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Japanese encephalitis warning in Victoria’s north as virus detected in mosquitoes

Japanese encephalitis warning in Victoria’s north as virus detected in mosquitoes The JEV vaccine is free for eligible people in 24 high-risk local government areas in northern Victoria. “It is present. It is carried by mosquitoes and therefore presents a risk to people.” People in the region are urged to take steps to prevent mosquito […]

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Japanese encephalitis warning in Victoria's north as virus detected in mosquitoes

a mosquito
Mr McGrath said most people with JEV might have no symptoms, only a low fever and a headache.

In short:

But he said for just under 1 per cent of people it could cause a nasty infection of the brain.Mr McGrath said the confirmed case of JEV last month and some detections in the environment indicated that the virus was circulating.

What’s next? 

Victoria’s Health Department says anyone visiting or living in the state’s north should take steps to prevent mosquito bites.

The department said anyone visiting northern Victoria, particularly inland riverine regions and near the Murray River, was potentially at higher risk of infection.”We have not seen a lot of activity in Japanese encephalitis since we first saw it in Victoria in the season of 2021-22,” he said.ABC SheppartonBy Nic HealeyThis includes anyone who regularly spends time outdoors, is homeless, lives with limited mosquito protection or is engaged in flood recovery.Topic:Infectious Diseases

JEV is a rare virus that can cause a serious infection of the brain.

The man is in a critical condition in hospital in Melbourne. By Callum MarshallIt follows similar recent detections in New South Wales and a confirmed human case of the virus in Victoria last month, a man from Katunga.He said as more rains came through mosquito numbers could rise and the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes carrying nasty diseases therefore increased.Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) has recently been identified in mosquitoes in the Moira Shire in Victoria’s north.

The detections follow a confirmed case of the virus in a Katunga man in December.

Victoria’s deputy chief health officer Christian McGrath said there was mounting evidence of JEV throughout the state’s north this season.More information can be found on Victoria’s Health Department website.Victoria’s health department is urging people in the state’s north to remain vigilant against mosquitoes, following recent detections of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).The Health Department said the virus was identified in two mosquito traps in the Moira Shire, the first detections of the disease in mosquitoes in Victoria this season.”That can cause very serious consequences for the individual who is affected.”

Health

Maryland Athletics Increases Support, Keeps Sights Set Toward Future Opportunities

Story Links Maryland Athletics raised more than $33 million through the Terrapin Club in the 2024-25 fiscal year, its highest mark since 2021-22. That figure includes more than $18 million in cash, the highest mark in recent history and a key metric as college athletics heads into the new revenue-share era.  More than 8,900 donors […]

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Maryland Athletics Increases Support, Keeps Sights Set Toward Future Opportunities

Maryland Athletics raised more than $33 million through the Terrapin Club in the 2024-25 fiscal year, its highest mark since 2021-22. That figure includes more than $18 million in cash, the highest mark in recent history and a key metric as college athletics heads into the new revenue-share era. 

More than 8,900 donors invested in Maryland Athletics through the Terrapin Club this year, the most since 2011, and a 26% increase from the previous year, the highest single-year jump in the past 25 years. This number also represents the fourth consecutive year of growth in this area. 

“These results are not only a testament to our community and their dedication to Maryland Athletics, but they also illustrate the collective impact Terps supporters can have on student-athletes, programs and the department,” said Kirby Mills, Senior Associate Athletics Director and Chief Development Officer. “However, this is only the start of our work. This coming year, and in years to come, we have lofty aspirations that can only be accomplished together.”

Areas of focus for the 2025-26 year and beyond include increasing unrestricted support that can provide flexibility toward revenue-share expenses and additional scholarships for student-athletes, continuing to upgrade facilities through Maryland Athletics’ Building Champions campaign, cultivating the future of Maryland Athletics support through the launch of a “next generation” program and growth of the Student Terrapin Club, building endowment support across all areas of the enterprise, including student-athlete scholarships, coaching positions and sport programs, and fostering a culture of volunteerism and advocacy across the University of Maryland community.

The Victory Circle, Maryland Athletics’ leadership giving society for those who invest $50,000 or more, added or renewed 61 members this year, the most since the society was formed in 2019 and a 27% year-over-year increase from last year. This year’s efforts pushed the total Victory Circle membership to more than 230. 

Nearly 30 endowments were established this year to fund student-athlete scholarships across numerous sports and provide consistent support for our student-athlete priorities, including mental health resources and international travel opportunities. 
A group of Maryland Football letterwinners who played during the Jerry Claiborne Era of 1972-81, led by Jonathan Claiborne, Kyle Lorton and Bob Schwartz, raised $300,000 to fund a football scholarship in memory of Coach Claiborne. 

The Building Champions campaign, a comprehensive effort to provide Maryland Athletics top-notch facilities across all its sports, reached a number of milestones this year, including the opening of the Stanley Bobb Baseball Performance Center and the Maryland Softball Performance Center. Progress continues on the Barry P. Gossett Basketball Performance Center, which is slated to open before the start of the 2025-26 men’s and women’s basketball seasons. 

The community once again stepped up on Giving Day as nearly 700 individuals gave more than $600,000 toward supporting Maryland Athletics, which finished in the top three in total dollars and top four in total donors among all campus units in a record-breaking year for the annual campus-wide campaign. 

All gifts to Maryland Athletics through the University of Maryland College Park Foundation count toward Terrapin Club giving level and accrue Terpoints, including the recently introduced per seat model for football and men’s basketball season tickets. Click here to make a gift to Maryland Athletics through the Terrapin Club or go to umterps.com to learn more about how philanthropy can make a difference for Maryland’s 500-plus student-athletes and 20 varsity programs.

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Founder of group focused on men's mental health applauds Florida bill expanding access to …

NEWS On June 25, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills aiming to promote mental health and addiction recovery, and one Jacksonville man is applauding the legislation, saying he’s happy that Florida is realizing how important the issue is. Senate Bill 1620, which puts several key recommendations from a state behavioral health commission into action, […]

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Founder of group focused on men's mental health applauds Florida bill expanding access to ...

NEWS


On June 25, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills aiming to promote mental health and addiction recovery, and one Jacksonville man is applauding the legislation, saying he’s happy that Florida is realizing how important the issue is. Senate Bill 1620, which puts several key recommendations from a state behavioral health commission into action, sets stricter guidelines for treatment plans and increases access to mental health and substance use resources.

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Health

Joliet West alum's basketball clinic focuses on mental health as well as physical performance

A college student running his own nonprofit is hosting his second basketball clinic this year in August. Justus League Hoop Inc. will tentatively host the Back-to-School Basketball Classic from 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 10. The location has yet to be determined. Justus McNair, 19, founder of the nonprofit, will run the clinic. McNair is […]

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Joliet West alum's basketball clinic focuses on mental health as well as physical performance

A college student running his own nonprofit is hosting his second basketball clinic this year in August.

Justus League Hoop Inc. will tentatively host the Back-to-School Basketball Classic from 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 10. The location has yet to be determined.

Justus McNair, 19, founder of the nonprofit, will run the clinic.

McNair is a Joliet West High School alumnus and a soon-to-be sophomore at Valparaiso University in Indiana.

He also plays basketball for Roger Powell, head coach of Valparaiso’s men’s basketball team, who attended Joliet Central High School.

The clinic will include giveaways of school supplies, and mental health professionals will be on-site to talk to parents about student-athlete mental health, said Andrea McNair, Justus’ mother.

Justus said his parents, Wayne and Andrea, came up with the idea for the nonprofit in December.

“They made it happen,” Justus said. “I was always thinking of ways to help kids in my area and didn’t know what to do.”

Justus said his parents suggested the basketball clinic, and he suggested the mental health component.

“There’s pressure to become great and play to the highest level,” Justus said. “I’ve been through it, and it can be very hectic.”

Justus said that after he broke his leg freshman year in high school, he felt depressed about not playing and wondered how well his leg might heal.

He wants athletes to reach out when they get stressed and “go into that deep hole,” he said.

Justus said kids need someone “to be in your corner” in order to play stress-free sports, and he wants to help them with their mental health so they can “achieve their dreams.”

“Being from Joliet, it’s somewhat hard to make it out,” Justus said. “And some do take the long routes – gangs, street violence. I just want to help youth stay on the right path.”

For Justus, that right path was basketball. His previous clinic on April 27 attracted 40 youth and children through middle school. He plans to host several a year.

He said his ultimate goal is to open facilities across the U.S. that are part mental health center and part recreational center.

“Kids could come to my gym for free and have it be like safe space for them – and a mental health center as well,” Justus said.

All three of Andrea’s children have played sports, and she said parents sometimes force their athletic expectations onto their children without considering their mental health.

That’s why a mental health specialist talks to parents at the clinic, she said.

“We want them to be the best. We want them to win. We want them to shine. We don’t want them to make mistakes,” Andrea said. “In doing that, we’re not intentional in making sure our children’s mental health is great.”

The purpose of Justus League Hoop Inc. is to empower student-athletes by developing their basketball skills, nurturing their mental wellness and preparing them for success in higher education.

“I just want the community to know we are here to support families and athletes,” Andrea said.

The deadline to donate book bags, pencils and pens, notebooks, colored pencils, index cards and sticky notes is July 25.

To donate and to register for the clinic, call Andrea McNair at 815-272-3736.

For more information, visit Justus League Hoop Inc. on Facebook.

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Health

Founder of peer group focused on men's mental health applauds Florida bill expanding …

FLORIDA – On June 25, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills aiming to promote mental health and addiction recovery, and one Jacksonville man is applauding the legislation, saying he’s happy that Florida is realizing how important the issue is. RELATED: Gov. DeSantis signs bills addressing mental health, substance abuse Recommended Videos Senate Bill 1620, […]

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Founder of peer group focused on men's mental health applauds Florida bill expanding ...

FLORIDA – On June 25, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills aiming to promote mental health and addiction recovery, and one Jacksonville man is applauding the legislation, saying he’s happy that Florida is realizing how important the issue is.

RELATED: Gov. DeSantis signs bills addressing mental health, substance abuse

Recommended Videos



Senate Bill 1620, which puts several key recommendations from a state behavioral health commission into action, sets stricter guidelines for treatment plans and increases access to mental health and substance use resources.

For David Sallette, sobriety has been a hard-fought journey.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” said Sallette, who has been sober for four years. “I’ll never drink again, just because of the health factors and how much better my body feels. I get up in the morning and I’m ready to just kill the day.”

Sallette, a father and recovering alcoholic, founded Sober Dadz, a peer support group built on accountability and open conversation.

He said he hopes the new legislation will make it easier for others to access meaningful support, especially men struggling in silence.

“Honestly, mental health — especially for men — is something that often gets overlooked,” Sallette said. “Men don’t talk as much. They don’t have as many outlets because it can make you look weak. So those issues just build up, and eventually, they explode. That’s just how it happens.”

The new law comes with significant state funding, with more than $123.9 million going toward behavioral health services, including forensic bed capacity and operations at state-run mental health facilities.

Another $194.8 million from the national opioid settlement will fund training for addiction specialists, support prevention programs, and expand the Florida Office of Opioid Recovery, while an additional $31.8 million is earmarked for expanding the state’s Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) Network — a program that has already helped thousands of Floridians struggling with addiction.

“I’m just glad that Florida’s starting to realize how important it is,” Sallette said.

Now four years sober, Sallette hopes the new law gives more people the tools and support they need to begin their recovery journey.

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Sanford holding walk

WILLISTON, N.D. (KUMV) – Sanford Health is holding walk-in physicals for Williston area athletes later this season. These physicals are required yearly for all middle and high school athletes. The first clinic is on Tuesday July 29 at Williston High School from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Female fall athletes are scheduled from 9 a.m.-10:30. Male fall […]

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Sanford holding walk

WILLISTON, N.D. (KUMV) – Sanford Health is holding walk-in physicals for Williston area athletes later this season.

These physicals are required yearly for all middle and high school athletes.

The first clinic is on Tuesday July 29 at Williston High School from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Female fall athletes are scheduled from 9 a.m.-10:30.

Male fall athletes are scheduled from 10:30 a.m.-noon.

Winter and spring athletes are from noon-2 p.m.

Another clinic is scheduled for August 5 from noon-2 p.m.

Doctor Jolynn Azure says physicals help make sure students are prepared and ready to go for the season.

“We want to know heart, lung, and muscle health and get them optimized so they can succeed through their athletic journey this year,” said Azure.

This is the second time Sanford is conducting this clinic in Williston.

It costs 35 dollars per person.

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Health

Former Cal Poly Humboldt student

Two former Cal Poly Humboldt cross country student-athletes have issued complaints about their former head coach, Jamey Harris, accusing Harris of inappropriate behaviors which led to serious mental health issues for his players and eventually the players leaving the program. The two Humboldt players who spoke with the Times-Standard, Melissa Pinter and Mariska Kessler, both […]

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Former Cal Poly Humboldt student

Two former Cal Poly Humboldt cross country student-athletes have issued complaints about their former head coach, Jamey Harris, accusing Harris of inappropriate behaviors which led to serious mental health issues for his players and eventually the players leaving the program.

The two Humboldt players who spoke with the Times-Standard, Melissa Pinter and Mariska Kessler, both left the program following what they deemed negative experiences with Harris and the Humboldt Athletics department. The complaints include being encouraged to compete while injured, painful massages from a lacrosse ball that was administered by Harris himself, discussing the sex lives of student-athletes, and emotional abuse.

Jamey Harris (Cal Poly Humboldt/Contributed)
Jamey Harris (Cal Poly Humboldt/Contributed)

Kessler spent the 2022-2024 seasons with the ‘Jacks while Pinter was a part of the 2021 and 2022 Humboldt cross country teams before transferring to Chico State in 2023. Both were initially thrilled to join the ‘Jacks program, with Kessler thrilled to fulfill her collegiate dream while Pinter received a scholarship that made her athletic and scholastic goals accessible. But after getting to Humboldt, both players realized the experience was not exactly what they had imagined.

“I have first-handedly witnessed Jamey repeatedly emotionally and physically damage the runners of the Humboldt women’s cross country team,” Kessler said. “I regret recruiting girls into this team and have a sense of guilt for bringing them into this environment. I thought if I was a strong enough leader, I could shield them from the issues the team has had in the past, but that was extremely naive.”

The Times-Standard reached out to Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics with questions for Harris and Nick Pettit, executive director of intercollegiate athletics, but was told that the university “cannot comment on personnel matters regarding the cross country program.”

Cal Poly Humboldt did provide the following statement via Drew Gwerder, a spokesperson for Humboldt Athletics:

“These matters are handled confidentially, but the University is working to address concerns expressed by our student-athletes. Their health and well-being are fundamental to the Athletics program, and we’re committed to creating a safe and respectful environment. Our students also have space to provide feedback to administration regarding their experiences during the evaluation process. If we are made aware of situations of concern we engage appropriate university leadership to address potential issues to support our student-athletes.”

Kessler and another student-athlete did meet with Pettit and Amanda Nelson, Humboldt’s associate athletics director and senior woman administrator, to detail their experience with the cross country program. Nothing, Kessler said, to her knowledge, ever came of it. And Pinter and her father wrote a letter to Humboldt Athletics in February. There was no response, they said.

“Melissa tried to cope with the abuse from her coach without letting her family know what was happening to her,” Pinter’s father wrote in the letter. “I was aware that Melissa had been having injuries as well as other medical issues, but I didn’t know the root of most of her problems was Coach Harris. Sometimes she would phone me, crying … as a parent, it was heart-breaking. When I finally heard the details of his abusive physical and verbal treatment of my daughter, my heart fell into my stomach and I felt so guilty for being unaware and unable to help her in her time of need.”

The Times-Standard reached out to Harris directly about the allegations. He did not respond ahead of the Times-Standard publishing deadline.

Melissa Pinter’s story

Pinter was honored to join Cal Poly Humboldt’s program but she felt Harris used the scholarship she received against her, allegedly using it as leverage to coerce her into competing even if she was injured

“I paid too much money to have you here for you to not race,” Pinter claimed Harris told her.

“Coach Harris’s actions drove me to the brink of suicide. The emotional and physical abuse that I endured under his coaching left me feeling isolated, insignificant, and powerless over my own life. My financial dependence on the scholarship he provided left me vulnerable to his manipulation and exploitation,” Pinter said.

Melissa Pinter, front, was a cross country student-athlete in the 2021 and 2022 seasons with Cal Poly Humboldt. (Contributed)
Melissa Pinter, front, was a cross country student-athlete in the 2021 and 2022 seasons with Cal Poly Humboldt. (Contributed)

Pinter, who had a boyfriend on the team, said she suddenly saw her relationship become a topic of discussion for her coach during practices. As the season prolonged, Pinter struggled with mental health issues and gained weight, both of which didn’t help her in competitions. Pinter eventually had a conversation with Harris about her problems.

“I opened up to him about what I went through the year before mentally, the depression, unhealthy habits, and the weight gain,” Pinter said. “When I told him how much my weight gain affected me, he replied with ‘well it seemed to work for your boyfriend.’ After that, I really did not feel like I could be vulnerable around him and I just felt very uncomfortable.”

Early in her Humboldt career, Pinter developed Achilles tendinitis. Following the diagnosis, Harris allegedly requested Pinter meet him at the track alone, where Pinter claims that Harris accused her of not caring about the sport and then performed a treatment on Pinter’s legs.

“He proceeded to have me lay on the floor while he pressed a lacrosse ball into my calf and dragged it along my legs. The pain was almost unbearable and I left covered in bite marks from trying to stifle my cries,” Pinter said. “When I stood, I found that my legs were bright red with patches turning purple and I could barely walk. I called my boyfriend for help and he ended up carrying me back to my dorm. This would become a regular occurrence.”

Another ‘Jacks cross country student-athlete who wished to remain anonymous said that the same lacrosse ball massage had been done on them. Humboldt athletic trainers allegedly told the student-athlete not to let Harris perform that treatment.

Pinter battled injuries before transferring out of Cal Poly Humboldt, but not before another odd interaction with her coach.

“Coach Harris would check in occasionally, and on one particular occasion, he texted me something that seemed out of place,” Pinter said. “To this day, I am unsure of what his intentions were. He said, ‘Do you want to hang out later?’ At the time, I just hoped he had sent me the wrong message. Unsure of how to respond, I just made something up to push it to the side.”

Mariska Kessler’s story

Kessler began having health issues stemming from her blood pressure after arriving in Humboldt, which led to her first issue with Harris. According to Kessler, Harris viewed her health issue as more mental than physical. After receiving medication to treat her blood pressure, Kessler returned to full health and began training for the upcoming season. She said the training resulted in her immune system crashing, and she then got sick multiple times during the season.

“I think he really thought this was a mental problem, and then it got to the point where there was a lot more evidence showing it wasn’t a medical problem,” Kessler said. “A lot of times, he’ll have very strong opinions on what’s wrong with people and the trainers will say something else, so sometimes athletes will have to play both sides because the trainer is telling them one thing, but then Jamey’s telling them another.”

Mariska Kessler was a cross country student-athlete from 2022-24. She's one of multiple players who recounted negative experiences with the women's cross country program. (Contributed)
Mariska Kessler was a cross country student-athlete from 2022-24. She’s one of multiple players who recounted negative experiences with the women’s cross country program. (Contributed)

Kessler continued through the season, but on her way to a race later that season, she had another health issue stemming from her blood pressure issue, which resulted in an emergency room visit. After running tests, Kessler was cleared to compete and did so, beginning a race and immediately dropping out, which wasn’t something out of the ordinary for the program. The Humboldt’s women’s cross country team had limited numbers but needed racers to ensure that the team would have enough racers to qualify for the event. Harris didn’t attend the meet but did send Kessler a text message the night before the event, encouraging her to participate in the race.

“That night Jamey messages me, the first I have heard from him since I left for the meet,” Kessler said. “He tells me he wants me to race the next day. I respond with the other coaches, ‘don’t think it’s safe and are sending me home early in the morning.’ He ignored this text.”

An overview of the track at Cal Poly Humboldt on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Two former 'Jacks cross country student-athletes voiced their frustrations with their head coach at Cal Poly Humboldt. (Dylan McNeill/Times-Standard)
An overview of the track at Cal Poly Humboldt on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Two former ‘Jacks cross country student-athletes voiced their frustrations with their head coach at Cal Poly Humboldt. (Dylan McNeill/Times-Standard)

What’s next?

Jamey Harris remains as Cal Poly Humboldt’s head cross country coach and recruiting coordinator. He was hired by Humboldt in 2017 after serving as the head track and cross country coach UC Santa Cruz from 2014-2017.

Humboldt’s women’s cross country team finished ninth of 11 teams in the CCAA in 2024.

Dylan McNeill can be reached at 707-441-0526.

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