Declaration provides federal relief for Iowans impacted by April's severe weather

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today received word that President Obama approved his request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for 19 Iowa counties impacted by April's severe weather.

The counties included in the declaration are: Appanoose, Cedar, Clinton, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Iowa, Johnson, Keokuk, Lee, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Muscatine, Ringgold, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Wayne.

The Governor sent the request for the declaration on May 22 in response to significant damage that was caused by heavy rains, thunderstorms and flooding in those counties during the period of April 17-30.

The declaration by the President will provide federal funding to the declared counties under the Public Assistance Program. A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance puts into motion long-term federal recovery programs, some of which are matched by state programs, and designed to help public entities and select non-profits. Public Assistance funds may be used for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and may include debris removal, emergency protective measures, repair of damaged public property, loans needed by communities for essential government functions and grants for public schools.

The Governor also received notification that the Presidential Disaster Declaration includes funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state. With this funding, Iowa will be able to minimize the impact of future natural disasters by taking steps now to strengthen existing infrastructure.

This Presidential Disaster Declaration is the 16th Major Presidential Disaster Declaration Iowa has received since March 2007.

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I told my newsletter subscribers several weeks ago that, without a doubt, if Senate President John Cullerton caved in to House Speaker Michael Madigan on pension reform, Cullerton's legacy as Madigan's junior partner would be forever sealed.

The two men have battled for months over the proper way to proceed. Cullerton has said that the state Constitution requires that public workers and retirees be given a set of options before their pension benefits can be reduced. Madigan has said that idea doesn't save enough money, and he has looked for the most cost savings possible. With the pension system at $100 billion in unfunded liability and taxpayer costs rising by about a billion dollars a year, this has become the most important state fiscal issue of our time. It has to be resolved.

I ran into Madigan not long after I wrote that stuff about Cullerton's possible cave. "Rich, you're not helping," he said to me.

(DES MOINES) -Today, Gov. Terry E. Branstad signed a letter to be delivered to President Obama requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration for 19 Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from heavy rains, thunderstorms and flooding between April 17-30.

The Governor is making the request for federal Public Assistance Program funding for the counties of Appanoose, Cedar, Clinton, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Iowa, Johnson, Keokuk, Lee, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Muscatine, Ringgold, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Wayne.

A joint federal, state and local preliminary damage assessment of the 19 counties found the severe weather caused an estimated $8.9 million of damage that could be eligible under the Public Assistance Program. Public Assistance funds may be used to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts and other public facilities, or to cover costs of emergency work during and debris removal after storms.

The Governor's letter to President Obama will be available at www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov.

DECORAH, Iowa - The Luther College Board of Regents announced the appointment of David L. Tiede, Ph.D., as interim president of the college effective July 1. Luther President Richard L. Torgerson will end his term of service with the college on June 30.

Tiede is emeritus president and emeritus professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. He served as the Bernhard M. Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation at Augsburg College in Minneapolis from 2005 to 2010, and as interim president of Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, in 2010. He currently consults with a variety of higher education institutions as they deal with leadership transitions.

Tiede's appointment at Luther is for a period of 12 months, or until the permanent position is filled.

"The Board of Regents is delighted and honored that Dr. Tiede has agreed to lead Luther during this important time of transition," said Paul Torgerson, chairperson of the Board of Regents. "He is greatly admired as an administrator, teacher and scholar, and he is in high demand as a consultant in the area of educational leadership and governance. With Dr. Tiede serving as interim president, the board can complete the search for a permanent president with every confidence that the college is in very capable hands."

In accepting the post, Tiede said: "Luther College is educationally excellent, grounded in faith, and centered in student lives. President Torgerson's remarkable years have set the stage. This interim gives the whole college the opportunity to call the next president to lead from its strengths into the changing landscape of higher  education. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to serve an institution I have long admired."

Tiede, of White Bear Lake, Minn., served as Luther Seminary president from 1987 to 2005. He was professor of New Testament at the seminary from 1971 to 2006. His academic publications and leadership in scholarly guilds, including the Society of Biblical Literature, Catholic Biblical Association, and the International Society of New Testament Studies, have earned him great respect as a teacher and scholar.

An ordained pastor and past president of the Association of Theological Schools, Tiede is a consultant for Auburn Seminary's "Leadership That Works" research project. He is also a governance mentor for the nonprofit In Trust organization, whose mission is to help strengthen boards and governance in North American theological schools.

Tiede has served on numerous boards and commissions throughout his career and currently is on the regent boards of California Lutheran University and Augsburg College and has served as theologian-in-residence to the board of directors of Baltimore-based Lutheran Services in America.

A 1962 graduate of St. Olaf College, Tiede earned a theological degree in 1966 from Luther Seminary and a Ph.D. in 1971 from Harvard University. He is married to Martha (Muffy), and they are the parents of two grown children, Peter and Kathryn.

A national liberal arts college with an enrollment of 2,500, Luther offers an academic curriculum that leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in 60 majors and preprofessional programs. For more information about Luther, visit the college's website: www.luther.edu.

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