LONOKE, Ark. – Heavy rain that brought record flooding to Louisiana recently has put a damper on the nation's harvest of rice, a food staple that usually likes water as it grows, but it can't be gathered by machine if fields are inundated.
While rice is an aquatic plant, during harvest farmers drain their land and roll in heavy equipment. Some fields remain unreachable in parts of Arkansas and Louisiana.
The 2016 crop was expected to be 26 percent larger than 2015’s, according to Eric Wailes, an agricultural economist at the University of Arkansas. Losing part of this year's crop shouldn’t trigger price increases for rice used for food, Wailes said.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – A shooting at a crowded house party early Sunday left 13 people wounded, and police in Connecticut are investigating what they say is an unusual outburst of violence in the state's largest city.
Bridgeport police believe two shooters opened fire on about 100 party-goers from behind some hedges surrounding the home's backyard.
It happened around 1:30 a.m. Responding officers discovered what authorities called a chaotic scene.
The party was so crowded that some people believed the gunshots were fireworks, Capt. Brian Fitzgerald said at a news conference Sunday afternoon.
Police have stepped up patrols in the area and are gathering information from witnesses and from the victims.
MINNEAPOLIS – Some of the pills taken from Prince's estate in Paisley Park after his death were counterfeit drugs that actually contained fentanyl – a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin, an official close to the investigation said Sunday.
The official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, said nearly two dozen pills found in one Aleve bottle were falsely labeled as “Watson 385.”
According to Drugs.com, that stamp is used to identify pills containing a mix of acetaminophen and hydrocodone, but the official said at least one of the pills tested positive for fentanyl.
Autopsy results released in June show Prince died April 21 of an accidental fentanyl overdose. Records show Prince, 57, had no prescription for any controlled substances in the state of Minnesota in the 12 months before he died.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Three hundred people in Alaska looking to raise awareness of homelessness are the new world record holders in fist-bumping.
KTVA-TV reported a Guinness World Records representative verified each of the fist bumps passed along a line of registered participants in a fenced-off area Saturday.
The United Way of Anchorage organized the event. Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, Alaska First Lady Donna Walker and people who work with homeless youth were among those who joined in.
Associated Press
