Locusts Descend on Unsuspecting Vacationers in Tourist Hotspot

Millions of locusts disrupted tourists’ vacations as they came down in near-biblical proportions in Spain’s Canary Islands. Authorities have issued a warning to visitors to ”stay calm” as the pests threaten to devastate agriculture on the four Spanish Islands of Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Fuerteventura. Videos show fearsome insect swarms creating massive shadows at normally sunny tourist sites. While officials currently believe the swarm will not turn into a plague, locusts become most destructive when food is scarce. A swarm of 80 million locusts is able to devour the food of 35,000 humans, as they did in 1958, destroying Tenerife’s tomato and potato crops for the season. “The next two days are going to be key,” Francisco Fabelo, who oversees the Environment of the Islands, told the Daily Mail. If they are adult specimens, they may die, but if “we see copulations, that would mean that they are reproducing,” he added. Swarms originating in Africa and carried to the islands by easterly winds are not uncommon, and some experts believe the current invasion will follow the familiar pattern of burning out on its own. “Nature itself takes its course, and many times they end up being preyed upon by birds,” Theo Hernando, secretary general of the Association of Farmers and Ranchers of the Canary Islands, said.

Wu-Tang Clan founding member Oliver “Power” Grant has died at 52. No cause of death has been publicly disclosed. Fellow member Method Man broke the news in an emotional Instagram tribute, writing, “Paradise my Brother safe travels!!” and adding that he “is not ok” in the wake of the loss. Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon responded with a string of prayer emojis before sharing his own message: “The most high is merciful. I love you.” Tributes quickly poured in from across the hip-hop world, including from GZA, who shared photos with Grant and wrote, “Wu wouldn’t have come to fruition without Power. His passing is a profound loss to us all.” He concluded his message offering his “deepest condolences” to Grant’s family. Born in Jamaica, Grant later moved to Staten Island, where he grew up alongside Wu-Tang Clan members including RZA, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and Cappadonna. The musician played a pivotal role in the group’s early rise after its founding in 1992. Beyond music, Grant helped expand the Wu-Tang Clan brand, most notably through the creation of the Wu Wear clothing line—cementing his influence on both hip-hop culture and business.

Watching your business grow? Exciting. Trying to understand all the different state tax laws? Not so much. Intuit QuickBooks Online was built with you in mind. This AI-powered platform makes tax season feel less like a fire drill and more like business as usual.

When you add a sales invoice, QuickBooks automatically applies the correct tax rate based on the product category, customer, and location where the sale occurred, so you’re not the one double-checking tax codes at midnight. Want a clear snapshot of where you stand at any time? The Sales Tax Liability Report can be pulled up on demand, giving you a breakdown of your taxable and non-taxable sales by tax agency—local, state, and federal.

Beyond taxes, QuickBooks combines human expertise with AI agents to handle the backend work that piles up like invoicing, expense tracking, and payroll so you can stay focused on growth. Additionally, you can take advantage of Intuit Intelligence. Ask it a question and get immediate answers based on your business data.

Right now, save 50% on any plan for your first three months. Not sure which plan is best for your biz? The Simple Start plan gives you instant access to Intuit Intelligence and categorizes expenses. The Essentials plan unlocks the Accounting and Payment AI agents. The Plus and Advanced plans open up access to even more powerful features like the Sales Tax AI (automates sales taxes), Customer AI (sources leads), and Finance AI (gives tailored financial insights).

If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission.

The driver who killed Laura Lynch, 65, one of the founding members of the Dixie Chicks, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after admitting to driving recklessly and causing the crash. According to KFOX14, Domenick Chavez, 33, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Investigators say he was driving between 106 and 114 mph when he crashed head-on into Lynch’s car in December 2023. The crash occurred outside El Paso, Texas, and Lynch died at the scene, while Chavez was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. At the time of the crash, Chavez was not under the influence, but he was driving with a suspended license that had been revoked after two DWI-related convictions. Lynch played upright bass and co-founded what was then called the Dixie Chicks, later The Chicks, in 1989 alongside Robin Lynn Macy on guitar and sisters Martie and Emily Erwin. She left the band in 1995. Following her death, The Chicks released a statement paying tribute to their founding member, saying the band holds a “special place” in their hearts “for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together.”

Lauren Chapin, best known for her role as the young Kathy Anderson on the American sitcom Father Knows Best, has died at the age of 80. “After a long hard fought battle over the past 5 years, the time has come,” Chapin’s son, Matthew Chapin, posted on Facebook, revealing that his mother died on Tuesday after a battle with cancer. “Please keep my sister and family in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this incredibly tough time,” he added. Chapin, who appeared on Father Knows Best between 1954 and 1960 and also starred as a child in the 1954 version of the American musical film A Star Is Born, was outspoken about her struggles following childhood fame. In an autobiography released in 1989, the actress recounted her life story, including childhood trauma, her struggles with bipolar disorder, miscarriages, and heroin addiction—which she battled until finding sobriety in the 1970s. Chapin went on to a life of ministry while also working as a talent manager. “It was very difficult to understand how Kathy Anderson could be loved and protected, and Lauren Chapin lived a whole different kind of life,” she said during a television appearance in 1989.

Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.

If you rely on coffee for its focus-boosting powers but could do without the jitters, stomach flips, and inevitable mid-afternoon crash, it might be time to rethink what’s actually in your cup. Enter the new wave of functional blends that promise steady energy without the rollercoaster. My go-to functional coffee? Everyday Dose’s mushroom coffee. Yes, mushroom coffee isn’t exactly a novel concept.

If you’ve tried early iterations, you know the flavor could skew aggressively earthy—more forest floor than flat white. The category has evolved, and Everyday Dose is part of a newer class of brands prioritizing taste as much as function. The result is a brew that’s creamy, smooth, and convincingly coffee-forward, not overtly fungal.

The formula pairs real coffee with nootropic and adaptogenic mushrooms traditionally associated with cognitive support and stress modulation, plus grass-fed collagen for added protein and skin-supporting benefits. Instead of triggering your nervous system, the blend is designed to promote more sustained, even energy—think clear-headed focus without the wired feeling or abrupt crash.

Everyday Dose Coffee+ Blend

Shop Now Everyday Dose

Beyond energy, Everyday Dose leans into the ritual aspect. It dissolves easily, has a naturally mellow finish, and doesn’t require masking with syrups or heavy cream to make it palatable. Plus, for those with sensitive stomachs, many people find mushroom-forward blends easier on digestion than high-acid traditional brews.

Of course, it’s still coffee (you’ll get the caffeine you’re drinking it for—don’t worry), but the added functional ingredients appear to soften the sharper edges of the experience. The net effect feels less like a caffeine spike and more like a steady hum. Precisely what I need in 2026.

For anyone curious about upgrading their morning ritual without giving up the comfort (or flavor) of a proper cup, Daily Dose makes a strong case that functional coffee has officially grown up.

Vladimir Putin’s “goddaughter” is publicly calling for an end to the war in Ukraine. Russian media personality Ksenia Sobchak, 44, took to social media to mark the fourth anniversary of the conflict with a rebuke of the Kremlin’s war effort, declaring that the violence “must end,” according to Metro. Sobchak, the daughter of late St. Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak—Putin’s longtime mentor—was baptized with Putin in attendance. While she is commonly referred to as his goddaughter, she has disputed that claim. In her post, Sobchak described the war’s devastating human toll, warning that its impact stretches far beyond what is visible in major cities, writing that the violence has already taken “thousands of human destinies.” She emphasized that both Ukrainians and Russians are suffering immense losses, with lives cut short “sometimes quickly, sometimes in pain and agonizingly slowly,” adding that “both countries will be dealing with the consequences for a very long time.” Sobchak concluded with a plea for peace, expressing hope that the war’s end will come soon. Her comments come as independent Russian media outlets have identified more than 200,000 confirmed Russian deaths in the conflict.

A mother of three who disappeared 24 years ago has finally revealed why she left without a trace. “She said she left… due to ongoing domestic issues at the time,” Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page told People. Michele Hundley Smith, then 38, disappeared from Eden, North Carolina, in December 2001 while she was out Christmas shopping. She was found alive by the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office earlier this month. According to her daughter, Amanda Hundley, 38, who spoke on The Vanished Podcast, her mother had serious drinking problems. A month prior to the disappearance, Smith was arrested for drinking and driving and had also been fired from a veterinary practice for drinking. The drinking also caused domestic disturbances between Smith and her husband, Randy, and their fights got physical at times, according to Hundley, who said, “My dad didn’t like the fact that my mom hid her drinking.” Her family waited three weeks to report her disappearance due to her tendency to occasionally bolt. According to police, Smith still asks that her location not be shared. “As far as my opinions and feelings on my mom… I am ecstatic, I am pissed, I am heartbroken, I am all over the map!” Hundley posted on Facebook.

Passengers on a Batik Air Boeing 737 were jolted moments after takeoff from Palembang to Jakarta when an entire row of seats suddenly tore free from the cabin floor during the aircraft’s initial climb. The detached seats tipped backward according to View From the Wing. The incident happened shortly after takeoff, as the plane sped down the runway and began climbing. Early reports indicate the problem was likely caused by an installation defect—such as missing or improperly secured rivets or locking pins—rather than a malfunction of the seat recline system. Airplane seats are locked into floor tracks built to withstand strong forces during takeoff and landing. Such failures are rare because these tracks are part of the aircraft’s certified safety structure and must meet strict standards to protect passengers. The airline has launched an investigation into the technical cause of the issue. Flight attendants promptly checked on the impacted passengers and moved them to different seats, since there were empty seats available on board. The flight continued to Jakarta and landed safely, with no injuries reported.

California’s wine country is losing producers at an alarming rate. Another major producer has shut down operations and cut staff, marking the fourth winemaker to scale back or close entirely since the start of 2026. Jackson Family Wines has stopped production at its Carneros Hill facility in Sonoma’s Carneros region, laying off more than a dozen employees, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice filed with California authorities on Feb. 12. Communications director Sean Carrol told the San Francisco Chronicle that Carneros Hill “served as overflow production capacity and was not tied to any specific brand.” He added the site had “become underutilized,” allowing the company to consolidate. Jackson Family Wines is the sixth-largest wine company in the U.S., producing around 6 million cases a year and owning the Kendall-Jackson label and about 40 other brands. The pullback follows other high-profile cuts. Gallo confirmed it will permanently close the Ranch Winery in St. Helena and reduce staff elsewhere. Earlier closures include Foley Family Wines & Spirits’ Chalone facility, Constellation Brands’ Mission Bell Winery in Madera, and two Jean-Charles Boisset Collection tasting rooms. California had 4,727 wineries in 2025. As of February 2026, there are 4,646.

Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.

If you’re looking for longer, fuller, more fluttery lashes, but aren’t interested in the daily glue-and-strip routine or the upkeep (and expense) of lash extensions, a growth serum is the most low-maintenance path to noticeable results. Sure, a solid mascara can fake it for a few hours, but a well-formulated lash serum works behind the scenes, helping your natural lashes reach their full potential with consistent use.

Unfortunately, not all lash growth serums are created equal. Some formulas are powered by prostaglandin analogs (lipid compounds that prolong hair follicle activity), while others harness peptide complexes and botanical extracts. If you’re looking for a relatively quick, visible payoff, Lilash’s physician-formulated serum stands out for taking a more comprehensive approach rather than hinging on a single hero ingredient.

Lilash’s Purified Eyelash Serum pairs an advanced prostaglandin analog (Dehydrolatanopros) with conditioning agents like vitamin B5 and hydrolyzed lupine protein to support both growth and strength. In other words, this serum doesn’t just encourage lash growth, but it also reinforces the hair fiber itself to minimize breakage and fallout. The result is a two-pronged strategy: optimize the growth cycle while improving lash resilience, which ultimately enhances density and volume over time.

Of course, efficacy is only half the conversation. Lash serums (particularly those containing prostaglandin analogs) can cause irritation for some—especially for people with sensitive eyes. Lilash’s formulas are manufactured in an FDA-registered facility with rigorous quality-control standards, and the brand positions the formula as suitable for contact lens wearers and those prone to sensitivity.

Lilash Purified Eyelash Serum

25% Off

See At Lilash

Whether you’re rehabbing lashes post-extensions, noticing thinning due to stress or hormonal shifts, or simply looking to dial up fullness without relying on falsies, Lilash’s growth serum offers a more sustainable, long-game solution for lash enhancement and health. The best part? Lilash is offering 25 percent off the Purified Eyelash Serum through March 1.

Martin Short’s comedy show with Steve Martin has been postponed after his daughter’s death. The Best of Steve Martin & Martin Short was originally scheduled for Friday in Milwaukee but has been postponed to a later date “due to unforeseen circumstances,” according to an announcement from The Pabst Theater Group. The postponement came after Katherine Short, 42, was found dead at her Hollywood Hills home on Monday, according to TMZ. Law enforcement sources told the outlet that she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. “It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” a representative said in a statement to TMZ. “The Short family is devastated by this loss, and asks for privacy at this time. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.” Katherine was the daughter of Short and Nancy Dolman, his wife of three decades, who died of ovarian cancer in 2010.

The teenage stepbrother of Anna Kepner, the 18-year-old cheerleader who was found dead in her cabin on a cruise ship in November, has been charged with homicide, according to family court documents from a separate case. On Friday, Thomas Hudson filed an emergency divorce court petition in Brevard County, Florida, seeking full custody of his nine-year-old daughter from his ex-wife, Shauntel Hudson. Shauntel currently shares primary custody of the child with Chris Kepner, Anna’s father. The petition says that Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother, Hudson’s son, was “charged with homicide by the United States Attorney in the Southern District of Florida for the [redacted] and homicide of Anna Kepner,” citing “social media from the Kepner family.” The petition does not name the stepbrother, who has not been charged as an adult. Kepner’s stepbrother was spotted heading into a Miami federal court on February 6 as he appeared before a federal magistrate judge. Kepner, from Titusville, Florida, was found asphyxiated underneath a bed in her cabin on the Carnival Horizon cruise on November 7.