DES MOINES, IA (02/05/2014)(readMedia)-- Any romantic will agree; Ye Old Mill is the perfect place for sweethearts to sneak off and escape the hustle and bustle of the Fair. Show your Valentine how much you love them and the Iowa State Fair with a brick from the Blue Ribbon Foundation near Sweetheart Lane on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Sweetheart Lane, located in front of Ye Old Mill, provides the opportunity for lovers to leave a declaration for millions to see.

"Sweetheart Lane is a perfect place for couples to leave a legacy of their love for one another, as well as for the Fair," said Peter Cownie, Blue Ribbon Foundation Executive Director. "A personal inscription in Sweetheart Lane will help to celebrate a couple's fond Fair memories while preserving the Fairgrounds."

A contribution of $100 purchases a three-line inscription on a brick at Ye Old Mill, or at one of the other 14 brick locations throughout the Fairgrounds. For $125, a brick can be personalized with a heart-shaped graphic, or a logo of your choice. Special Valentine's Day gift cards are available upon request.

For more information about purchasing a sweetheart brick for Valentine's Day, or for any other occasion, contact the Blue Ribbon Foundation at (800) 450-3732 or order online at www.BlueRibbonFoundation.org. All brick orders must be postmarked by March 31 to be placed prior to the 2014 Iowa State Fair.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has generated more than $95 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today announced his appointments to judicial nomination commissions and the Iowa Parole Board.

Iowa Parole Board

John Hodges, Vice Chair, Bondurant (Current term: 2/3/14 - 4/30/14; Full term: 5/1/14 - 4/30/14)

Susan Lerdal, layperson-member, Urbandale (Current term: 2/3/14 - 4/30/16)

The Iowa Parole Board appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

Judicial Nominating Commissions

Judicial Nominating Commission District 1A

Dean Franzen, Elkader (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20, vacancy filled)

Marsha Hauser, Edgewood (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 1B

Roger Hansen, New Hampton (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 2A

Carolyn Haugland, Clear Lake (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 2B

Amy Schroeder, Jefferson (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 3A

Royd Chambers, Sheldon (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 3B

Delana Ihrke, Le Mars (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 4

Mary Gunderson, Glenwood (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 5A

David Van Ahn, Panora (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/18, vacancy filled)

Nancy Garrett, Indianola (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 5B

Alec Turner, Corning (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 5C

Patti Brown, Des Moines (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Thomas Bernau, Des Moines (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 6

Karen Fesler, Coralville (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 7

Dawn Smith, Durant (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 8A

Betty De Boef, What Cheer (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

Judicial Nominating Commission District 8B

Daniel Wiedemeier, Burlington (Term: 2/1/14-1/31/20)

The appointments to judicial nominating commissions are not subject to Senate confirmation.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and a bipartisan group of six other governors from Midwestern states today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to take action to address the shortage of propane supply and subsequent price increases.

The governors who signed the letter are: Gov. Terry E. Branstad (R-Iowa), Gov. Sam Brownback (R- Kan.), Gov. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.), Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio), Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) Gov. Rick Snyder (R-Mich.) and Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.).

The governors write, "As governors of Midwestern states impacted by the recent extreme cold temperatures, we request your immediate assistance to address the current propane supply shortage and subsequent price increases. The significantly lower-than-average temperatures that continue to hit our region are resulting in greater demand for already strained propane supplies.

"We would encourage your entire Administration, including the U.S. Department of Energy, the USDOT, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and any other relevant Federal agencies to take every possible action to help increase propane supplies through every means of transport. We encourage you to explore regulatory waivers aimed at increasing the supply of propane in our states, including an extension of the hours of service waiver and temporarily waiving weight limits on the interstate highway system. Such actions would continue to help fill critical gaps between supply and demand.  We would also encourage the SBA to ease loan requirements that can help entities within our communities respond to and recover from this propane shortage."

For more information, please visit www.Governor.Iowa.gov/Propane.

Jones Previously Served as Associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today appointed Candice Jones as the director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ). Jones has most recently served as Associate Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget and replaces Arthur Bishop, who has been named to head the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure the safety of all people and children in every community across Illinois.

"Candice Jones is dedicated to helping children and young adults get on the right track," Governor Quinn said. "I look forward to her continuing the progress that former Director Arthur Bishop has made towards ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential."

Jones has a long line of experience in the field of juvenile justice and at-risk youth. As an Associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget, she managed the public safety budget and supported the executive team's policy and planning. She also worked for years, driving juvenile justice strategy in Illinois and nationwide, as a Program Officer at the MacArthur Foundation. She has previously served as the Executive Director of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission where she worked to accelerate reform. In 2012, Jones served as a White House Fellow, one of the country's oldest and most prestigious fellowship programs for leadership and public service.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve the people of Illinois, especially some of the state's most vulnerable youth," Jones said. "I am committed to continuing our progress in helping youth become productive members of society and reducing the numbers of those same youth returning to the Department's custody."

Jones holds a J.D. from New York University School of Law and a Bachelor's degree in African and African-American Studies and Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis.

Jones will be tasked with building on the significant progress made by Bishop, who served as the Director from 2011 until his transition this past week. Under Bishop's tenure as Director of the IDJJ, the population of youth in state facilities dropped to under 900 as of Jan. 1, 2014. Historically, the average population was 1,500.

Today's announcement continues the Governor's agenda to make Illinois government more accountable, transparent and effective.