Vargas leads incumbent Bacon: Nonpartisan polls show state Sen. Tony Vargas, a Democrat, leading Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican member of the House Agriculture Committee, in a rematch in a House district in the Omaha area; the race is now rated “Leans Democratic.” (Sabato’s Crystal Ball)
Bird flu in 242 herds: The H5N1 avian flu virus was confirmed in three additional herds at the end of last week — two herds in California and one in Idaho — raising the U.S. total to 242 herds in 14 states since late March. (USDA)
Firefly is threatened: The Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the Bethany Beach firefly, found along the East Coast, as a “threatened” species under the Endangered Species Act, the first time the government sought to protect a firefly under that law. (Washington Post)