Forest:
*Wildfire in central Calif. starts to slow down -- A day after a mountain wildfire quickly destroyed homes and other structures, firefighters said Friday that changes in the weather were helping them hem in the central California blaze. By dawn, the blaze was 20 percent contained after calmer winds and fog rolled into the mountains overnight. The fire was still growing, but not significantly, said Joe Waterman, a Cal Fire incident commander. AP 5/23/08
Agriculture:
Rising fertilizer prices causing quite a stink -- Market experts do not see fertilizer prices decreasing in the foreseeable future. Indications are that in recent years prices have doubled and even tripled. The simple answer is that this is the result of increased acreage and the production of ethanol-based crop production in the Midwest and other parts of the country, as well as increased production of major crops on a global basis in India, China and Brazil. Western Farm Press 5/23/08
Emissions:
*Air district approves $10 million to reduce diesel fumes over west Oakland -- The regional air quality district has approved a $10 million plan to scrub diesel exhaust from trucks at the Port of Oakland to help reduce air pollution affecting West Oakland residents. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District intends to install diesel exhaust filters on as many as 1,000 of the Port's heavy-duty vehicles, the district announced. SJ Mercury 5/23/08
West Nile:
West Nile combat begins – Washoe, Nevada District Health Department officials have launched efforts to keep the adult mosquito population down as the West Nile season approaches. On Thursday, the Vector Borne Disease Program used a helicopter to apply a chemical that prohibits growth of mosquito larvae into adulthood. Reno Gazette Journal 5/23/08
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