Top stories of the week: A new overpass and radiation for leafy greens

We take a look at some of the biggest stories of the week. This
week: The overpass at the intersection of highways 152 and 156
opens and a federal agency allows radiation to be used on leafy
greens.
1. Ready for flight

Officials from throughout the region held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to celebrate Thursday morning’s long-awaited opening of the new flyover at the intersection of Highways 152 and 156.

The completed flyover is expected to ease congestion by lifting eastbound Highway 152 traffic over the connector, according to a Valley Transit Authority statement. It’s part of a larger, $34 million improvement project at the dangerous site.

Read the

b2. Radiation OK’d for leafy greens/b

Local growers of spinach and lettuce now have another way of eradicating harmful germs such as E. coli after the Food and Drug Administration has approved irradiation as a method to reduce food-borne hazards.

Critics call the move by the FDA everything from unnecessary to an expensive gimmick, but local farmers and agricultural organizations seem to think that the move is a step in the right direction.

The infamous E. coli outbreak of 2006 was traced to San Benito County bagged baby spinach. The produce was grown and packaged by Natural Selection Foods and Dole in San Juan Bautista. The outbreak resulted in 205 confirmed cases of illness. Of these, 104 people required hospitalization and four people died.

Read the a href=”http://www.freelancenews.com/news/247883-radiation-okd-for-leafy-greens”target=blank”>full story.

photo gallery of the spinach being picked and processed.