Story Idea: Is the Backyard Chicken Coop Making a Comeback?

Is the backyard chicken coop making a comeback? In some cities, including Denver and Portland, Maine, it's legal to keep chickens at home. In others, where it's still prohibited, residents are agitating for change.

Urban chicken farming has become more appealing lately, thanks in part to the recession. According to USA Today, Backyard Poultry magazine has seen subscriptions climb 42% in the past year. "A simple coop, a pen and a little feed are such a low entry bar that people are flocking to try their hand at keeping chickens in a tough economy."

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RTDNA Disappointed with Attempts to Water Down Shield Law

RTDNA is disappointed to learn that the Senate Judiciary Committee failed to bring a federal shield law bill to a vote again on Thursday.

"The continued attempts to give the government the ability to override the shield law would make it a paper shield at best," said RTDNA Chairman Stacey Woelfel.  "While I'm disappointed the committee did not vote to pass the bill today, my hope is that senators can regroup to bring a stronger version of the bill back for consideration as soon as possible."

The Judiciary Committee Chairman, Patrick Leahy, recessed the session Thursday after it appeared the Republican senators were lining up a number of amendments that supporters felt would weaken the bill. 

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RTDNA Debuts Mobile Edition of RTDNA.org

The Radio Television Digital News Association has rolled out the mobile edition of RTDNA.org, offering members and the journalism community a handheld view of RTDNA’s three primary editorial offerings – Top Stories, RTDNA/RTDNF News and Industry Headlines.

“Adding a mobile site to RTDNA’s content reinforces our commitment to digital,” said RTDNA Chairman Stacey Woelfel. “Since the vast majority of people, particularly in our industry, have migrated to smart phones it was important that we deliver a fresh product and the ability to stay connected to RTDNA, even on the go.”

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