Jeneary Assigned To State House Agriculture Natural Resources Subcommittee
(Des Moines) — With the addition of two new Republican state lawmakers to the state House of Representatives, due to special elections, House Speaker, Pat Grassley has shuffled some of the committee assignments. Grassley announced on Wednesday through a news release that Dr. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars, the House Representative for District 5, will now serve on the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee. Jeneary says he is pleased of the new appointment, and he claims it will be a good learning experience.
Grassley Supports Plan on Cattle Contract Pricing
(Washington, DC) — U-S Senator Chuck Grassley and three other senators say they have developed a compromise plan that gives independent cattle producers more clues about what meatpackers are paying for cattle raised under private contracts. The Iowa Republican says he’s heard directly from producers who feel they aren’t getting a fair price for their cattle while the big four meatpackers rake in the profits. The legislation would create a sort of library of sale contracts and require meatpackers to disclose how many cattle they plan to buy for slaughter in each of the next 14 days. Grassley says the aim now is to tack this proposal onto an already existing livestock-related law that Congress has to vote to reauthorize in December.
Grassley Supports Plan on Cattle Contract Pricing
(Washington, DC) — U-S Senator Chuck Grassley and three other senators say they have developed a compromise plan that gives independent cattle producers more clues about what meatpackers are paying for cattle raised under private contracts. The Iowa Republican says he’s heard directly from producers who feel they aren’t getting a fair price for their cattle while the big four meatpackers rake in the profits. The legislation would create a sort of library of sale contracts and require meatpackers to disclose how many cattle they plan to buy for slaughter in each of the next 14 days. Grassley says the aim now is to tack this proposal onto an already existing livestock-related law that Congress has to vote to reauthorize in December.
Man Pleads Not Guilty in Mason City Fatal Shooting
(Mason City, IA) — A man from Chicago is pleading not guilty to a deadly shooting in a Mason City bar last month. Twenty-five-year-old Jelani Faulk is charged with the first-degree murder of 35-year-old Christopher Tucker of Garner. Investigators say Faulk shot Tucker several times on October 3rd and Tucker died at the Mayo Clinic the next day. Faulk was shot by Mason City police after he reportedly pointed a gun at the officer. He also faces an interference with official acts charge for that incident. His trial is set for January 25th in Cerro Gordo County.
Iowa Blood Supply Running Extremely Low
(Des Moines, IA) — There’s a major blood shortage in the U-S and Iowa. A quarter of the blood centers in the Midwest have just a day’s supply or even less on hand. Emily Holley with the American Red Cross in Iowa says our blood supply is at the lowest it has been this time of year in six years. She says it’s critical right now that folks give blood. Many blood centers report they’re running critically low of O-negative blood. It’s the most common blood type used in emergencies when a patient’s blood type is unknown. Holley says more donations are also needed for platelets, which often go to patients battling cancer and other chronic illnesses.
Northeast Iowa Meth Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charges
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — A northeast Iowa man faces at least ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty to dealing large amounts of methamphetamine. The U-S Attorney’s Office says 54-year-old David Tafolla of Oelwein admitted to purchasing pounds of methamphetamine before authorities found more than 400 grams and 36-thousand dollars cash during a search of his home. He also admitted to distributing another half pound of the drug. Tafolla faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a possible maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.
