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.
Three Iowa courts will open their doors on Saturday, Nov. 17, solely for the purpose of finalizing adoptions. Dozens of families will have either their international, private or state adoptions from foster care finalized on that date as a part of an event designed to celebrate and promote adoption.
This is the seventh year Iowa courts have taken part in the national observance. It’s a day when courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies and advocates volunteer their time so that families and children can finalize adoptions.
The Polk County Courthouse in Des Moines will host an event from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Adoption professionals will be available to talk about adoption and foster parenting. A formal program is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
In Council Bluffs, the Pottawattamie County Courthouse will have observances from 9 a.m. to noon.
District Associate Court Judge Kim Riley and Associate Juvenile Judge James McGlynn will preside at the adoption of more than 30 children in Webster City at the Hamilton County Courthouse. The event there begins at 8:45 a.m.
In November 2001, Des Moines joined 15 other cities to celebrate families, finalize adoptions and draw attention to the increasing need for qualified foster and adoptive families. More than 500 people attended the initial event — and at least that many are expected for the 2007 celebration, according to event organizers.
The original Adoption Saturday was the brainchild of Los Angeles Judge Michael Nash and collaborators in 1998. It was organized in a response to a lack of docket time in which to finalize adoptions. While adoptions are not routinely delayed because of lack of time in Iowa, the Polk County Model Court decided to sponsor the event for many reasons.
“We wanted to be able to provide a family-friendly atmosphere for these special meetings,” said Judge Connie Cohen, who served as Model Court Lead Judge when the program was initially launched in the state. “It was also an opportunity for many relatives and other guests of the families to attend the proceedings without having to take time off from work or school. And, we hoped to draw attention to the growing need for families willing to open their homes and hearts to Iowa’s neediest children as well as to provide information to the public.”
The number of placements in Iowa through the Department of Human Services has grown in the past seven years. In the year 2000, 822 children were placed. In 2007, that number has increased to just over 1,000.
The Department of Human Services measures adoption performance on timeliness, not overall numbers of placements. Timeliness is measured from the day of removal to the day of adoption. Most removed children are reunited, but when Iowa courts terminate parental rights, states must quickly find a permanent home. The national standard is adoption of 27 percent of these children within two years of removal. Iowa’s performance rate is 47 percent, twice the national average.
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