Bankrupt dairy — The U.S. Department of Justice has asked a judge to appoint a federal trustee to take over an embattled Oregon mega-dairy, citing the owner’s drug use, gambling, out-of-control spending and pending criminal charges. Lost Valley Farm, located near Boardman, supplies milk to the Tillamook County Creamery Association, which produces Tillamook Cheese, the Statesman Journal reported . The 11-square mile dairy has had issues including financial and regulatory problems since it opened over a year ago. The Justice Department is handling owner Greg te Velde’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which was filed in April to stall a bank-foreclosure sale of his cattle. Since then, te Velde admitted he continued to use methamphetamine and gamble at a California casino once or twice a week, U.S. Trustee Tracy Hope Davis wrote in a July 13 motion. Davis asked a judge to either appoint a separate trustee to manage the dairy’s finances and operations on behalf of creditors, or to dismiss the bankruptcy case. Te Velde is also facing criminal charges in California for possession of methamphetamine and trying to bribe an officer.

Climate lawsuit — A lawsuit filed by young activists who say the government is failing to protect them from climate change is still alive. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the government’s second request to have the case dismissed. A trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 29 in Eugene.