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.
John Deeth, who has been following candidate filings closer than anyone in the state, reported last night that Democrat Anesa Kajtazovic of Waterloo has filed to run for state House District 21, a seat held by embattled state Rep. Kerry Burt, D-Waterloo.
Burt was arrested for drunk driving last February, and later, police video emerged showing Burt repeatedly attempting to bargain with the arresting officer to let him off. While being held by police, Burt called House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, who did not answer, and Department of Public Safety Communications Director Courtney Greene.
His arrest actually led to legislative action. Burt was arrested following a reception at Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines that was paid for by the Iowa Pharmacy Association and attended by 20 lawmakers and Gov. Chet Culver. After media inquiries surrounding Burt’s whereabouts before his arrest it was discovered that the event was never properly disclosed, a violation of state law.
At 23, Kajtazovic would be the youngest woman to ever serve in the Iowa House. Her family immigrated to the U.S. from war-torn Bosnia during the late 1990s and she eventually graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in three years with a double major in public administration and business administration.
Republican Lyn Tackett of Waterloo has also filed to run for the seat.
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