Latest news with #Mid-Atlantic
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Health
- USA Today
Fire ants evolve into a fearsome hybrid: 'Anything can really happen'
Researchers thought colder temperatures and higher elevations could stop the march of invasive fire ants. Mother Nature had other ideas. Southern states familiar with an invasive, stinging ant are facing a new foe: A hybrid bug that combines the fierce red fire ant and the hardy black fire ant. Imported fire ants have spread from their native South America to the United States with help from accidental human transportation, a lack of predators and warming temperatures thanks to climate change – potentially bringing upper elevations in the Appalachians and colder Mid-Atlantic state areas into colonization danger. The invasive fire ants first hitched a boat ride to Alabama in 1918. Since then, they've marched into over a dozen states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Now, experts say two species of invasive fire ants found in the United States are crossbreeding, creating an even nastier and hardier bug. The USA TODAY Network investigated the emerging threat this spring. Here's what to know: What are imported fire ants? Fire ants are famous for forming into large balls of living matter during flooding events, allowing them to literally float down to new locations. After Tropical Storm Helene dropped record-levels of rain across much of western North Carolina last fall, that ability has officials especially worried about how the natural disaster might have helped the invasive species spread to new areas, said Joy Goforth, plant pest administrator with the state agriculture department. Their venom, similar to a bee's or wasp's, results in a painful, itchy pustule or blister on the skin. A very small portion of the population are hypersensitive to ant venom and can experience lethal allergic reactions, according to the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project at Texas A&M. Even healthy individuals, however, may experience severe reactions such as anaphylactic shock if they suffer from a multiple stinging incident. Treatments for stings are limited, with Texas A&M recommending stings be treated as you would stings of other insects. Keep them clean and intact to avoid secondary infections. Considering a mature colony can include up to 400,000 worker ants, a queen can lay up to 1,000 eggs a day, and that there can be several colonies per acre of land, fire ants can sometimes seem like the perfect pest. "Right now, it just seems they are very adaptable, and that includes moving their nests further underground in the higher elevations where the temperatures are more constant year-round, to some degree outsmarting the environment," said Amy Michael, entomological programs manager with N.C. Agriculture. Where have fire ants spread? They've spread across every county of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and South Carolina. They've reached across most of North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Arkansas, and have infiltrated parts of Virginia, Oklahoma and New Mexico, according to national data. "While eradicating them would be the goal in a perfect world, we really are at the point now where we are trying to manage their impacts and their spread," Michael said. Hybrid fire ants are bad news Mother Nature has thrown a new wrinkle into the mix − a new hybrid ant that's a merger of the two invasive fire ant species that have reached U.S. shores. Dr. Scotty Yang, assistant professor in the Virginia Tech Department of Entomology, said hybridized fire ants are the result of interbreeding between red and black fire ants. The outcome is a fire ant that has the strength and ornery disposition of the fiercer red fire ant with the better tolerance of colder temperatures found in black fire ants. Yang said the hybrid ants have become the explorers and front guard for the fire ant invasion into colder and more northerly areas, becoming the dominant fire ant species in the upper elevations of Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. And they are proving to be very successful, with a dozen Virginia counties added to that's state fire ant quarantine map just last year. Yang said viruses that impact "normal" fire ants also have less of an impact on the hybrids, making them less likely to forage and thus less likely to carry poisoned bait back to their mounds. "In some respect, the viruses help them survive," he said. Researchers are still trying to determine why the ants decided to crossbreed. "But once you introduce a species to a new place, anything can really happen," Yang said. Living with fire ants After more than 60 years in North Carolina, officials in the state stress that it's no longer a question of eradicating the invaders. Michael said several fire ant control measures are available at garden and home improvement shops that target different stages of the ants' and colony's development. The best strategy involves treatments that allow bait to be brought back into the mound, Michael said. Treating mounds when they appear quickly, especially those near concrete and brick walls where heat radiating from those materials allows the ants to stay active longer, also is important for good control. Michael told USA TODAY that North Carolina's agriculture officials continue to conduct surveys in the counties outside the current quarantine area. "Yes, they are very adaptable, and yes, they can spread pretty quickly," Michael said. "But there are tools out there that are available to residents and businesses to help try and mitigate the impacts and their spread." As fire ants spread, watch out for stinging Asian needle ants, too Fire ants sound bad enough, but another invasive ant species with an ominous name are also spreading through the country: stinging Asian needle ants. "Asian needle ants" are small and difficult to spot, blending in until they make themselves known with a sharp sting that has led to life-threatening anaphylactic shock in some cases. They've been recorded in about 20 states and are widespread along the East Coast, experts say. "Imagine somebody inserting a needle directly into your flesh," said Benoit Guénard, a professor of ecology and entomology at the University of Hong Kong who studied the ants in North Carolina. "It's a very sharp, acute pain but it's quite local." Read more about Asian needle ants here. Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@ or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work. Contributing: Jeanine Santucci and Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Popular grocery store chain resumes store openings after 3-year hiatus
Just when fans thought this iconic grocery store chain had given up on them, a major announcement has reignited the hope for its future. Every neighborhood or small town has a beloved store that generations of families have turned into their go-to spot for all their household needs. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Maybe it's one of the few reliable grocery stores that sells a specific food brand we love. Or perhaps what keeps us coming back is seeing the same cashier with whom we've bonded over neighborhood gossip. Whatever the reason, the thought of losing that store is simply devastating. Image Source: Shutterstock Founded in 1912 as a small neighborhood store in Pennsylvania and known for its in-house dairy products, Weis Market (WMK) has grown into a national grocery store chain with over 200 locations across Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, and Delaware. Although the company might be beloved by those living in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., it has faced a slowdown over the last few quarters. Related: Kroger quietly shuts down service that Walmart dominates Weis's net income declined 23.4% during the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to last year and nearly 18% year to date. The grocery store chain last opened new locations in 2022, when it added two stores to its real estate portfolio. Although it still reported positive net sales, the concerning declines and slowdowns in its business left some wondering whether Weis would suffer the same fate as other retail chains that have enacted massive store closures. Weis announced the opening of a massive 65,000-square-foot new store in Linganore, Maryland, this month. This marks the company's first new grocery store in three years. In May 2024, Weis revealed that labor shortages and supply chain disruptions had led it to scale back on new store openings. But it was ready to resume as it unveiled plans to open six new locations and five new fuel centers in 2025. It also aimed to completely revamp 11 stores and do minor remodeling on 15. More Retail News: Hershey adds new products to move beyond chocolateBankrupt retail chain makes major comeback, reopens new storesWalmart builds a whole new kind of store A few months later, the company delivered some bittersweet news, stating that although its business' health had improved, disruptions remain persistent. Hence, it decided to push its expansion plans to be finalized by 2026. Nonetheless, Weis remains strong in its promise. Last year, the grocery store chain renovated or remodeled a dozen stores and acquired two Sunnyway Foods locations last September to rebrand them into Weis, ending 2024 with 198 units. In addition to its new Maryland location, Weis also announced it has begun the construction of a new store in Middleton, Delaware, which is set to open in late 2025. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
UPI
3 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Sen. Schumer treated for dehydration, goes back to work
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., returned to work on Wednesday afternoon after being treated for dehydration during the morning hours. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo June 25 (UPI) -- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., became lightheaded while exercising Wednesday morning and went to a hospital, where he was treated for dehydration and released. Schumer, 74, was exercising on a stationary bike in the U.S. Senate gymnasium when he became lightheaded, the New York Post reported. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was diagnosed and treated for dehydration and released. Schumer afterward attended an afternoon news conference concerning airline safety. Like many parts of the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States, Washington, D.C., is experiencing a heat wave that has triggered heat advisories from the National Weather Service. The NWS warns of heat index values of up to 109 degrees east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and 104 west of them until 9 p.m. EDT Wednesday and again from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday. People are advised to stay in air-conditioned rooms, avoid sun exposure and take in lots of fluids that don't contain caffeine or alcohol to stay hydrated. Those who must go outside are advised to wear light, cool and loosely fitting clothing while limiting outdoor activities. People can watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion, which include lightheadedness, heavy sweating and a rapid pulse, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
ReposiTrak Adds 40 New Egg and Dairy Suppliers to the Queue for the Rapidly Expanding Food Traceability Network
SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ReposiTrak (NYSE:TRAK), the world's largest food traceability and regulatory compliance network, leveraging its established inventory management and out-of-stock reduction SaaS platform, is proud to add 40 egg and dairy suppliers to the queue of companies joining the ReposiTrak Traceability Network® (RTN). These companies will efficiently exchange intricate, FDA-required Key Data Elements (KDEs) for each Critical Tracking Event (CTE) in their supply chains, with the goal of meeting the growing traceability demands of their retail customers. Among the 40 new egg and dairy suppliers are many with a rich history. One is a leading national brand of pasture-raised eggs and butter, founded in 2007 and committed to humane animal care and sustainability. Another, a Mid-Atlantic based goat cheese supplier for more than 20 years, crafts award-winning cheeses using locally sourced milk and traditional methods. A third, established in 2012, delivers premium Wisconsin-made cheeses, highlighting the state's heritage of dairy craftsmanship. 'Traceability has become a powerful differentiator for suppliers,' stated Randy Fields, chairman and CEO of ReposiTrak. 'Retailers are actively looking for partners who are easy to work with, and our hardware-free solution makes that possible. It allows suppliers to share data in any format and meet retailer demands without the technical burden—turning traceability into a competitive advantage.' The ReposiTrak Traceability Network requires no additional hardware. Every traceability data file is checked using a 500+ point error detection process and ReposiTrak's U.S.-based team works with suppliers to make corrections, so that the data is as complete and accurate as possible before it reaches their retail, wholesale or foodservice customers. About ReposiTrak ReposiTrak (NYSE: TRAK) provides retailers, suppliers, food manufacturers and wholesalers with a robust solution suite to help reduce risk and remain in compliance with regulatory requirements, enhance operational controls and increase sales with unrivaled brand protection. Consisting of three product families – food traceability, compliance and risk management and supply chain solutions – ReposiTrak's integrated, cloud-based applications are supported by an unparalleled team of experts. For more information, please visit
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Building Resilient Systems: American Water Provides Expertise at 2025 MACRUC
BUSINESS WIRE)-- American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., will contribute its expertise to key discussions at the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners (MACRUC) Annual Education Conference, taking place June 22 through June 25, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky. 'As extreme weather events become more frequent, the water industry must stay ahead through innovation, smart infrastructure investments and close collaboration with key stakeholders,' said Cheryl Norton, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, American Water. Laura Runkle, President of Virginia and Maryland American Water, will speak as part of the panel discussion Surviving the Storm: Utilities' Role in Preparing for and Responding to Extreme Weather, joining utility leaders and former utility regulators to address how utilities can build resilience in the face of climate-related challenges. 'As extreme weather events become more frequent, the water industry must stay ahead through innovation, smart infrastructure investments and close collaboration with key stakeholders,' said Cheryl Norton, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, American Water. 'Laura's leadership at MACRUC reflects American Water's commitment to building resilient systems and delivering essential services to our customers and communities every day, in the Mid-Atlantic and across the U.S.' The panel will focus on strategies that utilities are implementing to strengthen infrastructure, improve preparedness and foster community partnerships to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events. Runkle will share how American Water is working with regulators and local communities to help ensure safe, reliable service as well as resilient systems that can protect critical services during times of crisis. 'Resilience starts with practical actions like investing in infrastructure using data-driven risk assessment tools and strategies, planning for emergencies and engaging with the communities we serve,' said Runkle. 'I am proud to share how American Water is turning these priorities into reality as we help prepare our systems and customers for the challenges of extreme weather.' For more information about the 2025 MACRUC Annual Education Conference, visit: About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water's 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $40 billion to $42 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities. American Water has been recognized as one of Forbes 2025 Most Trusted Companies in America, in addition to being ranked first in the utilities industry category on Forbes America's Best Large Employers List for 2024; recognized on Newsweek's America's Most Responsible Companies 2025 List; ranked on Barron's 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2024 List; and named one of America's Most JUST companies by JUST Capital and CNBC for its continued commitment to employees, customers, communities and shareholders.
