1. An invitation to participate in a televised debate hosted by KWWL-TV in late August or September in Waterloo and broadcast on KWWL, KTTC-TV in Mason City, and KTIV-TV in Sioux CIty.
2. A televised debate hosted by KCAU-TV during the week of October 6th in Sioux City and broadcast on KCAU, WOI-TV in Des Moines, and WHBF-TV in Davenport.
3. A televised debate hosted by Iowa Public Television on October 23, 2014, in Perry, Iowa, and broadcast statewide on IPTV.

Congressman: The United States should not engage in another open-ended conflict

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) is today asking Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to answer questions about the nature of America's recent military reengagement in Iraq after it was announced that the Pentagon was sending an additional 130 military personnel to northern Iraq.

"America has made enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and our commitment to ensuring its security has justifiably ended," Braley said. "While it's appropriate to take steps to address the humanitarian crisis and protect America's national security interests, I remain firmly opposed to another long, open-ended commitment that places our troops in harm's way and am deeply concerned by the recent decision to redeploy troops in Iraq."

In addition to outlining his concerns about involving America in another open-ended mission in Iraq, Braley asked Hagel to provide answers to a series of questions including the timetable for bringing home all American military personnel, the estimated cost of the current mission, and the Administration's intention to seek Congressional authorization for the mission.

"I believe the current situation in Iraq is a challenging one. However I do not believe the United States should engage in another long-term conflict in Iraq," Braley wrote.

A copy of Braley's letter is available online HERE.

DES MOINES, IA (08/14/2014)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald announced today that 85% of the children that have participated in the College Savings Iowa's annual State Fair survey show getting a college education is a necessary step to achieving their dreams and career aspirations. "Iowa children are already thinking about their futures," stated Fitzgerald. "This survey demonstrates how important it is for families to start planning and saving early to help make college a reality for their children."

"Every year we ask children visiting the fair what they want to be when they grow up and if they will need to go to college to achieve these goals," Fitzgerald said. "Needless to say, we are always amazed by the responses they offer." Nineteen percent are planning on becoming veterinarians, with another 18% hoping to become teachers. Artist came in third this year with 14% of the responses.

"According to the survey, the majority of kids think a college education will cost them around $100,000," Fitzgerald added. "Families that save and invest for their children's college education will be better prepared to meet the challenge of paying for it when the time arrives, and College Savings Iowa is here to help." Anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest in College Savings Iowa on behalf of a child. This year Iowa taxpayers can deduct up to $3,098 in contributions per beneficiary account from their adjusted gross income.* Earnings grow tax free and investors can withdraw their investment federally and Iowa state tax-free to pay for qualified higher education expenses including tuition, books, supplies and certain room and board costs at any eligible college, university, community college or accredited technical training school in the United States or abroad.**

. You can also connect with the plan on Facebook and Twitter (@Iowa529Plan) to stay up to date on current giveaways and events.

*Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

**Earnings on non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 888-672-9116 or visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

College Savings Iowa is an Iowa trust sponsored by the Iowa State Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer of the State of Iowa sponsors and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as Investment Manager and Vanguard Marketing Corporation, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group, Inc., assists the Treasurer with marketing and distributing the Plan. Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC, provides records administration services. The Plan's portfolios, although they invest in Vanguard mutual funds, are not mutual funds.

Specialty crop growers interested in food safety certification and risk management for their farms should plan to attend a Mock GAP Audit Workshop Aug. 26, 1-4 p.m. at Feed Iowa First packinghouse, 1506 10th St SE, Cedar Rapids.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is hosting the three-hour workshop to provide growers with a better understanding of the auditing process for GAP -- Good Agricultural Practices -- certification. Participants will tour a new packing shed in an unused commercial building as well as an urban garden space. They will discuss harvest protocols with volunteer labor, review the basics of a farm food safety plan, observe how a farm food safety plan has been implemented, and review the USDA GAP/GHP Audit Checklist and learn how to apply it to their farm setting.

The program is funded through a grant from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Services Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

The key instructors will be ISU Extension and Outreach specialists Angela Shaw and Teresa Wiemerslage. The fee for the workshop is $20 per participant and registration is online at http://bit.ly/12sLsxE. For more information, please contact Angela Shaw at 515-294-0868 or email at angelaml@iastate.edu.