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Across much of America and especially in the normally chilly north, the country went through the winter months without, well, winter. The Lower 48 states averaged 37.6 degrees (3.1 degrees Celsius), which is 5.4 degrees (3 degrees Celsius) above average. But Iowa blew past its warmest February by 2 degrees, while parts of Minnesota were 20 degrees warmer than average for all of February, Gleason said. A strong ridge of high pressure kept the eastern United States warm and dry, while California kept getting hit with atmospheric rivers, she said. Winter weather expert Cohen, who is based outside of Boston, joked that the U.S. no longer has four seasons: "We have two seasons.

Persons: “, El Nino, ”, Jeff Masters, Masters, Karin Gleason, Gleason, Copernicus, Judah Cohen, Cohen, ” Cohen, Theresa Crimmins, weren’t, Crimmins, ” Crimmins, Patrick Whittle, ___ Read, Seth Borenstein Organizations: National Phenology Network, El, Climate, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Environmental, Iowa, El Nino, Associated Press, Atmospheric Environmental Research, National Weather Service, Rutgers Snow Lab Locations: America, Colorado, New Jersey, Texas, Carolinas, U.S, Michigan, United States, Minnesota, Great, California, El, That's, Boston, Europe, Asia, Fort Kent, Maine, Portland , Maine, AP.org

☆ Vineyards Use AI, IoT Tools to Make Wine Effectively, Sustainably
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Bella Sayegh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The company's president and winemaker, Chris Kajani, wanted to stay connected with customers and distributors amid shutdowns and social-distancing practices. AdvertisementIn March 2020, Kajani started reworking her operations, hosting virtual tastings, keeping in contact with members of the vineyard's wine club, and meeting with distribution partners using a Cisco videoconferencing platform. Chris Kajani, the winemaker and president of Bouchaine Vineyards, is using technology to improve harvesting. Jyotsna Bhamidipati for BIRemy, a former wine technical consultant, said that buying wine without knowing what's good can be overwhelming. AI-powered tools are making headway in the commercial wine market by helping vineyards find optimal wine blends.

Persons: Chris Kajani, Kajani, Vintners, McClenehan, Alexandre Remy, Remy, Jyotsna, Vaughn Walton, Walton, Piper, Pied Piper, Katerina Axelsson, Axelsson Organizations: Cisco, Bouchaine, Atlas Wine, Oregon Wine Research, Oregon, University's Oregon Wine Research Institute, OSU, BI Remy Locations: Napa , California, Bouchaine, Somerset , California, Oregon, California, America, Walton

☆ Family Dollar has agreed to pay $42 million after storing food and medicine in a warehouse with a severe rodent infestation
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementUnder the plea agreement, Family Dollar admitted that it had begun receiving more reports of mouse and pest issues with deliveries from the warehouse in August 2020. AdvertisementThe distribution center shipped FDA-regulated products to more than 400 Family Dollar stores, or over 5% of its total store count. On average, the warehouse shipped 1.3 million cases of product worth $32.3 million each month, per the plea agreement. According to the plea agreement, the facility had operated since 1994, making it Family Dollar's second-oldest distribution center. Family Dollar said in October that it planned to open a "best-in-class" distribution center on the same site in West Memphis by fall 2024.

Persons: —, Dollar, Jonathan D, Ross, Rick Dreiling Organizations: Service, US Department of Justice, Business, FDA, DOJ, Federal Food, Consumers, Eastern, of Locations: Arkansas, West Memphis , Arkansas, US, of Arkansas, West Memphis

☆ A boomer moved back to Virginia after living in Florida for a decade. She said she would 'never own another home' in the Sunshine State and loves the slower pace of life.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Nancy, a 68-year-old retiree, moved back to Virginia from Florida due to escalating costs and the heat. “There’s so much you don’t know about living in Florida and owning a home in Florida until you’re actually living it,” Nancy said. The Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey found that between 2021 and 2022, nearly 23,800 people moved from Florida to Virginia, while almost 33,000 moved from Virginia to Florida. AdvertisementNancy moved with her husband to Cape Coral 11 years ago after four of her five kids moved there. They settled on Cape Coral for the beach access and warm weather, and for the first few years, they made the most of their time there.

Persons: Nancy, —, aren’t, Virginia —, “, you’re, ” Nancy, “ I’m, isn't, ”, Hurricane Ian, Virginia Nancy, it’s Organizations: Service, Sunshine State, Virginia Tech, Bureau, Survey, Florida —, Cape Coral, Coral, Insurance Information Institute, Hurricane, Radford University Locations: Virginia, Florida, Nancy, Cape Coral, Georgia, Texas, Northern Virginia, Fairfax County, Cape, New Hampshire, Virginia Tech, Coral

They found that 10 countries, including Kenya, Morocco, Niger, Yemen, and Pakistan, experienced the majority of locust outbreaks among 48 affected nations. The researchers also found a strong link between the magnitude of desert locust outbreaks and weather and land conditions like air temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, and wind. El Nino, a recurring and natural climate phenomenon that affects weather worldwide, was also strongly tied to bigger and worse desert locust outbreaks. “As such variability increases, it is logical to predict that locust outbreaks will increase as well,” said Tallamy. The desert experienced locust outbreaks in 2019 after uncontrolled breeding following cyclones, which filled the desert with freshwater lakes.

Persons: Elfatih Abdel, Rahman, Douglas Tallamy, ”, Paula Shrewsbury, al Khali, Xiaogang Organizations: Agriculture Organization, National University of Singapore, Food, International, of, Physiology, Nino, University of Delaware, University of Maryland, World Bank, Associated Press Locations: Africa, South Asia, Agriculture, Kenya, Morocco, Niger, Yemen, Pakistan, East Africa, Shrewsbury, India, Asia, Arabian, West Africa, AP.org

☆ I was thrilled to live in a tiny home. But it got too expensive, and now I'm moving out.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elizabeth Illing moved into a tiny home believing it was a long-term solution to Austin's high rents. Illing said her rent and utility bills went up during the two years she's lived in the tiny home. I thought moving into the Casata tiny home community was a good idea for my family due to the affordability. I'm paying $600 to $700 more each month than I was before moving into the community. AdvertisementFor others considering moving into a tiny home, I would advise paying attention to your lease and definitely knocking on doors to talk to current residents.

Persons: Elizabeth Illing, Illing, she's, —, I've, It's, rollerblading, we've, it's, that's, we're Organizations: Service Locations: Austin , Texas, Pest

“The defendant used fear, violence and intimidation to get what he wanted," Assistant U.S. Attorney William Akina said in his opening statement. “What he wanted was money, control and revenge.”Miske's attorney, Michael Kennedy, painted a completely different picture of his client. Miske even fumigated a Honolulu concert hall for free after the city couldn't afford the $200,000 estimate, Kennedy said. His attorneys argued that a new jury should be selected because Miske's half-brother John Stancil pleaded guilty after a jury had been assembled and sworn and Miske’s daughter-in-law Delia Fabro Miske pleaded guilty after four days of jury selection. Defense attorney Lynn Panagakos noted that Stancil pleaded guilty early Monday before the courthouse was even open to the public.

Persons: Michael Miske Jr, William Akina, ”, Michael Kennedy, Kennedy, Akina, Miske, Johnathan Fraser, Miske's, Caleb, Fraser, “, John Stancil, Delia Fabro Miske, Lynn Panagakos, Stancil, Derrick Watson Organizations: —, Miske, Shell, ʻIolani, Polynesian Cultural, U.S, District Locations: HONOLULU, U.S, Honolulu, Pest, Hawaii

☆ Cane toads: This warty, toxic pest threatens entire ecosystems. These scientists have a secret weapon
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

For the most part, the battle against cane toads has been mounted by local ecological warriors wearing rubber gloves who scan the streets for adult toads. But the Australians have a secret weapon not yet available worldwide – a lure that attracts cane toad tadpoles so thousands can be killed in one hit. To prove the theory, and try to mimic it, they’d first need a heap of dead cane toads. “In Florida, cane toads are mainly a socio-economic issue. Northern quolls – small carnivorous marsupials – get a cane toad sausage, goannas are fed tiny live toads and freshwater crocodiles receive cane toad legs with a dose of lithium chloride.

Persons: Australia CNN —, Gary King, “ Who’s, ”, King, Australia’s, Cane, Luke, Austin Rogers, “, “ There’s, we’re, Rob Capon, Rick Shine, Capon, ” Capon, they’d, it’s, you’ve, Jacob LaFond, Steve Johnson, that’s, ” LaFond, That’s, Nikki Tomsett, ” Tomsett, they’re, Sara McAllister, Connor, John Holmes, Hilary Whiteman, Connor Holmes, John, ” John, ” Connor Organizations: Australia CNN, University of Queensland, Macquarie University . Shine, Macquarie University, University of Tampa, University of Florida, Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, CNN Locations: Brisbane, Australia, South, Central America, Queensland, United States, Japan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Pacific, Caribbean, United Kingdom, koalas, North Queensland, Florida, Miami, “, South Florida, Australian, Hawaii, Derby, Western Australia, Northern

☆ Deadly fire ants are forming rafts to cross Australian flood waters
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Hafsa Khalil | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Red fire ants are forming rafts to travel on flood waters in the northeastern Australian state of Queensland, with the extreme weather threatening a countrywide spread of the highly invasive species. Two rafts of fire ants are seen floating on water in this screengrab taken from video released by Australia's Invasive Species Council in January 2024. Invasive Species CouncilQueensland has seen brutal weather and heavy flooding in recent weeks. Modeling by the ISC suggests fire ants will spread to “every corner of Australia” if the outbreak in Queensland isn’t curbed. Red ants can spread quickly on their own, but an infestation is typically accelerated by human activity, such as in cargo containers or shipments of potted plants or soil.

Persons: ” Reece Pianta, ” Pianta, ‘, ”, Pianta, Murray, Tara Moriarty, “ Organizations: CNN, Species Council, ISC, Council, invicta, Agriculture Locations: Australian, Queensland, Species Council Queensland, Cairns, Cyclone Jasper, Australia, Victoria, South America, United States, Mexico, Caribbean, China, Europe, Brisbane, New South Wales, NSW, Darling

☆ 5 red flags to look for when choosing a new home, according to a professional cleaner
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Ryan S. Gladwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

She shared five red flags for people to look out for when moving into a new property. DaSilva said common red flags were water damage and mold, while missing caulk is often overlooked. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Failing to see red flags when you're viewing a property to buy or rent might set you up for financial, mental, and physical stress. Water damage and moldThe first and most common red flags are water damage and mold.

Persons: Lina DaSilva, DaSilva, —, cleanings, I've, Caulk, I'm, it's, It's Organizations: Service Locations: Toronto

NAPERVILLE, Illinois, Nov 28 (Reuters) - It is rare that U.S. corn supplies build in a marketing year while soybean supplies slip, but that is exactly what is happening in 2023-24, keeping soybean prices relatively elevated versus corn. The U.S. Department of Agriculture pegs total U.S. corn supplies in 2023-24 to rise 10% on the year, while soybean inventory is seen shrinking 3%. U.S. corn versus soybean supply: Year-on-yearThe 2007-08 rise in corn and fall in soybean supplies was policy-driven, and the only other recent, directionally similar year was 2003-04, when the U.S. soybean crop fell victim to rare, widespread pest issues as well as dry weather. USDA’s long-term projections issued earlier this month suggest just that, pegging 2024 U.S. corn acres at 91 million and soybeans at 87 million versus 83.6 million in 2023. Interestingly, USDA in the couple of years leading up to 2007-08 had also overestimated U.S. soybean acres in March and undershot corn.

Persons: Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Department, Agriculture, USDA, Crop Watch, Reuters, Thomson Locations: NAPERVILLE , Illinois, U.S, Chicago, North Dakota

☆ An island vacation with no mosquito bites – and no chemicals, either
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Regan Stephens | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Soneva Fushi, a resort on the private Kunfunadhoo Island in the Maldives, has spent years working to eradicate these pests. Soneva has partnered with the Germany-based company Biogents, which has developed mosquito traps that rely on environmentally friendly attractants. A Biogents-created mosquito trap at Soneva Fushi Courtesy Soneva FushiWhat’s more, these techniques are typically only useful for eliminating adult mosquitoes. An overwater bungalow at Soneva Fushi Sandro Bruecklmeier/Courtesy Soneva FushiThe pest-combatting program has been a success, according to Soneva. The resort chain has gifted mosquito traps to Parliament in Malé, the country’s capital, and trained staffers on how to use them.

Persons: Soneva, “, ”, Arnfinn Oines, Oines, Fushi Sandro Bruecklmeier, Fushi, Sonu, Eva Shivdasani, Soneva Jani Organizations: CNN Locations: Maldives, Germany, GAT, Kunfunadhoo, Malé, Medhufaru, Noonu

☆ How to choose the best Christmas tree, according to science
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Some aspects of choosing a live Christmas tree, like shape, color, and aroma, are subjective. Two Christmas tree experts explain how to choose between the many types of fir, pine, and spruce. Unlike fir and spruce trees, pine tree needles are clustered in groups instead of individually attached to the branch. The National Christmas Tree Association has a map for finding farms and other retailers that sell live Christmas trees. AdvertisementWhich Christmas tree has the best aroma?

Persons: —, there's, Fraser, Douglas, Noble, There's, Justin G, Whitehill, Bert Cregg, It's, Cregg, Chris Keane Whitehill, it's, Frasers, he's, Jason Reed Douglas, Mel Melcon, Jerry Holt, Bert, they'll, Alex Wong, Andrew Matthews, Tim Leedy, Paul J, Richards, Robert Nemeti, Jens Kalaene, you'll, Cesar L, Laure Organizations: Service, US Department of Agriculture, North Carolina State University, of Horticulture, Michigan State University, Northwest, REUTERS, White, Los Angeles Times, Getty, Star Tribune, MediaNews, Anadolu Agency, Call, Tribune Locations: Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Nobles , North Carolina, Douglas, Frasers, Fraser, Pacific Northwest, Europe, Canaan, Allentown

___Their recommendations include securing land rights for women, promoting women's cooperatives and encouraging women to lead on developing climate policy. The link between phenomena like uterine prolapse and climate change is indirect but significant, said Seema Bhaskaran, who tracks gender issues for the nonprofit Transform Rural India Foundation. “It must prioritize awareness programs that emphasize the specific health challenges women face in the wake of climate change as a critical step towards increasing public knowledge. These efforts will also serve as a call to action for governments, institutions, and communities to prioritize women’s health and well-being as a central component of their climate initiatives,” she added. “Definitely there is a very clear recognition that climate has a health impact and health needs to be considered more seriously,” she said.

Persons: Manju Devi, Devi, hadn’t, ___, Seema Bhaskaran, Bhaskaran, Savita Singh, Singh's, Singh, ”, Babita Kumari, Kumari, Poonam, COP28, Anjal Prakash, Shweta Narayan Organizations: DELHI, India Climate Journalism, Associated Press, Stanley Center for Peace, Security, Press Trust of India, India's, Transform Rural, Foundation, Climate Central, Population Foundation of India, Bharat Institute of Public, Indian School of Business, United Nations, Health, AP Locations: Delhi, Dubai, India, New Delhi, Syaraul, Uttar Pradesh, Nanu, U.S

GREENFIELD, Calif.—When Agustin Espinoza Jaramillo shuffles to the doctor who treats his prostate cancer, he says he thinks about the three decades he spent applying pesticides to the fields that surround this farming town. Jaramillo, 72 years old, long knew some pest-killing chemicals have been linked to health problems including cancer. Even so, his own diagnosis came as a surprise.

Persons: Agustin Espinoza Jaramillo shuffles Organizations: — Locations: GREENFIELD, Calif, Jaramillo

☆ 10 rattiest cities in America in 2023, according to pest control experts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Maiya Focht | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Orkin released their 2023 list of rattiest cities in America. Each year the pest control company Orkin ranks America's rattiest cities based on the number of new rat treatments, including residential and public, it performed there over the year. Orkin was so excited by this back-to-back winner that they released limited edition T-shirts emblazoned with the title "Top Rattiest City Chicago 2023". "We may soon be moving farther down the 'rattiest' city list," Johnson said. We're way outnumbered," Janelle Iaccino, marketing director for Rose Pest Control in Chicago, told Block Club.

Persons: Orkin, —, What's, Gerard Brown, Georgette Johnson, Johnson, Maiya, Amber Campbell, Brown, Robert Mecea, Leonardo Munoz, Janelle Iaccino Organizations: Service, City, Chicago, Chicago Los Angeles New, Chicago Los Angeles New York City Washington D.C, San Francisco Philadelphia Baltimore Denver Detroit, New, Washington DC, DC Health, Detroit, city's Department, Public, Denver Department of Public Health, Environment, Baruch, Block Club Chicago, WGN, Rose Pest, Block Locations: America, New York, United States, America's, Chicago Los, Chicago Los Angeles New York City, San Francisco, San Francisco Philadelphia Baltimore Denver Detroit Cleveland, Detroit, Denver, New York City, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Chicago

☆ The Asian longhorned tick spreading across the US can clone itself thousands of times and even kill cattle
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The ticks turned out to be an invasive species, the Asian longhorned tick, newly established in Ohio. The curious case of the dead cattleAsian longhorned ticks are tiny and can be difficult to distinguish between other species. Risa Pesapane/Ohio State UniversityPesapane and her colleagues suggest the Ohio cattle died from blood loss. Asian longhorned ticks are hard to spot, contain, and killTiny and brown, the ALT is hard to distinguish from other types of ticks, making it difficult to spot. AdvertisementCattle are the preferred meal of Asian longhorned ticks.

Persons: —, Risa Pesapane, Pesapane, It's, Oleksandr Melnyk, Kevin Lahmers, Lahmers, Joellen Lampman, Lampman, Ohio State University Pesapane, it's, There's, Ikeda Organizations: Service, Ohio State, Medical Entomology, Pesapane, US Department of Agriculture, Getty Images, Virginia - Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ohio State University, Plant Health, Yale School of Public Health Locations: Ohio, West Virginia, But Ohio, East Asia, Virginia, United States, New Zealand, North Carolina, Lyme, Rocky

☆ Parasitic worms highjack their hosts' free will, and scientists finally think they know how
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Emily Hein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Horsehair worms can control a host's brain and steer it to water, where it drowns. These parasitic worms, which resemble dark and stringy horse hair, take control of their host's brain and drive it to suicide. Hairworms' magic copy-cat trickHairworms need water to reproduce, so when they're ready they force their host to water, where ultimately the host drowns. Horsehair worms make their hosts more active in the middle of the day , when it's easier to find light reflecting off water. So the Chordodes worms can only control mantises and can't puppeteer other insects or mammals, according to the study.

Persons: what's, —, they're, it's, hairworms, Tappei Mishina, Hairworms, Rather, Mishina Organizations: Service, University of California's, Pest Management

☆ NYC's new rat-killing weapon is wildly successful — for now
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New York City's new rat-killing method has wiped out rats on a strip in the Upper East Side. The method involves pumping carbon monoxide into rat burrows, ultimately suffocating the rodents inside. Still, it will likely take a lot more than that to take out New York City's rats for good. Munshi-South said similar methods have been used in the past, including with dry ice in parks in lower Manhattan that had hundreds of rat burrows. The carbon monoxide method can also only be used in a well-ventilated, outdoor area to avoid poisoning the person applying it or other people, Munshi-South said.

Persons: —, Matt Deodato, Jason Munshi, Deodato, Munshi, they're Organizations: Service, Urban Pest Management, Fordham University Locations: York, York City, New York, Manhattan, New York City

☆ Reducing pesticides in food: Major food manufacturers earn an F grade
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“Pesticide exposure during pregnancy may lead to an increased risk of birth defects, low birth weight, and fetal death,” the American Academy of Pediatrics stated. “Exposure in childhood has been linked to attention and learning problems, as well as cancer.”Yet pesticide exposure is widespread, even for chemicals that were banned years ago by federal agencies. In the 2023 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce — a list of nonorganic produce with the most pesticides — researchers found 210 different pesticides on the 12 foods. In addition, consumers can ask food companies to “release the actual test results of pesticide concentrations in their products,” said EWG’s Temkin. “Food companies have not been publishing such data, instead relying on generalities,” she said via email.

Persons: ”, Cailin Dendas, “, disheartening, Jane Houlihan, Houlihan, Kale, collard, ” Alexis Temkin, toxicologist, ” Dendas, Jim Watson, Dendas, Sow, General Mills, Archer Daniels, Lamb, Nestlé, Dane Lisser, Shelby Stoolman, EWG’s, Temkin, ” Temkin, “ Steer Organizations: CNN, “ Pesticides, Healthy, “, ”, American Academy of Pediatrics, Environmental, US Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, US Centers for Disease Control, Getty, Archer Daniels Midland Co, PepsiCo Inc, Conagra Brands Inc, Campbell Soup Company, Lamb Weston Holdings Inc, G Foods Inc, Cargill, Danone S.A, Del Monte Pacific Ltd, General, Inc, Kraft Heinz Company, Mars Incorporated, Mondelēz, Post Holdings Inc, ADM, US Food and Drug Administration Locations: United States, AFP

☆ South Korea declares war on bedbugs after surge in reported cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korea has become the latest country to declare war on bedbugs following a wave of outbreaks, with bathhouses, university dorms, and train stations across the country on high alert. Previously, the country had been practically free of bedbugs following past extermination campaigns, with just nine infestations being reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention (KDCA) since 2014. Meanwhile, pest control companies say they have become inundated with phone calls asking for help. “Bedbugs are developing resistance to the insecticides that we commonly use, so the most effective solution these days is heating. “Early and proactive responses are crucial.”In its “Bedbug Prevention and Response Guidelines,” the Seoul City Government advises people against bringing items with a risk of infestation into their homes.

Persons: “, ”, Eom Hae, Eom, Yoo, Lee, hasn’t, Lee Hee, ” Lee, It’s, Yang Nam, kyung Organizations: South Korea CNN, Korea Disease Control, South, bedbugs, Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul City Government Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Korea, France, United Kingdom, United States, Pest, Incheon, City

☆ A rat exterminator who's helped successfully eliminate nearly 100% of rats in a section of NYC says people clap, cheer, and offer him free beer when he comes around
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New York City has millions of rats. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementThere are millions of rats in New York City. Matt Deodato, the owner of Urban Pest Management, told Insider he's killed thousands of rats with the method. A rat climbs into a box with food in it on the platform at the Herald Square subway station in New York City.

Persons: Matt Deodato, —, he's, Deodato, He's, chewers, New York City Bethany Brookshire, Val Curtis, Michael Parsons, Mongabay, Parsons, Gary Hershorn Organizations: Service, Urban Pest Management, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, Geographic, Herald, Smithsonian Locations: York City, New York City, New York

☆ NYC exterminators' new weapon has eliminated nearly 100% of rats from over 100 burrows — and they already have their next targets mapped out
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

New York City officials have found a new effective way to kill rats. The strategy involves pumping carbon monoxide directly into the rat burrows that are found in sidewalk tree beds. Deodato uses the carbon monoxide method to suffocate the rats, with the help of a machine called BurrowRX, which costs about $3,000. Gothamist reported Menin has since set aside $30,000 to fund the carbon monoxide technique. In addition to the carbon monoxide method, the city has also tried spring traps, poisons, and rat birth control.

Persons: —, Councilmember Julie Menin, Menin, Ibrahim Asmal, exterminator Matt Deodato, Matt, Deodato, Gothamist, Eric Adams Organizations: Service, New York Daily, Urban Pest Management Locations: York City, New York, East, York

☆ Even Before the Israel-Hamas War, Being Palestinian Was Controversial - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Hala Alyan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

I’d had the privilege of a youth — adolescence and young adulthood — in countries where being Palestinian was fairly common. The task of the Palestinian, we’ve seen in the past two weeks, is to audition for empathy and compassion. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve watched Palestinian activists, lawyers, professors get baited and interrupted on air, if not silenced altogether. What is the word of a Palestinian against a machinery that investigates itself, that absolves itself of accused crimes? Diasporically or not, being Palestinian is the quintessential disrupter: It messes with a curated, modified tape.

Persons: I’ve, I’d, hadn’t, we’ve, they’ve, dehumanized, You’ve, I’d humanized, Al Jazeera, “ It’s, it’s, infographics, I’m Organizations: NBC Locations: United States, Kuwait, Palestine, Manhattan, Gaza, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, I’m, Palestinian

☆ Can We Save the Redwoods by Helping Them Move?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Moises Velasquez-Manoff | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Their aggressive approach to conservation featured prominently in numerous scientific articles that followed, discussing the pros and cons of assisted migration. These cases underscore the reality that other plants and animals are already living where you might want to introduce something in order to save it. “I would treat assisted migration as a tool of last resort,” he told me in an email. Many of the animal’s native wetlands were fragmented and shrinking, and conservationists feared that global warming would finish the tortoise off. Similarly, she says, assisted migration is appropriate when contrasted with the other possibility: extinction if no one intervenes.

Persons: martens, Anthony Ricciardi, “, ”, it’s, “ It’s, ” Nicola Mitchell, Jessica Hellmann, you’re Organizations: McGill University, University of Western Australia, U.S . Forest Service, Forest Service, University of Minnesota’s Institute, Environment Locations: Central, South America, Australia, Hawaii, Canada, Newfoundland, Montreal, “, U.S

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