By Jamey Helgeson

LIFE Mower County

The 24th annual Rose Sale Ended March 22, but volunteers are needed on Tuesday, April 9 for pick-up and delivery.

​Pick-up and delivery will be between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.  Volunteers are needed to arrange roses in vases, deliver roses around Austin and more.  You can learn more and register to volunteer at  www.lifemowercounty.org/rose-sale.

Taste of Mower County

Mark your calendars for the ninth annual Taste of Mower County on Sunday, April 28, 2019.

Enjoy unlimited tastings of signature items from the finest home and restaurant chefs in Mower County and the surrounding area.  Food tastings by area home and restaurant chefs, wine and craft beer tastings, live and silent auctions, entertainment by Rick McAlister, door Prizes and cash bar.

Become a chef, purchase tickets or donate to the live/silent auction at www.lifemowercounty.org/tomc2019.

President releases FY 2020 budget

On March 11, President Donald J. Trump released his fiscal year (FY) 2020 Budget Request. The budget proposes $2.7 trillion in cuts over 10 years, including cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act programs, and non-defense discretionary (NDD) programs. NDD programs — which includes education, employment, housing, transportation, and more  — would be cut by $54 billion (9 percent from 2019 levels alone).

More detailed department budgets have been released, including those for the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Justice.

These department budgets reveal drastic cuts for numerous disability-related programs such as Office of Disability Employment Policy: 30 percent, Developmental Disabilities Councils State Grants: 29 percent, University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities: 20 percent  and Lifespan Respite: 25 percent.

Though the president’s budget request does not have the force of law, it can set the stage for the Congressional budgets which follow.

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Upcoming Events

•Learning For Life (Austin Police K9 Demonstration): Thursday

•Ladies night out dinner and a movie: Friday

•Diamond Jo Casino: Saturday

•Rose Sale Delivery and Pick-Up Day: April 9

•Track and field: April 10

•Self-Advocates Minnesota Meeting: April 11

•Open Center: April 12

•Spring Cleaning Day: April 13