Thursday, March 23, 2023

Play

A proposed flavored tobacco ban is back on the table in Minnesota, Trump attorney Evan Corcoran must testify in the documents probe, and a "clean slate" bill in Missouri would make "expungement" automatic.

Play

The Fed raises interest rates and reassures the banking system is sound, Norfolk Southern reaffirms a commitment to the people of East Palestine, and TikTok creators gather at the Capitol to support free expression.

Play

Finding childcare is a struggle everywhere, prompting North Carolina's Transylvania County to try a new approach. Maine is slowly building-out broadband access, but disagreements remain over whether local versus national companies should get the contracts, and specialty apps like "Farmers Dating" help those in small communities connect online.

Monkey Breeding Facility Lawsuit Moves Forward

Play

Tuesday, March 10, 2015   

LABELLE, Fla. - Hendry County residents can begin to breathe a sigh of relief, as a lawsuit filed on their behalf over the building of a secretive monkey breeding facility is beginning to move forward.

Christopher Berry, a lawyer with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, is the lead attorney representing residents who filed a complaint against the county for approving a monkey breeding facility on approximately 50 acres without informing the public.

Berry says that's against the law. Hendry County moved to dismiss the complaint filed by residents, but Circuit Judge James Sloan refused to dismiss it.

"The whole point of Florida's Sunshine Law is to ensure the public has the right to participate in important decisions that affect them," says Berry.

According to Berry, residents didn't find out about the facility's approval until after the fact. He says records show that SoFlo Ag, the company behind the facility, plans to bring 3,200 monkeys from overseas to breed and sell for use in lab experiments. One concern is they could bring diseases like Ebola and tuberculosis with them.

Berry says the "secretive nature" of the company behind the plan is especially troubling.

"Quite frankly, the business behind this primate facility is one of the most secretive and suspicious operations I've ever seen," he says. "Neither the community nor the county should be comfortable letting them build this facility without more information."

Berry says SoFlo Ag registered a shell corporation as its managing member, but there are no names or phone numbers available for either company. He says the only address listed for the headquarters is a U.S. Post Office box.

Investigations will continue as the suit moves forward, and according to the county, the complaint will be addressed.

According to a news release from county administrator Charles Chapman, "Hendry County stands by the rights provided to our property owners contained within the language of our comprehensive plan and land development code."


get more stories like this via email

In 2020, 35% of Idaho mothers had Medicaid at the time of their child's birth. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

With concerning trends emerging for pregnant and postpartum women, frustration is growing that Idaho lawmakers could end the session without …


Health and Wellness

Health advocates are promoting a package of bills this legislative session to make health care easier to get - and more affordable. The Care 4 All …

Social Issues

A new study from the University of New Hampshire found New England's LGBTQ+ residents experience higher rates of food insufficiency, the measure of …


According to the Center for American Progress, nearly nine in 10 employers, four in five landlords, and three in five colleges use background checks to screen for applicants' criminal records. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

A large percentage of Missourians who could to have their criminal records "expunged" have not done so, despite the effects expungement -- referred …

Social Issues

A person's work personnel file can be important to review, but some Washingtonians are finding them hard to obtain. A bill in Olympia would ensure …

The most recent Farm Bill covered areas such as agricultural conservation, trade and foreign food assistance, farm credit and research. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

The U.S. Farm Bill is up for reauthorization, and Congress faces calls to avoid any delays so certain programs can keep helping farmers and consumers …

Social Issues

Youth advocates continue to sound the alarm over the impact flavored tobacco products have on teenagers, and hope Minnesota lawmakers take another …

Environment

As wildfire seasons in Colorado and across the American West become longer, less predictable and increasingly destructive, a new report aims to …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021