Des Moines, October 28, 2013 ?Today, the Iowa Supreme Court released a proposal to revise the Iowa Court Rules for Expanded Media Coverage (EMC) ?the court rules regulating audio and video recording and photography of courtroom procedures. The proposal broadens the court's definition of news media and allows for live electronic reporting, such as tweeting and blogging, from the courtroom by members of the news media, with advance approval from the presiding judge. The court seeks feedback on the proposed revisions to the rules during a 60-day public comment period.

The proposal is the product of a ten-month review by a fifteen-person supreme court advisory committee consisting of Iowa judges, attorneys, and members of the media. The supreme court requested the review because judges and court staff are faced with bloggers, smart phones, and twitter, among other forms of technology that are not specifically addressed in current rules. The EMC rules were first approved by the supreme court in 1979 and have been only slightly modified since that time.

"I thought the committee did an excellent job of considering all the tools used by journalists today and revised the rules in a way that prepares for future changes in technology," Justice Zager said. "The proposed rules are intended to address modern news gathering practices in the courtroom while protecting the right of parties to a fair trial, personal privacy, and safety. The proposed rules also keep safeguards in place to preserve the decorum and dignity of our court proceedings, and assuring the fair administration of justice."

The proposed revisions would allow media coverage of initial appearances in criminal cases with approval of the presiding judge. The revised rules would allow the request for media coverage to be made either in writing or orally to the magistrate or judge presiding over the initial appearance, subject to an oral objection by the prosecutor, defendant, or defendant's counsel.

"Iowa historically has been at the forefront of allowing open access to its court proceedings, and the proposed revisions to the rules for expanded media coverage will prepare Iowa's courts for the reality of modern digital news-gathering and publishing." Iowa Freedom of Information Council Executive Director Kathleen Richardson said. "The revisions, if adopted, would also provide more consistency in courtrooms across the state."

Any interested individual or organization may submit comments to the supreme court by January 6, 2014. The proposed revisions to the Iowa Court Rules for Expanded Media Coverage and instructions for submitting comments can be located at http://www.iowacourts.gov/About_the_Courts/Advisory_Committees/Expanded_Media_Coverage_Rules_Committee/

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2013

Iowa Supreme Court

1111 East Court Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50319

515-281-3952

Financial Expert Explains the Vital Importance of this
Document

Of the trendy terms to come around in the past decade, "bucket list" remains among the most useful, says retirement planning expert Jeff Gorton.

"As a neologism, I hope it endures because it reminds us of how precious our time is - and that it's important to plan wisely," says Gorton, a veteran Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner®, and head of Gorton Financial Group (www.gortonfinancialgroup.com).

"Unfortunately, after some have listed their items and even checked a few things off, they forget about one important item that really counts after they've 'kicked the bucket' - their will."

Only about 40 percent of adults in America have a will, which is probably due to people not wanting to be reminded of their own mortality and that life will go on without them, he says.

"But what's the alternative? If you die without one, the state decides what becomes of your property, without regard to your priorities," says Gorton, who also advocates his clients make use of a written income plan (WIP), a living document that helps organize financial priorities. "Why not enjoy the fact that a will is an instrument of power? You get to decide who gets what."

Since so many adults don't have a will, many don't understand how they work. Gorton breaks down wills into four basic parts:

· Executors ? Most wills begin by naming an executor, the person responsible for carrying out the wishes outlined in the will. Duties include assessing the value of the estate, gathering the assets, paying inheritance tax and other debts if necessary, and distributing assets among beneficiaries. It is recommended that you name at least two executors in case your first choice is unable to fulfill the obligation.

· Guardians ? A will allows you to designate a guardian for your minor children. Whomever you appoint, you will want to make sure beforehand that the individual is able and willing to assume the responsibility. For many people, this is the most important part of a will since, if you die without naming a guardian, the court will decide who takes care of your children.

· Gifts ? This section enables you to identify people or organizations to whom you wish to give gifts of money or specific possessions, such as family heirlooms or a car. You can also specify conditional gifts, such as a sum of money to a young daughter, but only when she reaches a certain age.

· Estate ? Your estate encompasses everything you own, including real property, financial investments, cash and personal possessions. Once you have identified specific gifts you would like to distribute, you can apportion the rest of your estate
in equal shares among your heirs, or you can split it into percentages. For example, you may decide to give 45 percent each to two children and the remaining 10 percent to a sibling.

"You're not legally required to have a professional write a will for you, but I highly recommend you get certified help because these documents are often contested by people who are unhappy with the decisions you made," he says. "After working a lifetime for your assets, you deserve to have them go where you want after you're gone, and your family will be grateful to you for not leaving them with the headache of trying to sort out your estate."

About Jeff Gorton, CPA, CFP®

Jeff Gorton is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner® specializing in individual tax and retirement planning. He is also an Investment Advisor Representative under Alphastar Capital Management, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor, and has a life and health insurance license. Gorton works with individuals and their families to create and protect their financial legacies. He specializes in working with retirees in the areas of tax planning, benefits, retirement planning, estate planning and safe money techniques. He received his BBA in Accounting from the University of Oklahoma. Gorton previously worked for 10 years as the Chief Financial Officer for a large retail organization, overseeing their accounting, benefits and 401(k) retirement plans

New Boys & Girls Club Director Remembers His Early Years

IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - After conducting a nationwide search, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley (BGCMV) Board of Directors has selected Tim Tolliver as their new Chief Professional Officer (CPO), the title given by Boys & Girls Clubs to their executive directors. "We welcome Tim to our organization and to the Quad-Cities," said Chris Johnson, President of the BGCMV Board. "He brings a wealth of applicable skills and experience to the role of Chief Professional Officer." "Tim Tolliver has dedicated his career to helping others," said Tim Stinson, Board Vice President and Search Committee Chair. "We are pleased that he is now a member of our community and we look forward to working with him." Community members can meet Tim at the organization's 2013 Annual Steak & Burger Dinner. "This important fundraiser helps to open the door to a better future for Quad Cities youth and teens," said Johnson. "The Steak & Burger Dinner offers a fun night of socializing with the many friends of BGCMV, and attendees will meet Tim and have dinner with some of our Club members." The fundraising event will be held 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5 at the iWireless Center, 1201 River Dr., Moline, IL. The social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 each. Individual tickets and tables for groups are available by calling (309) 757-5777. A Life Shaped by the Boys & Girls Clubs "Truly, my life has been shaped for the better by my involvement with the Boys & Girls Clubs," Tim said. "I am happy to say, I was a Club kid as a child and my son was also a Club kid. It's a great place for young people to learn important values." Tim, age 40, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended high school at Cleveland Junior Naval Academy, named after President Grover Cleveland. He attended Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO, where he majored in Political Science/Public Administration. According to Tim, he might not have attended college if it weren't for the encouragement he'd received from the Boys and Girls Club. He started attending what is now the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis at age 8. "Back then, it was a club for boys," he said. "Girls became part of the club in 1991, which is the year I graduated from the club." Tim stated that he grew up in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in St. Louis. "Gangs were running rampant, since the Los Angeles gangs, the Cripps and the Bloods, were working their way into that area," he said. "The club was my safe haven. My mom felt a lot better, knowing I was hanging out there. Back then it was a 'swim and gym' - other recreations there included pool, foosball and ping pong." The big reason Tim kept going to the club, he noted, was because of the positive reinforcement he received. "I had many friends there and the camaraderie kept me coming back," he said. "I developed strong friendships with the people who worked there, like the social recreation leader, Mr. Bates, and the gym and sports director, Mr. Mitch. Mr. Mitch recruited me to play baseball for their team, and I eventually moved into basketball." In those days, Tim observed, the big draw of the club for him was sports, but he also became involved with Keystone Club, the group's leadership and service club. "The kids who are a part of Keystone help others in the community and learn the value of volunteer service," he said. At age 16, Tim was vice president of his club's Keystone group. "We got to go places and also took part in fundraising," he said. "A lot of kids didn't get to leave their neighborhoods very much, so taking part in Keystone Club helped them to see more of what the world had to offer. For many, it was the first time they'd ever left the inner city." Dedicated to Serving Others Over the years, Tim has held key positions of guidance and leadership where he could help the community. Early in his career, from January 1998 to February 2010, he served as the Branch Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas/Collin County in Dallas/McKinney, Texas. From February 2010 to December 2011, Tim worked as the Associate Services/Shelter Manager for the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance in Dallas. When that position was eliminated due to budget cuts, he became the Chief Executive Officer of the Children's Advocacy Center in Van Zandt/Kaufman County, Texas. He held that position from May 2012 to February 2013, when a state realignment resulted in an unaccepted transfer offer that did not meet his future plans. He had been working with the St. Louis Public Schools when he heard about the opening in the Quad-Cities as the CPO of the Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Valley. "When I first read about it, I thought the position was located in the state of Mississippi," he said with a laugh. "I was happy to find out it was much closer than that!" "The community is invited to come and meet Tim Tolliver at the Steak & Burger event and also enjoy our youth group performances," said Johnson. "It will be an enjoyable evening, and the funds raised through this event represent an investment in our community's future and quality of life." The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley, as a chartered member of Boys and Girls Clubs of America, is a tax-exempt organization, duly qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions are tax-deductible in accordance with Federal law. For more information on the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley, please call (309) 757-5777 or visit www.bgcmv.org. -- ### --

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds joined Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp today for the launch of www.CleanWaterIowa.org, a new website that will serve as a resource to help Iowans protect and improve water quality.

"Iowans can take steps to help improve Iowa's water quality and this site serves as a one-stop-shop for conservation practices we can all use, whether it is on the farm, at a business or by a homeowner," said Branstad.

The site has "Farm," "Residential & Urban," and "City & Industry" sections that provide information about science-based practices that can be implemented to improve water quality. The site includes descriptions of water quality practices that can be utilized, benefits of the practices, and links to additional information.

"This site is one of the resources available to help Iowans achieve the goals outlined in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy," said Reynolds. "Working together and everyone doing their part will help us continue to make significant water quality improvements."

Success stories, information on upcoming events and education materials will also be available on the site. Iowans are also invited to share their water quality success stories as well.

"It is an exciting time and we are seeing a tremendous amount of interest in water quality practices from Iowans across the state," said Northey. "Farmers are engaged and we are in a scaling up phase as we get these science-based practices on more and more acres."

In addition to the website, Iowans can follow @CleanWaterIowa on Twitter or "like" the page on Facebook to receive updates and other information about the ongoing Iowa water quality initiative.

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