Tyson cooperates with investigation

Tyson Foods Inc. is cooperating with the U.S. Department of Justice on a price-fixing investigation in the poultry industry, under a program that could protect the meat processor from criminal prosecution, Reuters reported this week.

Tyson, parent of Tyson Mexican Original of Portland, was initially served with a subpoena in April 2019.

The company said the formal grant under the DoJ’s corporate leniency program would mean neither the company nor its employees will face criminal fines, jail time or prosecution.

“The news comes a week after the chief executive of poultry company Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. was indicted along with three other current and former industry executives on charges of seeking to fix chicken prices in the United States,” Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, Business Insider reported this week that Tyson has reverted to its pre-pandemic absentee policy. More than 7,100 workers have tested positive for COVID-19.

A spokesman for Tyson told Business Insider that workers who have “symptoms of the virus or have tested positive will continue to be asked to stay home and will not be penalized.”



Conducting survey

Jay County Development Corporation is conducting a survey about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on local businesses.

JCDC will use the information to help determine what businesses are eligible for assistance as various state and federal programs become available. Individual business information will remain confidential.

To complete the survey, visit bit.ly/JCDCcoronavirussurvey.



New adviser

Herold Jemison has joined the Small Business Development Center as a business adviser.

The East Central Indiana SBDC offers no-cost, confidential services to small businesses. To make an appointment, call (765) 282-9950 or visit isbdc.org/locations/east-central-isbdc/. 



Expanding

Walmart is expanding its educational benefits program to include skilled trades.

“While the economy and our company will continue to be technology-driven, we also recognized that the U.S. suffers from a skilled trades talent gap,” Drew Holler of Walmart said in a prepared statement.

Walmart has teamed up with Penn Foster, a for-profit online career school, to offer its associates the opportunity to earn certificates across trades, including facilities and industrial maintenance, HVAC/refrigeration, electrical, plumbing, and construction.

The retailer has also pledged a commitment to placing associates who complete their certification in entry-level roles at the company, or within its contractor network, “to gain hands-on experience,” Yahoo Finance reported.



Seeking comment

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is seeking comment on a pandemic-related rate increase proposal from a number of utilities that serve the Jay County area.

The commission received a petition May 8 from several utilities, including Indiana Michigan Power Co., Ohio Valley Gas, and Indiana Gas Co., seeking a rate boost related to the impact of COVID-19 on their operations,.

The public can submit comments for the investigation to the agency by mail or online at in.gov/oucc/2361.htm.

Written comments should include a reference to Cause No. 45380 as well as the ratepayer’s name and mailing address.

Comments may be mailed to Consumer Services Staff, Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South, Indianapolis, IN 46204.



Egg donation

Cooper Farms has donated another 25,200 dozen eggs to food banks in Lima and Toledo, Ohio, and is providing a $500 cash donation to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.

The company has already donated nearly 6,000 pounds of turkey and two truckloads of eggs to the association.

“We have been celebrating our team members and their essential role in caring for animals and producing food for our fellow Americans,” chief operating officer Gary Cooper said in a prepared statement. “We decided to spread the love beyond our team members by using the power of social media to help raise money for a good cause.”



$100 million

Comcast plans to allocate $100 million toward the fight against injustice and inequality.

The new initiative will encompass social-justice programs aimed at inequality against “any race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or ability,” chairman/CEO Brian Roberts announced in a companywide memo.

The company’s pledge will includes $75 million in cash and $25 million worth of advertising inventory over the next three years.



Attacked

Honda, a major customer of FCC (Indiana) in Portland, has been the victim of a ransomware attack that caused a company-wide network outage, the Dayton Business Journal reported this week.

“Connectivity issues within the Honda network began Sunday and have not yet been resolved. A company spokesperson confirmed that the situation has impacted operations but did not say whether the issues are due to a cyber attack,” the Business Journal reported.



Joins POET

POET announced that Joshua Shields will be joining the company as senior vice president of government affairs and communications.

Before joining POET, Shields worked as chief of staff for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and led government affairs for Black Hills Energy. Prior to that he spent time in Washington, D.C.

POET has a biorefining plant in Jay County.

is the parent of working for then-Congresswoman Noem and South Dakota Senator John Thune. He was also instrumental in managing the campaigns and securing victories for multiple statewide candidates.