Stabbed & Senate Version on the Table

Stabbed & Senate Version on the Table

Stabbed & Senate Version on the Table plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

According to American Farm Bureau the Senate’s health reform bill is little better for rural areas than a House-passed version. Pat Wolff says the Senate version was improved to ‘speed up’ tax credits for farmers and others to insure their employees. But says that may not make up for the added cost of having to buy, or penalty for not buying, insurance.

WOLFF: Farmers and ranchers would buy health insurance for themselves, they would cover their employees if they could afford it and just telling someone they have to do it without any promises that health care will be affordable or they can get the coverage they need is going to make a bad situation worse.

I had to include this next story. Last week a 52-year old man from Warren, Michigan walked into a restaurant, called 911 from the pay phone to report that he had been stabbed during an attempted robbery. He gave a vague description of his attacker then told the emergency folks he was going to sit down in the restaurant because they had a chair and it was cold outside. He then proceeded to order a cup of coffee while a 5-inch knife protruded from his chest. The man is recovering. Yikes.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

Tis the season to be sniffling. Long known as the cold and flu season, winter can seem to stretch into infinity and beyond. But you don't have to be one of the coughing and sneezing majority. Besides the usual tactics taken to ward off illness such as good hand washing and plenty of rest, you can also take stock in that old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." It has been discovered that red apples have a natural antioxidant, quercetin, which may give individuals immune systems a much needed boost, especially when they are under stress. Both broccoli and green tea appear to have the same capabilities. Researchers have also found that persons in a study group who received a daily dose of quercetin were more mentally alert. So probably Mom did have it right when she told you to eat your fruits and vegetables. Stock up now on your red apple supply, you'll be glad you did. And go ahead, give your Mom a call to thank her; it may be the best Christmas present she ever got.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.

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