6pm Newscast September, 7, 2026

0:00The height of tick season is nearing an end across the US, but as impires pink wong reports, they're not totally gone and in some parts of the country, danger remains. On a national level, tick bites tend to drop off in September. That's according to data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But Allison Hinckley, an epidemiologist there, says those in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest regions should still keep an eye out for the black-legged deer tick, which remains active through the fall. It's the type of tick that can transmit Lyme disease, so especially in those regions, we think it's still important to take steps to avoid tick bites. Come winter, the ticks are less active, they'll hunker in leaf litter and soil and hibernate through colder months. All researchers are working on methods to reduce tick populations and the disease burdens they carry. Hinckley recommends people were closed treated with tick repellent to prevent tick bites, and to remove ticks promptly if they latch. Ping-wong and PR News.

1:00Naval engineer Ilya Espino de Marotta took the helm today as the first woman to lead the Panama Canal administration, stepping into the role at a challenging time for the vital maritime route. She led the multi-billion dollar expansion project last decade and now takes full command of the canal. Only three other panamanians have held the position since the United States handed over the Inter-Oceanic Waterway in late 1999. The 64-year-old engineer's appointment to the canal's top post is already seen as a symbol of women's capability for executive leadership roles across that industry. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington. Support for NPR comes from NPR stations. Other contributors include your part-time controller, specializing in nonprofit accounting and committed to supporting nonprofits with financial management services such as budgeting and forecasting. YPTC.com slash NPR.