u/Airfried

I wanted to check with others before buying a new weed eater. It was working fine and then started to make a screeching sound. I stopped to check for issues and found this part cracked. Is it time for a new weed eater or can I salvage this? Thanks in advance!

Found a tick on my neck and was able to pull it off. Need help with identifying it and determing whether it looks engorged. TIA!

Location: Chicago, IL