Walmart removing Confederate items

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart said Monday it is removing any items from its store shelves and website that feature the Confederate flag.

The announcement by the world’s biggest retailer comes as the shooting deaths of nine people at a historic black church in Charleston, S.C., have reignited the debate over the flag’s symbolism. The white suspect in the shooting, Dylann Storm Roof, appeared in photos holding the banner.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said Monday that the flag should be removed from the statehouse grounds, acknowledging that to many the flag is a “deeply offensive symbol of a brutally oppressive past.”

In a statement, Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart said its goal is to not offend anyone with the products it offers.

“We have taken steps to remove all items promoting the Confederate flag from our assortment — whether in our stores or on our website,” the company said. “We have a process in place to help lead us to the right decisions when it comes to the merchandise we sell. Still, at times, items make their way into our assortment improperly — this is one of those instances.”

Niagara Bottling recalls water

HARRISBURG — A bottler says spring water recently shipped from two Pennsylvania plants could be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

Niagara Bottling is voluntarily recalling all products bottled June 10-18 at its Allentown and Hamburg facilities.

State officials say water that Niagara purchased from Far Away Springs in Schuylkill County tested positive for E. coli.

The company says tests on its finished products didn’t detect contamination. It says no injuries or issues have been reported.

Federal regulators declined comment.

Niagara’s water is marketed under more than a dozen brand names. They include Acadia, 7-Eleven, Morning Fresh and Wegmans. The company says date stamps on its bottles can help consumers determine if their water is affected. They’ll start with either an A or an F.

Another vote on trade coming

WASHINGTON — Backers of President Barack Obama’s trade agenda are imploring key senators to stand by their previous votes when they revisit the issue in a showdown set for today.

Opponents meanwhile are mounting an equally emotional push to keep Obama from obtaining “fast track” authority to negotiate trade agreements with Pacific Rim countries and others.

At least 60 of the Senate’s 100 members must back the measure for it to clear a procedural hurdle and complete a near-miraculous resurrection of the White House priority. In a May 21 vote, 62 senators backed fast track, but they didn’t expect it to return to their chamber.

By The Associated Press