06 Nov 2015

Loebsack to Host Roundtables on Expanding Broadband Access in Rural Areas

By Vonnie Hampel

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he will be hosting a series of roundtables at rural telecommunications providers across Iowa to discuss legislation he helped introduce to expand wireless coverage in rural communities. The bipartisan Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act would provide incentives for wireless carriers to lease unused spectrum to rural or smaller carriers. At each stop, Loebsack will also take a brief tour of the facilities and hear directly from providers about their challenges and successes. Loebsack is a member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over broadband issues. Media are invited to attend.

 

TUESDAY, November 10

 

Hills - Rural Spectrum Roundtable & Tour

Sharon Telephone Company

100 E. Main St.

Noon

 

Mediapolis - Rural Spectrum Roundtable & Tour

MTC Technologies

652 Main Street

2:45pm

 

THURSDAY, November 12

 

West Liberty - Rural Spectrum Roundtable & Tour

Liberty Communications

413 Calhoun Street

11:30am

 

Davenport - Rural Spectrum Roundtable & Tour

SpeedConnect Office

2222 E. 53rd Street

Suite #5

2:30pm

 

Eldridge - Rural Spectrum Roundtable & Tour

Central Scott Telephone Office

125 N. 2nd St Eldridge

4:00pm

 

FRIDAY, November 13

 

Sully - Rural Spectrum Roundtable & Tour

Sully Telephone Association

305 7th Ave

11:45pm

 

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06 Nov 2015

Great War Encampment returns to Illinois State Military Museum

By Illinois National Guard

SPRINGFIELD, IL (11/06/2015)(readMedia)-- WHO:

• Illinois State Military Museum's Living History Detachment re-enactors

• Illinois State Military Museum

• Illinois National Guard and Militia Historical Society

WHAT:

• Great War Encampment: Living historians in authentic uniforms recreate battles and life in the trenches of Europe during World War I. Historians will discuss how Illinois units trained and fought as well as the consequences of the war.

WHEN:

• Friday, Nov. 6, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,

WHERE:

• Illinois State Military Museum, two blocks north of the Camp Lincoln Gate, 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd., Springfield, Illinois

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Parking and admission are free

View Online: http://readme.readmedia.com/Great-War-Encampment-returns-to-Illinois-State-Military-Museum/12010593

06 Nov 2015

Genesis Lights Remembrance Tree In Memory Of Loved Ones

By Craig Cooper

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Nov. 6, 2015 - The holidays are a special time for family gatherings and remembering those who have passed.  The Genesis Remembrance Tree in Davenport will celebrate the memories of loved ones and focus attention on the continuing need for access to quality hospice care in the region.

The Genesis Remembrance Tree in Davenport will be lit in a ceremony on Friday, Nov. 13 starting at 6 p.m. in Bechtel Park at River Drive and Iowa Street. This will be the 12th annual lighting of the Remembrance Tree.

Special guest performers this year will be the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Youth Ensemble Youth Choir.

Individual "light" sponsors are invited to make a donation of $10 in memory of loved ones. All proceeds will benefit Genesis Hospice Care.

Genesis Hospice is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team to assist in managing symptoms, as well as enhancing quality of life.  The common goal of all services is to provide the patient and family with comfort.

For information about how to honor the memory of a loved one, call (563) 421-6865 or go to www.genesishealth.com/tree.

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06 Nov 2015

two pediatric dentists excluded from federal health care programs, Grassley welcomes move

By Grassley Press

Earlier this year, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa asked key government agencies what they're doing to prevent and punish Medicaid dental fraud, including billing for unnecessary and painful treatments for children, in light of inspector general audits and related media reports documenting worrisome practices.  This week, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General notified Grassley that it has excluded two pediatric dentists from federal health programs.  One dentist is in Florida.  The other dentist is in Colorado.  Grassley made the following comment on the exclusions.

"The taxpayers pay for quality health care services.  If doctors and dentists are bilking the taxpayers and mistreating patients, they need to be shut out of Medicare and Medicaid, period. The inspector general is right to use this tool whenever it's appropriate."

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General provided the following details of the two newly excluded dentists:

On September 30, 2015, OIG excluded Howard Sheldon Schneider, DDS, from participation in all Federal health care programs because his license to practice in the State of Florida was revoked, suspended, or otherwise lost for reasons bearing on his professional competence, professional performance, or financial integrity.  OIG conducted an investigation of Dr. Schneider which revealed that the State of Florida Board of Dentistry issued a Final Order for a Disciplinary Voluntary Relinquishment of his dental license after the Florida Department of Health opened an investigation into allegations of Dr. Schneider's abuse of his pediatric dental patients.  Dr. Schneider cannot apply for reinstatement until his dental license is reissued by the State of Florida.

On August 12, 2015, Dr. Robert E. Hackley, Jr., DDS, agreed to be excluded from participation in all Federal health care programs for a period of three years. OIG conducted an investigation of Dr. Hackley for dental care he provided to patients at Small Smiles Dentistry for Children in Colorado Springs, Colorado. OIG's investigation revealed that Dr. Hackley furnished dental services to patients of a quality which failed to meet professionally recognized standards of care, including: performing medically unnecessary dental procedures, failing to treat existing dental conditions, and performing dental procedures that were below professionally recognized standards of care.

Grassley's letters to the Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General from June are available here and here.

In 2013, following a year-long investigation, Grassley and then-Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus of Montana issued a report and recommendations urging the administration to ban dental clinics from participating in the Medicaid program if the dental clinics circumvent state laws designed to ensure only licensed dentists own dental practices to prevent substandard care.  In 2014, the inspector general moved to disqualify a firm from Medicaid.

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06 Nov 2015

Iowa AFL-CIO on Administration Releasing Text of TPP Deal

By Lance Coles

Iowa AFL-CIO President Ken Sagar made the following statement after the release of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) text:

 

For years, this trade deal has been negotiated in secret, finally today the public will have a chance to see the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Working people will be able to see for themselves if this deal benefits America's working families over profit driven corporations.

Despite suggestions from the faith community, environmentalists, labor and many others, to date, there's no indication that improvements have been made to address labor standards, environmental protections or provisions that give corporations incentives to relocate American jobs to low-wage countries.

We will examine the text to see if enforceable currency rules exist, whether many Buy American & Buy Local policies are waived, and if the deal will raise the price of life-saving medicines. If these issues are not addressed, the AFL-CIO as the voice of organized working people in Iowa cannot support this agreement.

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06 Nov 2015

Loebsack Applauds Passage of Long Term Highway Bill

By Joe Hand

Amendment cosponsored by Loebsack to support bus transit systems included

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the House passed a six year, bipartisan Highway Reauthorization bill. Loebsack helped lead the fight to include a bipartisan provision that will make additional funding available for a competitive grant program supporting bus transit services in Iowa and nationwide. The legislation now heads to a Conference Committee where the differences between the House bill and the legislation that passed the Senate earlier this year will be worked out.

"I am pleased that Democrats and Republicans could come together and pass a bipartisan, long term transportation bill. This bill will help create jobs in Iowa and give communities the certainty needed to invest in necessary infrastructure improvements.

"It is clear to any Iowan who drives a car or truck, rides the rails or flies in an airplane that a long-term highway plan is badly needed. A modern, safe and efficient transportation authorization will not only create jobs now for the construction industry, but it will also set the stage for long term job creation and economic growth. While the work on this legislation is not yet finished, this is a step in the right direction by investing in infrastructure so our businesses and farmers can compete effectively in the 21st Century global economy."

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06 Nov 2015

Governor Rauner Announces Top Students to be Honored by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois

By Catherine Kelly

Ceremony at Old State Capitol Recognizes the Top Students from Each College and University in Illinois

 

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner today announced this year's outstanding college students who will be honored by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. The Academy will recognize the following students during the annual Student Laureate Convocation at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 7 at the Old State Capitol in Springfield.

"Civic engagement, as exemplified by President Lincoln, is crucial to our democracy and the process of our government," said Governor Rauner. "The young men and women receiving this recognition today embody the spirit of President Lincoln through their hard work and dedication to their schools and communities."

The Lincoln Academy's Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Awards are presented for excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities to seniors from each of the state's four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities, and one student from the community colleges in Illinois.  At the Student Laureate Convocation, each student will receive a Student Laureate Medallion, along with a $1,000 educational grant and a certificate of achievement. This is the 41st year Lincoln Academy has celebrated students' excellence in Illinois.

Student Laureate Cynthia J. Avila of the University of Chicago will speak on behalf of all the Laureates.  The invocation will be delivered by Dr. Stanley R. Liberty, Interim President of Bradley University, and the benediction will be delivered by Eureka College President J. David Arnold.  The Sangamon Woodwind Consort will provide music, and a luncheon at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel will follow the Student Laureate Convocation.

The Lincoln Academy, unique among the 50 states, was established more than 50 years ago to honor distinguished citizens with the state's highest award, the Order of Lincoln.  The 52nd Annual Convocation and Investiture of Laureates of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois will take place Saturday, May 7, 2016 at the historic Marriott Pere Marquette Hotel in Peoria.

STUDENT LAUREATES

 

School                         Student                                Home Town 

Augustana College                                Aubrey Waddick                        Algonquin, IL

Aurora University                                Sherry A. Maschmeyer                                 Frankfort, IL

Benedictine University                     Dana V. Cairns                                Lombard, IL

Blackburn College                                Sarah Collman                                 New Douglas, IL

Bradley University                                Kristin Kreher                                Smithton, IL

Columbia College - Chicago                           Lance T. Cox                                 Rockford, IL

Concordia University Chicago                     Kayla E. Lohman                                Kirkwood, MO

DePaul University                                Nicole May                                Lemont, IL

Dominican University                                Cutberto Aguayo                                Chicago, IL

Eastern Illinois University                          Shirmeen Ahmad                                 Romeoville, IL

East-West University                                Ghada M. Morrar                                Chicago, IL

Elmhurst College                                Angil J. Tate                                Atlanta, GA

Eureka College                        Michael A. Sain, II                                Reynoldsburg, OH

Governors State University                            Jerry Davis el                                Richton Park, IL

Greenville College                                Nathan Kriebel                                Brookston, IN

Illinois College                                Kavita K. Patel                                Princeton, IL

Illinois Institute of Technology                     Pooja Agarwal                        Chicago, IL

Illinois State University                         Maureen R. Christensen                                Normal, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University                    Nicole M. Jovicevice                                Des Plaines, IL

Judson University                                Ethan R. Adams                                 Springfield, IL

Knox College                                Sophia D. Croll                                Cambridge, MA

Lake Forest College                                Benjamin Labaschin                      Northbrook, IL

Lewis University                     Jessica L. Tennant                        Burr Ridge, IL

Lincoln College                        Cody R. Garretson                      New Holland, IL

Loyola University Chicago                        Ashley Rogers                         Evergreen Park, IL

MacMurray College                        Shannon M. Young                          Carmel, IN

McKendree University                     Kenneth O'Dell Jr.                            Carlyle, IL

Millikin University                     Alexander H. Koulos                         Naperville, IL

Monmouth College                        Drake A. Decker                         Davenport, IA

National Louis University                     Jeanette Kyle                           Chicago, IL

North Central College                        Jack A. Ryan                           Oswego, IL

North Park University                     Carmen Velazquez-Alvarez              Hanford, CA

Northeastern Illinois University               Emily Fioramonti                     Chicago, IL

Northern Illinois University                     Kiranjit Gill                           Palatine, IL

Olivet Nazarene University                     Chelsea Risinger                       Tremont, IL

Principia College                        Shontee M. Pant                           Coppell, TX

Quincy University                     Catherine Richards                       Quincy, IL

Rock Valley College                        Matilyn N. Bindl                          Belvidere, IL

Rockford University                     Angela Martinez                       Rockford, IL

Roosevelt University                     Lacy N. Reyna                          Winterest, IA

St. Xavier University                     Anna E. Goldman                        Eagan, MN

School of the Art Institute of Chicago         Florian Palluci                        Berwyn, IL

Southern Illinois Univ. Carbondale        Savannah L. McCord                         St. Louis, MO

Southern Illinois Univ. Edwardsville      Joshua G. Pritsolas                      Glen Carbon, IL

The University of Chicago                        Cynthia J. Avila                          Chicago, IL

Trinity Christian College                        Halie A. Wisse                          Oostburg, WI

Trinity International University                 Richard J. Davis                          Arlington Heights, IL

University of Illinois Chicago                       Taylor R. Casino                         Champaign, IL

University of Illinois Springfield                    Hannah Cave                           Esmond, IL

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign  Monica S. Chen                           Buffalo Grove, IL

University of St. Francis                        Laura Muñoz Lopez                          Simpsonville, SC

VanderCook College of Music                      Kendall C. Jones                          Lake Villa, IL

Western Illinois University                     Hannah F. Drake                          Charleston, IL

Wheaton College                        Kyle L. Mellinger                      Ladera Ranch, CA

 

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06 Nov 2015

Iowa Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments at West Des Moines Valley High School

By Iowa Judicial Branch

Des Moines, November 5, 2015– On Monday, November 16, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in West Des Moines, Iowa. The proceeding will take place in the Staplin Performing Arts Center at Valley High School, 3650 Woodland Avenue. The oral arguments are open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m.

The court will hear attorneys argue in one case:

State of Iowa v. Donald Benjamin Earl Reed, case no. 13-0988, from Black Hawk County District Court

Defendant Donald Reed seeks further review of an Iowa Court of Appeals decision affirming his convictions on a variety of drug-related charges and affirming the sentence of 100 years imposed on him that was enhanced by a prior juvenile adjudication. Issues before the Iowa Supreme Court include whether the evidence at trial was sufficient to support the convictions, whether trial counsel was ineffective, and whether the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Iowa Constitution affords defendant an individualized evidentiary sentencing hearing.

Attorneys' briefs for the cases and a guide to oral arguments are posted on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at http://www.iowacourts.gov/About_the_Courts/Supreme_Court/Offsite_Oral_Arguments_Des_Moines/index.asp

A public reception with the supreme court justices will follow the oral arguments in the Staplin Center lobby. The reception is sponsored by the Polk County Bar Association.

Note to Editors: News media are invited to attend the oral arguments. Court rules apply regarding still camera, video camera, audio recording devices, and other electronic devices used during the oral arguments. Information on expanded media coverage is available on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at http://www.iowacourts.gov/For_the_Media/Expanded_News_Media_Coverage/

The Iowa Court Rules regarding cameras and other electronic devices in courtrooms are on the Iowa Legislature website at https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CR/LINC/04-30-2014.chapter.25.pdf

 

 

# # #

06 Nov 2015

Augustana is Digitizing Hauberg Glass Plate Images

By Samantha Crisp

The Special Collections department of the Thomas Tredway Library, Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., has received a $3,094 grant to digitize materials from the John Henry Hauberg papers. This grant was awarded by the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board, through funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), National Archives and Records Administration.

John Henry Hauberg (1869-1955) was a researcher and photographer active in the Quad City area in the early 20th century. He spent nearly all of his spare time researching and photographing topics of historical interest to the Quad Cities and Illinois, and he compiled some 150 unpublished volumes of Illinois history over the course of his life. The hallmark of Hauberg's collection is his photography, which includes approximately 8,000 glass plate images. This project will target 1,500 of the most historically significant glass plate images related to Native American culture and landscapes (primarily focusing on local Sauk/Fox/Meskwaki tribes), Quad Cities scenes, the Rock Island Arsenal, Black Hawk State Historic Site, and the Denkmann-Hauberg West End Settlement in Rock Island. Many of these photographs are entirely unprecedented in the historical record.

). For information on project developments, accessing the materials, or any other questions, please contact Samantha Crisp, Special Collections Librarian, at 309-794-7317 or specialcollections@augustana.edu.

06 Nov 2015

Iowa Federal Judicial Nominees Clear Committee

By Grassley Press

Senate Judiciary Committee Clears Iowa Federal Judicial Nominees

Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that the committee cleared the Iowa nominees for the open judgeships in both of the state's federal district courts.

Judge Leonard Strand and Judge Rebecca Ebinger had been nominated by the President to fill federal judgeships on both the Northern and Southern District Courts of Iowa.  The nominations must now be considered by the full Senate.

"I was glad to shepherd these two outstanding Iowans through my committee.  With such impeccable credentials, it makes my job a lot easier," Grassley said.  "I appreciate the White House working with me to move these nominations forward."

Grassley recommended Strand and Ebinger to the White House after an extensive effort by a Judicial Selection Commission that Grassley formed after two judges announced their intention to take senior status.  The commission was comprised of highly qualified members of the Iowa legal community, and led by Cynthia Moser, a former Iowa State Bar Association president. The commission also included Richard Sapp, Jeffrey Goodman, Harlan D. Hockenberg, and Adam Freed.

These lawyers spent hundreds of hours carefully reviewing applications and interviewing each of the 39 Iowans who submitted applications and sought consideration.  Eleven applicants were then selected to participate in a lengthy second interview.  The commission's review included not only these interviews, but also a thorough study and examination of the applicants' professional history, credentials, and qualifications.  The commission then made recommendations to Grassley, who - in consultation with Senator Joni Ernst - reviewed the candidates and their qualifications before submitting his recommendations to the White House.

Strand currently serves as a U.S. magistrate judge in Sioux City for the Northern District of Iowa.  He graduated first in his class from the College of Law at the University of Iowa and brings extensive experience in civil litigation from private practice in Cedar Rapids.

Ebinger is a state district judge in Polk County.  She graduated from Yale Law School, was an assistant U.S. attorney in both the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, and clerked for Judge Michael J. Melloy of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

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