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.
Fred Hubbell, chair of the Iowa Power Fund Board and a former insurance executive, will not enter the race to unseat U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in 2010.
In an e-mail to the Iowa Independent concerning rumors that he is considering a campaign for the Democratic Senate nomination, Hubbell simply said “No, I am not interested.”
Hubbell’s name emerged after Des Moines Register columnist Marc Hansen wrote in a recent column that a well-known and independently wealthy candidate is “75 percent ready to join the race.”
Speculation originally revolved around former Principal Financial Group Inc. CEO Barry Griswell. But in a message to members of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Griswell said he has no intention of running for elected office and will instead continue as the non-profit’s chairman.
Pundits then turned their attention to Hubbell, whose family has played a leadership role in the state since the Civil War. Hubbell was appointed chair of the Iowa Power Fund Board by Gov. Chet Culver, and while he has never held elected office, his considerable personal wealth and iconic Iowa name seemed to fit the profile of the rumored candidate.
There are currently three men running for the Democratic nomination – Bob Krause of Fairfield, Tom Fiegen of Clarence and Sal Mohamed of Sioux City.
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