A grand jury in Union County, Ohio has declined to issue an indictment for animal cruelty against Gary Conklin, owner of a dairy farm where earlier this spring egregious abuse was exposed as the result of an undercover investigation by Mercy for Animals.

In a press conference held today, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland announced a deal has been reached with the Humane Society of the United States on a number of animal welfare issues.

The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, H.R. 4733, declares, "It is the policy of the United States that the raising of livestock for food production shall be consistent with the basic principles of animal welfare."

but would still create Livestock Care Standards Advisory  Council that is weighted in favor of agri-business.   

Update May 8: The Vermont House of Representatives did not concur in the Senate proposal for H.B. 767 as described in Animal Law Coalition's report below.

New York bills, S.B. 751 and A.B. 5512  would prohibit the sale or slaughter of nonambulatory cattle, sheep or pigs and allow them to be moved only for veterinary care or humane euthanasia.

The National Meat Association and the American Meat Institute lost in their bid to stop the enforcement of California laws prohibiting the slaughter of downer or non-ambulatory animals.

Update April 1: The Tennessee House Agriculture Committee rejected H.B. 3386 which would have made torture and depraved and sadistic treatment of farm animals as well as companion animals a felony.  

There was even an exception for usual and customary farming practices just in case any of those might be considered such egregious acts.