The once idyllic little town with cobblestone streets and traditional architecture, which in the 1980s was popular among skiers and hikers from the former Soviet bloc, has changed beyond recognition. The state has abdicated its functions to exercise control and the rule of law," said Ivan Sirleshtov, 60, a member of a local civil group to fight graft. The tale of Bansko is a microcosm of the property boom in mountain resorts and along Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, where corporate appetites...

North Dakota is focusing on nations with "transitional" economies, such as Ukraine, which is now seeing substantial direct investment and is in the process of revamping its agricultural sector. It doesn't hurt to have the dollar sinking in value - down almost 9 percent so far this year - and a relatively strong global economy. That's the case in North Dakota, for example, where its trade office has helped the state's foreign exports grow by 87 percent since 2001. It had to improve the...

Ranchers and dryland wheat producers joined row crop farmers in celebration. A long-awaited rain covered much of western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming this weekend, leaving between one and four inches of precipitation. Darnell said sugar beet harvest is 43 percent complete, and is expected to reach 70 percent by the end of the week. By today, the "greasy" slick roads, caused by the slow rain falling on extremely dry, powdery surfaces, are expected to have dried enough to provide good...

The voluntary recall, an expanded version of one issued Tuesday for nearly 332,000 pounds of Topps beef, was the first in the 67-year history of Topps, one of the nation's largest meat processing concerns. Geoffrey Livermore, Topps' vice president of operations, said the recalled products were distributed to retail grocers and food service institutions throughout the United States over the past year. Based on consumption patterns, he said, the company believes most of the products have...

Small is seeking more than $25,000 in damages for loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, pharmaceutical expenses and other economic loss, according to the lawsuit. Small is one of about 35 people in multiple states represented by Marler Clark who ate and became sick from the pot pies, Falkenstein said. He tested positive for Salmonella and was released two days later, the lawsuit alleges. Those infected with salmonella typically suffer diarrhea,...

Its Dairy Group division is the largest processor and distributor of milk and other dairy products in the country, with products sold under more than 50 familiar local and regional brands and a wide array of private labels. His responsibilities included leading a supply chain transformation that is expected to deliver over $190 million in savings while increasing customer service levels and reducing inventory. In this role, he restructured the distribution and manufacturing network...

The proposal is apparently based on clear scientific evidence proving that the cultivation of these two GM crops has the potential to cause environmental harm. Several scientists have recently published studies showing that the effects of GM Bt maize are far from predictable and that their potential risk is greater then previously thought. However, scientific studies show that these GM maize are toxic to certain butterfly species and may also affect other beneficial insects and have long...

The monthlong celebration includes hay rides, a spook house, pumpkin decorating, costume contests, handmade spider webs, an activity yard, a hay maze and some 100-pound pumpkins, Ernie Bertucci said. In addition to pumpkins, the couple grow tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant and squash and have 150 peach trees and numerous blueberry bushes on 10 to 12 acres. They re a squash, and like any other vegetable, if they re damaged, they go bad. Growing time is 120 to 150 days from seed to...

The company issued a consumer alert two days ago and asked stores to stop selling the chicken and turkey pies, but stopped short of a recall until now. ConAgra says the decision to recall the pies, including its beef variety, isn't based on new information but on an abundance of caution. ConAgra recalls chicken, turkey, beef pot pies due to salmonella link. The company and federal officials are warning consumers not to eat the pies and to throw them away. This material may not be...