Staff Sgt. Matthew Arnett of Rochester Saved Driver from Burning Vehicle

ITASCA, IL (04/26/2013)(readMedia)-- The National Guard Association of Illinois presented Illinois Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Matthew Arnett of Rochester with the 2013 Outstanding Guardsman Award on April 23 for pulling an injured truck driver from his burning vehicle last month.

"Staff Sgt. Arnett is the living definition that shows that the National Guard is always trained and ready to help our neighbors," said Brig. Gen. Daniel M. Krumrei of Springfield, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "He served honorably overseas when his nation needed him and he continues to serve honorably at home."

Arnett, who was a member of the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, was traveling home on Interstate 57 from the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team's communications exercise in Urbana on March 3 when he saw a collision between a box truck and fuel truck near the Berkeley exit.

With the box truck on its side and ablaze, Arnett and a fellow passerby smashed the windshield of the box truck with a pry bar and extricated the driver. They pulled him away from the wreckage. Moments later, flames engulfed the passenger compartment of the box truck.

The box truck driver was conscious, but lethargic and bled profusely from a head wound and another laceration near his collarbone. Arnett, a trained combat lifesaver, used his Army combat uniform coat as a pressure dressing to the driver's wounds and continually assessed the driver's injuries until Illinois State Police and paramedics arrived.

"Honestly, there wasn't a whole lot of thinking going on," Arnett said. "I saw the accident happen in front of me and thought 'He's going to be in trouble.' After that, it was just reacting."

Arnett was treated for minor abrasions to his hands at Carl Hospital in Champaign and while there checked on the box truck driver, who is expected to make a full recovery. The tanker truck driver suffered minor injuries.

"Thank God I was going about three miles-per-hour slower than I could've been," he said. "Otherwise that truck would've been right on top of me."

Arnett now serves with the 766th Engineer Battalion of Decatur and is a full-time military technician working in the United States Property and Fiscal Office on Camp Lincoln in Springfield. He said he appreciates the National Guard Association of Illinois award and the accolades he has received from his fellow Soldiers, but the incident really helped him appreciate his family and his life.

(DES MOINES) - Today, Gov. Terry E. Branstad signed a letter to be delivered to President Obama requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration for five Iowa counties. The five counties in the request are Dickinson, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola and Sioux.

The Governor is making the request for Public Assistance Program funding in response to severe weather between April 9 and 11, 2013. The severe weather produced damaging winds, heavy rains, thunderstorms, freezing rain, ice and snow that caused damage to utility lines, poles, trees and vegetation.

A joint federal, state and local preliminary damage assessment of the five counties found the severe weather caused an estimated $6 million of damage that could be eligible under the Public Assistance Program. Public Assistance funds may be used to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts and other public facilities, or to cover costs of emergency work during and debris removal after storms.

The Governor's letter to President Obama, including the damage estimates, is available at www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today took action on 11 bills.

Branstad signed the following bills into law:

House File 351: an Act providing that children who are enrolled in the statewide preschool program are of compulsory attendance age.

House File 533: an act providing for entrepreneurial education funds for student organizations and clubs and including effective date and applicability provisions.

House File 538: an Act authorizing alternate members of the Board of Parole.

Senate File 146: an Act extending a provision relating to the use of certain increases in watercraft registration fees by the Natural Resource Commission.

Senate File 186: an Act relating to funds transfers under the uniform commercial code, and including effective date provisions.

Senate File 317:  an Act prohibiting the disbursement of a certain plant, including its seeds, commonly classified as garlic mustard, oriental bittersweet, Japanese knotweed, and Japanese hop within this state, and making penalties applicable.

Senate File 389: an Act relating to hunter safety and ethics education course requirements.

Senate File 419: an Act providing for vision screening for school children.

Senate File 427: an Act relating to the licensing of plumbing, mechanical, hvac-refrigeration, sheet metal, or hydronic professionals, include transition provisions, including effective date provisions, and making penalties applicable.

Branstad vetoed the following bills:

House File 569: an Act relating to licensure of professionals practicing substance and addictive disorder counseling or providing substance and addictive disorder prevention services, making penalties applicable, and including transition, implementation, and effective date provisions.

Note: View the transmittal letter here.

Senate File 204: an Act concerning persons voluntarily excluded from gambling facilities.

Note: View the transmittal letter here.

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Friday, April 26, 2013

WASHINGTON - In a weekly video address, Senator Chuck Grassley described his efforts to make sure immigration reform legislation avoids mistakes made in the 1986 legalization by making border security the top priority, giving American workers the first opportunity at jobs, holding employers accountable for their hiring practices, and leaving policy decisions in the representative branch of government.

Click here for the audio.

Here is the text of Grassley's address:

The Senate Judiciary Committee has held hearings during the last week on the immigration bill proposed by a bipartisan group of eight senators.

As the debate moves forward, I'm committed to making sure legislation doesn't repeat mistakes made in the legalization program that was part of the 1986 immigration overhaul.  Congress voted then to legalize the one million people who were in the country illegally with the assurance that doing so would fix the problem once and for all.  Decades later, there are 11 million people illegally in the country.  So, the legalization in 1986 didn't fix the problem.  Instead, it led to more illegality.

I'm working to make sure that unintended consequences are avoided in other areas of immigration reform, as well.  Congress should have learned with Obamacare that lawmakers need to legislate more and delegate less authority to the executive branch.  Even so, the proposed immigration bill contains waivers that would give unchecked power to the Secretary of Homeland Security to unravel any law that elected representatives of the people might pass.

Immigration policy also is a key component of America's national security apparatus, and every consideration should be given to how changes in the immigration system impact security of the homeland.  Securing the border needs to be the first priority.  Border security is fundamental to national sovereignty.  Any immigration reform must require accountability for border security.

We also need to fix the flaws in the current system in order to recognize the benefits of legal immigration - including the need for agricultural workers - while at the same time protecting the interests of U.S. citizens.  I'm also working to make sure American graduates and workers are given the first opportunity at jobs in science, technology, engineering and math here in this country, and that employers are held accountable for their hiring practices.

America's immigration system is broken.  Any repairs that are made and new policies pursued need to be both effective and respectful of the rule of law that safeguards the tremendous opportunities and freedoms found in America, a country based upon immigrants.

Executive Coach Offers Her Own 'MBA for Success'

What becomes of the women who graduate with MBAs from Harvard Business School? Do most go on to fulfilling careers, or do they drop out of the work force when they become moms?

"The number that has been floated for years, and is quoted by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg in her book 'Lean In,' is that 15 years after graduation, only a third of them are working full-time -- and they're working for their male classmates,'' says executive and business coach Debora McLaughlin, author of "The Renegade Leader, 9 Success Strategies Driven Leaders Use to Ignite People, Performance and Profits," (www.TheRenegadeLeader.com) and the forthcoming "Running in High Heels".

"That statement suggests that, even when they hold advanced degrees from an Ivy League university, women are less ambitious, less willing and less committed than their male fellow graduates.  ... I just don't believe that."

In fact, McLaughlin is right. Harvard Business School recently surveyed more than 6,400 male and female alumni and found that well more than half the women aged 31 to 47 were working full-time. Sixteen percent were working part-time, and 10 percent were caring for children full-time.

Ninety-five percent of the men were working full-time.

"This tells me that women are making difficult choices. Certainly, to do what it takes to get into Harvard and complete an MBA, they're ambitious," McLaughlin says. "But women, especially those who want to become mothers, face extra challenges in trying to strike a work-life balance. And, let's face it; it's still a male-dominated business world that lacks understanding of the needs of working Moms."

No matter where a person - male or female - earns her master's in business administration, there's a lot they won't learn in business school, McLaughlin notes. She offers her own MBA for successfully having it all:

• M - Management skills: A lot of the female professionals and business owners McLaughlin works with don't enjoy managing people. "They may have gone into a particular industry because it's their passion - whether it's architecture, engineering or small business. They want to move up, but in business, that almost always involves assuming managerial responsibilities," McLaughlin says. You can't duck this and you won't be successful if you're half a manager. Find a mentor, an executive coach, a good course or just read up on current management tools - you'll be happier and so will your employees. And you'll be on the path to becoming an inspiring leader.

• B - Balance: Finding the right work-life balance for you is essential! If your dream is to own that corner office or grow your business into a Fortune 100, carefully "choose your regrets," McLaughlin advises. Will you regret giving up your career to manage a home and children? Will you regret the lost mommy time if you continue working full time? Be bold, ask for what you need. "Why do women give up their careers and men do not?" McLaughlin asks. Striking a balance means being unapologetic about what you need when you need it. When you say "yes" understand what you are saying "no" to.

• A - Advancement: In order to achieve your dreams of success, you have to put yourself out there. "You have to show up and speak up, be authentic and unapologetic," McLaughlin says. Although women now account for more than half the bachelor's and master's degrees in the United States, they fill only16.6 percent of the seats on Fortune 500 boards and women CEOs represent only 4 percent. Get the experience that puts you in the position to be a board candidate, McLaughlin advises. Actively network, find female role models who can help you to achieve the kind of success you're aiming for, and be seen and heard in the workplace.

"If you have a fingerprint to leave on the world and you want to live your life with the greatest impact, know that you can," McLaughlin says. "You can have all that you want, when you want it."

About Debora McLaughlin

Debora McLaughlin is the best-selling author of "The Renegade Leader, 9 Success Strategies Driven Leaders Use to Ignite People, Performance and Profits" and the forthcoming book, "Running in High Heels." She is the CEO of The Renegade Leader Coaching and Consulting Group, combining her experience as certified executive coach, cognitive behavioral psychotherapist and as a top sales performer in New York City and Boston to help CEOs, business leaders and organizations achieve accelerated results.

CHICAGO - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) today, April 26, released "Asian Carp Distribution in North America," which displays current data on the presence of bighead carp and silver carp at all life stages, as well as black carp and grass carp occurrences, in the Mississippi River, Ohio River and Great Lakes. The maps can be found at: http://www.asiancarp.us/problem.htm.

"The intent of this succinct, graphical documentation of locations of Asian carp individual captures, as well as areas with established populations, is to be a 'living resource' for ACRCC partners, decision makers and the public to access specific, timely information," said USACE Fish Biologist and eDNA Program Manager Kelly Baerwaldt.

Data were compiled through responses to an Asian Carp Questionnaire that was distributed to biologists at federal, state, academic, private-consulting and non-governmental organizations; the ACRCC Mon! itoring and Response Work Group, which include data since 2009 in detail for the Chicago Area Waterway System and a majority of the Illinois Waterway; and the USGS's Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database.

"The ACRCC continues to take the threat of Asian carp as very real and to conduct intensive monitoring to help determine the threat of this invasive fish," said Baerwaldt.

Zero Asian carp were captured or observed above the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal electric barriers in the last two years after hundreds of interagency monitoring trips, including 192 hours of electrofishing and nearly 82 miles of traditional netting, which resulted in the capture of nearly 100,000 fish of other species.

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(CEDAR RAPIDS, IA) - Mr. Michael Kates of Des Moines, IA has been selected to replace Tom Moore as Executive Director of the African American Museum of Iowa (AAMI).  Mr. Moore, one of the founders of the AAMI who has served as the second Executive Director since 2003, announced that his retirement will be effective May 31, 2013.
 
During his 10 years at the AAMI, Mr. Moore has guided it through the Grand Opening, years of changing exhibits, the Flood of 2008, the economic recession, and dozens of other challenges.  A retirement reception open to the public will be held May 25 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the AAMI, with remarks at 3:00 p.m.
Over the past eight years Mr. Kates has held positions of increasing responsibility at the Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center in Des Moines, IA, serving as the Executive Director since 2011.  He grew up in Waterloo, IA and  earned both his B.A. and M.A. degrees in History, with an emphasis in Public History, at the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA); his Master's Thesis was "The Des Moines Crocker Street YMCA: A Legacy of Leaders." Michael served our country with a five year tour of duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. Active in his community, Mr. Kates is a member of the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation Community Connect Leadership Program, and serves as a Board Member on the Museum Education Round Table, the South Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, and the Iowa Museum Association, among others.  He will become the AAMI Executive Director effective May 1, 2013.
Mr. Kates first public event will be the AAMI's 20th Anniversary Celebration Banquet on Thursday, May 2, 2013 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Cedar Rapids Marriott.  More information and tickets for the event are available on-line at www.blackiowa.org.  For more information about the AAMI please call 319-862-2101 ext. 223.  The AAMI is open Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm and is located at 55 - 12th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the House passed the Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013.  This bill would give the U.S. Department of Transportation flexibility to transfer $253 million within its accounts to fully fund air traffic controllers, which would effectively end the furloughs of the controllers.  Identical legislation has cleared the Senate.

"I am pleased Congress made this commonsense decision to give the Federal Aviation Administration and air traffic controllers the flexibility they need to keep our skies safe and reduce flight delays.   However, we should never have gotten to this point. This bill does nothing to stop the hard-working men and women at Rock Island Arsenal from being furloughed or Iowa children from being kicked out of Head Start.

"Sequestration is the wrong way to deal with our nation's fiscal challenges, which is why I voted against it in the first place.  I have repeatedly called on Congress to come back to the table and replace sequestration in a responsible, balanced fashion that would actually allow us to address our economic needs while more substantially reducing the deficit over the long-term. A piecemeal process like we have seen today is not a solution."

The reduction in funding for air traffic controllers was a result of across the board cuts caused by sequestration.  Loebsack has been opposed to these drastic cuts since they were created by the Budget Control Act, which he voted against.

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-- stepping forward for our Planet, our Future --


Dear Friends,

Setting up a 3,000 mile march involves a lot more than drawing a bright-colored line across a map of the US. We are fortune to have Courtney Kain on board to coordinate this mammoth task. Courtney's background includes a four-year stint with the Army National Guard, managing logistics for several thousand troops at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa.

"We'd go on training marches through a variety of terrains, often for a week or two, camping in a lot of different places under some pretty adverse circumstances," said Courtney. "There was a lot of integration between planning the route and planning our equipment needs. Of course, we carried 60-pound packs on our backs and had our guns. Honestly, I'm looking forward to not having to deal with hauling either of those on the Climate March!"

Like any big event, much of Courtney's work with the National Guard involved tedious behind-the-scenes labor. "Often, we'd be out on the base at o'dark thirty, sometimes in sub-zero weather, doing vehicle maintenance and what not. We not only had to issue equipment but keep tabs on it as well. Marching boots were probably the most important piece of equipment. I remember a lovely set of massive blisters during my early days with the Guard."

Courtney appreciates all the folks in communities across the country who are stepping forward to help with on-the-ground challenges in setting up the route. "We can do a lot from our headquarters here in Des Moines, especially with the help of the Internet," said Courtney. "But there's no way we can figure out all the details without our supporters' eyes and ears helping to identify the best routes and campsites in communities we'll march through."

Our plan is to release the full description of the March route sometime next month. In the meantime, we need your help, not just working with Courtney on setting up the route, but helping pay for all the costs involved. To that end . . .

If you haven't already, please become a March Starter. Donate between 1 cent and 33-1/3 cents per mile - between $30 and $1,000 - to help Courtney finish this task at a pace that would impress the US Army. Click here for details, and thanks to all who have stepped forward so far.

DES MOINES, IA (04/26/2013)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald reminds students the deadline to apply for a Robert D. Blue Scholarship is drawing near. Applications must be submitted online at www.rdblue.org by May 10 in order to be eligible for this year's award.

"Over the years we've helped hundreds of Iowa students meet their college costs with this scholarship," Fitzgerald stated. "Awards are based on financial need, academic achievements, written recommendations and an original essay." In 2012, six Iowa students received a $1,000 Robert D. Blue Scholarship.

The Robert D. Blue Scholarship is awarded by the Iowa Centennial Memorial Foundation to honor Iowa students attending college in Iowa. The Foundation was created in 1949 to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of Iowa's acceptance into the union. Governor Blue wished to encourage the youth of the state to continue their education at one of Iowa's fine institutions of higher learning. In 1990, the Foundation officially named the scholarship to honor the late Governor Blue.

Robert D. Blue Scholarship applications are only accepted online at www.rdblue.org, and the winners will be announced during the summer. Those who would like more information on the Robert D. Blue Scholarship should visit the website, or call the treasurer's office at (515) 242-5270.

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