Mississippians are no strangers to ticks, but residents of the Magnolia State may be surprised to learn that these pesky parasites are capable of spreading a food allergy that makes red meat particularly hazardous.

2024 marked the return of oyster season on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for the first time in six years. For now, the Mississippi Sound is starting to rebound, and local oystermen are savoring the success of the 2024 season. But, as Parkinson and others know, the future remains uncertain.