Re: NPR Knows What's Buggin' Dallas

Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Bud Kennedy noticed our item about National Public Radio's story concerning Dallas' mosquito problem. And he takes issue with the story's theory that the giant salt-water-bred pests we're seeing about town stem from the salt-water lakes created by Barnett Shale drilling: Why wouldn't reporters ask Fort...

By Robert Wilonsky

July 5, 2007

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Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Bud Kennedy noticed our item about National Public Radio's story concerning Dallas' mosquito problem. And he takes issue with the story's theory that the giant salt-water-bred pests we're seeing about town stem from the salt-water lakes created by Barnett Shale drilling:

Why wouldn't reporters ask Fort Worth health officials for comment about the Barnett Shale?

Our folks say there's no increase in saltwater mosquitoes beyond what you would expect in this weather. Also, they've been seen here since the 1930s. If gas drilling were to blame, we'd be seeing more than Dallas.

Ask Andria Kavanaugh -- she's the health department mosquito person.

So we tried to talk to Kavanaugh, who, alas, is out till tomorrow. Till then, then. --Robert Wilonsky

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