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.
The Cedar River continues to rise in Cedar Rapids. The level of the river is currently estimated at 28.5 feet and is expected to crest at 32 feet tomorrow. These photos were taken this afternoon in the downtown area.
The Cedar River has surged over all three downtown bridges — 1st Avenue, 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue. The underground parking area across from Veterans Memorial Coliseum, shown here, was filled with water yesterday afternoon. Now Mays Island is beginning to disappear.
Water pours over the 2nd Avenue Bridge.
The view looking west on 3rd Avenue.
A stranded car near the intersection of 4th Avenue and 3rd Street SE.
The river has also claimed the 3rd Avenue Bridge and the Linn County Courthouse.
The federal building which sits at the corner of 2nd Avenue SE and 1st Street SE also sits in water. There is still evidence of the repairs that crews were making to the roof just days ago.
Mays Island is barely visible.
The remains of the Penford railroad bridge that collapsed this morning.
A closer look at the collapsed railroad bridge.
Volunteers filling sandbags near Green Square Park.
Sandbags protect the TrueNorth building on 5th Ave. This afternoon the flood waters were roughly one block from this location, just beginning to lap into the 5th Avenue parking ramp.
With the heavy rains in downtown today and no place for the extra water to go, several “flash flood” pools formed in downtown intersections that had previously been dry — such as this pool at the intersection of 2nd Ave. and 6th St.
Follow Lynda Waddington on Twitter
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter