WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, is adding another nominee to the State Department nominees on whom he is placing a hold, citing a continued failure to respond in a timely and reasonable manner to his inquiries regarding what should be the public's business.  The total number of nominees subject to his holds is 22.  The holds are over the State Department's use of the Special Government Employee program and private email use that raises concern about the proper handling of classified information, as well as Freedom of Information Act and federal archiving law compliance.

"I will object because the Department of State has failed to fully respond to almost a dozen outstanding letters dating back to 2013," Grassley said today in his statement announcing the holds.  "In addition, on August 20, 2015, my staff met with Department officials in an effort to prioritize material for production.  The Department has failed to comply with its commitments, producing material late, failing to provide all requested material, and even failing to provide material to the Senate Judiciary Committee contemporaneously with providing the same documents to Freedom of Information Act Requestors." 

Grassley said he warned the State Department that he would be forced to escalate the scope of his objections to unanimous consent requests to consider nominees if the department did not become more responsive.  He said the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman has joined him in requests to interview State Department employees.

"Despite the Department's commitment to make witnesses available and assist in the identification of additional relevant witnesses, none of these interviews have actually been scheduled," Grassley said in his statement.  "The Department needs to respond in good faith to the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.  Thus far, it has primarily been promises with little or no follow-through.  The Department's good faith will be measured in documents delivered and witnesses provided."

The latest nominee subject to Grassley's hold is Brian James Egan as legal adviser.  In August, Grassley announced holds on 20 appointees for Foreign Service Officer positions and the nomination of David Malcolm Robinson to be assistant secretary for Conflict and Stabilization Operations and Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization.  Grassley said the holds are unrelated to the nominees' qualifications.  

Since June 2013, Grassley has sought answers from the State Department on its use of the Special Government Employee designation.  Grassley has written numerous letters to the State Department on these concerns and other related matters, adding questions as new developments warrant, such as Secretary Hillary Clinton and Huma Abedin's use of private email for official purposes.  As more revelations have emerged about Clinton's private email server, Grassley and the Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee have sought to interview individuals tasked with overseeing the maintenance and operability of the server while simultaneously working as information technology specialists at the State Department.

Grassley's documents for the Senate record on his new hold are available here.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today appointed Kevin McKeever as judge to the 6th Judicial District.  McKeever was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Douglas S. Russell.

 

McKeever, 46, of Iowa City, currently serves as an Assistant Muscatine County Attorney. Previously he served as a staff attorney at ACT, Inc. and Assistant Ramsey County Attorney in Minnesota. McKeever received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in 1991 and his law degree from the University of Iowa in 2001.

The governor thanked the District 6 Judicial Nominating Commission, complimenting them on two excellent nominees for the position.

"The two individuals sent to me for consideration by the Judicial Nominating Commission were outstanding, and both could serve as great judges, making this a very difficult decision," said Branstad. "Kevin McKeever is a talented experienced prosecutor with a sharp legal mind and has a tremendous work ethic."

McKeever served as Lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1991 - 1998, and as Lieutenant Commander in the United State Navy - Reserves from 1999 - 2007.   He also serves on the Board of Directors for the African American Museum of Iowa and on the Iowa Department of Human Rights' Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee.

District 6 consists of the following counties: Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Tama.

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IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - October 9th and 10th mark the 25th anniversary of Abbey Carpet Gallery Flooring & Interiors, locally owned and operated by longtime business partners Bill Daley and Lee Zindel. "People have been stepping on our products for 25 years, and we couldn't be happier!" Daley said.

To thank the Quad-Cities community for its ongoing support, Abbey Carpet Gallery will hold a celebration that will take place 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., October 9, and 9 a.m to 4 p.m., October 10. Abbey Carpet Gallery is located in the Walnut Center at 4811 North Brady Street, Davenport, Iowa. 

"Lee and I have worked together since the early '90s, and we've known each other for much longer than that," said Daley. "I concentrate on sales and business organization, while Lee runs the warehouse and installs carpeting for clients."

"Most customers don't realize that one of the business owners is doing the installation," said Zindel. "Customers often tell Bill that he should give me a raise!"

According to Daley, product lines offered by Abbey Carpet Gallery include residential and commercial carpeting; area rugs; vinyl tile, plank and sheet goods; hardwood floors; tile in porcelain, ceramic and natural stone; and window treatments. "With every project, our team members focus on the look and feel of the clients' finished rooms," Daley said. "In most cases, the job doesn't end with the installation of carpeting. We're happy to offer advice regarding paint, lighting and other aesthetic selections. We collaborate with the client, advising on both design and functionality."

Dedicated to Green Practices

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

(Sept. 30, 2015) ? During Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood to support cancer patients and others needing blood products.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S., with one in eight developing invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer patients may need blood products during chemotherapy, mastectomy surgery or treatment of complications.

Blood donor Mary Thorngate Hall is one such example. She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2010.

"I began treatment (with) my first round of chemotherapy lasting six hours. My body did not tolerate it, and I began to hemorrhage," she said. "I needed blood to survive. I cannot express my gratitude to the people who donated their lifesaving blood."

Volunteer donors are the only source of blood products for those needing transfusions. Donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, B negative, A negative and AB blood.

To make an appointment to donate blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores or text BLOODAPP to 90999 to receive a download link, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Carroll County

Mount Carroll

10/22/2015: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Good Samaritan Nursing Home, PO Box 8, 1006 N. Lowden

Clinton County

Clinton

10/29/2015: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., LyondellBasell Clinton, 3400 Anamosa Rd.

Henry County

Kewanee

10/22/2015: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Kewanee OSF Saint Luke Medical Center, 1051 W. South St.

Lee County

Dixon

10/20/2015: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital, 403 E. First St.

Mercer County

Aledo

10/20/2015: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., VFW Hall, 106 SW 3rd Ave.

Whiteside County

Fulton

10/27/2015: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Robert Fulton Community Center, 912 4th St.

Morrison

10/27/2015: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Morrison Institute of Technology, 701 Portland

Rock Falls

10/21/2015: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St.

10/28/2015: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St.

Sterling

10/17/2015: 6 a.m. - 12 p.m., CGH Medical Center, 100 E. LeFevre Rd.

10/28/2015: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Sterling High School, 1608 4th Ave.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

 

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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