In this series of columns, we have argued that a) governmental farm program programs are necessary because of the inability of aggregate agriculture on both the supply and demand sides to adjust to low prices in the short-to-medium run, b) current farm programs are ineffective in dealing with the price/income problems that result from extended periods of low prices, c) current farm programs are more expensive than alternative policies that treat the cause of these low price periods, and d) a government supply management program that puts the relatively small amount of a crop that is in exce [node:read-more:link]

Texas health authorities said Monday that a Brownsville woman is infected with Zika, a case that could make the south Texas city the second place in the continental United States where the mosquito-borne virus is spreading locally. Laboratory testing confirmed that the 43-year-old patient, who is not pregnant, had been infected. State and local health authorities said she reported no recent travel to any location with ongoing Zika transmission and no other risk factors. [node:read-more:link]

Gov. John Hickenlooper is proposing “aggressive” new efforts to address homelessness in Colorado, returning to an issue that helped launch his political career. The governor’s budget request for fiscal year 2017-2018 asks lawmakers to put $12.3 million in annual marijuana tax revenues toward building new housing units for people who experience chronic and episodic homelessness. His plan also includes another $6 million a year for housing for low-income residents and others with behavioral health needs. [node:read-more:link]

On Nov. 21, 2016, EPA won an important case for American farmers. EPA defended farmers’ rights to plant seeds coated with neonicotinoids – a class of insecticides that kill insects by affecting central nervous system. Coated seeds will continue to be exempt from EPA regulation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act because of this court case.  The Center for Food Safety, American Bird Conservancy, Pesticide Action Network North America, and Pollinator Stewardship Council sued EPA claiming it failed to enforce FIFRA regarding seeds planted by American farmers. [node:read-more:link]

Primus, a Florida police dog, is normally a spirited animal. But after assisting in a federal drug raid early one morning last month, he seemed out of sorts. "He wouldn't drink water. He would release his toy very easily. And he was looking lethargic, almost sedated," said Detective Andy Weiman, the head of dog training for the Broward County Sheriff's Office."We knew something was wrong."Primus was rushed to a local animal hospital. [node:read-more:link]

Rather than identifying specific dog breeds as dangerous, a Charlottetown veterinarian suggests that individual dogs must be evaluated on their behaviour.  The deadly mauling of a Quebec woman by a dog in June and a subsequent controversial ban on pit bulls in Montreal — which has since been suspended — have had Canadians talking about whether whether certain breeds are more dangerous than others. "You really can't pinpoint a particular breed," said Dr. Alice Crook, who will lead the discussion. [node:read-more:link]

Preserving Quad Cities and Clinton nuclear plants will save businesses and consumers in Illinois more than $3 billion in power costs in the next 10 years, a study conducted by global consulting firm The Brattle Group showed on Monday.  Exelon Corp, which owns the plants and plans to close them, has been trying to get the Illinois Legislature to adopt legislation, known as the Next Generation Energy Plan, that would provide a subsidy for nuclear reactors for their production and environmental and economic benefits.In June, Exelon said it would close the Clinton plant on June 1, 2017, and Qua [node:read-more:link]

The Georgia Court of Appeals has revived a long-running ratepayer lawsuit against Georgia Power over costs the utility wants to include in its rates to help pay for two nuclear reactors and power plant upgrades. If successful, the lawsuit could become class-action and refund ratepayers in excess of $150 million. [node:read-more:link]

In 2014, deaths among non-Hispanic whites exceeded births in more states than at any time in U.S. history. Seventeen states, home to 121 million residents or roughly 38 percent of the U.S. population, had more deaths than births among non-Hispanic whites (hereafter referred to as whites) in 2014, compared to just four in 2004. When births fail to keep pace with deaths, a region is said to have a “natural decrease” in population, which can only be offset by migration gains. [node:read-more:link]

Before former DFL state Rep. Doug Peterson retires from the presidency of the Minnesota Farmers Union at year’s end — and before the F (for Farmer) in DFL fades into oblivion — I invited him to offer a few pointers on how to keep this state from splitting into warring metro and rural political tribes. I’d barely landed in my seat when he started schooling me on his party’s failures in the Nov. 8 election.“The Democrats didn’t have a message for rural people!” an animated Peterson said. “They didn’t feel they had to come to the rural areas and talk to us! [node:read-more:link]