Texas Wine Industry Debates Labeling Law

If a proposed law had been passed by Texas state lawmakers in the most recent legislative session, all wines bearing a Texas appellation would have been required to use 100% Texas grapes. While the federal government requires that wineries use just 75% appellation grapes for state labeling, California and Oregon require 100%, and Washington state mandates 95%.

Letter urges USDA to make milk agricultural commodity

U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make milk an agricultural commodity under the Federal Crop Insurance program. Ms. Stefanik joined other members of Congress in submitting a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue requesting the change, which would put the dairy industry in a better position to recover from severe declines in milk prices.

Europe Eats Into Butter Mountain in Sign High Prices to Stay

Europeans are eating so much butter that the bloc's stockpiles are nearly empty, adding to a rush of demand that has sent global prices skyrocketing. The star of the U.S. dairy market in recent years, butter costs have now soared to all-time highs in Western Europe and Oceania.

Agencies struggle to label soy milk

Dairy farmers want U.S. regulators to banish the term "soy milk," but documents show even government agencies haven't always agreed on what to call such drinks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture "fervently" wanted to use the term "soy milk" in educational materials for the public, according to emails recently released in response to a lawsuit.

Soy – milk’? Even federal agencies can’t agree on terminology

Dairy farmers want U.S. regulators to banish the term "soy milk," but documents show even government agencies haven't always agreed on what to call such drinks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture "fervently" wanted to use the term "soy milk" in educational materials for the public, according to emails recently released in response to a lawsuit.

Soy ‘Milk’? Even Federal Agencies Can’t Agree on Terminology

This Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, photo shows the ingredients label for soy milk at a grocery store in New York. Dairy producers are calling for a crackdown on the almond, soy and rice "milks" they say are masquerading as the real thing and cloud the meaning of milk for shoppers.

Televised Comey testimony billed as a Super Bowl of Washingtona

Bar keepers coast to coast offered breakfast specials like "impeachmint" cocktails and $5 Russian vodka shots on Thursday as they tuned their wall-mounted TV sets for live broadcasts of former FBI chief James Comey's congressional testimony. From Capitol Hill to San Francisco's Castro district, television "watch parties" beckoned political junkies away from the morning rush hour to taverns, restaurants and living rooms to view an event some likened to the "Super Bowl of Washington."

Why your ‘organic’ milk may not be organic

Stretching across miles of pastures and feedlots north of Greeley, Colo., the complex is home to more than 15,000 cows, making it more than a hundred times the size of a typical organic herd. It is the main facility of Aurora Organic Dairy, a company that produces enough milk to supply the house brands of Walmart, Costco and other major retailers.

Tom Hanks on gifting coffee machines to White House reporters: ‘Those poor bastards need coffee’

Tom Hanks has gifted coffee machines to the White House press corps three times since President George W. Bush took office, and the Academy Award-winning actor has a simple explanation why. "I've done that for Democrats and Republican administrations because those poor bastards need coffee," Mr. Hanks told television host Stephen Colbert on Friday.

Lawmakers suggest former Trump aide Flynn broke US law

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn failed to comply with the federal law According to Rep. Elijah Cummings, documents show that Flynn did not report his earnings from speaking engagements in Russia and lobbying activities in Turkey. The Oversight Committee asked the White House for documents of Flynn's security-clearance applications, but the White House replied that the papers were not in its possession.

Ex-adviser’s ties to Russia, Trump campaign draw scrutiny

For months, President Donald Trump and his advisers have tried to distance themselves from Carter Page, a little-known investment banker who briefly served as a foreign policy adviser on the Republican's presidential campaign. This week, Page - who is at the center of the swirling controversy over Trump associates' connections to Russia - painted himself as a recurrent visitor to Trump Tower, the New York skyscraper that housed Trump's campaign offices.

Sotomayor says University of Michigan needs more blacks

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor gestures after receiving a Doctor of Laws degree from University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, during a ceremony at the university in Ann Arbor, Mich. less Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor gestures after receiving a Doctor of Laws degree from University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, during a ceremony at the university in Ann ... more University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel presents Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a Doctor of Laws degree, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, during a ceremony at the university in Ann Arbor, Mich.

.com | Starbucks to hire 10 000 refugees over next 5 years

Starbucks says it will hire 10 000 refugees over the next five years, a response to President Donald Trump's indefinite suspension of Syrian refugees and temporary travel bans that apply to six other Muslim-majority nations. Howard Schultz, the coffee retailer's chairman and CEO, said in a letter to employees on Sunday that the hiring would apply to stores worldwide and the effort would start in the United States where the focus would be on hiring immigrants "who have served with US troops as interpreters and support personnel".