The company also will serve one year probation

6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK)has declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.23 per share.The dividend is payable on Mar. 16, 2009, to shareholders of record on theclose of business Feb. 13, 2009.(Logo: http:// )This is the 83rd consecutive year that Duke Energy has paid a quarterlycash dividend on its common stock.Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power companies in the UnitedStates, supplies and delivers electricity to approximately 4 million U.S.customers and natural gas service to approximately 520,000 customers in itsregulated jurisdictions. The company has approximately 35,000 net megawatts ofelectric generating capacity in the Midwest and the Carolinas, and natural gasdistribution services in Ohio and Kentucky. real estate company.Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 companytraded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK.

More informationabout the company is available on the Internet at: CONTACT:Tom ShielPhone:704-382-235524-Hour:704-382-8333ANALYSTS: Sean TrauschkePhone:980-373-7905SOURCEDuke EnergyMedia: Tom Shiel, 1-704-382-2355, 24-Hour: 1-704-382-8333, Analysts: SeanTrauschke, 1-980-373-7905, both of Duke Energy. Tyson Foods Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Pay Fine For OSHA Violation That Ledto Worker DeathWASHINGTON, Jan 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ Tyson Foods Inc pleaded guiltytoday in U.S. District Court in Arkansas and agreed to pay the maximum finefor willfully violating worker safety regulations that led to a worker's deathin its River Valley Animal Foods (RVAF) plant in Texarkana, Ark., the JusticeDepartment announced.According to the information filed along with a plea agreement, Tyson operatedseveral RVAF plants that recycled poultry products into protein and fats forthe animal food industry.As part of the rendering process in four of theplants, the company used high-pressure steam processors called hydrolyzers toconvert the poultry feather into feather meal.Decomposition of biological material such as poultry feathers produceshydrogen sulfide gas, an acute-acting toxic substance.Employees at the Tysonfacilities often were exposed to the toxic gas when working on or near thehydrolyzers, which required frequent adjustment and replacement.As of October 2003, corporate safety and regional management were aware thathydrogen sulfide gas was present in the RVAF facilities and three of the fourfacilities with hydrolyzers had taken measures to protect employees fromhydrogen sulfide gas near the hydrolyzers.However, Tyson Foods did not takesufficient steps to implement controls or protective equipment to reduceexposure within prescribed limits or provide effective training to employeeson hydrogen sulfide gas at the Texarkana facility despite an identicalexposure, resulting in hydrogen sulfide poisoning of an RVAF Texarkanaemployee in March 2002.As a result, at approximately 1 a.m on Oct. 10, 2003, RVAF maintenanceemployee Jason Kelley was overcome with hydrogen sulfide gas while repairing aleak from a hydrolyzer and later died.Another employee and two emergencyresponders were hospitalized due to exposure during the rescue attempt Twoemployees also were treated at the scene. "Federal laws require employers to undertake steps that limit exposure todangerous substances like the gas that killed Jason Kelley. Tyson Foodswillfully ignored these regulations and today is being held responsible," saidRonald J.

Tenpas, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department'sEnvironment and Natural Resources Division. "The Justice Department takes itsenforcement responsibility seriously and companies that ignore these laws andrisk their employees' lives will be prosecuted."The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requires that employers furnishplaces of employment free from recognized hazards that are likely to causedeath or serious physical harm to employees.This includes taking steps toensure that employee exposure to dangerous substances such as hydrogen sulfidegas remains within prescribed limits.Tyson Foods pleaded guilty today to a"willful violation of an OSHA standard resulting in the death of an employee,"the most serious offense available to OSHA.According to today's plea agreement, Tyson Food has agreed to pay $500,000,the maximum criminal fine.The company also will serve one year probation. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Labor and prosecuted bythe Justice Department's Environmental Crimes Section and the U.S. Attorney'sOffice for the Western District of Arkansas under the Environmental CrimesSection's worker endangerment initiative.SOURCEU.S Department of JusticeU.S.