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OHS Storybook Players to Perform at the Mahaska County Environmental Learning Center

OSKALOOSA — All ages are invited to a special OWLS program on Friday, January 24th from 11:00 am -12:00 pm at the Mahaska County Environmental Learning Center.

The talented Oskaloosa High School Storybook Players return to perform in the lower level of the Environmental Learning Center. This group will perform their own versions of the Princess and the Pea, the Frog Prince, and Peter Pan. The MCCB says they had a full room for this event last year, so be sure to make your reservations! Reservations are made by contacting MCCB at (641)673-9327 or decook@mahaskacountyia.gov.

The Environmental Learning Center is located at 2342 Hwy. 92, Oskaloosa, IA.  Parking and the program entrance is on the south side of the building.

Trump adviser says president-elect is exploring options to ‘preserve’ TikTok

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump’s pick for national security adviser, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, said in an interview on Wednesday that the president-elect is exploring options to “preserve” TikTok.

Waltz made the comment when Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked him about a report from The Washington Post that said Trump was considering an executive order to suspend enforcement of a federal law that could ban the popular platform nationwide by Sunday.

Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a legal challenge to the statute brought by TikTok, its China-based parent company ByteDance, and users of the app. The Justices seemed likely to uphold the law, which requires ByteDance to divest TikTok on national security grounds or face a ban in one of its biggest markets.

“If the Supreme Court comes out with a ruling in favor of the law, President Trump has been very clear: Number one, TikTok is a great platform that many Americans use and has been great for his campaign and getting his message out. But number two, he’s going to protect their data,” Waltz said.

“He’s a deal maker. I don’t want to get ahead of our executive orders, but we’re going to create this space to put that deal in place,” he added.

Separately on Wednesday, Pam Bondi, Trump’s pick for attorney general, dodged a question during a Senate hearing on whether she’d uphold a TikTok ban.

Trump has reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He pledged to “save TikTok” during the campaign and has credited the platform with helping him win more youth votes.

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Advises Keeping Pets Away from Sick or Deceased Wild Birds

DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is advising Iowa pet owners to keep their cats and dogs away from sick or deceased wild birds and animals. Pet owners should also discourage indoor/outdoor cats from hunting wildlife because of the ongoing threat posed by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) circulating within wild and migratory birds.

Tips to Help Keep Your Pets Healthy

  • Keep pets away from dead wildlife, including birds.
  • Do not allow your pet to kill or eat wildlife.
  • Do not feed pets raw, undercooked, or unpasteurized frozen or freeze-dried milk, eggs, meat or organs.
    • Cooking or heat-treating pet food to appropriate temperatures inactivates H5N1 HPAI.
    • Freeze dried and frozen unpasteurized pet food is often considered raw and can pose a risk to pets.
  • Keep your pet away from livestock including poultry and dairy cattle.
  • Wash your hands and change your clothes after interacting with livestock and before interacting with pets.

About H5N1 HPAI

H5N1 HPAI is a viral disease that can travel in wild and migratory birds and is often fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys. H5N1 HPAI can also impact dairy cattle and other mammals, including dogs and cats.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recently reported a resurgence of H5N1 HPAI within wild and migratory birds in Iowa. Several states have confirmed cases of H5N1 HPAI in cats, with several tied to the consumption of raw milk, uncooked pet food, or interactions with diseased wildlife, including birds. Recently, a predominantly outdoor domestic cat in Hamilton County displayed clinical signs consistent with H5N1 HPAI and tested positive for H5N1 HPAI after the veterinarian ruled out other diseases.

Signs of H5N1 HPAI in Pets

If your pet exhibits clinical signs of HPAI, please contact your veterinarian. Cats and dogs can both get H5N1 HPAI, but cats are more susceptible. Clinical signs may include:

  • Fever
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Red eyes
  • Respiratory signs (eye or nose discharge)
  • Neurological signs (tremors, seizures, incoordination, blindness)
  • Sudden death

Pet owners should always consult their veterinarians if they have questions about the health and wellbeing of their animals.

Guidance for Veterinarians

Iowa veterinarians should call the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305 if they see cats or dogs displaying signs of H5N1 HPAI and have ruled out other potential diseases.

Food Safety 
It remains safe to enjoy eggs and poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always properly handle and cook eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F. There is also no concern about the safety of pasteurized milk or dairy products. Pasteurization has continually proven to successfully inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk.

Public Health 
There are some instances of humans contracting H5N1 HPAI as a result of their connection to an infected poultry or dairy farm. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to stress the threat to the general public remains low. To date, there are no confirmed cases of HPAI spreading from human-to-human, dog- or cat-to-human, cat-to-cat or dog-to-dog. Any questions related to public health should be directed to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Turning Classrooms into Careers: Oskaloosa projects prepare students for the future

OSKALOOSA, IA — Jestina Falconer and Jackson Sisul, seniors at Oskaloosa High School, are taking hands-on learning to new heights with their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects.

Part of the FFA curriculum, these projects allow students to apply classroom lessons in real-world settings, fostering innovation and creativity. The two students have created innovative ventures that reflect their individual interests and foster a unique partnership.

Falconer’s project, AJ Western Accessories, combines her passions for fashion and agriculture to create and sell items like jewelry, hats, and keychains. “Agriculture is more than land and cows,” Falconer said. “I want to educate people about agriculture in ways they wouldn’t expect—through jewelry and accessories.”

Her business, launched in October, offers jewelry, hats, T-shirts, and keychains. She also collaborates with Sisul through a subcategory of her business called J & J Creations. “Jackson does all my engraving work—coasters, leather patches, and wooden keychains,” Falconer said. “He’s even planning to sell some of his fish tank creations through my store. It’s been great to merge our projects under one umbrella.”

The partnership allows Sisul to showcase his talents while expanding Falconer’s business offerings. Sisul’s SAE focuses on aquaponics and fish tank design, reflecting his lifelong interest in nature and biology. “I’ve always loved fish and fishing,” he said. “This project lets me explore how different fish and plants interact in aquatic ecosystems.”

From building an epoxy coral reef tank last year to breeding betta fish, Sisul has expanded his project into redesigning fish tanks for the school’s science department and creating themed tanks for classrooms. “For the Spanish department, I’m designing a tank inspired by an Amazon River basin with fish native to Mexico and South America,” Sisul said. “It’s a way to combine science and cultural education.”

Lessons Beyond the Classroom
Both students credit their SAE projects with teaching them invaluable skills. Falconer said her experience running AJ Western Accessories has been a crash course in business management. “I’ve learned how to file taxes, manage profit margins, and even handle spreadsheets—things I never expected to master in high school,” she said.

For Sisul, hours spent researching fish care and habitat design have developed his patience and problem-solving skills. “It’s taught me how to approach challenges scientifically,” he said.

Their collaboration through J & J Creations has been a natural extension of their projects. “We complement each other,” Sisul said. “Jestina has the business platform, and I bring the technical skills.”

Falconer added, “Our partnership shows how diverse agriculture can be. We’re proving that agriculture isn’t just about farming—it’s about innovation and creativity.”

Looking Ahead

Both students have ambitious plans for the future. Falconer aims to expand her business into an LLC after high school, while pursuing a degree in psychology. “This has been a great way to test my entrepreneurial skills,” she said. “I hope to have two businesses one day.”

Sisul envisions turning his aquaponics expertise into a sustainable business. “I’m considering offering fish tank restoration and design services,” he said. “FFA has shown me how to take a hobby and make it into something meaningful.”

As Falconer and Sisul continue to develop their ventures, their projects demonstrate the power of engaged and transferable learning. From jewelry to aquaponics, these Oskaloosa students are proving that the possibilities within education are as varied as their imaginations.

2025 Red Rock StartUP! Pitch Event Applications Now Open

KNOXVILLE — Marion County Development announced that applications to their 2025 Red Rock StartUP! Pitch Event are now open. The contest gives entrepreneurs and new small business owners in Marion County the opportunity to start a new business or expand their current one.

To be eligible:

• pitch idea must be for a for-profit business
• preference is given to Marion County residents
• no multi-level marketing companies
• an existing business located in Marion County that is less than 5 years old and has fewer than 5 full time employees or a new business concept that is to be in Marion County

The application deadline is February 14. The event itself will be held on April 14, 2025 at the Cordova Park Office Building starting at 5:30pm. More information is available here.

 

Indians, Bulldogs Split Non-Conference Doubleheader

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa Indians hosted the Ottumwa Bulldogs on Tuesday night for a non-conference doubleheader. Oskaloosa’s girls were coming in with a 4-game losing streak and a 5-5 record, while Ottumwa’s girls were 6-5; meanwhile, Osky’s boys were coming off their first conference win of the season, and Ottumwa’s boys were less than 24 hours removed from a win over Burlington.

Girls Game

Coming off their worst offensive showing of the season at Newton last Friday, and carrying a 4-game losing streak into Tuesday night’s game, Oskaloosa’s girls were looking for a spark to get their season back on track against Ottumwa.

They were able to find that spark early in the game. After a 4/26 night of shooting from 3-point range against the Cardinal defense, which had been allowing abundant space on the outside in exchange for constantly double-teaming center Dasia Foster on- and off-ball, the Ottumwa Bulldogs employed a similar defensive strategy; this time, however, Osky’s shooters were able to find their groove, and they punished Ottumwa for giving up so much space on the perimeter.

Osky’s guards drained 5 3-pointers in the first half against the Bulldogs: sophomore Haylee Parker knocked down a pair, while all three Cole sisters (Naomi, Dassah, and Porah) made one apiece. That early success from downtown freed up Foster to do what she does in the paint. Osky scored 15 points in the first quarter and 13 more in the second, a dramatic increase in offensive output after scoring just 29 points at Newton on Friday night.

Sophomore Naomi Cole said it was simply a matter of the team getting dialed in.

“We knew we were way better than how we played at Newton, and we knew we had to lock in and just be the team we know we are…our [shooting] percentage on Friday was not that good; this game, it was way better.”

Coach TC Cunningham echoed those sentiments.

“I think we came out focused, with a lot of energy. We were looking to bounce back from that loss on Friday night…[we were] shooting with confidence. And it helps shooting in your own gym, too.”

Defensively, the Indians were able to limit the Bulldogs throughout the night. Ottumwa wasn’t able to score double digit points in any quarter: Dasia Foster and Hannah Nelson were neutralizing forces in the interior, so the Bulldogs routinely had to settle for outside shots. They were only able to make 4 3-pointers on the night, with 3 of them coming from senior guard Camdyn Crouse. That lack of success was not nearly enough to keep pace with Oskaloosa, and the Indians were able to coast to the finish line for a 43-34 win to end their skid.

The win brings Oskaloosa’s record to 6-5 on the season.

Boys Game

In contrast to the girls team, Oskaloosa’s boys came into Tuesday night’s bout with Ottumwa off the heels of perhaps their best all-around performance of the season at Newton. Early on against Ottumwa, it seemed as though the Indians were riding the wave with success on both ends of the floor.

Junior Landon Romas was flying all over the court in the first half, chasing down rebounds, drawing fouls, and finishing well at the basket on his way to 10 first-half points and (unofficially) 8 first-half rebounds (5 of which were offensive boards). Romas spearheaded an Indians effort that saw them convincingly out-rebound the Bulldogs in the first half, and that success in the rebound battle allowed the Indians to jump out to a 31-21 lead at halftime. Romas, along with junior Heavon Knox, senior Xavier Edwards, and sophomore Tommy North, had the Indians offense working, while the whole team was moving well on the defensive end and preventing Ottumwa from settling in to their offense.

The second half, however, saw the Bulldogs bounce back. The Bulldogs leaned heavily on their star senior forward Trae Brown, who was consistently able to work his way to the hole, whether through strength or finesse, which in turn set up his own outside shot. Brown had scored 7 points for Ottumwa in the first half, but in the second half, he took over to the tune of 22 more points. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs were even in the rebound battle with the Indians in the second half. Those two factors combined to allow Ottumwa to draw within one point of Oskaloosa by the end of the third quarter. Oskaloosa led 42-41, setting the stage for an exciting fourth.

From there, the Indians and the Bulldogs battled back and forth. In addition to what they were getting from Brown, the Bulldogs got timely buckets from senior Chase Thompson and junior Nehemiah Wolfing. The Indians started taking more outside shots, but they were converting quite a few of them: Tommy North finished the night with 4 successful triples, while Heavon Knox made 3 and Carter Shinn chipped in with 1.

However, the one area where Ottumwa had a clear advantage over Oskaloosa was free throws. Each team attempted 13 free throws on the night: Ottumwa made 9 of them, but Oskaloosa only made 5.

The disparity in free throw success played a role in Ottumwa having the lead in the final minute. The score was 56-55 Ottumwa when, with roughly 20 seconds left, Nehemiah Wolfing buried a clutch three-pointer to give Ottumwa a 4-point advantage. The Indians weren’t able to make up that much ground in the remaining time, so even with a buzzer-beating three from Tommy North, they were still one point short, and with a couple of free throws mixed in for both teams, the final score was 60-59 in favor of Ottumwa.

Oskaloosa will host Norwalk on Friday night for their next doubleheader. Coverage can be heard on KBOE 104.9 FM and kboeradio.com.

All Oskaloosa sports broadcasts can be listened to on-demand here.

A possible TikTok ban is just days away. A list of other apps available

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a possible TikTok ban just days away, many U.S. users are looking for alternative social media platforms to help them keep up with pop culture or provide the type of entertaining videos that popularized the short-form video app.

TikTok, which has been a cultural phenomenon, could be banned on Jan. 19 under a law that forces the platform to cut ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or shut down its U.S. operation.

The fate of social media platform will be decided by the Supreme Court, which last week heard oral arguments in a legal challenge to the statute and seemed likely to uphold the law. The court could rule on the case as soon as this week. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has asked the justices to put the law on hold so he can negotiate a “political resolution” to the issue after he takes office.

TikTok has more than 170 million users in the U.S., and if it does get banned, it’s not clear which competitors will benefit the most. Some experts think established social media platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube, could see the biggest influx of users. But some users are looking for something different and could turn to other apps.

Here are the different alternatives and what to know about them:

Xiaohongshu, or “RedNote”

Recently, some U.S. TikTok users have flocked to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu in protest of the looming ban. Like TikTok, Xiaohongshu, which in English means “Little Red Book,” combines e-commerce and short-form videos.

The app has gained traction in China and other regions with a Chinese diaspora — such as Malaysia and Taiwan — racking up 300 million monthly active users, a majority of whom are young women who use it as a de-facto search engine for product, travel and restaurant recommendations, as well as makeup and skincare tutorials.

On Tuesday, the Xiaohongshu, called “RedNote” by American users and on some app stores, was the top downloaded free app in Apple’s U.S. app store.

Lemon8

Lemon8, also owned by TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, is a lesser-known lifestyle app that allows users to post pictures and short-form videos. Though the platform lets users post TikTok-like videos, it leans more into pictures and has been described as a mixture of Instagram and Pinterest.

In the past few weeks, many creators have hailed Lemon8 as the place to go if TikTok is banned under federal law. Some have also recommended it through paid sponsored posts tagged #lemon8partner, indicating a recent corporate push to generate more users.

But the law that targets TikTok also states the divest-or-ban requirement for ByteDance applies generally to apps that are owned or operated by the two companies or any of their subsidiaries. That means even though Lemon8 is not explicitly named in the statute, its future in the U.S. is also in jeopardy.

Meta’s Instagram

Instagram launched Reels in 2020, a TikTok-like feed of short videos users can create or scroll through. The feature has proven to be massively popular and some experts say creators are likely to set up shop there if a TikTok ban does happen. As of 2022, Instagram had 2 billion active monthly users. Meta no longer discloses user numbers for its individual platforms.

But could it replace TikTok? That depends. While many creators currently post on both platforms, some experts say the youngest users are unlikely to migrate to a service made popular by their millennial parents. And while Meta’s algorithm is addictive, it’s still not TikTok.

In the past, some TikTok users have also blamed the surge of scrutiny on the platform on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, pointing to a Washington Post report from 2022 that said the tech behemoth paid a Republican consulting firm to undermine TikTok through a nationwide media and lobbying campaign.

YouTube

Though TikTok dominates headlines as a driver of internet trends, Pew Research Center says YouTube is actually the most widely-used platform among teens and adults.

YouTube users can scroll through Shorts just as they can on TikTok or Reels on Instagram and Facebook, allowing them to watch hours of bite-sized videos. Many of the videos featured on YouTube are from TikTok or creators who post to several platforms. That said, YouTube is still known for its longer-format videos so it may not have the variety of content that TikTok users are looking for — at least not yet.

Snapchat

Snapchat, launched in 2011 with its infamous disappearing videos, remains popular among teens and younger adults. The platform gained so much traction that Meta designed a similar feature in Facebook and Instagram called “Stories” that lets users post photos or videos that disappear within 24 hours. In 2020, Snapchat launched another feature that lets users “shine a light on the most entertaining Snaps, no matter who created them.”

The platform is estimated to have roughly 692 million global monthly active users last year, according to eMarketer.

Twitch

For TikTok users who enjoy the “TikTok Live” feed that features livestreamed videos, Twitch could be a good alternative. The Amazon-owned platform is a leader in the streaming industry and allows users on the platform to watch some of the internet’s most popular streamers, such as Kai Cenat. Twitch says it has 105 million monthly visitors.

Clapper

Clapper, a TikTok clone, has also been gaining some traction amid the looming ban. The app was launched in 2020 by Dallas-based entrepreneur Edison Chen, and focuses on Gen X and millennial users. In September of that year, the company described itself in a Facebook post as a “free speech” platform that did not “censor posts and comments.” But in blog post on its website from 2021, the company wrote it “stopped being a ‘Free Speech’ platform” in September 2020 and “changed its mission and goals” to focus on “community”.

Other little-known apps

For TikTok users who want to get away from the overcrowded spots, there are lesser-known apps like Triller, which is popular for music videos, and Zigazoo, which was designed with kids in mind.

If none of these apps tickle your fancy, it’s also possible that other platforms could emerge in the next few months as companies attempt to attract users looking for a new place to go.

Weekly Fuel Report

DES MOINES — The price of regular unleaded gasoline rose 3 cents, averaging $2.88 across Iowa according to AAA.

Crude Oil Summary

  • The price of global crude oil rose this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $4.89 per barrel over last week, currently priced at $78.20.
  • Brent crude oil rose by $4.20 and is currently priced at $80.33.
  • One year ago, WTI crude sold for $72.63 and Brent crude was $84.41.

Motor Fuels

  • As of Tuesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.88 across Iowa according to AAA.
    • Prices rose 3 cents from last week’s price and are up 16 cents from a year ago.
    • The national average on Tuesday was $3.07, steady from last week’s price.
  • Retail diesel prices in Iowa rose 6 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.35.
    • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.58 in Iowa.
    • The current Iowa diesel price is 23 cents lower than the national average of $3.58.
  • Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.
  • The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $2.01 for U87-E10, $2.19 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.28 for ULSD#2, $2.52 for ULSD#1, and $1.90 per gallon for E-70 prices.

Heating Fuels

  • Natural gas prices were up $.12 at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $3.75/MMbtu.
  • Propane prices averaged $1.59 per gallon in Iowa.
  • Home heating oil prices had a statewide average of $2.93 per gallon.

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

Women in Ag: Managing for Today and Tomorrow: Farm Transition Planning Course Offered in Oskaloosa

Oskaloosa, IA – Women play a vital role in the future of Iowa farms, especially when it comes to farm succession and transition planning. To empower women and all farm families to navigate this critical process, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Women in Ag program, in collaboration with the farm management team, is offering a comprehensive course titled Managing for Today and Tomorrow: Farm Transition Planning.
The course will take place at the Mahaska County Extension Office in Oskaloosa, starting March 20, 2025, and continue on March 27, April 3, and April 10. Sessions will run from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. each evening with a light meal at 5:30 p.m. Registration is required, and the cost of the multi-session course is $100 per participant.
“Farm succession planning combines business, estate, retirement, and legal considerations to ensure that a farm continues to thrive and pass on as a productive agricultural business,” said Patrick Hatting,  Iowa State University Extension and Outreach farm business management specialist in central Iowa. “Managing for Today and Tomorrow provides participants with the knowledge and tools they need to confidently create a farm transition plan that works for their unique situation,” Hatting added. This course is designed for participants of all ages and experience levels, offering a supportive, interactive environment modeled after Annie’s Project—a program known for empowering women in agriculture.
Course Topics Include:
  • Deciding whether to transfer ownership now or wait
  • Navigating family and non-family discussions about farm transition
  • Legal considerations and interpreting key financial documents
  • Understanding conservation programs and farm family insurance
  • Exploring the difference between “fair” and “equal” when dividing assets
  • Addressing the financial aspects of transitioning a farm
Participants will leave the course equipped with practical tools to set clear goals, engage in effective communication, and define a lasting farm legacy that meets both personal and business objectives.
Course Details:
  • Dates: March 20, March 27, April 3, and April 10, 2025
  • Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM each session
  • Location: Mahaska County Extension Office, 212 North I Street, Oskaloosa, IA
  • Cost: $100 (includes all four sessions)
  • Registration: Required. Register by March 13 at www.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag
This course is ideal for women in agriculture, farm families, and anyone involved in planning a farm’s future. By creating an open, supportive environment, participants will gain valuable insights into the complex world of farm succession and transition planning.
“Farm transition planning is essential for ensuring that a farm business remains successful for the next generation,” said Madeline Schultz, Program Manager for ISU Extension and Outreach Women in Ag. “The decisions made today will have a significant impact on the future, and this course provides participants with the tools to make informed decisions,” she said.
Managing for Today and Tomorrow will empower attendees to confidently plan for the future, navigate difficult conversations, and build a lasting legacy for their agricultural operations.
Space is limited, so be sure to register early to secure your spot!
For more information or to register, please contact Suzette Striegel at or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/womeninag/.

Ottumwa Man Charged with Several Crimes After Alleged Strangling Attempt

OTTUMWA – An Ottumwa man has been charged with several crimes following an incident in which authorities say he attempted to strangle a female victim.

According to court records, on January 9, around 10pm, 24-year-old Quinton Guffey of Ottumwa is alleged to have threatened to kill the victim at a residence the two share. Additionally, Guffey is said to have taken the victim’s phone when she attempted to call for help; he then struck the victim multiple times and put his hands around her throat, impeding her airflow. Court records show that Guffey’s alleged actions took place in front of two children. Police say they noticed the victim showed residual signs of assault, with redness observed around her throat, and bruises, swelling, and other redness around her body.

Guffey was arrested on January 10 and charged with:

  • Domestic Abuse Assault
  • Willful Injury
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance (3rd or Subsequent Offense)
  • Harassment (First Degree)
  • Child Endangerment (Two Counts)
  • Obstruction of Emergency Communications

Police say when Guffey was arrested, they found a THC marijuana vape on his person.

Guffey was lodged in the Wapello County Jail, where he has since been released after posting a $10,000 bond. A judge has ordered Guffey not to have contact with the victim or two children involved in the incident.

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