(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today encouraged Iowans to get involved with their government through the boards and commissions process.

The pair highlighted the more than 180 boards and commissions that advise all areas of state government, from the governor's office to the Legislature, as well as state agencies.

This spring, more than 225 positions on Senate-confirmed boards and commissions will see their terms expire, and the governor and lieutenant governor hope many Iowans will apply to fill the vacancies.

Among those board positions are spots on high-profile boards such as the Regents and Transportation Commission, but also dozens of licensing boards and advisory boards for departments and policy initiatives.

"Iowans can achieve great things by serving on a board or commission," said Gov. Branstad. "Boards and commissions are often where the rubber meets the road - helping create policy to the implementation of administrative rules."

A listing of all state boards and commissions, along with current openings, is found here: https://openup.iowa.gov/.

Lt. Gov. Reynolds says it's a great way for Iowans to get involved, and knows firsthand, as she was selected by Gov. Branstad to serve on the IPERS Investment Board in the '90s.

"We encourage all Iowans who are interested in being a part of citizen government to submit an application," said Reynolds. "This is a wonderful way for Iowans across the state to be involved, help to hold their government accountable, and implement and maintain a government delivery system that is commonsense, and works well for its citizens."

State law requires that all boards and commission be balanced according to gender and political affiliation. In addition, geographic and ethnic diversity are taken into consideration during the appointment process.

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By Jason Alderman

If you've ever tried to remove inaccurate of fraudulent information from your credit report and gotten the runaround, take heart: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is now on the case.

In July 2012, the watchdog agency, formed as a result of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, gained authority to supervise all of the major consumer reporting agencies.

The CFPB now advocates for consumers who have complaints regarding interactions with credit bureaus and identity theft protection services. This adds to the agency's consumer grievance oversight which already included mortgages, bank accounts, consumer loans and private student loans.

"Credit reporting companies exert great influence over the lives of consumers," said CFPB Director Richard Cordray in announcing his agency's new responsibility. "They help determine eligibility for loans, housing, and sometimes jobs. Consumers need an avenue of recourse when they feel they have been wronged."

You can seek assistance from the CFPB if you have issues with:

• Incorrect information on your credit report;
• How a consumer reporting agency is handling its investigation of your complaint;
• The improper use of a credit report;
• Being unable to get a copy of a credit score or file; and
• Problems with credit monitoring or identity-protection services.

Here's how the new system works:

If you believe your credit report contains incorrect or fraudulent information, you should first file a dispute with and get a response directly from that credit reporting company before contacting the CFPB. The same goes if you have an issue with how the company is handling its investigation of your grievance - for example, if they don't respond in writing within 30 days.

If, after filing your grievance, you are dissatisfied with the resolution, you may file a complaint with the CFPB using any of the following methods:

• File online at www.cfpb.gov/complaint
• Call toll-free at 855-411-2372
• Fax it to 855-237-2392
• Mail to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, P.O. Box 4503, Iowa City, Iowa, 52244.

Once your complaint has been logged, you'll be given a tracking number to check its status. Each complaint will be processed individually and sent to the credit bureau in question for response. The CFPB expects companies to respond within 15 days with information about the steps they have taken or plan to take. You'll have the option to dispute the company's response to your complaint.

Credit reporting companies issue more than 3 billion consumer credit reports a year and maintain files on more than 200 million Americans. Among other things, they track the number and types of credit accounts you use, how long they've been open and whether you've paid your bills on time.

"The consequences of errors in a consumer report can be catastrophic for a consumer, shutting him or her out of credit markets, jeopardizing employment prospects, or significantly increasing the cost of housing," noted the CFPB's announcement.

You can order one free credit report per year from the three major credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. (Order through www.annualcreditreport.com; otherwise you'll pay a small fee.) Proactively ordering your reports on a regular basis can help identify bad credit behavior and spot fraudulent activity or errors before they can damage your credit.

To learn more about credit reports and scores, visit the CFPB's website, www.cfpb.gov. Another good resource is What's My Score (www.whatsmyscore.org), a financial literacy program run by Visa Inc.

Author Sandi Lorraine weaves a tale of temptation and deception that will give readers "A Winter To Remember!"

GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa - (Release Date TBD) - In A Winter To Remember!, author Sandi Lorraine tells the story of a policeman who is framed of a heinous crime. As he tries to clear his name, he discovers a sinister conspiracy responsible for his predicament, and falls for the woman charged with defending him in court.

Deputy Tyler Patterson was a faithful enforcer of the law, before a one night fling leads to false accusations of rape that destroy his reputation and place him behind bars. He struggles to prove his innocence in the courtroom, and is aided by the beautiful Noreen Carpenter, the lawyer he was referred to. As the legal battle plays out, she proves to be as skilled in the courtroom as she is attractive and enticing, and he cannot help but find himself intensely drawn to her. Meanwhile, the case becomes even more complicated when they realize that a crooked senator was the one behind Tyler's setup, and that the politician has ties with the mafia.

To exonerate himself, Tyler must pursue the senator and his criminal allies, but this is no easy feat for the discredited lawman and his legal counsel and lover. As the stakes grow higher, he becomes caught in a tangled web of sex, corruption and deceit, and must find a way out of this maze of lies before he ends up in prison.

A Winter To Remember! is at once a thrilling legal drama and a story of an insatiable romance between a stern man of action and a brilliant yet beautiful lawyer who must contend with a powerful cabal of mobsters and politicians. Lorraine's work will greatly appeal to fans of both genres and casual readers alike with its exciting tale of sex, crime and passion.

Giant banner signed by local people who will call on Bobby Schilling to

Champion "jobs not cuts" in fiscal cliff negotiations

(Moline, Ill.) Area residents will rally and demand Rep. Bobby Schilling fight for jobs and middle class tax cuts and against cuts to Medicare and other vital services in the so-called "fiscal cliff" negotiations over spending and taxes. The rally and protest is one of more than 100 action taking place Monday in cities nationwide.

"I want Rep. Bobby Schilling to work on creating good jobs and making the wealthiest 2% to pay their fair share of taxes," says Janet Clark of Rock Island. Medicare and Medicaid are not 'entitlements,' they are something the middle class has paid for our entire lives."

After the protest rally, residents plan to visit Senator Dick Durbin's office and present him with petitions signed by his constituency. The petitions ask for Sen. Durbin's continued support of the middle class tax cuts.

What: Rally and Protest

When: 2:00 p.m.

Where: Senator Durbin's office: 1504 Third Avenue, Suite 227, Rock Island, Illinois

Who: Constituents including retirees, students, community activists, faith leaders and union members

Why: To protect the economy and working families

Visuals: Enlarged petition banner will be presented to Sen. Dick Durbin. Signees are asking for Sen. Dubins continued support of middle class tax cuts.