Gov. Branstad will embark next month on trade mission to Italy, Kosovo, Germany and Switzerland

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today welcomed the Honorable Hashim Thaçi, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, to Iowa during a meeting in the governor's formal office of the Iowa Capitol.

During the meeting, the governor, lieutenant governor and Prime Minister Thaçi discussed the unique Iowa-Kosovo partnership, which began informally through the more than 700 Iowa National Guard soldiers who have served on peacekeeping missions there since 2003, and has evolved into a formal relationship through the State Partnership Program (SPP), beginning in March 2011.  

The SPP, a collaboration between the U.S. State Department, the National Guard Bureau, and the individual states' National Guard forces, enables partner nations to experience the full breadth of U.S. capabilities, such as assisting in the development of democratic institutions and open market economies, improves military interoperability, and promotes political and economic stability.

The Iowa National Guard and the state of Iowa are bringing a Whole of Iowa, Whole of Kosovo approach to strengthen this young democracy and create a prosperous and secure Kosovo by sharing ideas, strategies, and resources for economic development, education, public health, and security.

The governor and prime minister also agreed to arrange for a formal sister state relationship between the state of Iowa and the Republic of Kosovo.

Gov. Branstad will travel to Kosovo in early July to officially sign the sister state agreement establishing Iowa's ninth sister state with the Republic of Kosovo. In addition to his meetings in the Republic of Kosovo, the governor will also participate in events and business meetings in the Veneto Region of Italy, which is a current Iowa Sister State. While in the region, the governor will also pursue business leads arranged by the Iowa Economic Development Authority in Germany and Switzerland.

"Many Iowans have served with peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo and it is very fitting for Iowa to form an official sister state and enhance our partnerships in the areas of agriculture, economic development, public health and education" said Branstad. "The focus of our trip to Kosovo and the European region will be to foster Iowa's sister state partnerships and promote Iowa's exports, while exploring options for companies interested in building facilities here in our state."

"It is such an honor to receive visits from leaders like  Kosovo President (Atifete) Jahjaga last year and now the Prime Minister.  We are so proud to work with the leaders of each of the 187 countries of which Iowa currently exports manufactured and value-added ag products.  It is a great opportunity that helps to increase Iowa's exports and create more jobs right here in Iowa," said Reynolds.

For more information on Iowa's sister state program, visit: http://www.iowasisterstates.org

Additionally, if Iowa media have additional questions about the State Partnership program, they can click on http://www.eucom.mil/key-activities/partnership-programs/national-guard-state-partnership-program and also go to www.iowanationalguard.com. They can also contact the Iowa National Guard Public Affairs Office at 515-252-4582.

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The Wallflowers, Shooter Jennings, BoDeans and Vintage Trouble Headline RRL
www.RiverRootsLive.com

(DAVENPORT- IA) River Roots Live, the Quad Cities premiere music festival, is excited to announce the 2013 lineup featuring headliners The Wallflowers, Shooter Jennings, BoDeans and Vintage Trouble. As always, Ribfest rib vendors from across the country will be serving up delicious barbeque throughout the weekend, too.

River Roots Live will be held on Friday, Aug. 16 and Saturday, Aug. 17 in Davenport's LeClaire Park on the banks of the beautiful Mississippi River. The festival is free both nights before 5 p.m. and admission is only $5 after 5 p.m.

Additional outstanding national acts fill out the festival including The Big Wu, Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts, The Dead Leaves Travelin' Band, David Mayfield Parade, Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas, Chicago Farmer, Old Shoe, Magic Box, and OSG. The Quad Cities' own talent will also be on display when The Multiple Cat, Frank F. Sidney's Western Bandit Volunteers, and Busted Chandeliers take the stage. One additional band will be announced soon for Friday's lineup.

Grammy Award winners and Americana icons, The Wallflowers, headline Saturday night. The band formed in 1990, and since then has made quite an impact in the music world. The Wallflowers album, Bringing Down the Horse, released in 1996, became a certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA. Their huge singles including One Headlight, 6^th Avenue Heartache, Three Marlenas, and The Difference remain staples of radio stations across the U.S. With their brand new album Glad All Over under their belt and some time on the road including a tour with Counting Crows, Jakob Dylan and the boys will be ready to make Saturday night, a night to remember.

Friday's co-headliner, Shooter Jennings, debuted on the music scene with his album Put The O Back In Country in 2006 and from then on has had a style and vision all his own. In 2008, he formed his own brand and record label, Black Country Rock. Shooter can also be heard as a DJ on SiriusXM's Outlaw Country channel.

BoDeans will also be headlining on Friday night. Founder of BoDeans, Kurt Neumann, classifies his band as "a truly American Band" or in other words, blues, rock, country and soul all in one sound. In the BoDeans most recent album, American Made, listeners can find a rendition of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire". John Alagia, who has produced music for Dave Matthews and John Mayer, produced and mixed American Made.

Fresh off their tours with The Who and The Rolling Stones, Vintage Trouble will take the stage Saturday night! This band will blow crowds away with their self described "Live-wired, straight-shootin, dirty-mouth'd, pelvis-pushing juke music." This is a must-see show! The band has toured all over the world, received the Classic Rock Award for "Best New Band of 2011" and also has recorded an MTV The Studio Sessions with Tony Visconti. Vintage Trouble has performed on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan and also Jimmy Kimmel Live.

It wouldn't be River Roots Live without Ribfest BBQ! This isn't your neighbor burning some hotdogs and calling it BBQ. Our vendors travel the nation and represent the top tier of professional BBQ cookers in the United States. So loosen your belt, and we suggest trying every single one of 'em throughout the weekend.

The West Music Jr. Jam Tent returns to offer fun educational workshops for kids and performances from the River Music Experience's Rock Camp bands.

With well over 20,000 attendees, River Roots Live has continued to grow every year since its inception in 2005. For complete details regarding band bios and festival activities, please visit RiverRootsLive.com.

Produced by the Downtown Davenport Partnership, a division of Quad Cities Chamber, River Roots Live is supported by partners Living Lands & Waters and the River Music Experience - all nonprofit organizations. River Roots Live is proud to help promote music education programs at the River Music Experience, environmental clean-up efforts on the Mississippi River by Living Lands & Waters, and the growth of historic downtown Davenport.

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From $20,000 to $65,000 a year - that's the tuition cost for one year of college, says John McDonough, a money expert who helps retirees and parents plan for their families' futures.

"For the 2012-2013 academic year, the average cost for an in-state public college is $22,261. A moderate budget for a private college averaged $43,289," says McDonough, CEO of Studemont Group College Funding Solutions, www.studemontgroup.com. "But for elite schools, we're talking about three times the cost of your local state school. Either way, your kid's higher education can easily shoot into six figures after four years."

Along with worrying about rising tuition prices, parents also fear for their own futures if their retirement savings are drained by children's college costs, McDonough says. Only 14 percent, for example, are very confident they'll have the money to live comfortably in retirement, he says, citing a 2012 survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

"Families feel they're faced with conflicting goals, but there are numerous ways to pay for college while investing in your future retirement," says McDonough, who offers insights for parents to keep in mind while planning for their child's education:

• The ROI of a college education: At a time when so many American families are financially strapped, college is an especially stressful topic because parents know higher learning will help their kids succeed. College graduates earn 84 percent than those with only a high school diploma, according to Georgetown's Center on Education and the Workforce. Here is how earning breaks down over one's life time, based on education: a doctoral degree-holder will earn $3.3 million over a lifetime; $2.3 million is estimated for a college graduate; those with only a high school diploma can expect $1.3 million.

• Move retirement assets to qualify for grants: Most parents know about the 529 savings account, but that's not necessarily the best or only option. Reallocating your retirement assets, such as 401(k)s, can better position a child to qualify for grants and scholarships. This legal and ethical maneuvering may be the single most important factor when considering how to pay for college.

• Know your student's strengths and weaknesses: Consider independent and objective analysis of your future college student. Assessment might include a personality profile and a detailed search for a future career. Also think about a more nuts-and-bolts approach, including scholarship eligibility, SAT and ACT prep courses, review of admissions essays and an in-depth analysis of chances for enrollment in a student's top four choices of colleges.

• Make a checklist of financial aid forms: In order to maximize a fair price of higher education, remember there is plenty of data to review. McDonough recommends a checklist with a timeline and notable deadlines. Be ready to troubleshoot the "alphabet soup" of data forms: FAFSA - Free Application For Federal Student Aid; CSS profile - College Scholarship Service; SAR - Student Aid Report; and more. Think about this process as a second job, or find professional help you can trust.

About John McDonough

John McDonough is the managing member at Studemont Group, which is primarily focused on helping retirees gain peace of mind with unique market rescue and recovery programs. He is also founder, president and CEO of Studemont Group College Funding Solutions. His experience in the financial services industry includes managing partner at Granite Harbor Advisors in Houston and divisional vice president of AXA Equitable/AXA Advisors, the third largest insurance company in the world. McDonough is a member of the prestigious Forum 400, a qualifier at the Court of the Table qualifier for Million Dollar Round Table, an active member in National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and Society of Financial Service Professionals, as well as American Association of Life Underwriters. He has completed the course work to sit for the Certified Financial Planner® professional designation exam from Rice University.