DES MOINES, IA (06/23/2010)(readMedia)-- Fireworks, barbeques, and parades will be in full display as Americans celebrate our nation's freedom on July 4th. State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald encourages past and present Iowans to include the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt in their Independence Day fun. To date, over $122 million in unclaimed property have been returned to Iowans.

People may find more to celebrate with a visit to the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt website. "Each year, we have more and more people come forward to reclaim their lost or forgotten money," said Fitzgerald. "Our goal is to keep reminding people to check our list for their names. We are consistently updating our website which is full of names of individuals and businesses from all across Iowa that have money waiting for them to claim."

Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions or companies that have lost contact with the property's owner for a specific period of time. State law requires these institutions and companies to annually report and deliver unclaimed property to the State Treasurer's Office. The assets are then held until the owner or heir of the property is found. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility security deposits, and safe deposit box contents.

All Iowans are encouraged to visit www.greatiowatreasurehunt.com and check to see if they have unclaimed property waiting for them. Individuals may also send an email to foundit@iowa.gov. For those who prefer corresponding by mail, please write to State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald, Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 50319. Please make sure to provide current name, previous names and addresses.

Annual reports show high quality water service from Iowa American Water

Davenport, Iowa (June 22, 2010) -- Iowa American Water's 2009 Consumer Confidence Reports indicate high water quality that  meets or surpasses all state and federal standards for all service areas, including Clinton and the Iowa Quad Cities where the company serves over 60,000 customers.  The company has just completed distribution of the annual water quality report as an insert in all customers' bills.

"We are pleased to report that the water supplied to our customers is of higher quality than required by state and federal drinking water standards," said Randy Moore, president of Iowa American Water. "Our team of water quality and plant operations professionals works hard every day to ensure the highest quality product for our customers. These results are a testament to their dedication."

The annual report measures the quality of Iowa American Water's drinking water to the state and federal quality standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The annual report details drinking water sources, testing conducted on the water, and substances detected in the water. Commonly asked questions and answers concerning drinking water are also included.

Customers who may have overlooked the report in their bill or who are not direct recipients of a water bill (e.g., renters) can request a copy by calling 1-866-641-2108. The reports are also available online at www.iowaamwater.com.

Iowa American Water

Iowa American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 200,000 people.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 16 million people in 35 states, as well as Ontario and Manitoba, Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

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More than 5,070 Iowa State University undergraduates have been recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being named to the 2010 spring semester Dean's List.  Students named to the Dean's List must have earned a grade point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.00 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work.

Students from our local area who qualified for the Dean's List are listed below:

from Bettendorf:

• Kristin Alexa Allen, Environmental Science (AGLS)
• Rachel Marie Ashley, Dietetics (H SCI)
• Andrea Lynne Baker, Architecture-Professional Degree
• Ashley Marie Beck, Early Childhood Education
• Maggie Elizabeth Beckman, Interior Design
• Carolyn Elizabeth Bennie, Early Childhood Education
• Jennifer Marie Blaser, Microbiology
• Stephanie Ann Blaser, Food Science (H SCI
• Jessica Marie Blaum, English
• Kaitlin Janaye Bohn, Kinesiology and Health
• Kimberly Ann Booe, Chemical Engineering
• Stephanie Suzanne Booe, Advertising
• Elizabeth C. Brebner, Psychology
• Benjamin Alexander Britz, Mechanical Engineering
• Sarah Anne Buck, Psychology
• Brett T. Bueker, Kinesiology and Health
• Joseph Stephen Byrnes, Physics
• Dan Eric Candler, Mechanical Engineering
• Jonathan A. Carlz, Computer Engineering
• Brittney Corrine Carpio, Political Science
• Daniel Norbert Congreve, Electrical Engineering
• Danielle Lee Cook, Communication Studies
• Jack Edward Cozad, Mathematics
• Emily Marcene Doerder, Music
• Jared Andrew Evans, Political Science
• Daniel Lawrence Finnegan, Aerospace Engineering
• Jennifer Ann Garter, Kinesiology and Health
• Matthew Nicholas Gaul, Architecture-Professional Degree
• Pierre Luc Gilles, Mechanical Engineering
• Valerie Sylvie Gilles, Biology
• Jiyeon Han, Preprofessional Health Programs
• Jacob T. Hemberger, Chemical Engineering
• ron Michael Hewitt, Integrated Studio Arts
• Leah Elizabeth Hodgin, Elementary Education
• Lindsay Jo Hoffman, Pre-Diet and Exercise (H SCI)
• Stephanie D. B. Holloway, Veterinary Medicine
• Bryce Phillip Johnson, Open Option (LAS)
• Carolyn Anne Johnson, Animal Science
• Megan Michelle Johnson, Kinesiology and Health
• Abigail Marie Kline, Child, Adult, and Family Services
• Deborah Nicole Kraft, Integrated Studio Arts
• Stephanie Lynne Kraft, Spanish
• Matthew Douglas Krajewski, Aerospace Engineering
• Jason Carl Kruse, Architecture-Professional Degree
• Elizabeth Ilene Larsen, Psychology
• Jessica Marlo Madsen, Integrated Studio Arts
• Molly Christine Madsen, Spanish
• Elizabeth J. Martin, Elementary Education
• Christopher P. Meadows, Mechanical Engineering
• Spencer William Mesick, Biology
• Brock Robert Mills, Psychology
• Andrew Joseph Morse, Mechanical Engineering
• Gordon Theodore Mueller, Mechanical Engineering
• Stefan Juel Nitzschke, Management Information Systems
• Catherine Erin Owens, Accounting
• Rachel Ann Potthoff, Construction Engineering
• Abigail S. Pritz, Graphic Design
• Emily Paige Rheinhart, Child, Adult, and Family Services
• Samuel James Russell, Construction Engineering
• Mindy Jolene Schlueter, Kinesiology and Health
• Meredith Kim Sherrill, Veterinary Medicine
• Jana Kristine Stolze, Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management
• Kelly Ann Wagner, Dietetics (H SCI)
• Stefani Nicole Williams, Psychology
• Zhiyi Xu, Management Information Systems
• David Thomas Zimmerman, Industrial Engineering

from Davenport:

• Derek Mitchell Adams, English
• Derek Reid Attwood, Aerospace Engineering
• Brian Victor Becker, Marketing
• Nathan Joseph Bierl, Music
• Elizabeth Ann Borcherding, Elementary Education
• Nicholas C. Borcherding, Pre-Diet and Exercise (H SCI)
• Matthew Allen Burmeister, Mechanical Engineering
• Margaret Marie Carlin, Pre-Community and Regional Planning
• Carolyn Anne Chrissotimos, Kinesiology and Health
• Brion Niquan Coleman, Civil Engineering
• Anthony Patrick Colombari, Chemical Engineering
• Michael Dolan Connors, Liberal Studies
• John Michael Crispin, Architecture-Professional Degree
• Kalynn Dawn Doebel, Biology
• Joshua M. Dunham, Electrical Engineering
• Brett Christopher Ebert, Mechanical Engineering
• Nicholas A. Eisenbacher, Civil Engineering
• Kelly Jean Goossen, Forestry
• Alexander Joseph Gowey, Accounting
• Thomas Winston Hales, Music
• Anne Marie Harre, Psychology
• Kathleen Marie Hoil, Performing Arts
• Lance David Keltner, Civil Engineering
• Emily Marie Kenneke, Elementary Education
• Paul Charles Moffit Keppy, Political Science
• Nicholas Aaron King, Landscape Architecture
• Laura Beth Klavitter, Horticulture
• Laura Marie Kleinschmidt, Veterinary Medicine
• Luke William Klenske, Art and Design
• Austin Miles Laugen, Computer Engineering
• Amber Marie Loerzel, Graphic Design
• Farica Lynnette Lomas, Pre-Business
• Britney Jean Meier, Child, Adult, and Family Services
• Alexandra Eleni Menard, Anthropology
• Anna Elizabeth Mullen, Anthropology
• Quynh-Nhu M. Nguyen, Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management
• Alison Margaret Perkins, Design
• Nathan S. Premo, Software Engineering
• Mohammed Ashiqur Rahim, Electrical Engineering
• Kelsey B. Regan, Biological Systems Engineering
• Stephen Philip Richard, Industrial Engineering
• Aleah Nicole Salisbury, Finance
• Bryce Taylor Sandry, Pre-Business
• Elizabeth Gwen Shorter, Early Childhood Education
• Matthew J. Skoglund, Chemical Engineering
• Brian Michael Smith, Journalism and Mass Communication
• Brittany L. Springmeier, Food Science (AGLS)
• Michal-Marie Tillotson, Open Option (LAS)
• Christopher A. Van Buer, Aerospace Engineering

from Moline:

• Lisa Marie Harmon, Accounting
• Christina Elizabeth Mital, Interior Design
• Daniel Joseph Siroky, Architecture-Professional Degree

from Riverdale, Iowa:

• Amy K. DCamp, Pre-Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration

from Rock Island:

• Taylor Marie Downing, Food Science (AGLS)
• Jacob L. Schrader, Mechanical Engineering
• Eric Steven Schroder, Biology
• Grant Aaron Vermeer, Computer Engineering

WASHINGTON - Several U.S. senators today questioned possible plans by the administration to unilaterally extend either deferred action or parole to millions of illegal immigrants in the United States.  Senator Chuck Grassley was joined by Senators Orrin Hatch of Utah, Jim Bunning of Ky., Saxby Chambliss of Ga., Jim Inhofe of Okla., Johnny Isakson of Ga., Thad Cochran of Miss., and David Vitter of La.

"There's a lot we can agree on when it comes to dealing with the immigration problems in the United States, but this appears to be amnesty in disguise, and is simply an attempt to circumvent Congress," Grassley said.

Here's a copy of the text of the letter to President Barack Obama.

June 21, 2010

President Barack H. Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C.  20500

Dear President Obama:

We understand that there's a push for your Administration to develop a plan to unilaterally extend either deferred action or parole to millions of illegal aliens in the United States.  We understand that the Administration may include aliens who have willfully overstayed their visas or filed for benefits knowing that they will not be eligible for a status for years to come.  We understand that deferred action and parole are discretionary actions reserved for individual cases that present unusual, emergent or humanitarian circumstances.  Deferred action and parole were not intended to be used to confer a status or offer protection to large groups of illegal aliens, even if the agency claims that they look at each case on a "case-by-case" basis.

While we agree our immigration laws need to be fixed, we are deeply concerned about the potential expansion of deferred action or parole for a large illegal alien population.   While deferred action and parole are Executive Branch authorities, they should not be used to circumvent Congress' constitutional authority to legislate immigration policy, particularly as it relates to the illegal population in the United States.

The Administration would be wise to abandon any plans for deferred action or parole for the illegal population.  Such a move would further erode the American public's confidence in the federal government and its commitment to securing the borders and enforcing the laws already on the books.

We would appreciate receiving a commitment that the Administration has no plans to use either authority to change the current position of a large group of illegal aliens already in the United States, and ask that you respond to us about this matter as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Chuck Grassley

Orrin Hatch

Jim Bunning

Saxby Chambliss

Jim Inhofe

Johnny Isakson

Thad Cochran

David Vitter