National digest: Horse slaughterhouses allowed to resume operation

NEW MEXICO

Slaughterhouses can resume operating

A federal judge on Friday cleared the way for horse slaughterhouses to resume operating in the United States as early as next week.

U.S. District Judge Christina Armijo in Albuquerque threw out a lawsuit by the Humane Society of the United States and other animal protection groups that alleged the Department of Agriculture failed to conduct proper environmental studies when it issued permits to Valley Meat in Roswell, N.M., and an Iowa company to slaughter horses for human consumption.

The decision, which ends a two-year battle by Valley Meat to open its slaughterhouse, came hours after a temporary restraining order had expired.
— Associated Press

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