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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Advocates combat Utah factory farming ahead of holidays

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Wednesday, October 30, 2024   

Animal rights advocates are coming to Utah this week to sound the alarm about the living conditions and treatment of turkeys on large factory farms.

On Friday, the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will hold a demonstration in Logan to raise awareness of the 46 million turkeys it said are killed each year for the Thanksgiving holiday.

DeLana Barrett, campaigns organizer for the group, said they are traveling to 30 states to educate consumers, at a time when bird flu cases are also on the rise in some parts of the country. Barrett said commercial breeding and raising of animals can create hotspots for disease to spread.

"Animal agriculture, turkeys for instance, they live in filthy, overcrowded factory farms," Barrett asserted. "That's not healthy for them, it is not healthy for us to consume. Turkeys are slaughtered at just six months of age in factory farming."

Barrett pointed out wild turkeys can live between three and four years. In Utah and California commercials flocks are already being affected by bird flu, which is also spreading among dairy cattle.

Barrett is encouraging people to consider other food options for their Thanksgiving table but knows it will be a challenge, as about 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, according to the National Turkey Federation.

The group said three of every four emerging infectious diseases in humans originate in animals and Barrett argued reliance on animal agriculture only exacerbates it. She noted turkey consumption across the U.S. has decreased in recent years.

"The majority of foods already on grocery store shelves are vegan, from fresh fruit to vegetables, grains, legumes, all of those things are already vegan," Barrett emphasized. "Processed vegan foods are just a small portion of that."

Barrett contended animals like turkeys feel pain and enjoy companionship and suggested people make the switch. The United States, however, is the world's largest producer and exporter of turkey products, making it a significant driver of the farm economy.


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