Groups plan presidential debates

A coalition of conservation groups and Cedar Rapids media hopes to host twodebates in January featuring the republican and democratic parties’presidential candidates. The debates will focus on agriculture,conservation, energy and the environment. Deb Callahan, the president of theLeague of Conservative Voters Education Fund, says an August survey in Iowaillustrates the importance of those issues.Izaak Walton League of America executive director Paul Hansen says thecandidates have begun to talk about environmental and conservation issues.Hansen says federal ag policy will be a primary focus in the debate.The debates will be held in the Paramount Theater in Cedar Rapids on January10th for Republicans and January 12th for democratic candidates. ChuckPeters, chief operating officer for Gazette Communications, says they don’tyet know which candidates will participate.A news conference was held this morning in Cedar Rapids to discuss thedebates.