Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Today’s top stories House Republicans overcame internal divides yesterday to pass a framework for a multitrillion-dollar plan to address defense, energy, immigration and tax policy
When the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus made its first appearance at a U.S. poultry farm in February 2022, roughly 29,000 turkeys at an Indiana facility were sacrificed in an attempt to avert a larger outbreak. It didn’t work. Three years later, highly pathogenic avian influenza has spread to all 50 states. The number of
The calls, texts and emails start coming in before 6 in the morning: restaurants, bakeries and others desperate to find eggs. Brian Moscogiuri is an egg broker. A vice president for the wholesale company Eggs Unlimited, he works the phone in his home office in Toms River, N.J., until late into the evening, trying to
When the bird flu virus began striking dairy farms last year, dead barn cats were often the first sign. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that cats may also be bearing the brunt inside U.S households: When cats die unexpectedly, there may be the H5N1 bird flu virus in
Madeline Halpert BBC News, New York Kreher Family Farms Farmer Brian Kreher is relieved none of his birds (pictured here) have gotten sick – but he worries about the avian flu every day For Brian Kreher, a fourth-generation farmer in the small town of Clarence, New York, the latest outbreak of bird flu has meant
Gardeners have been issued a warning over ‘infected’ bird feeders that can pose a health risk to several species of birds. As March looms, the nesting season will see young birds gradually leave their nests to explore their surroundings and join their flocks in the hunt for tasty treats. Feeding stations are an ideal way to
Emus have an image problem, thanks to Rod Hull’s aggressive puppet and the frequently repeated claim that they are the world’s stupidest bird. But the large flightless birds have shown they are pretty intelligent and can figure out a puzzle, when the prize is a delicious lettuce. Researchers gave three emus, four ostriches and two
Two dairy workers in Michigan may have transmitted bird flu to their pet cats last May, suggests a new study published on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In one household, infected cats may also have passed the virus to other people in the home, but limited evidence makes it difficult to
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to reverse the firing of some employees who were involved in responding to the nation’s growing bird flu outbreak, officials said this week. The number of employees being rehired remains unclear, as does the exact nature of their roles. But over the weekend, the department said, “several positions”
Bird enthusiasts are flocking to Minnesota in hopes of catching a glimpse of a great gray owl. They’re one of North America’s largest owl species and many have flown down from Canada to find food.