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.
Though she continues to flirt with 2012 presidential run, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin‘s grassroots support in Iowa appears convinced “100 percent” that she will formally enter the race.
Former WHO Radio personality Steve Deace said on his website he recently met with Peter Singleton, an attorney often involved in Palin’s grassroots efforts, who apparently have given Deace his full assurance the former Governor is going to declare candidacy.
“I asked (Singleton) point blank if he thought Palin was going to declare her candidacy, and his answer was ’100 percent,’” Deace wrote.
Palin came to Pella last week, a small college town rich and proud of its Dutch heritage. There, in the town’s historic opera house, Palin and 300 others attended the premiere of “The Undefeated,” a documentary detailing her political record and career.
She gave little indication about a presidential bid, media reports speculated. Her oldest daughter, Bristol, reportedly told Fox News her mother has made a decision about 2012, but will not yet announce.
Pundits in Iowa seem skeptical, and have appeared to be for some time.
“I think it was [Iowa GOP Chairman] Matt Strawn who said no one comes to Iowa by accident,” University of Iowa professor Tim Hagle told The Iowa Independent. “I think the trip to Pella was probably part of an overall agenda, yes. But the question is: Is the agenda to run for President?”
In Hagle’s opinion, no.
“She got beat up pretty badly in 2008,” he said, referring to critical articles about Palin’s unsuccessful 2008 vice presidential bid. “Would she want to put her family through that again?”
The Iowa Independent has reached out Singleton directly, but has not yet received a response. Singleton responded to The Iowa Independent’s request after this report published and his remarks were included in a new update on the activities of Palin’s grassroots team.
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