Leaders from more than 20 Illinois community colleges and universities, including City Colleges of Chicago, National-Louis University, Northeastern Illinois University and the University of Illinois will be in attendance at the University Club in Chicago and asked to sign the Valuing Veterans Pledge. The pledge declares a school's support for enhancing student veteran outreach and recognition, providing transition services, and establishing support policies and procedures. Simon said pledging to invest in Illinois' student veterans should be a priority of every citizen.

"As a state, we must ensure that our veterans, those who put their lives on the line to serve us, have access to the tools they need to succeed in school," said Simon, who is Governor Quinn's point person on education reform. "An investment in student veterans is an investment in the future of our economy."

The Valuing Veterans event is co-hosted by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and Student Veterans of America. Simon will be joined by David Hiller, the president and CEO of McCormick Foundation, Col. David Sutherland, a former Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Erica Borggren, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

DATE: September 27, 2012

TIME: 8:30 a.m. event start; 9:30 a.m. Lt. Governor's remarks

PLACE: University Club of Chicago, 76 E. Monroe, Chicago

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Detections bring the number of infested Illinois counties to 26.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. - A destructive pest that feasts on ash trees has been discovered for the first time in two northern Illinois counties.  The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDoA) today confirmed infestations of the emerald ash borer in Lee and Henry counties.

"In Lee County the beetle was discovered at an industrial site on the est side of Dixon," program manager Scott Schirmer said.  "The detection in Henry County occurred at Baker Park Golf Course in Kewanee."

The emerald ash borer is a small, metallic-green beetle native to Asia.  Its larvae burrow into the bark of ash trees, causing the trees to starve and eventually die.  While the beetle does not post any direct risk to public health, it does threaten the ash tree canopy.

Currently, 39 Illinois counties are under quarantine to prevent the "man-made" spread of the beetle.  The quarantine prohibits the intrastate movement of potentially-contaminated wood products, including ash trees, limbs and branches of all types of firewood.  Although the beetle had not been confirmed in Lee County until now, it is located adjacent to infested counties and already is within the quarantine boundaries.  Henry County, however, is not.

"The quarantine boundaries will need to be adjusted," Schirmer said. "Meantime, I'd encourage residents of Henry County to put the quarantine guidelines into practice by making sure not to transport any firewood or untreated wood products outside of their county of origin.  I'd also encourage tree companies, villages and cities to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations pertaining to the processing and transporting of ash materials."

The emerald ash borer is difficult to detect, especially in newly-infested trees.  Signs of infestation include the presence of metallic-green beetles about haft the diameter of a penny on or around ash trees, thinning and yellowing leaves, D-shaped holes in the bark of the trunk or branches and basal shoots.

Since the beetle was first confirmed int eh Midwest in the Summer of 2002, it has killed more than 25 million ash trees.  Anyone who suspects a tree may be infested is urged to contact either their county extension office, village forester, or the IDoA.  For more information, visit www.IllinoisEAB.com.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today named the large conference room in honor of former Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray.

Ray, who is celebrating his 84th birthday today, joined the governor and family members for a brief ceremony marking the occasion. The conference room is where the governor and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold their weekly news conferences, and serves as an important meeting room for policy discussions.

"Gov. Robert Ray was a phenomenal governor and a true statesman," said Branstad, who served as Ray's lieutenant governor from 1979-1983. "I wanted to honor Gov. Ray's accomplishments in a fitting manner, and given this is such an important room with a high public visibility, this is a fitting tribute to his service."

Gov. Ray's official portrait, pictured here with Govs. Branstad and Ray, will hang in the conference room.

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2012–Officials from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) have signed two memorandums of understanding (MOU) designed to foster improved access to USDA and BIA programs by tribes and tribal members. The memorandums apply to programs administered by the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Development at USDA, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior (DOI). The MOUs will further improve the important government-to-government relationships and also the services offered between USDA, BIA and the tribal governments and the communities they serve.

"This agreement between USDA and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will help us increase efficiency, reduce redundancy and improve communications and services between our agencies and the tribes," said Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager. "These improvements will help to spur economic development, strengthen the communities and improve the lives of the people of Indian country."

"We look forward to working closely with USDA to serve Indian Country. American Indian farmers are a vital part of Tribal economies and the nation's agricultural industry. Agriculture is the backbone of the nation," BIA Director Mike Black said. "With these MOUs in place, we will be able to work with USDA and its programs as partners in helping American Indian farmers maintain their farms, strengthen the local tribal economies, and bring their produce to market for the benefit of all Americans, and the world."

"This partnership shows the important role tribal lands play in conservation stewardship in America," NRCS Chief Dave White said. "Landowners across the U.S., including those on tribal lands, contribute to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better homes for wildlife. This memorandum is one effort of many in which NRCS, BIA and Indian landowners and land users can join together to nurture a better landscape."

"The Farm Service Agency is eager to implement this agreement," said FSA Administrator Juan M. Garcia. "We respect and honor the centuries of stewardship that the Indian tribes participating in our conservation and farm programs have shown for the land we all share. We are pleased to solidify our partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to conserve the soil, care for our water and air, and help the tribe's maximize their agricultural production."

The MOUs set up a framework for consultation, training, coordination, and the provision of technical assistance which will increase the amount of Indian land enrolled under USDA conservation and farm loan programs and improve service delivery on those lands. Farming and animal management, grazing, ranching and related food and agricultural operations will be supported through improved interdepartmental coordination. The MOUs, which are in place for five years, also support establishment of Native rural businesses, renewable energy development, and job creation. Additionally, the BIA will work with Rural Development to increase homeownership, home repair, and rehabilitation opportunities, and improve energy efficiency of homes on Indian lands through improved coordination of program delivery. Finally, the MOUs will complement the USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) work with BIA to implement and administer the Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA) provision of the 2008 Farm Bill to increase affordability and availability of RUS-supported infrastructure on Indian lands.

The MOUs also help further the objectives of the Keepseagle settlement agreement, which resolved a lawsuit regarding past discrimination by USDA against Native American farmers and ranchers concerning its farm loan program.

Since taking office, President Obama's Administration has taken historic steps to improve the lives of rural Americans, put people back to work and build thriving economies in rural communities. From proposing the American Jobs Act to establishing the first-ever White House Rural Council the President is committed to a smarter use of existing Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities. The Rural Council is working to break down silos of information and to find areas for better collaboration and improved flexibility in administering government programs and to work closer with local tribal and non-tribal governments, non-profits and private companies to leverage federal support to enhance the services offered to rural beneficiaries. The MOUs are also an important step in implementing the administration's Administrative Flexibility Initiative in Indian Country, that has as its goal to provide greater efficiency and more effective program delivery to Indian Country across the federal government.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).