(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University economist Peter Orazem says if there’s a railroad strike next month, it could affect the supply of a major source of fuel for power plants. “Coal if, of course, one of the things that we see rolling across Iowa in the wintertime and that’s one of the things they really worry about is whether or not we’ll be able to maintain supplies of energy,” Orazem says, “particularly if it’s a really bad winter.”

Just over a third of Iowa’s electricity (36%) comes from coal-fired power plants. Orazem says heating oil also moves by rail. Eight unions had ratified a five-year contract for workers on America’s freight rail system. However, in the past few days, unions representing about 60-thousand railroad workers have rejected the deal. A strike could happen as soon as December 5th, but some of the railroad worker unions have said they’d agree to continue contract talks rather than strike.

“How this plays out still remains to be seen, but congress could step in and mandate that the unions operate under the proposed settlement,” Orazem, “and that’s another possibility.” The last railroad strike in 1992 lasted two days before congress intervened. Railroad workers have been seeking higher pay, but getting additional, guaranteed time off has been a big priority. Orazem says railroads are dealing with the same workforce pinch as other industries.

“We’re still about 1% below where we ought to be in terms of total employment, so there’s about 3.8 million unfilled vacancies per month,” Orazem says, “Well that’s affecting, then, staffing and for the railroads it means that they’ve been much less able to give people time off on vacations and flexible time for family emergencies and so on.”

Orazen made his comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which will air Friday night on Iowa P-B-S. According to the Iowa D-O-T, 18 railroad companies shift freight through the state. A strike could have a major impact on the movement of grain from the 2022 harvest.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday afternoon, reported four recent arrests. On Sunday (11/20), deputies arrested 39-year-old Tawnya Larsen, of Audubon, for OWI 1st Offense. Larsen was later released on her own recognizance (ROR)

Last Saturday, 29-year-old Morgan Beauchamp, of Atlantic, for OWI 1st Offense. She was also ROR’d.

On Friday, deputies in Cass County arrested 49-year-old Joshua Sparr, of Flint, MI, for Public Intoxication. Sparr was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release. Deputies also arrested 35-year-old Benny Pedersen, of Lake City, on Friday. He was wanted on warrants for Driving While Barred, Providing False ID to Law Enforcement and Interference with Official Acts. Pedersen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

All criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.

(Radio Iowa) – The University of Iowa is participating in a vaccine trial that’s testing out an R-S-V vaccine from Pfizer in people 60 or older. The hope is to find protection against the virus which has seen cases increase in the last several weeks. Doctor Patricia Winokur at the University of Iowa Health Care tells K-C-R-G T-V that two vaccines are being tested. “Pfizer and Glaxo both have R-S-V vaccines and both of them are signaling that the efficacy of the vaccine is strong enough that they’re going to go to F-D-A and ask for approval,” Winokur says. The latest numbers from the state show 938 positive R-S-V cases, that’s up from 810 the week prior. R-S-V can be dangerous, especially for young babies and the elderly.

Pfizer is also testing an RSV vaccine in pregnant women with a goal of having the antibodies pass along to newborns.  ”They’re seeing efficacy in the babies in that study so that’s one of the other really exciting things about this vaccine that I think will intrigue the F-D-A,” Winokur says. Winokur tells K-C-R-G T-V that everyone needs to be cognizant of the virus during the Thanksgiving holiday. ”Be really careful around those that are vulnerable — again especially really young babies and the frail or older adults,” she says.

Doctor Winokur said this time of year there is a lot of spread of respiratory illnesses.

(Radio Iowa) – Dozens of farm animals are being rescued from a property in southeast Iowa. Tom Colvin is the C-E-O of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. “It’s an evolving situation quite frankly at this point,” Colvin says. Three dozen adult pigs were brought to Colvin’s facility in central Iowa last (Tuesday) night. Rescue teams are back at the property in Washington County today (Wednesday) and Colvin expects dozens more animals to be removed.

“Basically what we found upon arriving was that there were sheep, goats and pigs living in terrible conditions, along with dead animals,” Colvin says. “…The animals had no adequate food or water.” Colvin says while the Animal Rescue League is often associated with retrieving malnourished and mistreated dogs and cats, the organization is prepared for all animals.

“We take the name ‘Animal’ in our name literally,” Colvin says. “We have evertying you can imagine come to the Animal Rescue League, including farm animals. As I often say, we receive everything from hamsters to horses and everything in between.” The Animal Rescue League and the Iowa Farm Sanctuary in Oxford are handling the rescues. Some of the animals found alive at the property in Washington County are in critical condition, according to a statement from the Iowa Farm Sanctuary.

Colvin says beyond the lack of food and water, the animals did not have adequate shelter from winter temperatures.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Two people from Glenwood were arrested Tuesday. According to the Glenwood Police Department, 54-year-old Robert Kastl, and 54-year-old Stephanie Kastl, were taken into custody, each for Violating their respective “No Contact” Orders. They were being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, until seen by a magistrate judge.