KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - Truman State University has released the Spring 2013 President's List. To qualify for this list, an undergraduate student must attain a semester 4.0 grade point average and must complete 12 semester hours of credit.

Founded in 1867, Truman is Missouri's highly selective public liberal arts and sciences university. Truman has the highest graduation rate among Missouri's public colleges and universities and approximately 50 percent of Truman's graduates pursue an advanced degree immediately upon graduating. Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine listed Truman at No. 19 on its list of 100 "Best Values in Public Colleges" and featured the University in the February 2013 issue. U.S. News & World Report's 2013 edition of "Best Colleges" ranked Truman as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest region and Truman was recognized in the Washington Monthly September/October 2012 magazine as the No. 6 master's university in the nation. Truman was the only public Missouri school on the entire Top 100 Master's Universities list. The University, located in Kirksville, enrolls more than 6,100 students.

Area students include :

from Bettendorf, IA:  Andrew Keith Piotter, Exercise Science; Andy Wang Yang, Computer Science.

from Davenport, IA:  Scott Joseph McKillip, Health Science, Business Administration.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - Truman State University has released the Spring 2013 Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs' List. To qualify for this list, an undergraduate student must attain a semester 3.50-3.99 grade point average and must complete 12 semester hours of credit.

Founded in 1867, Truman is Missouri's highly selective public liberal arts and sciences university. Truman has the highest graduation rate among Missouri's public colleges and universities and approximately 50 percent of Truman's graduates pursue an advanced degree immediately upon graduating. Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine listed Truman at No. 19 on its list of 100 "Best Values in Public Colleges" and featured the University in the February 2013 issue. U.S. News & World Report's 2013 edition of "Best Colleges" ranked Truman as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest region and Truman was recognized in the Washington Monthly September/October 2012 magazine as the No. 6 master's university in the nation. Truman was the only public Missouri school on the entire Top 100 Master's Universities list. The University, located in Kirksville, enrolls more than 6,100 students.

Area students include :

from Bettendorf, IA:  Logan Christian Carney, Business Administration.

from Davenport, IA:  Aubrey Ann Crowley, Health Science; Kayleen Marie Green, History, Pre-Education/Secondary; Margaret Alyson Schutte, Exercise Science; Chelsea Kathleen Wagschal, French, Art History, Pre-Education/Secondary.

from Rock Island, IL:  Simone Lorraine Kazel Collins, Psychology.

Pitcher drafted out of Stanford; available via conference call tonight

HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros have selected right-handed pitcher Mark Appel with the first pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow announced tonight.

Appel, 21, went 10-4 with four complete games and a 2.12 ERA as a senior this season at Stanford University. He recorded 130 strikeouts in his 106.1 innings pitched and allowed just a .203 opponent's batting average. Appel is one of just 10 semifinalists for the National Pitcher of the Year Award as named by the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Appel's been highly decorated in his four seasons at Stanford, having already won the Pitcher of the Year award in 2012. He is also a two-time Louisville Slugger first team All-American and is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Howser Trophy. Last week, he was named first team All-Pac-12 Conference. Appel is also a Senior CLASS Award finalist and was named Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week and Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week twice this season.

Appel finished his Stanford career as the program's all-time strikeout leader and his 372 career strikeouts rank second among active NCAA hurlers. The Pac-12 Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year this season is sixth in program history with 28 career wins and fourth with 377.2 innings pitched.

"We're absolutely thrilled that this came to a conclusion today and that we selected Mark Appel with the first selection in the draft," said Luhnow. "We believe he is a premium talent and we  see him as a future potential ace. He's exactly the type of player that we need to be adding to the organization. He makes us significantly better and we believe this is a special player that is going to be a part of our championship team someday."

Appel becomes the third right-handed pitcher selected first overall in the draft in the last five years, joining Gerrit Cole (2011-PITT) and Stephen Strasburg (2009-WASH). He is also the third right-handed pitcher taken by Houston in the first round in the last five years, a list that also includes Lance McCullers (2012-supplemental) and Mike Foltynewicz (2010).

ABOUT THE FIRST PICK

MARK APPEL

Position: Right-handed pitcher

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Height/Weight: 6-5/215

Age: 21

College: Stanford 

High School: Monte Vista HS (CA)

This year marks the fourth time that the Astros have had the first overall pick in the MLB Draft. The previous three times were in 2013 (SS Carlos Correa), 1992 (IF Phil Nevin) and 1976 (LHP Floyd Bannister). Houston has had the second overall pick once in their history, which came in 1969 (RHP J.R. Richard).


Under Construction Social Media Contest Offers $2,500 Prize

DAVENPORT - The Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa Association of Realtors®, Iowa Home Ownership Education Project and the Iowa Mortgage Association have teamed up with Davenport area lenders and Realtors® to promote The Meaning of Homeownership: Under Construction Contest, while celebrating high regional home sales. This joint effort between lenders and Realtors® highlights the high Davenport area home sale trends, including a thirty-three percent increase in homes sales over last year and offers Davenport area residents a chance at winning a $2,500 gift card.

"This contest is a fun way to raise awareness of the benefits of homeownership throughout the summer," said Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Dave Jamison. "We're excited to be offering this summer contest in partnership with Cedar Rapids area lenders and Realtors® and take advantage of this opportunity to educate Iowans about the homeownership programs that the Iowa Finance Authority offers."

"The Iowa Association of Realtors® nearly 6,200 Realtor® members across the state are professionals who follow a strict code of ethical guidelines, and help people realize their homeowning dreams every day in communities throughout Iowa. IAR is pleased to participate in this contest, which is an innovative and exciting opportunity to interact with Iowans and remind them of the many benefits of homeownership," said Dave Bert, CEO of the Iowa Association of Realtors®.

The social media contest asks Iowa mortgage lenders, housing counselors and Realtors® asking their clients to show-off do-it-yourself home projects. Participants will write a short phrase or word on a memo board and snap a photo for the entry. The contestant with the most votes in the Facebook contest will win a $2,500 gift card. Cedar Rapids area residents are encouraged to visit a participating contest location for their chance to win. A full list of current contest locations is available at IowaFinanceAuthority.gov/Contest<http://www.iowafinanceauthority.gov/contest>.

"The real estate market in the Quad Cities is doing very well," said Eugene Holst of the Quad City Area Realtor® Association. "We have seen an outstanding thirty-three percent increase in home sales this May over May of 2012. "We're excited to have Quad Cities Realtors®, lenders and housing counselors participate in this fun contest to get home buyers motivated to get out and see what is on the market."

Contest entries will be voted on by the public August 1-16 at Facebook.com/MeaningofHomeownership <http://www.facebook.com/meaningofhomeownership>. The entry with the most votes will receive a $2,500 gift card and the lender and Realtor® with the most combined votes will each receive a $2,500 community betterment grant.

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Follow up to May 7 letter to USDA, USTR

WASHINGTON - JUNE 6, 2013 - Senator Chuck Grassley is asking the nominee to be the next U.S. Trade Representative, Michael Froman, for his thoughts on making it a higher priority when negotiating with U.S. trading partners to resolve the regulatory barriers facing biotech seeds.

Grassley's written questions are a follow-up to a letter he wrote with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and 24 other senators about the need for the administration to engage U.S. trading partners in high-level discussions on breaking down barriers to biotechnology.  Grassley was not able to attend the entire nomination hearing in person, so he is asking his questions in writing to be answered for the hearing record.

"American farmers have adopted biotechnology seeds to increase production as they help feed this world.  They need to be able to get their products to market, and they need to have the confidence they can adopt the technology available to them without fear our trading partners will erect barriers," Grassley said.

Here is the text of Grassley's questions on the subject.

o   How does USTR intend to work with trading partners to improve market access for U.S. crops derived from biotechnology?

o   In regards specifically to the European Union, can you commit to me that if the United States and European Union move forward with a formal trade agreement negotiation, USTR will work to remove the regulatory barriers to U.S. biotechnology derived seeds?

Here is a copy of the text of the May 7 letter.  A signed copy of the letter can be found by clicking here.

 

May 7, 2013

Secretary Thomas Vilsack

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250

 

Ambassador Demetrios Marantis

Acting United States Trade Representative

600 17th Street NW

Washington, DC 20508

 

Dear Secretary Vilsack and Ambassador Marantis:

American agriculture has made significant advancements in the last 100 years. We have seen vast improvements in how farmers grow crops, raise livestock, manage risk, and conduct their operations. American farmers are constantly looking for new tools to maximize efficiencies and productivity.  Biotechnology has been one of these tools.  Biotechnology helps farmers better manage droughts, pests, and weeds with fewer resources.  Biotechnology provides a major boost to American farmers that face an increasingly competitive international market.  Biotechnology has also helped feed a growing world population with abundant, nutrient rich crops.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that as much as 90 percent of commodity crop acres utilize seeds improved through modern biotechnology. Trade disruptions caused by barriers to biotechnology derived crops hurt both American farmers and the international customers they serve. Regulatory asynchrony, zero tolerance policies, and re-registration requirements are among the most prevalent and costly regulatory hurdles.

We know and appreciate how both of you and your offices have given priority to these international regulatory challenges, and work extensively with our trading partners to find long term solutions.  For instance, USDA has been engaged in efforts to launch a pilot project with China which aims to address, bilaterally, some asynchrony issues.  We also understand that the U.S. government is engaging trading partners in multilateral efforts to discuss how to best address other critical issues, including unintended low-level presence.

Given the widespread adoption of biotechnology by American farmers, it is imperative you further raise the priority of these regulatory issues in discussions with our trading partners, emphasizing the importance of facilitating robust international trade.  We appreciate your attention to this important matter, and we look forward to working with you to address these important and complex issues.

Sincerely,

In November, 1953, the Moline Foundation was established to accept charitable gifts to benefit Moline and the surrounding area. Today, in honor of its 60th Anniversary, the Moline Foundation announces a gift to the community. This announcement is the first in a series of six charitable gifts or activities to be given monthly as a part of "Six Gifts for Our Sixtieth." The last gift announcement will coincide with an anniversary celebration in November, 2013.

The Moline Foundation announces the complete funding of a home to be built in Moline as a part of Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities. A news conference will be held at the groundbreaking of the house building site.

 Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.

Located at 509 - 5th Avenue, Moline

During the news conference, Habitat for Humanity will also be named as the first recipient of the Karen and Tom Getz Award for Excellence. A grant will be given annually to non-profit organizations in the Quad Cities that promote community service and have values consistent with those of the Getz's. The award will also honor quality non-profit leadership in civic and community projects.

The Karen and Tom Getz Award for Excellence was established in 2012 with a gift from the estate of Tom and Karen Getz, noted community leaders and philanthropists in the Quad Cities. Karen Getz, who served for eight years on the Moline Foundation Board, died in October, 2007. Tom Getz, who established a memorial fund to honor his wife and served on a grant making committee for the Moline Foundation, died in January, 2012.

Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities is a nonprofit Christian housing organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Habitat builds simple, decent, affordable housing to eliminating poverty housing. Habitat builds simple, decent, affordable housing for low income, working families. Founded in 1993, HFHQC has made the dream of home ownership possible for 76 local families.

The Moline Foundation, founded in 1953, is a community foundation which provides grants to benefit health, human services, education, community development, the arts and other charitable organizations which help the citizens of Moline and the surrounding area, including the Quad Cities. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts in Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Warren, Henderson and McDonough counties in Illinois. The Moline Foundation has a current endowment of approximately $18 million.

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  • The combined company will own or operate 30 network-affiliated TV stations across 27 markets reaching 14% of U.S. TV households
  • Media General's dual-class stock structure will be unwound as part of the transaction
  • The transaction will be immediately accretive on a free cash flow per share basis
  • New Media General intends to refinance its combined debt at a substantially lower cost of capital

Richmond, VA - Media General, Inc. (NYSE: MEG) and privately held Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc., both local broadcast television and digital media companies, today announced a definitive agreement to combine the two companies in an all-stock merger transaction.  The new company will retain the Media General name and will remain headquartered in Richmond, VA.

Young Broadcasting owns KWQC-TV6 in the Quad Cities.

Media General owns 18 network-affiliated stations, and Young owns or operates 12 network-affiliated stations.  The combination will create a company with 30 stations operating in 27 markets, reaching 16.5 million, or 14%, of U.S. TV households.  On a pro forma basis, 2012 revenues were $605 million, including approximately $115 million of political revenues.

The new company will have a strong balance sheet, including significant tax carryover net operating losses that will survive the merger, and an enhanced credit profile, creating opportunities to refinance existing debt at a significantly lower cost of capital.  The merger will be accretive to free cash flow in the first full year.  The companies have identified $25-30 million of operating and financing synergies.

The balance of network affiliations will include CBS (11), NBC (9), ABC (7) Fox (1), CW (1) and MNT (1).  Sixteen of the 30 stations are located in the Top 75 DMAs.  The new company will be more geographically diverse and will have a presence in more markets that generate strong political revenues.  Its increased size will enhance its ability to participate in retransmission revenue growth, share growth of national and digital advertising, and syndicated programming purchasing.

J. Stewart Bryan III, chairman of Media General, said, "The business combination of Media General and Young is a transformational event that will benefit shareholders, employees and the communities we serve.  The combination provides immediate accretion to free cash flow, a strong balance sheet, the opportunity to refinance debt at a much lower cost and attractive synergies.  Young's management and its owners share Media General's commitment to quality local journalism and to operating top-rated TV stations, making this merger a unique and compelling combination with significant growth potential.  I have agreed to vote all of my shares to unwind Media General's dual-class stock structure and to approve the transaction.  I look forward to benefiting as a continuing long-term shareholder in the new Media General."

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2013–The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that Acting Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse is leading a mission to promote U.S. agricultural exports to Turkey, this week. Representatives from Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania, as well as 20 U.S. companies are participating.

During the mission, the USDA delegation will travel to Istanbul and Ankara to learn about Turkey's rapidly evolving market conditions and business environment - information that will enable businesses to develop export strategies for Turkey. Companies attending the Turkey trade mission represent a wide variety of agricultural products including dry beans, fruit and nuts, agricultural machinery and more.

"People around the world continue to demand U.S. food and agricultural products, boosting American businesses and supporting our rural communities," said Scuse. "By participating in this trade mission, U.S. agribusinesses will gain first-hand market information and meet with distributors, importers and other business contacts so they can position themselves to expand their presence in Turkey by promoting the quality, variety and reliability of U.S. food and agricultural products."

With its rapidly developing economy and expanding middle class, Turkey is becoming a key market for U.S. food and agricultural products. U.S. agricultural exports to the country tripled over the last decade. In fiscal year 2012, two-way agricultural trade between the two countries reached more than $2.4 billion, with U.S. exports accounting for more than 75 percent of the total - a significant contribution to the U.S. agricultural trade surplus.

Turkey is also the second-largest country participant (behind South Korea) in USDA's GSM-102 program, which provides credit guarantees to encourage financing of commercial exports of U.S. agricultural products while providing competitive credit terms to buyers. In FY 2012, GSM-102 supported sales of approximately $700 million in agricultural commodities to Turkey, including 70 percent of all U.S. soybean and soybean meal exports to Turkey and 35 percent of all cotton.

This trade mission is the first major USDA agricultural trade mission this year for U.S. companies. Successful trade missions to China and Russia were held in 2012.

A complete list of U.S. companies participating in the Turkey agricultural trade mission can be found here.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

# # #

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today said he will submit formal questions to the President's nominee for United States Trade Representative on the nominee's offshore accounts and carried interest plans.  The questions and answers will become part of the Finance Committee's record on the hearing to consider Michael Froman, the nominee.

"The President has nominated three Cabinet-level nominees in recent months who benefited from the offshore accounts the President criticized," Grassley said.  "The White House and the nominee should help Congress and the public understand the President's double standard."

Grassley, a senior member of the Finance Committee, will submit the following questions to the United States Trade Representative nominee.

Question 1:

 

Mr. Froman, I want to be clear here.  If the President is going to set standards on what he says are "tax scams," he should apply the same standard to his friends as he does to his opponents.

 

On May 4, 2009, the President called Ugland House "the largest tax scam in the world."  Just months before, in February 2009, the President appointed you Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs.

 

Your financial disclosures indicate you have nearly $500,000 invested in the Cayman Islands at the Ugland House.

 

What questions did the White House ask about your Caymans Islands investments in 2009?  Were concerns raised about your participation in what the President later called "the largest tax scam in the world"?

 

If so, can you tell us who raised concerns and what questions they asked?

 

Question 2:

 

I understand that as part of your employment with Citigroup, you were vested in three carried interest plans, according to what you submitted to the Finance Committee. Upon leaving for the Administration in 2009, Citigroup paid you $2 million to waive your rights in two of these partnerships "and in recognition of [your] service to Citi in various capacities since 1999."

 

I understand that as part of your employment with Citigroup, you were vested in three carried interest plans, according to what you submitted to the Finance Committee. Upon your leaving Citgroup for the Administration in 2009, Citigroup paid you $2 million to waive your rights in two of these partnerships "and in recognition of [your] service to Citi in various capacities since 1999."

 

What prompted you to waive your rights to these plans in return for a substantial payment from Citi?  Did someone in the Administration recommend you take this action?

 

Do you know what your interest in the "carry plans" were valued at when you waived your rights?

 

What percentage of the $2 million was based on the value of the carried interest plans and what percentage was in recognition of your 10 years of service?

 

In figuring the amount paid to you by Citigroup, was any consideration given to the fact you would be subject to ordinary income tax rates of 35% instead of the capital gains rate of 15%?

 

You had a third carried interest that you transferred to your wife.  Why was it decided this third carried interest would be transferred to your wife instead of being sold to Citi?

 

Question 3:

 

On January 16, 2009, Citigroup announced losses of $18.7 billion.  The same day, Citigroup received $301 billion federal bailout through loan guarantees on its toxic mortgage assets. Around the same time, you accepted a bonus from Citigroup for over $2 million for work you performed in 2008.

 

Were you aware that Citigroup was about to receive a multibillion-dollar federal guarantee when you accepted your bonus?

 

Can you explain why it is morally acceptable to take more than $2 million out of a company that was functionally insolvent and about to receive billions of dollars in taxpayer support?

 

In response to a written question submitted to you during your Finance Committee review, you indicated that you donated "a significant portion of the net proceeds" from the bonus you received in 2009 to charity.  Could you clarify what you mean by "a significant amount"?

 

More information on Grassley's views on the President's hypocrisy on nominees with offshore accounts is available here.

 

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Eric S. Lander, President and founding director of The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Delivers Keynote Address

WORCESTER, MA (06/06/2013)(readMedia)-- A total of 1,165 degrees (781 bachelor's degrees, 358 master's, and 26 PhDs) were awarded during the university's commencement ceremony on May 11, 2013, which took place outdoors on the WPI quadrangle. Additionally, 328 degrees were awarded earlier this academic year.

Julie Eagle of Rock Island, Ill., was awarded a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering with distinction.

Thousands of students, their families and friends, trustees, and other special guests were on hand to experience the inspirational messages delivered by keynote speaker, Eric S. Lander, president and founding director of The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Honorary degrees were conferred upon Lander; Carol T. Christ, president of Smith College; and Robert H. Beckett '57, retired chairman and CEO of Robec, Inc., and currently president and CEO of Tribo Surface Engineering.

In his commencement address, Lander told the graduates they face a number of challenges, including economic stress, a looming crisis in healthcare costs for an aging population, climate change concerns, and political upheaval.

"And yet, nonetheless, I am optimistic," Lander said. "I am optimistic because of you - because of your generation's ability to both dream and act - to combine theory and practice."

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI was one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Perspective Program. There are more than 30 WPI project centers throughout North America and Central America, Africa, Australia, Asia, and Europe.

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