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Day two of David Pecker testimony wraps in NY Trump trial; Supreme Court hears arguments on Idaho's near-total abortion ban; ND sees a flurry of campaigning among Native candidates; and NH lags behind other states in restricting firearms at polling sites.

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The Senate moves forward with a foreign aid package. A North Carolina judge overturns an aged law penalizing released felons. And child protection groups call a Texas immigration policy traumatic for kids.

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The urban-rural death divide is widening for working-age Americans, many home internet connections established for rural students during COVID have been broken and a new federal rule aims to put the "public" back in public lands.

Farm Bill Set to Bloom This Week

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Tuesday, May 6, 2008   

St. Paul, MN – The long-delayed U.S. Farm Bill is finally "cropping up," with final votes expected in Congress this week. While no one likes everything about the $300 billion plan, most agriculture groups have decided they can live with it. Adam Warthesen with the Land Stewardship Project says, while the overall bill is flawed, lawmakers have managed to include some important issues.

"There are gains that support working lands conservation, like the Conservation Stewardship Program. There are gains that support new and beginning farmers. Plus, we're seeing some support for local and regional food systems."

The bill doesn't deal with consolidation in the packer industry, Warthesen observes, and includes continued large subsidies, even with high crop prices. President Bush has cited its cost when threatening a veto, but Warthesen believes he should sign it, as a "step in the right direction" that will benefit family farms and the environment.

Minnesota Farmers Union President Doug Peterson agrees that the bill, which sets food and farm policy for the next five years, addresses some critical concerns.

"Country-of-origin labeling, knowing where your food comes from and what country it comes from, will be in the bill. We'll also have a permanent disaster program that actually is paid for. Also, it is really talking about food and fuel security, and that's going to be a big portion of the bill, too."

Peterson says most of the President's cost-related objections have been met, including additional spending for nutrition programs. Most of the bill's total cost, he adds, goes for food assistance programs, which are crucial for millions of Americans and people around the world.

"If he vetoes that, I think that's going to fall upon him in a very negative light. I don't think we can afford to put our school lunch programs, our Meals on Wheels program, our Women and Infant Children program, and Food Stamps -- those nutritional programs for the urban and suburban and those people in the need in this country -- at risk."

In remarks last week, President Bush called the current bill "massive and bloated," and is asking lawmakers to further tighten limits on federal subsidy payments to wealthy farmers. Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, who chairs the House Agriculture Committee, says a veto of the bill in this election year would be "political suicide."




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Creedon Newell practices teaching construction skills in Wyoming's new career and technical educator bridge course, designed to encourage trades students and professionals to pursue a career in CTE teaching. (Photo by Rob Hill)

Social Issues

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Health and Wellness

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By Mary Anne Franks for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Northern Rockies News Service reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

 

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