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.
Matt Strawn
Statements by a Republican candidate for the Iowa House that AIDS is punishment for the sin of homosexuality have been officially denounced by Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn.
In a series of posts on his Facebook page, House District 67 candidate Jeremy Walters pointed to passages in the Bible that say homosexuals should be “put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” Walters said the blood is really AIDS. The state’s larges LGBT-rights group, One Iowa, immediately called for the Iowa GOP to disavow the comments.
“Mr. Walters’ comments are inappropriate and in no way represent the beliefs of the Republican Party of Iowa,” Strawn said in a statement to The Iowa Independent. “HIV/AIDS does not discriminate and our hearts and prayers go out to any Iowa family facing this disease.”
Walters told The Des Moines Register that he has no plans to remove the posting from his Facebook page, saying it’s only offensive to gay rights advocates, “because they know it’s the truth. Truth does hurt.” Walters also said he will be meeting people at the Republican Party of Iowa’s booth at the Iowa State Fair Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It’s unclear if Strawn’s statement changes those plans.
UPDATE at 6:20 p.m.: Republican Party of Iowa Communications Director Danielle Plogmann says in a statement to The Iowa Independent that Walters will no longer be participating in the party’s Iowa State Fair booth.
“We just learned Mr. Walters had previously signed up to work the booth as a Polk County volunteer,” she said. “This is no longer the case.”
UPDATE at 6:50 p.m.: Despite his assurances that the Facebook statements would not be removed, Walters has taken down the posts referring to homosexuality and AIDS.
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