European
Union urges testing of U.S. wheat imports for unapproved Monsanto strain
[Washington Post]
The
European Union advised member states Friday to test certain wheat shipments
from the United States, and South Korea joined Japan in suspending some U.S.
wheat imports in response to the recent discovery of unapproved genetically
modified wheat in an 80-acre field in Oregon. The E.U. consumer protection
office said in a statement that it was “following carefully the presence of
this non-authorized GM [genetically modified] wheat in Oregon in order to
ensure that European consumers are protected from any unauthorized GM presence
and make sure that the E.U. zero tolerance for such GM events is implemented.”…On
the other side of the globe, Asian countries were stepping up inspections of
U.S. wheat, and South Korean millers said they would suspend imports pending
the results of government tests to determine whether shipments have been
tainted by the genetically modified strain developed by Monsanto. Japan, the
largest market for U.S. wheat exports, suspended imports from the United States
and canceled a major purchase of white wheat on Thursday.
Calif.
Assembly passes bill to raise minimum wage [Associated Press]
Minimum-wage
workers in California would see their first raises in six years under a bill
that passed the state Assembly on Thursday. The measure from Assemblyman Luis
Alejo, D-Watsonville, would increase the state's minimum hourly wage to $8.25
next year from the current $8. It would rise to $9.25 by 2016 and would be
adjusted for inflation in following years. Democratic supporters say the
minimum wage has not kept pace with the rising costs of food, gasoline and
other necessities. Nevada, Oregon and Washington have set their minimum wages
higher than California, Alejo said.
State
Assembly advances bills to help immigrants, ranchers [Los Angeles Times]
The
state Assembly passed and sent the Senate a bill aimed at protecting immigrant
workers, who complain about pay and working conditions….Hernandez said the
legislation is needed to prevent bosses from threatening or actually calling
federal agents after a worker, who entered the country illegally, has filed a
complaint….In other action, the Assembly unanimously passed a proposal by
Republican rancher Frank Bigelow to boost fines to as much as $5,000 for anyone
convicted of stealing cattle and other livestock. "With the passage of AB
924, California is one step closer to ensuring that people convicted of crimes
are properly punished," said Bigelow (R-O'Neals).
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-state-assembly-advances-bills-20130530,0,588647.story
Climate
change study: 82 percent of Calif. native fish species risk extinction
[Sacramento Bee]
Climate
change may cause the extinction of 82 percent of California's native fish
species, including iconic ones such as Central Valley salmon and Delta smelt,
according to a new study….Peter Moyle, lead author of the study and a UC Davis
professor of fish biology, said the mix of cold-water fish species that define
California's aquatic environment are at risk. Decades hence, they could be
largely usurped by invasive species such as carp, largemouth bass and green
sunfish. He said some native species could avoid extinction if changes are made
to store more cold water behind existing dams and release it at times important
to each species….Options are much more limited for species such as Delta smelt,
Fresno
State study warns of climate effects on San Joaquin River [Fresno Bee]
Two
Fresno State professors say climate change will make the San Joaquin River’s
annual runoff show up earlier — as much as six weeks earlier in the next
century. And one other thing: There will be a “significant decrease in annual
stream flow,” said geology professor C. John Suen, who co-authored a study on
the upper San Joaquin. The study, published in Hydrology Research, is more
confirmation of findings in previous climate change studies, and it is not a
pretty picture.
California
high-speed rail faces delays as high-stakes trial begins Friday [San Jose
Mercury News]
High-speed
rail officials acknowledged Thursday that they almost certainly won't break
ground on the $69 billion project as planned in July after hitting some
last-minute bumps in the road. And even more delays are possible as a court
battle begins that could wipe out voters' approval of the bullet train. On
Friday morning, opponents from the Bay Area and Central Valley, led by the
former chairman of the project, will begin arguing in Sacramento Superior Court
that the train has run so far off-track that a judge should take the
extraordinary step of hitting the brakes on construction plans….The project is
already a year behind schedule. But Parker said they hope bulldozers will reach
the Central Valley by late summer….The most pressing matter right now is the trial
beginning Friday that questions the legality of the voter-approved bond
measure, Proposition 1A.
Ag
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