Federal shutdown likely: House Republicans “have shifted … to expecting a government shutdown” in early March; the USDA would be among the departments running out of money the first of the month, and a full shutdown would take effect on March 8. (Axios)
WTO negotiator is fired: With a new president in office, Guatemala fired Marco Molina, who was leading talks in Geneva on reforming the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement system. (Politico)
Senators oppose meatpacking riders: Two farm-state senators, Jon Tester and Chuck Grassley, asked their colleagues to oppose riders on the USDA funding bill that would prevent the agency from enforcing new rules promoting competition in the meatpacking industry. (Sen. Tester)
County rejects carbon pipeline: The board of Stanton County, in northeastern Nebraska, unanimously rejected a conditional use permit for Summit Carbon Solutions, which wants to build a carbon dioxide pipeline across five states. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Rural medical drones: Texas Tech’s health sciences center is part of a pilot project using drones to deliver medical supplies, including prescriptions, test results, and even telehealth equipment, to improve rural healthcare. (Daily Yonder)