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.
In light of historic budget cuts recently implemented by Gov. Chet Culver due to a downturn in revenue projections, the state should increase its investment in postsecondary education for low-income adults. The investment would improve economic prospects for Iowa families, and in the process boost the state budget, according to the nonpartisan group Iowa Policy Project.
Research by the Iowa City-based public policy research and analysis organization found that the state can garner $3.70 in increased tax revenue for every dollar invested in helping a low-income adult get an associates degree and $2.40 for every dollar invested in a bachelor’s degree.
The group points to a projected shortage of skilled labor combined with the rising cost to families for postsecondary education as proper motivation to invest in the state’s workforce.
“When low-income adults have access to increased education and training, their lifetime earnings increase substantially, generating tax revenue for the state that more than offsets the cost of investing in this access,” said Lily French, research associate and outreach coordinator for Iowa Policy Project, later adding: “An investment in workforce skills would prepare Iowans for the future and contribute to rebuilding our economy.”
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