Farmers,
state settle last lawsuit over Merced-Fresno high-speed rail line [Fresno Bee]
Farming
interests in Madera and Merced counties dropped their environmental lawsuit
challenging the first section of the statewide high-speed rail project.The
California High-Speed Rail Authority and representatives of several
agricultural organizations announced the settlement Thursday afternoon after
Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley signed off on it, less
than 24 hours before attorneys were to argue their points in Frawley's
courtroom.…Farm Bureaus in Madera and Merced counties were among the
organizations suing the rail authority. Anja Raudabaugh, executive director of the
Madera bureau, said the rail authority gave significant concessions: increased
mitigation for agricultural impacts, and direct compensation for landowners
affected by the project.
Fate
of the immigration bill may hinge on farm districts [New York Times]
…A
coalition of 11 agriculture groups has launched a major lobbying campaign in support
of an immigration overhaul. Members of the effort, known as the Agricultural
Workforce Coalition, see representatives from districts where thousands of jobs
depend on agriculture as key to any effort to pass the legislation. Agriculture
Department data shows that Republicans represent 17 of the top 20 districts
where agriculture is a major industry. And farm groups are hoping that local
concerns will trump national politics as the legislation moves forward in the
Republican-controlled House, where it will most likely face a tough challenge
from conservatives who have been hostile to previous attempts to change the
system. “Republicans from big agriculture districts will definitely be the
deciding factor in getting any type of immigration reform through the House,”
said Dean Norton, a dairy farmer who is president of the New York Farm Bureau.
Editorial: Immigration reform
provides economic growth, tough path to legal status [Santa Cruz Sentinel]
It's
not an easy path, nor an easy sell, but immigration reform finally seems
likely. The plan unveiled this week by the bipartisan group of eight senators
is a breakthrough after years of stalling, denial and political posturing on
our country's broken immigration system….And the proposed rules would also help
the Santa Cruz County agricultural industry by creating a new guest-worker
program for farmworkers. Most immigrants are highly motivated and productive
workers and the country will benefit economically from bringing those already
here out of the shadows.
Looming
California water fight will test Rep. McClintock’s political sway [McClatchy
Newspapers]
A
politically difficult bill allowing the expansion of Lake McClure will now test
whether Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., has learned how to move the levers of
California water….His brief bill would remove somewhat under half-a-mile of the
Merced River from federal wild and scenic protection. Currently, about 122
miles of the river are designated under the federal wild and scenic law. By
removing roughly 1,800 feet of the river from federal designation, Merced
Irrigation District officials could consider the option of raising the New
Exchequer Dam by up to 10 feet. If given approval by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission during New Exchequer relicensing, and built at an
estimated cost of $40 million, this would increase water storage during wet
years, temporarily inundating part of the river.…Environmentalists oppose the
legislation, which would mark the first time Congress has withdrawn part of a
river from wild and scenic status since the Wild and Scenic River Act passed in
1968.
S.J.
facilities confident in safeguards [Stockton Record]
Ninety
percent of the fertilizer used by San Joaquin Valley farmers is shipped through
Stockton, and a large plant in Lathrop manufactures fertilizer on site, but
local officials said Thursday that precautions are in place to lessen the odds
of a catastrophic explosion here.…Michael Cockrell, director of the San Joaquin
County Office of Emergency Services, said that while he's not sure what
hazardous material laws exist in that state, California has aggressive regulations
requiring facilities to provide information about how much explosive materials
they have, where those materials are stored and whether emergency plans are in
place.…Asked about facilities handling fertilizer in San Joaquin County,
Cockrell mentioned the Port of Stockton and the J.R. Simplot Co. plant in
Lathrop. The plant was once very isolated, but residential development has
crept somewhat closer over the years, Cockrell said.
Investigators:
Walnut thefts possibly tied to organized crime [Marysville Appeal-Democrat]
Investigators
in Butte County say recent thefts of more than $200,000 in processed walnuts
may be linked to an organized crime ring in Southern California. Sutter County
sheriff's deputies said they are looking into the possibility the same group may
be responsible for at least one recent major walnut theft in rural Sutter
County. "It happens ever year that some people steal a few pounds and try
to make some off them," Sutter Capt. Lewis McElfresh said. "But this
seemed like a much bigger operation."
Ag
Today is distributed to county Farm Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF staff, for
information purposes, by the CFBF Communications/News Division, 916-561-5550; news@cfbf.com.
Some story links may require site registration. To be removed
from this mailing list, reply to this message and please provide your
name and e-mail address.
No comments:
Post a Comment