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.
Cedar Rapids has historically been home to a vibrant downtown district filled with shops, offices, apartments, hospitals, churches, government agencies and a wealth of eateries and other service establishments. During the flood of 2008, much of the downtown district was swallowed by the Cedar River and the photos of large buildings looming out of muddy waters were featured nationally.
Downtown was also the area which received the largest share of coverage from this news outlet during the flood — not because the other areas were less important, but because logistically the other areas could not be reached by our staff member who lives on the east side of the river.
Despite garnering so much attention during and immediately following the flood, the downtown district is the place where — outside a few notable exceptions — visitors may not find remaining flood damage as immediately noticeable. But the evidence is there behind normal-looking tinted or painted windows, or in alley ways.
With a $67 million event center slated for construction, a $45 million library in the works and a $16 million bus depot on the table, politicians are quick to point to the downtown district as proof positive that recovery efforts are well underway. Residents of flooded neighborhoods, however, are just as likely to point to the downtown district as proof that when recovery was discussed businesses were cared for first.
(All photos by Lynda Waddington/The Iowa Independent)
This photo was taken on June 5, 2010. Since that time the structure has been demolished.
From the outside, many downtown buildings appear "normal," but peeking through a window often tells a different story.
Just like in residential areas, there are often old notices that remain on doors. Many of them have been in the sun so long that the ink has been bleached.
This is the west side of the same building shown earlier (formerly Seigel's) that has since been demolished.
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