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.
When Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour visits Des Moines Thursday night it will be as chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association (RGA).
Barbour, who was already set to assume the title in 2010, will take over sooner than scheduled for beleaguered South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who admitted Wednesday that his recent unexplained disappearance was the result of an extramarital affair with someone in Argentina.
Barbour’s statement:
The news revealed today hurts all of us who have gotten to know Governor Sanford over the years and so it is with regret that the RGA accepted Governor Sanford’s resignation as chairman.
While this news is deeply disappointing, I also know it’s important to remain focused on the future and Governor Sanford’s resignation allows him and us to do just that.
The RGA has an important task over the next two years. I am committed to seeing it through and confident we will succeed.
Barbour will be the featured guest at the Republican Party of Iowa’s “Night of the Rising Stars” event Thursday night. It will be Barbour’s job to help elect Republican governor’s across the country, and Iowa’s GOP hopes he can start in the Hawkeye State.
Speaking to reporters on a train tour of western Iowa, Gov. Chet Culver said Barbour is a friend who repeatedly offered helpful advice during the floods of 2008. He then jokingly wished Barbour luck, not on his current job, but rather on a rumored interest in running for president in 2012.
“Let’s hope he works harder on his own prospects in 2012 than trying to get someone to beat me in 2010,” Culver said, laughing. “If that’s the case, I wish him all the luck in the world in 2012.”
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