CONTACT: Governor's Office 515-281-5211

(DES MOINES)  - Tonight, Gov. Terry Branstad's Communications Director, Ben Hammes, issued a statement on the ALJ's decision on Medicaid Modernization that was released late this afternoon.

"The ALJ's decision this evening allows Medicaid Modernization to move forward.  Tonight's decision emphasizes that the process was both "thorough and methodical."  We continue to evaluate the next steps in the administrative review of the procurement process and remain on schedule to implement our plan on January 1, 2016."

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MUSCATINE, Iowa - The 31st annual Holiday Stroll in Muscatine is set to take place in downtown Muscatine on Friday, Dec. 4 from 5:30-8 p.m.  The event is sponsored by the Muscatine Journal and the Muscatine Downtown Action Alliance.

"This year's Holiday Stroll is going to be bigger, better and brighter than ever," said Karla Pinner, publisher of the Muscatine Journal. "We're really excited about the lighted parade, which is new this year. Local kids will be carrying special lanterns; it should be a lot of fun.  You're also going to see more lighted decorations downtown. "

There will be free refreshments up and down Second Street in various shops and there will be an opportunity to extend the holiday spirit further by dropping toys off for the Salvation Army at Carriage House Carpet One Floor and Home, 121 E. Second St.

In addition to being able to enjoy music, people will be able to appreciate other kinds of art with an artist meet and greet at We Can Frame That, 221 E. Second St., and with artist Carol Steinmetz at Pearl City Iowa Realty, 222 W. Second St.

Not only will Second Street be abuzz with family friendly activities as is tradition, but festivities will extend all the way up to Third Street via Cedar Street. Local band Lefty and the Spinners, which typically only performs once a year, will be playing at the Muscatine Journal building at 301 Third Street and Vineyard Church, at 224 E 3rd St., will host an array of live music as well.

There will be plenty of photo opportunities at the Stroll, so don't forget to bring your camera and to share them using the hashtag #MuscaStroll. The Pearl City Players will be dressed in costumes for photo ops and Santa will be at several locations after his appearance in the parade at 6 p.m., including Sarah Siler Photography and the Jubilee Community Center.

The parade will also include dogs from the Humane Society and anybody else who'd like to participate can sign up to do so by calling Pinner at 563-262-0552.

Also, the Muscatine Parks and Recreation department is holding its annual Candy Cane Hunt down at the riverfront at 7 p.m. for preschool through fourth graders.  There will be lots of candy canes to be found by all participants as well as several "special" candy canes that can be redeemed at Pearl City Station for a special toy.  Cookies and drinks will be available at Pearl City Station after the hunt.  The Candy Cane Hunt will be held in the dark, so bring a flashlight if you can!  LED flashlights will be available if you're unable to bring your own.

"Bring your kids, bring your friends," Pinner said. "There's going to be so much to do, you'll be lucky if you can do everything before the night's over."

Businesses and organizations participating in the Stroll (At this time, watch for a complete list in the Muscatine Journal)

Carriage House Carpet One Floor and Home - Salvation Army toy drop off, toy drawings

Candle Shed Effect - Open

CBI Bank and Trust - Muscatine High School instrumental group 4:50-5 p.m.; Muscatine High School chorus groups 5-6 p.m.; light refreshments

Creations by Oz - Wine tasting, hot cocoa, discounts on handcrafted jewelry, and unique finds

Elly's Tea and Coffee - Hot chocolate and cider for $1

Feather Your Nest - "Pick a top hat" savings on store purchase

Fighting Chance Solutions - live music and home school orchestra

First National Bank - Holiday villages decorating the patio

Fresh Vintage - Hot cider and treats in the Pearl Plaza atrium

Grillzilla Food Truck - On Cedar Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets

Gypsy Junk Market - Refreshments

Hall Tree Boutique - Open

Hubbles - $1.50 domestic draft beer

Ideal Wellness - Specials instore

Jubilee Community Center - Santa

Just Because - Open

Mealy Law Offices - Cookies, hot chocolate, ornaments

Muscatine Journal - Lefty and The Spinners band

Muscatine Photography Studio - Cider, hot chocolate, cookies and photo ops; magic show

Muscatine Search and Rescue - Hot chocolate and demonstrations on Cedar Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets

Pearl City Iowa Realty - Artist Carol Steinmetz, treats and refreshments

Pearl City Players - Dressing in costumes for photo ops, location to be announced

Ruhl & Ruhl - Starbucks, fire pit, HyVee serving coffee and cookies

Salon Incognito - Music, refreshments

Sarah Siler Photography - Photos with Santa

Sherwin Williams - Miss Louise dance group performing in windows

Start to Finish - Specials on shakes, hot tea, soup, oatmeal and protein bars

The Flower Gallery - Three guys with Soule performing

The Wild Thing - Open

Trinity Episcopal Church - Louisa-Muscatine Elementary Choir performing during the soup supper

Under the Bed Antiques - Hot chocolate and cookies, 10 percent off items

U.S. Cellular - Handouts and refreshments on Cedar Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets

Vineyard Church - Vineyard Collective performing at 6-6:30 p.m.; Muscatine High School group performing at 6:30-7 p.m.; Muscatine Community College Variety Singers at 7-7:30 p.m.; refreshments

We Can Frame That - Queens C&S Pageant singing; artist meet and greet with hot chocolate, cookies, etc.

Wine Nutz - After party with live music from Fighting Chance Solutions

Zogg Pilates - Pilates and yoga demonstrations, balance yoga and massage

With the 5 year anniversary of the Iowa Weapons Carry Permit law upon us, and with many carry permit holders getting ready to renew their 5 year carry permits, I thought it was important to share the information on the difference between the new carry permit and the renewal permit, as well as remind the public of the process of obtaining a weapons permit in the Scott County Sheriff's Office.

An applicant for a new permit to carry must present evidence of having completed any one of several training options at any time prior to the date of application.   In many cases, a training course that a person took in the past may have included qualification on a firing range, but qualification on a range is not a requirement to obtain a new permit - it is only an option for someone wishing to renew a permit.  If, for example, many years ago, a person completed any one of the training options specified in the law, that training can be presented to obtain a new permit.  The fee for a new permit is $54 and the permit is valid for five years from the date of issuance.

The law is clear in specifying that a person applying to renew a currently held permit must submit the renewal application at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the current permit.   A person wishing to renew a current permit is required to have received any one of several training options within the twelve months prior to the expiration date of the currently held permit, or, the applicant has the option of simply qualifying on a firing range under the supervision of a certified instructor within the twelve months before the expiration of the current permit.  The renewal fee is $29 and the permit is valid for five years from the date of issuance.

If a person who currently holds a permit does not wish to attend additional training or qualify on a firing range to renew the permit at the lower fee, a person could submit an application for a new permit less than 30 ays before the expiration of the current permit or after the expiration of the current permit, in which case the application will be considered a new permit application. Documentation of completion of any ofthe training options listed in the law, regardless of when the training occurred, will satisfy the requirements of the law, and the new permit fee of $54 will apply.

ALL applications for weapons permits, i.e. purchase permits, new carry permits and renewal carry permits, are accepted on-line ONLY through the Scott County Sheriff's Office. The on-line application can be found on the Scott County web page at www.scottcountyiowa.com/sheriff.  If an individual wishes to obtain a weapons permit but does not have access to a home computer, there is a computer in the lobby of the Sheriff's Office in the basement of the Scott County Courthouse.

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner today granted ten and denied 200 clemency petitions. Nearly 1,200 petitions remain from previous administrations.

The 210 clemency petitions Governor Rauner acted upon today are part of dockets dating back to April 2007. Each person granted clemency has recently undergone a criminal background check through the Illinois State Police's Law Enforcement Agencies Data System.

A granted clemency request for a pardon with expungement allows the petitioner to seek expungement of their conviction through the court system.

This is the fifth set of petitions the governor has reviewed since taking office. The Governor's Office has developed a process to review clemency petitions on a regular basis.

For additional information on the granted clemency cases, please contact Ken Tupy at the Prisoner Review Board at (217) 782-1610 or Ken.Tupy@illinois.gov.