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.
Members of Iowa’s Congressional delegation, sadly, already know the drill. Whether on the ground in Iowa Monday to tour flood damage, or remaining in contact with local authorities by phone, the members of Congress understand that they are once again about to go to bat for Iowans who have been devastated by flood waters.
“The words ‘catastrophic release of water’ are enough to send a chill down anyone’s spine,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, referring to the complete erosion of a berm adjacent to a dam at Lake Delhi in northeastern Iowa.
The previous nine-mile lake that served as a recreation area emptied Saturday into the Maquoketa River, sending its contents — including boats and other debris — hurling downstream toward farm land and the towns of Hopkinton, Monticello and Maquoketa. Although official numbers have not yet been released, current estimates are that millions of dollars of property damage has already taken place.
Gov. Chet Culver, who toured the area Sunday and was expected to return on Monday, said the state should step up and help restore the lake and dam, which are owned by a local homeowners association that is already in debt due to improvements related to 2008 flooding. Culver said recreation spot is a “real landmark” in northeastern Iowa, and that restoration is in the entire state’s best interest. He added that such efforts could include a dam that could be used to generate power for the surrounding area.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, a Democrat who represents Iowa’s 1st District where much of the flooding has taken place, was on the ground Monday touring damage. One of his stops was near the 30-foot crater that was, until the break on Saturday, the berm and a roadway. He, like Harkin, has already pledged to work on the federal level to provide relief for the area.
“The governor has rightly activated the National Guard to the area to coordinate a response,” Harkin said. “While this will help the short-term emergency needs of the area, a coordinated federal response is necessary. I was in constant contact with Congressman Bruce Braley as the dam was breached and will continue to work with him and Governor Culver to seek a federal disaster declaration once the damage has been surveyed.”
Follow Lynda Waddington 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