Segregation and birds: Across the Los Angeles Basin, bird species are “remarkably segregated” as a legacy of racial bias in home lending decades ago and modern wealth disparities, say researchers. (Los Angeles Times)
EATS Act opponents: Sixteen House Republicans signed a letter opposing the so-called EATS Act, which would overturn California’s Proposition 12 animal welfare regulations, citing, among other concerns, the act’s possible benefits to Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods. (Farm Progress)
Gene editing takes on bird flu: British researchers reported promising results when they used gene editing to protect chickens from highly pathogenic avian influenza, although it appeared that several genes must be altered to achieve immunity. (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)
New pumpkin record: For the second year in a row, Minnesota gardener Travis Gienger has grown the world’s largest pumpkin, this time a 2,749-pound monster that was 189 pounds heavier than last year’s winner at the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. (MPR News)