AMES, Iowa – Iowa youth now can quickly find science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) resources near them. CYSTEM, an online map resource created by Extension Science, Engineering and Technology (E-SET), is designed to link Iowa youth with STEM programs, careers and mentors. E-SET is part of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H Youth Development Program.

"As 4-H increases the program opportunities for youth relating to science, engineering and technology, we needed a way to link youth with mentors, opportunities and clubs across the state," said Holly Bignall, with E-SET. "An interactive map seemed like a great way to allow our clients to find out what is available and connect with each other, as well as find mentors. The map also allows us to take advantage of all our great ISU alums and the many STEM careers that are in Iowa."

CYSTEM can be accessed at http://ags.gis.iastate.edu/cystem. Once on the map, youth can quickly and easily find the programs, mentors or careers they are interested in, by topic, with several check boxes and drop-down menus. The resources are marked on an Iowa map so youth can pinpoint the resources closest to them.

Each resource item on the map also includes extra information so youth can learn more about it. For example, mentor entries give information on the type of work they do, what they love about their job, what they can mentor in and past projects they`ve enjoyed.

"Many times youth don`t have access to role models and mentors who can help them pursue their interests. This map helps conquer this sense of isolation and connect youth with knowledgeable mentors who are ready and willing to assist," said Jay Staker, director of E-SET.

CYSTEM will only be as useful as the resources posted to the map, so E-SET is ready to start taking submissions from around the state. A form is available online for anyone to submit a youth program, career opportunity or name as a mentor. The information then will be added to the map for all Iowa youth to access.

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Roxanna Moritz, Scott County (Iowa) Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, will be designated as a Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA), the highest professional achievement, in ceremonies conducted by the Election Center at the Westin on the Riverwalk Hotel, San Antonio, TX, at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2011.

CERA designation is achieved only through a multi-year course of study conducted by The Election Center's Professional Education Program and completion of twelve core courses taught by the Master's in Public Administration faculty of Auburn University (Auburn, Alabama) ranging from ethics, to voter registration and elections law, planning, communications, and voter participation, among others.  The intent of the program is to professionalize the management of voter registration and elections administration in promoting and preserving public trust in the democratic process.

"This is the highest designation available to elections and voter registration officials," said R. Doug Lewis, director of the Center.  "Of more than 21,000 elections and voter registration officials throughout America, this graduating class of 88 professionals takes us to 677 election officials who have achieved the CERA status.  This is an outstanding accomplishment."

"Scott County is indeed fortunate to have Roxanna as one of the top designated professionals in America.  Obtaining and maintaining CERA status means that she has committed to a career long process of continuing education to improve the electoral process in Iowa and the nation," he stated.

"These truly are the people who make democracy possible," Lewis said.  "Auditor Moritz and other CERA professionals serve as the nation's protectors of the democratic process.  Because of them, Americans have a trust and public confidence in the election process.  They have assurance that the system is fair, free, honest and accurate.  In many parts of the world, their citizens have no faith in the form of democracy offered in their home countries. The importance of what Roxanna does for Scott County is incredible but rarely noticed...unless something goes wrong."

Moritz was first elected county auditor in 2008.  She served a partial four year term on the Scott County Board of Supervisors before being elected auditor.  She also served for six years on the Davenport City Council as First Ward Alderman.

"This is one of the most challenging education programs I have ever participated in, Moritz said. "We covered the law, and ethical considerations in how to better serve the public.  We also became more aware of how important it is to nurture and care for the democratic process."

"Rich or poor, weak or strong, young or old, we all count the same when we vote," said Moritz.  "What can be more equal than that?  The CERA program elevates our thinking about the process and the people we serve."

"It is my great honor to assure that the public's will is accurately reflected in our elections," Moritz said.  "I see my role to dignify all potential voters and to remove as many barriers as possible to participation in the democratic process.  Our office cannot be responsible for how many actually turn out for each election, but we can certainly be sure that they have the opportunity to vote and have their votes counted accurately."

The Professional Education Program is sponsored by The Election Center, a non-profit association of voter registrars and elections administrators throughout America.  Its membership is comprised of township, city, county and state elections officials.  The Center's primary purpose is education for local and state voter registrars and elections officials to promote and improve the democratic process.

Professional Education Program participants receive continuing education credit from Auburn University as well as professional training credits from The Election Center.

The Professional Education Program was recognized in 1996 as the top continuing education program in America by the National University Continuing Education Association.

"Normally most Americans don't even know the election officials exist in their community and that they work constantly to protect the democratic process for its citizens," Lewis said. "Due to Election 2000, we now know just how important and complicated elections can be. In my opinion, the elections officials deserve the highest recognition that a community can give.  If they don't do their job well, then citizens have no faith in the democratic process itself.  Without faith in the process, it is almost impossible to believe in government itself - and that is a very large responsibility."

Moline, IL... State Representative Rich Morthland will join with the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) to host a phone bill analysis clinic. Senior citizens are encouraged to bring their phone bills to be analyzed by CUB staff. A CUB expert will be at the clinic to analyze phone bills one-on-one and show seniors how to save money. Free energy-efficient light bulbs will be provided by CUB (while supplies last).

Who:             Rep. Rich Morthland & the Citizens Utility Board

What:           Phone Bill Analysis Clinic

When:          Wednesday August 24th, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Where:        Moline Public Library, 3210 41st Street, Moline, IL

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CHICAGO - August 15, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:  

Bill No.: HB 83  

An Act Concerning: Courts  

Encourages juvenile courts to explore less restrictive alternatives before committing non-violent youth offenders to the Department of Juvenile Justice.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 308  

An Act Concerning: Regulation  

Beginning Jan. 1, the Department of Public Health shall issue permits for the construction and modification of closed loop well systems and shall certify and register closed loop contractors.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1127  

An Act Concerning: Finance  

Increases the Lake County Forest Preserve District's deadline for the issuance of bonds and requires that information regarding the potential impact on single-family homeowners be printed on the bond referendums.   

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1228  

An Act Concerning: Regulation  

Makes various changes to the Illinois Plumbing law, including procedures when a license is revoked.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1284  

An Act Concerning: Insurance  

Requires portable electronic device vendors to hold a license to sell or offer insurance policies.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1324  

An Act Concerning: Local Government  

Adds administrative buildings to the definition of "construction proposes" under the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act and allows for sanitary districts to issue bonds for administrative buildings.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1339  

An Act Concerning: Local Government  

Municipalities may impose a fee up to $20 for bail processing against any person arrested for violating a bailable municipal ordinance or a state or federal law  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1375  

An Act Concerning: Finance  

Bidders in construction contracts must maintain their primary office of employment in Illinois.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1415  

An Act Concerning: Education  

Provides that if a school remains on academic watch status after two years following its placement, then State Board of Education may allow the school board to operate the school on a pilot full-year school plan, subject to federal appropriations.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1484  

An Act Concerning: State Government  

Allows the Secretary of State to develop a process for citizens to receive a non-photo Illinois Identification Card or Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card if they are prohibited by religious convictions from being photographed or by showing their photograph.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1486  

An Act Concerning: Local Government                      

The Village of Bensenville has a deadline of December 31 of the 35th year (original ordinance May 19, 1998) to complete redevelopment project in their TIF district.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1541  

An Act Concerning: Transportation  

Allows local units of government to recover costs from damaged roadway property.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1573  

An Act Concerning: Transportation  

Requires railroad companies to have first aid kits on any vehicle used to transport railroad employees.  Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1591  

An Act Concerning: Health  

Clarifies psychotropic medications, and ECT may be ordered without consent on an outpatient and inpatient basis for a patient involuntarily admitted to treatment; allows mental health providers the right to be represented by counsel at a commitment hearing; establishes the transportation of a mental health patients by a licensed ambulance service; and makes other changes to codes regarding mental health records.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1658  

An Act Concerning: Public Health                           

A medical certification of cause of death for a death certificate must note the presence of multi-drug resistant organisms if it is a contributing factor to or the cause of death.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1659  

An Act Concerning: Health  

Requires the Department of Human Services to notify the General Assembly when enrollment in any developmentally disabled facility declines by 10 percent; requires corresponding monies to be transferred to appropriate line items which will be serving the populations that moved.  

Action: Amendatorily Vetoed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1953  

An Act Concerning: Safety  

Requires drycleaners who have received reimbursement for environmental cleanup actions to maintain insurance coverage for pollution remediation costs in the event of bankruptcy.   

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 2265  

An Act Concerning: Transportation                 

Defines "multifunction school-activity bus" as a school bus manufactured for the purpose of transporting 11 or more persons whose duties do not include transporting students to and from home or school bus stops.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 2554  

An Act Concerning: Local Government  

Auxiliary deputies may receive compensation as set by the county board, with the advice and consent of the sheriff, not to exceed the lowest hourly pay of a full-time sworn member of the regular county police or sheriff's department.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 2590  

An Act Concerning: Corrections  

Amends the Private Correctional Facility Moratorium Act to include units of local government and county sheriffs in the prohibition against contracting out the operation of a correctional facility  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 2982  

An Act Concerning: Health  

Requires the Department of Human Services to facilitate the creation of Regional Integrated Behavioral Health Networks throughout the state, which would seek to address the availability of mental health and substance abuse services in their region.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 3134  

An Act Concerning: State Government  

Clarifies that the DPH Uniform DNR Advance Directive form must meet requirements to be considered physician orders for life-sustaining treatment form, and expands the form's stakeholder group consulted to include nurses and EMS systems.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 3238  

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law  

DNA samples must be submitted for those arrested for certain offenses, as well as those required to register as sex offenders.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 3273  

An Act Concerning: Business  

Makes it a crime to sell or use the metal from a grave marker on a Veteran's grave, and results in a $1,000 penalty.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 3343  

An Act Concerning: Government  

Exempts the names, addresses and other personal information of participants and registrants in the programs of park districts, forest preserve districts, conservation districts, recreation agencies, and special recreation associations from the inspection and copying requirements of the FOIA.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 3411  

An Act Concerning: Government  

Requires the Teacher Retirement Insurance Program Committee to identify proposed solutions to the funding shortfalls that are affecting the Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund and to report those solutions to Governor and the General Assembly within six months after the effective date.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: SB 106  

An Act Concerning: Children  

Requires mandated reporters to share information in abuse and neglect investigations, even if the mandated reporter did not report the allegation of abuse and neglect.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: SB 151  

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law  

Amends the crime of identity theft to include knowingly using, possessing or transferring a radio frequency identification device in furtherance of a felony.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: SB 1807  

An Act Concerning: Corrections  

The Department of Corrections shall issue a parole violation warrant for any inmate who is on parole for a forcible felony who commits a new murder, Class X, Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 offense.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: SB 1862        

An Act Concerning: State Government  

Provides that the Department of Central Management Services will implement a policy mandating all hard drives of surplus electronic data processing equipment to be erased, wiped, sanitized or destroyed in a manner that prevents retrieval of sensitive data before being sold, donated or transferred.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately    

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