(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today named Duane "D.T." Magee, 42, as the interim head of the Iowa Department of Education. Magee starts June 24. He replaces outgoing Director Jason Glass.

"We are conducting a nationwide search for our permanent Department of Education director, and I am pleased D.T. Magee is taking on this important role," said Branstad. "We are beginning our systemic, transformational education reform, and D.T. Magee will ensure a smooth transition."

Since July 2012, Magee has served as executive director of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, which licenses Iowa's teachers, and he will continue in that role. Previously, he was assistant superintendent of human resources and director of human resources for the Waukee Community School District. Before moving to Waukee, Magee was a principal in the Harlan Community School District.

Magee holds an Ed. S. in Educational Leadership from Drake University, an M.S.E. in Education Administration from Buena Vista University and a B.S.E. in Secondary Business Education from Drake University. He is an Ames Senior High School graduate.

"This is a great opportunity to continue the great work of Jason Glass and to ensure continuity within the department as a new leader is chosen," said Magee. "I look forward to serving in this new capacity and moving Iowa's education system forward."

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today announced he will sign Senate File 446, which contains the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, on Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 9 a.m.at the Mason City Clinic in Mason City, Iowa.

The Iowa Health and Wellness plan will make Iowa a national leader for patient outcomes and quality of care for low-income individuals. The plan is designed to protect Iowa from federal budget cuts in the future, increases the number of Iowans on private insurance, and will provide $48 million in property tax savings in the first full year of implementation.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

9 a.m. Gov. Branstad signs Iowa Health and Wellness Plan into law

Mason City Clinic - Atrium, 250 South Crescent Drive, Mason City, IA

Note: The Mason City Clinic is on the Mercy Hospital campus with the main entrance facing east.

Senate File 446: An Act relating to appropriations for health and human services and including other related provisions and appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective, retroactive and applicability date provisions.

A new album of twelve 19th-century campaign songs, "Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1864," explores the popular media that helped influence political history in the United States before the 24-hour cable news cycle, Twitter and presidential debates broadcast on YouTube, says American Pioneer Music Director of Research Stuart Schimler.

"Political campaign songs were a central part to how citizens perceived candidates in presidential elections, and the songs of 1864 give us insight into the critiques of Abraham Lincoln before he became a legend," says Schimler, whose company is the only record label to exclusively tackle this distinctly American folk and political history.

"Many of the themes expressed during 1864 are still relevant to today's topics, including the gold standard, income taxes, war profiteering, civil liberties and continuing a war that began to lose favor with the public."

To say the least, "Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1864" is unusual - even for a concept album, says Schimler, who researched and selected the songs for the project.

Catchy campaign songs were an effective way of spreading messages. Promoters, politicians and supporters matched set their lyrics to popular Irish and Scottish melodies, minstrel songs and ballads.

In this compilation, American Pioneer Music offers a collection of interpretations of authentic songs from the political campaign of 1864, from both the Republican and Democratic parties. The powerful 19th century lyrics, with their accurate depiction of themes, language and sentiments of America at its critical juncture, are even more controversial in the 21st century.

Most 19th Century minstrels songs, such as "oh Susannah," "My Old Kentucky Home" and "Camptown Races" have offensive lyrics removed during recording sessions. American Pioneer Music decided to release the album with its original language as to not change the meaning of the songs. To fully understand the political culture of the time, listeners must be aware of the original lyrics. "Modern audiences can gain valuable insight into a heated presidential campaign," Schimler says. "This album is perfect for adults that want to experience American history."

About American Pioneer Music

American Pioneer Music L.L.C. was founded in 2013 to produce songs from the American experience, with an emphasis on presidential campaign tunes. The company is a one-of-a-kind entrepreneurial effort for a largely forgotten genre in both U.S. history and folk music. Its first release "Abraham Lincoln and the 1864 Election" is currently available on iTunes.

OSHA, Grain and Feed Association of Illinois, Illinois Grain Handling Safety Coalition work together to promote safe practices

CHICAGO - Five seconds. That is how quickly a worker can become engulfed in flowing grain and be unable to get out.

Sixty seconds. That is how quickly a worker can be completely submerged in flowing grain. More than half of all grain engulfments result in death by suffocation.

In 2010, at least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain engulfments, the highest number on record. Among the deaths were two Illinois teens and a 49-year-old worker who had entered a grain bin "a million times."

In the past 50 years, more than 900 cases of grain engulfment have been reported with a fatality rate of 62 percent, according to researchers at Purdue University in Indiana.

Record death and injuries in 2010, led the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to reach out to the agricultural and grain handling industries to find ways to prevent deaths and injuries. OSHA also developed a Local Emphasis Program for Grain Handling Facilities focusing on the grain and feed industry's six major hazards. These include engulfment, falls, auger entanglement, "struck by," combustible dust explosions and electrocution hazards.

"OSHA is working hard to change the 'it won't happen to me' mindset," said Nick Walters, OSHA Regional Administrator for six Midwestern states. "Grain handling injuries and deaths can be prevented if employers follow proper safety procedures."

Suffocation can occur when a worker becomes buried by grain as they walk on moving grain or attempt to clear grain built up on the inside of a bin. Moving grain acts like "quicksand" and can bury a worker in seconds. "Bridged" grain and vertical piles of stored grain can also collapse unexpectedly if a worker stands on or near it. The behavior and weight of the grain make it extremely difficult for a worker to get out of it without assistance.

OSHA and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois have formed a state-wide alliance to get the word out on prevention. A grain bin entry permit has been developed to aid those working in and around bins to identify and control potential hazards.

"This alliance is an opportunity for OSHA to work together with the grain and agricultural industries and the agricultural community to train employers and workers about the unique hazards of the grain and feed industry," said Walters. "Through training, decals, brochures, websites, and other means of information communication, we will continue to work to improve awareness of these hazards and the safety and health of workers on Illinois farms and in grain handling facilities. We are committed to preventing the injuries and deaths that have been too frequent in the industry in recent years."

OSHA, the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois and the Illinois Grain Handling Safety Coalition have also developed a stop sign decal to adhere to grain bin doors using pictures and short phrases reminding entrants to lockout potentially hazardous equipment, stay clear of waist high grain, cover floor holes and to follow other best practices. Individuals or companies can email the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois at info@gfai.org to request the decal, which is pictured above.

OSHA has also published information related to common grain industry hazards and abatement methods, proper bin entry techniques, sweep auger use, and many other grain related topics at www.osha.gov/SLTC/grainhandling/index.html.  OSHA's Grain Bin LEP is used in 25 states.

In addition, the University of Illinois was awarded a U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration Susan Harwood Training Grant Program and has partnered with the Grain Handling Safety Coalition for the development of training materials and outreach to educate workers and employers on how to recognize, avoid and prevent safety and health hazards in grain bins.

The Grain Handling Safety Coalition can provide all the necessary training materials to train farmers, commercial grain handling employees, youth, rescue workers and more for free or at a very reduced rate. There are five different safety topics available including an overview of grain handling and storage safety, grain bin entry as well as entanglement, fall and confined space hazards. GHSC also offers "Train the Trainer" courses for companies and communities to have a local resource for training. More information is available at www.grainsafety.org .

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions exist for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov.  The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.

# # #