Keith presented with a proclamation

WHEREAS, Illinois is a leader in supporting the arts, and has always been an important component of the artistic fabric of our state; and,

WHEREAS, there are few forms of music more purely American than the country music genre; and,

WHEREAS, country music, with its themes of rural life, family, hard work, and love for country speaks to Midwestern ideals and Illinois residents can relate to its message; and,

WHEREAS, a country musician who has experienced great success in this genre is Toby Keith; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma to  parents Joan and Hubert; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith began playing music at a young age after being inspired by musicians who worked at his grandmother's supper club; and,

WHEREAS, prior to starting a career in music, Toby Keith worked in the oil industry and played in the USFL football league. His debut album, "Toby Keith,"  produced the most played country song of the 1990s, "Should've Been A Cowboy"; and,

WHEREAS, his follow up records, Boomtown and Blue Moon, were equally successful due to hits "Who's That Man" and "Me Too"; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith's 2002 album, Unleashed, sold 3 million copies and included a duet with Willie Nelson, "Beer For My Horses"; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith's albums have sold more than 36 million copies, ranking him among the top-selling genre artists on Billboard's Top 200 artists of the Decade; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith, aside from enormous commercial success, has received critical acclaim and industry awards including the Songwriter/Artist of the Decade distinction from the Nashville Songwriters Association International as well as the American Country Awards' Artist of the Decade distinction; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith is strongly committed to our nation's veterans and in 2008 played 18 shows for U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf as a part of a U.S.O. Tour; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith will perform at the Grandstand of the Illinois State Fair  on Wednesday, August 14^th at 8:00 pm; and,

WASHINGTON, D.C.?U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that three Iowa organizations will receive funding totaling nearly $600,000 to help Iowans sign up for quality, affordable health insurance through the new health insurance marketplace opening in the state on October 1st of this year. These organizations?Genesis Health System, Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa, and Planned Parenthood of the Heartland?will train 'navigators,' who will serve as person resources for unbiased information to consumers about the health insurance marketplace and the benefits available to them under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

"I am pleased to see that these Iowa organizations will receive the necessary resources to train health insurance navigators?who will in turn help the roughly 150,000 Iowans projected to enroll in quality, affordable coverage through our state's health insurance marketplace," Harkin said. "Navigators will play a critical role in educating Iowans about how to select and enroll in a plan that is best for them and their families. The insurance marketplace is a central part of the Affordable Care Act's historic coverage expansion, providing access to coverage to individuals and small businesses currently locked out of the market."

As Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Harkin played a pivotal role in the passage of the ACA. State-based insurance marketplaces, including Iowa's, will allow consumers to shop for, compare, and enroll in private health plans. Consumers will be able to learn if they are eligible for tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, or other health care programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program. Small employers will be eligible to receive tax credits for coverage purchased for employees through the marketplaces. These competitive marketplaces make purchasing health insurance easier and more understandable and offer consumers and small businesses increased competition and choice.

A list of the Iowa organizations receiving Navigator funding, along with the funding totals, is below. This information is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Genesis Health System
Anticipated grant amount: $128,430
Genesis Health System will implement a navigator program through the Genesis Visiting Nurses Association (GVNA). Genesis plans to use existing relationships to aid residents and small business in accessing new sources of coverage.

Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa
Anticipated grant amount: $257,142
The Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa will implement a navigator program serving 38 of Iowa's 99 counties, home to approximately half of the uninsured in Iowa. The Visiting Nurse Services will provide navigator services through public awareness, education and assistance in enrolling individuals in qualified health plans. They also will partner with other organizations with considerable expertise in eligibility, enrollment, and knowledge of other health programs such as Medicaid and CHIP.

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland
Anticipated grant amount: $214,427
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland (PPHeartland) is a private, non-profit community-based health care agency operating in Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma. In Iowa, PPHeartland plans to have Navigators cover 61 counties and will strategically base Navigators in regions across Iowa.

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?Milan, Illinois - The Grant W. Brissman and Virginia M. Brissman Foundation has been established to benefit the Village of Milan. The Foundation assets total $2.8 million, and it will make its first grants this fall. Applications are now being accepted from nonprofit organizations located in Milan.

Grant and Virginia Brissman were long time residents of Milan, Illinois. Grant Brissman was a graduate of Rock Island High School and the former Brown's Business College. He was a pioneer Milan business owner, having started Brissman's Auto Supply in 1948. The company served Milan and the surrounding communities for nearly 30 years before Mr. Brissman retired in 1978.

Virginia Brissman worked for the Illinois Bell Telephone Co. for 40 years before retiring from her position as a schedule clerk in 1977. They had been married for 60 years when Grant Brissman passed away at the age of 88 on April 3, 2004. Virginia Brissman was 94 when she passed away on January 23, 2010. The Foundation was established through their estate.

The mission of the Grant W. Brissman and Virginia M. Brissman Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the Village of Milan, Illinois by funding work to enhance youth development, foster community development, support cultural activities, and invest in ways to relieve the suffering of underprivileged people.

Grant and Virginia Brissman were active in their community, and cared about helping their neighbors. Grant was a World War II Army veteran and received a battlefield commission as a 1st Lieutenant. Together they were members of Calvary Lutheran Church in Moline, and the Holiday Ramblers R.V. Club, and the Pinnacle Country Club in Milan, where Grant was an avid golfer. He also was a Founding Director and Founding Shareholder of Blackhawk State Bank in Milan, where he has served on the board of directors for many years.

The Brissmans appointed a board of directors to oversee their Foundation. Grant applications are available on the Foundation's website at www.brissmanfoundation.org and are due by October 15th. Nonprofit organizations located within the Village of Milan, Illinois, are eligible to apply. Organizations located outside of Milan may be considered if they provide significant services benefitting the Village of Milan and its residents. The administration of the Foundation will be conducted by the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend.

"This partnership between the Brissman's Foundation and the Community Foundation ensures that the charitable wishes of Grant and Virginia will be carried out for years to come," said Susan Skora, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend. "We are regional experts in philanthropy, identifying community needs, and the grant making processes, and will provide our support to The Grant W. Brissman and Virginia M. Brissman Foundation to create maximum impact in the Village of Milan."

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Important Notice: Street Closures and New NFL Rule

To provide a safer environment for the public and ensure an optimal fan experience, the following public safety measures will be in place for all 2013 St. Louis Rams home games at the Edward Jones Dome:

New 2013 Bag Policy

Beginning with preseason games, all NFL teams will implement a new NFL policy that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into stadiums. The NFL strongly encourages fans to not bring any type of bags, but outlined below are the bags or packages that are permissible:

• Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12"x6"x12."

• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).

• Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand with or without a handle or strap, no larger than 4.5"x6.5."

• An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at any gate.

For more detailed information on this policy and prohibited items, please visit stlouisrams.com/edward-jones-dome/game-day-info.html and nfl.com/allclear.

Portion of Broadway to Close for 2013 Rams Games

• Broadway exits off I-70 Eastbound will be closed to traffic beginning 2 hours and 45 minutes prior to game time and 1 hour after the conclusion of the game.

• Broadway between Cole Street and Convention Plaza will close 2 ½ hours prior to game time and

1 hour after the conclusion of the game.

• I-70 Eastbound traffic headed downtown will exit at Pine.

• To access the Lumiere Casino complex, from Pine make a right turn on 4 and turn right.

• To access parking North of the Edward Jones Dome, from Pine make a right turn on 4 proceed to Cass and turn left.

• Drop-off along Broadway for guests with disabilities will be available by exiting at Pine and then making a right turn on 4 left, continue to the intersection of Broadway and Cole where security personnel will assist you.

• Please note that this portion of Broadway is being closed in addition to the closures that normally  occur 4 hours prior to game time around the perimeter of the Edward Jones Dome on Cole Street and Convention Plaza.

If you have any questions regarding the new public safety measures, please contact the Rams at 314-RAMS-TIX option 4.