21 Sep 2015

Loebsack Representative to Hold Office Hours

By Joe Hand

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack will have a member of his staff in Clinton and Scott Counties for open office hours. Henry Marquard, Loebsack's District Representative, will be at the following locations. Marquard will be on hand to work with individuals who are having difficulty with a government agency, have suggestions for Dave, or would just like to share their concerns. Members of the public are invited to attend. Marquard holds regular office hours throughout Eastern Iowa.

If residents are unable to attend but have a concern to share with the Congressman, please call our district office toll-free at 1-866-914-IOWA (4692).

Marquard's schedule for September is as follows.

Tuesday, September 22

21 Sep 2015

Willow Harvest Weekend in Amana October 9-11

By Joanna E. Schanz
Willow Harvest Weekend will be held at the Amana Arts Guild Complex in the Village of High Amana on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 9, 10, and 11, 2013.  Under the guidance Joanna E. Schanz, students will harvest and sort willow on Friday.  Saturday and Sunday will be spent learning the traditional techniques of German stake and Strand willow as students make their own basket.

Class open to all levels of weaving skills from very beginner to advanced.

Registration on line at www.broomandbasket.com.    For paper registration or questions, phone 319.622.3315 days & 319.622.3009 evenings.

21 Sep 2015

Great Iowa Treasure Hunt Gears Up for Fall Publication

By Karen Austin

DES MOINES, IA (09/16/2015)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald's Great Iowa Treasure Hunt's fall publication is scheduled to be released soon. "The upcoming publication has the most up-to-date unclaimed property listings in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, so make sure to search, even if you've checked before. A lot of Iowans may be pleasantly surprised," said Fitzgerald. "You may also search for your name any time by visiting GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov."

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $198 million in unclaimed property to more than 468,000 individuals since Fitzgerald started it in 1983. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions or companies that have lost contact with the property's owner for a specific period of time. State law requires these institutions and companies to annually report and deliver unclaimed property to the state treasurer's office, where it is held until the owner or heir of the property is found. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility security deposits, safe deposit box contents and many other types of property.

(@GreatIATreasure).

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21 Sep 2015

Local students complete degrees at Wichita State University

By Joe Kleinsasser

Ritu Gurung of Davenport has completed the Doctor of Philosophy, Chemistry degree at Wichita State University and is among the summer 2015 graduates. For a complete list, go to http://www.wichita.edu/gradlist.

WSU enrolls more than 14,500 students and offers more than 50 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in six undergraduate colleges.

The Graduate School offers an extensive program including more than 40 master's degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas; a specialist in education degree; and doctoral degrees in applied mathematics; audiology; chemistry; communication sciences and disorders; human factors and community/clinical psychology; educational leadership; nursing practice; physical therapy; and aerospace, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering.

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21 Sep 2015

Banned Books Reading Sept. 29 at Rock Island Library

By Lisa Lockheart

Rock Island, IL: Not every book is right for every reader, but we should have the right to think and decide for ourselves. That's the idea behind Banned Books Week, Sept. 27 to Oct. 3, 2015, and the reason for a public "read-in" on Sept. 29 at the Rock Island Main Library.

The Rock Island Library and the Midwest Writing Center will host local writers, librarians and other bibliophiles who love reading and listening to the spoken word in a Banned Books Week Reading of banned or challenged works on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19th Street. Refreshments start at 5:30 pm with guest readings starting at 6:00 pm. Drawings will also be held for Banned Books Week t-shirts, buttons and other giveaways.

This Banned Books Week event celebrates our freedom of speech and our freedom to choose what we read, listen to, or view.

The event is sponsored by the Rock Island Public Library and Midwest Writing Center. The event is free and open to the public. The content of some readings may not be suitable for all ages. Banned Books Week is presented annually in the final week of September by the Office of Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association.

For more free programs, visit www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-READ or pick up a fall events brochure at the Rock Island Main Library, 30/31 or Southwest Branches.

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18 Sep 2015

Loebsack to Attend QC Stand Down for Homeless Veterans

By Vonnie Hampel

Loebsack to Attend QC Stand Down for Homeless Veterans

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he will be speaking at the Quad Cities Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, TOMORROW, Saturday, September 19th. While at the event, Loebsack will talk with veterans and vendors in order to hear their concerns and thank them for their service. The Stand Down will offer a "one-stop-shop" for homeless veterans to access services available to assist them. The event runs all day on Saturday. Media are invited to attend.

QC Stand Down 2015 for Homeless Veterans

QCCA Expo Center

2621 4th Ave.

Rock Island, IL

Dave will arrive and speak around 11:30am

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18 Sep 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 9/17 - 9/24/2015

By QC Chamber
It wouldn't be fall in the Quad-Cities without Jaycees of the QC Brew Ha Ha. Take a tour of the American brewing landscape - one ounce at a time - from some of the finest brewers. Proceeds from this event go to support local charities and programs. Join this party for your taste buds all for a good cause!
Support Celtic culture and education by attending the annual Celtic Festival and Highland Games this weekend in Centennial Park. Enjoy the experience of watching flying telephone poles, heavy hammers and more feats of strength in the athletics competition, or check out the Highland Dance Competition!

It's a busy weekend at River Music Experience. Rock band 4onthefloor plays tonight in the Redstone Room. Get a double dose of great music Friday by catching The Giving Tree Band with Chicago Farmer. Both acts have been popular on the RME stage so grab tickets while you can. And don't forget to swing by the courtyard - there's only a couple weeks left to enjoy music outdoors for Live @ Five!
In celebration of the Figge's 10th anniversary, the museum has been offering free admission all summer long and it's ending this Sunday. Through the past decade The Figge has enriched our community as a premiere art exhibition and education facility. Take advantage of this free opportunity to walk through the museum before the special offer ends this weekend! Shop small and with a purpose this Saturday at Abernathy's. 10% of every sale will be going towards Dress for Success Quad Cities.
Join the brewers of Great River Brewery for the tapping of The Oktoberfest. The Golden Keg gets tapped at 1:00 p.m. and the party also includes authentic German food from Bierstube and live music by The Dawn.  Unlimited complimentary mimosas & bloody mary's - count us in! Make your reservation for the weekly Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bix Bistro, featuring live music by The Josh Duffee Jazz Quartet.
Brews, Shoes & Do's is a night dedicated to the latest in men's fall fashion trends, hair styles and local craft beer. Enjoy a fashion show demonstrating hair styling by Salon Luce, apparel & accessories from The Full Kit and local craft beer from Great River Brewery. Bring friends to enjoy a relaxing night and drinks.  Mark your calendar for NEXT Thursday!
 Visit our neighbors in the East Village this weekend for MidCoast Fine Art's Riverssance Festival of Fine Art. Celebrating its 28th year, the festival showcases over 100 of the top artists from throughout North America. Riverssance is the major annual fundraiser for MidCoast/Bucktown, so make plans to stop by and support our downtown Davenport makers.
For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar.
Future Events:
18 Sep 2015

West Des Moines becomes 21st Home Base Iowa Community

By Office of the Governor of the State of Iowa

Lt. Governor unveils the designation at the community's Bus Tour and Official's Cookout

(WEST DES MOINES) - Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced last night that West Des Moines has achieved the Home Base Iowa Community designation. West Des Moines is now the 21st community in the state to achieve this recognition. The designation was unveiled at the community's Bus Tour and Official's Cookout, an event designed to showcase West Des Moines' newest projects and expansion plans, as well as the opportunity to network with business leaders and elected officials from local, state and federal government.

"It is such an honor to add another Home Base Iowa community to the list," said Reynolds. "Iowa counties and cities are really stepping up to support the Home Base Iowa effort. We are so proud to offer such a warm welcome to veterans and transitioning service members."

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 1,300 employees through Home Base Iowa.

"As we travel around the state, we hear from our businesses that they need skilled workers," commented Governor Terry Branstad. "Veterans and transitioning military members are exactly the kind of employees that our companies need. They show up equipped with skills including teamwork, dedication, a strong work ethic and problem-solving abilities that have been tested in some of the toughest situations imaginable."

Home Base Iowa designates qualified communities as centers of opportunity for military veterans based on four standards: 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. Grimes has met the criteria and is offering an incentive package that includes various discounts for veterans as well as economic development guidance and assistance to any veteran seeking to start or locate a business within the community.

The Home Base Iowa is a unique non-profit private-public partnership that focuses on recruiting veterans and active duty service members for quality, well-paying private-sector jobs in Iowa.

  • 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 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.

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18 Sep 2015

Grassley Raises Concerns with Immigration Reforms that Could Displace U.S. Workers

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is raising questions about a new policy memorandum issued by the Obama administration that may, according to the President, allow for hundreds of thousands of foreign workers being admitted to the United States, which could result in the displacement of U.S. workers.

In a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Leon Rodriguez, Grassley wrote, "I fear - especially in light of the remarks made by the President in March - the effect that this L-1B memo will have on American workers, particularly in the IT sector, who are already battered by mass layoffs, job offshoring, and depressed wages."

Grassley's letter cites an administration memo that purports to reform the L-1B nonimmigrant visa category which is specifically designed for the admission to the United States of temporary intracompany transferees with "specialized knowledge."  The L-1B visa program was never intended to be a high-volume temporary foreign worker program.

In addition, as a policy memorandum, and not a regulation, there is neither an opportunity for the submission of public comments to which the administration must respond, nor a requirement that the administration perform an economic impact assessment.

Grassley has previously written about concerns regarding the L-1B program, including an unclear number of L-1 visa holders actually in the United States, a broad definition of "specialized knowledge," a disconnect between the Departments of Homeland Security and State on blanket petitions, and the alleged use of L-1 visas to circumvent requirements of H-1B visas.  Grassley has serious doubts that the Obama administration's memo will address the real problems and loopholes within the program.

A signed copy of the letter is here.

18 Sep 2015

Ebinger Nominated for Federal Judgeship in Iowa's Southern District

By Grassley Press

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015

Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made the following statement after the White House nominated Judge Rebecca Ebinger to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

Grassley recommended Ebinger and Judge Leonard Strand 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.  Strand was nominated by the President on July 21, for the open judgeship in the Northern District of Iowa.  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 reviewed the candidates and their qualifications before submitting his recommendations to the White House.  

Here is Grassley's comment on today's announcement.

"The Southern District of Iowa will benefit greatly from Judge Ebinger's background and expertise, and I have great confidence that she will serve with distinction.  I appreciate the White House working with me to move her nomination forward.  The five commissioners who made the recommendation to me, and spent hundreds of hours to vet dozens of very qualified candidates, deserve a lot of credit."

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