St. Louis, Missouri Hosts Several Acres of Guns, Gear & Outfitters

Fairfax, Va. - The National Rifle Association (NRA) is pleased to announce this year's Annual Meetings and Exhibits to be held at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri from April 12-15, 2012.

and on Twitter @NRA.

Members of the news media who wish to cover this year's event will need press credentials. For press credentials, please call NRA Public Affairs at (703) 267-3820. Credentials will be available for pick-up in the press office starting at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 12. Television crews and still photographers should bring necessary equipment and lenses (sports lenses) to cover events from platforms at distances from 150-200 feet from the stage. (Please note: Due to limited resources, requests from U.S. media outlets will be given priority over foreign media requests. All foreign media requests will be handled as time and resources allow.)

The NRA's Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum will take place on Friday, April 13, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. All press will be admitted through Entrance B only.  Per instructions from the United States Secret Service, media pre-set will be at 10:00 a.m. The throw distance is approximately 150 feet. Satellite trucks can be parked on North Broadway near Convention Plaza. Confirmed speakers include the Honorable Ken Blackwell, Senator Roy Blunt, Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Speaker Newt Gingrich, Senator Chuck Grassley, Congressman Darrell Issa, Governor Bobby Jindal, Lt. Col. Oliver North, Governor Rick Perry, Governor Mitt Romney, Senator Rick Santorum, and Governor Scott Walker.

NRA's 4th Annual Celebration of American Values Freedom Event will take place Saturday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m. Glenn Beck, political commentator and host of the Glenn Beck Program, will be the featured speaker for the evening. Guests will also be treated to a rousing performance by award-winning comedian and member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, Larry the Cable Guy. The throw distance is approximately 150 feet.

More than 65,000 attendees are expected at this year's Annual Meetings and Exhibits, making this one of the largest in NRA's 141-year history. Leading firearm manufacturers will display the firearm industry's latest and greatest products. Guides and outfitters, various hunting and shooting accessories, and an extensive private collection displayed by NRA-affiliated gun collector clubs will fill acres of convention space.

For more information, including event tickets, please visit www.nraam.org.

-NRA-
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services.

DES MOINES, IA (04/11/2012)(readMedia)-- Tickets for the much-anticipated Iowa State Fair Grandstand shows go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through all Ticketmaster outlets. The 2012 line-up is presented by U.S. Cellular.

In addition to the previously-announced star-studded line-up, George Thorogood and The Destroyers will open for the Hank Williams Jr. "Taking Back the Country Tour." Thorogood, along with his band, has been thrilling audiences with his brand of rock and blues since the 70s and is best known for his hit song "Bad to the Bone."

Print at home discounted admission tickets are on sale now through the Fair's website www.iowastatefair.org. Fairgoers can purchase gate admission tickets online and print their own tickets at no extra charge. Food tickets, Fair Play Packs, midway tickets and 11-day punch cards will also be available to order online beginning Saturday.

Tickets for all concert and track events will go on sale Saturday, April 14 at 10 a.m. through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. All concert events are reserved seating; track events are general admission. Beginning July 9, the Fair's Ticket Office will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays - Fridays and 9 a.m. to Noon on Saturdays for walk-up orders only (no mail, phone or fax orders). Convenience charges will apply to all tickets. Grandstand tickets do not include Fair admission.

A complete listing of event dates, times and ticket prices follows:

2012 Iowa State Fair Grandstand Line-up

presented by U.S. Cellular

Thursday, August 9

TobyMac with special guests Tenth Avenue North and Jamie Grace, 8 p.m., $32

Friday, August 10

Happy Together Tour 2012 starring The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, The Monkees lead singer Micky Dolenz, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Grass Roots and The Buckinghams, 8 p.m., $25

Saturday, August 11

Larry the Cable Guy with special guest Reno Collier, 8 p.m. $35

Sunday, August 12

An Evening with Miranda Lambert, 8 p.m., $48

Monday, August 13

Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models, 5:30 p.m. Hot Laps, 6 p.m. Races, $15 adults, $5 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Tuesday, August 14

The Band Perry with special guest Easton Corbin, 8 p.m., $35

Wednesday, August 15

Grand Outlaw National Tractor and Truck Pull, 2 p.m., $20 Adults, $10 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Thursday, August 16

An Evening with Big Time Rush, 7 p.m., $38

Friday, August 17

Hank Williams Jr. "Taking Back the Country Tour" with special guest George Thorogood and the Destroyers, 8 p.m., $39

Saturday, August 18

Demolition Derby, 11:30 a.m., $12 adults, $5 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Saturday, August 18

Journey with Pat Benatar and Loverboy, 8 p.m., $48

Sunday, August 19

Rascal Flatts with Little Big Town, Eli Young Band and Edens Edge, 7 p.m., $59

"Nothing Compares" to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, August 9-19. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

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Author Judith Rose shares her account of overcoming domestic abuse

OMAHA, Neb. - Looking back on her life, Judith Rose wonders how she was able to survive. So many people she loved over the years had died, and she had experienced as much - if not more - pain than all of them. Crediting her strength to escape abuse and hoping to help other women find the strength to do the same, Rose pens Blonde Rose and the Men Who Wandered Through Her Life (published by AuthorHouse), her new novel based on her life.

Blonde Rose and the Men Who Wandered Through Her Life is a fictional novel based on Rose's life. She has changed the names to protect the innocent - and the guilty. It tells a story of abuse, sex, love, betrayal, secrets and survival. "I collected men as some would collect rare stamps," says Rose. "Some men are like rare stamps to be held in our hearts, but others should be stuck to an envelope and sent to the ends of the Earth with no return address."

Rose suggests that many women who are hurt by an abuser will turn to drugs and alcohol, or even the streets. Rose says she turned to the thing that hurt her the most - the men who wandered through her life. This story describes a woman with a powerful sex drive who brings men in and out of her life, and - despite being abused by them - maintained a level of control and power that allowed her to eventually escape abuse.

"I felt that writing this book of my violent and abusive marriages and how I was able to survive would be a way to help other women know there is a way out," explains Rose. "Women have a strength within them that men do not posses, use this strength for you, not for him. If I could do it, so can you."

About the Author

Judith Rose, who writes under the pen name Jewelya, is a native Iowan. She grew up in a small town called Council Bluffs. Rose earned her GED, going on to business school and eventually to Bellevue College where she studied personnel management and psychology. She has two daughters, five sons, and she has 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She has been an avid reader and book collector for many years. Rose is a domestic abuse survivor, and she hopes her survival story helps other women find the strength to survive and to escape domestic abuse situations.

. For the latest, follow @authorhouse on Twitter.

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Moms Night Out for STEM (MNOS) was a brainstorm by IMSEP and the Iowa State University - College of Engineering to inspire primary caretakers, particularly moms, to get 'hands on' with their children's math and science education.

The two inspirations for MNOS events are the importance of STEM in the future success of today's youth and the importance of moms (as well as dads and other caregivers) in shaping their child's self image and interest in STEM.

"Parents figure prominently in the equation for children to see STEM careers in a more positive and desirable light," said Jeff Weld, Director of IMSEP. "Moms Night Out for STEM gives parents and caretakers the opportunity to embrace STEM as a pursuit for their children's future, rather than a scary subject they didn't like in school."

A typical Moms Night Out for STEM event may kick off with a keynote by a local STEM professional who may discuss the many ways parents influence children's interest in and attitude toward science and mathematics. Hands-on activities for adults designed to be done at home and other activities and sharing of resources will round out the evening.

"STEM education is so important for the future of our state, country and world. Our youth will be faced with solving and innovating worldwide challenges such as having enough clean water, sustainable energy, safe food practices, and more," said Camille Sloan-Schroeder of Iowa State College of Engineering. "With parents and caregivers being the most influential people in a child's life, we hope to create an environment where they can get the tools they need to inspire the next generation of innovators."

Iowa's Moms Night Out for STEM satellite event is one of dozens of events conducted across the nation in celebration of the second USA Science & Engineering Festival, to be held in Washington D.C. on April 28-29, 2012. Types of organizations participating in this event include museums, schools, labs and libraries where moms and other caregivers can go to network and learn the best ways to inspire a love of STEM in their children.

Twenty-seven events occurring simultaneously across the state on one night would not be possible without the help many volunteers and with the support of premiere sponsor, John Deere, with promotional support from Iowa Public Television (IPTV).

This event is free and open to the public.  A list of Moms Night Out for STEM locations is listed below. To register for the event nearest you, visit http://www.iowamathscience.org/registration-MNOS-2012 .

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Participating Moms Night Out for STEM events.

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The Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) is the operations arm of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council created to promote excellence in science and mathematics education and application in technology and engineering with the help of STEM education stakeholders across Iowa. For more information, contact the IMSEP office at (319) 273-2959, imsep@uni.edu or visit www.iowamathscience.org.