Record rainfall is sowing havoc on corn, soybean futures

RECORDA searing Midwestern drought can send corn and soybean futures into the stratosphere. Too much rain, however, makes for a more complicated situation.

That is the position farmers and grain traders find themselves after spring and summer rains delayed planting of both crops across the eastern half of the Corn Belt and then continued to soak the region into early July. The Corn Belt is the corn-producing region encompassing western Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, eastern Kansas, eastern Nebraska and southern Minnesota. MORE

18 raging wildfires force California Gov. to declare state of emergency

18California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a statement of emergency as 18 large wildfires burn through more than a dozen counties.

“California’s severe drought and extreme weather have turned much of the state into a tinderbox,” said Governor Brown in astatement. “Our courageous firefighters are on the front lines and we’ll do everything we can to help them.” MORE

New York holds last mass services before dozens of Catholic church closures

Father Bartholomew Daly gives the last mass at Church of Our Lady Peace in New YorkTeary-eyed and angry Catholic parishioners across New York attended final mass services on Friday in some of dozens of churches closing or stopping regular worship services.

The closures follow an announcement by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York in November that it would consolidate 368 parishes into 294, reflecting a national trend of parish closures in the United States caused by low attendance, a shortage of priests and financial troubles. MORE

 

California Paroles Kidnapper Who Buried Alive 26 School Children

CHILDA convicted kidnapper who kept 26 children and a school bus driver in a buried trailer has been granted his freedom – after the governor of California didn’t object to parole.

James Schoenfeld, 63, kidnapped the bus carrying the group then buried them alive in a chilling heist inspired by the film Dirty Harry.

Schoenfeld confessed to carrying out the 1976 crime with his brother Richard and his friend Fred Woods. MORE

Mormons considering alternative international scouting organization for boys

Members of the Boy Scouts wait to march in the Veterans Day parade on 5th Avenue in New YorkSALT LAKE CITY – For many years, the LDS Church has discussed breaking away from the Boy Scouts of America, but the group’s decision this week to admit “openly gay leaders” into its ranks may finally push the Utah-based faith to bolt.

LDS Church spokesman Eric Hawkins confirmed Tuesday that the 15 million-member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is “considering creating its own international program for boys, separate from the Boy Scouts of America.”  MORE