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.
The Iowa and Illinois Departments of Transportation will once again ask the federal government for $248 million to establish daily passenger train service between Chicago and Iowa City, Gov. Chet Culver announced Friday.
A previous request for federal funds was rejected in January. A decision on the new request will be announced in September.
“This project is the beginning of a new age for intercity passenger rail service across Iowa,” Culver said. “It is an important step forward in building a better economic and ‘greener’ future for Iowa. High-speed rail will create an economic development engine for decades. It will help connect more Iowa businesses and families, create jobs immediately, and help rebuild our state’s economy long term.”
The Iowa General Assembly appropriated $3 million for passenger rail for fiscal year 2010, $2 million for 2011 and $6.5 million for 2012. Lawmakers also approved intent language to provide up to $20 million over four years to fully fund Iowa’s commitment for matching federal passenger rail funding.
The proposed route would provide twice-daily, round-trip frequency; carry trains traveling at speeds up to 79 mph; and have an expected trip time of 4 hours and 58 minutes per trip. Right now, freight trains can only travel approximately 49 mph.
Last summer, Culver proposed the eventual extension of the passenger rail line beyond Iowa City to Des Moines and eventually Omaha.
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