WASHINGTON, May 10 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced new performance standards (PDF) for Salmonella and Campylobacter—the most common disease hazards in the meat and poultry supply. USDA has cut the target levels for Salmonella in poultry by over 60 percent, and set the first-ever performance standard for Campylobacter.

The big banks that limped into Washington a year ago now march all over Capitol Hill with their lobbyists, fighting the financial and tax reform legislation at every turn. But the banks’ big money doesn’t seem to influence the way some judges have been ruling lately.

The Columbus Streetcar project received a boost today as Ohio PIRG, All Aboard Ohio and other supporters held an event at 630 N. High St calling for the approval of financing. Speakers cited a major new report on oil savings and other benefits from public transportation across the country. The Ohio PIRG report, A Better Way to Go: Meeting America’s 21st Century Transportation Challenges with Modern Public Transit examines the challenges faced by America’s transportation system and the benefits of existing rail and bus projects in Ohio and the Midwest.

Cincinnati--A Congressional proposal to cut student loan interest rates in half will save the average University of Cincinnati student $3,800 over the life of their loans, according to a new report by Ohio Public Interest Research Group (Ohio PIRG).