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Indianapolis Star
21 hours ago
- Science
- Indianapolis Star
These 5 tiny pests are creating big trouble for Indiana's environment
A few of Indiana's tiniest transplants — invasive worms, moths and beetles from overseas — have made massive changes to Indiana's ecosystems over the past several decades. Some of the creepy-crawlies currently wreaking havoc on North American ecosystems have been in the United States for over a century, lurking out of sight. But others, like spotted lanternflies, are newer threats, and they're sweeping through Midwestern forests, fields and gardens with a fury. In Indiana, some tree species have almost disappeared, vineyards are under threat and even urban gardeners are starting to see the health of their soil decline. Without natural predators, the pests are difficult to stop. But it is possible to slow them down. Scientists are quarantining infected forests, disrupting mating seasons and encouraging Hoosiers to learn how the creatures spread. Here's what you need to know about how five tiny pests are causing chaos in Indiana. At first glance, an Asian jumping worm looks like any other slimy earthworm — they're slender, squishy, and probably squirming around in your garden beds. But while most worms burrow deep into soil and poop out nutrients across the layers, Asian jumping worms stay close to the surface. Their castings, which look like used coffee grounds, is easily washed away by rainfall, and it's almost impossible to grow native plants, fruits or veggies in the low-nutrient dirt left behind. The worms were brought to North America from eastern Asia over 100 years ago, but they've only recently become a major threat. Over the last decade, their populations exploded and began to spread rapidly across the Midwest. Now, Asian jumping worms have been reported across multiple cities and counties in Indiana, including Indianapolis and Bloomington. 'We're finding them kind of everywhere,' said Robert Bruner, an entomologist at Purdue University. 'People are sitting up and paying attention a lot now because their damage to the soil structure is really hard to fix.' Stopping their spread is tricky, too. Bruner theorizes the worms and their eggs are being moved through contaminated soil, mulch and compost. His advice to gardeners: Stop sharing soil with your neighbors, leave new bags of fresh dirt to dry in the sun for a few days, which can kill worm eggs, and report any sightings of Asian jumping worms you find. Ash trees used to line the streets of Indiana cities by the tens of thousands. Their huge canopies and leafy cover provided ample shade for Hoosiers far and wide. But now, most of these native trees are dead. The tiny emerald ash borer is to blame, according to entomologists. The bright green wood beetles hail from Eastern Asia, and were first found in Indiana in 2004. They've since spread to every county in the state. Emerald ash borers can kill a healthy ash within six years of first contact. After burrowing just underneath the bark, the beetles feast on tree tissue, which eventually disrupts an ash's ability to internally transport water and nutrients. Despite killing most of their primary food source, emerald ash borers persist. The beetles survive in pockets across Indiana and neighboring states, feeding on the remaining ash living in backyards and forest groves. 'Emerald ash borer is a constant concern because there are still ash trees and people are still trying to preserve them,' said Bruner. He thinks the beetles have become a permanent part of the Indiana landscape. Because dying ash trees can crash to the ground and endanger their surroundings, city officials and residents have removed dead and dying trees by the thousands. But some ash trees in parks and backyards have been preserved through recurring pesticide applications, a process that can sometimes save Hoosier homeowners money in the long run compared to the hefty cost of tree removal and replacement. Spongy moths are the one of the most dangerous defoliators in the United States, meaning they can and will chew through as much foliage as they find. In 2021, the moths defoliated over nine million acres of forest across the country according to Purdue University. An amateur entomologist brought spongy moth specimens to Boston from Europe in the late 1860s — the moths escaped, obviously — and the creatures have been chewing their way through New England and further west ever since. But it isn't exactly the fuzzy, winged insect that is destroying forests. Rather, it's the larval stage of the moth's life cycle posing the threat: Caterpillars need to eat. As they prepare to metamorphose, spongy moth caterpillars devour the leaf tissue from over 300 species of trees and shrubs: preferably oaks, but tamarack, white birch, pine and spruce, too. Usually, trees can survive their first defoliation. But when their leaves are shredded up and eaten away year after year, trees quickly lose their ability to fend off disease and store energy over the winter, leading to death. In Indiana, the spongy moth outlook is 'pretty bad,' according to Bruner. Roughly three quarters of Indiana's 4.4 million acres of forested land is at risk, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The moths pose such a serious threat to Indiana's ecosystems that the DNR puts counties with large infestations into quarantine to prevent further spread. In some areas, the DNR is even spraying pheromones to confuse and disrupt mating between male and female moths, said Bruner. Right now, the moths are largely sequestered to northern Indiana, but past sightings further south, like in the Hoosier National Forest, have entomologists on high alert. Armed with piercing-sucking mouthparts and a penchant for hitchhiking, invasive spotted lanternflies found their way from the East Coast to Indiana by 2021. Every year, the bugs travel a little further into the state, jeopardizing forests, vineyards and orchards. The creatures aren't technically flies. Rather they're planthoppers, which are more closely related to cicadas and aphids. And they're destructive. By piercing into a plant's vascular tissue, spotted lanternflies suck up sap to get nutrients. Then, they excrete oodles of honeydew — a sugary, watery mess — over everything nearby, which attracts other pests and allows sooty mold to grow. Spotted lanternflies can also destroy agricultural crops. In Indiana, scientists are worried about the vineyards strewn across the state. When thousands of spotted lanternflies swarm feed on grapevines, they can weaken the plants, reduce yield and kill them off entirely. They also attack black walnut and maple trees, which could impact the local maple syrup and timber industries, said Bruner. The planthopper's path of spread across the United States has closely followed railways, and Bruner expects to see them spread even further south this year. Hoosiers can report spotted lanternfly sightings to the DNR by submitting information through the agency's online portal. Asian longhorn beetles aren't a current threat to Indiana's ecosystems, but they're still keeping some entomologists up at night. In the late 1990s, the beetles were found in Indianapolis and Porter County, according to previous reporting from IndyStar, and the threat was immediately eradicated, said Bruner. But Asian longhorn beetles still exist in Ohio forests, albeit quarantined, and Bruner is encouraging Hoosiers to stay on high alert in case the beetle finds its way back to Indiana. 'They're one of the nastiest ones,' he said. 'If you see one, it means it's already too late.' Asian longhorn beetles bore deep into tree trunks and gouge out large holes, creating chambers inside trees where young beetles feast and grow. They have a slight preference for maple trees but are happy to munch through most hardwoods, like elms, willows, birches and sycamores. As they emerge from trees, they leave behind small, perfectly circular holes — about the size of a No. 2 pencil. Dying trees are left carved up and hollowed out, lacking access to internal water or nutrients. "Trees can't survive that level of damage," said Bruner. 'Typically, you have to eradicate all the trees within that area just to guarantee they don't spread.' The DNR encourages residents not to move firewood, which can easily spread pests like the Asian longhorn beetle, and report potential sightings to (866) 663-9684. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CBS 17 Investigates: NC homeowner's associations and buyers beware
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — We are in the middle of 'homebuying season' and there are many items people have on their dream home wish lists. One may be living in a neighborhood with one of the nearly 15,000 community associations in North Carolina. However, some buyers want to avoid these organizations completely. 'There's two HOAs here. The first one is kind of an overhead HOA, so it covers, you know, all of the amenities,' Jessica Mclemore told CBS 17 Investigates about her Wake Forest home, which is currently up for sale in the Traditions neighborhood. 'Then the second HOA for this house covers all lawn care and maintenance.' She told CBS 17 Investigates the home used to be owned by her grandparents. The couple's realtor, Brian Pate, said it's not uncommon potential buyers-say 'no thanks' to a neighborhood with an HOA. 'You always hear the bad stories, you never hear the good. So, for that reason, people often want to avoid HOAs, and it can be a challenge with all of the new construction in the Triangle area market because all of those large, new subdivisions are going to have homeowner's associations,' said Pate. 'Look at it! It's huge! This is beautiful,' said Michael Bruner of his Fayetteville home, positioned in the Preston community. He and his wife, Kala Elenes say an HOA was a dealbreaker for them when they were on the market for a home a few years back. 'Rules, regulations for me,' Bruner said, were the reasons why he didn't want an HOA. Shortly after moving into their home in 2021, the couple said they were notified an HOA was collecting dues. 'It was very devastating to find that out, especially while I was still pregnant and I was like what are, we just got here, we paid all this money, we've painted this house, we've done all this stuff…now what do we do?' Elenes said. CBS 17 Investigates found a copy of the original Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for the Preston Homeowner's Association of Fayetteville dated 2002, along with amended versions. It was filed with the Register of Deeds Office in Cumberland County. The couple also told us their realtor did notify them of the covenants. 'Yeah, there was covenants on the properties and bylaws, but like I said, nobody was enforcing anything,' said Bruner. CBS 17 Investigates found other documents filed for the HOA, but we didn't locate any paperwork showing it was ever disbanded. It's also registered with the North Carolina Secretary of State's Office, listing November 2002 as the time it formed. 'From a legal standpoint, there's really nothing that we can do because they're there. They've existed in its entirety forever,' said Bruner. However, the couple also provided us a copy of the MLS for the property, which is the system used by the real estate industry to show listing information about properties. In their case, the MLS says 'No' next to 'HOA.' Additionally, the couple told us an HOA was not listed on their financing paperwork, and they provided documentation showing the previous homeowner signing off on a section that says the property is not subject to governing documents, 'which impose various mandatory covenants, conditions, and restrictions upon the lot or unit.' The Preston HOA of Fayetteville tells CBS 17 Investigates in part; 'The HOA has remained active since its inception. At one point, some residents perceived the HOA as inactive due to a period when dues were not being collected while the leadership at the time addressed a legal matter. However, new leadership took over in 2021, and dues collection resumed.' 'According to everybody that we talked to, there was no HOA, okay, so that that was under the assumption that we had,' Bruner told CBS 17 Investigates. We asked —who specializes in community associations with Law Firm Carolinas—if a buyer does not want to live in a neighborhood with an HOA, what should they look out for and whose responsibility is it to vet the process. 'When someone is purchasing property, they need to make sure that they understand all of the regulations and restrictions that bind that property to make sure it's going to be appropriate for their use,' Taylor said. 'The real estate agent who was assisting them is responsible for working with them on that. The buyer is required to get certain disclosures from the seller and that includes information on any community association that might be regulating that community. And then, of course, through title inspections and title insurance, anything would come up if there wasn't a community association in effect.' After their annual dues doubled recently, Elenes and Bruner say they are looking to move elsewhere. 'I've been actively looking for a home and I really wanted to get out of here before they raised it again because—what comes next now? It's 500 a year, now it's 1,000 year…they can do anything they want to do,' Elenes said. Back in Wake Forest, the McLemores just finished house shopping a few months back and are settling in with their dogs. 'We purchased a home kind of on the outskirts of town, and the homeowner's association there is less intrusive. That's kind of what we were looking for,' said Holden McLemore. 'Nobody likes to be told what they can and can't do with their house and their property,' Jessica McLemore told us. In North Carolina, there are about 15,000 community associations, according to the Community Associations Institute. According to Attorney Taylor, about 99% of associations are set up as nonprofits in the state. 'In North Carolina, there are different types of HOAs…we have condominium associations, town home association, property owner's associations and then general HOAs, all different types,' Taylor told CBS 17 Investigates. 'But generally, these are organized as nonprofit corporations under the nonprofit corporation act, set up like any other nonprofit corporation and they're administered pursuant to that statutory framework.' You can find their information on the . Here is the full statement we received from the Preston Homeowner's Association of Fayetteville: 'The Preston HOA was established and officially filed with the state of North Carolina in 2006 when the community was first developed. The HOA has remained active since its inception. At one point, some residents perceived the HOA as inactive due to a period when dues were not being collected while the leadership at the time addressed a legal matter. However, new leadership took over in 2021, and dues collection resumed. Since its establishment, the HOA has remained publicly recorded with the state, though we understand that some homeowners may not have been made aware of its existence during their home purchase. This information is typically provided through real estate transactions, and we encourage all buyers and agents to verify HOA status during the home-buying process. The HOA prioritizes transparent and consistent communication with residents. Information is regularly shared through multiple channels, including our homeowner portal (which contains meeting minutes, governing documents, project invoices, and budgets), email updates, text messages, a quarterly newsletter, and the community bulletin board. Participation in meetings and HOA activities is always encouraged, as these forums provide opportunities for homeowners to stay informed and involved. The HOA operates in accordance with its bylaws, which are accessible through the homeowner portal. We encourage all homeowners to review these documents to gain a clear understanding of HOA procedures and responsibilities. Our goal is to maintain open communication and provide homeowners with the resources they need. We welcome any questions or concerns and encourage residents to reach out at any time to discuss HOA matters.' CBS 17's Mary Smith is an Investigative Reporter focused on Digging Deeper and Getting Answers. If you have a story that needs investigating, send an email to Investigates@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Attorney says Grand Forks schools should refuse to bargain with non-teaching staff
Feb. 8—GRAND FORKS — An attorney retained by Grand Forks Public Schools is recommending the School Board should negotiate with only some of the district staff represented by the local teachers union. Attorney Rachel Bruner, of Pearce Durick LLC, has told board members to reject a negotiating petition from the Grand Forks Education Association ahead of this spring's bargaining season, according to a memo included in the packet for the upcoming Monday, Feb. 10, School Board meeting. Bruner is instead recommending the board negotiate only with the district's classroom teachers, a move that could potentially exclude librarians, school counselors, psychologists, occupational and physical therapists and other non-teaching roles. Under state law, school employee unions file petitions to negotiate with their school districts that include a description of the employees they represent. The GFEA has historically represented teachers as well as non-administrative professionals that Grand Forks Public Schools collectively calls "certified staff." A memo from Superintendent Terry Brenner, though, says Bruner recommends the School Board reject the GFEA's petition on behalf of certified staff and instead approve a "less broad negotiating unit" consisting only of employees licensed or approved to teach by the Educational Standards and Practice Board and "employed primarily as a classroom teacher." Bruner did not return a Friday afternoon call seeking comment. The change stems from a recent state Supreme Court ruling that determined school psychologists in Fargo Public Schools did not qualify as "teachers" under state law and were not covered by collective bargaining rules. "We have to follow the law of the land," said Grand Forks School Board President Dave Berger. "And when a Supreme Court decision comes down that says these bargaining units can only represent these employees licensed to teach by (ESPB) or approved to teach, we have to navigate our way through that." The ruling means school boards across the state will have to reevaluate who falls under the definition of "teacher" after the Supreme Court ruling. Last week, the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reported, Fargo Public Schools employees packed a Board of Education meeting where non-teaching staff, including librarians and counselors, pleaded with the board to remain under the teacher contract agreement. The GFEA is expected to organize a similar response. A post on a private GFEA Facebook group is imploring members to pack Monday's School Board meeting. Two GFEA leadership members declined to comment for this story ahead of Monday's meeting. Berger says the board will enter executive session on Monday to weigh whether to accept the GFEA's current petition on behalf of all certified staff. For his part, he argues the court's ruling would benefit certified staff with high-demand degrees, like psychologists and therapists, who could negotiate for higher salaries individually. "Those psychologists, those occupational therapists, physical therapists and so on, they have a broader marketplace, and they can be employed outside of the classroom," Berger said. "There are many of them who have asked to be out of this bargaining unit in the first place because their salary would be more competitive." This tracks with the Supreme Court's case, which stemmed from the Fargo school district hiring a school psychologist above the rate negotiated by the teachers union. Berger said the district and Grand Forks teachers union added a new pay scale for employees with advanced degrees in 2023 in a bid to attract more "high-demand" degree holders. Asked via text message by the Herald what the new bargaining rules meant for non-teaching staff without high-demand degrees, Berger said their status would depend on whether the NSPB considered them classroom staff. In Grand Forks Public Schools, employees like paraprofessionals, custodians and front desk staff are considered "classified staff," and do not have bargaining rights. Nick Archuleta, president of statewide teachers union North Dakota United, says Grand Forks is jumping the gun if it follows through on Bruner's recommendation. He said other school districts are continuing to negotiate with the same bargaining units as they have in years past. The Fargo School Board's negotiating committee is recommending its board approve a petition submitted by the Fargo Education Association where the union would continue to negotiate for both teaching and non-teaching staff. "I don't know why Ms. Bruner would want to exclude those teachers in Grand Forks, or why Grand Forks would want to exclude them from the bargaining unit either," Archuleta said. "The system that's in place has served both the school district and the educators and administrators well, and I'm not exactly certain why they would want to upset that apple cart." Aimee Copas, executive director of the North Dakota Council for Educational Leadership, says the Supreme Court's decision means school districts may exclude non-teaching employees from negotiations, not that they must. Few superintendents she's spoken to say they plan to change their negotiating rules, she said. Educators are already on edge with this year's legislative session. "If things are going well right now, why shake things up?" she asked. "If I was back in a building, I wouldn't make any changes. That's just my personal opinion as a former superintendent."
