From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
A major fire at the Agri Star meat processing plant in Postville could have a widespread impact in that northeast Iowa city of 2,300. Officials say they first received a call of smoke coming from the building just before 4 yesterday morning. No injuries have been reported, but the fire has destroyed large portions of the facility. Postville city health leaders are telling people who have health or breathing issues to be aware of the air quality. They’re also asking people to restrict water usage as departments continue to battle the fire.
It’s the latest blow to Postville’s meatpacking industry. 300 people lost their jobs after a fire that destroyed the old Iowa Turkey Processors plant in 2003. And an immigration raid in 2008 resulted in the arrest of nearly 400 workers by ICE agents–20 percent of Postville’s population.
Iowa City Public School leaders heard the latest report looking into the district’s multi-million dollar financial crisis. The Board officially heard the report from its former interim CFO, Kim Michael-Lee, which found staff couldn’t prepare financial statements correctly because they couldn’t under the software being used, and they didn’t understand how to properly read the financials. The report also found no evidence of fraud or cover-ups while at the district. The district was three years behind on reconciling bank statements, which prevented it from completing the last three years of annual audits.
Court documents show a Polk County judge ruled that two Libertarian candidates in the Iowa governor’s race will stay off the ballot for the general election. Gubernatorial candidate Nicholas Gluba and Lt. Governor candidate Jules Cutler sued to get back on the ballot after the State Objections Panel ruled they should be taken off the ballot last month because of a missing candidate affidavit.
Cedar Rapids Xavier Catholic Schools’ new gymnasium competition court has officially been named the Thomas J. Lilly Court, to honor Hall of Fame girls basketball coach Tom Lilly. An official dedication of the court is set to take place during Xavier’s home volleyball game on September 1.
