This year's Mayors Hunger Luncheon will be November 4th in the Golden Leaf Banquet Center at 2902 East Kimberly Road in Davenport.  Doors open at 11 with a meal at noon.

Over the years, IFTC has raised more than $330,000 to help fund homeless service providers and related agencies in the Quad City area.

For more information, please contact Harvey Wiley, CASI Senior Advocate, 563.386.7477 x25

Prepared Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee

Field Hearing on "A New Era in the Fight Against Methamphetamine in Iowa"

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

 

Welcome to everyone here this morning.  Today's Senate Judiciary Committee field hearing is focused on the evolving methamphetamine problem in Iowa.  Some may think meth is yesterday's problem, and indeed it seems like other illegal drugs often make the headlines.  But during my annual 99-county meetings, I've heard a lot recently about the persistence and changing nature of the meth problem in Iowa.

I'm told that meth-related treatment admissions are at an all-time high here.  And last year, nearly half of all drug-related prison admissions in our state resulted from the trafficking or abuse of meth, also an all-time high.  So meth is obviously continuing to impact Iowa in terrible ways.

Today I'd like to learn more about the current trends relating to meth here, promote awareness of the problem, and see if there are any new ways the federal government can help.

Meth is sometimes referred to as "the world's most dangerous drug."  It's highly addictive, and can methodically destroy lives, families, and communities.  The children of meth users can face neglect, or health risks from exposure to the hazardous chemicals that are used to create the drug.  Indeed, one of the unique aspects of meth is that it can be made at home by those addicted, by using common ingredients found in hardware stores and pharmacies.  When combined, these ingredients are highly toxic and combustible, posing a threat to an entire household.

The risk that meth poses to families and children has been a concern of mine for many years.  In 2006, I authored legislation that created a program to help support regional partnerships here in Iowa that provide treatment services, counseling, and skills training for families impacted by meth.  The goal was to break the cycle of addiction, and to help keep families together.

In addition, Congress began erecting barriers to meth production in 2005, when it passed the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act, which I was proud to co-sponsor.  The law placed limits on the amount of medicine containing common meth ingredients, or precursor chemicals - like pseudoephedrine - that a customer can purchase at a time.  It required pharmacies to sell these medicines from behind the counter.  And it instituted a system to track sales of these substances to prevent bulk purchases.  Iowa also passed a similar state law.

A few years later, I was one of the authors of the Methamphetamine Production Prevention Act, which became law in 2008.  That legislation made it easier for pharmacies to use electronic logbooks to monitor sales of meth ingredients and for law enforcement to identify bulk purchasers.  And a few years later, the Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act of 2010, which I also co-sponsored, strengthened this regime even further.

These laws have proven highly effective in drastically reducing the presence of meth labs in our communities.  Today, law enforcement's seizure of meth labs is at almost a 20-year low in Iowa.

That success is a tribute to the hard work of so many here, including Governor Branstad and Director Lukan.

So then, how is meth still such a problem?  Where is the drug product on our streets coming from?

Some have resorted to using what's known as "shake-and-bake" or "one-pot" labs to cook meth.  This is essentially using single plastic bottles to mix the ingredients together.  This method remains highly dangerous, but can only produce small amounts of the drug.  So this doesn't account for what's happening.

No, most of the meth in our state now appears to be coming from Mexican drug trafficking organizations.  These organizations have entered the marketplace in response to the increasing difficulty of producing meth domestically.   And they have virtually flooded the market with their product.  Between 2009 and 2014, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a 300% increase in meth seizures on the southwest border.

The meth these Mexican organizations are trafficking into our communities, often referred to as "ice," is created on an industrial scale, through a process that leads to a much higher purity than meth produced in labs here.  And it is far cheaper as well.  It's no wonder the problem hasn't gone away.

So we need to keep looking for solutions at the local, state and federal levels.  In the Senate, I lead an annual effort to maintain crucial financial support for state and local law enforcement.  And earlier this year, Senator Feinstein and I introduced the Transnational Drug Trafficking Act of 2015.  If enacted, the bill would make it easier for the Department of Justice to prosecute Mexican cartels who harm our communities by trafficking in either meth or its precursor chemicals.

I'm pleased to say that after my Committee passed the bill, it passed the full Senate last week.  We're going to do everything we can to persuade the House of Representatives to act and send it to the President's desk for his signature soon.

All of our witnesses today have valuable experience and knowledge about the meth problem in Iowa.  In particular, I'd like to point out the great work that our first witness is doing to support families in crisis due to substance abuse here in Iowa.  Denise Moore is a former meth addict herself.  Her story should give hope to anyone struggling with this awful disease.

I thank all of the witnesses for being here, and look forward to hearing their testimony.  I now recognize Congressman Young for his opening remarks.

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Autumn is a busy time for lawn and garden equipment users - with leaves to mulch, garden beds to clean out, and yards to prepare for winter. The bustle of fall outdoor activities and chores can take a toll on outdoor power equipment, and it's important for homeowners to check their equipment, maintain it well, and store it properly for the winter.

OPEI offers the following tips to help homeowners keep their lawn and garden equipment in top shape, readying for winter storage:

Set up a safe work zone. Identify a safe location with plenty of work space that is out of the way of children and pets. Work only in a well-ventilated area that is away from heat sources, sparks or flames.

Collect your outdoor power equipment. This might include a lawn mower, generator, string trimmer, chain saw, edger, power washer, blower, chipper, splitter, or other tool that uses a small engine to do outdoor work.

Turn equipment off. Before servicing or repairing any outdoor power equipment, disconnect the spark plug and battery cables.

Protect yourself. Wear safety glasses and gloves to protect against harmful chemicals and debris.

Inspect your outdoor power equipment. Make sure safety guards are not disabled or missing. Check for loose belts or missing or damaged guards. Check and tighten all screws and nuts.

Clean your equipment. Grass, leaves and dirt that have accumulated on equipment should be removed. Use a soft rag or cloth to clean away grime and dirt.

Drain the fuel. Stored equipment should not have fuel in its tank. Many fuels today contain ethanol, which absorbs water and may phase separate, causing operating problems. If there is fuel in the tank, remove what remains. Run the engine until the engine stops so the fuel is used up. Get more information on safe fueling at www.LookBeforeYouPump.com

Store leftover fuel properly. Gasoline should be stored no more than 30 days without being treated with a fuel stabilizer. Use a sealed container that is approved for fuel storage. Always keep fuel out of the reach of children and away from heat sources or flames.

Lubricate, sharpen, and charge as needed. Check the oil levels and blade conditions. Change the oil now if needed. Get lawn mower blades sharpened so it will be ready for spring. Inspect the spark plug, replace it, and add clean engine oil. Check the air filter and clean or replace as needed. If equipment has a removable battery, take it out and store it in a warm spot. If you have a battery charger, charge the battery before storing it.

Service equipment. If you are not comfortable performing some of these tasks or think that your equipment needs additional servicing, now is a good time to take it to a dealer or repair shop.

Identify and clear a safe storage space. An indoor storage area will protect equipment from the elements. Your storage area should be cool and dry, and equipment should be out of the reach of children and pets. Store equipment away from pool chemicals, cleaners, or fertilizers?anything that could cause corrosion from spills.

Properly store supplies. Using approved storage containers for lawn care or yard supplies will help avoid spills in storage spaces. Leftover materials should be stored in sealed containers, so pests like rodents are not drawn to them. Keep containers out of the reach of children and pets.

Locate your winter outdoor power equipment. Locate snow shovels, snow blowers or throwers, ice scrapers, ice melt or rock salt. If you are low on winter supplies, now is a good time to stock up. Place winter equipment and supplies in an accessible location so they can be found easily when the first snowflakes and ice arrive.

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is an international trade association representing more than 100 power equipment, small engine, and utility vehicle manufacturers and suppliers worldwide. Get more information and safety tips at www.opei.org. For information on proper fueling, go to www.lookbeforeyoupump.com.

Animal health company Vets Plus to manufacture and sell FLEX Rx at the beginning of October

MENOMONIE, Wis. (October 12, 2015) - Vets Plus, Inc., the manufacturer of FLEX Rx, will now also be the distributer of the product in OTC channels. The company has expanded its licensing agreement with ProLabs to incorporate the manufacturing and selling of its FLEX Rx joint products.

FLEX Rx chewable tablets offer a specific formulation to support joint health. 46 million households own dogs, and 9.6 million dog owners routinely purchase joint products for their pets. The need for joint supplements is an effect of an aging dog population with obesity, poor diet, or stress to the joints. FLEX Rx is a product intended as a substitute for glucosamine and chondroitin, two common supplements suggested by veterinarians when joint issues arise. In a multi-clinical study, FLEX Rx proved to be more effective than glucosamine and chondroitin for supporting joint function and mobility.

Vets Plus has been currently manufacturing FLEX Rx; with this agreement, Vets Plus will become the exclusive manufacturer and OTC distributor for the product as well. Rick Haxton, National Manager - Companion Animal Business, is leading the partnership on the Vets Plus side.  Haxton said, "The addition of FLEX Rx to the Vets Plus product line is an exciting development. Our goal is to improve the overall health of pets by providing them nutritional support. FLEX Rx certainly fulfills this goal, allowing consumers a high-quality product for their pets' joint health."

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have introduced legislation to apply the disclosure of drug company and medical device maker payments to nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

"There ought to be a complete record for consumer benefit," Grassley said.  "The goal of sunshine for payments to doctors is to help the public.  It makes sense to apply the sunshine to anyone who prescribes medicine.  The goal of this bill is to continue the transparency that brings accountability."

"Requiring companies to disclose gifts and payments made to other health care providers - not just doctors - is absolutely essential," said Blumenthal. "The Provider Patient Sunshine Act will rein in dishonorable behavior by increasing transparency and accountability across the entire healthcare industry. Increased access to information is in the public's best interest, and this legislation will ensure healthcare consumers receive safe, efficient, and cost-effective practices."

The new Provider Payment Sunshine Act would require drug companies and medical device makers to publicly disclose their payments to nurse practitioners and physician assistants for promotional talks, consulting and other interactions.  The disclosures already apply to doctors, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists and podiatrists under the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, co-authored by Grassley and enacted in 2010.  The records that apply to doctors are publicly available in the federal Open Payments database.  The payments to nurse practitioners and physician assistants would be added to the database.

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants write a significant number of prescriptions in Medicare and nationwide, and they were among the top prescribers for some drugs, including narcotic controlled substances, according to a ProPublica analysis.  Also, a few of them have been criminally charged with taking industry kickbacks.

Since 2013, the Open Payments database created by the Physician Payment Sunshine Act covers 15.71 million published records and $9.92 billion in payments.  Grassley co-authored the legislation after his oversight and news stories uncovered payments from industry to doctors.  Rather than prohibit such payments, which in many cases might benefit patients as in through research, the legislation required disclosure.

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In an effort to reduce hunger by diverting food waste from the landfills a local group is hosting a free Food Rescue Workshop on October 20 at the Quad Cities Food Hub.

"One in 8 people in our community do not have enough food to eat. We can feed them all by committing to never throwing away food that could still be eaten by someone in need. We are bringing local food providers together to showcase how they can donate easily, help people, help the environment, and actually improve the bottom line for their business" said Mike Miller, Executive Director of the River Bend Foodbank. Local businesses such as Ross' Restaurant and Outback Steakhouse will be discussing their collaborations with local meal sites such as King's Harvest, Café on Vine, and Sacred Heart.

The panel discussions will teach food establishments how to get started, explain how to develop policies and procedures, share ideas to motivate staff, help inform leaders where to donate, and provide a food donation starter kit. Lindsey Adams, Owner of Outback Steakhouse said that, "There is a common misconception when it comes to donating food and liability. The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act encourages food donation and protects donors."

Other initiatives throughout Iowa are already tackling this issue such as Eat Greater Des Moines and Table to Table in Iowa City, who will be joining panelists from the River Bend Foodbank and the Scott County Health Department to explore how they are rescuing food in their community and how similar practices can be implemented in the Quad Cities.

The workshop is hosted by the Food Rescue Partnership, a community-focused coalition committed to rescuing food throughout the Quad Cities. Register and find additional information on the Food Rescue Workshop at www.foodrescueqc.org and www.facebook.com/foodrescueqc.

Quad Cities - This weekend the Quad Cities is host to 400 attendees of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Big 10 Conference at the Isle Casino Hotel and Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf.

This conference brings together VFW members and Ladies Auxiliary members from 10 Midwest states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin).  It is on a 10-year rotation for hosting so Iowa won't have the opportunity again until 2025.

There is a reception on Friday night, sessions all day Saturday, and a banquet Saturday night.

The Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates the local economic impact is over $290,000.

The Department of Iowa VFW is an organization that supports Veterans and their families with providing a voice to the National VFW to make sure that the Veterans that fought in Wars in the past and the Veterans that will fight in Wars in the future have the benefits and support of a grateful nation.
Blockbuster movies and new movies available starting in October

·         New hit television series episodes available

·         Halloween Favorites Returning

DES MOINES, IA - October 12, 2015 - Mediacom Communications announced that six new blockbuster hit movies of the year will be available through Mediacom On Demand. In addition, Mediacom On Demand will be continuously adding new movies and television series episodes throughout the month -- making it Mediacom On Demand's largest selection of entertainment of the year.

Appearing this month on Mediacom On Demand:

Blockbuster Movies:

Oct. 2 - "Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron"

Oct. 6 - "Magic Mike XXL"

Oct. 13 - "Tomorrowland"

Oct. 13 - "San Andreas"

Oct. 20 - "Jurassic World"

Oct. 27 - "Pixels"

 

Halloween Movies

 

"Monster High":

Boo York, Boo York (Monster High - New Release)

Haunted

Freaky Fusion

Frights, Camera, Action!

13 Wishes

Escape from Skull Shores

Friday Night Frights

Ghouls Rule

Why do Ghouls Fall in Love

Fright On!

 

Kids Halloween:

Caroline and the Magic Potion

R.L. Stine's Most Ghostly: Have you met my Ghoulfriend?

Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave - The Movie

Coraline

ParaNorman

Thomas & Friends - Halloween Adventures

The Dog Who Saved Halloween

Dreamworks Spooky Stories

Fun Size

Hotel Transylvania

Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy

Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright

Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride"

Alpha and Omega: The Legend of the Saw Toothed Cave

Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas"

Frankenweenie (2012)

The Haunted Mansion

 

FrightFest Movies - NEW & CLASSIC:

The Gift (2015)

Visions (2015)

Hidden (2015)

The Gallows (2015)

The Final Girls (2015)

Insidious Chapter 3 (2015)

Sharknado 3 (2015)

Evil Dead

Dark Skies

Paranormal Activity 1- 4

Friday the 13th

The Purge

Mama

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Halloween II

Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later

Insidious Chapter 1 & 2

Christine

The Conjuring

The Exorcist

The Shining

Final Destination

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Saw 1-6 & Saw 3D: The Final Chapter

Cabin in the Woods

Hostel

Scream

28 Weeks Later

The Hills Have Eyes

The Omen

Carrie (1976)

The Amityville Horror (2005)

The Amityville Horror (1979)

The Silence of the Lambs

 

Free Halloween Entertainment:

Free Halloween shows, kids shows, Halloween specials, music, screensavers and more!

 

New Shows - Free On Demand:

"Muppets" (ABC)

"Blood & Oil" (ABC)

"Code Black" (CBS)

"Scream Queens" (Fox)

"Bastard Executioner" (FX)

"Best Time Ever" (NBC)

"Life in Pieces" (CBS)

"Minority Report" (Fox)

"Blindspot" (NBC)

"Limitless" (CBS)

"Rosewood" (Fox)

"Heroes Reborn" (NBC)

"The Player" (NBC)

"Quantico" (ABC)

"Grandfathered" (Fox)

"The Grinder" (Fox)

"Dr. Ken" (ABC)

"American Horror Story: Hotel" (FX)

"Fargo" (FX)

"Truth Be Told" (NBC)

"Supergirl" (CBS)

"Wicked City" (ABC)

"Fear the Walking Dead" (AMC)

 

HBO and Cinemax Free Movie Preview Friday, Oct. 16 - Monday, Oct. 19:

"American Sniper"

"Unbroken"

"Jupiter Ascending"

 

HBO and Cinemax Free Original Series Preview Friday, Oct. 16 - Monday, Oct. 19:

"The Leftovers"

"The Knick"

 

Returning Series Favorites Free On Demand:

"Scorpion" (CBS)

"Empire" (Fox)

"Chicago Fire" (NBC)

"The Walking Dead" (AMC)

"Big Bang Theory" (Fox)

 

To access the upcoming movies On Demand, viewers can use the On Demand button on their remote, or go to channel 1.

With Mediacom On Demand, consumers can pick and choose from over 20,000 titles of movies, sporting events, broadcast and cable shows. Free programming features recently-aired episodes from cable and broadcast channels, as well as sports highlights. On Demand is included in Mediacom digital video service and requires a digital converter.

About Mediacom Communications

Mediacom Communications Corporation is the eighth largest cable operator in the U.S. serving about 1.3 million customers in smaller markets primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. Mediacom offers a wide array of information, communications and entertainment services to households and businesses, including video, high-speed data, phone, and home security and automation. Through Mediacom Business, the company provides innovative broadband solutions to commercial and public sector customers of all sizes, and sells advertising and production services under the OnMedia brand. More information about Mediacom is available at www.mediacomcc.com.

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is offering tips to keep trick-or-treaters and their escorts safe during Halloween.



"Illinois' law enforcement officers want to make sure the only scares during Halloween season are the make-believe kind," said Illinois FOP President Chris Southwood. "By following some simple but effective safety tips, kids and their parents can have a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treating experience."



The FOP offers the following Halloween safety tips:



  • Children should only go trick-or-treating with a responsible adult. Be sure to follow all local ordinances regarding trick-or-treating times, ages, and areas.

  • If you can't accompany your younger children as they trick-or-treat, make sure at least one, and preferably more, responsible adults go with them. Set a curfew for the children and make sure they understand how important it is to arrive back home on time.

  • Instruct children that they should never go into a stranger's house or car unless their parents or other trusted adults are with them and say it's OK. They should never go anywhere with stranger, and if a stranger tries to make them go somewhere they should scream as loudly as possible and run to safety as quickly as they can.

  • Make sure kids know how to safely cross streets - look in both directions, and only use crosswalks or well-lit street corners. Tell them to not cut through back alleys and fields and to stay in well-lit areas with lots of people around.

  • Know the route your children will take while trick-or-treating if you are not going with them. Have them check in at set times, either by phone or by stopping back by your residence.

  • Make sure your children have costumes that are fire retardant, contain reflective strips or material, do not obstruct their vision or movement, and that any props that depict knives or other sharp objects are made of a dull, flexible material. Have at least one flashlight per group of trick-or-treaters. Try and make each child's costume unique in some way so they can be easily spotted.

  • Serve your children a filling meal before they trick-or-treat so they won't be tempted to eat the treats before they get back home. Carefully examine all of the treats before you let your children handle or consume them.

  • Several days before trick-or-treating, check the local and state sex offender websites to see if there are any sex offenders living in your area. If there are, make sure your children avoid those homes.

  • Remind children that it is wrong to vandalize property or hurt animals.

  • To lessen the chance of allergic reactions, try any makeup products on a small area of a child's arm several days before trick-or-treating to see if they have any reaction.

  • If you cannot accompany them, having the children carry a cell phone lets them keep in touch and the phones also contain a GPS chip to help locate lost children.

  • Drivers, don't use a cell phone or text while driving and do not drive if you are impaired. Pay close attention while driving, especially at crosswalks, intersections, the side of the road, and by parked cars. Drive below the posted speed limit in residential areas, do not pass vehicles that have stopped in the road, and pull off the road in a safe spot and turn on your emergency flashers when picking up or dropping off children.



The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.



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In an effort to respond to requests from our Leadercast Community, Leadercast Quad Cities has teamed with Chick-fil-A and the Quad Cities Prayer Center to create a new opportunity for leadership learning.  We introduce you to the Quad Cities Leadership Academy!

Quad Cities Servant Leadership Academy is a new organization, who's mission is to gather business leaders, influencers and world changers who love Jesus, see things differently, and feel a burden to improve our communities.

Now it is time to kick-off our journey together, with our flagship full-day Servant Leadership Academy event on Friday, October 23rd. At this and other events throughout the year, leaders from our community will have an opportunity to converge and participate in a revolution of ideas, where you'll challenge the process and think unconventionally.

We will seek to learn, worship and create together with a momentous energy passionately pursuing God, through; recorded presentations from nationally recognized leadership experts, live presentations from local Servant Leaders and most importantly, incredible discssion and fellowship with other Servant Leaders like yourself.

More than cutting-edge events, QCSLA will be an experience that will leave you enlightened, rejuvenated, and ready to embrace the life to which you've been entrusted and the journey to which you've been called. Expect a fully immersive learning, worship and creative experience, where timely inspiration can come from the thought leaders who we look to, or the person sitting in the seat right next to you.

The cost to attend the October 23 Servant Leadership Academy event, is $50 and includes a complimentary Chick-fil-A lunch, snacks & beverages and a day full of learning & fellowship. If you would like to bring a group, please contact us to discuss group discounts.

Capacity for this event will be 200 attendees and spots will fill quickly, so please do not hesitate to contact to register or contact us with any additional questions.

To register or for more information, call Todd Ashby of Results Marketing at 563-322-2065 or email todd@resultsimc.com.
Of if you are ready to register right now, you can click the button below and start the process right now.
We look forward to seeing you on Friday, October 23rd!

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