The Modern Chihuahua Shares DNA with Coyotes

 

Chihuahua in a forest

The world's smallest dog has a wild secret.

Chihuahuas, the tiny lap dogs famous for trembling, barking, and acting ten times their size, carry a sliver of coyote DNA in their genomes — a remnant of wild ancestry that predates Columbus. The finding, reported by The New York Times on November 5, 2026, comes from a new genetic study, and it makes the Chihuahua a rarity among modern dog breeds.

Most of today's dog breeds trace their ancestry back to European dogs. Chihuahuas are different. Their lineage reaches back to indigenous canines that lived in the Americas long before Europeans arrived — and somewhere along the way, those dogs mixed with wild coyotes.

How Scientists Found Coyote DNA in Chihuahuas

The discovery was almost an accident. A team at Stanford University was testing new genome-mapping software, called Gnomix and Gnofix, designed to trace the origin of each fragment of an animal's genome. The researchers built their model from whole-genome sequences of 191 canids, including coyotes, wolves, and a range of dog breeds, and published the method in the journal Nature Communications in July 2026.

When they ran a Chihuahua's genome through the program, several segments came back classified as coyote ancestry. The segments clustered with coyote sequences, which strengthens the interpretation that real gene flow happened — a distant cross between domestic dogs and wild coyotes, long ago. The researchers were not looking for coyotes in Chihuahuas. The software found them while being tested.

The same analysis confirmed the deep North American roots of Mexico's other ancient breed, the hairless Xoloitzcuintli, or Xolo. About 4.03 percent of the Xolo's genome comes from ancient New World dogs that arrived with the first people on the continent, and the study dated the Xolo's mixing with European dogs to around 1703.

What the 4 Percent Figure Really Means

Here is where the story needs care, because the number going around is easy to misread. An earlier study, from 2020, estimated that modern Chihuahuas retain about 4 percent of their ancestry from dogs that lived in the Americas before European contact. That 4 percent is ancestry from pre-Columbian dogs — not a measurement of how much coyote DNA Chihuahuas carry.

The new study does not give a simple percentage of coyote DNA for the breed. It found coyote segments in the genome of the Chihuahua it tested, and those segments sit inside that small pre-contact fraction. The exact share of coyote ancestry, and whether the same segments appear in every Chihuahua, has not been measured. The analysis was run on a single Chihuahua, and the paper's subject is the method itself, not the origin of the breed.

What is clear is that Chihuahuas are unusual. While most modern breeds are overwhelmingly European in origin, Chihuahuas and Xolos carry surviving traces of the dogs that lived in the Americas before Columbus — a biological window into canine history before European arrival transformed dog populations across the continent.

Did Coyotes Make Chihuahuas Tiny — or Feisty?

The short answer to both questions is no, or at least, not that anyone has shown. A coyote weighs many times more than even the largest Chihuahua, so the breed's tiny size clearly did not come from coyotes. The small size comes from human selective breeding: nearly all dogs smaller than 15 pounds share a genetic marker on one chromosome, tied to the IGF1 gene that controls growth, and researchers believe humans began deliberately selecting for small dogs thousands of years ago.

The attitude is a different story — or rather, it is not a story the study tells at all. The researchers did not measure aggression, courage, territoriality, independence, or barking. The idea that coyote DNA explains the Chihuahua's famously bold, "small but mighty" personality is an appealing guess, not an established fact. It is easy to see why the guess is tempting: a two-pound dog that acts like it owns the room feels like it must have something wild inside. But the study offers no evidence for a behavioral link, and the scientists themselves have not claimed one.

It is also unknown when the mixing happened, or whether it was deliberate. The New York Times noted that indigenous canines may have been intentionally mixed with wild coyotes long before Europeans arrived, but the study itself cannot date the event or say whether the cross-breeding was accidental or on purpose. Evidence exists that people in pre-Columbian Mexico crossed dogs with coyotes, and the segments found here fit that history — but fitting a history is not the same as proving it.

The Techichi: the Ancestor That Might Have Been

Chihuahuas are traditionally said to descend from the Techichi, a small companion dog kept by the Toltec civilization around a thousand years ago. It is a good story, and it may be true. But no study has confirmed from the genome that the modern Chihuahua descends directly from the Techichi. What the new research confirms is narrower and, in its own way, more interesting: whatever the Chihuahua's exact ancestors were, some of them were wild coyotes, and their DNA is still there.

That is what makes the finding land. The Chihuahua is not just a small dog with a big personality. It is a survivor of a canine world that mostly vanished when European dogs arrived — a tiny, trembling reminder that the Americas had their own dogs, and their own wild crossings, long before Columbus.

Anyone who has met a Chihuahua knows the trembling. The New York Times joked that casual observers might think the dogs look like angry electric toothbrushes, quivering from neurosis or the cold. The new study offers a more poetic explanation: inside that small frame is a tiny remnant of coyote ancestry, still trying to emerge.

Sources

Carl Zimmer, "Tiny Chihuahuas Hold a Big Surprise: A Sliver of Coyote DNA," The New York Times, November 5, 2026. Hilmarsson H, et al. "Scalable high resolution ancestry deconvolution for genomic data," Nature Communications, July 2026 (Gnomix and Gnofix software; 191 canids). The Conversation, "Chihuahua dogs are part coyote — this might help explain their 'small but mighty' reputation." Reader's Digest, "Chihuahuas Are Made Up of What Kind of Animal?!" October 12, 2026.

Elk Grove Village Is Giving Every Household a $200 Gift Card After a $1.4 Billion Data Center Sale — Is That Enough?

Residents of a Chicago suburb are getting a paltry amount for a data center to come in and use valuable resources.

credit: MightyFineBros

Elk Grove Village, a suburb northwest of Chicago, is about to hand every household a $200 Visa prepaid gift card, funded by the sale of two data center properties earlier this year. The properties sold for more than $1.4 billion, generating over $4 million in real estate transfer tax revenue for the village.

On paper, it is a feel-good story: unexpected public revenue shared directly with residents. But set the $200 card against the $1.4 billion sale price, and a harder question emerges, one being asked in towns across America as data centers multiply. What do residents actually get in return when their community becomes a hub for the AI economy?

What Elk Grove Village Announced

According to Fox 32 Chicago, which reported the story this week, the village will distribute the $200 prepaid cards to every household using part of the windfall transfer-tax revenue. Residents will receive two letters in the coming weeks: one explaining the program, the other containing the card and activation instructions. More details are posted on the village's website.

"Our thriving business community helps us keep costs down for residents every day," Mayor Craig Johnson said in a statement. "But every so often, we get a chance to do something a little extra and share some of that success directly with our residents. That's a special opportunity, and we're glad to be able to do it."

This is not the village's first round of direct payments. Officials say Elk Grove Village has provided nearly $15 million in direct financial assistance over the past six years through water bill credits and three previous rounds of prepaid gift cards.

The $1.4 Billion Sale Behind the $200 Card

The numbers deserve a closer look. Two data center properties sold for a combined $1.4 billion-plus. The village's cut, via real estate transfer taxes, was just over $4 million, roughly 0.3 percent of the sale price. From that, each household gets $200.

None of this is improper. Municipalities do not typically take a percentage of private property sales beyond the transfer tax the law allows, and returning any of it directly to residents is more than most towns do. But the contrast is striking: a billion-dollar transaction in the AI infrastructure boom, and the household share fits in a greeting card.

A National Pattern: Cash for Data Center Approval

Elk Grove Village is not alone. Across the country, data center revenue and direct payments to residents have become a standard part of the data center debate:

In Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, a developer offered $10,000 per household if a massive AI data center gets built, an offer many residents rejected, with some calling it a bribe. In a Kansas town, a developer offered residents $1,000 per year for ten years. In Arizona, one property owner reported a developer leaving gift cards and cash at his gate to persuade him to sell land for a data center.

The pattern is consistent: enormous capital meets local skepticism, and money, cards, checks, bill credits, becomes the bridge. The question residents keep asking is whether any of these payments address their actual concerns: noise, water usage, electricity demand, property values, and construction disruption.

What $200 Does and Does Not Cover

To be fair, Elk Grove Village's program differs from the developer offers above in an important way. This is not a company paying residents to accept a project; it is a local government sharing tax revenue it already collected. The village chose to give the money back rather than absorb it into the general budget, which is a genuine policy choice worth noting.

Still, $200 is $200. It covers a grocery run, not a higher electric bill sustained over years. Data centers are among the most electricity-intensive facilities ever built, and while Elk Grove's existing facilities are already operating, residents in data center towns nationwide have watched utility costs and grid strain become long-term issues. A one-time card does not hedge against any of that.

It also does nothing about the deeper concern: that communities hosting the physical infrastructure of the AI boom see a fraction of the value created. The $1.4 billion changed hands between companies and investors. The village got its lawful tax share. Residents got a prepaid Visa.

What Residents Should Watch

If you live in Elk Grove Village, the practical steps are simple: watch for the two letters, activate the card promptly, and check the village website for program details and deadlines. Prepaid cards often carry expiration dates and inactivity fees, so do not let it sit in a drawer.

More broadly, residents in any data center town should ask sharper questions than "how much is the check." What are the facility's water and power commitments? Are utility rate protections in place? What happens to property values near the site? And when the next billion-dollar sale happens, who decides what the community's share looks like?

A $200 gift card is a nice gesture. Whether it is a fair share is a question each community has to answer for itself, preferably before the next sale closes.

Wisconsin Couple Rejects $131,000 Offer for Data Center Power Line That Would Clear Their Trees and Buildings

 

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Jerry Zelenka Jr., 75, of Fredonia, Wisconsin, and his wife have spent more than three decades improving their rural property — planting trees and raising barns and outbuildings. Now a utility wants to run a high-voltage power line across it, and the landowners are saying no.

The offer

The written offer arrived in October 2026: $81,000 from American Transmission Co. (ATC) for a voluntary easement, plus another $50,000 if Zelenka signed quickly — $131,000 all told. He declined. ATC plans the line to serve a proposed 1.3-gigawatt AI data center in nearby Port Washington, a project known as "Project Lighthouse" that is being built for Oracle.

What the power line would take

The route would clear a corridor about 1,000 feet long and 75 feet wide through mature pines and hardwoods, including cedar, oak, ash, elm and black walnut. Six structures stand in its path: a shed, a chicken coop, a hog barn, a barn, a garage and a machine shed. Zelenka says his antique barn was left off the company's list but would also have to come down. A 130-foot transmission tower would go up near his driveway, with the wires running nearly overhead.

The bigger fight

Zelenka says ATC warned that it would turn to eminent domain — condemnation proceedings — if he refuses to sign. His public answer amounted to: see you in court. The standoff comes after Wisconsin's Public Service Commission unanimously rejected ATC's earlier application as incomplete in August 2026. The company has since refiled with new route options, and roughly two of the three proposed routes were expected to be chosen around October 15 for submission to the commission. The case has become a local flashpoint in the wider debate over property rights and new energy infrastructure.

Eminent domain rules vary from state to state, and anyone facing a similar situation should consult a local attorney. This article is general information, not legal advice.

How to Care for a Magnolia Tree as a Sapling

Starting a magnolia tree from a sapling is one of the most rewarding gardening projects a homeowner can take on. With a little basic tree care and some patience, a young magnolia will develop strong roots and, in a few years, reward you with spectacular blooms.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons; photo by James F. (James Forrester), CC BY 1.0.

Picking the right sapling

Start by buying a healthy young tree from a reputable nursery. Look the plant over for any signs of disease or damage before you bring it home. Two widely planted species are Magnolia grandiflora, a favorite among evergreen trees, and Magnolia stellata, the star magnolia, which is deciduous and loses its leaves each winter.

Container-grown trees are a great option because they transplant with less disturbance to the roots. Most magnolias do best in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9.

Where and when to plant

When it comes to planting trees, location and timing make all the difference. Full sun is ideal for a young magnolia — southern magnolias in particular love sunshine — although some varieties will tolerate partial shade.

Put your tree in the ground in spring or fall, and choose a spot with plenty of room to grow, because magnolias eventually become large, broad trees.

Planting it right

Dig the planting hole twice as wide as the root ball, but no deeper than the root ball itself. Mix some compost into the backfill soil, aiming for roughly 25 to 50 percent compost blended with the native topsoil.

Before setting the tree in place, loosen any circling roots so they grow outward instead of wrapping around themselves. Position the tree so the root flare sits right at the level of the surrounding soil, then backfill gently, firming the soil to remove air pockets.

Watering

Proper watering is the single most important thing you can do for a new magnolia. Water deeply right after planting — roughly 5 to 10 gallons, or a couple of full watering buckets.

Keep the soil consistently moist through the first growing season, watering deeply once or twice a week during dry spells. Once established, magnolias need less help: water only when the leaves begin to wilt or droop, and never let the soil stay soggy for long.

Mulch and soil

A generous ring of mulch helps young trees in more ways than one. Spread 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch, such as shredded bark or pine needles, around the base of the tree, but keep it a few inches away from the trunk itself.

Magnolias prefer well-draining, loamy soil that is slightly acidic, with a pH around 5.5 to 6.5.

Feeding and pruning

Once your tree is established, feed it lightly once a year in early spring with a balanced fertilizer. Skip feeding during the first year so the roots can settle in.

Pruning is rarely necessary for magnolias — simply remove any dead or damaged branches, and if you need to shape the tree, prune after flowering is finished.

Protecting young trees

Give your young tree some extra protection during its first years. In windy spots, stake the tree loosely for the first year, then remove the stakes. If rabbits are a problem, a simple tree guard will protect the bark.

In colder climates, shield the tree for its first couple of winters with extra mulch and a burlap windbreak. Keep an eye out for pests such as aphids, scale, and mealybugs, which can be treated with insecticidal soap, and watch for powdery mildew on the leaves.

A little patience

Magnolias can take a few years before they produce their first blooms, but the wait is worth it. Give your young tree good care now, and it will reward you with flowers for decades to come.

How to Pick a Ripe Dragon Fruit at the Grocery Store

Photo via Prepared Cooks

Dragon fruit looks like it landed from another planet, but picking a ripe one at the grocery store is easy once you know the signs. Learning how to pick a good one takes only a few seconds. A ripe dragon fruit tastes mildly sweet — like a cross between a kiwi and a pear — while an underripe one is bland and an overripe one turns mushy. Once you know what to look for, choosing the right fruit becomes second nature.

As of October 2026, dragon fruit shows up regularly in the tropical produce section of most well-stocked grocery stores, so use these tips on your next trip.

Look for Even, Vibrant Color

A ripe dragon fruit has bright, evenly colored skin — vivid pink or magenta for the common red-skinned variety, and bright yellow for the yellow-skinned kind. Pass on fruit covered in lots of dark blotches or brown patches, which can signal overripeness or bruising.

Check the "Wings" (the Leafy Fins)

The green, leaf-like fins sticking out of the skin tell you a lot. On a fresh, ripe dragon fruit they look moist and flexible, possibly with slight browning at the very tips. Dried-out, brittle, brown fins mean the fruit has been sitting around too long.

Give It a Gentle Squeeze

Hold the fruit and press gently with your thumb. A ripe dragon fruit gives slightly, much like a ripe kiwi or avocado. Rock-hard means it is underripe, while mushy areas or soft spots mean it is past its prime.

Pick It Up — Heavier Is Better

A ripe dragon fruit feels heavy for its size, which means it is juicy inside. Compare two of similar size and take the heavier one.

Know the Three Main Types

Most grocery stores carry the white-fleshed pink-skinned variety (the mildest), the magenta-fleshed pink-skinned variety (sweetest and most vivid — it will stain your hands), and sometimes yellow dragon fruit with white flesh (often the sweetest of all, but smaller and pricier).

Storing and Ripening at Home

When it comes to storing, a slightly underripe dragon fruit will finish ripening if you leave it on the counter for a day or two, until it gives a little when pressed. Once ripe, refrigerate it and eat it within a few days. To serve, cut it in half and scoop the flesh with a spoon, or peel and slice it.

Once you know what to look for — bright even skin, fresh green fins, a gentle give, and good weight — you will never bring home a dud dragon fruit again.

How to Grow Giant Vegetables: Tips From Record-Breaking Growers

Photo via Popular Science

Raising a tomato as big as a grapefruit is enjoyable. Cultivating pumpkins as large as compact cars demands fixation — plus know-how. The competitive world of giant vegetable cultivation is a genuine pastime, complete with weigh-offs, global records, and enthusiasts who manage their plots like science labs. If you've ever dreamed of learning how to grow monsters in your own backyard, here's the champions' playbook — and how you can get going.

Start With Championship Genetics

Seed selection matters more than anything else. Top competitors preserve seeds from their largest specimens and swap them with fellow growers, ensuring winning bloodlines continue. If you're purchasing seeds, seek out varieties with proven giant ancestry — for instance, certain award-winning marrow seeds descend from a 256-pound world-record holder. Elite genetics won't assure success, yet lacking them eliminates your shot entirely.

Give Them Room to Grow

Giant vegetables demand generous space — an abundance of it. One giant pumpkin vine may sprawl over hundreds of square feet, so assign every plant a spacious mound with ample room for runners to spread. Overcrowded plants battle for sunlight, moisture, and nutrition, and rivalry works against maximum size.

Feed and Water Heavily

These giants rank among the gardening world's most voracious feeders. Blend deep, fertile compost plus organic material into your beds before sowing, then continue nourishing all season long. Irrigate thoroughly and reliably — a rapidly swelling pumpkin can gulp a remarkable volume of water daily. Apply thick mulch to conserve dampness and stabilize ground warmth.

Pollinate by Hand

Never trust pollination to luck. Victorious gardeners pollinate manually — transferring pollen from male blooms onto female ones (recognizable by the miniature fruit swelling behind the petals), typically at dawn while blossoms stay fresh. This approach grants command over the cross and lets you schedule fruit-set precisely.

Cull Down to One Fruit

Novices find this stage toughest: eliminate all but a single fruit. A vine dividing vigor between multiple pumpkins cannot yield a genuine colossus. Select the young fruit with optimal placement and form — preferably one resting on the primary vine with space to swell — then clip away the others.

Protect Your Champion

Months of effort can collapse overnight. Elevate the maturing fruit above moist earth using sand, foam pads, or boards to deter decay. Offer shade through scorching spells, and examine daily for splits, mushy patches, or insect harm. In competitive circles, one fissure penetrating the inner cavity triggers immediate disqualification — a lesson Maine cultivator Sarah Whitty absorbed when a crack removed her 162.5-pound marrow from 2025 record consideration.

Track Growth and Find a Weigh-Off

Dedicated growers tape-measure their specimens routinely, employing over-the-top dimensions to approximate heaviness without hoisting. As the October 2026 harvest window nears, sign up for a nearby weigh-off — groups such as the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth oversee contests throughout North America, while numerous states host their own cultivation clubs. Victory aside, you'll connect with generous veterans eager to swap seeds and wisdom.

A 2,000-pound pumpkin may remain beyond reach, yet with quality seeds, fertile ground, and merciless thinning, your plot can yield vegetables that halt passersby mid-stride. These growing tips will guide your journey. Begin modestly, absorb lessons yearly, and perhaps — your name might grace the record books someday.

A New World Record: Bagheera the 2,856-Pound Pumpkin

Proof that the tips above really work arrived this week. Grower Ian Paton, 65, of Lymington, Hampshire in England, set a new world record pumpkin with a giant squash he nicknamed Bagheera — it tipped the scales at an astonishing 2,856.8 pounds (1,295.8 kg) at a giant vegetable weigh-off near Reading in Berkshire, with a circumference of more than 20 feet. A Guinness World Records judge confirmed the record, according to BBC News.

Paton has been growing giant pumpkins with his twin brother Stuart for over 50 years, but this was his first competition entry on his own. He spent about four months on the plant, tending it up to six hours a day and giving it roughly 130 gallons of water daily — work he described as "bloody hard work." After a few weeks on display at Sunnyfields farm near Southampton (the same farm that built a giant mural of Sir David Attenborough from more than 10,000 pumpkins and squashes), Bagheera will end its days as feed for cows. Not a bad retirement for a world champion.

Rhode Island Giant Pumpkin Record: 3,156-Pound Pumpkin Weighed October 2026

On Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the annual Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Growers Weigh-Off at Frerichs Farm in Warren, Rhode Island, grower Ron Wallace of Greene, Rhode Island weighed in a pumpkin at 3,156 pounds, according to official weigher John Russo.

That reportedly tops the previous world record — Ian Paton's 2,856.8-pound "Bagheera," weighed just one week earlier on October 3 in England — by nearly 300 pounds. To be clear, news reports describe the record as reportedly broken; official Guinness World Records certification was not confirmed in the reporting.

The weigh-off ran 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with food trucks, live entertainment, and more — a festival atmosphere celebrating the giant pumpkins.

Two mammoth pumpkins in a single week shows just how competitive giant-vegetable growing has become — and the techniques in this guide, from seed selection and spacing to feeding and hand pollination, are exactly what growers like Wallace rely on.

How to Pick a Ripe Pineapple at the Grocery Store

Photo via Getty Stewart

 

That flawless-looking pineapple in your cart might still turn out sour and woody inside. Unlike some fruit, this one stops ripening the instant it's harvested — so the specimen you grab at the store is the one you take home for good. If you've ever wondered how to choose a ripe one with confidence, this October 2026 guide has you covered with simple checks to use on your next grocery shopping run.

Check the Color

Begin with a look at the color. A ready pineapple typically shows golden-yellow hues creeping upward from its base. One that's entirely green is likely underripe, while deep orange coloring or brown patches suggest it's past its best. Keep in mind that coloring differs between varieties, so treat this as one clue among several — combine it with the tests below as you browse the produce aisle.

Give It a Sniff

Your nose is your most trustworthy tool here. Turn the pineapple upside down and take a whiff near the base, where the stem was. A ripe one smells sweet, fresh, and unmistakably like tropical fruit. No aroma at all usually means it needs more time, while a fermented, sour, or vinegar-like odor means it's overripe — put that one back.

Squeeze It Gently

Give the pineapple a soft squeeze all over. A good one yields just slightly beneath your fingers — firm without feeling like a rock. If it's completely hard, it was picked too early; if you find soft or mushy patches, it's gone too far.

Check the Leaves

Inspect the leafy crown on top. The leaves should appear green and lively rather than brown and withered. Try pulling one of the inner leaves: on a ripe pineapple it should come away with gentle resistance. If it refuses to move, the fruit isn't ready; if it slips out effortlessly, the pineapple is probably overripe.

Lift It — Weight Matters

As with melons, a quality pineapple feels weighty for its size — that heft signals plenty of juice inside. When deciding between two similarly sized fruits, go with the heavier one.

Look at the Eyes

The diamond-patterned skin is made up of individual segments called "eyes." On a ripe pineapple these look fairly flat, plump, and even in size. Sharp or spiky-feeling eyes can point to an unripe fruit. Pass on any pineapple with bruises, dark soft areas, or whitish mold near the base.

Storing and Cutting Your Pineapple

An intact pineapple holds up fine at room temperature for a few days. After slicing, keep the pieces in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy them within three to five days. And remember: since ripening halts at harvest, always run through these ripeness checks at the store rather than hoping things improve at home.

Four fast checks — the sniff, the squeeze, the leaves, and the weight — and you'll never haul home a dud again. Keep these food tips handy, and follow for more kitchen tips that make everyday cooking easier.

WBHM Radio Station Required to Start Calling The Gulf of Mexico, "The Gulf of America"

Map via NOAA

The following is an actual email posted to Facebook regarding radio station WBHM in Birmingham, Alabama.

The email was sent in late September 2026 by the director of WBHM radio regarding the state's directives to the station about the Gulf of Mexico renamed to the Gulf of America.

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"Friends and listeners,

One of our values at WBHM is transparency. It’s part of our Code of Integrity for both our journalism and business operations. Because of that, I feel it is imperative to share an update with you regarding a mandated change to language that WBHM will be expected to follow under state law effective October 1, 2026.

Governor Kay Ivey signed House Bill 2 into law earlier this year, which requires “all state and local entities and their employees” to use “Gulf of America” in place of “Gulf of Mexico.” This includes maps, documents, websites, and “official communications.”

WBHM is licensed to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), thus every member of our team is an employee of UAB and a state employee. The WBHM team is expected to abide by the same laws, rules, and guidelines as every department, along with the complicated FCC regulations for a non-commercial radio station, which we have done so without question.  

Following conversations with individuals at UAB and the UA System, I have been told that every single communication from WBHM and its team members, made in the capacity of their role as employees, is considered “official communication.” For WBHM, that includes our broadcasts.  

Journalistic independence is foundational to a news organization. It’s a key part of how we maintain your trust. This law threatens that independence. It also puts us at odds with our partners at NPR, the Associated Press, and others who will continue to use “Gulf of Mexico.” 

While the law contains no enforcement mechanism or penalties, there is a reasonable expectation of state agencies to make sure it is implemented, enforced, and complied with, including at WBHM.

In short, our team will be expected to use “Gulf of America” in place of “Gulf of Mexico” starting on October 1. I was told that deviations from the law may result in disciplinary action or termination of employees, and failure to comply may impact WBHM’s relationship and support from UAB. Admittedly, I do not envy the significant constraints and expectations placed upon UAB and state institutions navigating those politics.

These are the facts as I understand them and am able to share them. As the current leader of WBHM, I feel it is imperative for you and others who count on WBHM to know what is happening and why in advance of October 1.

I have always enjoyed hearing thoughts from listeners, good and bad. However, I will be leaving my position in mid-October. With that, my duties are being turned over to Stephen Murray, UAB’s Executive Director of Business Operations. He can be reached with comments or concerns by email or by calling 205-975-5209."

How to Select a Ripe Watermelon at the Grocery Store

Photo via Tastefully Grace

Nothing spoils a summer cookout faster than slicing into a watermelon that's pale, crunchy, and flavorless. Picking a ripe melon isn't luck — it's a skill you can learn. The simple checks below tell you whether the melon is ready long before you cut it open. This how to guide was refreshed for October 2026 to make your next grocery shopping trip through the produce aisle a sweet success — after all, nothing beats juicy summer fruit on a hot day.

Check the Field Spot

Each watermelon carries a pale patch where it rested on the ground while growing — this is the field spot, and it's the most dependable clue to ripeness. Look for a patch that's creamy yellow to deep golden. A whitish or greenish mark means the melon was picked too early and won't be sweet. As a rule, the deeper and more golden the spot, the longer the melon matured on the vine.

Give It the Knock Test

Lift the melon and rap it firmly with your knuckles — the knock test is a classic for good reason. A ready melon answers with a deep, hollow resonance, much like knocking on a wooden door. A flat, dull sound — like tapping a tabletop — points to an underripe melon, while a mushy, low thud suggests it's past its prime. With a little practice, the hollow ring of a ready melon becomes unmistakable.

Look at the Stem

Check the point where the stem joins the melon. A brown, dried, slightly shriveled stem means the melon finished ripening and separated from the vine naturally. A green, fresh-looking stem is a sign it was cut early and may not be ready inside.

Lift It — Weight Matters

A good watermelon should feel heavy for its size. Melons are more than 90 percent water, and they fill out with sweet juice as they finish ripening. When deciding between two similar-sized melons, choose the heavier one — that density strongly signals ripeness and juiciness.

Check the Shape and Skin

Choose a melon that's symmetrical and uniform in shape, whether round or oval — lumps and irregular bumps can signal uneven ripening or inconsistent watering. The rind should look dull rather than glossy; a shiny rind often means the melon isn't ready yet. Brown, web-like scratch marks (sometimes called sugar spots) are actually a good sign — they mark where bees pollinated the blossom, and thorough pollination often produces a sweeter melon.

Storing and Cutting Your Watermelon

A whole, uncut watermelon keeps well at room temperature for a week or more — there's no need to refrigerate it until you slice it. Once cut, wrap the pieces tightly or store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator, and eat them within three to five days. For the sweetest slices, chill the whole melon for a few hours before cutting.

Ripeness comes down to four quick checks: a golden field spot, a hollow knock, a dried stem, and a satisfying heft. Learn them once, and you'll never bring home a dud melon again.

How to Select a Good Pair of Jeans: A Guide to Everything to Keep in Mind

Photo via Vecteezy

A great pair of jeans can last for years and go with almost everything you own — but a bad pair is money wasted. With so many fits, rises, fabrics, and washes on the rack, knowing how to select a good pair of jeans comes down to a few fundamentals. Here is what to look for before you buy.

Start With Your Measurements

Sizes vary wildly between brands, so don't trust the tag alone. Know your waist measurement (measure around your natural waistline) and your inseam (from the crotch to the bottom of your ankle). When trying jeans on, the waistband should sit comfortably without needing a belt to hold it up, and you should be able to pinch about an inch of fabric at the thigh — much more than that and the fit is too loose.

Understand the Main Fit Types

• Skinny: tapered from hip to ankle; best for a sleek, modern look.
• Slim: narrower than straight but not tight; the most versatile all-rounder.
• Straight: the same width from hip to ankle; a timeless, classic cut.
• Relaxed: roomier through the hip and thigh; prioritizes comfort.
• Bootcut: slightly flared from the knee down; designed to sit over boots.
• Wide-leg: loose and roomy throughout; a fashion-forward option.

Try at least two different fits before deciding — the one you assumed would work often isn't the one that looks best.

Pick the Right Rise

The rise — the distance from the crotch to the top of the waistband — changes both comfort and appearance. Low-rise sits below the natural waist, mid-rise sits at or just below it, and high-rise sits at or above the natural waist. High-rise jeans tend to be the most comfortable for sitting and bending, while mid-rise works for the widest range of body types.

Check the Fabric

Denim quality matters more than brand names. Look for:

• Fabric weight: heavier denim (12 oz and up) lasts longer and holds its shape; lighter denim is softer and more breathable.
• Stretch content: 1–2% elastane adds comfort without the jeans going baggy; 100% cotton denim lasts longest but needs breaking in.
• Selvedge denim: woven on old-style shuttle looms with a finished edge — typically higher quality and ages beautifully.
• Avoid paper-thin denim that feels flimsy; it will wear out quickly.

Choose a Versatile Wash

If you're buying one great pair, go with a dark rinse or dark indigo wash. Dark jeans look sharper, pair with both casual and dressier tops, and show wear more slowly. Medium and light washes are more casual, while heavy distressing and fading go out of style faster and reveal thin spots sooner.

The Fitting-Room Checklist

Before you commit, run through these checks:

• Sit down: the waistband shouldn't dig in or gap open at the back.
• Check the pockets: they should lie flat, not flare out.
• Look at the seat: no excessive sagging or pulling.
• Walk around: the jeans shouldn't need constant hitching up.
• Check the length: a slight break over your shoes is classic; stacking is fine for a casual look.

Signs of Quality Construction

Good jeans show their quality in the details: tight, even stitching with no loose threads; sturdy metal rivets at stress points; a solid zipper or button fly that operates smoothly; and a waistband that doesn't twist after one wash. Turn the jeans inside out — clean, finished seams are a sign of careful manufacturing.

Take Care of Them

Wash jeans as rarely as you can get away with — spot-clean small stains and wash inside-out in cold water only when they truly need it. Hang dry instead of using the dryer, which breaks down fibers and fades color. With good care, a quality pair of jeans can look better with age and last for many years.

Consider AI Body-Scanning for Your Exact Fit

If measuring tape isn't your thing, newer AI body-scanning services can do the work from photos.

Companies like 3DLOOK offer smartphone-based scanning: you take a front-facing photo and a profile photo, and the software calculates dozens of body measurements from those two images. Because it evaluates your actual dimensions rather than relying on a brand's size chart alone, it can match you to the right size even when sizing differs between manufacturers — which, as noted above, it often does. Several clothing retailers now build this kind of scanning into their apps and websites, so look for a "find my fit" or "scan" option when shopping for jeans online. It's an easy way to take the guesswork out of ordering the right size.

A good pair of jeans isn't about the logo on the back pocket — it's about fit, fabric, and construction. Take your measurements, try on more than one style, and check the details before you buy. Do that, and your next pair could be the one you reach for every day.