Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the House passed compromise legislation that would bring down the interest rates for new student loans. Due to inaction of House leadership, interest rates for new student loans doubled on July 1^st, from 3.4 to 6.8 percent. This legislation will tie the interest rate of the loan to market rates, but is capped at 8.25 percent. As a result, this year undergraduates who borrow for college will save nearly $1,500 in interest over the life of the loan. The legislation has already cleared the Senate and is expected to be signed into law.

"I could not have gone to college without the availability of student loans and other financial assistance programs, so I am pleased Democrats and Republicans finally came together to pass this legislation. It is shameful that students were caught in the middle of this political posturing in the first place. Neither side got exactly what they wanted, nor is it the deal that I would have authored, but it demonstrates that compromise can actually happen when people sit down and work through their differences. I continue to have concerns that in the long run this bill may allow rates to rise above the current 6.8 percent cap, and look forward to addressing this issue and the rising cost of college as work begins on reauthorization of the Higher Education Act."

DES MOINES - AFSCME Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan released the following statement concerning today's announcement that Abbe Center for Community Care, Inc., where AFSCME Iowa Council 61 represents employees, would close on September 30, 2013:

"Today's news is devastating news for the residents of Abbe Center, their families, and the employees of Abbe Center. Since 1987, Abbe Center has provided exceptional transitional and residential services to adults with mental illness in Linn County.

"The closing of Abbe Center will disrupt the lives of 77 residents who will be forced to relocate. The closing will cost 80 employees their jobs. The local economy will suffer as $2,262,000 in payroll is wiped out.

"This closing shows the consequences of Governor Branstad's misguided priorities that are harming Iowa's communities. In June, Governor Branstad item vetoed $13 million for mental health services from House File 648. These funds would have allowed the Iowa Department of Human Services to award funds to counties to maintain services during the mental health transition. These funds could have helped keep Abbe Center open and providing mental health services to the community.

"The Governor's veto is all the more unconscionable when you consider that the state has a massive cash surplus and that Governor Branstad has championed spending hundreds of millions of state, local, and federal dollars on a fertilizer plant that will create only 165 permanent jobs.

"At the time of the Governor's item-veto, Senator Rob Hogg of Linn County said that 'Republicans and Democrats in the Iowa Legislature created a $13 million dollar safety net.  The goal was to insure that every person who needs mental health services receives those services so future tragedies would be prevented [...] Governor Branstad vetoed that safety net.  Ironically, the Governor's own Department of Human Services would have controlled spending from this pool, providing it to individual counties on a case-by-case basis after need was demonstrated.  Governor Branstad's veto of the risk pool guarantees that some counties will be forced to deny essential services to people who need them.' AFSCME Iowa Council 61 completely agrees with Senator Hogg's statement and it should be obvious to all Iowans that his prediction was 100 percent correct.

"Our hearts go out to the Abbe Center residents and Abbe Center staff whose lives will be turned upside down by this closing."

Join us for our mall wide fashion show on August 3 at SouthPark Mall

Who: It's back-to-school time at SouthPark Mall! Throughout the center, at different staged locations look for new trends from Aeropostale, rue21, maurices and more! Watch out for those new fashions, plus more at the mall wide fashion show this Saturday.

For more information on the mall wide fashion show, visit www.shopsouthparkmall-il.com/events, or follow us on Twitter @SouthParkMallIL, and like us on Facebook at

Where: SouthPark Mall - August 3, 2013 from 1p-4p

4500 16^th Street

Moline, IL 61265

--Photographers and Camera Crews Welcome --

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Macerich is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States. Additional information about Macerich can be obtained from the Company's website at www.macerich.com.

DES MOINES, IA (07/31/2013)(readMedia)-- On opening day, August 8, Fairgoers will start the 11-day celebration by packaging meals and helping the Fair honor the service of its loyal Fair supporters. The 2013 Fair runs August 8-18.

Meal Packaging Event

From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1500 volunteers will package 250,000 meals to help alleviate life-threatening hunger around the world. The event is part of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions' "Dream Big" food drive by fairs and festivals throughout the world. Together, participants hope to collect 20 million pounds of food - enough to fill the daily food needs of nearly six million people.

Volunteer shifts are currently filled; however, the Fair is also collecting monetary donations to help purchase supplies. To donate, visit iowastatefair.org

Meals from the Heartland is a non-profit organization committed to providing meals for food-insecure families around the world. Since their initial launch in 2007, the organization has packaged more than 30 million meals which have been distributed locally through Iowa food pantry partners as well as shipped throughout the world.

Opening Ceremonies

At the west entrance of the Cattle Barn, the Fair will hold opening ceremonies and honor the Clearfield Lions for their 50 years of service. The club has improved the experience for countless Fair campers by providing easy, accessible transportation between their campsites and the events on the grounds since 1964. The Fair will commemorate their years of service to the Fair as well as their philanthropic efforts throughout Iowa.

The Clearfield Lions will also kick off this year's Fair as co-Parade Marshals with John Putney, outgoing Executive Director of the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation. Putney has held this position since the Blue Ribbon Foundation started in 1993 and will retire effective March 2014.

The parade is set Wednesday, August 7, to begin at 6:15 p.m. in downtown Des Moines. The Iowa State Fair Parade is the state's largest, showcasing nearly 200 floats, animals, vehicles, novelty and performing units. Staging will take place at the State Capitol complex. Parade entrants will then travel west on Grand Avenue to 13th Street. Dispersion will take place between 13th and 18th Streets.

Entertainment

Fun Fair activities can also be found in the day long selection of contests, food, games and entertainment including performances by The Nadas, Home Free, Blue Öyster Cult and The Farm. Christian music favorites Casting Crowns and Jeremy Camp will perform on the Grandstand stage at 8 p.m. Tickets for the Grandstand show are $30 (plus convenience charges) and are available now through Ticketmaster outlets and the Iowa State Fair Ticket Office.

A complete listing of opening day activities is available at iowastatefair.org.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2013 Iowa State Fair, August 8-18. Save money on advance admission tickets now through August 7 (while supplies last). The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

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