California immigration plan to legalize workers faces hurdles [Contra Costa Times]
In the past two years, Arizona and five other red states made national waves and raised constitutional questions by passing laws designed to crack down on illegal immigration. Now, lawmakers in the biggest blue state are poised to focus the immigration spotlight in another direction. A bill quietly moving through California's Legislature would grant state work permits to tens of thousands of illegal immigrants who are already harvesting fields, cleaning offices and preparing fast-food. Frustrated that comprehensive immigration reform is a non-starter in Congress, proponents say the bill would allow California to solve a problem worsened by federal inaction.
Congress considers subsidizing deductibles on crop insurance [Los Angeles Times]
It's a deal that most businesses would relish: Buy an insurance policy to cover losses or falling prices, and the government will foot most of the bill. Such an arrangement has been enjoyed for more than a decade by the farmers who grow crops such as corn and soybeans, and the companies that insure them. And it's about to get even better. The farm bill now before Congress includes a provision — estimated to cost about $3 billion a year — that would help cover the losses farmers suffer before their crop insurance policies kick in. Those losses, termed deductibles, can run in the tens of thousands of dollars for a typical mid-size farm.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-farm-bill-20120511,0,6616638.story
Bacteria concerns force recall of Kerman dairy products [Fresno Bee]
For the second time in six months, products from a dairy near Kerman are being recalled because of concerns over bacterial contamination. At least 10 people throughout California -- including at least one in Fresno County -- became ill with campylobacter bacteria that was found in raw cream produced by Organic Pastures Dairy, state health officials said Thursday. No one was hospitalized. State Veterinarian Annette Whiteford on Thursday ordered a quarantine of the dairy's products: raw milk, raw skim milk, raw cream and raw butter. Consumers are urged to dispose of any of the dairy's products.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/05/10/2833085/state-recalls-products-from-fresno.html
Industry defends ingredient critics deride as 'meat glue' [Reuters]
The U.S. meat industry has defended an additive that critics have called "meat glue," saying the enzymes are safe, natural and not being used to deceive consumers. Recent reports have highlighted how meat processors use the enzymes, formally known as transglutaminase and beef fibrin, to bind smaller cuts of beef and pork and form consistently sized, uniformly shaped larger steaks. The U.S. Agriculture Department says the enzymes, which are also used in imitation crabmeat and some pasta and dairy products, must be listed on the ingredient label of anything containing them.
http://news.yahoo.com/industry-defends-ingredient-critics-deride-meat-glue-002725149.html
New animal rights push pays people to watch disturbing videos [Sacramento Bee]
…Members of the nonprofit Farm Animal Rights Movement, based in Maryland, are sponsoring the unusual national campaign. In it, they offer people $1 to watch a short video that shows gruesome scenes of slaughter and abuse of chickens, pigs and cows at unidentified farming operations. Organizers boast that it is the largest and "most audacious" effort yet designed to discourage people from consuming animal products….FARM describes the practices depicted as "standard, legal industry practices" that are "out of step with the values of most Americans." Bill Mattos, president of the California Poultry Federation, stridently disagreed. In an interview, Mattos called FARM's video campaign "outrageous" and misleading….Industry experts credit animal activists for highlighting problems in a small number of facilities but deny that cruel practices are widespread.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/11/4482521/new-animal-rights-push-pays-people.html
Expert says wolves not likely threat in Siskiyou County [Redding Record Searchlight]
Wolves aren't likely to be much of a threat to Siskiyou County anytime soon, according to a wolf expert who spoke to about 150 people here Thursday. OR-7, the only wolf that has visited Siskiyou County in decades, isn't likely to survive long enough to mate and give wolves a toehold in the region, said Carter Niemeyer, a former wolf recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. "My personal and professional opinion is it's a long shot," Niemeyer said of the chances of California's lone wolf, OR-7, surviving long enough to start his own pack in Siskiyou County.
http://www.redding.com/news/2012/may/10/expert-says-wolves-not-likely-threat/
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