13 Nov 2012

Lt. Governor Simon: Keep College Affordable

By Justin Stofferahn

Affordability Summits continue at Governors State, Chicago State, Northern Illinois

 

CHICAGO - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will visit three northern Illinois universities this week as she brings her fall College Affordability Summits to a close. Simon is calling on federal, state and higher education officials to make higher education affordability a higher priority.

 

Simon's visits to Governors State University, Chicago State University and Northern Illinois University come just three weeks after the College Board released a report indicating that public and private universities nationwide have increased costs more than 4 percent this school year, with community college costs up 5 percent.

 

To make ends meet, students have taken on more debt, carrying an average of $26,682 in student loans in 2010 according to the Pew Research Center.

 

Through increased transparency, targeted state aid and a permanent federal tax credit for middle class families, Simon believes college could be more affordable for Illinois students.

 

"As a state, we want to increase the proportion of working-age adults with a college degree or credential to 60 percent, up from 41 percent, by 2025. The only way we can achieve this goal is if college is affordable," said Simon, a former Southern Illinois University law professor and a member of a state task force evaluating MAP grant eligibility. "We must work together to rein in the costs of a higher education."

 

Governors State University Affordability Summit

DATE: Tuesday, Nov. 13

TIME: 3:45 p.m.

PLACE: Hall of Governors, 1 University Parkway, Governors State University, University Park

 

Chicago State University Affordability Summit

DATE: Thursday, Nov. 15

TIME: 10:30 a.m.

PLACE: Sun Room, Library - 4th floor, 9501 S. King Dr., Chicago State University, University Park

 

Northern Illinois University Affordability Summit

DATE: Friday, Nov. 16

TIME: 10 a.m.

PLACE: Latino Resource Center, 515 Garden Rd., Northern Illinois University, DeKalb

 

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13 Nov 2012

Building a Greener Future for the Quad-Cities

By Mark McLaughlin

IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - Bush Construction of Davenport, IA, has begun work on the new MetroLINK Transit Maintenance Facility, a $33 million project in Rock Island, IL. The structure will be a green building, and A.J. Loss, President of Bush Construction, believes this project may inspire and encourage other area businesses to choose sustainable construction as an option for their future projects.

"Green buildings save money in heating, air-conditioning, electricity and water usage costs. They can offer incredible benefits for a building's efficiency and for the environment," said Loss. "They are also more comfortable and healthier for the people who use them."
The new MetroLINK Transit Maintenance Facility is planned to be a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certified Building. The 150,000-square-foot, one-story MetroLINK Transit Maintenance Facility will be located at 4501 4th Ave., Rock Island, Illinois, in Columbia Park, where a former Farmall plant used to stand.
Quad Cities MetroLINK is the primary public transportation system of the Illinois Quad-Cities, and has been a sustainable leader in the community for more than a decade, through the active use of clean technologies and infrastructure.
"We are happy to be working with Bush Construction on this project, since they have considerable expertise in sustainable construction," said Jennifer Garrity, MetroLINK's Manager of Administration. "Like MetroLINK, Bush Construction is dedicated to a greener future." The new facility will be completed in early 2014.
According to Loss, the structure will incorporate cutting-edge green building elements, so that it saves energy and functions in harmony with the environment. "We have seven LEED Accredited Professionals on-staff, including myself," he added, "and the rest of our staff is knowledgeable about sustainable construction. In addition to the green expertise that will go into the MetroLINK project, we will also incorporate an advanced safety regimen."
MetroLINK's current maintenance facility, built in 1983, is located near the new site at 2929 5th Ave., Rock Island. While the current facility can hold up to 57 buses, the new building will more than double that number, with a top capacity of 120 vehicles. The new building will feature a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station, since 70% of the MetroLINK fleet runs on natural gas. This will allow MetroLINK to maintain its fleet in one location while still allowing for growth well into the future.

According to Tom Quinn, Bush Construction's Project Manager for the MetroLINK facility, their contract covers everything in the construction process except the building concrete, the structural steel, and the compressed natural-gas system. "Those will be covered by other contracts," Quinn said.
Bush Construction will serve as the prime contractor for the general construction bid package, while the Weitz Company, Des Moines, Iowa, will act as the construction manager.
"Outstanding Green Features"

"The new building will include many outstanding green features," said Quinn. "LEED Silver is the minimum rating for this project - we're not accepting anything less."
Throughout the project, Quinn noted, Bush Construction will recycle at least 75 percent of the construction waste. "Wood will go in one dumpster, cardboard in another, and on down the line with everything that can be reclaimed," he said. "It means some additional work, but that's to be expected. Green building isn't the easiest route, but it's well worth the effort."
Quinn noted that the facility will include a bio-swale - a place for the storage of diverted storm water, so that it can be reabsorbed into the surrounding environment, as opposed to allowing it to gush into the sewer system. "Big rain-storms can overtax a city's sewer system, and the bio-swale will make sure that the new MetroLINK facility won't add to that concern," he said. "Also, solar energy will be used to heat water for the facility's bus-wash system."
Other green elements of the structure will include :
  • Photovoltaic solar array - a linked collection of solar panels (funded by a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation)
  • Variable refrigerant flow system
  • White thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing
  • High-efficiency window glazing
  • Lighting control strategies
No Fear of OSHA Here
"With this project, we expect to establish a partnership with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as we did with our recent St. Ambrose University residence project," Quinn said. "Bush Construction will work closely with an OSHA representative who will make safety suggestions throughout the run of the project."
Quinn observed that many construction companies might be hesitant to work this closely with OSHA. "Some firms might be afraid of what OSHA will find on their jobsites," he said. "We see it as an opportunity to continue learning from their highly trained, experienced safety staff."
In addition to Loss and Quinn, other members of the Bush Construction team who will serve on the MetroLINK project are Brian Olson, Construction Superintendent; Marlayna Millizer, Project Engineer; and Stacey Rensberger and Amy Simler, Project Coordinators.
"We look forward to collaborating with the staff members at MetroLINK on this project," said Loss. "They are consummate professionals and together, we will create a facility that will benefit the Quad-Cities for decades."
Recently, MetroLINK was named as the 2012 Outstanding Public Transportation System for all agencies in North America carrying between 1 million and 4 million passengers annually. MetroLINK carried 3.5 million trips in fiscal year 2011.

For more information on Bush Construction, call (563) 344-3791 or visit BushConstruct.com. To find out more about MetroLINK, call (309) 788-3360 or visit GoGreenMetro.com.

-- End --
12 Nov 2012

Insurance Program Covers People with Pre-existing Conditions

By Ginny Grimsley
'Care is Available in Every State,' says Former Physician

With all the talk about health-care coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, it seems few people know coverage is available in every state as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, says Dr. Dixie Swanson, a former television health reporter and physician, and a lupus patient.

"People can apply for the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan, which will not deny you coverage because you have asthma, diabetes or some other condition, and will not charge you more simply because of it," says Swanson, the author of "The Accidental President Trilogy," (www.dixieswanson.com). "In Washington D.C. and 23 states - including Florida, Massachusetts and Texas - it's run by the federal government. Twenty-seven states run their own PCIP program."

Policies vary from state to state and premiums may vary, but coverage can cost less than $200 a month. But a shockingly low number of people know about the coverage, Swanson says. As of July 31, there were 82,000 people enrolled. Maine had only 42 enrollees; California had the most, 11,118.

"Getting and keeping health insurance is Job One for many patients with chronic illness. This is a real step forward," Swanson says.

Here are some important things to know about PCIP:

• You are eligible for PCIP coverage ONLY if you have been without insurance coverage for the past six months. If you have coverage - even if it does not cover your condition - you are not eligible, and if you're in a state high-risk pool, you're not eligible.

• Rules vary depending on who administers the plan. In states with the federally administered program, you must submit one of the following with your application: 1) An insurance company's letter denying you coverage from within the past 12 months, 2) An offer of insurance with a rider disallowing your condition, provided you didn't accept a policy, 3) If you're under 19 or you live in Vermont or Massachusetts, a letter from a doctor, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner stating your condition, and 4) If you're under 19 or you live in Vermont or Massachusetts, an offer of insurance that you didn't accept because the premium was too high (provided it's at least double the cost of a standard option PCIP premium),

• In states with the federally administered program, if you're application is accepted, you'll receive a letter within two to three weeks. If you submitted your application and all documentation before the 15th of the month, your coverage can start by the 1st of the following month (i.e. by Nov. 15, coverage starts Dec. 1). If you apply after the 15th, it will start by the first of the month after that (i.e. Jan. 1).

• PCIP is designed to be temporary. The Affordable Health Care Act calls for private insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions beginning in 2014, at which time PCIP will not be necessary.

• To find out more, visit the plan's official website, www.pcip.gov

About Dixie Swanson

Dixie Swanson was a pediatrician for 10 years and the Family Health Reporter for NBC's Houston affiliate. She also spent time working for a Washington lobbyist with access to the White House.  Dixie is the author of "The Accidental President Trilogy - a Political Fable for Our Time."

12 Nov 2012

On Veterans Day, Braley Calls on Administration to Fix Disability Claims Backlog

By Amanda Bowman

Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Bruce Braley (IA-01) is calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to take action on the Disability Claims backlog following a recent Washington Post report that states nearly 900,000 veterans' claims are in pending status.

Rep. Bruce Braley issued the following statement:

"This Veterans Day we are honoring those who serve our country, yet over 900,000 men and women are not getting the care they need from the Veterans Administration. This is completely unacceptable. The VA needs to fix this problem and work with Congress to make sure the necessary resources are provided.

"I have personally told Under Secretary Hickey that I stand ready to ensure the VA has the resources available to fix this backlog, and I'll do everything I can to get these overdue benefits to our nation's veterans. Our heroes shouldn't have to wait in line after they've stood in the line of duty to protect our country.

"I also encourage any Iowa veteran who is currently experiencing delays in their claims processing to contact my office. Working together, we can help cut through this unnecessary red tape."

Rep. Braley has a long history of fighting to secure benefits for our troops and veterans and working to eliminate the claims backlog. Braley has been an avid supporter of creating a fully-integrated electronic processing system for VA records so they can be processed more efficiently. He has also secured GI Bill education benefits for hundreds of members of the Iowa Guard, successfully fought for overdue backpay for Iowa Guard members, and in 2009, introduced legislation to eliminate combat zone documentation barriers which often prevent veterans injured while serving in combat from getting the disability benefits that they deserve.  Braley has repeatedly urged Congress and the Administration to tackle the claims backlog, and make veterans' benefit forms more understandable.

Braley's office is dedicated to ensuring full benefits for Iowa veterans. If you are a veteran or veteran family member and are experiencing difficulties with the federal government, please contact Rep. Braley's Waterloo office at 319-287-3233.

# # #
12 Nov 2012

Chat about Everything 'Iowa' - Holiday Gift Idea

By Rick Martin

As you look for creative and new holiday gift ideas, you might consider the recently released Iowa Chat Pack- a box of easy-to-pull cards.  A perfect stocking stuffer, Iowa Chat Pack offers 150+ questions to get the conversations going at family parties, on road trips, and even in the classroom.  The questions range from factual to hypothetical and are always open-ended so the responses spark additional thoughts and ideas about Iowa's distinctive cultural events, delicious food, remarkable history and many more.

Sample questions include :

If native Iowan and painter Grant Wood had made YOU the main character in his famous painting American Gothic, what would you be holding in your hand in this well-known work of art?

Which Iowa town do you think has the coolest-sounding name? (What Cheer has to be in the running, doesn't it?)

What is the most fascinating piece of Iowa trivia that you know (besides the fact that there are roughly six hogs for every person in Iowa, and that Iowa is the only state whose name begins with two vowels)?

These are just a few examples of fun and thought-provoking questions designed to engage in entertaining and even enlightening conversations about the Hawkeye State.

Bret Nicholaus and Paul Lowrie, the creators and publishers of Iowa Chat Pack, have been writing creative, stimulating questions for 20 years. Affectionately known as The Question Guys™, the two business partners have written nearly 4,500 questions, but this year marks the first time they have generated state-themed questions.

For more information, please contact bozena@wilkspr.com or 708-434-5006.

12 Nov 2012

Camp Courageous Annual Fruitcake Sales

By Pam Mayo
Monticello, IA–The Camp Courageous Fruitcake Sale is underway. Over 75 locations have these delicious fruitcakes. Posters will be displayed in the windows of participating businesses or one can go online to get the latest location updates at www.campcourageous.org.

These scrumptious one-pound cakes sell for $10.00. They do not contain citron or alcohol and make wonderful holiday gifts. They need to be stored, cut and served frozen. Fruitcakes will be sold at the various outlets from November through December. The cakes are also available at Camp Courageous or can be ordered online at the camp website. Camp will ship anywhere in the United States.

Camp Courageous is a year-round recreational and respite care facility for individuals of all ages with disabilities.  The camp was built and continues to run on donations, without government support, without formal sponsorship, and without paid fundraisers. The camp will serve over 6,000 individuals with special needs this year.

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12 Nov 2012

129 Years in QC - Reunion Planned!

By Brittany Marietta

Rivermont Collegiate has been educating students in the Quad Cities since 1884 and has touched many lives in the community.  Unfortunately, we sometimes lose contact with alumni and are asking for help in spreading the word about this great opportunity to reconnect!

What: Alumni & Friends Reunion

Who: Rivermont Collegiate - St. Katharine's-St. Mark's - St. Katharine's School

  • Alumni
  • Former Students
  • Former Faculty, Staff, Administration, Coaches

When: Tuesday, November 20th

Where: Rivermont Collegiate - 1821 Sunset Drive - Bettendorf, IA 52722

(directly off 18th Street, behind K&K Hardware)

We are reaching out to alumni and former students, as well as former faculty, staff, administration, and coaches to join us and bring their families!

129 Years - A Brief History:

1884 - St. Katharine's School founded, an Episcopal school for girls located at 10th & Tremont Streets in Davenport

1968 - St. Katharine's dropped boarding program, become co-educational, added St. Mark's

1973 - St. Katharine's - St. Mark's moved to present location, the historic Bettendorf Mansion

1980 - St. Katharine's - St. Mark's amicably broke ties with Episcopal Church

2001 - Board of Trustees voted to change school name to Rivermont Collegiate
12 Nov 2012

Governor Quinn Announces New Financing to Help More Military Families Afford Homeownership

By Erin Wilson

Illinois Jobs Now! Financing to Help Additional 500 Families Buy a Home through "Welcome Home Heroes" Program

WESTCHESTER - November 12, 2012. In honor of Veterans Day, Governor Pat Quinn announced the investment of an additional $5 million to the Welcome Home Heroes homebuyer financing package to make homeownership more affordable for more military families. This new Illinois Jobs Now! capital funding will allow an additional 500 military families to access a $10,000 forgivable grant toward the purchase of a new home, as well as a mortgage tax credit worth up to $20,000 over the life of the loan.

Standing outside the home of newlyweds Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Sereda, 34, and Sharon Sereda, 27, Governor Quinn emphasized his commitment to help Veterans, active military personnel, reservists and Illinois National Guard members transition to civilian life. Welcome Home Heroes enabled the couple to buy their first home - a three-bedroom ranch home in suburban Westchester.

"As we honor our Illinois heroes on Veterans Day, we are proud to invest in the Welcome Home Heroes program to help those who sacrifice so much buy an affordable home," Governor Quinn said. "The Welcome Home Heroes program offers a secure financing package that protects those who have committed their lives to protecting us. This program helps military homeowners and improves local real estate markets across Illinois."

Since Governor Quinn launched the financing package last December, Welcome Home Heroes has helped more than 550 military families achieve their dream of buying a home. Welcome Home Heroes originally was funded through $5 million in Illinois Jobs Now! capital funds and $5 million from the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The additional $5 million investment announced today will stimulate statewide economic activity:

·250 full-time jobs

·$8.4 million from real estate-related industries

·More than $6.7 million in economic activity for the state

·Additional $2.7 million in other statewide spending

Administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), Welcome Home Heroes is open to all qualified Illinois veterans. Active military personnel, reservists and Illinois National Guard members may also participate, but must be first-time buyers. The Welcome Home Heroes homebuyer financing package includes a forgivable $10,000 grant for down payment and closing cost assistance, an affordable interest rate (3.25 percent as of today) for a secure 30-year fixed rate mortgage and a mortgage credit certificate worth up to approximately $20,000 for the life of the loan. Welcome Home Heroes recently won national recognition from the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), which lauded the program's role in empowering buyers such as Sereda.

Previously stationed at a California fort in the Mojave Desert as a combat engineer, Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Sereda now works for the Army Reserves in suburban Arlington Heights as a career counselor after moving back to the area. A suburban native, Sereda returned to the Chicago area after the death of his father to help care for his family. He thought about renting before learning of the statewide program that could help him.

"We appreciate Governor Quinn tailoring a program to meet the needs of families like us. With the $10,000 down payment assistance, we had extra money to plan our wedding and begin our new life together," Sereda said. "The housing interest rates are so low, and Welcome Home Heroes was just too good to pass up."

Veterans returning home from their service encounter a special set of obstacles to homeownership. Many are underemployed, and while they qualify for job training programs - conventional home loans feature heightened down payment and credit requirements. Nearly one million veteran homeowners face severe housing cost burdens, paying half or more of their income for housing, according to a 2010 American Community Survey analysis.

"Under Governor Quinn's leadership, Welcome Home Heroes will continue to eliminate barriers to homeownership that many Illinois military families face by providing a financial package that is one of the most substantial in the nation," IHDA Executive Director Mary R. Kenney said. "As the state's housing finance agency, IHDA has enabled nearly 60,000 low- to moderate-income families buy a home securely and this investment means we can help even more families."

Under Governor Quinn's leadership, IHDA also is working to increase rental housing opportunities that provide veterans who are at risk of homelessness with access to supportive services and skills that will help them live independently. Of the 700 new units of affordable rental housing that IHDA recently approved, more than one-third of the total units will help veterans and people with disabilities find stability in communities.

"Governor Quinn is a great supporter of our service members," said Maj. Gen. Dennis L. Celletti, the acting Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "He has instituted numerous programs to ensure our returning men and women in uniform have the resources they need to adapt to civilian life and to thrive in this great state."

"I thank Governor Quinn for this new financial commitment to help our military families transition to civilian life and establish roots in our Illinois neighborhoods," Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Erica Borggren said.

Welcome Home Heroes program builds on IHDA's existing affordable home loan program, SmartMove, also available through IHDA's lenders. The financing package applies to 1-2 unit residential properties located in the State of Illinois that are purchased as a primary residence.

Buyers must qualify based on income and purchase price limits, and can apply for the loan package through an IHDA lender. A list of participating lenders throughout the state is available at ihda.org/homeowner/heroes. For more information about programs for Illinois veterans and servicemembers, visit OperationHomefront.org.

 

About IHDA

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (ihda.org) is an independent, self-supporting bonding authority that finances the creation and preservation of affordable housing throughout Illinois. Since 1967, IHDA has allocated more than $11.1 billion to finance more than 221,000 affordable housing units for the residents of Illinois.

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12 Nov 2012

GOOMBAZZ BIG CITY EATZZ GRAND OPENING FEEDS AND GROWS THE NEIGHBORHOOD

By The Buzz Gallery of modern Art

The country's best tastes and economic development on the menu in Rock Island

Rock Island, IL - Goombazz Big City Eatzz, a new restaurant experience, is proud to bring some familiar tastes with a side of economic growth to Rock Island, IL.

Featuring a menu that represents famous delicacies from over 30 city centers in the United States, Goombazz is a full service restaurant owned by Brenda "The Brainzz" Brewer along with Sal "Sally Fatzz" Cracco. The restaurant décor is highlighted by elements from a checker cab ceiling to the original "Coast-to-Coast" mural in the party room by artist Matthew T. Chouteau.

Specialties include Chicago Italian Beef, New York kosher-style Corned Beef and Pastrami sandwiches piled high, four different regional styles of pizza on three different types of crust including the "Quadzz Mob" - five square feet of pizza - and 100% all beef hot dogs from Thumann's....The Deli Best.

Brewer and Cracco are also pleased to return a building to the tax base of Rock Island as well as 40 full- and part-time employees. The effort has been aided by the economic development staff of Rock Island in a public-private partnership. The project was supported with a $25,000 low interest business loan and a $3,800 rebate through the city's Façade Improvement program.

"We have been so impressed with the help we have received from Rock Island city staff," said Brewer. "The assistance from all levels of the city has made the relationship with our vendors even better and made it possible to recruit and hire the size of staff we wanted to provide the 'Goombazz' experience."

"The City of Rock Island is excited about the opening of Goombazz as it supports the need for more family dining options in our community," said Jeff Eder, Community & Economic Development Director for the City of Rock Island. "Staff has enjoyed working with Ms. Brewer and Mr. Cracco to make their vision a reality."

Goombazz Big City Eatzz opened October 2012 at the former Godfather's Pizza in Rock Island, IL. Brenda "The Brainzz" Brewer and Sal "Sally Fatzz" Cracco believe nothing says "family" more than a meal at their table.  A "goomba" is a friend and everyone is a friend at Brenda and Sal's place.

The restaurant is a full service family establishment. Eat in, take out, or rent the party room for up to 38 people. Goombazz is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM. The phone number is (309) 793-7777. They're online at www.facebook.com/goombazzbigcityeatzz.

-30-

 

12 Nov 2012

Soy Checkoff Research Yields Smartphone App

By United Soybean Board
'Extreme Beans' gives farmers easy way to evaluate the economics of inputs

ST. LOUIS (Nov. 12, 2012) - Ever wonder whether it's worth it to apply a fungicide? How about the most cost-effective seeding rate? The national soy checkoff has put that information in the palm of your hand.

A new app developed by the United Soybean Board (USB) includes two calculators that help farmers plan for their next crop. One helps users determine whether the yield benefits of various input combinations justify the costs. The other uses the main maturity rates for a farmer's region, the cost of soybean seed and an estimated price of the soybeans at the time of sale to determine an optimal seeding rate based on a percentage of return.

The app also includes documents and videos that describe the research behind each tool.

"This is a really easy way for farmers to get an idea about seeding rates for soybeans based on both the cost of the seed and the price of the harvested grain," says Seth Naeve, lead investigator and associate professor of agronomy and plant genetics, University of Minnesota. "It's a way for them to utilize that information together to provide them with a numerical suggestion for seeding rates."

The Extreme Beans app is available for Apple iPhone and Android-enabled smartphones and other devices. Farmers can easily find it in their device's app store by simply searching by the title.

The Extreme Beans app is a result of the soy checkoff-funded "Maximum Yield Through Inputs" study, which compared the yields from plots where various inputs were applied to plots without additional inputs. Researchers threw "everything but the kitchen sink" at the soybeans, Naeve says.

"The checkoff is continually looking for ways to give farmers tools to improve production and increase the value of their soybeans," says Jim Schriver, chair of USB's production committee and soybean farmer from Bluffton, Ind. "When we see opportunities to help add value to the product, not only in terms of production but also quality, we want to help it come to market, and one of the best ways to do that is through a tool."

An insert in the August issue of Corn & Soybean Digest included summary results from the extensive study. To request a copy of the insert, click here.

The 69 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.
For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit us at www.UnitedSoybean.org
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard
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