S.C. man found dead in Nashville chemical tank

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A South Carolina contractor has been found dead at a Nashville tank farm.

Metro Nashville Police say the body of 49-year-old Dan Dugan of Rock Hill, S.C., was found inside a tank at the Ashland Distribution plant Feb. 2.

Nashville Fire Department spokesman Charles Shannon told The Tennessean Dugan’s last entry on his inspection clipboard was at 8:15 a.m. He was found dead at about 3:15 p.m.

Shannon said company officials said inspection of the tank didn’t requite Dugan to go inside it. He said officials don’t know whether Dugan had a medical emergency or whether he was overcome by fumes.

The tank had held a gasoline additive, but was empty at the time of inspection.

Governors convene meeting of bi-state bridges group

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson convened the first meeting of the 14-member Indiana-Kentucky Bi-State Authority on Feb. 2.

“It’s time to move, and in a way that creates a model on how two states can act together for the good of all,” said Daniels.

The Bi-State Authority was created to spearhead the project to construct two bridges over the Ohio River and to rebuild the Kennedy Interchange, where interstates 64, 65 and 71 come together in downtown Louisville. The authority’s mandate includes devising a financial plan for the project.

The initial plan set the estimated cost at $4.1 billion; Indiana’s share is 30 percent. According to The Associated Press, the Courier-Journal reported that Daniels told the group that tolls are the “fairest and most direct” way to fund the $4.1 billion project, which is expected to be complete by 2024.

During the meeting, the Authority took several actions, including election of officers. Joe Prather of Kentucky is chair; Kerry Stemler of Indiana is co-chair; Charles Buddeke of Kentucky is treasurer; and Pat Byrne of Indiana is secretary.

It also appointed Steve Schultz of Columbus, Ind., as executive director to serve as the chief administrative officer for the Authority. Schultz has been in-house counsel to First Financial Bank in Columbus since September 2009, and previously served as general counsel to Irwin Union Bank and Trust Co. of Columbus. He was general counsel to Daniels in 2005.

Daniels also appointed Pete King, an attorney from Columbus, as a new Indiana member of the Bi-State Commission. He replaces Schultz, who resigned to accept his new appointment.
The AP reported the group also agreed to meet again Feb. 10.

Mexico starts planting GMO corn; activists appeal

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Capping a decade-long battle, private companies in Mexico have begun the first legal plantings of genetically modified (GMO) corn, the Agriculture Department said Feb. 3.

Environmentalists and farm groups announced they have filed an appeal with the Inter-American Human Rights Commission, arguing the government has been unwilling or unable to halt the illicit spread of GMO crops in Mexico, the birthplace of corn. They say the government shouldn’t authorize legal plantings until it investigates contamination from past, illicit biotech planting.

In a written response to The Associated Press, the Agriculture Department said planting has begun on some of the two dozen experimental plots granted approval late last year. They are mostly in Sinaloa and Sonora, northern states that government studies say are likely outside corn’s “birthplace” region in central Mexico.
Opponents say modified genes could spread and contaminate genetically valuable native varieties, from which modern corn was first hybridized between 6,000-8,000 years ago. The native genes could be needed someday to help strengthen hybrids.

GMO supporters say the genetic contamination theory has been overblown and that such crops can safely be planted in areas where corn is not native. Current law allows only carefully controlled planting in areas far from the central highlands, until the risk can be assessed.

None of the agencies named in the suit could cite a single arrest or prosecution for illicit use of biotech seed, though government investigations show it has happened.

The planting permits were granted for a relatively small total area of about 31 acres split evenly between Dow AgroScience/PHI Mexico and Monsanto. Officials at both companies were unavailable for comment.

Ohio owner of malnourished horses faces charges

OAK HARBOR, Ohio (AP) — The owner of dozens of malnourished horses that were removed from a northern Ohio farm is facing animal cruelty charges.

Robin Vess of Oak Harbor was charged Feb. 1 with 42 counts of cruelty to animals. If convicted, she faces up to 90 days in jail and a maximum $700 fine.

Authorities over the weekend before discovered 38 malnourished horses. One of the Arabian horses was already dead by the time authorities got to the farm, and six had to be euthanized. The rest are now receiving care at the Sandusky County Fairgrounds.

Humane officials say they had warned the horse owner about the animals’ care. There is no listing for Vess in Oak Harbor. A phone number for her in Toledo has been disconnected.