CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Teamsters Union says it’s preparing for a strike at the ADM facility in Cedar Rapids. Teamsters Local 238 is the largest local union in the state of Iowa, and according to Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 238 Jesse Case, the wages at ADM have not kept up with the factors that face the workforce. “ADM had an operating profit of $1.6 billion in the past quarter,” Case said. “Our members kept the company open during this period. Workers are tired of record company profits while they struggle to make ends meet. The combination of the pandemic, the increase in the cost of living, and the shortage of workers in the job market have changed the attitude of workers. Our members are fed up with the gap between corporate profits and their own paychecks.” The Teamsters say they’ll join more than 100 other workers in the corn processing industry if they go on strike. The Union contract is set to expire at the end of October at midnight. They are prepared to strike as early as Tuesday morning. In response, a spokesperson with ADM issued the following message: “We have offered an extremely competitive proposal to union membership at our corn wet mill in Cedar Rapids and continue to negotiate in good faith with the union.”
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa agriculture officials say another commercial egg farm has been infected with bird flu, the first commercial farm case identified since April when a turkey farm was infected. The latest case is in Wright County in north central Iowa about 80 miles north of Des Moines housing about 1.1 million chickens. Iowa has had 15 commercial farms infected this year including turkeys, egg-laying hens and other chickens. In addition, five backyard flocks have been infected. Because the virus is highly contagious all birds on an infected farm are killed to avoid spread. Iowa has lost the most birds at more than 13 million this year before the latest farm was found infected. Nationally more than 47.7 million birds have been affected in 43 states.
MAHASKA COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – Monday morning at approximately 12:34 am, police were displaced to Eltse Hall at William Penn University for a report of a stabbing. Crews arrived and found a 21-year-old victim outside the building with a laceration to his lower neck. He was applying pressure to the wound and told police the individual that stabbed him went by the name Z-Bo and which dorm to find him in. Police made contact with the individual in question and identified him as 22-year-old Zyrick Knight. The fight reportedly started over Knight trying to sleep while the victim and his friends playing loud music in the common area outside Knight’s room. Knight and the victim have differing stories on what then occurred, but according to police, security video shows the victim leaving backwards out of a doorway, attempting to create distance between himself and Knight. Knight then reportedly followed him out onto the walkway with a box cutter in hand and proceeded to punch the victim repeatedly as he was trying to leave. Knight was arrested and charged with attempted murder.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – At approximately 11:25 am, Cedar Rapids Firefighters were dispatched to the 5000 block of Broadlawn Dr. SE for a report of a house fire. Upon arrival, crews found a very active fire on the upper and lower floors. Rescue teams were advised that there was a person unable to get out due to age and physical ability. Responders located the victim and carried her to safety from the upper floor. She was transported to a nearby hospital in critical, but stable condition. After extinguishing the fire, crews ventilated heavy smoke from the home. They found two cats lost to the fire. Damage to the home was extensive and all three residents at the home were displaced. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
