äî Communications can backfire. Keep quiet if you can. Articulate professional mission statements, plans and visions. Confusion and misunderstandings delay the action. Work behind the scenes.
Level 1
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7/30/20
Solution to Wednesday’s puzzle
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk
© 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
ACROSS 1 Vitamin amts. 5 Come by 11 Pancake syrup source 14 Isn’t informal? 15 Southwestern community 16 __ Fáil: Irish coronation stone 17 Flirts with 19 Coffee server 20 Picks up gradually 21 Type of wave or spree 23 All thumbs 24 Nefarious 28 Web address feature 29 Enliven, with “up” 30 Parker and Waterman 31 Sanford of “The Jeffersons” 34 Amusement park shuttles 36 Square things 38 Put many miles on 42 Catch on 44 Lily’s role in “All of Me” 45 Smoothie berry 48 YouTube journals 50 Water source 51 Where to find a hammer and anvil 53 Unifying idea 55 “Caveman” diet 56 Chicago suburb 58 New Haven Ivy Leaguer 59 Not remotely on the same page ... and what can literally be found in four puzzle rows 64 Barbecue piece 65 Surpass 66 Allergic reaction 67 Slalom shape 68 Speech platforms 69 Radar’s favorite soda
7/30/20
By Roland Huget
DOWN 1 The one for ewe? 2 Figure out 3 Art that may be covered by a sock 4 Allow to soak, as tea 5 Conducting business 6 Purchases all of 7 Informal top 8 Crunch targets 9 Dockworkers’ org. 10 V-shaped slit 11 Gold miner’s water trough 12 Lindbergh, e.g. 13 Discussion groups 18 Perched 22 Tool for cutting with the grain 23 “Gotcha, man” 25 Small point 26 Neutral shade 27 Pokes fun at 29 Record holder 32 Next to 33 Night before 35 __ school 37 Khartoum’s river
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
39 Knowledgeable, as in a particular field 40 Protesting, maybe 41 Sticky stuff 43 Ode title words 45 Current unit 46 Viagra competitor 47 Deviates from the script 49 Landscaping equipment
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52 Farther down 53 Singing syllable 54 Hitchhiker’s welcome 57 Food safety org. 60 Good Grips utensil brand 61 Coke alternatives 62 Court call 63 How-hot-it-feels stat.