Free Republic

All is not well with France’s famed wine industry. Despite fears of a rise in wine taxes seemingly having been allayed by the country’s agriculture minister this week, industry leaders are still nursing a headache over government plans to reinforce health warnings on wine bottles and packaging. In reaction to the plan, leaders of the wine industry—which represents France’s second-biggest export sector—have mobilized and created a lobby group Vin et Societé (Wine and Society) to take on the government. … According to Sud Ouest newspaper, the French government plans to change the warning from “Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your...

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for areas affected by the Williams Fire burning just north of Azusa in the Angeles National Forest. "The fire itself is down on the front range of the mountains, and there's a strong atmospheric inversion," the AQMD's Sam Atwood said. "The smoke is trapped in our air basin." The agency's smoke advisory urges residents, especially those with asthma, to stay indoors if possible or limit outdoor activities in the following areas: the east San Fernando Valley; the east, west and south San Gabriel Valley; Pomona/Walnut Valley; Norco/Corona; Metropolitan...