meat packing industry - Investigate Midwest

Opinion: The top agricultural story of 2020 is...

In a normal year we would be debating several worthy agricultural stories as the most important. We certainly would be taking a hard look at the continuing dicamba herbicide saga. 2020 saw the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit de-register dicamba formulations in the middle of the growing s

By Dave Dickey, Columnist

/ 16 Dec 2020

Opinion: The top agricultural story of 2020 is...

Meatpacking workers say attendance policy forces them to work with potential Covid-19 symptoms

In April, despite his fever, a meatpacking worker continued to carve neck bones out of pig carcasses at a JBS plant in Iowa. Two weeks later, he would test positive for COVID-19. But in the meantime, he said, he kept clocking in because of a punitive attendance system widely used in meatpacking pla

By Heather Schlitz, Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 20 Oct 2020

Meatpacking workers say attendance policy forces them to work with potential Covid-19 symptoms

Confidential coronavirus outbreak data shows undisclosed incidents at prisons, workplaces, schools, meatpacking plants across Illinois

Newly obtained confidential statewide data shows that coronavirus outbreaks in workplaces, schools and prisons are driving Illinois’ rising cases — and many of these outbreaks have never been made public.

By georgia-gee-stabile-center-for-investigative-journalism-columbia-journalism-school-derek-kravitz-brown-institute-for-media-innovation-and-sky-chadde-midwest-center-for-investigative-reporting, Georgia Gee, Stabile Center Investigative Journalism, Columbia Journalism School, Derek Kravitz, Brown Institute for Media Innovation and Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest

/ 7 Oct 2020

Three people in white jackets and blue hard hats stand in front of cattle carcasses at a meatpacking plant assembly line.

‘All smoke and mirrors’: How Trump’s meatpacking order has failed to keep workers safe

Since the executive order, COVID-19 cases tied to meatpacking plants have skyrocketed from fewer than 5,000 at the time to more than 25,000 as of this week, according to tracking from the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting. Rather than protecting workers, a half dozen experts and advocates s

By rachel-axon-usa-today-sky-chadde-midwest-center-for-investigative-reporting, Rachel Axon, USA TODAY and Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest

/ 18 Jun 2020

‘All smoke and mirrors’: How Trump’s meatpacking order has failed to keep workers safe

Meat and shopping: One more impact of the coronavirus on ordinary life

It began in mid-March when the new coronavirus became part of ordinary American life with shortages of household products like hand sanitizer, toilet paper and paper towels. Now, as May has turned to June, scarcity – and the fear of it -- is all about the meat. As of June 6, there have been at least

By Joey Birrittier/For Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 16 Jun 2020

Covid-19 outbreak hits Rantoul meat processing plant

Just days before President Trump ordered meat packing plants to remain open to mitigate food shortages, Rantoul Foods in Central Illinois saw its first case. There are now 32.

By Pam Dempsey, Investigate Midwest

/ 4 May 2020

Covid-19 outbreak hits Rantoul meat processing plant

Opinion: Proposed Federal pork inspection changes may be a risk to public safety

As early as this month, the Trump administration could allow pork plant employees rather than federal inspectors to be responsible for hazard analysis and critical control points inspection measures.

By Dave Dickey, Columnist

/ 1 May 2019

Hear The IowaWatch Connection Report: Immigration And Fear

The clock is ticking down toward expiration of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, provisions. At issue — what to do with so-called DREAMers, people who were brought

By Madeleine McCormick, with Jeff Stein

/ 27 Nov 2017

Hear The IowaWatch Connection Report: Immigration And Fear

Podcast: Uncertainty for "Dreamers" But Also Others In Diverse NW Iowa Community

One of Iowa's most diverse communities deals up-front with U.S. immigration issues. This podcast takes us to Storm Lake, Iowa, as part of a series called "The Politics of Fear: What are we so afraid of?"

By Madeleine McCormick

/ 21 Nov 2017

Podcast: Uncertainty for "Dreamers" But Also Others In Diverse NW Iowa Community