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.
Gov. Chet Culver will sign an executive order implementing 40 of 90 recommendations issued by a consulting firm to trim the state’s budget.
Culver commissioned the firm Public Works LLC to conduct a government-wide study to identify potential cost savings through efficiency gains. Their report was issued last week. The 40 recommendations covered by the executive order are expected to save the state $128 million in the first year and $713 million over the course of five years.
Among the measures covered by Culver’s order are consolidating administrative functions at the Department of Human Services; reducing architecture, attorney and engineering contracts; conducting an audit of state health enrollees to identify ineligible dependents; and reducing the state’s vehicle fleet.
The remaining 50 recommendations require legislative action or are under further review.
Public Works contends that if all 90 ideas are enacted the state could save about $1.7 billion over five years.
Culver plans to discuss the executive order at the State Capitol at 10 a.m.
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