Huffington Post – by Ryan Grenoble

A Georgia man openly carried a fully loaded AR-15 semiautomatic rifle into Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest in the world.

Jim Cooley was armed with the weapon — complete with an extended capacity 100-round drum — when he went to drop his daughter off for a flight last Friday. Following the enactment of new state legislation in 2014, it’s actually legal to carry a rifle in the open in the airport, so long as the holder doesn’t attempt to pass through airport security.   Continue reading “Man Decides World’s Busiest Airport Is A Good Place To Openly Carry A Loaded AR-15”

Rep. Steve King and State Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey address a meeting about the spread of Avian Influenza Saturday in Rock Rapids, IowaKTIV 4

SIBLEY, IA (AP) –Iowa farmers who have been dealing with thousands of dead chickens attracting flies for weeks are frustrated with the government’s response to the ongoing bird flu outbreak. The Des Moines Register reports several chicken and turkey farmers expressed their concerns at public meetings in northwest Iowa Saturday.

Merlin DeGroot says he’s waiting for government crews to dispose of his dead chickens, but the agencies involved haven’t coordinated plans well.   Continue reading “Some Iowa farmers upset with government’s bird flu response”

Paper bags of seed drying in the mudroom.A Way to Garden

AROUND NOW, THE HOOKS on my mudroom walls offer no space for coats (though the weather hints I’ll be needing mine). Too many paper shopping bags are hanging there instead (photo above), one after another with faded, upside-down plants inside, meant to let go of their increasingly dry seed.  That’s my primitive tactic, but there are better ways to save seed, and the Organic Seed Alliance shares them—from which variety you grow with eventual saving in mind, to maintaining that crop in the garden, to drying and even storing it–in a free, 30-page book-like pdf download loaded with both the botanical science and sensible tips, too.     Continue reading “Free to download, an expert guide to seed-saving”

Alameda Creek dam destroyed by vandals, releasing 50 million gallons of water that had been stored for the drought. (KPIX)CBS SF – by Brandon Mercer

FREMONT (CBS SF) — An attack on an inflatable dam holding back precious stores of water on Alameda Creek let loose nearly 50,000,000 gallons of water, enough to serve 500 families for an entire year, said the Alameda County Water District (ACWD).

“This is a very significant loss of water under any circumstances, and more so in the drought conditions we are experiencing,” said ACWD General Manager Robert Shaver. “It is an utterly senseless, destructive, and wasteful thing to do.”   Continue reading “50 Million Gallons Of Water Lost In Attack On Inflatable Dam, Worsening Drought Emergency For Alameda County”

Convention of States – by Mark Meckler

The Alabama state motto is “We dare defend our rights,” and that sentiment was on display today in the Alabama State Capitol.

Earlier this afternoon, Alabama become the first state in 2015 to pass the Convention of States application to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government.

The Senate passed HJR 112 today, which had been first passed by the House a few weeks ago. Then, because of minor amendments to the resolution, it was sent back to the House where it passed by a vote of 92-7.   Continue reading “Alabama joins Florida, Georgia, and Alaska and passes the Convention of States resolution”

Keloland TV – by Kevin Woster

STURGIS, SD – The shootout between outlaw motorcycle gangs that left nine dead and 18 injured in Waco, Texas has law enforcement officers preparing for the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with a watchful eye on gangs around the country.

But then, paying close attention to outlaw motorcycle gangs is part of rally law enforcement every year.   Continue reading “Sturgis Police Watch Outlaw Gangs After Waco Shootout”

Twin Cities – by Rachel E. Stassen-Berger

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday declared a peacetime emergency to deal with the growing avian influenza attacking turkey flocks across dozens of farms.

At least 2.6 million birds already have been killed to stop the highly infectious virus from further devastating Minnesota poultry.

“Obviously, we’re worried. There’s no question about it,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson.   Continue reading “Gov. Mark Dayton declares Minnesota bird-flu emergency”