GMO lawsuit settlement: In the largest campaign finance penalty ever, Consumer Brands Association will pay $9 million and apologize for intentionally violating Washington State campaign finance law in fighting a referendum to label GMO foods, said state Attorney General Bob Ferguson. (Washington Attorney General)
Unrelenting California drought: After a dry start to the year, the statewide snowpack was 63 percent of average for this time of the year and state water officials “are sounding the alarm for a third year of severe drought” in California. (Los Angeles Times)
Sage-grouse farms: Wyoming state legislators are clearing the way to establish more sage-grouse game farms in the state and intensifying a debate over how to maintain the declining population of the bird. (High Country News)
Reduce antibiotic pollution: The Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance called on countries to reduce the amount of antibiotic waste entering the environment as a step toward prevention of bacteria resistant to the medicines. (FAO)
Moffitt in Vermont: Agriculture Undersecretary Jenny Moffitt and Vermont agriculture secretary Anson Tebbetts will meet dairy farmers and visit a goat dairy and a syrup producer in central Vermont while discussing local and regional food production on Thursday. (FERN’s Ag Insider)