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.
Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) officials charged with implementing the state’s sweeping smoking ban are scurrying to iron out a plan for enforcement before the law takes effect July 1.What’s more, health officials are working with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office and the bill’s drafters to answer some obvious questions coming from affected businesses.
For example, at this point, although the law would appear to allow smoking on patio areas of bars but not restaurants, the IDPH’s division of Tobacco Use, Prevention and Control cannot provide a definitive answer. There’s also no official word yet on exactly who is going to enforce the law and how it will be done. The 800-number (for reporting violators) and Web site dealing with provisions are not up and running.
“We know people have lots of concerns,” said Bonnie Mapes, director of state Tobacco Control. “This is a huge cultural shift.”
She has fielded more than 70 calls and emails from businesses and others with questions about the law that have been “all over the place.”
Mapes is asking for patience as Gov. Chet Culver just signed the ban Tuesday.
At least two small-town bar owners in the Carroll-area have gone so far as to ask the media about the legality of building patio areas outside of their bars to accommodate their smoking base of customers.
Mapes said officials are working on an answer to that, and when told that bar owners want to get moving because of the July 1 ban, she said her office is working as expeditiously as possible.
“Ten weeks isn’t a lot of time,” she said.
But Mapes, whose office was created in 2000 with master settlement money from tobacco companies, has been involved with implementing bans in other states, like Colorado and California. She says there is more than enough time to get the ban handled right and is now being cautious as some questions – like bar patios – go to the intent of bill drafters.
Another key unanswered question has to do with the protocol for reporting and enforcing offenses: who is going to investigate violations and what type of evidence is needed?
Under the new law, the health department is charged with overseeing the task, but Mapes said it is possible local law enforcement will be asked to play a role.
“I would say that’s possible,” she said.
But she said the workload with enforcement isn’t expected to be crushing based on the experiences of other states. No new state employees are expected to be needed to deal with the ban, she said.
“This does not cause thousands upon thousands of complaints and violations,” Mapes said. “We’re 24th now (state to implement ban). This is not something new.”
She said more people likely will quit to deal with the ban and provided the following number: 1 (800) Quit Now. Free smoking-cessation counseling is available. Those with specific questions on the provisions of the ban may Brent Saron with the IDPH at (515) 281-7739.
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