May 15, 2023 (San Diego) -- Low-income rural homeowners who experienced damages from the winter storms may qualify for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant.

If eligible, rural homeowners could be awarded a grant up to $40,675 to be used for home repairs due to storm damage that occurred between Dec. 27, 2022 and Jan. 31, 2023. Nationwide, $55.7 million of Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant money is available until the funds run out. Homeowners are encouraged to apply as soon as possible since these funds are expected to run out quickly.

To apply, homeowners must first check the Property Eligibility Map to see if their address is located in an eligible area. Click “accept” below the property eligibility disclaimer to proceed.

One million young children in California may be eligible

Source: California Department of Education

June 5, 2021 (Sacramento) -- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved California’s plan to launch a new food assistance program for young children up to age six whose access to healthy meals has been impacted due to the pandemic. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the California Department of Education (CDE) will partner to issue Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) benefits to eligible young children.

“The pandemic has placed additional strain on many families that were already struggling to provide healthy meals for their kids,” said Thurmond. “This program provides critical assistance so that our low-income young children can get the nutritious foods at home they need to thrive.”

August 25, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – Kraft Heinz Foods Company, a Newberry, S.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,068,467 pounds of turkey bacon products that may be adulterated because it may spoil before the “Best When Used By” date, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The company has received reports of illness related to the consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

 October 7, 2013 (Washington D.C.) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  has issued a broad public health alert due to 278 illnesses in 18 states caused by strains of Salmonella Heidelberg.  The illnesses, which are mainly in California, are believed to be associated with raw chicken products produced by Foster Farms at three facilities in California.

Unfairly accused of widespread sheep deaths, coyotes are among the most persecuted predators in North America, All Animals magazine

By Karen E. Lange

February 1, 2013 (San Diego)--The lucky ones hide when the helicopters and planes appear overhead. Most coyotes, though, take off running for their lives. And this is just what the men from Wildlife Services want. Armed with Benelli shotguns modified to fire six or seven times in quick succession, they shoot and shoot again at the animals flushed from cover. They’re flying so low—sometimes as little as 20 to 100 feet off the ground—it feels like they’re shooting sideways. It’s easy to hit the coyotes: Some take a shot to the chest and die instantly. Others are merely wounded and crawl off to lingering deaths. Any the gunners miss, they can get on the next pass. Or the next. They stop only when they’ve shot every single coyote—when they’ve knocked down all the predators on the ground.

August 23, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:   

• Hurricane threat for GOP convention in Tampa? (CBS)
• USDA eyes whether tainted beef entered the food supply (Sacramento Bee)
• U.S. health officials brace for spike in West  Nile cases (USA Today)
• Accused Colorado gunman saw three mental health experts (Reuters)
• How Paul Ryan and Todd Akin partnered to redefine rape (Think Progress)
• Todd Akin, Senate candidate: `Legitimate  rape’ rarely causes pregnancy (Washington Post)
• Bill calls for more distributed generation to guard against infrastructure failures in grid emergencies (Power Magazine)
• Renewable energy projects on public lands: Obama not living up to his promises (Native News)
• Indian leaders share concerns about sacred sites (Missoulan)
• CDC calls for Hepatitis C testing for all boomers (NPR)

• Ecuador grants asylum to Assange, angering Britain (Reuters)
• Iran: Israel’s existence “insult to all humanity” (AP)
• Arab spring runs amok: Muslim brotherhood starts crucifixions in Egypt (WND) 

January 18, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:  

• Obama seeks to revamp government, focus on exports (Reuters)
• Limits on military funeral protests advance (San Diego Union Tribune)
• USDA says it will close 259 offices to save $150 million (San Diego UT)
• Tea Party may get rebuffed in tax cut showdown (Reuters)
• Cantor: US allies have doubts about policies to control Iran (The Hill) 

• Huntsman drops out, endorses Romney (CNN)
• Romney takes some heat over Bain Capital’s actions (Winona Daily News, South Carolina)
• Judge rejects Republican candidates requests to be on Virginia ballot (Fox News)
• Mitt Romney’s lies (US News & World Reports)
• Which presidential candidates have earned the defense industry’s support? (RawStory)
• CNN Poll: Ron Paul tied with President Obama (CNN) 

• Government says Hezbollah profits from U.S. cocaine market via link to Mexico drug cartel (Propublica) 
• U.S. warns Iran over military posturing (CBS News)
• It’s official: S&P announces mass downgrade of Eurozone countries (Business Insider)
• Iran says nuclear expert killed by bomb attach (NPR)
• Russian ship stopped with arms bound for Syria (NPR)
• Shiite and Sunni: what are the differences? (Christian Science Monitor)
   

• Research provides diabetes hope (BBC)
• New tuberculosis strain thwarts all antibiotics (NPR)
• Lights at night not a bright idea (Jerusalem Post)

Avoid under-cooked ground beef, USDA advises

February 6, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – Ground beef products sold in restaurants throughout Southern California have been recalled due to possible e-coli contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced yesterday. Products were manufactured by American Food Services in Pico Rivera, California. The health risk is classified as high by the USDA.  The Food Safety Inspection Service and the establishment are concerned that some product may be frozen and in restaurant freezers.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.