While brisket and sausage are often the stars of any Texas barbecue plate, smoked turkey is a well-loved supporting player. Restaurants are warning the leaner treat could be hard to find in the next couple of months.

Avian flu pandemic to blame for shortage
According to the Houston Chronicle, the avian flu epidemic is to blame. To stop the spread poultry flocks have been culled, meaning six million turkeys were killed between January and July.

Things to Do in Charlotte North Carolina

Charlotte North Carolina is a booming metropolitan area with an average cost of living below the national average. This city is growing rapidly, with a job market that has outpaced the national average. While the cost of housing is considerably lower than the national average, residents enjoy higher square footage, better locations, and commute times. As a result, Charlotte is becoming an increasingly popular destination for new residents.

There are plenty of things to do in Charlotte. You can visit the city’s numerous museums and cultural attractions, and explore the city’s booming business community. You can take your children to IMAX theatres, or go on a food or distillery tour. The Charlotte’s Got a Lot website offers free city guides and lists events throughout the city. Charlotte is also a safe city with a relatively low crime rate.

Charlotte has a moderate climate and a beautiful variety of landscapes. During the fall, the city is studded with colorful foliage. The winters are mild compared to the northeast, and Charlotte sees only a small amount of snow each year. When temperatures dip, fresh white powder can be found on the Charlotte Mountains. Summers can be muggy, but are less extreme than in the southern states.

The area around Charlotte was first settled by European colonists in 1755. Thomas Spratt and Thomas Polk, who were great-uncles of U.S. President James K. Polk, built their homes near the intersection of two Native American trading paths. The first path curved north-south and the second was east-west.