WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley today (Monday), asked the head of Tyson Foods, Inc., to work with community leaders to restore jobs at the now-defunct Tyson meat processing plant in Cherokee. “I’m aware of the desire of city and county officials to see the facility occupied and operating, so that it can continue to serve the economic and employment needs of the area,” Grassley wrote to Donnie Smith, chief executive officer of Tyson Foods, Inc.

“It is my hope that Tyson Foods would work with the owner of the facility and local leaders in Cherokee to ensure that the facility can be occupied and productive again. It seems there would be mutual interest in seeing the facility occupied to restore economic vitality and livelihoods in their community.”

Grassley noted that when Tyson closed its Cherokee plant in 2014, it eliminated 450 jobs. This was a blow to the local economy, as Tyson was one of the largest employers. According to media reports, the company is locked in a lease with the property owner, and community leaders are frustrated with their inability to seek other employers to lease the facility while the building sits vacant.

“I appreciate your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you,” Grassley wrote.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa students will have the opportunity to include their preferred names and gender pronouns on their school record this fall. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the university became one of the first institutions in the country to allow students to identify as transgender on their admissions application three years ago.

Assistant professor Jodi Lindley said in a video released last week that the change allows students to tell university officials, faculty and staff what name and pronouns they’d like to be used in communication and interactions.

The video includes students, faculty and staff members saying which gender pronouns they preferred for themselves. The majority use either he/him/his or she/her/hers, but others who don’t fit squarely into a male-female binary prefer they/their/theirs or ze/zem/zir.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests took place over the weekend. On Saturday, 23-year old Joseph Andrew Riesberg, of Elliott, was arrested for OWI 2nd Offense and Driving While Barred. Riesberg was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $2,000 bond.

On Sunday, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 43-year old Todd Edward Kimpson, of Corning, on a charge of Violation of a No Contact Order. Kimpson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the today (Monday), on $300 bond.