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Wednesday, April 23, 2025

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Marco Rubio unveils massive State Dept. overhaul with reductions of staff and bureaus; Visas revoked, status changed for international students in TX; Alaska lawmakers work to improve in-school mental health care; Montana DEQ denies Big Hole River decision, cites law opposed by EPA; Indiana moves to regulate legal THC sales and branding.

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White House defends Secretary Hegseth amid media scrutiny, federal judges block efforts to dismantle U.S. international broadcasters, and major restructuring hits the State Department and rural programs.

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Schools in timber country face an uncertain future without Congress' reauthorization of a rural program, DOGE cuts threaten plant species needed for U.S. food security, and farmers will soon see federal dollars for energy projects unlocked.

OR clean water advocates call for moratorium on factory farms

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Monday, February 17, 2025   

Oregon lawmakers are considering a moratorium on permits for new or expanding factory farms in some of the state's most polluted areas.

A coalition known as Stand up to Factory Farms says - along with groundwater pollution - the ongoing expansion of factory farms in Oregon has resulted in dangerous air pollution, exploitation of workers, and a loss of family farms.

The coalition's Manager Amy van Saun said Oregon's Groundwater Management Areas already have high levels of nitrate contamination from factory farms, and a moratorium would give the state time to address the problem.

"This has just been an ongoing public health crisis for decades," said van Saun. "Let's not make it any worse than it already is."

While livestock numbers remain stable, van Saun noted a decline in small and mid-sized dairies in Oregon - which has led to increased concentration of waste at bigger facilities.

The Lower Umatilla Groundwater Management Area hosts one of the nation's largest mega dairies - Three Mile Canyon Farms, which holds up to 90,000 cattle.

Along with protecting Oregon's drinking water, van Saun said the state needs to slow the spread of factory farms to protect the climate.

Research shows animal agriculture generates nearly 15% of total global greenhouse gas emissions - which is greater than all transportation emissions combined.

"Food, and agriculture production especially," said van Saun, "is often overlooked when we look at how to reduce our emissions."

Oregon has three groundwater management areas - Northern Malheur County, the Southern Willamette Valley, and the Umatilla Basin in north central Oregon.

Together, these areas measure nearly 1,000 square miles. The moratorium is a follow-up request to a bill passed in 2023 regulating factory farms in the state.




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