May 4, 2023 www.investigatemidwest.org Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
As some states debate teen workers, federal officials see increase in infractions
Late last year, the feds descended on three Midwest meatpacking plants. Teenagers, some as young as 13, worked the overnight cleaning shifts. The feds cracked down, and the sanitation company lost its contracts.
Since then, at the federal level, members of the House of Representatives have called for higher fines for companies that illegally employ minors. At the state level, things have gone differently.
Earlier this year in Iowa, for instance, state lawmakers introduced a bill allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to work longer hours. The bill would also allow 14-year-olds to work in industrial freezers and meat coolers. (Jordan Barab, a former OSHA official, has a round-up of states and recent child labor legislation.)
While Congress and state legislatures debate how to address minors in the supply chain, the issue isn’t going away. Since 2015, the U.S. Labor Department has recorded an increase in cases involving child labor violations.
— Sky Chadde, assistant editor/senior reporter
GRAPHIC: Feds are investigating more cases with child labor violations, data shows
By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
In the 1990s and early 2000s, the labor department recorded a high number of cases with child labor violations, but then the figures fell, data shows. But, between 2015 and 2022, the number of cases grew more than 50%.
Search the graphic.
Opinion: A truthful ‘Product of USA’ label for beef? Get ’er done!
By Dave Dickey, Columnist
Dave Dickey writes in his latest column: "Big Beef is more than happy to slap Product of USA labels on beef it knows was not born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the good ol’ USA.
"Cargill even proudly tells the world that the beef it imports from Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and Nicaragua meet the 'Product of USA' labeling standard.
"The kicker is that it’s all legal. Yup."
Read more.
Our investigations help drive change for pet safety
With our spring fundraising campaign in full swing, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you a bit more about why your support is so crucial to our success and sustainability.
The center’s mission is to serve the public as a watchdog over influential corporations and institutions through in-depth and data-driven investigative journalism.
Among the topics our reporters cover are governmental policies that fail to keep people and animals safe. This includes the Environmental Protection Agency internally raising concerns — for several years — about a popular flea and tick collar tied to more than 100,000 incidents of harm including nearly 2,700 pet deaths, even as the agency assured the public of its safety. Reporting on this began in 2021 and was cited by the congressional subcommittee that investigated the product last summer, asking the EPA to remove it from the market. The EPA also has acknowledged it does not have the resources to properly oversee such products and is now seeking to transfer regulation to the FDA.
This is important work, and we need your help to keep it going.
Our goal for the Spring Celebration Campaign-Planting Seeds for Truth is to raise $10,000 by June 1, all targeted for our long-term growth and sustainability, so we can continue to produce the high quality stories you’ve come to expect.
Would you please make a tax-deductible donation today by going to our Donate page? You can use your credit or debit card, or PayPal account. (If using your credit or debit card, you do not need to set up an account; just click the box beneath the yellow PayPal button.)
A donation in any amount is appreciated. Your support will help us through the summer and beyond.
With gratitude,
Erin Orr
Executive Director/Managing Editor
P.S. Have a friend, family member or colleague who might support Investigate Midwest? Feel free to forward this to someone who also believes in supporting high-quality, investigative journalism. Thank you!
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Iowa House approves budget that could cut Iowa’s water sensors
The Iowa House passed — and sent on to Gov. Kim Reynolds — a budget that could eliminate state funding for water quality sensors on Iowa’s rivers and streams. The House voted 62-33 on Tuesday to pass Senate File 558, a budget bill for agriculture, natural resources and environmental protection, despite concerns raised by water quality advocates about reducing funding for water quality monitoring and open space maintenance. This story was reported by Erin Jordan of The Cedar Rapids Gazette.
Read more.
