NASA ANNOUNCES EDUCATION RESEARCH PROGRAM AWARD RECIPIENTS

WASHINGTON -- NASA has awarded $16.8 million to colleges and universities nationwide to conduct research and technology development in areas of importance to the agency's mission. In addition to the research and technology development, the awards enable faculty development and higher education student support.

The selections are part of NASA's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or EPSCoR. The program is designed to assist states in establishing an academic research enterprise directed toward a long-term, self-sustaining and competitive capability that will contribute to the states' economic viability and development. EPSCoR assists in developing partnerships between NASA research assets, academic institutions and industry.

A total of 24 proposals were selected for funding in Puerto Rico and the following states:  Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming. Winning proposals were selected through a merit-based, peer-reviewed competition.

Two proposals were selected from each of the following colleges, universities and organizations:

College of Charleston
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
University of Idaho
Vanderbilt University
West Virginia University Research Corporation

One proposal was selected from each of the following universities and organizations:

Brown University
Louisiana Board of Regents
Maine Space Grant Consortium
Montana State University System
Nevada System of Higher Education
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Hawaii Systems
University of Kentucky
University of Mississippi
University of Northern Iowa
University of Puerto Rico
University of Wyoming
University System of New Hampshire

For a list of selected proposals, visit:

http://nspires.nasaprs.com

For additional information about NASA's EPSCoR program, visit:

http://education.nasa.gov/epscor

For additional information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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On your property, insects and microorganisms abound. This is a natural and beneficial state, since insects and microorganisms are key components in nutrient recycling, decomposition, plant succession, natural pest control and wildlife habitat.

"A landscape without insects and microorganisms would be a very unhealthy environment," notes Tchukki Andersen, staff arborist for the Tree Care Industry Association. "The trick is to balance the threshold of healthy with having too much of a good thing, when the naturally occurring insects and diseases become a problem. This is where an integrated pest management (IPM) program may benefit your landscape plants." Periodic outbreaks of destructive tree insect pests, as well as diseases, occur as part of natural fluctuations in ecosystems. The actions of homeowners make these outbreaks either more severe or they lessen their impact locally. IPM provides the steps needed to promote a healthy landscape and to prevent destructive pest outbreaks, and to ensure diversity and vigor on your property.

Begin by keeping your healthy trees healthy. Monitor for pests and use preventative and cultural controls (such as proper irrigation and mulch).

Increase diversity
Many property owners have lots with just a single or a few trees. Others have small backyard woods, which have become an important component of the urban environment. Small woodlands with a mix of tree species are often less susceptible to pest outbreaks than woods with a single species. A diversity of tree ages also reduces the risk of pest outbreaks. As with species diversity, age diversity increases the complexity and stability of the ecosystem. A natural balance of organisms is more likely to develop as age diversity increases. For example, potential pests of young trees could be regulated by parasites and predators already well established on older trees.

"A healthy landscape is less susceptible to pest outbreaks and is more resilient if an outbreak does occur," stresses Andersen. "When trees are overcrowded in your landscape, competition for light, water and nutrients results in increased stress. Trees under stress are more likely to be attacked by pests." The first clues of a tree health problem may be symptoms such as yellowing needles or leaves, thinning foliage or dieback on upper limbs. These problems may be caused by insect pests or disease pathogens; or they may arise from "abiotic" factors such as soil problems, construction damage, drought, pollution or herbicide injury.

What to do
A professional arborist can examine your trees to find the source of the problem. A professional arborist can also recommend treatments, including thinning densely wooded areas, planting new trees, correcting soil deficiencies, increasing water and nutrients, monitoring for pests or pest management. Homeowners can contact the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), a public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture that was establish in 1938. It has more than 2,000 member companies who recognize stringent safety and performance standards, and are required to carry liability insurance. TCIA also has an Accreditation program that requires companies to meet industry standards and qualifications, including ANSI A300 pruning standards. An easy way to find a professional tree care service provider in your area is to use TCIA's "Locate a member company program." You can use this service by calling 1-800-733-2622 or by doing a ZIP code search at: www.treecaretips.org.

WASHINGTON - (June 16, 2010) - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, with exclusive Senate jurisdiction over taxes, today released new numbers from the Internal Revenue Service, showing the agency has hired more than 1,000 military veterans each of the last three years.

"The IRS deserves credit for recognizing the value of military veterans," Grassley said.  "By seeking out these men and women, the agency is getting capable employees to serve the taxpayers and the country in a new capacity from their military service."

Beginning in 2008, Grassley succeeded in persuading the IRS to increase its hiring of veterans. At Grassley's urging, the agency hired more than 1,000 veterans in 2008 and 2009, per a verbal commitment Grassley secured from the IRS commissioner during his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing. Today, the IRS gave Grassley a full accounting for Fiscal Year 2009 and the first eight months of Fiscal Year 2010 (the fiscal year ends Sept. 30):

• FY 2008: 1,203 or 7 percent of new hires (364 were disabled veterans)

• FY 2009: 1,669 or 9 percent of new hires (528 were disabled veterans)

• FY 2010 to date: 1,109 or 10 percent of new hires (398 were disabled veterans)

The text of the IRS' update is available here.  Grassley initiated the veterans hiring' effort after realizing that the Treasury Department, including the IRS, lagged behind other federal agencies in hiring newly returned veterans, even though the department had significant vacancies.

Beyond IRS hiring, Grassley in May joined the Finance Committee chairman to introduce tax legislation that would create job opportunities for veterans returning home from military service and help businesses create jobs.  The bipartisan Veterans Employment Transition Act will reward employers who hire qualified veterans who have recently completed their service in the military with up to a $4,800 tax credit for disabled veterans and up to a $2,400 tax credit for other qualifying veterans.  The bill eliminates the administrative burdens that make the current Work Opportunity Tax Credit provision directed toward unemployed veterans difficult for small businesses to use.  As a result, servicemen and women who have been recently discharged will be able to provide documentation from the Department of Defense without having to go through the tax credit's current certification process, which can be lengthy.

In 2008, Congress made permanent several provisions to provide tax relief for American troops and their families that Grassley helped to advance.  The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008, the HEART Act, was a bipartisan effort that incorporated most of the provisions in the Defenders of Freedom Tax Relief Act of 2007, which Grassley co-sponsored and promoted.  The HEART Act also made permanent and expanded upon some of the tax relief measures that Grassley coauthored in 2003, while chairman of the Finance Committee.

"Military service makes taxes complicated and sometimes unfair," Grassley said.  "People shouldn't suffer a tax hit to serve our country.  Military men and women should have fair treatment under the tax code. It's a no-brainer."

Last year, Grassley welcomed the enactment of legislation he cosponsored to help members of the military benefit from the first-time homebuyer tax credit.  Before this correction, members of the military were penalized by the credit's structure.  The correction gave military personnel serving outside of the United States more time to qualify for the credit.   It also eliminated the repayment requirement for military personnel forced to sell as a result of official service.  The legislation also excluded from tax any payment to military personnel to compensate them for loss in home value resulting from base closure.

Apart from tax work, Grassley recently has worked to address the ongoing and growing backlog of veterans' claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  He also cosponsored successful legislation that will ensure timely, sufficient and reliable funding for the VA health care system.  This legislation was supported by all major veterans' organizations as well as the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.  Grassley also has worked to include several beneficial provisions in the Caregiver and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act.  This new law corrects a number of deficiencies in how the U.S. cares for veterans with traumatic brain injuries, enhances VA support for family caregivers, and expands mental health services.  In 2009, Grassley received the American Legion's Distinguished Public Service Award for his work on issues important to veterans.

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Amana - Direct from Branson, Missouri, Doug Gabriel seven-time winner of Male Vocalist of the Year, is returning to The Old Creamery Theatre Company for performances July 7 through 11.

Come hear music from Elvis, Jim Reeves, plus many others and see Doug play his famous Muftar, a guitar made out of a 1969 Thunderbird muffler! All this, plus hilarious comedy and Doug's talented family adds up to an afternoon of truly great entertainment.

Doug is from Cedar Rapids and graduated from Linn Mar. His wife graduated from Cedar Rapids Washington and she performs with him and the kids.

Shows are at 3 p.m. each day, July 7 through 11. Tickets are $31.50 for adults and $22.50 for students. Call The Old Creamery Theatre box office, or visit the website 800-35-AMANA or www.oldcreamery.com. This special event is not part of The Old Creamery Theatre's season ticket or discount ticket offerings.

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. Voted #1 Theatre Group on the 2010 KCRG A-List, the company is celebrating 39 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.