(Radio Iowa) — A group of Attorneys General from 11 states — including Iowa — are asking the U-S Department of Justice to start a federal investigation into suspected national price-fixing by meatpackers in the cattle industry. Iowa Attorney General spokesman, Lynn Hicks says the coronavirus pandemic has magnified the issue. “The group of A-G’s, which is bipartisan group is asking the D-O-J for thorough examination of the meatpacking industry,” Hicks says. “We feel that there is enough evidence here for alleged price-fixing and it’s time for the Department of Justice to look into this.”

The concerns come as people are buying and stockpiling beef in response to the pandemic. “Antitrust concerns about the cattle market are nothing new — but we really feel like with the COVID-19 pandemic — it really shows the problems that both the consumers and cattle ranchers are facing right now,” Hicks says.
Hicks says four packers control 80 percent of the beef market. “So it’s highly concentrated and meatpackers have all the power. And as such, they are able to charge high prices,” according to Hicks. “But, as we’ve seen lately, live cattle prices are the lowest they have been in years.”

He says only one side is benefiting — and it is the meatpackers. “They’re raising the prices and the consumers are buying, and the ranchers aren’t getting any benefit at all from this,” he says. Hicks says they are hoping the D-O-J will see the number of people calling for an investigation and act. “These are all Midwestern or western states that are cattle producers. It’s not just the Attorneys General who are raising concerns — Senator Grassley and some others have also sent letters to Attorney General Barr regarding this,” Hicks says. “We’re hoping for all of these voices, and the voices of Iowans and cattle producers will be heard in Washington.”

Attorneys General in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming all signed on to the letter. The letter comes on the same day that the Hy-Vee grocery store chain says it will start limiting the purchase of meat products to be prepared for any possible fluctuations in the product.

Hy-Vee says in a statement that they have products available at stores –but due to worker shortages at plants as well as an increase in meat sales, customers may not find the specific items they want. Beginning Wednesday, each customer will be limited to four packages of a combination of fresh beef, ground beef, pork, and chicken.

Officials with the City of Stuart released a statement on social media, today (Tuesday), saying that they were notified a part-time member of the Stuart Rescue Squad tested positive for COVID-19. The City says staff member transported patients by ambulance previously to testing positive, but did not have COVID-19 symptoms at that time. The individual is not currently working, and will follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines before returning to work.

The City states Stuart Rescue’s policy has been to wear N95 masks, safety glasses or goggles, and gloves with all patients since April, and there were no patient contacts without the appropriate personal protective equipment in place. Facilities and equipment continue to be routinely and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected according to the CDC’s recommendations.

The City is working with Stuart Fire and Rescue for contact tracing, and will notify each significant contact and offer instructions for preventing the spread of disease. Stuart Fire and Rescue continues to serve its communities, taking all recommended precautions to protect themselves and those they serve from exposure to any illness.

Officials ask residents to do their part in helping stop the spread of COVID-19, such as wearing a face cover when with others, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, keeping at least six feet away from others, and staying home as much as possible.

(Radio Iowa) – Schools in Iowa are getting a federal grant of more than 71-million dollars to help address costs related to the pandemic. Iowa Department of Education director Ann Lebo says the money comes at a critical time:

Schools will have until the close of business Monday to apply. Lebo says every one of Iowa’s 327 school districts will get a piece of the pie for programs ranging from online learning to mental health services.

State health officials now say 58-percent of the workers at the Tyson Foods plant in Perry have tested positive for the virus, the highest reported level of any Iowa employer. The company had previously refused to reveal data about the infection rate among employees.

Governor Reynolds today (Tuesday) announced 408 new coronavirus cases in Iowa. She says the recent spike is due to expanded testing. Lab results through 10 a.m. Monday had confirmed a total of over 10-thousand cases of COVID-19 in Iowa since testing began in March.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (May 5, 2020) — Hy-Vee, Inc. announces that effective Wednesday it will limit meat purchases at all of its locations. In a statement on their corporate website, officials with the grocery chain said:

“We continue to work with industry leaders so we are prepared for any possible fluctuations in product and can best serve our customers. At Hy-Vee, we have product available at our stores but due to worker shortages at plants as well as an increase in meat sales, customers may not find the specific items they are looking for. Because of this, we are going to put a limit on customer purchases in the meat department. Effective Wednesday, May 6, each customer will be limited to four packages of a combination of fresh beef, ground beef, pork and chicken when they checkout at all Hy-Vee locations.”

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Lorimor man reported on April 30th, that sometime during the night, someone broke a window and spray painted on his property at 706 5th Street in Lorimor. The damage was estimated $500.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports two men serving time in the Pott. County Jail on separate charges, were served with additional warrants. 59-year old James Howard Archer, of Council Bluffs, was served with a warrant for Contempt of Court with regard to a Child Support matter. His bond on separate charges was set at $2,000. And, 45-year old Duane Ray Conley, of Omaha, was served with a warrant out of Douglas County, NE., for being a Fugitive from Justice.  Both men were then turned over to Corrections Staff.  His bond on other charges was also set at $2,000.

Audubon School District Superintendent Eric Trager says a Special Meeting of the Audubon School Board will be held 6-p.m. Friday in the High School Board room, and via ZOOM. On the agenda is a Public Hearing concerning amendments to the FY20 (ending school on May 22nd) and FY 21 (Beginning school on Aug. 17) School Calendars. Public Comments will be received via email or using the “chat” pane on ZOOM. You may send your emails to etrager@audubon.k12.ia.us, or request a ZOOM link in your email. The public may be allowed to attend the meeting in-person, however the conference room is limited to 10 participants, with preference given to Board members and others necessary to conducting the meeting.

Action items on the Audubon School Board agenda include:

• Rooftop HVAC Unit Replacement…

1. Review Bid Tabulation Sheet
2. Discuss Contractor Qualifications
3. Discuss Alternate
4. Award Projects: General Construction; Alternate 1; Controls.
5. Authorize Board Presidents to sign contracts after attorney review and securing contractor’s signatures.

• Approve Pandemic Resolution
• Approve FY20 and FY21 Calendar Changes
• Approve MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Teachers
• Approve Graduation Plans.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (WOI-TV) — Officials say two paramedics with West Des Moines Emergency Medical Services have tested positive for COVID-19. Station WOI-TV reports that the service announced the first case on Monday and the second on Tuesday. Officials say one of the infected paramedics had transported coronavirus patients in recent weeks. It was not known whether the other paramedic had come in contact with patients infected with the virus. Both paramedics were tested on April 29, and neither have shown any symptoms. Both paramedics have been removed from duty and will remain off work for 10 days as long as they remain symptom- free.