Washington, D.C. - Congressmen Dave Loebsack today met with leaders of the Iowa City Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, including the Acting Director. During the meeting, Loebsack was briefed on the process the Iowa City VA uses for scheduling appointments, the average wait time for new patients and the general quality of care that the veterans receive. He also gathered information about how he can ensure veterans receive the timely, quality care they deserve.

"I appreciate Acting Director Horsman and her staff for briefing me on the Iowa City VA's efforts to reduce wait times, expand mental health care, and their efforts to hire more medical specialists to help meet veteran demand and reduce wait times. While I have been extremely concerned about the reports of alleged preventable deaths and reported cover ups at VA health clinics nationwide, I know that Iowa VA employees are doing an excellent job taking care of our veterans. As a military parent, I am incredibly upset that this could have ever happened to the men and women who honorably served our nation. We owe it to our nation's veterans to provide the VA with the resources necessary to hire additional doctors and nurses so they can continue the great work they do in our community," said Congressman Loebsack.

Quad Cities completes Sunday's game with 7-4 win; loses seven-inning game, 4-3, despite three homers

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (June 2, 2014) - Quad Cities catcher Brett Booth hit a ninth-inning, go-ahead home run to help his team to a 7-4 win to complete a suspended game Monday afternoon, and the River Bandits hit three more home runs in the game that followed, but Wisconsin Timber Rattlers second baseman Francisco Castillo hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in his team's 4-3, seven-inning victory in front of 4,071 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

Holding a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when play resumed from Sunday's suspended game, Quad Cities (30-27) added a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by third baseman Tyler White. Right-hander Adrian Houser (4-1) held the 4-2 lead until the bottom of the eighth, when he hit designated hitter Clint Coulter with a pitch and allowed a one-out double to first baseman Taylor Brennan. Castillo then grounded a single between first baseman Jon Kemmer and second baseman Chan-Jong Moon to score both runs and tie the game, 4-4.

In the ninth inning against right-hander Harvey Martin (2-4), Booth led off by driving a 1-1 pitch over the left-field fence for his first Midwest League home run and the third of the game that spanned two days. With one out, right fielder Ronnie Mitchell reached on an infield single and went to second base when left fielder Tanner Mathis singled to center field. But center fielder Johnny Davis' throw to the infield got away, allowing Mitchell to reach third base, and Brennan's throw toward third base was also wild, allowing Mitchell to score and Mathis to reach third base. Designated hitter Chase McDonald then celebrated his 22^nd birthday by singling home Mathis for a 7-4 lead.

After Houser allowed a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth, right-hander Andrew Walter came in to strike out the next three batters for his fifth save. It gave Quad Cities a six-game winning streak to match its season high and move a season-best four games above .500.

In a seven-inning series finale, River Bandits right-hander Andrew Thurman struck out five of the first seven batters of the game, and he got support in the second inning from Mitchell's leadoff home run - his seventh in the last 13 games - off right-hander Preston Gainey.

Wisconsin (26-31) tied the game in the third inning. Left fielder Omar Garcia hit a leadoff double, went to third on a sacrifice and scored on a passed ball by catcher Jake Rodriguez. It was the only run against Thurman, who allowed four hits and struck out four in four innings.

In the top of the fourth inning, White smashed a 3-1 pitch from Gainey over the left-field fence for a 2-1 Quad Cities lead. Gainey's next pitch struck Mitchell squarely in the back, and home plate umpire Mike Savakinas ejected Gainey, who had allowed five hits and no walks with two strikeouts in three-plus innings. Left-hander Trevor Seidenberger took over, and he pitched the final four innings, yielding a sixth-inning home run by White, who joined Thomas Lindauer as the only River Bandits with a two-homer game this season.

River Bandits left-hander Chris Lee (2-3) began the fifth inning with a 2-1 lead but allowed three straight one-out singles and a gamke-tying, bases-loaded walk. Coulter grounded into a fielder's choice to give his team a 3-2 lead that lasted until White's game-tying home run. In a 3-3, seventh-inning tie, Lee allowed a one-out walk to Coulter and single by Brennan. With runners at first and third bases, Castillo flied to center fielder Brett Phillips, who spun and threw high to home, as Coulter scored for Quad Cities' fourth walk-off loss this season.

Following its final first-half off day Tuesday, Quad Cities opens a three-game series in Burlington at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, when River Bandits right-hander Jandel Gustave (5-2) is scheduled to start against Bees right-hander Victor Alcantara (2-3).

UP NEXT: The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park at 6 p.m. Saturday with a Craig Biggio Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Prairie Farms and FOX18 for the first 1,500 fans. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 110 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, followed by a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded 300-foot long zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. Last season, the team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.

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Residents Encouraged to Monitor Conditions and Follow Direction of Local Officials

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)?through its regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City and Denton (Texas)?is monitoring the possibility of tornadoes and large hail on Tuesday across parts of the Central Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley. Residents in potentially affected areas should take the time now to prepare for severe weather and to monitor conditions via NOAA Weather Radio and local media.

FEMA is in close contact with the National Weather Service, which is forecasting the development of severe thunderstorms across the Great Plains into the Ohio Valley and central Appalachians Tuesday into Wednesday. The storms may bring the potential for significant severe weather events. Comprehensive forecasts for specific areas are available at www.weather.gov.

When natural disasters like severe weather and tornadoes strike, immediate aid often comes from neighbors, family, friends and co-workers. First responders?such as local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations and numerous private interest groups?provide rapid emergency assistance to protect the public's health and safety and to meet immediate human needs.

Severe Weather and Tornado Safety Tips

· Maintain an emergency supply kit both at home and in the car to help prepare for power outages or impassable roads. Visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov to learn more about how to be better prepared and how to protect your family during emergencies. Find severe weather and tornado preparedness tips at www.ready.gov/severe-weather.

· Follow the instructions of state and local officials, and listen to local radio or TV station for updated disaster response and sheltering information. Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio and local news to monitor for severe weather updates and warnings. The National Weather Service is the official source for tornado watches and warnings.

· Many mobile devices are capable of receiving free Wireless Emergency Alerts, which are sent by public safety officials such as the National Weather Service about imminent threats like severe weather. They look like a text message and show the type and time of the alert, any action you should take and the agency issuing the alert.

· Become familiar with the terms used to identify severe weather. Discuss with your family what to do if a watch or warning is issued.

Terms Used to Describe Tornado and Other Severe Weather Hazards

· For flooding:

· A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding.

· A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.

· A Flash Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flash flooding.

· A Flash Flood Warning is issued when flash flooding is imminent or occurring.

· A Flash Flood Emergency is issued when severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from a flash flood is imminent or ongoing.

· For a severe thunderstorm:

· A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued when severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area.

· A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued when severe thunderstorms are occurring or imminent in the warning area.

· For a tornado:

· A Tornado Watch is issued when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. It does not mean that they will occur. It only means they are possible.

· A Tornado Warning means a tornado is imminent, take shelter immediately.

· A Tornado Emergency is issued when severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage is imminent or ongoing, and reliable sources confirm a tornado.

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Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

DES MOINES, IA (06/02/2014)(readMedia)-- Hit, run, score! Summer is near, and the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation needs your help to find this year's Iowan of the Day All-Star team lineup. These exceptional all-stars will be honored at the 2014 Iowa State Fair August 7-17. All-stars are those who step up to the plate as a captain in their community and go the extra innings to help those around them.

Iowan of the Day nominations should be based on acts of relentless community involvement, leadership and an outstanding sense of Iowa pride. All nominees must currently live in Iowa. Other materials such as testimonials, photos or newspaper articles that demonstrate the greatness of your nominee are welcomed. Each Iowan of the Day winner will receive his or her own day of recognition at the 2014 Iowa State Fair.

This day of honor includes an introduction on the Anne & Bill Riley Stage, VIP parking, gate admission, use of the Iowan of the Day golf cart and Grandstand show tickets for the evening of their award day. In addition, all winners will receive $200 in cash, accommodations at the Des Moines Downtown Marriott Hotel the night before their day of recognition, and a one-year subscription to The Iowan & Iowa Gardening magazine.

Help us recognize the people that are worthy and deserving of this all-star award. Nomination forms can be downloaded online at www.blueribbonfoundation.org/iotd or by calling the Blue Ribbon Foundation at 1-800-450-3732. All nominations are due by July 1, 2014.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has generated more than $100 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

 

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