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.
A bill reorganizing state government that promises to save taxpayers nearly $125 million was passed unanimously by the Iowa House Monday.
The bill, Senate File 2088, will now go back to the state Senate, which passed a different version last week.
“The government reorganization effort approved [Monday] eliminates waste and saves millions of dollars for Iowa taxpayers,” said state Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City. “From cost-saving measures to making state government more efficient to improving the services that the state offers, our reorganization efforts so far this year total $272 million and makes our state stronger and more responsive.”
The $272 million figure cited by Mascher includes an early retirement package already approved by the legislature and an executive order signed by Gov. Chet Culver.
The bill eliminates 14 different boards and commissions, reduces energy costs, combines state purchasing, cuts down on middle management, and consolidates information technology services.
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