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.
It’s just after 5 a.m. in sleepy Centerville, and all is quiet. There’s virtually no traffic on the streets, save for the occasional car or truck on Highway 2, the main east-west thoroughfare in the middle of town.
A few gas stations have the lights on, but it’s apparent that most of this southern Iowa town is still in bed.
Except, of course, at 502 S. 12th St., where someone is causing quite a commotion. That’s the home of Deb Kury, the house with two tour buses and a host of cars parked outside. It’s bitter cold, with temperatures near zero, and a group of red-coated John Edwards staffers are standing on the sidewalk welcoming people inside where it’s warm.
The house is packed full with dozens of sleepy-eyed local supporters of Edwards’ presidential campaign, and they’re enjoying a hearty pancake breakfast prepared by Kury. They’ve risen early to meet Edwards, who is traveling throughout the state on a 36-hour “Marathon for the Middle Class.” The tour has brought Edwards from a midnight campaign event in Atlantic and a 2:15 a.m. rally in Creston.
Inside the house, people are squeezing their way to a comfortable spot to await the imminent arrival of the former North Carolina senator. Members of the traveling press corps are now filing in, with their bulky cameras and equipment, making the home just a bit more cramped.
It’s not long before former Iowa gubernatorial candidate Roxanne Conlin enters through the front door. Conlin, a Des Moines attorney who has endorsed Edwards, makes her way through the crowd, saying good morning to everyone she passes.
Moments later, Edwards enters to a round of applause. He’s looking wide awake and energetic as he thanks the crowd and quickly sets to shaking hands. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, and not much time to do it, right?” says Edwards as he gives a short stump speech, noting that “we’re running on adrenaline right now.”
Those red-coated campaign staffers are now coming inside to warm up, their cheeks pink from standing out in the winter weather.
In a back corner of the room, Iowa Independent bumps into Cate Edwards, daughter of the presidential candidate. She chats cheerfully and says she’s having fun on the bus tour, but she says, “I’m barely awake right now.”
“It really feels good right now,” she says. “The crowds have just been great and excited.”
Asked about the crowd at the previous 2:15 a.m. event in Creston, she sheepishly admits she didn’t wake up for that one.
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