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.
A 23-year veteran of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office and 46-year-old son of an Iowa legislator died Friday night in a one-car accident near Robins.
Deputy Mark Taylor’s patrol car is believed to have rolled near the intersection of Alburnett and County Home roads, ending up on its top on a large residential lot. When rescuers arrived on the scene, the vehicle was on fire and Taylor was inside. Once removed from the patrol car, Taylor was sent by helicopter to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The cause of death has not yet been announced, and the incident is being investigated by local and state authorities. An autopsy is scheduled for later today.
Taylor’s father, Rep. Dick Taylor (D-Cedar Rapids), has represented a portion of Linn County in the Iowa Legislature since 2000. During the 2009 session, he served as vice chairman of the natural resources standing committee and was also a member of the commerce, local government and veterans affairs committees. An Iowa native and a Navy veteran who served in Korea, Dick Taylor has been known as supportive lawmaker for both veterans and law enforcement issues.
Dick and his wife, Jan, had two children — Mark and Shelley — who both graduated from Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School, and then went on to obtain master’s degrees in their chosen fields.
Information regarding funeral arrangements has not yet been announced.
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