It was one helluva weekend all across the country — and the world. First up, in New York, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were married at Madison Square Garden… and the White House wasted no time weighing in. If your FOMO wasn’t already at an all-time high, good luck getting over the single word that the mother of the groom used to sum up the night. Then, Beyoncé dropped a Fourth of July surprise (again, I humbly ask: How lucky are we to be alive at the same time as Queen Bey?). Meanwhile, in New Jersey, one World Cup team continued its history-making run while another faced some, uh, shall we say, interesting questions about players’ pre-game rituals ahead of their win last night in Mexico. Back in Washington, DC, the president delivered his Fourth of July speech. He not only marked the nation’s 250th birthday, but touted his presidential achievements and did a show-and-tell of sorts. Now, let's get to the rest of the news...
— Kylie McCoville / VP, Editorial / Astoria, NY
Ticked Off
Meet Summer’s Tiniest Villain
Small problem: Time to text your most paranoid friend and apologize for mocking those insect-repellent bracelets she wears all the time. Experts say we’re headed for the worst tick season in a decade. Across the country, ER visits have spiked, with the sharpest increases coming from the Northeast and Midwest. Even areas like city parks are seeing an up-tick (sorry, we had to). Thanks to (what else) climate change, ticks that used to die out over the winter are now surviving year round — and they're on the move. There’s the lone star tick, which carries something called alpha-gal syndrome that can make you allergic to milk and red meat. Then, there's the blacklegged tick, which carries Lyme disease and is now also linked to a rare virus called Powassan that transmits in as little as 15 minutes. We’re itchy just thinking about it.
Should we just… stay indoors then?: Ticks don't have to ruin your summer fun, though recent heat dome concerns might keep you glued to the AC anyway. Wear full coverage when you're in tick territory (hint: If your style icon is Bear Grylls, you’re doing it right). Not all bug spray is tick spray, so use the EPA's search tool to find a registered repellent for skin, and treat clothes and gear separately. Ticks are basically tiny hide-and-seek champions, so make sure these spots are on your tick-check list. Shower too, since water can rinse off bugs that haven't attached yet. And, don’t forget to check your pets. If there’s a bright spot, it’s that Pfizer plans to file a Lyme disease vaccine for FDA approval this year, with a possible US launch in 2027.
PS: Turn health headlines into healthy habits. Every Wednesday, we break down the stories and trends to give you the need-to-know in health, nutrition, and fitness in our weekly Well + Good newsletter. Sign up here.
