10 Sep 2015

News from Senator Grassley's Office Sept. 10, 2015

By Grassley Press

Refugee consultation with State Department

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley made the following statement after a meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry and Anne Richard, Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration.  The consultation regarding the number of refugees that the United States will admit into the country is required by law.  In the event of an "emergency refugee situation" the administration may admit an additional number of refugees, but only after additional consultation with Congress.

"Secretary Kerry initially said that the Obama administration is seeking a reasonable increase in refugees allowed into the United States in the upcoming fiscal year.  But when pressed, the administration indicated that they were considering opening the floodgates and using emergency authority to go above what they proposed to Congress in today's consultation.   The administration also has not ruled out potentially paroling thousands of Syrians into the United States.

"The United States welcomes more refugees than the rest of the world's countries combined, and there's no question that we need to continue to do our part to help with the crisis that is unfolding in the Middle East and Europe.  But, the administration also needs to enlist the help of other capable, affluent nations in the Middle East to deal with the crisis in Syria to care for those who are fleeing violence and persecution.

"In addition, before agreeing to accept tens of thousands of Syrian refugees, the Obama administration must prove to the American people that it will take the necessary precautions to ensure that national security is a top priority, especially at a time when ruthless terrorist groups like ISIS are committed to finding ways to enter the United States and harm Americans."

Klobuchar, Grassley Renew Efforts to Crack Down on Anti-Competitive Pay-for-Delay Pharmaceutical Deals

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minn., and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, today renewed their efforts to crack down on anti-competitive pay-for-delay pharmaceutical deals. The senators reintroduced the Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act, which would increase consumers' access to the cost-saving generic drugs they need by helping put an end to the practice of brand-name drug manufacturers using pay-off agreements to keep more affordable generic equivalents off the market. A report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in December 2014 identified 29 potential pay-for-delay settlements involving 21 different branded pharmaceutical products, with combined U.S. sales of approximately $4.3 billion.

"Pay-for-delay pharmaceutical deals force consumers to pay higher prices by keeping affordable alternatives to brand-name drugs off the market," said Klobuchar. "Our legislation will help ensure people have access to the medications they need at a price they can afford by putting an end to these harmful agreements once and for all."

 

"Pay-for-delay deals keep drug costs artificially high for consumers and the taxpaying public.  These agreements disrupt the current law that was put in place to speed generic drugs getting to the market.  In addition, they force consumers to pay more for their medicines, and add an exorbitant burden to the deficit," Grassley said. "The FTC has kept the pressure on, but Congress should act to end these twisted litigation settlements."

The Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act would crack down on anti-competitive pay-offs and make sure consumers have access to the cost-saving generic drugs they need. Pay-for-delay agreements delay generic entry into the market an average of nearly 17 months longer than agreements without payments. These pay-off settlements (also known as "reverse payments") delay consumer access to generic drugs, which can be as much as 90 percent cheaper than brand-name drugs.

The legislation would make it illegal for brand-name drug manufacturers to use anti-competitive pay-off agreements to keep more affordable generic equivalents off the market. Klobuchar and Grassley introduced similar legislation last Congress following a resurgence of patent settlement agreements.

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10 Sep 2015

LeClaire PD - Cody Storage Burglaries

By Todd Malone

On September 5th, 2015, at approximately 11:15pm, a LeClaire officer was conducting a routine business check at the Cody Storage buildings (2200 block of Trent Street). After spotting several items sitting outside various storage units, the officer noticed a vehicle parked suspiciously. As the officer approached the vehicle to run the license plate, a subject fled the scene on foot.

After another LeClaire officer arrived at the scene, they set up a perimeter around the area and requested assistance from the Scott County Sheriff's Office as well as a Scott County K-9 unit. The search for the subjects continued for several hours but officers were unable to locate anyone. The vehicle was towed to the LeClaire Police Department for processing.

Further investigation of the crime scene revealed that 22 storage units had been forcibly broken in to before the officer's arrival. Officers conducted an investigation over the next couple of days, including an execution of a search warrant of a residence. The investigation led to the recovery of numerous items believed to have been stolen from several of the storage units.

In the early hours of September 9th, 2015, LeClaire Police arrested two subjects in connection to these burglaries; Megan Lynne Vandyke (DOB 06/29/1984) of Charlotte, Iowa and Joshua Jon Deweerdt (DOB 06/21/1987) of rural Bettendorf, Iowa.

Both subjects were charged with 22 counts of Burglary 3rd Degree (Class D Felonies), 1 count of Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree (Class D Felony), 1 count of Theft 2nd Degree (Class D Felony).

Mr. Deweerdt also had four outstanding arrest warrants from the Davenport Police Department for Forgery x5, Theft 4th Degree and Theft 5th Degree. He also had one outstanding warrant from the Bettendorf Police Department for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Driving Under Suspension.

The investigation is ongoing with more arrests expected.

AN ARREST WITHOUT DISPOSITION IS NOT AN INDICATION OF GUILT.
10 Sep 2015

Travel Photographer/Author Shares 90-Day Road Trip Keeping Pace with a Raindrop on the Mississippi

By Nicholas Depew

Gayle Harper's Words and Images Honor America's Beauty, her Greatest River and her Colorful People

 

Quad Cities - When Gayle Harper learned that a raindrop falling into the headwaters of the Mississippi would travel the River for 90 days to reach the Gulf of Mexico, she knew immediately that her project of a lifetime had appeared.  Harper made a 90-day road trip along the nearly 2,400-mile course of the Mississippi, while keeping pace with a raindrop called "Serendipity."

Harper's journey on the Mississippi River led her through the Quad Cities area, and she will be back again next week to talk about her book, Roadtrip with a Raindrop, her journey, and the people she met along the way.

Thursday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m.

Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Dr., Bettendorf

Quad Cities Photography Club Meeting - Public Welcome

Friday, September 18 at 6:00 p.m.

River Music Experience, 109 Main Street, Davenport

Harper wandered back roads without plan, meeting people in farm fields, on their porches, in cafés, even while stopped for road construction, who invited her into their lives.  She went to dances, birthday parties, a wedding, a powwow, neighborhood barbeques and festivals. She was invited home to dinner, to meet friends and relatives and onto boats of all sizes, from a canoe to a towboat.

"The people of this journey," says Harper, "are the soul of it. They were welcoming, inclusive, playful, curious, colorful and authentic. There was two-year-old Hazel, who plopped down beside me to show me her green shoes, and 87-year-old Marshall Bouldin III, who moved me to tears when we talked about art. There was a north woods adventurer, a Southern Belle, a "river rat," a Delta Blues man and a pixie-like nun. "

"The Mississippi River is the aorta of our country," says Harper, "it is essential to our ecology and our economy and it is deeply embedded in our history and our very identity.  I watched it grow from a fragile stream into a massive force of nature, yet its essence is always the same."

 

Roadtrip with a Raindrop is a celebration of America and of the simple moments that make life an adventure. In its 240 pages are 55 stories, with nearly 200 full-color photographs. Together, the words and images invite us to leave our agendas behind, to travel at the pace of a raindrop and to rediscover the fine art of letting life happen!

The book is an Award Winner in Foreword Review's INDIEFAB "Book of the Year," in the Travel category. It has also won The Clarion Award from the National Association of Women in Communications!

BOOK DETAILS

Roadtrip with a Raindrop: 90 Days Along the Mississippi River

By Gayle Harper

Hardcover, 240 pages, $39.95

Available at www.gayleharper.com

Also at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Acclaim Press
10 Sep 2015

Tickets On Sale NOW for Disney On Ice

By Lindsey Lobur
TICKETS FOR "DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS TREASURE TROVE" PRESENTED BY STONYFIELD YOKIDS ORGANIC YOGURT ON SALE NOW AT THE IWIRELESS CENTER.

Moline, IL, 9/10/15 - Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurtsets the gold standard with a magical medley of Disney tales in one jam-packed ice show that commemorates the legacy of Disney animated films. This skating spectacular visits Moline from Thursday Dec. 3 to Sunday, Dec. 6 for seven performances at the iWireless Center. Tickets are on sale NOW.

Get tangled up in Disney's 50th animated feature with Rapunzel and Flynn and enter the worlds of your other favorite Disney princesses -Tiana, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan and of course, the one who started it all, Snow White.  Ahoy, Mateys!  Set sail with Peter Pan, the always sassy Tinker Bell and the cantankerous Captain Hook and his pirate pals on an adventure beyond Never Land!  Trek the wilds of Africa with Simba, Nala, Pumbaa and Timon as they discover the true meaning of the 'Circle of Life.'  Tick-Tock!  Tick-Tock!  Don't be late to a very important date with Alice and the Mad Hatter as they march with the Queen of Hearts' Army of Cards. Set a playdate with Woody and Buzz Lightyear because the toys are back in town. Relive magical moments in this ultimate Disney animation celebration coming to iWireless Center in Moline, IL!

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove start at $16. All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at the iWireless Center box office, by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com. For group rates and information, call Lindsey at 309-277-1356.

Performance Schedule:
Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7:00p
Friday, Dec. 4 at 7:00p
Saturday, Dec. 5 at 11:00a, 3:00p, & 7:00p
Sunday, Dec. 6 at 1:00p & 5:00p  

To learn more about Disney On Ice Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt, go to DisneyOnIce.com, or visit us on Facebook and YouTube.
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10 Sep 2015

Minor League Baseball Attendance Tops 42.5 Million In 2015

By Jeff Lantz

83 teams post attendance increases over 2014

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ? A total of 42,561,445 fans passed through the gates at Minor League Baseball games in 2015, marking the third-largest single-season total in the organization's history, which currently consists of 176 teams in 15 leagues.

The 2015 season saw 14 teams set single-season franchise attendance records and marked the 11th consecutive year Minor League Baseball drew over 41 million fans. The 42.5 million fans in 2015 ranked third behind 42.8 million fans in 2007 and Minor League Baseball's all-time record of 43.3 million fans in 2008.

"Minor League Baseball continues to provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment, and the fact that over 42 million fans visited our ballparks again solidifies our place in the sports and entertainment industry," said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O'Conner. "Our clubs strive to produce a quality product, on and off the field, and the tremendous support of our fans and communities cannot be overstated. The enthusiasm shown by Minor League Baseball fans across the country is second to none."

The Triple-A Charlotte Knights led all teams in attendance, as 669,398 fans visited BB&T Ballpark this season. Three new ballparks helped boost attendance as the Nashville Sounds opened First Tennessee Park in April, the Biloxi Shuckers moved into MGM Park in June and the West Virginia Black Bears began play at Monongalia County Ballpark in late June. Since 2000, Minor League Baseball clubs have opened 61 new ballparks.

The attendance leaders in each classification of Minor League Baseball and their overall numbers were: Triple-A ? Charlotte Knights (669,398), Double-A ? Frisco RoughRiders (477,354), Class A ? Dayton Dragons (574,830), Short Season-A and Rookie ? Brooklyn Cyclones (230,658).

About Minor League Baseball

Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2015, Minor League Baseball attracted 42.5 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly
entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. For more information about Minor League Baseball, visit www.MiLB.com.

10 Sep 2015

Nova Singers Announces 30th Season

By Nova Singers
Nova Singers, led by award-winning conductor Dr. Laura L. Lane, is celebrating its 30th season of bringing the finest choral music to audiences in Galesburg and the Quad Cities.  This season includes some wonderful extras, in addition to the superb 20-voice ensemble that the region has come to know and love.  Nova opens the season on October 10th and 11th with Encore! Audience Favorites, a compilation of favorite pieces from the last 30 years.  With Tallis' If ye love me, Duruflé's Ubi caritas, Whitacre's Water Night and many folk songs and spirituals, this program has it all!  In December, A Nova Christmas will feature many familiar carols in traditional arrangements and a few new ones.  Come enjoy an evening of love joy and peace and make celebrating the holidays with Nova Singers a new holiday tradition.  February's concert, The World Beloved, a Bluegrass Mass, is an exciting collaboration between Nova Singers and bluegrass band, Monroe Crossing.   This unique piece combines traditional choral music with folk and bluegrass styles.  Lively and tuneful, yet infinitely moving, you will not want to miss this original work. The season concludes in April with Voices of the Prairie, a unique experience celebrating Midwestern art, poetry and song.  The concert will be paired with works of art by the Midwest Paint Group, and will feature Midwestern composers, songs about the prairie, and the world premiere of a new piece by Abbie Betinis on a poem by Carl Sandburg.  The Quad Cities concert will be held at the Figge Art Museum, and a special reception will follow both concerts.

The full schedule of performances is as follows:
Encore! Audience Favorites
Saturday, October 10, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Hall, Knox College, Galesburg
Sunday, October 11, 4:00 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport
A Nova Christmas
Friday, December 18, 7:30 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport
Saturday, December 19, 7:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, Galesburg
A World Beloved, A Bluegrass Mass,  featuring Monroe Crossing
Saturday, February 13, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Hall, Knox College, Galesburg
Sunday, February 14, 4:00 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport
Voices of the Prairie,  featuring the Midwest Paint Group
Saturday, April 9, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Hall, Knox College, Galesburg
Sunday, April 10, 4:00 p.m., Figge Art Museum, Davenport

SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW at www.novasingers.com
$60 for adults, $50 for seniors.

Subscribers to Nova's 2015-2016 Season receive four concerts at an excellent discount. Subscription also includes reserved seat at the special Spring Concert/Art Exhibit!

Individual concert tickets available at the door
Fall, Christmas and Winter Concerts: Adults $18, Seniors (65+) $15, Students Free
Spring Concert/Art Exhibit: Adults $25, Seniors (65+) $20, Students Free

Nova Singers is a professional vocal ensemble under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, known for bringing a wide variety of choral music to its audiences, and for the spirit and charm the singers impart to their music.  Dr. Lane has been serving the greater Galesburg and Quad-Cities communities for over twenty-five years, bringing her passion for music and expressive singing to audiences and singers alike.

For more information, call Nova Singers at 309-341-7038 or e-mail nova@knox.edu. Information is also available at www.novasingers.com.  Nova Singers' 30th season is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and the City of Galesburg.
10 Sep 2015

MUNGER: STATE'S BILL BACKLOG TO EXCEED $8.5 BILLION BY DECEMBER WITHOUT BUDGET

By Rich Carter
Comptroller outlines ramifications of continued budget impasse
CHICAGO - Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger announced Wednesday that if the state continues its current rate of spending without a balanced budget, Illinois' backlog of unpaid bills to schools, hospitals, businesses, social services and other vendors will exceed $8.5 billion by the end of the calendar year.

Munger said court orders, consent decrees, and statutory continuing appropriations (including debt service, pension payments, tax refunds and lawmaker salaries) are funding 90 percent of the state's bills even though the General Assembly and Governor have been deadlocked on a budget since July 1.  The problem is, the spending is based on FY 15 levels while revenue is based on FY 16 levels, which is running considerably lower due to the sunset of the temporary tax increase in January.
The unpaid bill estimate does not include payments for higher education, employee-retiree health insurance, student MAP grants, some Lottery winners, commercial spending, and other bills that will not be processed until a budget in place. Those expenses could account for an additional $4.3 billion in spending annually.
"Just over two months ago, I stood before you to warn that if the General Assembly and Governor were unable to pass a balanced budget, there would be severe consequences for the state," Munger said. "Today I'm here to say that those consequences have come to pass and the situation will become more dire the longer we try to fund state services without a budget."
At the end of August, the state's unpaid bills to schools, hospitals, businesses, social service agencies and others totaled about $5.5 billion. That number has grown to $6 billion today. If there is no budget in place and the state's spending trajectory continues, it will enter the New Year on January 1, 2016 owing an estimated $8.5 billion in unpaid bills. As the backlog grows, the state's cash flow gets tighter and payments to nonprofits and other state vendors for provided services face further delays, Munger said.
Munger will continue to prioritize payments to nonprofits that serve children, the elderly, people with developmental or intellectual disabilities, and other vulnerable residents. They depend heavily on state funding and provide critical services at a lower cost than it would cost the state, she said.
"We will continue to do everything in our power to keep the state and our human service organizations afloat, but to be clear - our office performs triage every day simply to ensure the State of Illinois lives up to its core commitments," Munger said. "For the sake of our families, businesses and organizations, it is time for members of the General Assembly to sit down with the Governor to find common ground and pass a balanced budget so we can fund our critical priorities."
(END)
10 Sep 2015

Camp Courageous Hosts 27th Annual Back-To-School Festival

By Jeanne Muellerleile
MONTICELLO, IOWA - The 27th Annual Back-To-School Festival will be held at Camp Courageous Tuesday September 15 from 10:00 am to 2:00. Camp is 5 miles south of Monticello off of highway 38 at 12007 190th Street. Camp Courageous is a year- round recreational and respite care facility for individuals with disabilities. The Back-To-School Festival has become an annual celebration of the new school year for dozens of special education classes throughout the area.
Special education classes are invited to attend this free event and enjoy games, balloon artists, prizes, hayride, wobble buggies, swimming, miniature golf,  a helicopter landing, face painting,  bounce house, train,  a dance and more.  New this year will be a magic show, snow cones and cotton candy!
Lunch is provided for free to the special education students, teachers, volunteers, staff & campers. Camp Courageous traditionally prepares for 1000 participants.
More information on Camp Courageous: Camp Courageous is an exceptional year-round recreational and respite care facility for individuals with disabilities. The camp is run primarily on donations, giving all individuals the opportunity to give through gifts of time, materials, money, and other means that support the camp.
Camp Courageous™ is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization run on donations. PO Box 418, 12007 - 190th St, Monticello IA 52310-0418 • 319-465-5916
10 Sep 2015

Online Art Gallery for the Disabled

By Maggie Burns
The Disability Enterprise Foundation announces the opening of an online art gallery for Iowa artists and artisans with disabilities. The Iowa Disability Creative Works Gallery is designed to showcase the creative talents of Iowans with disabilities and to help them market their creative works. The website for the creative works gallery is www.idcwg.org. The gallery will display photos of creative works accepted by the Gallery review committee, along with an eCommerce feature that allows artists/artisans to sell their works on display. For submission forms and more information contact Maggie Burns by email - maggieburns55@yahoo.com - or by telephone - 319-621-4401; or Tom Walz at 319-530-8765.
10 Sep 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 9/11 - 9/17/2015

By QC Chamber
Sir David Chipperfield, the architect for the Figge Art Musuem, is back in town to celebrate the museum's 10th anniversary! See him tonight during a free reception where he will discuss the unique way the Figge was built, his vision, and other aspects of how our iconic museum came together.
Speaking of the Figge, Beaux Arts Fair is back for its Fall edition! The fair features premier artisans and craftspeople selling paintings, jewelry, pottery, wood working, and more. Head on over to the Figge Plaza to find something truly unique for your collection. Admission is free!
After a visit to Beaux Arts, head toward the river for the Quad-City Symphony Orchestra Pops on Saturday in LeClaire Park. Bring your picnic to Riverfront Pops for a toe tappin' tribute to the greatest names in country music. Music by famed songwriters will be featured including Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, and Faith Hill. Let the river and the music flow!
Kick off your weekend at  River Music Experience's Live at 5 with the Downtown Rockin' Daddy's! The Downtown Davenport Partnership is proud to sponsor this week's event, so plan to join us for a fun atmosphere with live outdoor tunes.

food hub The QC Food Hub Canning Series continues this week providing lessons on how to use the pressure can method for canning Zucchini relish. Each student receives a jar of their work to take home and enjoy. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Daytrotter's Sean Moeller sees the QC transforming in to an epicenter for the arts, and we couldn't agree more.   Did you catch this feature article in the Dispatch Argus? As the music culture in the region continues to grow and build on its storied history, it's hard not to love his vision for our future.

Brew Ha Ha
Beer lovers rejoice! We have two awesome beer tasting coming up soon.  NEXT week, the always popular Jaycees of the QC Brew Ha Ha returns to LeClaire Park! In October, mark your calendar for the German Heritage Center & MUGZ event, Arts and Draughts.

For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar.
See you downtown!

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