Peanut farmers accusing companies of price fixing
A class-action lawsuit brought forth by Southern peanut farmers alleges peanut-shelling companies Birdsong Corp. and Golden Peanut Co. L.L.C., a subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Co., conspired to fix the prices of runner peanuts in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The lawsuit filed Sept. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia alleges that since the beginning of 2014 the prices paid by shellers to peanut farmers for runners have remained “remarkably” flat and unchanged despite supply disruptions such as Hurricane Michael, a category 5 hurricane that hit peanut crops in the Florida panhandle/southern Georgia and Alabama area in 2018. – Baking Business
Political operatives, opportunist and politicos torch bridge project
No reporter has done more to chronicle the story of the Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project than al.com’s John Sharp. Recently, he penned a piece entitled “How the I-10 project was killed,” which focuses on the public battle that led to the project’s demise. Interspersed in the various reports on the bridge debacle are statements from political operatives and opportunists who worked to undermine the project. Along the way, those politicos who vowed to move the area forward caved to political pressure abandoning their previous support. – AL Political Reporter
No, Margaritaville is not wastin’ away at Town Madison
Keep nibblin’ on sponge cake and looking for that lost shaker of salt because Margaritaville, still, is on the way to Town Madison. Though it’s been almost 16 months since the hotel project was announced for the sprawling development in Madison along I-565 and virtually nothing has happened at the site near the Rocket City Trash Pandas under-construction baseball stadium, Margaritaville is still a go. – AL.com
Doug Jones kicks off re-election campaign in Birmingham
U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat who pulled off a stunning political upset in Alabama two years ago, launched his reelection bid Sunday, seeking to create another Deep South victory in a Republican-dominated state. Before several hundred cheering supporters, Jones kicked off his 2020 campaign. – AP
Founder of Ross Neely Trucking dies at 92
The founder of a 60-year-old Alabama trucking company has died. Thomas “Ross” Neely, Jr., 92, died Friday. A graveside service will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Birmingham’s Elmwood Cemetery. A statement on the company’s Facebook page reads, “He was the patriarch and founder of our company. At 92 years of age he was still coming to work everyday until some health issues forced him to stop a few months ago. – AL.com
Four missing after car carrier capsizes
A search is underway for four crewmembers on board a listing vehicle carrier with a fire on board in St. Simons Sound, Brunswick, Georgia. The U.S. Coast Guard reports that 20 people were rescued from the 656-foot vessel Golden Ray on Sunday. At approximately 2 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Charleston watchstanders were notified by the Glynn County 911 dispatch that the Golden Ray capsized. The vessel was carrying Hyundai and Kia vehicles. – Maritime Executive
