In brief: Dairy charged in sale of cows

SEATTLE – A northwest Washington dairy sold cows for slaughter despite drug residues not approved for human consumption, federal authorities say.

The 850-cow Rhody Dairy LLC, of Sumas, was charged in U.S. District Court in Seattle last week with violations of the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

The Justice Department says that despite repeated warnings, the dairy administered antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines to its cattle in unapproved dosages or without prescriptions, or that it failed to observe proper drug withdrawal times before offering the cows for slaughter. It also says the dairy refused to keep treatment records for the animals.

Federal officials inspected the dairy in March and July after three cows tested positive. They say Rhody Dairy sells cows for slaughter and sale to consumers in states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho and Oregon.

Two men killed by freight trains

SEATTLE – Two men are dead after being struck by freight trains in separate Washington incidents early Saturday.

BNSF Railway Co. spokesman Gus Melonas said the incidents occurred about a half hour, and many miles, apart. He said they’re the first train fatalities in Washington this year.

Melonas said a man was struck by a BNSF train at 12:10 a.m. near Marsyville, about 50 miles north of Seattle.

He said the man was on the tracks between rail crossings when he was hit. The train was traveling less than 40 mph.

The other fatality occurred at 12:40 a.m. about 35 miles south of Seattle, between Auburn and Sumner, when a train traveling about 35 mph hit a man near a golf course.

Melonas said that man also was between rail crossings.

He said police and BNSF officials were investigating both deaths and didn’t have names or other details.