Obama power plant rules face key test in U.S. court

The centerpiece of President Barack Obama's climate change strategy, federal rules curbing greenhouse gas emissions mainly from coal-fired power plants, faces a key test on Tuesday when opponents try to convince a U.S. appeals court to throw out the regulations. Twenty-seven states led by coal-producer West Virginia and industry groups are challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan rules before 10 judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Anhydrous ammonia rule struck down

An EPA regulation that would have priced many agricultural retail facilities out of selling anhydrous ammonia has been struck down by an appeals court in Washington. Critics say the requirements would have forced retailers selling the farm fertilizer to spend up to fifty thousand dollars just to be in compliance.

Gary Johnson: Forget about climate change, sun will someday encompass Earth

Libertarian candidate for president Gary Johnson believes that humans aren't being shortsighted by ignoring climate change, but are simply taking the "long-term view." Gary Johnson: Forget about climate change, sun will someday encompass Earth Libertarian candidate for president Gary Johnson believes that humans aren't being shortsighted by ignoring climate change, but are simply taking the "long-term view."

Why Hillary Clinton’s nickname is ‘Bride of Frankenfood’

When she actually makes public appearances and isn't coughing or fainting, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton loves to pretend to be some kind of political outsider who sides with the people. But she's so in bed with special interests -- and has been for decades -- that Clinton has earned for herself such campaign-destroying nicknames as the " Bride of Frankenfood ," a denotation for her strong financial and political ties to agrichemical giants like Monsanto.

After FDA found weedkiller in nearly 100% of honey products, it kept…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been doing its best to protect Monsanto and the entire GMO industry by dragging its feet and hiding information regarding glyphosate content in foods. Glyphosate, the most widely-used herbicide on the planet and an essential component in GMO agricultural methods, has been the subject of increasing concern - particularly since the World Health Organization classified it as a " " in 2015.

Mayor Emanuel, Chicago Public Library Announce Animal, Vegetable,…

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Library today announced that the 27th One Book, One Chicago selection is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. One Book, One Chicago is a citywide program that, for 15 years, has helped bring communities together around one central book and theme through diverse programming.

Highlights From Senate Hearing On Ag Consolidation

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SENATE HEARING ON AG CONSOLIDATION Sep. 21, 2016 AP reports: Top officials for Monsanto and Bayer defended their proposed $66 billion merger before skeptical senators on Tuesday, insisting that the deal would lead to greater investments in technology that could help American farmers. Monsanto, the American seed and weed-killer, and Bayer, the German medicine and farm-chemical maker, responded to concerns from Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Crop science execs defend mergers; NC Senator cites regulation as driving deals

Top officials for Monsanto and Bayer defended their proposed $66 billion merger before skeptical senators on Tuesday, insisting that the deal would lead to greater investments in technology that could help American farmers. Monsanto, the American seed and weed-killer, and Bayer, the German medicine and farm-chemical maker, responded to concerns from Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senate’s odd couple forge unlikely alliance on environment

In this May 19, 2016, file photo, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., embraces the committee's ranking member Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. One is a Brooklyn-born, northern California liberal who carved out time in a two-decade Senate career to write a politics-sex-and-power thriller or two.

Senatea s odd couple: Boxer, Inhofe forge unlikely alliance

The oddest of Senate odd couples - California Democrat Barbara Boxer and Oklahoma Republican Jim Inhofe - have accomplished something highly unusual in this bitter election year: significant, bipartisan legislation on the environment that has become law. Boxer, a staunch liberal, calls climate change the "greatest challenge to hit the planet," battles against offshore drilling, rails about the dangers of nuclear power and has pushed to restrict greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

Psychology Around the Net: September 17, 2016

Before you run off to enjoy the last weekend of summer, take some time to enjoy the seriously random mix of mental health news and stories I've found for you this week! Read on to take a look at data on how psychiatric drug advertising affects prescriptions, a study related to how writing down your dreams and goals increases your chances of achieving them, reviews on various self-help books for pet parents , and more.

Dateline Rice for Sept. 16, 2016

Research by Gustavo Grullon, the Jesse H. Jones Professor of Finance at the Jones Graduate School of Business, is mentioned. The Economist http://econ.st/2d3qNYn Tony Payan, the Baker Institute for Public Policy's FrancI oise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute's Mexico Center, is quoted about Mexico and the 2016 elections.

R.F.D. NEWS & VIEWS

Hope Danielson and Melanie Kluzek, registered dieticians with County Market, inspect jars of M&Ms, illustrating how much estrogen is present in potatoes compared to a three ounce steak from a steer treated with growth promoting hormones . In this week's news roundup for Illinois farmers and rural dwellers, we'll examine how prolonged rainfall in August and September could impact the corn harvest in McLean County.