USDA research last year also led to process for faster egg pasteurization, new methods of mosquito control

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a new report on discoveries by USDA researchers that have led to new patents and inventions with the potential for commercial application and potential economic growth. USDA innovations included in this annual report range from USDA supported research that could offer solutions for millions who suffer allergies from peanuts and wheat to safe mosquito control that can help halt the transmission of diseases they spread, and others.

"USDA has a proven track record of performing research that has tangible benefits for the American public, and studies have found every dollar invested in agricultural research returns $20 to our economy," said Secretary Vilsack. "USDA is now accelerating the commercialization of federal research, and government researchers are working closely with the private sector to develop new technology and transfer it to the marketplace."

USDA received 83 patents in Fiscal Year 2014, up from 51 patents in 2013. USDA filed 119 patent applications and disclosed another 117 new inventions, which may lead to future patents and are detailed in the Department's 2014 Annual Report on Technology Transfer released today. Helping drive these innovations, USDA has 267 active Cooperative Research and Development Agreements with outside partners, which includes Universities, and other organizations, and more than 100 small businesses. The USDA's technology transfer program is administered by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA's principal intramural scientific research agency.

Highlighted discoveries from USDA's 2014 Technology Transfer Report include :

  • Procedures to remove up to 98-percent of the allergens from peanuts without affecting the flavor;
  • A new process for pasteurizing shelled eggs using radio frequency energy that is 1.5 times faster than the current pasteurization process;
  • A portable method for identifying harmful bacteria in food that could improve the response to foodborne illness outbreaks;
  • A new method for mosquito control that specifically silences genes in the mosquito so it does not pose a danger to other insects, including pollinators;
  • A new soil nitrogen test that rapidly and inexpensively determines the total amount of nitrogen in the soil that is available to a plant, reducing costs for farmers while benefiting the environment;
  • Improved information on non-honey bee pollinators and methods for trapping bees to assure quality apple production.

Over the years, USDA innovations have created all sorts of products Americans use every day, from food products to insect controls, medicine to clothing. Here are just a few examples of things USDA research is responsible for:

  • A new kind of flour made from chardonnay grape seeds that can prevent increases in cholesterol and weight-gain;
  • "Permanent press" cotton clothing;
  • Mass production of penicillin in World War II;
  • DEET, the active ingredient in all the world's most effective and widely-used mosquito repellents;
  • Frozen orange juice concentrate;
  • Almost all breeds of blueberries and cranberries currently in production, and 80% of all varieties of citrus fruits grown in the U.S.;
  • "Tifsport", a turfgrass specifically designed to withstand the stress and demands of major team sports and used on sports fields across the country.

The 2014 Farm Bill will help to build on these accomplishments by establishing a new Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research that leverages $200 million in public funding and another $200 million from the private sector to support groundbreaking agricultural research.

More information about the USDA innovations contained in this year's report, as well as a look at previous USDA research discoveries is available on the we

The Amtrak Exhibit Train, showcasing the past, present and future of America's Railroad®, and powered by a specially painted locomotive thanking veterans, will be open to the public for free tours this weekend during Railroad Days in Galesburg. The new Amtrak Experience display will also be installed trainside for the weekend in Galesburg as part of the national Amtrak Train Days tour and their last scheduled Illinois visit this year.

The Exhibit Train and Amtrak Experience are open this Saturday, June 27, and this Sunday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, at the Amtrak Station in Galesburg, 225 South Seminary Street. Veterans are invited to be first to board.

 

Media is invited to a preview of the Exhibit Train at 4 p.m. this Friday, June 26, in advance of the 5 p.m. opening ceremony for Railroad Days at the adjacent rail museum.

In addition to the Exhibit Train and Amtrak Experience, the Chuggington® Kids Depot based on the popular children's animated television series on Disney Junior will be open, famed railroad artist Andy Fletcher will be showing his work and rail safety information will be distributed by Amtrak employees on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Exhibit Train features displays including workable signals, virtual sleeping accommodation tours and trivia, the locomotive control stand and horns In addition, it features photos, uniforms, vintage advertising and memorabilia from the beginning of Amtrak in 1971 to today's modern sleeping cars and high-speed rail service. The train includes three baggage cars renovated into exhibit cars and one bistro car, all with historic paint schemes.

The Amtrak Veterans' Locomotive honors those who have served in all branches of the military. Amtrak painted the locomotive red, white and blue with an "America's Railroad Salutes Our Veterans" logo and 50 stars. It is a symbol of an Amtrak commitment that 25 percent of new employees will consist of veterans.

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The Iowa Women's Art Exhibition's inaugural three artists will be recognized on June 25th by the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa.

(DES MOINES) - Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will honor three Iowa female artists in her formal office on Thursday, June 25, 2015, at 9 a.m. in conjunction with Art Week Des Moines.  The three artists are a part of the Iowa Women's Art Exhibition.  The public is invited to view the works of art anytime at the Iowa Capitol building, but a special invitation is extended for those who wish to view the art when the artists are present with Reynolds.  This event is open to the press.

The project was started to highlight Iowa's female artists.  Art is essential to the quality of life in Iowa and female artists contribute to the entrepreneurial community of women in Iowa.  Increasingly, Reynolds hears from businesses and industry that not only are they interested in Iowa's friendly business climate when considering where to reinvest and grow, they're also interested in a high quality of life - including vibrant arts and culture - for their employees.

"I am continually impressed with the dynamic and innovative female leadership that I meet throughout the state and I am eager to continue highlighting their impressive achievements and skillsets," said Reynolds.  "Displaying this art in my formal office has provided me the rare opportunity to recognize female artists from Iowa and the important role they play as entrepreneurs in our state."

The artwork that was featured from the last three months comes from artists that all have a connection to Iowa.  The following artists' work is currently being displayed in the Lt. Governor's Formal Office:

Kathranne Knight (http://www.kathranneknight.com) is an Iowa based artist who makes delicate, complex, textile-like landscape drawings.  She received an MFA from Yale University in 1997 and her work has been shown nationally in galleries and museums.  Knight is published in New American Paintings #56, Northeast Edition and is the recipient of an Iowa Artist Fellowship grant, awarded by the Iowa Arts Council.  A photo of Knight's, Tinsel in August, created in 2010 can be seen here.  The work will be on display until the beginning of July.

Mary Laube (www.marylaube.com) was born in South Korea and grew up in the Midwest.  She received an MFA from the University of Iowa and a BFA from Illinois State University. Her work has been published in New American Paintings #87 and #101.  She received the Illinois National Women in the Arts Award in 2009 and a Project grant from the Iowa Arts Council.  Laube's Acrylic and Oil on Panel work, Onward and Upward, can be seen here.  It will also be on display until July.

Sarah Grant (www.sticks.com) grew up in Ames, Iowa.  She received an MFA in painting from the University of Iowa and is the founder and owner of Sticks, an object art and furniture business located in Des Moines, Iowa.  Her honors and commissions include being named a Louis Comfort Tiffany Grant nominee finalist; a Kirkwood Hotel Mural Commission; and the Jerome Foundation Invitational Grant.  A photo of Grant's, Fields meet Sky, an acrylic and collage on paper work created in 2013, can be seen here.

In July 2015, three new female artists will be featured in the Lieutenant Governor's formal office.  The public is welcome to visit.

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Bipartisan Bill Will Improve Detection and Prevention of Waste and Misuse Across Federal Agencies

WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs approved a bipartisan bill to curb waste, fraud and abuse in federal agency travel and purchase cards spending. The Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act of 2015 (S. 1616) was introduced by Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) with Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) earlier this month. The legislation was approved unanimously by the committee by voice vote.

"Federal agencies have made progress in strengthening financial controls over government travel and purchase cards  - but recent reports have revealed that more needs to be done to eliminate wasteful charge card spending," Sen. Carper said. "This bipartisan legislation would implement stronger and smarter controls to prevent potential abuse and misuse of government charge cards, and help ensure our taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly across federal agencies. I thank Sen. Grassley, Sen. McCaskill and Chairman Johnson for their partnership on this common sense, bipartisan bill.  I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that our federal agencies better communicate and coordinate to crack down on charge card abuse and misuse."

 

"This bill builds on my Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 by adding an additional layer of government-wide oversight to the work of individual agency inspectors general," Sen. Grassley said. "The recent Defense Department inspector general report, which was drafted in response to the 2012 law, highlighted some areas where the Defense Department was not properly implementing the required controls and flagged casinos as a high risk for misuse of charge cards. Our bill will make sure we're looking for similar patterns of misuse across all federal agencies and that agencies are sharing best practices to prevent misuse and identify potential cost savings."

 

"We've got the tools to prevent waste and fraud of government-issued change cards - and this legislation would finally give us the power to put them to use on a government-wide basis," said Sen. McCaskill, a former Missouri State Auditor and top-ranking Democrat on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. "By giving federal agencies the commonsense ability to better safeguard taxpayer dollars against abuses, it's my hope we can give Americans a little more faith in their government."

 

"I am pleased to partner with Ranking Member Carper to move this bill through committee," Sen. Johnson said. "I have said from day one that I want to use my chairmanship of this committee to pass common sense reforms that protect the American taxpayer. This bill is a perfect example - instructing the GSA to do a better job of monitoring the billions of dollars of credit card transactions by federal bureaucrats makes sense and will hopefully serve to cut back on the waste and fraud of Washington."

The Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act of 2015 would help prevent charge card misuse and abuse by establishing an Office of Federal Charge Card Analytics and Review within the Government Services Administration to continuously examine charge card purchases made across the federal government. The legislation would also facilitate improved anti-fraud information sharing among federal agencies that use purchase and travel cards, in addition to requiring those agencies to share best-practices for detecting and preventing waste, fraud and abuse. In addition, the bill would encourage agencies to leverage purchasing power through strategic sourcing.

Last month, a Department of Defense (DoD) Office of the Inspector General report detailed how some employees at the Department misused government-issued charge cards to gamble and pay for adult entertainment. This legislation aims to prevent charge card misuse and abuse by implementing more oversight controls for travel and purchase cards across federal agencies.

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BISMARCK, ND (06/24/2015)(readMedia)-- Chad Wagner of Davenport, IA, has been named to the President's Honor Roll with a 4.00 grade point average for the Spring 2015 semester at Bismarck State College.

"BSC students are great; it is always gratifying when the honor roll comes out and students like Chad get the credit they deserve for their focus and hard work," said Dave Clark, BSC interim president.

Students must maintain a 4.00 grade point while enrolled in at least 12 semester hours of classes to receive this distinction.

Bismarck State College, an innovative community college in Bismarck, N.D., offers high quality education, workforce training, and enrichment programs reaching local and global communities. For more information, visit bismarckstate.edu.

Iowa Biodiesel Board asks for higher volumes in '16 and '17 under Renewable Fuel Standard

ANKENY, Iowa - A biodiesel-powered convoy travels from Iowa to Kansas City today, where members of the Iowa Biodiesel Board will stand up for the fuel's future in the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The Environmental Protection Agency is holding a hearing in Kansas City June 25 on its long-awaited proposed renewable fuel volumes under the federal RFS program. In biodiesel's primary RFS category, "biomass-based diesel," EPA has proposed 1.63 billion gallons in 2014, with gradual growth of about 100 million gallons per year to a standard of 1.9 billion gallons in 2017. Growth is also planned for the Advanced Biofuel category, which biodiesel can meet.

Grant Kimberley, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board and director of market development for the Iowa Soybean Association, will testify.

"I represent the entire Iowa biodiesel value chain ? from the farmers who grow soybeans, to biodiesel manufactures, petroleum marketers and other industry stakeholders," Kimberley's testimony says. "But I am also an Iowa farmer who believes in the power of biodiesel to have a positive impact on my local, state and national economy."

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy visited his family farm in 2009, where he had the opportunity to show her just how intertwined agriculture and energy are.

"When we diversify farm income by allowing farmers to play a role in energy, it has a great benefit of enhancing food security," Kimberley will tell EPA officials. "The rise of biofuels has no doubt saved family farms, which means more food security.  Farmers are innovative and will always rise to meet market demands."

Iowa is the top biodiesel-producing state.

While most industry leaders do not take issue with the proposed 2014 and 2015 biodiesel volumes, consensus is that 2016 and 2017 have been set too low.

"I ask that you set a final rule that is closer to the industry's initial request of 2.4 billion gallons for 2016, and 2.7 billion gallons for 2017," Kimberley will say. "We are more than capable."

Producer members testifying include AGP based in Sergeant Bluff, REG based in Ames, and Western Dubuque Biodiesel, a 30 million gallon per year facility located in Farley.

"I am a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in the Gulf, and I am concerned about improving U.S. energy security," Tom Brooks, general manager of Western Dubuque Biodiesel, will testify. "Our company...provided the first new hiring opportunity in our town of 900 in the past 15 years. These are well above average pay jobs."

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, an ardent biofuels supporter, also plans on testifying at the hearing.

The Iowa Biodiesel Board is a nonpartisan state trade association representing the biodiesel industry. The full testimony will be posted on IBB's website.

WASHINGTON - Four health care bills from Sen. Chuck Grassley today received unanimous passage by the committee of jurisdiction, the Finance Committee.  A fifth bill of which Grassley is the primary cosponsor also passed unanimously.  The bills cover physical therapy in Medicare, financial trusts for individuals with disabilities, rural hospitals, community-based independence for seniors in Medicare, and quality care for mothers and children in Medicaid.

"These bills fill gaps and try new solutions to improve health care," Grassley said.  "They're all bipartisan and non-controversial.  I appreciate the Finance Committee chairman's decision to put these proposals on the agenda, and I'll continue to work toward their enactment."

The Grassley bills passed out of committee today are:

·         S. 313, the Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act (including lead Democrat Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, with 19 cosponsors, eight Republicans, 11 Democrats).  The bill allows physical therapists locum tenens rights under Medicare.  Locum tenens is the Latin phrase for "place holder."  Under current law, practicing physicians utilize locum tenens arrangements to have qualified substitute physicians, who are not employees of the physician, serve as "place holders" to provide care to their patients during short periods of absence.  This bill will give physical therapists the same rights.

·         S. 349, the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act (with Democrats Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida and Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan).  Under current law, individuals with disabilities cannot set up a special needs trust for themselves even when they are able.  This bill fixes that discriminatory exclusion.

·         S. 607, the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act (including lead Democrat Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, with 14 cosponsors, 10 Republicans, four Democrats).  This bill extends the rural hospital demonstration program for five years for a number of "tweener" hospitals.  In Iowa, it benefits hospitals in Newton, Grinnell, Carroll, and Spirit Lake.

·         S. 704, the Community Based Independence for Seniors Act (with Democrats Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York).  This bill creates a Medicare demonstration to expand the Special Needs Plan program to allow for 5,000 people to receive community-based benefits.  It is a small but novel proposal for Medicare that could be expanded eventually.

Grassley is the lead Republican co-sponsor of the following led by Stabenow, also passed out of the committee today:

·         S. 466, the Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act.  This bill provides for quality collaboration, including sharing best practices, and reporting standards for Medicaid for childbirth to improve quality.

Grassley is a senior member and former chairman of the Finance Committee.

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WHO: It's the perfect season for job hunting, so get your resumes ready and prepare for your

WHAT: The HNI Corporation and Kwik Star have teamed up with NorthPark Mall to host job fairs

WHEN: HNI Job Fair @ NorthPark

WHERE: At SouthPark Mall, in Younkers court.

NorthPark and SouthPark host Job Fairs in June and July!

dream job. NorthPark and SouthPark Malls will host jobs fairs with the HNI Corporation,

Kwik Star and retailers this summer.   

in June and July. Bring your resume and plan for on-site interviews with these two

national companies. Plus, both NorthPark and SouthPark retailers will host job fairs in

July.

For more information on great events, visit www.shopsouthparkmall-il.com/events or

www.north-park-mall-ia.com/events follow us on Twitter @NorthParkMallIA or

@SouthParkMallIL and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SouthParkMallIL or

/NorthParkMallIA.

Friday, June 26, 2015

3:00PM-7:00PM

Kwik Star Job Fair @ NorthPark

Saturday, June 27, 2015 Sunday, June 28, 2015

10:00AM-4:00PM 12:00PM-6:00PM

Kwik Star Job Fair @ NorthPark

Saturday, July 11, 2015 Sunday, July 12, 2015

10:00AM-4:00PM 12:00PM-6:00PM

Retailer Job Fair @ SouthPark

Friday, July 24, 2015

3:00PM-5:00PM

Retailer Job Fair @ NorthPark

Friday, July 31, 2015

3:00PM-5:00PM

At NorthPark Mall, in Younkers court.

Des Moines, IA - Capping the first day of its two-day training sessions in Iowa, the FACT (Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency) Coalition today honored Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) with an award marking its appreciation of his efforts in to make corporate ownership more transparent.

FACT is holding a two-day training session in Des Moines called "Organizing for Tax Fairness." The training brings together community leaders, faith leaders, small business owners and activists to learn more about corporate tax avoidance and tax havens, the use of anonymous shell companies, and how they are used to facilitate money laundering, all at the expense of priorities that benefit all Americans.

The award for Senator Grassley is being given, "In gratitude to Senator Grassley for his leadership in fighting crime by making corporate ownership more transparent."  In prior sessions of Congress, Senator Grassley sponsored legislation, the Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act, and the bill is due to be introduced again.  The FACT Coalition is keen to see meaningful progress on this issue.

It may surprise people to know that you only need to provide four items of information in order to create an Iowa company: the name of the company, the number of authorized shares, the name and address of the registered agent, and the name and address of each incorporator.  Registered agents and incorporators can be lawyers or companies paid for those services, not anyone actually in charge of the company. You don't need to list the officers, directors or shareholders - there in no need to indicate who actually owns or controls an Iowa company.  You need to provide more identifying information to get a library card or a drivers' license.  Many state incorporation laws require similar, scant information.

"We appreciate Senator Grassley's long-standing work on opening up corporate ownership to the light of day," said FACT Executive Director Rebecca Wilkins.  "When anonymous shell companies are used for tax evasion, the public loses through cuts to public programs or higher taxes, and when wealthy individuals and companies use anonymous companies to flood cash into our elections, we lose control over our democracy. When they are used to defraud the Defense Department, it puts our soldiers and our citizens in danger."

"Senator Grassley has been a leading proponent of strong legislation to eradicate anonymous companies in the U.S.," commented Heather Lowe, Legal Counsel and Director of Government Affairs at Global Financial Integrity.  "We are educating grassroots groups and small businesses here in Iowa about on this issue and we hope their interest encourages Senator Grassley to continue to back strong, comprehensive legislation to eradicate anonymous companies."

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'B11' has 3-cent tax advantage starting July 1

ANKENY, Iowa - Truckers, motorists and biodiesel producers alike will soon benefit from a tax savings in Iowa on one of the state's most beneficial products. As of July 1, diesel blended with at least 11 percent biodiesel (B11) will enjoy a tax exemption of 3 cents a gallon compared to regular diesel, a legislative victory celebrated by the Iowa Biodiesel Board and its supporters.

Signed by Governor Terry Branstad in February, the law has already increased the state fuel tax by 10 cents a gallon for both diesel and gasoline to help improve Iowa's roads and bridges. Beginning July 1, biodiesel blends of B11 and above will receive a 3-cent exemption for 5 years.

"This state policy represents another link in the chain that secures Iowa's energy and economic future," said Grant Kimberley, executive director of IBB.  "This incentive, along with other state policies that encourage biodiesel production and use, shores up support for a fuel that delivers jobs, diversifies our fuel supply and reduces greenhouse gases."

Prior to 2015, the tax for diesel was $0.225 a gallon. The new diesel tax, already in effect, is $0.325 a gallon. Users of B11 or higher will now pay tax of just $0.295 a gallon.

Kimberley added that this won't automatically mean B11 is less expensive at the pump than diesel, but: "All of the pro-biodiesel policies in Iowa working together, plus federal programs that encourage energy independence, add up," he said. "This is likely to make B11 pretty competitive at the pump."

Iowa is the number one biodiesel-producing state. Iowa biodiesel plants produced 227 million gallons in 2014, down slightly from the 2013 record of 230 million gallons.

Biodiesel is an advanced biofuel made from agricultural byproducts and co-products, including soybean oil.  The Iowa Biodiesel Board is a state trade association representing the biodiesel industry.

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