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Humboldt Creamery fined for 'over-reporting' chemical release By Jennifer Morey The Times-Standard FERNBRIDGE -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with Humboldt Creamery that requires the company to pay $5,000 for allegedly over-reporting the amount of nitric acid it released into the environment in 1999 and 2000. Ironically, the actual amount of nitric acid the creamery released was ... zero pounds. That's right, zip. Zilch. Nada. But it's still being fined, simply because it reported incorrectly. That's because the nitric acid was purchased, used to clean equipment, then neutralized to convert it to a nitrate compound and...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - As popularity contests go, vending machines may no longer be part of the "in" crowd in American high schools. At least, that is the hope of some legislators and health advocates. Last month, for example, the largest U.S. school district -- located in New York City -- decided to ban soft drinks, sweet snacks and candy from its vending machines. And more legislation, both state and local, is expected as legislators and educators battle a growing obesity epidemic. "Over the last two years, we've noticed a vast increase in the number of bills introduced that would...