Sherrod mulls new position
ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) — Shirley Sherrod said she hoped to take a break from her media whirlwind this past weekend to weigh whether to accept a position she has been offered by the USDA.

Sherrod said Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke to her about becoming the deputy undersecretary for outreach. She said she needed to review the specifics of the position, but that it deals with discrimination.

President Obama named Sherrod the state’s first director of rural development for the department nearly a year ago. She was asked to resign last week after a right-wing blogger posted an edited video of a speech Sherrod gave during a meeting of the NAACP that appeared to be racist.

Vilsack apologized and offered her the new position after the full video surfaced and revealed the speech was a tale of redemption. There was no word on her acceptance at press time.

Pike County a disaster area
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Pike County has been declared a major disaster area because of the deadly flooding that began over a week ago, making federal funds available to those affected.

Gov. Steve Beshear said in a news release late Friday that he appreciated the swiftness of the response from the White House. Beshear sent the request July 21.

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency said residents and business owners who sustained losses in Pike County can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or 800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired, from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. EDT.

FEMA officials said additional counties may be designated for assistance once surveys are completed.

Democrats abandon energy bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — Senate Democrats on Thursday abandoned plans to pass an energy bill that caps emissions of carbon dioxide, saying Republicans refuse to support the measure.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said no Republican was willing to back a comprehensive energy bill, a development he called “terribly disappointing.”

The decision represents a significant setback for President Obama, who had hoped to add the bill to other major legislative successes. The move also will weaken the U.S. negotiating position heading into international climate control talks in Mexico at the end of the year.

Senate Democrats have been trying for more than a year to pass a plan that charges utilities and other major polluters for their heat-trapping carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming. They are also abandoning a compromise plan to limit emissions only from utilities that also failed to attract the 60 votes needed to advance it in the 100-member Senate.

Reid and other Democrats said they would focus on a narrower bill that responds to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and improves energy efficiency.

White House Energy Adviser Carol Browner said Obama continues to support comprehensive energy reform that includes a cap on carbon emissions, but supports Reid’s decision to go forward with a narrower bill.

USDA helps with animal losses
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $13 million in disaster assistance will be issued to livestock, honeybee and farm-raised fish producers who suffered losses in 2009 because of disease, adverse weather or other conditions.

The aid will come from the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). More than $13 million in assistance, including more than $7 million to compensate beekeepers, will be issued. Under ELAP, producers will be compensated for losses that are not covered under other Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance Payment programs established by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

Other disaster assistance programs covered by the 2008 farm bill disaster assistance payment program are the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, Livestock Indemnity Program and Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program. ELAP benefits related to 2010 losses are expected to be issued in early 2011. For additional background on ELAP, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/elap

Obama signs finance bill into law
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — President Obama said new revelations of big bank bonuses underscore the need for the financial regulation bill he signed into law last week.

Obama on Friday noted that the Treasury Department’s pay czar reported 17 banks gave their top executives $1.6 billion in bonuses while receiving billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded bailouts. The president said the new regulatory law will end taxpayer bailouts of Wall Street firms and will protect consumers who receive mortgage loans and credit cards.

Obama is hoping to extend a series of financial-related victories. Earlier last week he also signed a bill to extend unemployment benefits.

Michigan settles with Birds Eye
FENNVILLE, Mich. (AP) — Michigan environmental regulators say they’ve reached an agreement with Birds Eye Foods, Inc. to resolve wastewater pollution issues at the company’s plant in Fennville.

Birds Eye for decades has disposed of wastewater from its food production operations by spraying it onto farm fields in southwestern Michigan. State officials say the spraying has contaminated groundwater, causing elevated levels of potentially toxic substances in residential wells.

Under a deal announced July 21 by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Birds Eye agreed to install a new $3.8 million wastewater treatment system and spray only during the growing season. At other times, the wastewater will be discharged to Fennville’s municipal treatment works.

Also, the company will complete an investigation of the groundwater contamination and do what is necessary to fix it. Birds Eye will continue providing bottled water to people whose well water doesn’t meet health standards until Fennville completes an extension of its water supply network.

A public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 17 on a proposed groundwater discharge permit enabling Birds Eye to install the new system at its plant.