Former USDA civil rights official charged with fraud, kickbacks

05/29/24 6:06 AM By Steve Davies

A former program director in USDA’s Office of Civil Rights and his nephew have been charged with fraud and conspiracy as the result of a scheme allegedly involving phony jobs and kickbacks.

Steve Davies
Deputy Managing Editor

Agri-Pulse Open Mic: Jim Matheson - NRECA

This week's Open Mic guest is Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Demand for electricity is growing across the nation because of data centers and other demands at the same time that coal fired power plants are being taken off-line. Matheson says the base load of electricity is running close to capacity in many areas of the country and vulnerable to failure in summer and winter weather extremes. He discusses why cooperatives need finances to restore electric generation and transmission following growing weather extremes in the nation.

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Agri-Pulse Newsmakers

05.29.2026

Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on product approvals, MAHA, year-round E15, RVOs

Many row crop farmers are concerned about having access to an array of crop protection tools. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin explains the shrinking backlog of approvals, how the agency will continue to engage with the Make America Healthy Again movement, and year-round E15. Plus, Mitchell Hora with Continuum Ag outlines the testimony he gave on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit and Megan Boutwell with Stillwater Associates discusses how state low carbon fuel standards are shifting demand for ag products.

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