Bee on the lookout

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is warning the state’s beekeepers about an invasive species that could threaten the honey bee.

Vespa veluntina sounds like a Bond girl but actually is commonly known as the yellow-legged hornet, which sounds more like a cowardly cartoon villain.

The yellow-legged hornet is not known to be established in the region, but it was seen recently near Savannah, Ga.

The hornets are native to southeast Asia, feed on other insects, and can take down a colony of honeybees.

The Extension wants Alabamians who might see the hornet to photograph it and submit it to a local Extension office.

The grocery business

The German grocery chain Aldi is acquiring hundreds of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores from Southeastern Grocers, reports AL.com’s Leada Gore.

There are nearly 40 Winn-Dixie locations in Alabama.

A statement from Aldi said that some of the acquired locations will be converted to Aldis while others remain Winn-Dixies, but there was no indication of which and how many stores might change brands. Look for the them to close to deal in 2024.

Aldi has a regional headquarters and distribution center in Loxley and has planned to grow in the region.

Cannabis in court

Two companies today will ask a judge to stop the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission’s licensing process, reports AL.com’s Mike Cason.

Alabama Always LLC and Capitol Medical LLC are alleging that the commission selected nominees for medical-cannabis licenses during a closed part of a meeting on Aug. 10. That, the companies argue, violates the Open Meetings Act.

Ninety companies applied for licenses to work in the emerging industry. The Commission gave out licenses to 24 of them.

Put me in, Coach

Former Alabama Heisman Trophy winning running back Mark Ingram’s smiling mug appears in the latest New Orleans Saints game program, just as it has so many times over the past decade, reports AL.com’s Mark Heim.

The problem is that he no longer played football.

Ingram is now a Fox Sports college-football commentator. But his mug shot appears in the program where wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr.’s is supposed to go.

“All they gotta do is call,” Ingram said. “They know my cell.”

Quoting

“Nothing about what kids are going through today is the same as it was when we were in school.”

Baldwin County High School Principal Richard Paul, in an email to parents letting them know about violence at the school that reportedly resulted in a student’s being airlifted to a hospital.

More Alabama news

Born on this date

• In 1952, astronaut Kathryn Thornton of Montgomery.
• In 1966, Alabama State and NFL offensive lineman Zefross Moss of Tuscaloosa.

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