From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
Whirlpool Corporation is cutting 650 jobs at its Amana operations effective June 1. The company says it is making changes to its production operations to align with current market conditions driven by consumer demand. Whirlpool says it and Iowa Workforce Development are offering support to impacted workers. The President of the Iowa Federation of Labor also responded to the layoffs. In a statement, Charlie Wishman said the cuts are outrageous for a company that made $17 billion in sales last year.
Cedar Rapids police say they arrested a man in connection to a shooting from February. Ray Robertson Junior faces several charges including attempted murder, willful injury and possession of a firearm by a felon. He’s in the Linn County Jail. Police say they found a man with several gunshot wounds in an alley across the street from Jim’s Foods on the southwest side. He survived. Police have not said what may have lead up to the shooting.
Police say someone accidentally shot and killed a four-year-old child in central Iowa. It happened at an apartment complex in Ames Monday afternoon. First responders airlifted the child to the hospital where the child later died.
Police say prosecutors filed more charges against a man accused of assaulting people randomly on the northwest side of Cedar Rapids. Daniel Doyen now faces two new charges related to another attack on the northwest side of Cedar Rapids. This time he’s charged with hurting an 80-year old woman last month. He’s already accused of attacking a disabled veteran in the same area three days later. Police are still investigating a third assault in that same area.
State Representative Sami Scheetz has been picked to fill the Linn County Board District 2 seat. He was sworn-in shortly after the Linn County Committee of County Officers appointed him. His appointment to the $135,000 a year job means he must resign as state representative.
Fire investigators say they cannot determine the cause of the fire last year that destroyed the Lighthouse Supper Club in Cedar Rapids. The well-known Mount Vernon Road restaurant burned down last August. The State Fire Marshal closed the case saying the fire likely started above the kitchen and concluded the cause is undetermined unless new evidence comes to light.
