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 day-to-day manager at a Postville meatpacking plant will stay in federal prison following a decision by U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to deny him bail while he awaits sentencing. The plant’s operation manager also entered a guilty plea Monday to his role in aiding undocumented workers find work at the now defunct slaughterhouse.
Sholom M. Rubashkin, son of Agriprocessors founder A. Aaron Rubashkin, was found guilty in November 2009 on 86 charges of financial fraud and money laundering. His counsel had requested that he be released on bail pending formal sentencing on those charges; however, a panel of three judges from the St. Louis-based Appellate Court denied the motion late last week. An exact sentencing date for Rubashkin has not yet been set, but is anticipated to take place this spring.
Counsel for Rubashkin can continue to appeal the decision.
On Monday, former plant operations manager Brent Beebe admitted in a plea arrangement with federal prosecutors that he brokered deals between Rubashkin and undocumented workers, effectively providing the workers with falsified documents for a cost. The transaction of more than $4,000, according to court records, took place one week before a massive May 2008 immigration raid at the Postville facility.
Beebe remains free on bond, pending sentencing.
Since the raid several members of management at the plant have been probed by federal authorities, and many have been convicted of wrongdoing. The plant itself was sold through bankruptcy and now operates under new leadership as AgriStar. Some former members of plant management, including Rubashkin’s brother, Heshy Rubashkin, continue to provide services to the new plant owners, although the exact extent of their involvement remains unclear.
Due to the trial process, several undocumented workers were detained in Postville as possible key witnesses. Wearing ankle GPS tracking devices, some hoped only for deportation while others began their own legal battles to establish residency in the U.S. Just days following Christmas, most of those detainees were brought to Cedar Rapids where their ankle tracking devices were removed by court officials.
The Rubashkin family and friends, who have rallied around Sholom throughout the process, have hired a New York-based communications firm to represent the interests of an established defense fund. The company has reached out to members of the press and has began a presence on social networking sites.
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