“It’s like a blizzard with sand.”
—Lisa Honebrink
Spokeswoman, City of Phoenix
Huge dust storms have enveloped Phoenix in recent months, and scientists warn that the Southwest faces more such storms, as the extreme drought in the region shows no sign of easing. Three huge walls of dust slammed into Greater Phoenix in a six-week period this summer, and another raked the desert south of the city in October, causing several accidents along Interstate 10. “Dust Bedevils the Southwest”
“This is a menace to human health, to the environment and to our economy.”
—Adam Putnam
Commissioner, Florida Department of Agriculture
Floridians have grown accustomed to invasions of exotic creatures, but residents in the Miami area are especially grossed out by the latest arrivals: giant African land snails, which that eat so ravenously that they leave trails of excrement on walls and the ground. The snails each have male and female reproductive organs and can lay 1,200 eggs a year, allowing them to proliferate rapidly. “Giant Alien Snails Attack Miami, Though They're Not in Much of a Rush”
“If I can’t drive an American car, I might as well walk.”
—Patricq Calmerhag
Car collector
Swedes like Mr. Calmerhag are rediscovering their love of classic American cars, thanks to a strong economy and currency. American cars have a long history in Sweden, dating back 50 years to when they were imported in large numbers and driven by the country’s businessmen. They were also seen as superior products, with better technology than the local brand Volvo and other European makes. “Driving a Volvo? Not for These Swedes”
“They’re a fun group. We call them ‘bugs and cruds.’ ”
—Jacqueline Buchanan
Forest Supervisor, Bridger-Teton
National Forest
Ms. Buchanan was referring to Dayle Bennett, left, and others in an elite corps of entomologists at the U.S. Forest Service who battle tree-eating bugs. One weapon in their arsenal: pheromones—chemicals that repel or attract bugs. The entomologists are key players in an effort to save great swaths of forest across the country. “Swat Team: Specialists Swarm In to Get Beetles to Buzz Off”
“Thar she be, thanks to the U.S. government.”
—David Harris
Since early August, Mr. Harris, an out-of-work contractor, had been living aboard a 250-ton steel barge abandoned on the Columbia River between Washington and Oregon. He dreamed of towing it to land and cutting it into scrap for sale. But the U.S. Coast Guard barred him from beaching the barge until he could submit a proper tow plan, leaving him adrift along the river. In October, the barge sank, along with the mattress where Mr. Harris slept and the propane grill where he cooked fish. “Living Alone on a Steel Barge Clearly Has a Downside” |
EDUCATION
NATIONAL
CAREERS
ON CAMPUS
OPINION
