Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today announced that the East Central Intergovernmental Association, which covers Cedar and Clinton counties, as well as Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson counties has received $62,000 from the Economic Development Agency. This funding will be used to establish an economic development planning framework, process and strategy that supports private capital investment and job creation in the region.

"We must focus on growing our economy and putting Iowans back to work. Investing in economic development planning, rural development and supporting public-private partnerships will help strengthen the regional economy and promote job creation," said Loebsack. "I am pleased that the East Central Intergovernmental Association received this funding and I look forward to seeing the improvements it will create."

This grant will support the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) in the area to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.

Investing in education is key to job creation

SPRINGFIELD - Jan. 29, 2014. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today issued the following statement in response to Governor Pat Quinn's 2014 State of the State address.

"Illinois has come a long way over the last five years, and today Governor Quinn laid out a plan that will keep our state moving forward for years to come.

"I appreciate the governor's commitment to strengthening our economy by investing in education and the jobs of the future. We need to put our students on the path to success early, which means equity in funding and making sure students can afford college degrees.

"Right now, our rural and low-income schools are losing out to those with more resources. We need to change the current school funding formula to promote equity across the K-12 system and increase MAP scholarships to make sure more students can complete college. I will continue working with Governor Quinn and the legislature to make sure that public education in Illinois means opportunity, no matter what zip code you live in.

"We should heed the calls of President Obama and Governor Quinn, and pursue a fair minimum wage. It is important to remember that many who are doing some of our hardest jobs and raising families are minimum wage earners.

"We have difficult decisions to make in the coming months, but we need to invest now or find ourselves playing catch-up down the road. I am committed to working with Governor Quinn, legislative leaders and members of the General Assembly to make our state an even better place to live and work."

Simon serves as the state's point person on education reform. In this capacity, Simon is working to increase the proportion of working-age adults with college degrees or certificates to 60 percent by 2025. As chair of the 25-member Governor's Rural Affairs Council, Simon is also working to improve the delivery of state services and education opportunities to rural Illinois.

AMERICA'S FAVORITE COMIC JEFF DUNHAM BRINGS HIS NEW LAUGH PACKED "DISORDERLY CONDUCT" WORLDWIDE TOUR TO THE iWIRELESS CENTER THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27th.

Dunham is best-known for his famed troupe of sidekicks who are on tour with him: Walter the Grumpy Retiree, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, the beer-fueled redneck Bubba J, the manic purple creature Peanut, the spicy pepper from south of the border José Jalapeño, and Peanut's own ventriloquist dummy Little Jeff, a mini-version of the ringmaster himself.  Dunham hand-crafts each character personally and brings them to life on stage.

Dunham will be traveling the globe in 2014, visiting the UK, South Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and Asia. This follows his travels last year visiting Scandinavia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Iceland, where he continuously performed to sold-out arenas.

Dunham fans, better known as "Dunham Maniacs" will soon get the chance to see Achmed the Dead Terrorist like he's never been seen before when Jeff Dunham's first animated film "Achmed Saves America" premieres in March of 2014.   When Achmed visits Americaville, USA, he's mistaken for a visiting French exchange student as he plots to destroy the town and all of its "infidels".  But, once he's exposed to the sweet things in life in America -- including all-you-can-eat buffets and frozen yogurt -- Achmed's campaign of hate turns into a patriotic All-American lovefest.

Jeff Dunham's TV specials continue to be some of the highest rated on television. When Dunham's Comedy Central special "Minding the Monsters" premiered to a viewing audience of 7.5 million viewers, it became 2012's most-watched show on the network.  Upon its release on DVD, it was the #1 comedy DVD on Amazon.com and exceeded platinum sales within 6 days.  It has already reached triple platinum status.  Prior to that,  Dunham's 5^th Comedy Central TV special "Controlled Chaos," premiered to a staggering 8.3 million viewers and was a never-before simultaneous same day worldwide debut in a dozen countries. Dunham continued to break ratings records at the end of 2011, when The Bio Channel's premiere of "Jeff Dunham: Birth of a Dummy" became the network's top rated telecast ever.

It is little wonder The New York Times Magazine declared Jeff Dunham "the most successful comedian working in America."  Dunham was recently named Pollstar's #1 Comedy Tour in North America for three years running as well as their Top Worldwide Tour for two years in a row.

Showtime: 7:30PM / Tickets: $43.50 / Call: 800-745-3000

Tickets:  http://www.ticketmaster.com/

Love, Loss and What I Sang 

City Circle Acting Company of Coralville presents an evening celebrating the songs that etch their place in the fabric of who we are.  Love, Loss and What I Sang will be performed on Friday, February 7 at 7:30pm and 10pm at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, 1301 - 5th Street in Coralville.

Says co-director Patrick Du Laney, "We mark the events of our lives by the songs we listen to. What was playing when you met The One?  When he broke your heart, what did you listen to over and over? What did you dance to at your wedding?  These are songs and stories from the heart."  Local performers will share their true stories and the songs that are meaningful to them.

The performance, directed by Patrick Du Laney and Christopher Okiishi, features Kristen Behrendt DeGrazia, Krista Neumann, Colin Nies, Okiishi, Du Laney, Robyn Calhoun, Drew Bielinski, Ellen Stevenson, Mary Rinderspacher, Ramya Hipp, Josh Sazon, Kevin Burford, and more.  Co-director Okiishi says, "It's always a joy to have the opportunity to work with some of our best local performers.  We had so much fun with our December Holiday Cabaret performances, and such great response from the audiences, that we decided to do a similar event, though this time with a theme of songs that touch the heart.  The title of our musical evening references the next week's main stage production of Love, Loss, and What I Wore."

City Circle is also presenting Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron's play Love, Loss, and What I Wore February 14-16.  That play presents stories of women's lives told through clothing and accessories.

Tickets for Love, Loss, and What I Sang are $10 and available online at coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the CCPA box office and Coralville Recreation Center,1506 8^th Street.  Tickets for Love, Loss and What I Wore range from $12-$27 and are available in the same locations.

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