Articles by P.J. Huffstutter and Timothy Mclaughlin

‘Pink Slime’ Media Liability Trial Against ABC Opens in Climate of ‘Fake News’ Claims

A South Dakota meat processor’s $5.7 billion defamation lawsuit against American Broadcasting Companies Inc., which opens Monday, pits big agriculture against big media, and is a first major court challenge against a media company since accusations of “fake news” by …

Appeal Rejected, ABC ‘Pink Slime’ Case Headed for Trial in South Dakota

ABC Broadcasting has lost a last-ditch bid before South Dakota’s highest court to avoid a trial in a beef producer’s $5.7 billion defamation case over reports about a product that critics call “pink slime.” The order signed on April 3 …

What States Are Doing to Battle Bird Flu Threat

Indiana is training 300 prisoners to kill infected chickens and banning bird shows at county fairs. Mississippi is considering road barricades and planning biosecurity measures. Iowa is trying to figure out how to deal with a mountain of dead – …

USDA Extends California Salmonella Chicken Recall to Bases

Federal regulators widened the recall of salmonella-tainted chicken produced by California-based Foster Farms to include products believed to have been send to military bases in five states to feed personnel and their families, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture on …

Chicken Producer, London Insurers Battle Over ‘Recall’ Definition

Foster Farms and its London insurers are facing off over the definition of “product recall” as the poultry producer seeks payment of $14.2 million in claims arising from a government-mandated shutdown of one of its plants, court documents show. The …

How a Runaway Train Devastated Canadian Town; 13 Dead, 37 Missing

The short length of track, nestled in a dark pine and birch forest in Quebec, is a regular overnight stop for freight trains hauling crude oil and other raw materials across North America. Normally, before retiring for the night, the …

Texas Joins Flood of States Suing BP over 2010 Gulf Spill

Texas has joined the crowd of Gulf of Mexico states to file suit against BP Plc, Halliburton Co and others for their role in one of the worst oil spills in U.S. history. The complaint, filed Friday in U.S. District …