MORNING HEADLINES | It might be time to switch from a big omelette in the morning to a couple of scrambled eggs as soaring egg prices are prompting restaurants like Waffle House to surcharge customers’ orders.
The 24/7 Georgia-based chain is joining some smaller restaurants and adding a 50-cent charge per egg because of the “nationwide rise in cost of eggs,” according to signs posted at its restaurants.
These price adjustments come as Avian influenza has affected roughly 102.6 million egg-laying hens in the last two years, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“The continuing egg shortage caused by HPAI (bird flu) has caused a dramatic increase in egg prices,” Waffle House said in a statement to CNN. “Customers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions.”
As of the end of January, according to the CP Grocery Tracker, the national average price of a dozen large eggs was $6.57. Egg sections of area grocery stores have noticeably fewer cartons generally.
The cost of eggs is unlikely to come down before May, industry experts said, because springtime could bring fresh exposure to the virus, which can spread through migratory birds moving in the fall and spring.
In other recent headlines:
S.C. Board of Education removes four books from K-12 classrooms. The South Carolina Board of Education voted on Tuesday to remove four books from school libraries across the state: “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky, “All Boys aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, “Flamer” by Mike Curato and “Push” by Sapphire.
Breeze Airways adds 3 new nonstop flights out of Charleston International. Breeze Airways is adding more service to the Northeast out of Charleston International. The carrier announced Feb. 5 that it will launch nonstop flights between the Lowcountry and Albany and Rochester, N.Y., and Burlington, Vt., this spring.
Lawmakers to consider change for Charleston Co. school’s constituent boards. The Charleston County Legislative Delegation is set to discuss changes that could affect groups that manage issues within Charleston’s school district, also known as constituent boards. Charleston County School District is the only one in the nation that has them.
Hundreds of Charleston parking meters aren’t working, causing headaches. Hundreds of parking meters in downtown Charleston reportedly are out of service, causing major issues with drivers and the City of Charleston. The city is working to get meters back online, but continue to run into battery issues, making the meters inoperable.
Over 30 trees chopped down near Charleston’s Colonial Lake. The cutting is part of a two-year revitalization plan to remove overcrowded and invasive plantings and make the park more resilient to climate change.
What’s next for the Black Charleston neighborhood split by a freeway? A new affordable housing plan aims to stitch a neighborhood back together after construction of an overpass nearly 60 years ago split the historically Black neighborhood, displacing residents and disrupting the community. Currently, a vacant stretch of land sits between Joppa and Irving avenues in the former exit’s place.
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St. Paul’s fire district expands training to serve Charleston Co.. A new training facility is in the works to better prepare the St. Paul’s Fire District and better serve the community in the event of an emergency. The St. Paul’s Fire District covers nearly 470 square miles between Hollywood, Ravenel, Adams Run and Edisto Island.
New Makers Mart coming to Mount Pleasant in May. The Park West Recreation Complex will soon be home to the new Mount Pleasant Makers Mart with a planned debut on May 2.
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