Third Protected Red Wolf Found Shot in NC

Federal wildlife officials say a third protected red wolf has been shot to death since North Carolina adopted a new rule allowing coyotes to be hunted at night with spotlights.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said last week a red wolf was found near Creswell, near the Washington and Tyrrell county line. Other wolves were found shot on Oct. 12 in Beaufort County and Sept. 4 in Tyrrell County.

Wildlife and environmental groups are seeking a court order to block the rule because red wolves resemble coyotes and are hard to tell apart even during the day.

About 100 red wolves live wild in a five-county region in northeast North Carolina.

US Could Become Leader in Oil Production

Imagine the United States in 2017 overtaking the world's top oil producers. Could happen – in fact is likely to happen- according to the International Energy Agency because of new technology tied to shale oil and gas production too. Energy expert Andrew Lipow:

“The US may become the world’s top producer of oil, about 11 million barrels a day, which would exceed that of both Saudi Arabia and Russia.”

South Carolina’s Immigration Law Back in Court

South Carolina's tough new immigration law goes back before a federal judge this week.

Last December, U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel blocked most of the South Carolina law from taking effect. And since then, the U.S. Supreme Court has tossed out much of the Arizona law on which South Carolina's was based.

Gergel had also blocked a section of the South Carolina law allowing police to check the immigration status of those they pull over if officers suspect they are in the country illegally. The Supreme Court let that provision in the Arizona law stand. Gergel has set a hearing today in Charleston

USDA Adjusts Ending Corn & Bean Stocks

USDA’s latest crop reports show a significant improvement in the soybean forecast – and a marginal one for corn. USDA stepped up its 2012-2013 corn yield and production estimates. World Ag Outlook Board Chair Gerald Bange says corn production is still down 13-percent from last season but up 19-million bushels from October at 10.7-billion…

“They took the corn yield per acre estimate up .3 bushels up to 122.3. that is good, but given we started at 166 back in May, that number doesn’t look so good.”