Call on Local Law Enforcement to Join in Move Toward Community Policing

Thursday, Oct 29 at 12:15pm

United Neighbors - 808 N. Harrison Street, Davenport, Iowa

Quad Cities Interfaith Faith Leaders Caucus, a coalition of clergy and faith leaders in the QCA, are holding a press conference to lift up concerns related to issues of community policing on Thursday, Oct 29th at 12:15 pm at United Neighbors in Davenport. In a statement called "Partnership for Vibrant, Equitable, and Safe Communities and Policing." faith leaders will identify concerns they have and call for among other components , a return to community policing , concrete policies to address racial profiling, and the creation of civilian oversight boards to address complaints as they arise.

"Justice and lovingkindness for all?expressed in a renewed and active partnership of civilians and police?is the path to vibrant, equitable, and safe communities and policing.

But structural bias and racism undermine good people and good intentions, harming people and whole neighborhoods. This reality calls us, faith leaders in the Quad Cities, to act together for the sake of a more just and loving community."

For more information contact: Leslie Kilgannon, Executive Director, QC Interfaith 563. 343.3284

MOLINE, IL - Enjoy a night out with friends and some exciting trivia at WQPT's Trivia Night Friday, Nov. 6 at CityView Celebrations at Trimble Point in Moline. Doors open at 6 p.m., with trivia play set to start at 7 p.m

Buy a table for your team of up to eight. Admission is $20 per person or $160 per team and includes a buffet with pizza, salad and breadsticks by Harris Pizza.

Proceeds will help support WQPT's programming and educational outreach in western Illinois and eastern Iowa.

Cash prizes will be given to the first-, second- and third-place teams. There will also be a silent auction, and auction items include trips to Chicago, jewelry and more. A cash bar will be available for drinks (no outside beverages or food allowed).

To register for the event, or for more information, contact WQPT at (309) 764-2400.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University.

WASHINGTON ? The United States Government, led by the United States Coast Guard, the Department of Defense (USNORTHCOM and Alaska Command), and the Department of State, successfully held Arctic Zephyr, an international Arctic Search and Rescue table-top exercise, at the University of Alaska Anchorage from October 19-22, 2015.

Arctic Zephyr examined the Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic, signed in 2011.  This agreement was the first binding instrument negotiated under the auspices of the Arctic Council.  It enhances coordination of response capabilities of the Arctic Nations, local governments, private sector, and indigenous communities for mass casualty search-and-rescue (SAR) operations in the Arctic Region.

Participants included Arctic SAR stakeholders and subject matter experts from the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.  In addition, representatives from the Arctic cruise industry, Alaska Northwest, and North Slope Boroughs participated.  The exercise format included a series of baseline overview briefings followed by scenario-driven facilitated discussions.

"This is a magnificent opportunity to anticipate challenges and explore successful solutions for the extreme environment of the last frontier," said Rear Adm. Daniel Abel, Seventeenth Coast Guard District commander.

The objectives of Arctic Zephyr were to advance the understanding of Arctic Nations' SAR capabilities and the means for coordination, and command and control among mission partners and relevant stakeholders; to identify and recommend improvements for coordination and interoperability; to identify the challenges associated with increased human access and environmental changes and their impact on international Arctic SAR operations; to evaluate the complexities involved in conducting remote mass search and rescue operations; and to develop a core set of implementation recommendations to be presented to the Arctic Council.

"We are eager to fully realize the benefits of our collaboration during the Arctic Zephyr exercise," said Abel.

An after-action report will be developed, with recommendations for national leadership and the Arctic Council.  The United States will host a live international search and rescue exercise in 2016.

###

O'Brien, Lyon and Sioux Counties announced as newest Home Base Iowa communities and Northwest Iowa Community College becomes a CHAMP (Certified Higher Academic Military Partner)

(Northwest Iowa) - Today, Gov. Terry Branstad announced the designation of three counties in northwest Iowa as Home Base Iowa Communities, the Administration's focused effort to attract veterans to Iowa while providing them with great career opportunities and other benefits.  In ceremonies held yesterday, the Governor joined community leaders in O'Brien County and Lyon County to recognize their efforts to become Home Base Iowa Communities. This morning, the Governor participated in Sioux County's Home Base Iowa Community recognition. In addition, Northwest Iowa Community College (NWICC) was highlighted at all three events for achieving the Certified Higher Academic Military Partner (CHAMP) status.

"We are proud of the Home Base Iowa program because it allows our state the unique opportunity to make sure Iowa veterans are fully employed, and to recruit some of the best talent to our state," said Governor Branstad. "These three northwest Iowa counties are going above and beyond to welcome veterans to their communities."

Home Base Iowa connects transitioning military members and veterans with career opportunities in Iowa companies. The state of Iowa has a lot to offer veterans and transitioning service members including no state taxes on military pension, a cost of living below the national average and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. To date, members of the Iowa Business Council, Iowa's largest employers, have hired more than 1,500 veterans through Home Base Iowa.

Home Base Iowa designates qualified communities as centers of opportunity for military veterans based on four standards: at least 10 percent of hiring businesses within a designated community must become Home Base Iowa businesses, each community develops its own incentive package for veterans, the community prominently displays the Home Base Iowa Community designation, and obtains a resolution of support from the appropriate local governing body. O'Brien, Lyon and Sioux counties have met the criteria and are offering incentive packages that include additional home ownership assistance, new business start-up or acquisition assistance, various discounts for veterans and much more.

The governor also announced that Northwest Iowa Community College (NWICC) has met the criteria necessary to become a CHAMP. The Home Base Iowa CHAMP program allows Iowa colleges and universities to become certified for their ability to educate and assist veterans on campus. The certification will help attract veterans leaving the service to Iowa and help academic institutions market their campus as veteran-friendly. To become a Home Base Iowa CHAMP campus, educational institutions must meet criteria in each of the three categories: On-Campus Veteran Resources, Mindfulness of Service Member Transitions and Financial Considerations.

Other recognitions Iowa has recently received for work on employing veterans includes:

• In March, Iowa was named one of only a handful of states to be designated an All-Vet State by "Hiring Our Heroes," a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
• In June, Iowa was named as the first state to offer "Hilton Honors Military Initiative." This is a program set up by Hilton Worldwide, and connects military members and their families across the nation with free lodging at Hilton hotels as they pursue their job hunt, or need somewhere to stay as they move for their careers.
• In July, Iowa was named the third "Get Skills to Work State" by the Manufacturing Institute and National Association of Manufacturers.

The initiative is currently co-chaired by former Congressman Leonard Boswell and Casey's CEO Bob Meyers, both of whom are veterans themselves. For more information on Home Base Iowa, please visit www.HomeBaseIowa.gov.