LEXINGTON, Ky.-Iowa Secretary of State Paul D. Pate is one of 48 state policymakers from across the country selected as a Council of State Governments' Henry Toll Fellow for the Class of 2015.

The Class of 2015 Toll Fellows represents 33 states and Puerto Rico, with 35 serving in the legislative branch, four serving in the judiciary and nine hailing from the executive. A nine-member committee of state leaders, many who are Toll Fellows themselves, reviewed a record number of applications to select the class.

Named for CSG founder Henry Wolcott Toll, the Toll Fellowship program is one of the nation's premier leadership development programs for state government officials. Each year, the program brings 48 of the nation's top officials from all three branches of state government to Lexington, Ky., for an intensive six-day, five-night intellectual boot camp.

"I applied to be a CSG Henry Toll Fellow so I could develop and expand ideas," said Pate, "and focus on being a better leader for my state and country. The Henry Toll Fellowship program and participants offer me an opportunity to interact with some of the best talent and leaders in the country. I hope that my participation will also be beneficial to my fellow participants."

The program's agenda includes a lineup of dynamic speakers and sessions designed to stimulate personal assessment and growth, while providing priceless networking and relationship-building opportunities. While each year's program is unique, previous programs have included sessions on leadership personality assessment, media training, crisis management, appreciative inquiry, adaptive leadership and much more.

"The Toll Fellowship remains the oldest and most prestigious of all leadership development programs for elected officials," said David Adkins, CSG's executive director/CEO. "Its impact is profound and its quality is renowned. As a Toll Fellow from 1993, I know first hand the impact the program has on elected officials."

Adkins was a 1993 Toll Fellow when he served as a Kansas state representative.

Toll Fellows alumni include U.S. Rep. John Carney, a former Delaware lieutenant governor; former U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, a former Hawaii state Senate president; U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, a former Indiana secretary of state; former North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue and former U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.

Pate said programs like Toll Fellows are crucial for state officials.

"Continuing leadership development training is important for state officials because Iowans deserve the best," he said. "When given the honor of serving, expanding our leadership skills is key. We should always strive to improve and opportunities like Toll are very beneficial."

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, July 9, 2015/National FFA Organization) - The National FFA Organization has selected 50 outstanding young people to participate in the 2015 New Century Farmer program. This exclusive, highly competitive program develops young men and women committed to pursuing a career in production agriculture.

Participants representing 50 states will take part in an intensive seminar July 12-18 in Johnstown, Iowa. They will learn from each other and industry experts during a series of workshops and sessions. Topics will include the global marketplace, farm financing, demographic trends and risk management. New Century Farmers will hear from motivating and informative keynote speakers who will educate them on the risk and rewards involved with production agriculture. In addition to classroom learning, students will experience the latest developments in agricultural technology.

The New Century Farmer program is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer; Case IH; CSX Corporation; and Farm Credit with media partner Successful Farming as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. The program is designed to provide participants with valuable skills and knowledge applicable to their own farming operations. In addition, they will build a network of colleagues that will benefit them throughout their careers.

The 2015 New Century Farmers are:

California: Erica Larson of Sonoma; Cassidy Steenbock of Romoland
Iowa: Geordan Hanson of Elgin Iowa
Idaho: Kellsie Hodges of Salmon
Illinois: Patrick King of Oneida
Indiana: Jared Baird of Scottsburg, Mallarie Stookey of Milford
Kansas: A.J. Carlson of Clay Center
Massachusetts: Brianna Mann of Stoneham
Maryland: Jordan Borkoski of Baltimore; Dalton Clabaugh of Keymar
Michigan: Dalton Hard of Quincy; Ethan Haywood of Hastings
Minnesota: Jack Chisholm of Gary; Sam Mellgren of Cologne; Brett Petersen of Murdock
Missouri: Monica Campen of Canton; Emilee Haubner of Auxvasse; Cody Jones of Fulton; Jade Morgan of Lamar
Montana: Cali Christensen of Big Timber
North Carolina: Harrison Jenkins of Stony Point; Cara Ruth Pace of Clayton
North Dakota: Justin Bartholomay of  Sheldon; Kady Rath of McClusky; Joshua Stutrud of Barton; Brandon Weber of Thompson; Verlin Zacharias of Kathryn; Donovan Zacharias of Kathryn
New York: Logan Martin of Salamanca; Ryker Smith of Manilius
Ohio: Ryan Goddard of Urbana; Logan Russell of Wapakoneta; Ryan Schwyn of Marysville; D.J. Steele of Amanda; Lee Turner of Waynesfield; Ashley Vogt of Shelby; Ryan Walker of Houston
South Dakota: Adam Krause of Clear Lake; Tara Parmely of Miller
Utah: Calee Lott of Oakley
Virginia: Cole Ramsey of Waynesboro
Washington: Tanner White of Prosser; Olivia Zurcher of Mesa
Wisconsin: Brad Jaeger of Newton; Jackson Remer of Omro; Austin Sprecher of Sauk City; Aaron Zimmerman of Spencer

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 610,240 student members who belong to one of 7,665 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

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The members wrote about the deaths of Kathryn Steinle and Angelica Martinez who were killed by illegal immigrants residing in sanctuary cities where local officials don't cooperate with federal immigration representatives.

"Rather than enhance the successful Secure Communities program, confront sanctuary jurisdictions, defend federal law enforcement's legitimate use of detainers, request additional resources, or ask Congress for a legislative solution, your Department has unilaterally designed a program that will endanger the American people," the members wrote to Johnson.

The members pointed out the disparity between the enforcement priorities the department claims to be making and the reality of the department's actions and its new "Priority Enforcement Program" where criminals of all sorts are not being detained and instead being released into communities across the country.

Grassley has been conducting oversight of the administration's release of individuals who illegally entered the United States and who have subsequently committed other crimes.  Reports show that many of these people are going on to commit new crimes that could have been avoided if they were deported after their initial prison sentence

The letter to Johnson was sent by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest Chairman and Deputy Chairman Jeff Sessions and David Vitter, and senators David Perdue, John Cornyn, Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, Thom Tillis and Orrin Hatch.

A copy of the text of the letter is below.  A signed copy can be found here.

Increasing Your Wellbeing: The Benefits of Integrating Palliative Care with Standard Treatment

Davenport, Iowa (July 2015) - Gilda's Club and Manor Care are partnering to host Dr. Linda Jager and Social Worker Linda Steward in explaining how palliative care is being integrated with standard cancer treatment to provide the best treatment outcomes on Thursday, July 30th, 6:00 p.m. at Gilda's Club, 1234 East River Drive, Davenport, IA.

Many people have heard of palliative care, but often aren't really sure what it is - and is not. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses, provided by a team of physicians, nurses, and other specialists who work with your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support that focuses on relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness whatever the diagnosis. Unlike hospice, it is appropriate at any stage in a serious illness, and can be provided together with curative treatment.

Advanced Registration is preferred as dinner is included.

For more details and registration call Gilda's Club at 563-326-7504 or email erin@gildasclubqc.org

Frankly Speaking About Cancer: Your Immune System & Cancer Treatment

Davenport, Iowa (July 2015) - Gilda's Club and Genesis are partnering to host Dr. Susannah Friemel, Medical Oncologist, in a discussion about your immune system and cancer treatment on Thursday, July 23rd, 5:30 p.m. at Gilda's Club, 1234 East River Drive, Davenport, IA.

Patients and their loved ones are invited to join us as we learn how the immune system interacts with cancer, treatments that are currently available, as well as, treatments that are being developed; and tips to manage common side effects. In addition, participants will learn about ways to cope with the social & emotional challenges of a cancer diagnosis. The workshop will take place Advanced Registration is preferred as dinner is included.