No Matter Your Status, Make Time for Your Longest
Relationship, Says Acclaimed Therapist

Whether you're married, single or divorced, Valentine's Day's emphasis on romance and the expectations it sparks can create more stress than joy for many people, says Dr. Jaime Kulaga, a practicing therapist and life coach.

"There can be pressure on Feb. 14 for anyone," says Dr. Kulaga, author of "Type 'S'uperWoman - Finding the Work-Life Balance: A Self-Searching Book for Women," (www.mindfulrehab.com).

"The 'happily single' may begin to have doubts; spouses may question the quality of their marital relationship; and for someone who recently experienced a breakup, the holiday can bring nothing but heartache."

Kulaga says she prefers to view Valentine's Day as an opportunity for personal growth.

She suggests planning a date with yourself on Valentine's Day, no matter your current relationship status.

• If you're single ... The holiday is not just for couples; it's for anyone who wants to strengthen a relationship, including the one with yourself. This is, after all, the most important and truly lifelong relationship we all have. Being comfortable in your own skin and in silence and with your own thoughts is a sign of self acceptance and emotional maturity. So, what kind of date would you take you on?

Meditation can be like confronting yourself for the first time, mentally naked. Can you literally do nothing but keep quiet and still for five, 10 or 20 minutes? Maybe you want to take yourself on an adventure -- consider spending a day or evening visiting places you'd never otherwise go. Or, you may simply cook yourself your favorite meal - or go out. Dinner for one is much cheaper!

• If you have a spouse ... Even though you likely won't be alone on Valentine's Day, there's no reason you shouldn't spend some time working on the relationship you have with yourself. Some couples participate in "girls' (or boys') night out" to gently establish a measure of independence in their relationship, but that's not the same as spending quality time alone. Try a peaceful walk in the park, fishing or spending a few hours with a great novel. If you have plans on Feb. 14, make some time for yourself Feb. 13. It can make date night on the next day all the more rewarding.

• If you're divorced or recently heartbroken ... As with a romance, you shouldn't limit your focus on improving your relationship to just one day of the year. Take yourself out to somewhere that's a treat; be spontaneous; think about your dreams and priorities -- the ones that come from your passions, talents and skills. Most importantly, be loving on this "date." Whether or not you're eager to find another romantic partner, you'll be in a better place to meet Mr. or Ms. Right if you're confident in your feelings about you.  Your past relationships do not define you, but they can make you stronger and wiser.

Dr. Jaime Kulaga, Ph.D, LMHC, CPC

Motivated by watching those she coaches become successful and with a true passion for helping others, Dr. Jaime Kulaga earned her bachelor's degree in psychology, and master's and doctorate's in counseling. As a licensed mental health counselor and certified professional coach, she has a special interest in the complex lives of today's women. She serves as a go-to expert resource for Bay News 9, the Tampa Bay area's 24-hour news channel, and as a coach for individuals, couples and business people.

Whitepaper details first component in five point plan for job growth

WEST DES MOINES - U.S. Senate candidate Mark Jacobs today released "Strengthening Education, Our Workforce, and America's Economy," a white paper focused solely on his first priority for job growth: emphasizing community colleges and vocational schools to close the skills gap.

Jacobs said decisions about K-12 education are best made at the local level. However, one area where the government can make proactive investments is in addressing the skills gap - a disconnect between the types of skills the job market needs and the skills the workforce possesses.

"The availability of jobs is only part of the problem. The fact is that workers don't have the proper skills to fill many of the jobs that are currently available. However, we can begin closing the skills gap by providing community colleges and vocational schools with the resources they need to train our workforce and by supporting those individuals who wish to improve their skills so that they can get a better paying job," said Mark Jacobs.

Connecting American workers with the opportunity to learn necessary skills has obvious benefits to the economy. Workers with training and skills can expect to see an increase in earnings, better job prospects, and are able to support the economy through higher levels of disposable income.

"It's clear to me that the recession is not over. We need to empower American families through education, so that they can get a better job, opportunities, accelerate economic growth, and break the cycle of poverty," he said.

Jacobs detailed his vision for job growth through education by offering three concrete steps towards closing the skills gap:

• 1) Consolidate and simplify current workforce training programs. The non-partisan Government Accountability Office identified twenty-six duplicative programs in a 2011 report. In the business world, effectiveness and efficiency are high priorities. Applying these business principles to our current workforce training regime would free up funding to do what it is meant to do - help institutions and individuals meet the needs of today's job market.
• 2) Provide funding to the states as block grants. Bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. should not be passing "one size fits all" policies and pushing them at the states with little regard for the nuances and demands of each diverse state's job market. Instead, my belief is that decision-making should take place as close as possible to the local level. Local community colleges are vital players in an effort to close the skills gap, and block grant funding would allow them to partner with government and industry in their immediate regions. Block grant funding provides these partners with the flexibility they need to truly understand the needs of the local job market and make real opportunities available for workers in those communities.
• 3) Offer pragmatic incentives and empower individuals to build skills. Congress could make a number of adjustments to already existing programs that would make enrolling in skill-building programs dramatically more attainable for millions of Americans. Congress can empower workers by: a) Extending Pell Grants to summer classes for students who enroll year-round; b) Extending Pell Grants to one-year skill certificate [and non-certificate] programs and part-time enrollment; and c) Extending tax credits to part-time students.

Jacobs said, "The bottom line is that high school graduates in Iowa and around the nation do not fully meet the demands of our state's labor market, and that leads to losses in productivity and economic opportunity. Congress should view the "skills gap" as a real issue, and accordingly invest in America's workforce with thoughtful, pragmatic legislation and programs so that we can effectively create opportunities and get our country back to work."

To view or download "Strengthening Education, Our Workforce, and America's Economy," please click here.

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To learn more about Mark Jacobs, please visit: www.jacobsforiowa.com

LIKE Mark on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JacobsforIowa
Follow Mark on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MarkJocobsIowa

About Mark Jacobs

A life-long Republican, Mark previously served as president and CEO of Reliant Energy, a Fortune 500 electric power company. During his time at Reliant Energy, he played an integral role in the turnaround of the company. Mark is the founder of Reaching Higher Iowa, an organization advocating for improved public education. Mark graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines in 1980. He holds a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Northwestern University. Mark and his wife, Janet, have three children: Clark, Christy, and Sam. The family resides in West Des Moines.

DAVENPORT, IA - On January 16, 2014, Marqueis Letrell Lewis, age 34, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose to 113 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute at least 100 kilograms of marijuana, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Lewis was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release following the imprisonment and to pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund.

Beginning in approximately July 2008 and continuing until about July 31, 2012, Lewis conspired with other persons to distribute marijuana in the Davenport, Iowa area. Specifically, during the above-mentioned time period Lewis regularly purchased multiple pound quantities of marijuana directly from his co-defendant, Edwin James Goodwin, in Davenport and then further distributed the marijuana to various customers. Over the course of the conspiracy Lewis was responsible for distributing over 700 kilograms of marijuana. Goodwin pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least 100 kilograms of marijuana and is awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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A team of students from one of your local high schools is participating in an upcoming competition to determine the team to represent Iowa in the high school National Finals of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science's National Science Bowl (http://science.energy.gov/wdts/nsb/).  The Office of Science began this competition to interest today's youth in pursuing careers in science and math.

The winner of the regional competition will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the Office of Science's National Science Bowl in late April and the winner of the national competition will win prizes for the team members and their schools.

Below is information about the competition, the list of the schools that have teams competing in it and links to HD video and graphics that could be used for stories.  Also, below is a blog that explains more about the National Science Bowl.  If you need any additional information, please feel free to reach me by email or phone, 202-287-6990. Thank you!

Schools competing in the regional competition: (Contact information for the teams available upon request)

Fort Dodge Senior High School Fort Dodge   Albia high school Albia   Ames High School Ames   Ankeny High School Ankeny   Benton Community Van Horne   Bettendorf High School Bettendorf   Boone High School Boone   Boyer Valley High School Dunlap   Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School Cedar Rapids   Centennial High School Ankeny   Central Clinton DeWitt   Chariton High School Chariton   Clear Creek Amana Tiffin   Davenport Central High School Davenport   Davenport North High School Davenport   Des Moines Central Academy Des Moines   Dowling Catholic West Des Moines   Dubuque Hempstead Dubuque   Dubuque Senior Dubuque   East Union High School Afton   Greene County High School Jefferson   Grinnell-Newburg High School Grinnell   Homeschools of Eastern Iowa Swisher   IKM-Manning Manning   Indianola High School Indianola Iowa City City High School Iowa City Johnston High School Johnston Le Mars Community High School Le Mars Lynnville-Sully High School Sully Madrid High School Madrid Melcher-Dallas HS Melcher Mid Prairie Wellman Monticello High School Monticello Mt. Pleasant Community High School Mount Pleasant Ogden High School Ogden Ottumwa High School Ottumwa Pella Christian High School Pella Pella Community High School Pella Pleasant Valley High School Bettendorf Regina High School Iowa City Shenandoah High School Shenandoah South Hamilton CSD Jewell Southeast Webster Grand Community Schools Burnside St. Albert Council Bluffs Urbandale High School Urbandale Wahlert High School Dubuque West Des Moines Valley High School West Des Moines Williamsburg High School Williamsburg Winterset Winterset

Regional competition details:

DATE:  January 25, 2014

LOCATION:  Iowa State University campus