Mushroom

• The True Life Companies (TTLC) has announced the recent sale of Vista Melrose via assignment of its purchase and sale agreements to Tri Pointe Homes, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders.
• The 5.27-acre parcel is located in the City of Vista’s southern region along the Melrose Avenue corridor in northern San Diego County.
• Tri Pointe Homes has plans to build 41 single-family homes.
• “Tri Pointe Homes is the ideal partner to develop much-needed housing for the City of Vista’s continually supply-constrained market.

• The US LBM Foundation presented a $300,000 contribution to the Gary Sinise Foundation, to support the R.I.S.E.
• Since it was established in 2013, the US LBM Foundation has donated more than $4.5 million to support charitable organizations across the country.
• "Thanks to the supporters of the US LBM Foundation and our annual golf tournament fundraiser, we've been privileged to build partnerships with organizations, like the Gary Sinise Foundation, to make a positive impact on the lives of our incredible veteran heroes," said US LBM President and CEO L.T.
• The US LBM Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in across the United States.

• However, recent advances in DNA extraction techniques mean that biologists can study the genetic code of old museum specimens, which include extremely rare or even recently extinct species.
• We harnessed this new technology to study a snake from the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe that was run over in 1982, and discovered it was a new species.
• This snake had unusual markings with red skin between its scales, creating the effect of black dots on a red background when its hood is extended.

A rare find

• A handful of specimens were observed and measured in later years, but the landscape has been drastically altered by forestry.
• The rinkhals from Zimbabwe has not been seen in the wild since 1988 and is feared to be extinct.
• This population lives 700km away from other, more southerly populations, which made us suspect it may be a separate species.

New technology

• Our study showed they represent a long-isolated population, highly distinct from the southern rinkhals populations.
• Based on their genetic divergence from the other rinkhals, we estimate that the snakes in Zimbabwe diverged from their southern relatives 7-14 million years ago.
• Hemachatus nyangensis has fangs modified to spit venom, although the behaviour was not reported from the few recorded interactions with humans.

A connection between human and snake evolution

• Similarly, the venom spitting in Asian cobras is thought to have emerged around 2.5 million years ago, which is around the time the extinct human species Homo erectus would have become a threat to those species.
• Our study of Nyanga rinkhals suggests that the third time venom spitting evolved independently in snakes may also have coincided with the origin of upright-walking hominins.
• Technological advances may be giving us incredible insights into ancient animal lineages but they can’t make up for an extinction.
• The possible relationship between venom spitting and our early ancestors is a reminder that we are part of the Earth’s ecosystem.

• GASTONIA, N.C., Sept. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gastonia Honey Hunters won Atlantic League South Division Championship today.
• "We're excited to win the first South Division Championship in franchise history and have the opportunity to compete in the Atlantic League Championships.
• This is the first time the Gastonia Honey Hunters made it to the Atlantic League Championship Series in franchise history.
• Tickets for the 2023 Atlantic League Championship Series in Gastonia, NC, start at just $8 and are available now at https://www.gohoneyhunters.com/