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.
Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton) is stepping down as the Republican leader and won’t seek re-election to a fourth term. Senate Republicans will elect new leadership at a Nov. 10 meeting in Des Moines.
Paul McKinley
“Since I will not be seeking another term, I believe the Senate Republicans should have a new leader in place now to continue building on the momentum that is being generated as we head toward picking up the majority in November of 2012,” McKinley said.
The Des Moines Register reported last month that State Sen. Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock) had called for a leadership election, which was later canceled.
But McKinley said the decision was made after speaking with his family, and it’s time to move on to a new chapter of life. He was first elected in 2000, and his current term expires in January of 2013.
“Serving my fellow citizens has truly been the honor of a lifetime,” McKinley said.
Republicans picked up six seats in the Iowa Senate in 2010, bringing the balance to 26-24 in favor of Democrats. A pending special election in Senate District 18 following the resignation of State Sen. Swati Dandekar (R-Marion) could result in a split chamber.
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