Obama issues warning about government shutdown
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama warned lawmakers on Friday it would be the “height of irresponsibility” to shut the government down over a spending battle, pressuring Republicans not to pursue deeper cuts.
Obama’s comments set the stage for an attempt to blame Republicans should congressional negotiations collapse and the U.S. government run out of cash when a short-term measure expires on April 8.
Obama celebrates Irish heritage on St. Patrick’s Day
President Barack Obama celebrated a small piece of his heritage this St. Patrick’s Day and announced he would visit Ireland, including the village of Moneygall, the homeland of his great-great-great-grandfather.
Or maybe it’s five ‘greats’, as he said in the Oval Office this morning? Either way, he’s confident he’s a little bit Irish.
American freight rails plan to spend $12 bln in 2011
WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) – Freight railroads plan to
spend a record $12 billion on hiring new employees, laying down
new track, and other capital projects in 2011, an industry
group said on Wednesday.
The Association of American Railroads, whose members
include Canadian Pacific Railway (CP.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Union Pacific
(UNP.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Norfolk Southern (NSC.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), and CSX (CSX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), said
freight railroads intend to hire about 10,000 new employees
this year.
NY investor charged over alleged $4 mln Ponzi scam
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, Feb 15 (Reuters) – A New York investor
who has appeared on CNBC television as a derivatives expert has
been charged with running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded victims
out of more than $4 million, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus
Vance Jr said on Tuesday.
Brian Kim, 35, was charged with 26 felony counts including
grand larceny, scheming to defraud and falsifying business
records.
Valentine’s Day with the GOP
What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than by sending your special someone a pink e-card, covered in hearts, with a message from the president: “Hope you like this Valentine’s card, your grandchildren are paying for it.”
In the GOP version of My Funny Valentine and a way to raise some sweet cash, the Republican National Committee is poking some fun at the White House and its Democratic cohorts with GOPvalentine.com, and more than 30,000 of the snarky messages had been sent as of Friday morning.
Endangered cranes to be reintroduced in Louisiana
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Ten whooping cranes, the most endangered species of crane in the world, will be reintroduced in a Louisiana conservation area more than 60 years after the birds’ numbers dwindled to near zero, the U.S. Interior Department said on Tuesday.
“The whooping crane is an iconic species that should be returned and restored to health along the Gulf Coast,” said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. “The reintroduction of these remarkable birds will be a milestone moment for the Gulf Coast.”
New diet guidelines say eat more fruit, less salt
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Americans need to cut salt and fat and eat more fruits and vegetables, the Obama administration said in its latest set of dietary guidelines released on Monday.
The new dietary guidelines also advise cutting out sugary drinks and drinking water instead, and eating less overall.
Funding uncertain for US food safety overhaul
WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) – Even before President Barack
Obama signed food safety legislation, congressional Republicans
were promising a fight over funding it.
Obama was scheduled to sign the bill on Tuesday. It allows
the Food and Drug Administration to increase inspections of
food producers and gives it more enforcement authority.
Smithfield Foods facility accused of abusing pigs
WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) – An animal-welfare group
accused Smithfield Foods Inc (SFD.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the world’s largest pork
producer, of inhumane treatment of pigs and piglets, releasing
a video documenting what the group said were cruel practices.
The Humane Society of the United States said that it
documented mistreatment of the animals after a month-long
investigation at a Waverly, Virginia, facility owned by
Smithfield subsidiary Murphy-Brown.
US Senate Democrats criticize mini-med plans
WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Democratic senators
criticized low-cost, bare-bones health insurance plans on
Wednesday, saying the plans designed for low-wage workers can
be worse than no coverage at all.
The Senate Commerce Committee heard testimony from several
witness that the inexpensive plans with low annual spending
limits — known as “mini-med” plans — often fail to cover
necessary treatments for people who get sick.
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