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.
While University of Iowa President Sally Mason makes her case to the Iowa state Board of Regents in West Des Moines today, attorneys representing the recently fired UI Vice President for Student Services Phillip Jones sent a letter to the regents indicating his plans to sue the UI for wrongful termination.
“Dr. Jones has never been given the opportunity to fully and fairly discuss his position as it relates to the finding in the Stolar report,” the letter from David Dutton and Cheryl Weber at the Dutton, Braun, Staack & Hellman PLC firm states.
Based on recent findings from an independent report chronicling UI’s response to an alleged sexual assault on campus involving two Hawkeye football players, Mason announced the termination of Jones’ and Marcus Mills, UI vice president of legal affairs and general counsel, employment Tuesday.
The Regents hired a St. Louis law firm, the Stolar Partnership, to conduct an independent review of the UI’s response to the alleged sexual assault that took place on campus at the Hillcrest Residence Hall on Oct. 14, 2007. The review found “numerous and substantial flaws in not only the response of the University of Iowa to the alleged sexual assault at issue, but also in its policies, procedures and practices regarding the same.”
Moreover the letter sent by Jones’ attorneys implicates the UI Athletic Department for its handling of the alleged sexual assault:
There is no true understanding form the Stolar Group whether in this case The University of Iowa’s policies allow an informal investigation of a sexual assault. In this case, the Athletic Department proceeded with an informal investigation. This procedure was questioned by Chuck Green, the Public safety Director… In any event, no disciplinary action can be taken based on an informal complaint.
The reason for the Athletic Department’s desire to hide this assault from Dean Jones is based on prior experience. In every instance in the past where an athlete has been accused of sexual assault or sexual harassment and the matter has been handled by Dean Jones, prompt sanctions had been levied by the Dean with student athletes being disciplined. The Athletic Deparstment did not want that result in this case.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter