DES MOINES, IOWA (August 8, 2019) — Five talented Sprout division acts (ages 2-12) and six Senior division acts (ages 13-21) have advanced to the semi-final round in Bill Riley's 60th annual Iowa State Fair Talent Search. Each act will perform again on Thursday, August 15; Friday, August 16; or Saturday, August 17.

The names, ages, hometowns and routines of the sprouts acts are:

Emmi Flynn, 12, Waterloo, Vocal Solo

COAL VALLEY, ILLINOIS (August 8, 2019) — Our biggest Adult fundraising event of the year, Pints for Preservation, will take place on Friday, August 23, at Niabi Zoo (13010 Niabi Zoo Road, Coal Valley, Illinois 61240). We still need lots of help to make the event a success. You can also invite your adult friends to volunteer for the event. Each volunteer over will receive a free Pints for Preservation t-shirt.

Here are the volunteer positions:

DAVENPORT, IOWA (August 9, 2019) —The Quad Cities River Bandits remained unbeaten playing as the Treasure Hunters by doubling up the Clinton LumberKings 8-4 on Thursday night at Modern Woodmen Park. The Treasure Hunters turned an early 3-0 deficit into a 7-3 lead by scoring six runs on eight hits in the bottom of the third inning.

WASHINGTON DC (August 8, 2019) — Senators Charles "Chuck" Grassley (R-IA) and Jon Tester (D-MT) and sent a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Undersecretary Greg Ibach outlining key priorities to help family farmers compete with large corporationsThis comes as USDA begins to clarify rules within the Packers and Stock

WASHINGTON DC (August 8, 2019) — Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service Administrator Chad Rupe today announced that USDA is investing 

DES MOINES, IOWA (August 8, 2019) — Iowa employer health-insurance premiums increased an average of 7.1 percent from 2018 to 2019, according to the "2019 Iowa Employer Benefits Study(c)," the 20th study conducted by 

DAVENPORT, IOWA (August 7, 2019) — The Quad Cities River Bandits, playing as the Treasure Hunters for the first time this season, jumped out to a quick start and held on late for a 4-3 defeat of the Clinton LumberKings on Wednesday night at Modern Woodmen Park. Wilyer Abreu hit the first home-run of his professional career to collect his first three runs batted in on the campaign.

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA (August 7, 2019) — The Rutherford Institute has filed a First Amendment lawsuit against government officials for discriminating against Protestant Christian inmates at a state-run sex-offender rehabilitation facility and restricting their access to Bible studies and Protestant communion.

On August 5, US Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) posted an infographic to Twitter naming and shaming his city's most generous supporters of President Donald Trump's re-election campaign: "Sad to see so many San Antonians as 2019 maximum donors to Donald Trump .... Their contributions are fueling a campaign of hate that labels Hispanic immigrants as 'invaders.'" Condemnations quickly followed. Donald Trump Jr compared the tweet to the Dayton, Ohio killer's "hit list."

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