Food fights

Ask us about our Chunky Monkey money market account: State regulators in Pennsylvania have given a cool reception to a Pittsburgh ice cream shop’s opening of a “bank” that offers savings accounts, check-cashing and loans and pays a 5.5 percent interest rate in ice cream.

Investors are paid a monthly dividend in a coupons that can be used at the store, but as with most banks there’s a substantial ice cream headache for early withdrawal.

You can have my Big Gulp when you can pry it from my cold, fat fingers: New York City’s controversial ban on most cups of sugary soft drinks larger than 16 ounces has been approved by the city’s Board of Health. Opponents of the ban say health experts have overstated the role sugary drinks play in obesity.

A spokesman for New Yorkers for Beverage Choice said the ruling would be challenged in court but declined further comment as he hurried to the nearest restroom.

Lean, finely nuanced euphemism: A meat processor in South Dakota is suing ABC News over its coverage of “pink slime,” officially known as lean, finely textured beef, claiming the reports caused consumers to believe that the beef was “unhealthy pink slime.”

ABC also faces a second lawsuit from a company: “Unhealthy Pink Slime” has long been the trademark of Spam.

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More in Opinion

Liz Skinner, right, and Emma Titterness, both from Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County, speak with a man near the Silver Lake Safeway while conducting a point-in-time count Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Everett, Washington. The man, who had slept at that location the previous night, was provided some food and a warming kit after participating in the PIT survey. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: Among obstacles, hope to curb homelessness

Panelists from service providers and local officials discussed homelessness’ interwoven challenges.

Comment: Are we getting our money’s worth from our taxes?

Most Europeans pay higher taxes, but add up our taxes and what we pay out of pocket and we’re seeing less.

FILE - In this photo taken Oct. 2, 2018, semi-automatic rifles fill a wall at a gun shop in Lynnwood, Wash. Gov. Jay Inslee is joining state Attorney General Bob Ferguson to propose limits to magazine capacity and a ban on the sale of assault weapons. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
Editorial: ‘History, tradition’ poor test for gun safety laws

Judge’s ruling against the state’s law on large-capacity gun clips is based on a problematic decision.

This combination of photos taken on Capitol Hill in Washington shows Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., on March 23, 2023, left, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., on Nov. 3, 2021. The two lawmakers from opposing parties are floating a new plan to protect the privacy of Americans' personal data. The draft legislation was announced Sunday, April 7, 2024, and would make privacy a consumer right and set new rules for companies that collect and transfer personal data. (AP Photo)
Editorial: Adopt federal rules on data privacy and rights

A bipartisan plan from Sen. Cantwell and Rep. McMorris Rodgers offers consumer protection online.

Students make their way through a portion of a secure gate a fence at the front of Lakewood Elementary School on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. Fencing the entire campus is something that would hopefully be upgraded with fund from the levy. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Levies in two north county districts deserve support

Lakewood School District is seeking approval of two levies. Fire District 21 seeks a levy increase.

Comment: Racial divide over O.J.’s trial is as fresh as ever

The trial divided friends and communities on issues of race and justice.

Saunders: Biden’s student debt relief passes buck to taxpayers

Forgiving loans doesn’t make them disappear, it just transfers the debt to taxpayers.

A Brockton firefighter lifts a protective turnout coat onto a firetruck at Station 1, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Brockton, Mass. Firefighters around the country are concerned that gear laced with the toxic industrial compound PFAS could be one reason why cancer rates among their ranks are rising. The chemical, which has been linked to health problems including several types of cancer, is used in turnout gear to repel water and other substances when fighting a fire. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Commentary: Fighting the threat of ‘forever chemicals’

New EPA standards will require the removal of PFAS chemicals from water. Here’s why that’s important.

Benefits outweigh risks of grizzlies in North Cascades

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Comment: Rule must change to allow dialysis as end-of-life care

An outdated rule may change to allow patients in palliative care to receive the comfort of kidney dialysis.

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