Claims extracted
19
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
5%
1 of 19 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
59/100
Times of India's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Environment
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
A Toledo woman says a spotted lanternfly infestation coming from a tree next door has gotten so bad that she can no longer park in her own driveway or use her backyard without dealing with the bugs and the mess they leave behind.
asserted
they → say → bugs
Heather Keyes told 13 Action News she has tried almost everything to get rid of them, but the insects keep returning to the tree, a tree of heaven, that sits on the neighbouring property.
asserted
that → tell → property
After struggling to get help, she reached out to the station for support.
asserted
she → struggle → support
Here's what she's dealing with, and how the property owner has responded so far.
asserted
owner → deal → what
Heather Keyes says the infestation traces back to a neighbouring tree of heaven
The tree at the centre of the problem isn't Keyes' own; it sits in the yard next door, but the spotted lanternflies living around it, along with the sticky residue they leave behind, don't stay on that side of the property line.
asserted
they → say → line
"I try to disturb their area, so maybe they'll go somewhere else, but they don't.
asserted
they → try → area
They go right back to the tree," Keyes told 13 Action News.
asserted
Keyes → go → News
Her driveway sits just inches from the infested tree, which she said constantly drips sap onto everything nearby, effectively ruining anything she places outside.
asserted
she → sit → anything
The mess spreading onto Keyes' driveway, patio and car
Keyes said the tree has made basic use of her own property nearly impossible.
asserted
use → spread → property
"I can't park my car back here, I can't even sit back here.
asserted
I → park → car
Not just the bugs, but the tree just drips constantly
asserted
tree → drip → ?
," she told 13 Action News.
asserted
she → tell → News
She said her car, trash cans and patio furniture have all been coated in sap from the tree, adding that whatever she puts outside, she has to accept it will likely get ruined by the ongoing mess.
asserted
it → say → mess
Image: The Boston Globe
How long the lanternfly problem has been building next door
asserted
problem → build → ?
Keyes has lived at her home for seven years, and said the neighbouring tree was the size of a weed when she first moved in.
asserted
she → live → weed
The lanternflies became a noticeable problem about a year ago, and Keyes said she has since killed hundreds of them trying to keep the infestation under control.
asserted
she → become → control
Her landlord has trimmed back what growth they can reach from her side of the property line, but the core of the problem remains rooted in the neighbouring tree itself, which continues to host the insects.
The property owner's response to Keyes' concerns
According to county records, the neighbouring property has been owned by Mercer Holdings 1 LLC since February, with a related business, Mercer Maintenance LLC, sharing the same address; both trace back to an address on Upton Avenue.
uncertain
both → trim → Avenue
Mercer Maintenance's website advertises tree trimming among its services for rental properties.
asserted
website → advertise → properties
The maintenance director of the company confirmed he was aware of the property and the tree issue, and said he had spoken with Keyes before, telling the station that Keyes is able to trim the portion of the tree extending onto her own property.
asserted
Keyes → confirm → property
The Aporia
