The National League of Cities Conference continues this week in Washington, D-C. Apple Valley Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland (HAY'-man ROH-land) is attending the conference as the president of the Minnesota Mayors Association. She says this week's gathering is more than a simple lobbying effort. She says a government that features federal and local officials working in partnership will be a better government, adding that job creation and economic development are two important issues being discussed at the conference. About five-thousand city leaders from all over the nation are attending, including Willmar Mayor Les Hietke. (MNN)