Politics & Government

Chobani Brings Greek Yogurt Facility To Idaho

In December 2012, the New York-based Greek yogurt company began making yogurt at it’s new manufacturing facility in Twin Falls, Idaho.The company announced in 2011 plans to build it’s second U.S. manufacturing plant. Chobani chose Twin Falls. The company has said it plans to hire up to 500 people once the facility starts operating at full capacity.Hamdi Ulukaya founded the Chobani Greek Yogurt company in 2005. According to Chobani’s website, Ulukaya threw himself into the yogurt business after he saw an ad for a recently shuttered Kraft yogurt plant in his local newspaper. He purchased that facility.By 2007, Chobani Greek Yogurt could be found in New York grocery stores. By 2010, it became the number one selling Greek yogurt in the country.

Twin Falls, Idaho Settles On Being A "Neighborly City"

Boise State Public Radio News

Published May 9, 2017 at 1:32 PM MDT

In a 5-to-2 vote Monday, the Twin Falls City Council decided to label the community a “Neighborly City.”

In the run-up to the decision, the city council heard more than three hours of public comment at meetings over the last month.

The “Neighborly City” label is a tamer version of declarations other cities have made calling themselves either “Welcoming” or “Sanctuary Cities” where federal immigration law is either downplayed or outright flouted.

The Times News reports the public supported the resolution to make Twin Falls a "Neighborly City" – around 75 to 80 percent of public comments on the measure were favorable. Under the proposal, Twin Falls declares itself to be a place “where all residents are welcomed, accepted, and given the opportunity to connect with each other without bias in pursuit of common goals.”

City Councilman Greg Lanting said he viewed the statement as a rebuttal to portrayals of Twin Falls in some media as a bigoted place. Right-wing news outlets have fixated on refugee resettlement in the community and have falsely claimed the massive Chobani yogurt plant – which employs a number of refugees – is responsible for a spike in crime and disease in the community.

For more local news, follow the KBSX newsroom on Twitter @KBSX915

Twin Falls, Idaho Settles On Being A "Neighborly City"

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