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.
Incumbent state Sen. David Hartsuch, R-Bettendorf, has been defeated in the Republican primary, according to results reported by the Associated Press.
With all 22 precincts reporting, Davenport businessman Roby Smith garnered 52 percent of the vote, compared to 48 percent for Hartsuch.
Hartsuch came into office thanks to a primary. In 2006 he knocked off 18-year Republican incumbent Maggie Tinsman in hard fought primary and then beat Democrat Phyllis Thede that November. In 2008, Hartsuch ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Waterloo.
In the first five months of 2010, Smith outraised the first-term senator 2-1. From Jan. 1 – May 14, Smith raised $11,100 to Hartsuch’s $5,036. When he entered the race in January, Smith told the Quad-City Times that Republicans in the district are worried about Hartsuch’s ability to win a general election race. In May, registered Democrats and Republicans in the district were even with 14,000 voters. Registered independents out pace both parties by about 4,000 voters.
Smith will take on Rich Clewell, a Davenport school board member who won the Democratic SD41 primary over Dave Thede.
Follow Jason Hancock 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