Program Supports Safety Instruction, Infrastructure Development and Encourages Alternative Modes of Transportation

SPRINGFIELD - January 24, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced $21.7 million in Illinois Safe Routes to School grants to schools and communities across the state. The federally-funded program is designed to enable and encourage children to walk and bike to school safely.

"These projects enhance roads, sidewalks, and other infrastructure within communities, which is important in keeping both drivers and pedestrians safe," Governor Quinn said. "Encouraging children to walk and bike to school not only makes school routes safer, but also improves the quality of life for Illinois residents by easing traffic congestion and reducing emissions."

The 229 funded projects support sidewalk repair and equipment for police and crossing guards. The funding includes $1.5 million to assist communities with safety training, educational materials, and public service announcements encouraging safe walking and biking to school. This will help ensure a consistent statewide program and favorable outcomes from the Safe Routes to Schools projects.

"The Illinois Safe Routes to School grants help us build pedestrian-friendly roads and sidewalks while educating students and families on the importance of alternative forms of transportation and the benefits of an active lifestyle," Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider said. "With these funds, we are also able to help communities implement projects aimed at lowering fuel consumption and air pollution."

"This is exciting news for the entire state," said Ron Burke, Executive Director of the Active Transportation Alliance, an advocacy organization that works to improve conditions for biking, walking and public transportation. "When we make bicycling and walking to school safer and more convenient, we are making our air cleaner and helping more kids get active and healthy."

Illinois Safe Routes to School is a program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration, designed to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school and encourage a healthy lifestyle from an early age. The program also facilitates projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of primary and middle schools.

For more information about the Illinois Safe Routes to School Program and to view a list of funded projects, visit http://www.dot.il.gov/saferoutes/SafeRoutesHome.aspx.

IRVINE, Calif.–Digital Book World Conference 2012 is the site of this year's Publishing Innovation Awards, and the prize for best entry in the App Fiction category has been awarded to Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged."

It is remarkable for a classic novel to receive such a leading-edge award fifty-five years after publication.

Curated by New American Library/Penguin Group editors and the Ayn Rand Institute (ARI), the app brings together the classic, unabridged text, and rarely seen archival materials to add a new dimension to the reader's experience of the work, author's life, and philosophy, in a truly unique immersive literary experience.

Rarely seen material included in the app:

• Videos and audio excerpts from the author on main topics from the book
• Full-length audio lectures by Rand, including a Q&A on Objectivism, an outline of its basic principles, and commentary on the state of business and government
• Handwritten, original manuscript and notes pages by the author
• An illustrated timeline of the author's life and major works
• Informative articles on the author and her philosophy of Objectivism
• Memorable quotes throughout that can be easily shared via Facebook, Twitter and email
• A photo gallery of early images of the author
• Discussion Guide

ATLAS SHRUGGED Amplified Edition for the iPad / $14.99, downloadable at the iTunes store/Penguin Group (USA) is on sale now.

For the app website, visit the iTunes App Store.

For a video demonstration of the app, click here.

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Washington, DC - In a show of bipartisanship, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will sit with Republican Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15) during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address this evening.

Until last year, Members of Congress traditionally sat with elected officials from their respective political parties in a divided chamber. However, in 2011 that tradition was abandoned by some Representatives who embraced calls for greater displays of bipartisan cooperation and sat with colleagues from the other party.

"It won't fix everything that's broken in Washington, but sitting together in a bipartisan way is a good reminder that at the end of the day, we're all Americans - not just Republicans or Democrats," Braley said.  "Charlie and I don't agree on everything, but we're friends and we do agree that when it comes to facing our nation's challenges, we face them as a united people, not as members of political parties."

"On a night the President outlines his vision for 2012, it is important elected officials illustrate to the American people our determination to tackle the major issues facing our nation in a bipartisan manner," said Rep. Dent. "Sitting with my colleague and friend Bruce Braley is a simple gesture to show our shared commitment to working together. This show of unity is particularly poignant this evening, as we celebrate the service of U.S. Rep Gabby Giffords (AZ-8), who will soon resign from Congress to focus on her rehabilitation."

CHARLESTON, SC (01/24/2012)(readMedia)-- Cadet Michael Joseph Millea of Davenport, IA, was recently honored for outstanding academic achievement at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, during the fall semester of the 2011-2012 academic year. Millea earned one of the college's top academic honors, a Gold Star.

Gold Stars are presented to students who achieve a 3.7 grade point average or higher during a semester's course work. In addition, Millea also will be placed on the Dean's List, a recognition that is given to those cadets and active duty military students whose grade point ratio is 3.2 or higher with no grade below a C for the previous semester's work.

Millea is seeking a bachelor's degree is History.

Gold Star and Dean's List students will be recognized during The Citadel's Jan. 27 military dress parade, which begins at 3:45 p.m. on Summerall Field.

The Citadel, founded in 1842, is a public, coeducational military college in Charleston, S.C., that offers a classic military education for young men and women seeking a college experience that is intense, meaningful, academically strong and is focused on educating principled leaders for a strong military and a global workforce.