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Carp out of the bag?

November 20, 2009 By

There’s bad news from the front lines in the battle to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Agencies which have been monitoring the area around the so-called “carp barrier” in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal say environmental DNA samples indicate that the invasive Silver and Bighead carp have breached the barrier. But Cameron Davis with the federal Environmental Protection Agency insists that does not mean the carp will enter Lake Michigan. “This is not a foregone conclusion,” Davis said during a media conference call on Friday. Davis called the eDNA sampling is “the best we have . . . we believe it’s very accurate.”

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (1:40 MP3)

While Davis said no actual fish have been found beyond the barrier yet, Dr. David Lodge, the University of Notre Dame scientist who’s conducting the testing, said it’s likely the invasive carp have in fact bypassed the barrier. “There is no reason to think that their aren’t carp present when the DNA is detected,” said Lodge. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation Tagged With:

Beware corn crop mold

November 20, 2009 By

Dryer weather has finally allowed farmers to get in the fields for the corn harvest. But they must beware the crop’s mold. Grant County Ag and Farm Management Agent Ted Bay says the mold can increase the possibility of someone contracting the ailment known as Farmer’s lung.

Bay says many farmers already have some degree of lung injury. They should contact their doctors for special protection while working on the crops, at minimum a protective mask.  He says it’s known that farmers lung is caused by mold, and the more you breathe it in, the great the risk of coming down with the disease.

The agriculture expert says you should take precautions whether you’re combining corn, drying it down, or working in a grain bin.

AUDIO: Doug Wagen (MP3 :40)

Contributed by Doug Wagen-WGLR

Filed Under: Agriculture, Health & Medicine

Accounting firewall for abortion may be hot air

November 20, 2009 By

US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid claims his bill would permit abortions in a government run health plan if the Health and Human Services secretary could ensure that no federal money be used and anyone on a federally subsidized plan uses their own money for the procedure.

Sue Armacost, Legislative Director for Wisconsin Right to Life, says the legislative language says otherwise.

AUDIO: Sue Armacost (MP3 :26)

Armacost says the coverage would extend to all women not just “poor women” something heavily opposed by Americans, who’ve shown in polling they are against federal funding for the procedure.

She claims in this case, Reid is doing “the bidding of the Obama White House and the radical pro-abortion movement.”

Right to Life would rather the Senate accept the Stupak-Pitts amendment recently passed in the House. The Stupak plan, heavily opposed by Planned Parenthood, establishes strict barriers for tax-payer funded abortions.

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Politics & Government

Propane shortage hits farmers

November 20, 2009 By

A late harvest combined with a rather wet fall has resulted in a growing demand for propane. Wisconsin Farmers Union President Doug Caruso says it’s needed to dry out crops before storing them for the winter.

If crops, such as corn and soybeans, are put into storage with high moisture they will develop toxic molds. Caruso says that makes them worthless as animal feed. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agriculture

Report highlights rising health care costs

November 20, 2009 By

A new report shows the cost of health insurance coverage in Wisconsin continues to climb.

The annual Mercer survey looks at the average cost of employer-provided health insurance in states across the US. Robert Kraig with Citizen Action of Wisconsin says it shows coverage in the Badger State carries a price tag 22-percent higher than the national average. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine
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