In a sign of rising tensions with the farm community, the Trump administration withdrew staff from a privately run tour of Midwestern corn and soybean fields after a government employee received a threat.Although the threat was made by someone not involved in the Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour, the U.S. Department of Agriculture opted to pull all its staff as a precaution, Hubert Hamer, administrator of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, said by email Wednesday. NASS crops chief Lance Honig was scheduled to address groups on the tour, which is composed of farmers, reporters and agribusiness interests scouting crop progress.“Federal Protective Services were contacted and are investigating the incident,” Hamer said, without giving details on the nature of the threat. “The safety of our employees is our top priority.”The USDA’s data arm has been the subject of ire in recent months after it issued crop estimates that surprised traders and … [Read more...] about Farm tensions escalate as USDA staffer is threatened in Midwest
Carnival cheer at 50th anniversary Cromer parade
PUBLISHED: 21:30 21 August 2019 | UPDATED: 23:15 21 August 2019 Abigail Nicholson Cromer Carnival Procession 2019 Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2019 Archant 2019 Thousands of people spent an evening in the sun and enjoyed the spectacular Cromer Carnival parade. The warm weather brought visitors out to watch the magnificent procession of motorised and walking floats add a splash of colour to the streets of Cromer.Now in its 50th year, the parade saw spectators gathering from the carnival field assembly point, down Runton Road, through the town centre and looping round before heading back to the field.The floats were first judged on the carnival field before the parade. Those on the floats entertained crowds with music and dancing while they waited to be led off by the Romford Drum and Trumpet Corps and the Norwich Pipe Band.Carnival chairman Tony Shipp, who has been involved in the annual event for almost 50 years, said: "We have had a wonderful … [Read more...] about Carnival cheer at 50th anniversary Cromer parade
Howie Carr: Wait, now the cops are the bad guys?
By Howie Carr | [email protected] | Boston HeraldPUBLISHED: August 21, 2019 at 6:33 pm | UPDATED: August 21, 2019 at 7:01 pm It used to be that it was criminals who were bribing cops to look the other way as they ran their racketeering enterprises. Now, if you believe what the feds said in Wednesday’s criminal complaint about the state troopers’ union, it’s the cops who have been paying for protection to loot, plunder and steal. At the press conference announcing the indictment of Dana Pullman, the blubbery ex-boss of the State Police Association of Massachusetts (SPAM), an FBI agent said: “As president of SPAM, we believe Pullman wielded the union like a criminal enterprise, running it like an old-school mob boss.” Speaking of old-school mob bosses, Whitey Bulger used to say, referring to payoffs, “Christmas is for cops and kids.” Now it’s for cops, kids — and pols. This is just the latest scandal to roil Gov. … [Read more...] about Howie Carr: Wait, now the cops are the bad guys?
Hyundai 45 EV Concept Teased Ahead Of Frankfurt
With Monterey Car Week in the rearview mirror, automakers are turning their attention to the Frankfurt Motor Show. The latest is Hyundai which released a teaser image of the upcoming 45 concept. Little is known about the car, but the company said it’s an electric vehicle which acts as a “symbolic milestone for Hyundai’s future EV design.” Hyundai went on to say the 45 was inspired, in part, by “looking back at the brand’s first model in the 1970s.” The company added the concept explores an evolution of their “Sensuous Sportiness” design language which was created to make their cars more emotional. Also Read: Hyundai Is Bringing An Electric Design Concept To Frankfurt There’s no word on specifications, but the concept has a distinctive rear end with a tailgate-mounted spoiler and vertical accents on the rear window. Further below, we can see an LED light bar which can apparently show messages and graphics for the … [Read more...] about Hyundai 45 EV Concept Teased Ahead Of Frankfurt
AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s false claims on fuel economy rules
DETROIT (AP) — President Donald Trump is misrepresenting the facts about his proposal to freeze Obama-era fuel economy requirements at 2021 levels. In a tweet Wednesday, Trump blasted auto executives as "foolish" and accused the companies of being "politically correct" for resisting the plan, which two of his agencies are putting together in a final regulation. Trump favors a freeze to the standards put in place under former President Barack Obama that gradually rise through 2026. But automakers have repeatedly said they want one national standard with gas mileage increases that give them flexibility because consumers are moving away from more efficient cars to SUVs and trucks. Four automakers, Ford, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen, have signed an agreement with California to back higher standards. Under the federal Clean Air Act, California has the right to set its own mileage and pollution standards, but the Trump administration wants to challenge that. Automakers fear having two … [Read more...] about AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s false claims on fuel economy rules