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.
Crowded fields have emerged in Iowa’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd District Republican Congressional primaries, with 15 candidates meeting last Friday’s filing deadline to be on the June ballot.
The most crowded race is in the 3rd District, where seven Republicans will duke it out for the right to take on Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, who is seeking an eighth term. They are Scott Batcher of West Des Moines, Pat Bertroche of Urbandale, Dave Funk of Runnells, Jim Gibbons of Des Moines, Mark Rees of West Des Moines, Jason Lee Welch of Grimes and Brad Zaun of Urbandale.
In the 1st District, represented by two-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, four Republicans have entered the primary: Ben Lange of Independence, Will Johnson of Dubuque, James Budde of Bellevue and Mike La Coste of Waterloo.
In the 2nd District, represented by two-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, there are also four Republicans in the primary field: Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa, Rob Gettemy of Marion, Christopher Reed of Marion and Steve Rathje of Cedar Rapids.
Two Democrats have filed to take on incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve King in Iowa’s 5th District: Matt Campbell of Manning and Mike Denklau of Council Bluffs.
In the 4th District, the general election is presumably set, with eight-term incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Latham being challenged by Democrat Bill Maske of Truro.
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