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.
New legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Chet Culver will require a “minority impact statement” for any legislation about public offenses and penalties, sentencing, parole and probation procedures.Culver signed HF 2393 into law at the John R. Grubb YMCA north of downtown Des Moines with State Rep. Wayne Ford, D-Des Moines, who authored and spearheaded the bill.
“This is landmark legislation and is a remarkable step in addressing the special circumstances of Iowa’s minority population,’ said Ford in a press release.
The minority impact statement must include the impact on the correctional system and accompany any new criminal legislation or changes.
A minority impact statement must also be completed when applicants seek grants from state agencies. The study must show whether there will be a disproportionate affect on minorities and a rationale. Applicants also must have consulted with the affected group if there is such an impact.
“Iowa’s aggressive attempt to address racial and ethnic disparity can jumpstart a movement for fairness around the nation,” said Marc Mauer, executive director of the Sentencing Project in a press release.
Iowa tops the nation for imprisoning blacks at a rate that is 13.6 times that of whites, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Sentencing Project. According to the group, Iowa is the first state to pass such legislation and similar bills are pending in Connecticut and Illinois.
Wayne Ford and Marc Mauer
Ford brought Mauer to Des Moines earlier this year to discuss ways the state can reduce the racial disparities affecting Iowa’s criminal justice system.
The definition of minorities, according to HF2393, includes racial minorities and women and people with disabilities.
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