Rancher's "Nuclear Rebellion"
Before the 2011 earthquake and tsunami swamped the Fukushima nuclear power plant, Masami Yoshizawa
had a herd of 330 prized wagyu cows. Now his herd is considered contaminated and worthless. Yoshizawa, 62, has defied both government evacuation orders and demands that he slaughter his cows as a protest against what he calls a "cover-up."
"This is a farm that chronicles and tells the story of Fukushima's radiation contamination disaster," he says. "We'll stay here at the Ranch of Hope, and keep sending our message." It's what Yoshizawa calls a "nuclear rebellion" on his ranch where radiation levels measure about 10 times the safe benchmark.
Chipotle Is The Next Chipotle
Food companies have been busy checking and rechecking their food safety and health programs, vowing to not "be the next Chipotle." Turns out, Chipotle was the next Chipotle, as a store in Billerica, Mass., closed its doors for a second day Wednesday after one of its employees tested positive for the highly contagious norovirus.
The Mexican fast-food chain has been plagued by health issues in recent months, which has weighed on its reputation and stock price. The stock is down 20% during the last 12 months amid reports of norovirus and E.coli outbreaks.
The restaurant closure comes as Chipotle has tried to lure back diners with coupons for a free burrito and other food.
Feds Build Bundy Case
Branding records kept by Nevada's Department of Agriculture offer an insight into rancher Cliven Bundy's business practices that may be a key piece of evidence the federal government will use in the case against him.
Last month federal prosecutors called Bundy's management "unconventional if not bizarre" as they levied 16 felony counts against the 69-year-old rancher that could send him to prison for the rest of his life. According to state records reviewed by Greenwire, Bundy sold nearly 1,300 cattle over the past five years, a number far below what would be expected from a ranch with 900 cows, which is what the feds estimate he owns. Such information is in the public's interest since Bundy requested, and was granted, a taxpayer-funded lawyer. At the time he filed a financial affidavit to demonstrate his eligibility for a public defender. During his first appearance in Nevada last week, however,
a U.S. Magistrate Judge expressed doubt Bundy would qualify for a public defender and asked the rancher to file a revised financial disclosure form.
Trump Steaks
When Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump showed off a pile of beautifully marbled steaks atop a butcher board at a Tuesday campaign event, he called them "Trump steaks." That's true in the sense that they were steaks, and they were on a Trump property.
Trump, however, argued that critics questioning the viability of Trump Steaks are unfamiliar with how his company markets its products.
