Todd Prichard highlights Braley's successful effort to take on Pentagon & ensure Iowa National Guard troops were given the pay they were promised

Des Moines, IA - A new 30 second television advertisement was launched by Braley for Iowa today, telling another story of Rep. Bruce Braley's work delivering results to Iowans, in which he ensured members of the Iowa National Guard who served the longest continuous deployment in the Iraq conflict were given the pay they were promised.

The ad, titled "Receive," features Iowa National Guard veteran and state Rep. Todd Prichard, resident of Charles City, who served in the Iowa National Guard's 1-133^rd infantry battalion. Members of the unit were deployed for 17 months in Iraq, and had their tour extended while serving abroad. According to the Quad City Times, the Department of Defense promised the soldiers up to $200 per day in additional pay because they served beyond their scheduled deployments. But years after their return home, they had not received the promised pay.

Prichard said, "Our unit was promised additional pay because our tour in Iraq was extended, but we waited and waited and the pay never came. Bruce Braley went to bat for us to make sure we got the pay we were promised. He fought for us and got results, and because of his efforts nearly 800 Iowa National Guard members got the pay we deserved."

Waterloo resident and Iowa National Guard Sgt. Jesse McCunniff, also a member of the unit, said, "When you're serving abroad, it's good to know somebody has your back. Bruce Braley fought for two years to make sure every single Iowa National Guard member promised respite pay got the benefits they had earned. Bruce stood up to the Pentagon bureaucracy and delivered results for Iowa troops who had put their lives on the line."

More than 22,000 National Guard members, including almost 800 Iowa National Guard members, ultimately didn't receive proper compensation. Braley was "at the forefront of restoring the lost respite pay," and worked for "two years to see that the Guard members get the respite leave benefits they earned on lengthy deployments." Braley "has been leading efforts in the US House to fix this back pay problem," introducing and passing legislation that enabled the Pentagon to live up to their commitments.

The ad is airing on broadcast and cable television statewide across Iowa, and can be viewed at the following link: http://youtu.be/1vFQAaRKkiY

Burlington designated hitter Kody Eaves has a game-high three hits and scores deciding run

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 17, 2014) - Quad Cities River Bandits third baseman J.D. Davis gave his team a 4-2 lead with a two-run home run in the third inning, but the Burlington Bees tallied single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings of a 5-4 win in the rubber match of a three-game series in front of 3,684 at Modern Woodmen Park Sunday afternoon.

For the third straight game, Burlington (26-29 second half, 64-60 overall) scored first, each team held the lead, and the final was a one-run game. The Bees took a second-inning lead against River Bandits right-hander Adrian Houser. First baseman Eric Aguilera hit a leadoff line drive through the right side of the infield that rolled to the right-field wall for a double. An error by shortstop Dayne Parker moved Aguilera to third base, and he later scored on catcher Stephen McGee's RBI groundout to second baseman Jose Fernandez.

The River Bandits tied the game in the next half-inning against left-hander Sean Newcomb. Left fielder Marc Wik singled through the left side of the infield, and Fernandez lined a base hit to center field. Both runners stole a base while catcher Brett Booth was batting, and right fielder James Ramsay hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Wik. Burlington retook the lead in the third, as center fielder Bo Way hit a one-out single to left field, went to third base on a single by designated hitter Kody Eaves and scored on shortstop Zach Houchins' groundout.

With a 2-1 lead, Newcomb began the third inning by walking River Bandits center fielder Bobby Boyd, who stole second base. A groundout by designated hitter Ryan Bottger sent Boyd to third base, and first baseman Chase McDonald drove a game-tying double to left-center field. Davis then hit his second Midwest League home run - and second at home against Burlington - to the Built Ford Tough Deck. Newcomb was removed after 2 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits and two walks with one strikeout.

Following Newcomb, right-hander Ryan Etsell (5-3) pitched 3 1/3 shutout innings and allowed three hits and a walk with five strikeouts. In the fifth inning, two hits and a walk loaded the bases, but Etsell got Fernandez to fly out and struck out Booth to strand all three runners. With a 4-2 lead, Houser worked a perfect fourth inning, but in the fifth, second baseman Erick Salcedo hit a one-out double to left-center field and scored on Eaves' RBI single. Houser allowed three earned runs on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts in five innings.

Right-hander Kevin Comer (1-4) retired the first two batters of the sixth inning before right fielder Brandon Bayardi doubled down the third-base line. Comer hit McGee with a pitch, and third baseman Ryan Dalton hit a game-tying bloop single to right field. In the seventh inning, Eaves hit a leadoff double, went to third base on a groundout, and scored the go-ahead run on Aguilera's sacrifice fly. Comer allowed three earned runs on four hits and a walk with a strikeout in three innings. Left-hander Jordan Mills pitched a scoreless ninth inning, but the Bees finished the three-game series by scoring at least one run in 13 of their 27 innings on offense.

After Etsell, Bees right-hander Brian Loconsole worked around Fernandez's eighth-inning, one-out double for two scoreless innings. Right-hander Ben Carlson walked Boyd with one out in the ninth inning, but with Boyd running from first base, Way caught Bottger's deep fly ball in right-center field and threw to first base for the game-ending double play. Carlson earned his 12^th save.

Quad Cities has lost 13 of its last 18 games but has 15 regular season games remaining. The River Bandits begin a six-game road stretch at 6:35 p.m. Monday in Cedar Rapids. River Bandits right-hander Andrew Thurman (5-8) is scheduled to face Kernels right-hander Chih-Wei Hu (5-1) in the opener of a three-game series at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

UP NEXT: The season's final homestand opens with MidAmerican Energy Day and Family Sunday presented by KWQC and B100 at 1:15 p.m. Aug. 24. Pregame autographs are at 12:30 p.m., Bark in the Park means dogs are welcome to the Modern Woodmen Berm, and Kids Run the Bases after the game. The River Bandits are then home through Aug. 29. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com.

DES MOINES, IA (08/17/2014)(readMedia)-- Beth and James Romer of Ames won Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Single Spike and Grand Champion Miniature or Seedling honors in the Gladiolus show judged Thursday at the 2014 Iowa State Fair.

Andy Tygrett of Atalissa received the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Three Spike titles. He was also awarded Runner-up to Reserve Champion Single Spike.

Additional results below:

SINGLE SPIKE

White, Green, Cream, Yellow

1) LeRoy Orth, Ames

2) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

3) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

Orange, Salmon

1) Beth and James Romer, Ames

2) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

3) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

Pink, L Red

1) LeRoy Orth, Ames

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

MD Red, Rose

1) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

2) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

3) Beth and James Romer, Ames

Lavender, Violets, Smokies

1) LeRoy Orth, Ames

2) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

3) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

White

1) Beth and James Romer, Ames

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

Green, PLM Yellow

1) Beth and James Romer, Ames

2) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

3) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

D Yellow, Orange

1) LeRoy Orth, Ames

2) LeRoy Orth, Ames

3) Beth and James Romer, Ames

Salmon, Pink

1) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

Red, Rose

1) LeRoy Orth, Ames

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

Lavender

1) Beth and James Romer, Ames

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) LeRoy Orth, Ames

Violet, Smokies

1) LeRoy Orth, Ames

2) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

3) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

White A-M, White N-Z

1) Beth and James Romer, Ames

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) LeRoy Orth, Ames

White W/M, Green

1) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

2) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

3) Beth and James Romer, Ames

P Yellow, L Yellow, MD Yellow

1) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

PL Orange, MD Orange

1) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

2) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

3) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

LM Salmon, D Salmon, P Pink

1) LeRoy Orth, Ames

2) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

3) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

L Pink

1) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

M Pink, M Pink W/M, D Pink

1) Beth and James Romer, Ames

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

L Red

1) Beth and James Romer, Ames

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) Beth and James Romer, Ames

MD Black Red

1) Beth and James Romer, Ames

2) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

3) Beth and James Romer, Ames

Rose

1) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

Lavender

1) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

2) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

3) Beth and James Romer, Ames

D Lavender, Violet, Smokies

1) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

2) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

3) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

White, Green, Yellow

1) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

2) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

3) Beth and James Romer, Ames

Orange, Salmon

1) Beth and James Romer, Ames

2) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

3) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

Pink, Red

1) Beth and James Romer, Ames

2) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

3) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

Black Red, Rose

1) LeRoy Orth, Ames

2) LeRoy Orth, Ames

3) Beth and James Romer, Ames

Lavender, Violet, Smokies

1) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

Seedling Sizes 100, 200, 300

1) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) LeRoy Orth, Ames

Seedling Sizes 400, 500

1) Beth and James Romer, Ames

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) Beth and James Romer, Ames

THREE SPIKE

All 200-299, 100-199

1) LeRoy Orth, Ames

2) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

3) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

All 300-399

1) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

2) Beth and James Romer, Ames

3) LeRoy Orth, Ames

White thru Salmon

1) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

2) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

3) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

Pink thru Smokies

1) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

2) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

3) LeRoy Orth, Ames

All 500-599

1) Beth and James Romer, Ames

2) Joseph Nosler, Mechanicsville

Design Class - Cottage Garden

1) Jacob Van Patten, Indianola

2) LeRoy Orth, Ames

3) Beth and James Romer, Ames

4) Andy Tygrett, Atalissa

NOVICE

All Colors Combined (300)

1) Jordyn Shaw, Waverly

2) Lois Kersten Field, Harlan

3) Rebecca Bond, Waverly

All Colors Combined (400)

1) Lois Kersten Field, Harlan

2) Lois Kersten Field, Harlan

3) Matthew Greazel, Boone

All Colors Combined (500)

1) Matthew Greazel, Boone

2) Matthew Greazel, Boone

"Nothing Compares" to the 2014 Iowa State Fair, August 7-17. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines, and are open 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. each day of the Fair. Exhibit hours may vary. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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Also Signs New Law to Restrict Display of E-Cigarettes Across Illinois

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to prohibit smoking on the campuses of all state-supported colleges and universities. The smoking ban takes effect July 1, 2015 and applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces on campuses. The Governor also signed a law to restrict the display of e-cigarettes. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to protect and improve the health and well-being of all people in every community across Illinois.

"Illinois' college students shouldn't be subject to unwanted cigarette smoke on the campuses they call home," Governor Quinn said. "We want all schools to be healthy, clean and productive places of learning for Illinois' bright young minds. This new law will improve the health of our students and encourage healthier lifestyles after college graduation."

Senate Bill 2202, sponsored by State Senator Terry Link (D-Waukegan) and State Representative Ann Williams (D-Chicago), creates the Smoke Free Campus Act that prohibits all smoking on state-supported college and university campuses in Illinois beginning July 1, 2015.

"Smoke free policies have been proven to result in lower smoking prevalence rates.  That's one of the many reasons the American Lung Association is proud to have worked alongside state legislators on the Smoke Free Campus Act," American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest CEO Lew Bartfield said. "In addition, the new law will provide a healthy learning environment that promotes health and wellness for students, faculty, staff and visitors at all public colleges and universities in Illinois. The law not only minimizes toxic secondhand smoke exposure but also improves the campus environment by reducing smoking related litter. We applaud the Illinois State Legislature and Governor Pat Quinn for passing and signing the Illinois Smoke Free Campus Act."

"Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death," Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck said. "Smoke-free campuses make it more difficult for students and staff to smoke, thereby decreasing the number of people who smoke, and reducing the number of people who start."

Exceptions to the law are made for smoking inside privately owned vehicles traveling through campus and certain activities allowed under the Federal American Indian Religious Freedom Act.  A companion bill signed today by Governor Quinn, House Bill 3961, allows smoking on campus inside parked, non-state-owned vehicles. The Smoke Free Campus Act requires each institution to establish a community task force by December 31, 2014 to coordinate the implementation of the act.

Currently in Illinois, the following universities and colleges are smoke-free: Aurora University, Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing, City Colleges of Chicago (7 colleges), College of DuPage, Danville Area Community College, Greenville College, Hannibal LaGrange University,  McHenry County College, Olivet Nazarene University, Rush University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,  University of Illinois at Chicago, Waubonsee Community College and  Wheaton College.

Additionally, there are current efforts to establish smoke-free/tobacco-free campuses at Southern Illinois University and Illinois State University. The other state-supported higher education institutions that would be mandated to become smoke-free include :  Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Western Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Northeastern Illinois University and any community college subject to the Public Community College Act. Other states with colleges and universities that have 100 percent smoke-free policies include : California, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

"A college education can put people ahead in life, but smoking can do just the opposite," Senator Link said. "This new law will clear the air on campuses statewide and help produce healthier graduates."

"This is a continuation of the efforts of Smoke Free Illinois to protect Illinoisans from the very significant danger of secondhand smoke," Representative Williams said. "This initiative will extend important public health protections to those studying, working and living at our public college and university campuses."

Governor Quinn today also signed House Bill 5868, sponsored by State Representative Kathleen Willis (D-Northlake) and State Senator John G. Mulroe (D-Chicago), which requires that alternative nicotine products such as e-cigarettes be displayed under the same restrictions as cigarettes. The products must be sold from behind a counter, in an age-restricted area or in a sealed case, and may not be dispensed from a self-service display. A previously passed law prohibits the sale of alternative nicotine items to those under 18 years of age. House Bill 5868 is effective Jan. 1, 2015.

"While many residents may use e-cigarettes to kick bad habits, these products have no place within arm's reach along the aisles of our pharmacies and grocery stores," Governor Quinn said. "This new law will ensure e-cigarettes are safely displayed behind the counter, where they belong."

Governor Quinn has long supported public health improvement measures in Illinois. Shortly after taking office in 2009 the Governor signed Senate Bill 2757, which strengthens enforcement of the Smoke Free Illinois Act by providing additional guidelines for writing citations.

In 2012, Governor Quinn signed into law a $1 per pack increase in the price of cigarettes, providing $350 million in revenue and dollar-for-dollar federal matching funds of $350 million for Medicaid. The American Cancer Society estimated the increase would prevent some 77,000 young people from smoking and prompt an additional 60,000 adults to quit. In 2013, Governor Quinn signed a law that bans the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors.

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