Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal told The Des Moines Register on Wednesday that the idea of leasing the Iowa Lottery to private investors remains alive.
Then, on Thursday, Gronstal told a group of reporters the idea was probably a non-starter.
“I’ve not seen much interest inside our caucus in proceeding with the sale of the lottery,” Gronstal said. “I’ve always thought that was kind of a long shot. It continues to be a long shot.”
The entire saga over privatizing the lottery started when Civic Skinny, the gossip column in Des Moines alt-weekly Cityview, reported that Gov. Chet Culver met with a group of investors who were interested in leasing the lottery. Critics immediately pounced on the idea, saying it is a sweetheart deal to casino executives and political activists who have contributed heavily to Democratic politicians.
Culver has since backed away from the idea, saying no formal talks ever took place and there was never a plan to sell or lease the lottery. Now, it appears Democratic legislative leaders are souring on the plan just one day after saying it was still possible.
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