"In the Footsteps of History" to highlight Harkin's partnership with Iowa communities through the years

DES MOINES - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that his office is launching a summer tour of all Iowa counties aimed at highlighting his partnership with Iowa communities through the years, which include efforts to keep Iowa communities healthy and safe, keep communities thriving through targeted education, research, and economic development projects and promote local agriculture and conservation, while mitigating disasters.  The tour begins May 1 in Shelby County and will run through July.

"One of Iowa's many strengths is its communities, which are strengthened by investments that create jobs, foster economic development, and improve the health and wellbeing of its residents," said Harkin. "Local economies are stronger with these investments.  I am proud of every project I have worked on that has invested in Iowa communities and I look forward to revisiting the progress that has been made over the years."

The kickoff event for the "In the Footsteps of History" tour will be at the Danish windmill in Shelby County, where Harkin's State Director, Rob Barron, will return exactly 38 years to the day that Harkin as a new Congressman helped in the reconstruction of the windmill.  Harkin was invited to help in the project after he successfully got the windmill released from New York, where it was being held due to import levies.  Then-Congressman Harkin not only got the windmill released, but worked to see that the community received a refund for the levy.  The windmill stood on Danish soil for 127 years before it was purchased by the Elk Horn community in 1976.  (Click here for a photo of Harkin working inside the windmill and here talking to Iowans after its reconstruction.)

Each summer, Senator Harkin's staff visits each Iowa county to talk to Iowans about the issues impacting them and their families.  Staff will then post information on their visits on Senator Harkin's web site (http://harkin.senate.gov/)

A full list of events for this year's tour is still coming together, but all events will be advised to media by county. 

Best-of-Seven Series Starts Friday in Texas

Mallards Host Games Three and Four April 23 and 25;

Game Five, If Necessary, April 26 at iWireless Center

RAPID CITY, S.D. (April 16, 2014) - The Quad City Mallards tonight defeated the host Rapid City Rush 3-1 in the seventh and deciding game of the opening round of the Central Hockey League President's Cup playoffs to advance to a best-of-seven CHL semi-final match-up with the Allen Americans that will begin Friday night in Allen.

After opening the second round at the Allen Event Center Friday night, the Mallards and Americans will meet in game two next Sunday afternoon in Allen.  The series will shift to the Quad Cities for game three next Wednesday night, April 23 and game four next Friday evening, April 25.  Both of those contests will face off at 7:05 p.m., as would a potential fifth game which, if necessary, will be played next Saturday, April 26 at the iWireless Center.  Should a sixth game be required, the series would move back to Allen on Tuesday night, April 29.  If the series goes the distance, the Americans would host the seventh and deciding game on Wednesday evening, April 30.

Jordan Mayer and Thomas Frazee tonight provided a goal and an assist apiece and Thomas Heemskerk made 26 saves to propel the Mallards to their first playoff series win since 2003.

Mayer gave the Mallards a 1-0 lead with a wrist shot from the right wing boards at 1:33 of the second period.  Frazee broke in alone to double the advantage at 7:01 of the second.  The Rush trimmed the gap to 2-1 just over two minutes later with Winston Day Chief's net-crashing power play goal.

The Malllards protected the one goal lead deep into the third period before Vladimir Nikiforov one-timed a power play goal from the slot to finish off the Rush with just 1:41 remaining.

The Mallards and Americans split four regular season meetings.  The Mallards went 1-1-0 on home ice against the Americans and 1-1-0 in Allen.

Tickets for Mallards home playoff games can be purchased in person at the iWireless Center box office, online at ticketmaster.com, at Ticketmaster outlets or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  The ticket office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are in the midst of their seventeenth season their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.net.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

Quad City Mallards vs. Allen Americans - Central Hockey League President's Cup Semi-Finals

Game One: Friday, April 18 @ Allen, 7:05 p.m.

Game Two: Sunday, April 20 @ Allen, 4:05 p.m.

Game Three: Wednesday, April 23 @ Quad City, 7:05 p.m.

Game Four: Friday, April 25 @ Quad City, 7:05 p.m.

Game Five*: Saturday, April 26 @ Quad City, 7:05 p.m.

Game Six*: Tuesday, April 29 @ Allen, 7:05 p.m.

Game Seven*: Wednesday, April 30 @ Allen, 7:05 p.m.

Will Discuss His Proposals to Drive Small Business Development and Expansion

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today will address the annual meeting of the Small Business Advocacy Council and discuss his strong support for small business in Illinois. Governor Quinn's initiatives have helped small businesses start and expand in Illinois, and proposals he unveiled in his recent State of the State and Budget Addresses will continue to improve the state's small business environment. Today's event is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward by supporting small business in Illinois.

"Three out of four employers in Illinois are small businesses, and helping these companies start and grow is one of my top priorities," Governor Quinn said. "The number of people employed by Illinois small businesses has grown by more than 92,000 jobs the past three years to more than 4.1 million individuals. That's good news, but we have more work to do. That is why I am proposing a tax cut for businesses that train workers, and to cut the LLC fee by 90 percent to be the lowest in the nation."

Under Governor Quinn, small businesses across Illinois have helped drive our economic recovery. Illinois' tourism industry is breaking records - more than 100 million visitors for the first time ever and $33.5 billion in spending in local economies across the state. Illinois' film industry has also set new records, generating over $350 million in economic activity. In 2012, a new digital company was launched in Chicago every 24 hours.

Illinois was recently ranked third in the US for new corporate locations and expansions by Site Selection magazine. Since recovery from the recession began in January 2010, Illinois has added 257,000 private sector jobs. Unemployment was at 11.4 percent at the height of the Great Recession and today it is at its lowest point in almost five years.

To support Illinois small businesses, in 2011 Governor Quinn launched Advantage Illinois, which has provided more than $50 million in investment directly to small businesses, leveraging more than $420 million in private investments. The program has helped almost 200 small businesses create or retain more than 3,800 jobs.

As part of his fiscal year 2015 budget proposal, Governor Quinn proposed a Workforce Training Tax Cut that would make it easier for businesses to create new jobs and ensure workers will have the skills to drive a 21st century economy. It includes a tax cut to businesses for job training and would apply to new jobs that are created. This allows individuals to be trained for jobs that the business needs to fill, a situation that benefits employer and employee.

The Governor has also proposed reducing the fee to establish a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) by more than 90 percent, from $500 to $39 - the lowest in the nation. Formation as an LLC encourages entrepreneurs to invest their time and money into viable business enterprises. Reducing the filing fee to $39 will make it easier for small business to start and grow in Illinois.

The Small Business Advocacy Council (SBAC) was established in 2010 and represents nearly 900 businesses in the Chicagoland area. The SBAC is a non-partisan, member driven organization that promotes the success of small business.

For more information on why Illinois is the right place for business, visit www.illinois.gov/dceo.