Gazette Daily News Podcast, January 4

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This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette digital news desk and I’m here with your update for Tuesday, January 4.

If you have some errands left to do this week that require being outside, and want to do them when it’s not terribly cold, Tuesday is your day this week. According to the National Weather Service the high temperature will climb to near 35 degrees Tuesday in the Cedar Rapids area. Clouds will increase during the day, with the temperature dropping to a low of 9 degrees by Tuesday night. Highs look to be in the teens and single digits for the rest of the week.

The White House announced Monday that it will devote $1 billion toward assisting independent meat and poultry producers, aiming to undercut the four powerful meat producers that Iowa Republicans have long said sell farmers short and that the Biden administration asserts are responsible for rising meat prices.

The effort aligns with Iowa Republican U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, who have backed legislation attempting to tackle this problem.

In 1977, the four largest beef packers accounted for 25 percent of the market, according to Democratic Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller. But as of 2018, the four largest packers controlled 85 percent of the market.

The “Big Four” includes Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef.

Two Iowa City teenagers are facing first-degree robbery charges after an alleged armed robbery last month at GreenState Credit Union on the city’s west side.

Iowa City police responded just before 11 p.m. Dec. 21 to a report of a robbery at the credit union. According to police, the victim was using the drive-thru ATM when he was approached by an individual with a gun, who then pointed the gun at his head.

The victim was able to drive away unharmed, police said.

Police were able to see the incident on surveillance video. They identified the pair seen on the video as Laron Gadlen Jr., 16, and Tavarion Herron, 17, who were arrested Monday. Police say their investigation into the incident is ongoing and more arrests are possible.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors unanimously selected Supervisor Royceann Porter as the next board chair during an organizational meeting Monday.

The board also unanimously selected Lisa Green-Douglass to serve as vice chair.

Porter is the first African American to serve as chairperson of the board since the county was established in 1837, according to a county news release.

Porter is a longtime community leader and advocate who has worked on mental health services, affordable housing, workers’ rights, restorative justice and opportunities for youth. She also has served on the Iowa City Community Police Review Board.

Looking to find something new to eat? Never miss a bite of the tastiest local food news by signing up for our free text alerts. Text CHEW to (319) 257-2674 for inside scoops from Gazette food writer Elijah Decious.