Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) announced that Dubuque, Iowa will receive a new intercity passenger train set from the $268 million in passenger rail funds awarded to six Midwestern states earlier this year.

"This train set will provide better service for thousands of passengers on the Dubuque to Chicago line," said Rep. Braley. "Passenger rail is critical to the continued economic development of the region. This is one more step to create jobs in the short term and put Iowa's economy back on track."

The award allowed for the purchase of 7 train sets for 8 corridors in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan and Wisconsin.  These new trains sets will be able to travel up to speeds of 125 mph to comply with the PassengerRail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. The new equipment is set to replace aging Amtrak equipment and increase capacity, improve operational reliability and reduce operating costs.

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MILWAUKEE, WI - With the surge of social media and smartphones over the years, some believe that the Internet and computer programs have encouraged inactivity - but what if these technological advances could actually help a person lose weight?  Many people on the journey to wellness, including members of TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, have turned to technology for encouragement and weight-loss management.

Share your experience with friends

Social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, can hold people accountable and provide them with support.  Posting a Facebook status or tweeting about weight-loss goals and plans can help keep a person on track.  Not only may individuals feel the need to uphold their weight-loss declaration, but people may also gain a sense of camaraderie.  Facebook friends or Twitter followers may have the same goals and can provide encouragement, healthy recipes, exercise tips, and more.  They are personal weight-loss cheerleaders.

TOPS' Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TOPSClub, features inspirational photos, links to articles, videos, seasonal recipes, success stories, and news.  Another popular social tool is DailyMile.  Users can connect to DailyMile for free and track workouts, compete with friends, map exercise routes, post status updates, and use tools to help their fitness training.

Use an online calorie counter

Online calorie counters, like MyFitnessPal and Lose It!, are a great way to track the amount of calories a person consumes and burns each day.  Many allow users to personalize their profiles with their height, weight, target weight, activity level, gender, and other criteria.  Calorie counters can help individuals reach their goals, because they make the user aware of the nutritional value of the foods and beverages they consume.

Take advantage of a support network

Chat rooms and online forums are a convenient (and anonymous way, if you prefer) to find support, share experiences, and get advice.  Individuals are able to join a conversation with people who are going through the same experience while in the comfort of their own home.  TOPS members have access to the organization's members-only chat rooms and message boards, particularly helpful for those who aren't able to attend their weekly local chapter meeting or are seeking extra encouragement.  Topics may range from exercise tips to simply getting to know one another.  It can be easier to struggle past cravings or get motivated to work out if a person knows that others are sharing the same experience.

Keep track of goals

TOPS members have many weight-management tools available for their use.  One such tool is "My Weight Record" for weight tracking, available in the members' area of TOPS' website at www.tops.org.

Mobile "apps" focusing on diet and exercise abound with the rise in smartphones.  Want to count calories?  Wonder where you can find a healthy recipe on the go?  Calorie counters, training apps, and restaurant information, such as Restaurant Nutrition, are just a few examples of the apps that people can download on their smartphones - and many are free.  Mobile apps can easily track calorie intake, calculate calorie needs, or provide tips to train for that future 5K.

Many TOPS members use Together Counts, an app where people can pledge to eat weekly meals together, be active, and stay connected to an environment with similar goals.  It encourages families and communities to get healthy together with a simple pledge:  Eat at least one meal and do at least one activity together every week. Together Counts helps users keep track of their progress while holding them accountable to their team and others in the community.

With hundreds of options, people can easily choose a technological program that fits into their lifestyle and weight-loss goals.

TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the original, nonprofit weight-loss support and wellness education organization, was established more than 63 years ago to champion weight-loss support and success.  Founded and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, TOPS promotes successful, affordable weight management with a philosophy that combines healthy eating, regular exercise, wellness information, and support from others at weekly chapter meetings. TOPS has about 170,000 members in nearly 10,000 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. To find a local chapter, view www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.

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Investment Will Keep Illinois on the Cutting Edge of Nuclear Safety

SPRINGFIELD - July 23, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced the signing of legislation that will bolster Illinois' world-class nuclear safety program. The new law increases fees paid by Exelon to fund upgrades to remote monitoring systems at each reactor site, hire additional nuclear safety experts and update vital nuclear safety equipment.

" Illinois continues to be a national leader in nuclear safety," said Governor Quinn. "After reviewing Illinois' nuclear safety programs, we have identified needs for updated equipment, as well as increased personnel in several key areas. This investment will further strengthen that program, and ensure Illinois continues to lead the nation with the best nuclear safety program."

Governor Quinn proposed and led passage of House Bill 1723, which was sponsored by Rep. Thomas Holbrook (D-Belleville) and Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria), to ensure the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has adequate resources to operate the state's nationally-recognized nuclear safety program. Eleven nuclear reactors currently operate in six locations in Illinois. The new law increases fees paid by Exelon, which operates all 11 reactors, to support upgrades to IEMA's Remote Monitoring System (RMS) and specialized response equipment, and increases the agency's staff of nuclear safety experts.

Illinois' annual per-reactor fee has been $1.75 million since 2003. House Bill 1723 increases that fee to $1.9 million per reactor, providing an additional $1.6 million annually to support Illinois' nuclear safety programs, with no additional consumer costs attached to the legislation. The new funds will enable IEMA to fill approximately 12 staff positions, including nuclear safety scientists, health physicists, computer experts and lab assistants.

The legislation also includes a one-time capital infrastructure fee of $3.6 million to be paid over three years for a major upgrade of the computer system that supports Illinois' unique RMS and other essential safety equipment. The RMS collects critical data from inside and around each reactor plant and transmits that information to IEMA's Radiological Emergency Assessment Center in Springfield. During an incident at a nuclear plant, the information would be analyzed by IEMA's reactor and environmental analysts in order to develop action recommendations to protect the public.

"This investment will enable us to modernize technology and critical components of our Remote Monitoring System, which will ensure that we continue to receive the independent, real-time information that is essential for protecting public safety and the environment," said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken.

More information about the RMS and IEMA's other nuclear power plant monitoring and emergency response programs is available on IEMA's website at www.iema.illinois.gov.

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The German American Heritage Center in Davenport welcomes civil war enthusiasts!    The exhibit "Iowa in the Civil War: The German Element" is available through August 7. A companion FREE traveling exhibit from the Iowa State Historical Society in the GAHC parking lot features "The Fiery Trial: Iowa in the Civil War." Visitors can see why Iowa entered the war, the impact of war on the state of Iowa, the work of Annie Wittenmyer as she cared for the wounded and orphaned, and efforts in Iowa to improve civil rights for all after the war.

A special touchscreen feature allows Iowans to search for their Union army ancestors in the Civil War by name and county.

 

A special $10 family ticket for all inside exhibits is available during the "Fiery Trial" run from July 28 through August 7. Other tickets are Adults $5, Seniors $4 and children $3.

 

Special hours for the civil war features are July 28 - August 7 from 10:00 through 7:00 EXCEPT July 28 10:00 - 4:00; July 31 noon to 6:00 and August 7, noon to 4:00.

 

Information available at www.gahc.org OR (563) 322-8844 or info@gahc.org