South Korea won’t discuss U.S. beef at broader trade talks (Columbus Telegram) SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea has rejected a U.S. request to discuss American beef and poultry imports this week as part of broader free trade talks, calling the forum inappropriate. [News Source]

Sand Fleas and the Bleeding Soldiers (Strategy Page) December 20, 2006: Sand fleas, casualties in Iraq and Mad Cow disease are causing a blood shortage in the American military. Normally, the Department of Defense gets all the blood it needs from members of the military, and family members. [News Source]

Scientists watch deer for wasting disease (Journal Opinion) In March of 2005, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was found in captive white-tailed deer in upstate New York. Shortly thereafter, CWD was found in wild white-tailed deer in the same county of Oneida. [News Source]

Tracing food key in outbreak (Akron Beacon Journal) Where did your salad grow? That's a question most people don't give much thought to. But public health investigators must answer it as quickly as possible during a widespread outbreak of food-borne illness. [News Source]