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Ex-attorney for Daniels and McDougal testifies in Trump trial; CT paid sick days bill passes House, heads to Senate; Iowa leaps state regulators, calls on EPA for emergency water help; group voices concerns about new TN law arming teachers.

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House Democrats say they'll vote to table a motion to remove Speaker Johnson, former President Trump faces financial penalties and the threat of jail time for violating a gag order and efforts to lower the voting age gain momentum nationwide.

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More rural working-age people are dying young compared to their urban counterparts, the internet was a lifesaver for rural students during the pandemic but the connection has been broken for many, and conservationists believe a new rule governing public lands will protect them for future generations.

Killer Whales in Captivity? “Blackfish” Documentary Makes Splash

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Thursday, August 8, 2013   

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Should killer whales be kept in captivity and made to perform tricks for humans? That's a question raised in the documentary called "Blackfish."

The film opens with the tragic death of a SeaWorld trainer killed in 2010 in Orlando, Fla., by the whale, "Tilikum," and moves back in time to show orcas being captured as babies from their families in the wild.

As someone who once brought her children to SeaWorld, said Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the film's director, said her investigation into orcas in captivity was a real eye opener.

"I feel that it would be a good thing if people come out a bit shocked and angered, because that's very much how I felt when I started learning the truth," she said. "I think that it should raise questions, and kind of encourage a debate."

"Blackfish" opens tomorrow in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

SeaWorld sent out letters disputing the film's accuracy to 40 film critics and declined to be interviewed for the film. Repeated attempts for comment for this story went unanswered by SeaWorld.

As it turns out, Tilikum was responsible for two other deaths, which came as a surprise to Cowperthwaite and to some SeaWorld trainers. According to the film, there is no record of orcas killing humans in the wild - but more than 100 reported incidents of orca aggression at SeaWorld. Cowperthwaite said many attribute this to whales being kept in unnatural settings.

"Learning what whales need to thrive, let alone survive, blew me away," she said, "the fact that there's really no way that we can really give them even a fraction of what they need to thrive and survive in captivity. It's a bit heart wrenching."

SeaWorld is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and Cowperthwaite said she hopes it will use its resources to evolve past using animals for entertainment and place these highly intelligent mammals into rehab-and-release facilities - or, at the very least, sea pens.

Tilikum has been in captivity for 30 years and continues to perform at SeaWorld. He has sired several offspring in captivity.

A list of theaters showing "Blackfish" is online at get more stories like this via email

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