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.
Although state officials have yet to learn whether or not two previous samples sent to the Centers for Disease Control contain the H1N1 flu virus, they announced today that a third probable case has been identified.
The third sample, which will also be sent to the CDC in Atlanta for further evaluation, is from an adult male in Marshall County. The man had recently traveled to a southwestern state with active flu cases.
If the samples are confirmed by the CDC as containing the H1N1 flu strain, Gov. Chet Culver has pledged to issue a public health disaster declaration.
“I want to be very clear,” Culver said during a press conference this morning in Des Moines. “This declaration is a reasonable, precautionary measure to keep Iowans safe. It gives the state additional flexibility to carry out the work of protecting the health of Iowans.”
If such a declaration is made the state will begin to purchase and store additional ant-viral medications and other needed medical supplies. There will also be provisions made for isolation of inflicted individuals, but such a plan, according to Culver, would only be implemented if absolutely necessary. Teams of assistants would be placed on the ground to assist local medical staff and facilities meet the expected increased demands for services.
Depending upon the evolution of the virus in Iowa, residents could see school closings and other events being postponed.
Culver also instructed the Iowa Department of Public Health to vigilantly protect the state’s current stockpile of anti-virals, and prepare to distribute those medications to sectors of the state identified as being in need.
State officials once again urged Iowans to practice rudimentary prevention techniques to help stop the spread of the virus.
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