LECLAIRE, Iowa - The cities of LeClaire, Iowa and Port Byron, Illinois are preparing for their unique 3-day event that is unlike any festival anywhere else in the USA. It's called Tug Fest and runs August 7-9.

Tug Fest includes live bands, carnival rides, great food, a grand parade, 5K run and the greatest fireworks spectacular in the two-state area. What makes Tug Fest truly unique is the fact that it is the only Tug-of-War event in the country that spans two states and crosses the Mississippi River. LeClaire, Iowa's theme this year is "Defending Our Eagle", a salute to our U.S. Military, and "Tug for a Cause" proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project.

On the August 9th from 12:30-3:00 PM, barge traffic and pleasure boats will yield the right of way to a 2,400 foot long, 680 pound rope that stretches across the river between the two towns. Eleven teams from each side compete against each other trying to gain advantage by pulling in the most feet of rope within 3 minutes. The town with the most winning teams receives the coveted "Alabaster Eagle in Flight" trophy and bragging rights for that year.

This year's festival kicks off on Thursday, August 7th with Family Night and free admission to the LeClaire Levee area. For $20 you will receive a wristband for unlimited carnival rides that evening. Friday, August 8th is the grand parade and fireworks spectacular, and Saturday, August 9th is all about tugging. Illinois leads the competition with 16 winning years over Iowa's 11. Admission to the LeClaire Levee is $5 on Friday and Saturday.

For more information and a complete Tug Fest schedule, please visit: www.tugfest.com

Situated at the intersection of I-80 and Hwy. 67 just north of the Quad Cities, LeClaire offers a complete shopping and dining experience. Relax along the scenic streets of this historic river town that exudes turn-of-the-century charm. LeClaire has great events including First Friday, weekly Farmer's Market, car shows, and the Tug Fest in August. Attractions include the Buffalo Bill Museum, Antique Archaeology - "Home of the American Pickers", Wide River Winery and The Mississippi River Distilling Co. Nature lovers enjoy the scenery at Lock and Dam #14 - bald eagles in the winter and pelicans during the spring and fall. For more information: www.visitleclaire.com

URBANDALE, Aug. 5, 2014 - Dave Duncan, CEO of the Iowa Communications Alliance ("the Alliance") announced that Kevin Condon will serve as the Alliance's Director of Public Affairs.  Condon will lead the Alliance's state and federal advocacy initiatives, public affairs, communications, and media efforts.

"We're pleased to have Kevin join our team.  He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in public policy, communications, and rural economic development."  Duncan said.  "We believe Kevin will be a great advocate for the rural communications industry."

Prior to joining the Alliance, Condon was Director of Government Relations at the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, advocating for the state's largest business group.  As part of ABI's public policy team he was also responsible for communications, policy development, regulatory affairs and media relations.  Prior to that, Condon worked for United States Senator Tom Harkin in a variety of roles on Capitol Hill in Washington DC and most recently as the Senator's Business and Economic Development Liaison in Des Moines, IA where he became involved in many projects that received federal investment through the USDA Rural Development programs.  Condon has also served as the Government Relations Representative for the National Farmers Union in Washington DC advocating for the economic and social well-being of rural Americans. Condon grew up on a farm in Webster County where his parents continue to belong to the Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association.

"I am looking forward to this opportunity that will allow me to help the Alliance support Iowa's companies and cooperatives that provide critical communications access to their customers and their communities. People like my parents and the area I grew up in depend upon Alliance members to stay connected. It means a great deal to me personally to be able to help further the efforts of this great organization."

Established in 2014, the Iowa Communications Alliance is the voice of Iowa's rural communications industry.  The Alliance provides educational opportunities to members, promotes economic growth and stability of members and the communities they serve, and advocates in matters of state and federal public and regulatory policy.

CHICAGO - Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka launched a new mobile application this morning on social media that will put taxpayer and vendor payment information right at their fingertips.

Topinka explained Illinois Pays during a video release announcement today.  

"Illinois Pays gives you quick and easy access to the latest news and announcements from the Comptroller's Office," said Topinka.  "It also allows vendors to set up the app to view the most recent payments we have deposited in their bank accounts."

This new FREE mobile application is available now at the Apple and Google Play stores.

IL Pays is part of Topinka's ongoing effort to make state government more transparent and accessible to taxpayers. In launching the Ledger, she enabled residents to click their way through everything from the state's daily bill backlog numbers to state agency budgets and employee salaries. She then launched the Warehouse, a comprehensive database that puts Local Government financial information and tens of thousands of records at a single location for taxpayer review. Earlier this year, Topinka's office included an insert in tax refund envelopes providing residents with state spending and bill backlog information in addition to making tax refund information easily accessible at the Comptroller's MyRefund website.

"It is important that we do everything possible to ensure that state and local government finances are transparent and easy to find," added Topinka.  "And as I've said before, we're not finished yet. So stay tuned."

This year's corn yields are on track for big yields and the soybean outcome still could change, as revealed in the latest Farm Futures producer survey.

ST. CHARLES, ILL., 7:30 A.M., CDT, (08/05/2014) ? Farmers are gearing up to harvest record corn and soybean crops this fall, if weather holds for the rest of the growing season, according to results of the latest Farm Futures survey.

Bin buster potential is high
Corn production could hit 14.331 billion bushels this fall; nearly 3% more than the bin buster they grew in 2013. Average yields of 171.06 bushels per acre (bpa) appear possible nationwide, also a record, after a summer marked by cool temperatures.

Soybeans also appear on track for records, though output could still be trimmed by late summer dryness - or driven higher if conditions moderate into fall. Farm Futures projects yields of 46.07 bpa on average, for a crop of 3.857 billion bushels.

"Soybean yields are still uncertain, with a lot of variance still possible in how the crop will wind up," said Bryce Knorr, Farm Futures senior market analyst. "Drying conditions headed into August are a concern from eastern Kentucky and Tennessee up through Missouri, Iowa and parts of the Dakotas."

Below average precipitation in the second half of July doesn't appear to be harming corn potential, thanks to mild, if not cool conditions in the Midwest that reduced moisture needs for the crop. "Our survey shows potential for larger corn yields if an extended period of grain fill allows kernels to gain weight," Knorr said.

Commodity price indications
Prices of both crops should be headed lower if yield potential holds. "Cheaper corn should encourage some additional demand, but ending stocks on Aug. 31, 2015 could still rise toward 2 billion bushels. That could send the average cash price for the crop under $3.75, with futures prices already below that level. Farmers should get some downside protection from the new farm program, but it may take production problems in other growing regions to stabilize prices," said Knorr.

Soybean inventories should also grow in the year ahead, starting to approach a burdensome level of 400 million bushels. That could push the average cash price for the crop below $10, even with robust export sales.

"Preseason bookings are off to a record start, and better economic growth in China could boost our exports significantly," Knorr said. "But stocks may still be huge a year from now, especially if growers in Brazil follow through with plans to increase production there."

Farm Futures surveyed more than 1,325 growers by email July 21 to Aug. 4. USDA makes its first estimate of 2014 corn and soybean production based on surveys of farmers and their fields Aug. 12.