The Quad City Symphony Orchestra goes a little bit country this year for the 2015 Quad City Bank & Trust Riverfront Pops.  The concert is Saturday, September 12 in Davenport's LeClaire Park and begins at 6:30 p.m.  The pre-concert is at 5:00 p.m.

Quad City Bank & Trust Riverfront Pops:  Country Legends will feature a toe tappin' tribute to the greatest names in country music.  Music by famed singers and songwriters like Johnny Cash, Carrie Underwood, Hank Williams, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and Faith Hill will be performed.  Songs will include Crazy, Ring of Fire, On the Road Again, The Devil Went Down to Georgia and many more.  Both classic and some new country will be showcased.

It's a great way to spend a day in the sun and a night under the stars at the end of summer.  Picnics including alcohol are allowed.  Concessions are available on site.

Headlining will be Patrick Thomas, Season 1 finalist on the hit show The Voice, paired with Rachel Potter, a top finalist from The X Factor.  Patrick is a Nashville-based recording artist who recently made a guest appearance on Lifetime network's Chasing Nashville.  He starred as Billy Crocker in Anything Goes in New York.  Rachel is a Nashville-based country music recording artist and songwriter whose debut album Live the Dream is available on iTunes.  She's now working on her second solo CD entitled Not So Black and White which will be released this fall.  Rachel recently appeared in the recent Evita revival and The Addams Family on Broadway. 

The popular Ellis Kell and Terry Hanson (of the Ellis Kell Band) along with other top local musicians back up the duo and lend local award-winning talent to this exceptional show.

As tradition dictates, the grand finale will climax with rousing renditions of both Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever set to a brilliant fireworks display!

The pre-show begins at 5:00 p.m with the Youth Symphony Orchestra followed by Ellis Kell playing country at 5:30 p.m.  Main show at 6:30 p.m.

Advance general admission lawn tickets for adults are $20, $25 at the gate.  Children's tickets (3-12) are $5.  Reserved fixed seating at the stage is available.  Adults $35, $45 at the gate.  Children $10, $15 at the gate.  Gates and handicapped parking open at 3:00 p.m.  There is no access to the park prior to 3:00 p.m.

Tickets are available online at www.qcso.org, at the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Box Office at 563-322-QCSO (7276) or at 327 Brady Street in Davenport and at any Quad City Bank & Trust, Hy-Vee or Whitey's Ice Cream location.

More information and tickets for the QCB&T Riverfront Pops:  Country Legends are available at www.qcso.org.

Davenport, Iowa - Friday, August 21, 2015 - iHeartMedia - Quad Cities today announces an exciting new radio format is coming to the market: ALT 104.5: the Quad Cities Alternative. The station officially debuts at 1:04pm today.

ALT104.5, The Quad Cities Alternative, is a new adult rock station merging New Music and Alternative, including such artists as Twenty One Pilots, Mumford & Sons, the Black Keys and Kings of Leon. ALT 104.5 debuts with 100% music, no personalities."We wanted to create a new radio station totally unlike anything else in the Quad Cities, and ALT 104.5 certainly will be!" according to iHeartMedia - Quad Cities SVP Programming, Jim O'Hara. O'Hara also invites listeners to comment on the new format by calling the ALT 104.5 Feedback Line: 563-344-7145.

ALT104-5 will be heard on-air at: 104.5 FM, on FM HD radios at 103.7-HD2, online at www.ALT1045.com and anywhere you go by searching 'ALT104.5' with the iHeartRadio app.

About iHeartMedia

With 245 million monthly listeners in the U.S., 87 million monthly digital uniques, over 75 million social followers and 196 million monthly consumers of its Total Traffic and Weather Network, iHeartMedia has the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in America. It serves over 150 markets through 858 owned radio stations, and the company's radio stations and content can be heard on AM/FM, HD digital radio, satellite radio, on the Internet at iHeartRadio.com and on the company's radio station websites, on the iHeartRadio mobile app, in enhanced auto dashes, on tablets and smartphones, and on gaming consoles.

iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia's digital radio platform, is the No. 1 all-in-one digital audio service with over 600 million downloads; it reached its first 20 million registered users faster than any digital service in Internet history and reached 70 million users faster than any other radio or digital music service and even faster than Facebook. The company's operations include radio broadcasting, online, mobile, digital and social media, live concerts and events, syndication, music research services and independent media representation. iHeartMedia is a segment of iHeartMedia, Inc. (OTCBB: IHRT). Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.

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SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner took action today on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 165

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

Bill No.: HB 217

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: HB 1119

An Act Concerning Criminal Law

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: HB 1121

An Act Concerning Criminal Law

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

Bill No.: HB 2503

An Act Concerning Transportation

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

Bill No.: HB 3270

An Act Concerning Public Aid

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

Bill No.: HB 3284

An Act Concerning State Government

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: HB 3398

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Amendatory Veto

Note: Veto message below

Bill No.: HB 3552

An Act Concerning Civil Law

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 3619

An Act Concerning Employment

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: SB 23

An Act Concerning Courts

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: SB 1645

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: SB 1702

An Act Concerning Transportation

Action: Amendatory Veto

Note: Veto message below

Bill No.: SB 1764

An Act Concerning Insurance

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: SB 1834

An Act Concerning Transportation

Action: Amendatory Veto

Note: Veto message below

Bill No.: SB 1859

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: SB 1906

An Act Concerning Revenue

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

Veto Message for HB 3398

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois House of Representatives,

99th General Assembly:

 

Today I return House Bill 3398 with a specific recommendation for change.

 

House Bill 3398 would allow the Department of Public Health to grant nursing homes a waiver to certain nurse staffing ratio requirements if the facility demonstrates that it is unable, despite diligent efforts, to employ the required number of registered nurses.

 

For nursing facilities in certain regions of our State, it is difficult to find enough qualified nurses to meet mandated staffing ratios. This results in these nursing homes facing fines and loss of funding, forcing them to cut services to their residents. House Bill 3398 is an important tool in allowing flexibility in the face of an across the board, "one size fits all" government mandate, while still ensuring that elderly Illinoisans receive safe and high quality care.

 

As drafted, however, the waiver provisions of House Bill 3398 do not comply with federal law. While federal law allows states to grant registered nurse staffing waivers to Medicaid-certified facilities, only the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has the authority to grant waivers to Medicare-certified facilities. As drafted, House Bill 3398 runs afoul of federal law by allowing the Department of Public Health to grant waivers to both Medicaid- and Medicare-certified facilities.

 

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(e) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 3398, entitled "AN ACT concerning regulation", with the following specific recommendation for change:

 

On page 2, by replacing line 15 with "(c) Upon application by a facility that is not certified to participate in the Medicare program under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, the Director may grant".

 

With this change, House Bill 3398 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.

Sincerely,

 

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

 

Veto Message SB 1702

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois Senate,

99th General Assembly:

 

 

Today I return Senate Bill 1702, which imposes new burdens on ex-offender re-entry into the job market, with a specific recommendation for change.

Senate Bill 1702 establishes licensing requirements for manufactured home dealers, which are currently licensed under other existing laws. I thank the sponsors, the Secretary of State, and interested parties for their cooperative work on this legislation.

As part of the new statutory requirements, Senate Bill 1702 would prohibit a person from obtaining a manufactured home dealer's license or from serving as an officer, director, or significant owner of a manufactured home dealer if he or she has been convicted of a "forcible felony," which is defined to include specific serious crimes as well as "any other felony which involves the use or threat of physical force or violence against any individual."

We must be careful whenever we disqualify ex-offenders from employment. While persons convicted of serious crimes may not be suitable for certain positions, disqualification is inconsistent with our goal of facilitating successful reentry of ex-offenders into society. In this case, the definition of forcible felony is potentially too broad: while it includes serious offenses like murder and rape, it also includes "any other felony which involves the use or threat of physical force or violence against any individual." Courts have examined and attempted to narrow the definition, but it remains open-ended and subject to frequent litigation, particularly over more common offenses like assault and battery.

In addition, courts have instructed us that a disqualifying offense must have a clear nexus to the position. The connection between forcible felony and manufactured home sales is not apparent.

The bill's proposed disqualification would be permanent. Proponents of the bill have advised, however, that they intended the disqualification be for a shorter duration, such as 10 years. These ongoing discussions are further reason to remove the disqualification provision from the bill.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(e) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 1702, entitled "AN ACT concerning transportation", with the following specific recommendation for change:

On page 8, by replacing lines 5 through 15 with "(8) blank.".

With this change, Senate Bill 1702 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.

Sincerely,

 

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

Veto Message 1834

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois Senate,

99th General Assembly:

 

Today I return Senate Bill 1834 with specific recommendations for change. I thank the sponsors for their work on this bill, but believe these changes are needed to ensure the bill is clear in its intent.

 

Certain contract carrier companies use recording devices in their vehicles to monitor drivers and record information about crashes and other vehicle incidents. Senate Bill 1834 would define "video event recorder" - a device that continuously records audio, video, and G-force levels of a vehicle - and requires that the contract carrier post a notice in the vehicle that a passenger's conversations may be recorded. The changes recommended below are intended to correct ambiguities in the bill.

First, the definition proposed by Senate Bill 1834 is too narrow for its intended purpose. The bill could be read to require notice only if the recorder saves video in certain limited circumstances (when triggered by unusual shaking or when operated by the driver to monitor driver performance), but does not address if and when notice is required with the use of other types of recorder, such as those that might save audio data. The changes recommended below would provide a more standard definition of "video event recorder," to ensure notice is provided no matter what type of recorder is used.

 

Second, the notice requirement is added to an existing section (Section 12-604.1), which prohibits a person from operating a vehicle that displays television or video in front of the driver. Section 12-604.1 is intended to protect the public from distracted drivers and includes appropriate enforcement provisions, while the new provisions of Senate Bill 1834 are intended to protect privacy rights of the driver and passengers. The combination of these provisions is confusing. The changes recommended below would move the new notice requirements to a separate section to avoid confusion.

 

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(e) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 1834, entitled "AN ACT concerning transportation", with the following specific recommendations for change:

 

On page 1, by replacing line 5 with: "Section 12-604.1 and by adding Sections 1-218.10 and 12-604.2 as follows:"; and

 

On page 1, by replacing lines 6 through 12 with the following:

"(625 ILCS 5/1-218.10 new)

Sec. 1-218.10. Video event recorder. A video recorder placed inside a vehicle that continuously records, in a digital loop, audio, video, and G-force levels."; and

On page 3, by replacing lines 12 through 18 with the following: "installed in a contract carrier vehicle."; and

 

On page 4, immediately after line 6, by inserting the following:

"(625 ILCS 5/12-604.2 new)

Sec. 12-604.2. Video event recorders. A contract carrier vehicle carrying passengers that is equipped with a video event recorder shall have a notice posted in a visible location stating that a passenger's conversation may be recorded. Any data recorded by a video event recorder shall be the sole property of the registered owner or lessee of the contract carrier vehicle."

 

With these changes, Senate Bill 1834 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.

Sincerely,

 

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

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From the professional world to the coffee shop, a wounded Marine shares his advice

August 20, 2015, Washington, D.C.? Justin Constantine, a Marine who received a Purple Heart for his injuries sustained in Iraq, put together some rules of etiquette everyone should consider when talking with a wounded veteran, whether it's at a neighborhood coffee shop or a top executive business meeting. By just following a few simple rules you can curb a lot of bad conversational habits when talking with a wounded warrior.

"As a injured veteran I find that people want to talk with me, but they aren't sure what to say and how to say it," said Constantine. "With a few simple guidelines, you can avoid a lot of awkward conversations. That's not just good for you, it's also helpful for the veteran."

Constantine shares his five rules of etiquette when talking with a wounded veteran:

1.  Don't show pity. Do treat us like everyone else.
We appreciate your compassion, but at the same time please don't pity us. Instead, treat us like everyone else. The last thing any injured veteran wants to do is open up the wounds of war every time he meets someone.

2.  Don't bring up PTSD.  Do ask us about our day.
We may have post-traumatic stress disorder, but we very well may not have it.  In fact, a far greater number of civilians have PTSD than service members.  And even if we have PTSD, many of us are seeking care and treatment for it.  Please don't bring up the topic of PTSD unless we indicate we want to talk about it. Instead, ask us general questions about how our day is going like you would with anyone else.

3. Don't make grandiose promises. Do make friends.
Many wounded warriors were visited by a wide variety of politicians and business leaders while in the hospital.  These leaders typically promised all sorts of great jobs after the warriors' recoveries, and inevitably they went home with a mountain of business cards.  Unfortunately, those very often turned into broken promises, and the warriors' requests for assistance later went unanswered.  So, please don't make any promises you cannot or don't truly intend to keep. Instead, get to know us as a friend or potential colleague.

4. Don't assume we're helpless.  Do let us help you.
Appreciate that for many of us, whether dealing with the physical or invisible wounds of war, our recoveries can be long (one of the byproducts of surviving injuries that would have killed us in previous wars).  That being said, we have had to navigate many different bureaucracies, personal and professional challenges, and often have incredible skills impossible to find anywhere else.  Talk with us with the understanding that because of what we have already been through and learned, we can provide great service to you.

5. Don't ignore our caregivers. Do involve them in the conversation.
We are just one member of a team.  Very few wounded warriors are able to have successful recoveries without other people "on their team."  Unfortunately, many forget to include our caregivers in the conversation, although they have been through everything with us.  Make sure when you talk with us that you include them.

"Especially in a professional setting, knowing how to talk with a wounded veteran can be crucial to landing that contract or sealing a deal," adds Constantine. "But on a more personal level, it's also just the right thing to do."

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About The Constantine Group
The Constantine Group was founded by Justin Constantine, an inspirational speaker and leadership consultant who serves as a liaison between the military and corporate communities. He is a senior advisor to the US Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes Campaign and is a fellow with the Truman National Security Project. Justin also serves on the Board of Directors of the Wounded Warrior Project and co-founded the Veteran Success Resource Group. He received a Purple Heart for his service in Iraq.

To learn more, visit: www.justinconstantine.com.