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Animal Testing Laboratory In Frederick Scrapped

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Plans for a high-security animal laboratory at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland are being scrapped. The lab would have been used for public and private research on some of the world's deadliest pathogens.

Officials at Fort Detrick now say the demand for such a facility is less than anticipated. They say the Army will expand its test and evaluation capabilities at existing facilities instead.

The Army announced plans for the $584 million dollar project in August 2010. Last year, the National Academy of Sciences said it found flaws in the military's risk assessment for the facility.

The Army says dropping the project will save taxpayers a billion dollars over the next 10 years.

NPR

James Gandolfini Dies; 'Sopranos' Actor Was 51

Actor James Gandolfini, 51, has reportedly died. Variety magazine reports that he suffered a "sudden stroke." The cause of death is not yet known with certainty, but HBO says the actor may have suffered a heart attack.
NPR

And The Winner Of The World Food Prize Is ... The Man From Monsanto

The prize is sometimes called the "Nobel Prize for food and agriculture." And this year's winners include Monsanto executive Robert Fraley, a pioneer in genetically engineered crops. If there's a single person who personifies the company's controversial role in American agriculture, it's probably Fraley.
NPR

Meet The New Governor: Sharply Partisan And Upwardly Mobile

For years, governors were considered the most pragmatic figures in politics. Now, they're using their states to run ideological experiments.
NPR

Microsoft Responds To Fan Outcry, Changes Xbox One Policies

Microsoft has changed policies regarding Internet connection and used game capabilities for its upcoming Xbox One gaming console. The company says it is responding to feedback from consumers.

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