A judge has denied the county's request to block the spraying pending a lawsuit it filed against the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The pesticide is aimed at the light brown apple moth, a tiny Australian pest that attacks 250 plant species. Santa Cruz officials say the state failed to conduct an environmental review on the impact the pesticide will have on people and the environment. SJ Mercury 11/1/07
The percentage of Californians who get health insurance through their jobs is among the lowest in the country, according to a study released Thursday. Nationwide, about 63 percent of Americans have health policies offered by their employers. But in California, only 55.7 percent of workers were covered through their jobs last year. In California, the problem is worse due to the sheer size of the population and the fact a large number of residents work in jobs that typically do not offer health insurance, such as agriculture, hospitality and the service industry. SF Chronicle 11/2/07
‘Direct payments’, which remain in new versions of the farm bill, are made to farms who have done nothing more than grow in the past one of a handful of government-subsidized crops. The payments are made regardless of crop prices, weather, or even if the land is still farmed. They are paid for no other reason than the land grew crops that were subsidized in the past. The program was designed 12 years ago to wean farmers off government checks, but under the new farm bill, it will be an entitlement paid automatically every year, regardless of market conditions or anything else. Direct payments have become a central target of reformers seeking to change the bill. They claim the system was put into practice 12 years ago as a safety net, but that it is unnecessary in today’s booming market. SF Chronicle 11/2/07
Earlier this year Blue Cross sought to require hospitals, physicians and labs to sign a confidentiality agreement that would prevent them from publicly discussing fee negotiations, but the agencies balked, claiming this would preclude them from using lawyers at negotiations. If they refuse to go along with the rules Blue Cross lays down for the negotiations, the providers say, the health plan threatens to stop sending them patients. On Thursday, the Department of Managed Health Care issued a cease-and-desist order forbidding Blue Cross to continue its efforts. LA Times 11/2/07
The Marine Corps is prepared to strike a deal with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to rapidly deploy its helicopters in the battle against wildfires, a top Marine official said Thursday. The service came under scrutiny this week after a state fire official said an agreement was needed to bring Marine helicopters into the fight much more quickly than they did during the height of last week's San Diego County wildfires.North County Times 11/2/07
A defiant Democratic-controlled Congress voted Thursday to provide health insurance to an additional 4 million lower-income children, and President Bush vowed swiftly to cast his second straight veto on the issue. Yahoo News 11/2/07
On October 25, 2007 over 10,000 people sent a petition to the EPA requesting the withdrawal of EPA’s registration for agriculture of the fumigant pesticide methyl iodide (also called iodomethane or by its commercial name Midas). MeI is widely opposed because of its well-known cancer hazards. EPA’s registration of MeI opened the door for thousands of tons of this chemical to be applied onto agricultural fields, as close as 25 feet away from homes, parks and businesses. MeI is touted as a replacement for methyl bromide (MeBr), a highly toxic fumigant pesticide that is used to sterilize the soil to eliminate pests before planting fruits and vegetables. Most of California’s strawberries are grown in soil fumigated with MeBr. Twin Cities Daily Planet 11/1/07
A senate bill would create a potential $24 billion-a-year market for credits representing carbon dioxide stored in soil. Introduced Oct. 18, the bill would cut emissions by 63 percent over the next four decades by capping pollution from power plants, refineries and certain manufacturers. With its nine co-sponsors, the measure is competing with at least seven Senate proposals to cap greenhouse gases. Bloomber 11/1/07
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