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 sought campaign contributions from at least two groups which were vying for approval to build new casinos in the state, The Des Moines Register reports. Even before that news emerged, though, state authorities were investigating a $25,000 contribution a group of businessmen made to the governor’s re-election campaign.
The disclosure that Culver sought money from a second casino applicant — Daniel Kehl of the Lyon County casino group — at a critical time in the licensing process also raises new questions about whether the solicitations have the appearance of impropriety.
Culver was criticized earlier this year for pressing the state Racing and Gaming Commission to grant casino licenses to four applicants — a decision governors have traditionally declined to take a stance on. However, the Culver campaign contends that because Culver was not the final decision-maker, there was no impropriety in seeking contributions from the casino developers.
“This is a step removed from when someone contributes money and then proposes legislation that a legislator would vote on or the governor would sign or veto. The governor had no power when it came to issuing a gaming license,” campaign manager Donn Stanley told the Register.
The casino allegations have provided attack fodder for the Republicans. However, Republican challenger Terry Branstad‘s campaign contributions include sizable sums from casino groups.
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