My mother-in-law bought us a slow-cooker (also known as a crock pot in some parts of the world) in about 2004. We had just moved out of a basement apartment, bought our first house and Dani's mom couldn't believe that we didn't have the quintessential family cooking tool. So she hit up Wal-Mart and got us one.

My wife and I have two little boys at home: a 2-and-a-half-year-old (Jack) and a 5-month-old (Sam) I'm the neurotic parent, my wife is the calm one. Jack was a horrible sleeper for the first 16 months so anytime he didn't make a noise for a couple of hours I'd wake up panicked and go into is room and see if he was breathing. I'm less paranoid the second time around.

At least 73 individuals have been infected with an outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium in 35 states from August 20, 2010 to March 8, 2011, including one death, associated with exposure to clinical and teaching microbiology laboratories.

Bill Gray of L.H. Gray and Sons Ltd. faced accusations 11 years ago that he used inferior-quality eggs to squeeze out grading-station competitors, judging by testimony before a committee of the Ontario legislature. Those accusations bear a striking similarity to current claims by Svante Lind of Best Choice Eggs that Gray supplied his business with inferior-quality eggs.

Las Vegas -- Each month Action News showcases a valley restaurant that's doing things right. This week we're taking you inside a place that serves the best of Thailand. Thai Chili in Henderson, located on Green Valley Parkway just north of Sunset, serves classics like chicken pad thai, thai chili mint with beef, and papaya salad.

GUELPH -- “If you drink raw milk, you risk illness and death,” is the sharp message of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. With a high-profile raw milk court case re-emerging in the media, the current top item on the regional health unit’s online home page is titled Health Risks of Drinking Raw Milk.

If policy types are going to focus resources, it helps to know where to get the most bang for the regulatory dollar. Researchers at the University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute have attempted to identify the Top 10 riskiest combinations of foods and disease-causing microorganisms.

I was thoroughly disgusted today as I listened to meat inspectors testify during a semi-judicial hearing about conditions at Innerkip Specialty Meats Ltd. during 2009. Don Murray bought the plant and obtained a provincial licence to open Jan. 9, 2009. Within two weeks, it was clear that he was in over his head and things were going to pot.

Armadillos have never been among the cuddly creatures routinely included in petting zoos, but on Wednesday federal researchers offered a compelling reason to avoid contact with the armored animals altogether: They are a source of leprosy infections in humans.