State Climatologist Says He Is Concerned About 2021
(Des Moines) — Weather officials say that 2018 and 2019 were among the state’s wettest years with the flooding that occurred. However, in many parts of the state, 2020 was a particularly dry season, especially for west central Iowa. Now as we are about to enter 2021, weather officials say they are concerned. Justin Glisan is the state’s climatologist and he says Wednesday’s snowfall may be welcomed when you consider that many parts of Iowa are below average with subsoil moisture levels.
The state’s climatologist says he has some concerns about the dry conditions going forward into 2021.
Glistan says the outlook for the winter months is showing a mixed message.
Glistan says we will know more about the predicted weather patterns in mid-January. The weather climatologist says we could see wet spring.
Glisan says another storm system may enter Iowa on Tuesday of this week.
Congressman-elect Feenstra Says Meat Packing Companies Need To Be Investigated
(Des Moines) — Congressman-elect Randy Feenstra says it’s time for the U.S. Department of Justice to address allegations of price fixing in the livestock industry.
Four companies — J-B-S, Smithfield, Cargill, and Tyson — control more than 80 percent of the beef packing industry. And while beef consumption and consumer prices soared during the early months of the pandemic, profits did not trickle down to producers. The prices for cattle sold at market fell. Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, says his inlaws raise livestock, so the financial reality hits close to home.
Boxed beef is the wholesale price of cuts of meat. Feenstra, who hopes to become a member of the U.S. House Ag Committee when he’s sworn into office on January 3rd, says it’s time for congress to examine the Packers and Stockyards Act. The law was drafted to assure fair competition and fair trade practices in the livestock industry.
The law was originally passed in 1921. A major update in 1976 gave the U-S-D-A authority to issue fines for anti-competitive practices in the meat packing industry. Feenstra made his comments during a recent appearance on the Iowa Press program on Iowa P-B-S.
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Sioux City Man Accused Of Stealing 2 Pickups, Firing Shot
(Onawa, IA) — A 39-year-old Sioux City man is being held in the Monona County Jail, accused of stealing two pickups and possibly firing a shot at another vehicle. Investigators say Jayme R. Powell was driving a pickup that was involved in an accident with a motorcycle on Interstate 29 Sunday at about 1:50 a-m. Powell was gone by the time authorities arrived. While that accident was being investigated, a report of a subject in a pickup firing a shot at another vehicle on I-29 was received. After the accident, authorities say Powell stole a second pickup and when he was stopped and taken into custody he was driving that vehicle. No injuries have been reported.
Inmate Dies At Newton Correctional Facility
(Newton, IA) — Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections say foul play isn’t suspected in the death of a 77-year-old inmate at the Newton Correctional Facility. Ronald James Calvert died Saturday morning from a medical issue. Prison officials say an autopsy will be done to determine the exact cause of Calvert’s death. He had been serving a 25-year sentenced based on a Floyd County conviction of sexual abuse. Calvert was imprisoned in 2014.
Bench Trial Scheduled For Man Accused Of Stabbing Wife To Death
(Dearing, IA) — A bench trial is set for next June for a 71-year-old man accused of stabbing his wife to death. Gary Pillman guilty or innocence will be determined by the judge. Pillman was originally charged with second-degree murder for his wife, Betty. However, the charge has been upgraded to first-degree murder. Investigators say Gary Pillman went to his neighbor’s house saying he had killed his wife. Her body was found outside their home in Dearing. He was found not competent to stand trial last February, but he responded to treatment and the June 2nd trial date was set.
Music City Bowl Canceled Due To COVID-19 Breakout In Mizzou Program
(Nashville, TN) — Officials with the Music City Bowl have canceled the postseason event on the report of a COVID-19 breakout in the Missouri football program. The Tigers were supposed to play Iowa in Nashville next Wednesday. Transperfect Music City Bowl President and C-E-O Scott Ramsey officially called off the bowl game Sunday afternoon, thanking everyone who had been involved in the preparations. No specific numbers for the extent of the positive COVID-19 tests were released. Earlier, a few positive test results in Iowa had put the game in question, but the Hawkeyes were ready to go now.
