Roadside cameras helping stop cattle tick spread

The chairman of the Cattle Tick Advisory Committee says roadside cameras are proving effective in controlling cattle movements between Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Nick Keating says a two-day meeting being held at Wollongbar this week has studied compliance and eradication programs in the region.

Mr Keating says there were field trips to look at dip sites and the functioning of cameras set up to monitor traffic movements venta motos across the border.

He says the cameras are a significant weapon in stopping the spread of cattle tick fever.

“We saw yesterday how successful they are, because they’re now down pat, they’re catching people now nearly every week who are bolivia bringing in illegal animals or hay out of Qld, so they are working very well,” he said.

“We saw the program and we just want to go and look at them on the roads and just see where they’re placed and that they’re doing their job, that vehicles can’t get around and so forth.”

Proposals to slash gas prices abound in White House race

WASHINGTON (AP) — Get rid of the federal gas tax — at least for the summer. Tax Big Oil to help the rest of us out. Get drilling in that Alaska refuge. Soaring gasoline prices are suddenly the nation’s No. 1 crisis, and all the presidential candidates are offering cures.

Never mind that economists and energy experts see little value in such measures, at least in the short run. Or that even some top congressional leaders are raising eyebrows. It’s election season, and presidential contenders and other politicians are jumping on the bandwagon.

The slew of proposals includes: a summertime suspension of federal gas taxes, backed by John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton; a windfall-profits tax on oil companies, supported by Clinton, Obama and many other Democrats; a cry for new refineries, nuclear power plants and drilling in the Alaska wilderness, sounded by President Bush and his GOP allies; calls by those in both parties to stop buying oil at $117 a barrel — only to pump it back into the ground for strategic reserves.

“I think we are in a political crazy time. Some of this stuff being proposed borders on the irresponsible,” said Frank Verrastro, director of the energy and national security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

UPDATE 1-Sun Capital says wins Furniture Brands seats

ATLANTA, May 1 (Reuters) – Private equity firm Sun Capital said on Thursday its three nominees were elected to the board of Furniture Brands International Inc (FBN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) by a substantial margin, based on an estimate by its proxy solicitor at the close of the polls.

“The election of Sun Capital’s nominees is a victory for all Furniture Brands shareholders,” Sun Capital Vice President Jason Bernzweig said in a statement. “Today’s results demonstrate shareholders’ desire for constructive change at Furniture Brands, and we are gratified by their support for our nominees.”

Furniture Brands, maker of Broyhill and Thomasville furniture, had urged a vote against the Sun Capital nominees.

Dan Stone, vice president of strategy and business development at Furniture Brands, declined to comment on the voting, and said final results would be released after the vote verification process was completed. The annual meeting was held on Thursday in St. Louis.