From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
Today might be the last day SNAP recipients get food stamp money. SNAP benefits are to end tonight because of the on-going federal government shutdown. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is signaling her support for food banks and pantries. She said the state is preparing to use state funds to match cash donations to the food banks up to $1 million beginning Monday. Reynolds has also ordered the Iowa National Guard to prepare to help with food distribution.
The Cedar Rapids School District says more children are now using its in-school food pantries. All four of Cedar Rapids’ high schools, plus Franklin, McKinley, Roosevelt and Wilson middle schools, as well as Hiawatha, Hoover and Van Buren elementary schools have a food pantry. School lunches keep children fed during the week, but not on weekends. On Fridays, students can take what they need from the pantries. The District says 26 of its schools have at least 40 percent of its student body receiving SNAP benefits.
Collins Aerospace is undertaking a “small reduction of positions.” In a statement, a spokesperson says it’s cutting jobs in order to reduce costs. So far, we don’t know exactly how many people will be affected, or when the job cuts will take effect.
The U.S. and China have agreed to a new trade deal, bringing soybean exports back to American farmers in exchange for lower tariffs. China will purchase at least 12 million tons of U.S. soybeans for the remainder of this year. And it will purchase 25 million tons annually for the next three years. But the head of the Iowa Farmers Union is skeptical of the new deal. Union president and fifth-generation farmer Adam Lehman says President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China come at a time when farmers already feel they’re headed toward a farm crisis.
University of Iowa star basketball forward Hannah Stuelke was named to the Naismith Trophy National Player of the Year preseason watch list. The list was released yesterday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Earlier this month, Stuelke was picked as First Team Preseason All-Big Ten by the coaches and the media. The Cedar Rapids native returns as Iowa’s top scorer and rebounder for her senior season.
