(WGME) Sen. Tammy Duckworth, from the state of Illinois, is publicly opposing Dr. Nirav Shah’s run for the U.S. Senate in Maine, citing his past performance as Illinois’ public health director.

Duckworth posted on X Thursday that her opposition is based on Shah’s handling of a 2015 Legionnaires’ outbreak at a veterans home. Duckworth said Shah “put his image before the safety of veterans” during the outbreak, which resulted in the deaths of 13 people.

Shah has previously responded to criticism of how he handled the outbreak. During a debate on CBS13 when he was running for governor, Shah said, “If what we demand are leaders with unblemished records, then what we will get are leaders who have not been tested. I have been tested, I have learned, I am better for it, and that will make me a better governor for every single Mainer.”

Shah also responded directly to Duckworth’s comments, saying he was praised — including by Sen. Susan Collins — for how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic. He also reemphasized his willingness to answer questions in town halls across Maine.

Shah noted most Maine voters will likely not have a say in who gets the nomination, but said they still deserve to hear candidates’ thoughts in debates before taking on Collins.

Authorities say the chase began with a report of a stolen plate at a casino in New Buffalo. The suspect, later identified as 54-year-old Kevin W. Meyers of LaPorte, Indiana, left the state and Indiana State Police pursued the vehicle. They said during the pursuit, the suspect fired multiple shots from a rifle and also pointed the gun at pursuing officers.

SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa (KTIV) – Gelita USA held an open house Friday, July 10, to celebrate the completion of a new wastewater treatment facility at its plant near Sergeant Bluff, marking the end of years of regulatory violations tied to its discharge into the Missouri River.

Gelita manufactures gelatin and collagen, ingredients used in food, medicine, and supplements. That manufacturing process produces large amounts of contaminated wastewater containing proteins, fats, and ammonia, a substance categorized as a toxic pollutant.

According to an Iowa Department of Natural Resources sampling inspection from March 2025, the plant was processing nearly double its design capacity. Before the upgrade, the Iowa State lab documented black water in the Missouri River near the facility’s discharge site. The Iowa DNR found Gelita had exceeded ammonia limits multiple times.

The report said that at the outfall to the Missouri River, Iowa DNR Tom Ross observed that the effluent had a black coloration. Roos requested additional testing at this location.

“Following the inspection, the discharge location on the Missouri River was visited. During the visit, the effluent at the river appeared to be a dark color, much different then the effluent observed at the treatment facility. It was explained during the visit, the color of the discharge to the river was a violation of 567-61.3(2) ‘c’, lowa Administrative Code, which states that all surface waters shall be free from materials attributable to wastewater discharges or agricultural practices producing objectionable color, odor, or other aesthetically objectionable conditions.”

Jeff Tolsma, General Manager of Gelita USA, said the upgrade was the result of an extended dialogue with regulators and upgraded technology.

The new facility includes ultraviolet disinfection, a feature the old plant did not have. The UV light treatment damages the DNA of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms before discharge, improving the company’s compliance with Iowa DNR standards.

Company, regulators call it a turning point

“We met with the EPA and the Iowa DNR probably 18 months, two years ago. It’s been a long dialogue with them, but they were great partners, great to work with,” Tolsma said. “And this wastewater treatment plant allows us to basically meet those new regulations that have been put in place. I think what is significant is that this actually brings us forward from a compliance standpoint for a long-term sustainable operation.”

The Iowa DNR said it will continue monitoring the facility to ensure ongoing compliance.

Gelita USA has operated in the Siouxland area for approximately 30 years and employs around 200 people.

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