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.
First Lady Mari Culver is appearing in a series of public service announcements to raise awareness that state residents can donate a portion of their state tax returns to the Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program.
Culver appears in two television commercials currently airing on local stations across the state. She also provided her voice for two radio announcements.
Mari Culver, wife of Democratic Iowa Gov. Chet Culver (file photo).
The Iowa Child Abuse Prevention Program, established in 1982, began accepting donations through the income tax check off program in 2009. During that first year, Iowans contributed more than $60,000, which provided support for an AmeriCorps Program and other child abuse prevention efforts.
The organization spent more than $1.3 million in fiscal year 2009 to provide temporary placement of children during times of family crisis or emergency, parent education, respite care, prevention of sexual abuse and support for young parents. The services have touched 92 of Iowa’s 99 counties.
The Check Off Child Abuse program was established for a two-year term by the legislature in 2008, and will discontinue if it is not reauthorized this year. Prevent Child Abuse Iowa is working to ensure that the program at least remains intact, if not expanded.
As First Lady of Iowa, Culver has pledged to raise public awareness of the organizations that provide shelter and other critical support services for women and at-risk youth.
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