CHICAGO - November 21, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today granted 81 and denied 88 clemency petitions. This action marks another step in a series of clemency decisions aimed at eliminating a backlog of more than 2,500 cases that built up during the previous administration.

The 169 clemency petitions acted upon by Governor Quinn are part of dockets ranging from 2005 through 2010. Each person granted clemency has recently undergone a criminal background check through the Illinois State Police's Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS).

A granted clemency request for a pardon with expungement allows the petitioner to seek expungement of their conviction through the court system.

Since taking office, Governor Quinn has acted on 2,237 clemency petitions. Governor Quinn has granted 842 and denied 1,395 petitions. Those actions include granting 825 pardons and authorizing 17 people who had previously received pardons to seek expungement of their convictions.

For additional information on the granted clemency cases, please contact Ken Tupy at the Prisoner Review Board at (217) 782-7274 or ken.tupy@illinois.gov.

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Nearly $120,000 awarded in last three years of program

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Nov. 21, 2012 - Agriculture is much more than a farmer driving a tractor across a field. It's the scientist at the seed company, the sales person at the local implement store and even the veterinarian who cares for pets and livestock alike. Modern agriculture reaches people every day from the jobs they hold, the food they eat, the fuel in their cars and the clothes in their closets.

Farming is a diverse and dynamic industry and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and the state's county Farm Bureau offices continue to help teachers take that information to their students with an annual Teacher Supplement Grant program.

The program, established in 2003, awards $200 for use in classroom programs that promote agricultural literacy. With Iowans two to three generations removed from the family farm, IFBF's program works to help today's students learn about the diverse and dynamic nature of agriculture. The 2013 subject areas are health or wellness with an emphasis on nutrition, art, music, physical education or fitness.

"We've awarded nearly $120,000 to teachers in the last three years of the grant program and we've been so impressed with the creative ways teachers have devised to bring agriculture to their students," said Barb Lykins, IFBF director of community resources. "It's not just buying some books about farming. We've seen music teachers creating songs and nutrition classes incorporating information about raising food into their classes. With one of six Iowa jobs related, indirectly or directly, to agriculture, it's a great opportunity to bring creative ag education to Iowa's elementary schools and help them understand how farming is part of those students' lives."

The program is accepting applications until Feb. 8, 2013. To apply, go to www.iowafarmbureau.com/articles/73415/2012_-_2013_teacher_supplement_grant_program and fill out the online form. Grants will be awarded in March 2013. For more information, contact Lykins at 515-225-5460.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online media center at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

Rock Island, IL - Christian Care, in cooperation with Colman Florist and Greenhouses, is offering a unique gift opportunity until Friday, Nov. 30. For a one-time donation of only $20, recipients will receive a seasonal bouquet of flowers each month for a year, and half the proceeds will go toward providing shelter and services for the homeless and survivors of domestic violence in our community.

For more details, please contact Andrea at 309/786-5734 or email astclair@christiancareqc.org. Colman Florist and Greenhouses is located at 2754 12th Street, Rock Island, Ill., and in the East Village in Davenport. You can also visit them on the web at  colmanflorist.com. Monthly bouquets must be redeemed at the Colman location of the state in which you reside.

Christian Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose vision is to transform lives. Through its mission of providing safe shelter, support and resources, Christian Care empowers both the homeless and survivors of domestic violence to make positive changes in every aspect of their lives. Christian Care's two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for women and children and a rescue mission for men?serve homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and those with mental illnesses. If you know someone in need, call the Christian Care Crisis Hotline at any hour of the day or night at 309/788-2273.

For more information about Christian Care, please go to its web site at christiancareqc.org or to Facebook at facebook.com/christiancareqc.

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Nov. 21, 2012 - Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, two lucky Iowans from Ottumwa and Osceola will enjoy "Free Groceries for a Year!" from the Iowa Farmers Feed US grocery sweepstakes offered by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and grocery partner, Fareway Stores, Inc.  The two winners, whose names were drawn at random from more than 93,000 Iowa consumer registrations during October, are Stacey Manternach of Ottumwa and Mark Mason of Osceola.

Stacey Manternach of Ottumwa may be a teacher, but she's also an Iowan who is always open to learning. She visited the Iowa Farmers Feed US website (www.farmersfeedus.org/ia) after learning about the opportunity to win $5,000 in free groceries. Once there, she also learned more about the people who raise the food she finds at the store.

"I was very impressed with the website and I liked being able to learn more about the families and farmers featured there," said Manternach. "I liked learning about their histories and being from Iowa, I have the upmost respect and appreciation for our farmers. I started by visiting the farmer closest to me, which was Tim Kaldenberg who raises cattle near Albia."

The website features beef cattle, corn, dairy cattle, hog and soybean farmers from across the state, each sharing information about their farm and family. The campaign also featured the farmers on Facebook and Twitter.

"My family was involved in the Iowa Farmers Feed US project because we understand that while not everyone is involved in raising food, nearly everyone is interested in seeing how animals are cared for, how crops are raised and how we protect Iowa's soil, air and water," explained Justin Dammann, who raises cattle, corn and soybeans in Page County. "The website offers that opportunity for people throughout Iowa, many of whom have never been on a farm."

Manternach agreed, "I didn't know a lot about farming before this and it was neat to learn how Iowa leads the nation in many areas." She also is thinking about how she can use the site and its information in her classroom. "I have so many students who are interested in farming and agriculture, I would like to find some classroom opportunities to use this information," she said.

Although the winners have been chosen, Iowans can still visit www.farmersfeedus.org/ia to learn about Iowa agriculture and take virtual tours of different types of family farms. Additional Iowa agriculture groups supporting this initiative include the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Pork Producers Association and Midwest Dairy.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online media center at www.iowafarmbureau.com.