• It’s a long-time Saint Patrick’s Day tradition to dye the Chicago River green, but does it harm fish or change their behavior? As far as scientists can tell, the answer to those questions is no.
• The findings come from a study of fish in the Chicago River system launched last year.
• Researchers are tracking the aquatic activity of more than 80 fish they’ve tagged for study.

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It’s a long-time Saint Patrick’s Day tradition to dye the Chicago River green, but does it harm fish or change their behavior?

As far as scientists can tell, the answer to those questions is no.

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How do they know?

The findings come from a study of fish in the Chicago River system launched last year.

Researchers are tracking the aquatic activity of more than 80 fish they have tagged for study.

During last year’s parade, scientists say none of the tagged fish sought shelter as the water turned green, suggesting it is not impacting their daily habits or harming them.

How do they monitor the fish?

Biologists can detect movements by the fish through acoustic receivers placed in various parts of the waterway, allowing them to learn how fish respond to habitat restoration, flooding, sewage overflows and seasonal changes.

Why are environmentalists concerned?

The dyeing of the river has concerned environmentalists since its inauguration in 1962, in which oil-based dye kept the water green for nearly a month. Since then, a vegetable dye, which the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency says is nontoxic to wildlife, has been used.

Researchers now say the tagged fish appear to be unbothered by the dye, but other things like heavy rain and wastewater overflows lead them to escape to areas where oxygen levels aren’t depleted.

If fish are unable to leave a contaminated environment, it often kills them in massive numbers over a very short period of time.

Researchers said they have yet to witness any fish killed from the dye.

How is the biodiversity along the river?

The group also says that the river is the healthiest it has been in the past 150 years, with all kinds of wildlife, including birds, turtles, beavers and more than 80 species of fish in and around the river’s waters. Those 80 species are up from fewer than 10 species of fish in the 1970s.

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Why are environmentalists still opposed to the tradition?

Despite the findings, environmentalists still question whether dyeing the river is the best example of being good stewards of the Earth, and many remain opposed to the tradition.

• A research team studying the climate in the Antarctic region is reportedly feeling intimidated by a colleague, who is with them at the remote location. The South Africa Sunday Times obtained an email from the team leader of the group, which detailed some of those fears.
• The South African environment minister confirms that there was a physical altercation and that the matter is being assessed.
• Conditions at the remote location can average minus 10, with winds gusting up to 135 mph.

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A South African research crew, studying the climate in the Antarctic region, is dealing with more than just extreme weather and ice.

An email, written by the team lead of the research group and obtained by the South Africa Sunday Times, detailed their conditions. It indicated that the team is living in fear of one of their colleagues, who recently became violent.

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Why are the researchers living in fear?

The email pleaded for the crew, stationed at what is called the Sanae IV base, to be rescued, saying the rogue researcher’s behavior has escalated to a point that is deeply disturbing. The email alleges he physically assaulted somebody, threatened to kill another and has created an environment of fear.

The person is also accused of having sexually assaulted another team member.

The writer said it is now “imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure my safety and the safety of all employees.”

What are conditions like where the team is located?

However, taking immediate action back in South Africa will be extremely difficult. It takes about two weeks, when the weather cooperates, to reach the base. The facility is roughly 2,500 miles from the southernmost tip of Africa, located on a freezing hilltop.

According to the publication, the team is entirely cut off and might be for another ten months. The average winter temperature is about minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit and winds can reach 135 mph.

What is the reaction of government officials in South Africa?

South African Minister of Environment Dion George said he will speak with members of the group and make an assessment. He confirms that there was a verbal altercation between the team leader and the person, with the team leader then being physically assaulted.

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He noted that researchers undergo psychological testing before they go to Antarctica because of the remote, harsh conditions.

The team, numbering about thirty researchers, includes meteorologists, engineers and medical experts. They carry out climate monitoring, studies of the atmosphere and geological surveys.

• A new CNN poll shows American views of the Democratic Party have dropped to a record low, with only 29% viewing it positively. Support has also fallen among Democrats, with just 63% holding a positive view of the party.
• Many Democrats want their leaders to take a firmer stance against the GOP with this tension intensifying after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats voted with Republicans on a spending bill.
• As the Democratic Party seeks a new direction, a recent poll shows the majority favored Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as someone who best represents the core values of the party.

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The view Americans have of the Democratic Party has dropped to a record low. A new CNN poll said 29% view the party positively. Even among Democrats, support fell. Just 63% of party members said they view their party positively.

Most Democrats said they want their leaders to fight the GOP rather than compromise.

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The survey released Sunday, March 16, was taken just days before 10 Democratic senators, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, voted with Republicans to advance a GOP-authored spending bill to avert a government shutdown.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made it clear he opposes the GOP bill and wanted senate Democrats to kill it in the upper chamber. 

When asked multiple times Friday, March 14, if he has confidence in the senate leader after Schumer announced he would join Republicans to help pass the bill, Jeffries declined to weigh in and said “next question.”

Schumer faces more backlash over antisemitism book

Meanwhile, as Schumer faces backlash over his vote to avert the government shutdown, a tour around Schumer’s new book, “Antisemitism in America” is postponed over security concerns.

Jewish activists were planning to protest at the events, accusing him of failing to stop antisemitism by not passing the proposed antisemitism awareness act.

AOC gains popularity among Democrats

The negative reaction to Schumer from his own party has included calls for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to challenge him in his next senate run.

When asked to name “the Democratic leader they feel best reflects the core values of the Democratic party” in CNN’s new poll, 10% of respondents named Ocasio-Cortez.

Approximately 9% said former Vice President Kamala Harris, 8% named Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and 6% said Jeffries.

Axios senior political reporter Alex Isenstadt said on “Inside Politics Sunday” Ocasio-Cortez as the favorite doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

“Her rise kind of reminds me of what happened to Republicans after Obama’s election in 2008,” Isenstadt said Sunday, March 15.

The future of the Democratic party

As the Democratic party searches for a new direction, they’re holding a series of town halls in Republican-held districts, in all 50 states.

Over the weekend, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota headlined events in Iowa and Nebraska. 

During the election cycle, the GOP called out Democrats, saying they were too focused on culture-war issues and not on the economy. 

Now, many Democrats share a belief that President Donald Trump is not focused on cost-of-living issues and instead, along with Elon Musk, is looking to make cuts to programs like Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security to enact tax breaks for billionaires and corporations.

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Trump said he will not entirely cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits and is focused on getting rid of the fraud within those programs. 

As for Republicans, the party had a slightly higher approval rating than Democrats, about 36%, in CNN’s new survey.