(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today has ordered all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday, August 1, 2013, in honor of Iowa native, retired Col. George "Bud" Day.

Day's funeral will be on Thursday, August 1, 2013 in Shalimar, Florida and he will be buried at Barrancas National Cemetery at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

"Bud Day loved this country and its people, and we are all better off as a result of his service," said Gov. Branstad. "Bud Day was a hero to all, a friend to many and will be an inspiration to generations in the future. I hope all Iowans will join me in recognizing this man and his extraordinary, unique career and contributions to his country."

Col. George "Bud" Day, was born in Sioux City, Iowa on Feb. 24, 1925. He dropped out of high school in 1942 to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and served in the Pacific theater. Following World War II, Day earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Morningside College and a law degree from the University of South Dakota. In 1950, Day received an officer's commission as a 2^nd Lt. in Company M, 133^rd Infantry Regiment, Iowa Army National Guard in Sioux City. He transferred to the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1951, where he completed pilot training and entered the active duty U.S. Air Force for combat in the Korean War. Day remained on active duty with the Air Force following Korea and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. While flying a combat mission over North Vietnam, Day was shot down Aug. 26, 1967, captured by the North Vietnamese Army and spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war. During his captivity in North Vietnam, Day and U.S. Sen. John McCain were cellmates at the Plantation and Hanoi Hilton prison camps. Day was released from captivity in March 1973 and retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1977.

Upon military retirement he moved to Florida, where he began a law practice that focused on advocating for veterans' issues. Over the course of his 35-year military career, Day earned more than 70 awards for combat, including the nation's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Vietnam. At the time of his death, Day was one of the nation's most highly-decorated service members.

"I was honored to call Bud a friend," said Gov. Branstad. "We had the opportunity to hunt together, even as recently as 2010, and I always enjoyed our time together. He will be missed."

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

Review intended to answer questions regarding claims of retaliation

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today appointed former Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Louis A. Lavarato to conduct an independent review into the firing of DCI Agent Larry Hedlund.

In a letter to former Chief Justice Louis A. Lavarato, Branstad stated:

"You are known within the legal community for your integrity, legal acumen and impartial judgment. I believe the people of Iowa would benefit from your independent review of a matter of public interest."

[...]

"I am committed to transparency. Iowa law prevents all Iowans from having all of the facts and evidence surrounding Mr. Hedlund's termination; therefore, I ask you to fully review the Internal Affairs investigation and provide the public with your own independent conclusion as to whether Mr. Hedlund's termination was in any way related to retaliation for reporting my vehicle for speeding on April 26, 2013."

The governor is commissioning this review to put to rest any lingering questions or doubts as to whether or not retaliation was the cause of Larry Hedlund's termination from the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The governor believes all Iowans deserve complete transparency, deserve the truth, and deserve the whole truth. The governor believes transparency will be achieved with this independent review.

"Iowans may continue to have questions and doubts about the allegations made until they know the whole story. I want Iowans to know the truth," said Gov. Branstad. "Former Chief Justice Louis A. Lavarato is a respected and impartial statesman, and will offer a fresh, independent review of this matter. He will share his findings with Iowans, and will bring to light the full truth."

The governor has asked for the review to be fully independent, allowing Iowans the opportunity to review former Chief Justice Louis A. Lavarato's findings as early as possible once the full review concludes.

DES MOINES - Gov. Terry E. Branstad has issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for Van Buren County in response to recent storms and flooding. The Governor's proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Program.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $39,060, for a family of three.  Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available at the "Disaster Assistance" link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today signed the following legislation into law:

House File 489: An Act relating to various matters involving insurance and the insurance division of the department of commerce, providing penalties, and including applicability and effective date provisions.

House File 599: An Act relating to beginning farmers by modifying the agricultural assets transfer tax credit, providing a custom farming contract tax credit, and terminating the agricultural loan assistance program, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

House File 602: An Act relating to transportation and other infrastructure-related appropriations to the department of transportation, including allocation and use of moneys from the road use tax fund and the primary road fund.

House File 603: An Act relating to and making appropriations to certain state departments, agencies, funds, and certain other entities, providing for regulatory authority, and other properly related matters.

House File 614:  An Act appropriating federal funds made available from federal block grants and other non-state sources, allocating portions of federal block grants, and providing procedures if federal funds are more or less than anticipated or if federal block grants are more or less than anticipated and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

House File 620: An Act relating to the economic development financial assistance duties and powers of the economic development authority by authorizing and creating fees, affecting the aggregate tax credit limit for certain economic development programs and the tax credit for the endow Iowa tax credit, making appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions

House File 640: An Act relating to liquids which are flammable or combustible, by providing for the storage, marketing, and distribution of such liquids, providing for the marketing and distribution of liquids classified as motor fuel, including a conventional blendstock for oxygenate blending, and blended and unblended gasoline and diesel fuel, extending the period for determining the rates of the motor fuel tax based on calculating the distribution of ethanol blended gasoline and other motor fuel, including fees and penalties, and including effective date provisions.

House File 649: An Act relating to the liability of a land holder for the public use of private lands and waters for a recreational purpose or urban deer control.

Senate File 435: an Act relating to appropriations and making appropriations involving state government entities involved with agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection.

Senate File 442: An Act relating to appropriations to the judicial branch.