07 Aug 2015

'All' Means 'All'-Ensuring Inspector General Access to All Records Needed for Independent Oversight

By Rick Martin

Prepared Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee

At a Hearing Titled: "'All' Means 'All':

The Justice Department's Failure to Comply with Its Legal Obligation to Ensure Inspector General Access to All Records Needed for Independent Oversight"

August 5, 2015

 

The Inspector General Act of 1978 created Inspectors General as independent and objective units within the executive branch.  Since then, the American taxpayers have relied on IGs to carry out three important tasks:

One, is to conduct audits and investigations of agency programs.

Two, is to promote the integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness of those programs.

And three, is to keep Congress and agency heads fully informed about program operations, deficiencies, and the need for corrective action.

To help IGs achieve these goals, Section 6(a) of the IG Act authorizes Inspectors General to access "all" records belonging to their respective agency.

But two weeks ago, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel issued a legal opinion claiming that "all" does not actually mean "all."

Today we will examine how this opinion is hindering the work of the Justice Department's Inspector General and threatens all Inspectors General.

The IG Act means what it says.  The DOJ IG is legally entitled to access ALL Department records, period.  If the Inspector General deems a document relevant to do his job, then the agency should turn it over immediately, without hesitation or review.

According to the DOJ Inspector General, the Department did exactly that, prior to 2010.  However, in 2010, the Federal Bureau of Investigation suddenly changed that practice, after the IG uncovered some embarrassing information about the FBI's misuse of exigent letters.  The FBI claimed it had the right to refuse to provide the IG information in over a dozen categories, including information related to wiretaps, grand jury material, and consumer credit reports.  The FBI claimed its attorneys would review material first and then have the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General decide what could be released to the Inspector General.

Congress did not intend to create this sort of litigation-style standoff inside the Department.  It is a waste of time and money for two divisions of the same government Department to be fighting over access to the Department's own records.

The Department's current practice is exactly the opposite of what the law envisions.  Under the law, an inspector general must be independent, because agencies cannot be trusted to investigate themselves.  If IGs have to ask for permission from senior leadership, they would not be truly independent.

The IG Act does allow the Attorney General - not the FBI - to prohibit the Inspector General from carrying out or completing an investigation, but only in certain limited circumstances.  When that extraordinary step is taken, it must be done in writing to the Inspector General.  And the Inspector General must forward that written notice to Congress.

The FBI would have us believe that, instead of written notice being required to block an IG investigation, it needs written permission to comply with an investigation.  That is simply not how the law is designed to work.

The IG testified to Congress multiple times about these problems since taking office in 2012.  So, Congress took action to resolve the dispute.  We essentially bolded and underlined Section 6(a) of the IG Act that ensures access to documents.  Not literally.  But, Section 218 of this year's Justice Department Appropriations Act declared that no funds should be used to deny the IG timely access to all records.  Section 218 also directed the Inspector General to report to Congress within five days whenever there was a failure to comply with this requirement.

In February and March alone, we received four of those reports that the FBI refused to comply.

I wrote to the FBI twice about these notices, and still have not received answers to most questions.

So, Mr. Kevin Perkins, the FBI's Assistant Deputy Director, is here to account for these matters.   Also here to testify is Mr. Michael Horowitz, the Inspector General for the Justice Department.  I would like to find out from these two witnesses what the practice of the FBI was prior to 2010, and whether that practice complied with the procedures that the OLC opinion now argues is mandatory.

The FBI is not above the law.  It has an obligation to comply not only with the Inspector General Act, but also with the restrictions Congress placed on its appropriations.  That means, FBI employees cannot legally be spending their time withholding and reviewing documents before providing them to the IG.  However, this is exactly what the FBI has been doing.  And now, the OLC opinion actually endorses that practice.  OLC needed 68-pages of tortured logic to support its claim that neither the IG Act, nor Section 218, means what it says.

Not surprisingly, last Thursday, the appropriations committee authors of Section 218 wrote a joint letter to the Deputy Attorney General that said the following:

"OLC's interpretation of section 218 - and the subsequent conclusion of our Committee's intention - is wrong.

 

For OLC to determine our intentions as anything other than supporting the OIG's legal right to gain full access to timely and complete information is disconcerting.

 

We expect the Department and all of its agencies to fully comply with section 218, and to provide the OIG with full and immediate access to all records, documents and other material in accordance with Section 6(a) of the Inspector General Act."

 

That's about as clear of a statement you can get, and the intent of the IG Act is equally clear.

But, unfortunately, only a few pages of OLC's 68-page opinion actually discuss the IG Act.  Instead, most of the opinion - 46 pages - analyzes just three legal provisions whose general limitations on disclosure allegedly override the law's specific promise of Inspector General access.  Those three provisions relate to, Title III wiretap information, Rule 6(e) grand jury information, and Fair Credit Reporting Act information.

It is unclear why so much ink was spilled on just these three provisions given that the FBI has cited nearly a dozen provisions in withholding records from the Inspector General.  And there are dozens, if not hundreds, of generally applicable nondisclosure provisions throughout the U.S. Code that could also limit Inspector General access under the tortured logic of the OLC opinion.

OLC argues that nondisclosure statutes like these trump the IG Act unless Congress makes it extra clear that they don't, by specifically mentioning those statutes by name in the IG Act.

Think about that for a moment.

According to OLC, the IG Act would have to mention each and every non-disclosure statute by name before DOJ would believe that Congress really meant to ensure access to "all records."

That is simply unworkable.

We don't even have a definitive list of non-disclosure statutes that might need to be listed.  The Congressional Research Service is studying that question at my request, but listing specific exemptions to dozens or hundreds of non-disclosure statutes would be too unwieldy.  That's why we used the word, "all" - to cover everything without having to list each potential exception.  It really is that simple.

Members should be able to ask the Office of Legal Counsel about this and many other problems with its opinion.  Unfortunately, the Department refused to provide a witness from OLC for today's hearing.  In response to the invitation, the Department said that the head of OLC, Mr. Karl Thompson, is out of the country today.

However, personnel from Inspectors General across government are here with us in the audience today.  If you are here from the Inspector General community and made time to be here today, we welcome you.  Would you please stand?

Thank you all for joining us.

In Mr. Thompson's absence, the Committee asked DOJ to provide an alternate witness from his office.  However, the Department claimed that it did not have enough time to prepare a witness.  After 14 months of working on this opinion, since May 2014, that office was not ready to discuss it publicly.  That is astonishing.

I also invited the Deputy Attorney General to testify about procedures she announced in May to improve the IG's access to records.  Four days after the OLC opinion, she updated these procedures to comply with that opinion.  However, these new procedures add further delay and uncertainty to the situation.  The Committee notified her of this hearing with plenty of advanced notice, and even moved the original date from last week to this week.  Unfortunately, however, the Department said that she was unavailable to testify on either date.

So, Mr. Carlos Uriarte, an Associate Deputy Attorney General, is here to take our questions, and I thank him for coming.

Also here to testify is Mr. Dave Smith, the Acting Inspector General of the Commerce Department.  Mr. Smith is here because his office is having trouble accessing documents from the Department of Commerce.  In June, the Department of Commerce cited the then-pending OLC opinion as the reason why it would not share certain materials with his office.

This is a sign of things to come in terms of the effect the OLC opinion will have for IGs to access documents, across government.  And we have three witnesses on our second panel to discuss the implications of the opinion: Professor Paul Light from New York University; Ms. Danielle Brian from the Project on Government Oversight; and Mr. Brian Miller, the former IG of the Government Services Administration.

I want to thank all of them for joining us today.

We all lose when IGs are delayed in doing their work.  Impeding their access to records is unacceptable.

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07 Aug 2015

Forest Service Report: Rising Firefighting Costs Raises Alarms

By USDA Office of Communications

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2015 ? For the first time in its 110-year history, the Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is spending more than 50 percent of its budget to suppress the nation's wildfires. A new report released today by the Forest Service estimates that within a decade, the agency will spend more than two-thirds of its budget to battle ever-increasing fires, while mission-critical programs that can help prevent fires in the first place such as forest restoration and watershed and landscape management will continue to suffer. Meanwhile, the report notes, these catastrophic blazes are projected to burn twice as many acres by 2050.

As the costs of fighting wildfires grow each year with longer, hotter, more unpredictable fire seasons, the report details how the Forest Service has experienced significant shifts in staffing and resources. In effect, the Forest Service has nearly half a billion dollars less, in 2015 dollars, than it did in 1995 to handle non-fire related programs?the bulk of its programming. There has also been a 39 percent loss of non-fire personnel, from approximately 18,000 in 1998 to fewer than 11,000 in 2015, while the fire staff has more than doubled. Dedicated to its mission of protecting more than 190 million acres of federal forests and grasslands, as well as lives and personal property from the growing threats of catastrophic wildfire, the Forest Service in recent years has absorbed skyrocketing costs related to fire and relied increasingly on "fire transfer"?moving resources from non-fire accounts to cover firefighting costs.

"Climate change and other factors are causing the cost of fighting fires to rise every year," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, "but the way we fund our Forest Service hasn't changed in generations. Meanwhile, everything else suffers, from the very restoration projects that have been proven to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the future, to watershed projects that protect drinking water for 1 in 5 Americans, to recreation projects that support thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity. The time has come for Congress to change the way it funds the Forest Service."

Today, fire seasons are 78 days longer than in the 1970s. Since 2000, at least 10 states have had their largest fires on record. Increasing development near forest boundaries also drives up costs, as more than 46 million homes and more than 70,000 communities are at risk from wildfire in the United States.

"These factors are causing the cost of fighting fires to rise every year, and there is no end in sight," said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. The release of this report is very timely based on the current hectic pace of wildfires in this country. We have been pointing out this challenge for the past few years, but we have not been able to effectively address it through our current budget process. It is important to keep the focus on this problem, ensure the discussion continues and a solution to the funding problem be found."

By 2025, the cost of fire suppression is expected to grow to nearly $1.8 billion dollars, according to today's report, but the Forest Service would be expected to absorb those costs into its regular budget, which has remained relatively flat. And if these trends continue, the Forest Service will be forced to take an additional $700 million dollars over the next 10 years from all the other programs. No other natural disasters are funded this way.

When fire suppression costs more than Congress appropriates to the Forest Service in any given year, the agency is forced to transfer additional funds from already depleted programs, called "fire transfer."

Vilsack said the bipartisan Wildfire Disaster Funding Act, already introduced in the House and Senate, is an important step forward in addressing the funding problems. The proposed legislation, which mirrors a similar proposal in President Obama's Fiscal Year 2016 Budget, would provide a fiscally responsible mechanism to treat wildfires more like other natural disasters, end "fire transfers" and partially replenish the ability to restore resilient forests and protect against future fire outbreaks.

"We must treat catastrophic wildfire not like a routine expense," said Vilsack, "but as the natural disasters they truly are. It's time to address the runaway growth of fire suppression at the cost of other critical programs."

To read the full report, go to: http://www.fs.fed.us/about-agency/budget-performance/cost-fire-operations

The mission of the Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to State and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the Nation's clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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07 Aug 2015

River Bandits Keep Rollin' Along - Winning Streak Now at 10

By Marco LaNave
BANDITS BLANK HOT RODS FOR SWEEP, 10TH STRAIGHT WIN
Barrios extends streak of 41 consecutive scoreless innings by Quad Cities starters
DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 6, 2015) - Agapito Barrios threw six shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out five while walking one, and a solo homer by designated hitter Bryan Muniz in the fourth inning was all the River Bandits needed, as they swept the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 2-0, and won their 10th straight game in front of 4,317 at Modern Woodmen Park Thursday night.
The River Bandits (27-13 second half, 72-36 overall) shut out Bowling Green (19-21, 56-53) for the second time in three games, and outscored the Hot Rods, 15-3, in the three-game series. Quad Cities has its second double-digit win streak of the season, following 12 straight wins April 29-May 11, which was the team's first double-digit winning streak since 2002. This season, the 15 other Midwest League teams have combined for two double-digit win streaks (10 games each by Great Lakes and Kane County).
After allowing a leadoff single in the fourth inning to Hot Rods third baseman Grant Kay, Barrios (1-0) retired the final nine batters he faced and struck out two in the sixth inning to finish his outing. In two starts with Quad Cities, Barrios has pitched 11 shutout innings, allowing three hits and one walk with eight strikeouts. Quad Cities starting pitchers have not allowed a run in the last seven games - a streak of 41 consecutive scoreless innings.
Following Barrios, Ryan Thompson retired all six men he faced, striking out three, in the seventh and eighth innings, and Angel Heredia allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth for his sixth save of the season. The River Bandits' Midwest League-leading 13th shutout is their most since 14 shutouts in 2001.
Muñiz got the scoring started in the bottom of the fourth inning on a blast off Hot Rods starter Henry Centeno (6-7) to the top of the Modern Woodmen berm in straight-away left field - his first Midwest League home run of the season in 19 games with Quad Cities - to give the River Bandits the 1-0 lead. Muñiz also had a double as part of his fourth multi-hit outing in his last five games.
Despite the 11 hits, Quad Cities only mustered one more run. In the sixth inning, first baseman Ryan Bottger reached on an error by Hot Rods first baseman Coty Blanchard and advanced to second base on a single by catcher Trent Woodward. After third baseman Luis Reynoso struck out, a two-out single by shortstop Kristian Trompiz drove in Bottger, doubling the River Bandits' lead to 2-0. Bottger, Muñiz, Trompiz and center fielder Bobby Boyd each had two hits. Boyd finished 6-for-11 in the series against Bowling Green.
The River Bandits open their final series of their season-long nine-game, 10-day homestand with the first of three games against the Dayton Dragons at 7 p.m. Friday. Right-handers Elieser Hernandez (1-1, 1.96) of Quad Cities and Tyler Mahle (11-5, 2.51) of Dayton are scheduled to pitch the series opener.
UP NEXT: Gates open at 6 p.m. for Autism Awareness Night, when the River Bandits will wear special caps to be auctioned during the game to benefit the Quad Cities Autism Center. The 7 p.m. game is a Fireworks Friday presented by Smart Toyota of Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
SEVEN-RUN SECOND FUELS BANDITS' 9TH STRAIGHT WIN
Garrett Stubbs has a career-high three hits with two RBI doubles, and Dean Deetz earns first Midwest League win
DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 6, 2015) - Dean Deetz pitched five shutout innings in his first Midwest League start, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out four, and the River Bandits' seven-run rally on six hits in the second inning helped power Quad Cities to a ninth straight win with a 10-3 victory over the Bowling Green Hot Rods in front of 2,144 at Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday night.
The solid start by Deetz (1-0) extended a scoreless streak by River Bandits starting pitchers to 35 consecutive innings over the last six games. In his five innings Wednesday, Deetz retired the side in order twice, and had two strikeouts in his fifth and final inning of work.
Quad Cities (26-13 second half, 71-36 overall) erupted for seven runs in the second inning, bringing 11 men to the plate and chasing Hot Rods starter Brad Wallace (2-3) after just 1 2/3 innings. Designated hitter Drew Ferguson began the frame with a double to left, followed by a double to center by catcher Garrett Stubbs to score Ferguson and put the River Bandits on the board. Third baseman Luis Reynoso singled, moving Stubbs to third, and after shortstop Kristian Trompiz flied out to left, a double by left fielder Jason Martin scored both Stubbs and Reynoso, making it 3-0.
The rally continued with Martin stealing third base before a walk to center fielder Bobby Boyd, who was then caught stealing with second baseman Nick Tanielu at the plate. With Martin at third base, Tanielu tripled to the right-field corner and scored on an RBI single by first baseman Bryan Muñiz, who was the last batter in Wallace's day. Reliever Ryan Pennell walked right fielder Ramon Laureano on four pitches and then committed a two-base throwing error on a ground ball by Ferguson, hitting for the second time in the inning. The errant throw got past first baseman Alec Sole, allowing both Muñiz and Laureano to score, making it a 7-0 River Bandits lead.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Laureano was hit by a pitch, and Ferguson walked, followed by Stubbs' second RBI double, making it an 8-0 lead. Ferguson, who advanced to third on Stubbs' double, scored on Reynoso's fly ball to right, extending the lead to 9-0.
Bowling Green (19-20, 56-53) cut into the lead in the sixth inning against reliever Jorge Perez with three consecutive run-scoring plays. With runners on the corners and one out, left fielder Bralin Jackson singled home third baseman Grant Kay to put the Hot Rods on the board, ending a 15 1/3 scoreless streak to begin the series. James then grounded out, scoring designated hitter Hunter Lockwood, and a Sole double plated Jackson, making it a 9-3 game.
Six runs was the closest the Hot Rods came, as the River Bandits strung together three straight two-out singles in the sixth, culminating in a Trompiz RBI single, putting Quad Cities into double digits for the second time in its current winning streak. Every River Bandit had at least one hit, led by Stubbs' career-high three hits, including two doubles for his first two career extra-base hits.
Quad Cities left-hander Zach Davis struck out two in the seventh inning and retired all six batters he faced, and newcomer and fellow left-hander Steve Naemark worked a perfect ninth inning in his Midwest League debut.
BANDITS BLANK BOWLING GREEN FOR 8TH STRAIGHT WIN
Quad Cities wins, 3-0, by pitching club's Midwest League-high 12th shutout of 2015
DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 4, 2015) - Justin Ferrell became the first Quad Cities River Bandits pitcher this season to go 7 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts, and Eric Peterson pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, as the River Bandits shut out the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 3-0, for their eighth straight win in front of 3,011 at Modern Woodmen Park Tuesday night.
Ferrell (3-2) delivered the longest outing by a River Bandits starter this season, surpassing the 7 1/3 he threw in a start on July 12 against Burlington. Ferrell was removed from the game in the top of the eighth inning after allowing a two-out single to second baseman Riley Unroe. Reliever Eric Peterson needed only one pitch to get left fielder Bralin Jackson to fly out to right, and then struck out the side in the ninth inning around a one-out hit batsman to earn his team-best sixth save of 2015.
Quad Cities (25-13 second half, 70-36) got on the board in the third inning against starter Yonny Chirinos (3-2) on a rally started by a one-out walk to second baseman Luis Reynoso. After Kristian Trompiz flied out to center, left fielder Jason Martin dumped a ball into shallow right field for a hit, advancing Reynoso to third, and reaching second himself as the throw went towards third. With center fielder Bobby Boyd batting, a passed ball by catcher Nick Ciuffo allowed Reynoso to score and Martin to get to third, putting Quad Cities ahead, 1-0.
Bowling Green (19-19, 56-52) had several opportunities to get a rally started against Ferrell, as the leadoff man reached base in four straight innings, beginning with a double by right fielder Justin Williams in the second inning. Each time, Ferrell was able to prevent the runner from scoring. The Hot Rods stranded seven men on base in the game.
The River Bandits extended their lead in the bottom of the seventh against Chirinos, beginning with a leadoff single by right fielder Ramon Laureano. With first baseman Ryan Bottger batting, a wild pitch advanced Laureano into scoring position. Bottger immediately took advantage of the extra 90 feet, hitting a single into center field drive in Laureano, and when center fielder Thomas Milone misplayed the ball, Bottger was able to reach second on the error. Catcher Trent Woodward then hit a ground ball to first base that moved Bottger over to third. Reynoso made it a 3-0 lead on a base hit up the middle to score Bottger.
The River Bandits' second shutout in the last three games gives them 12 shutouts this season, marking their most in a season since 2004. Quad Cities became the first team in baseball to win 70 games this season and clinched a winning record with 32 games still remaining in the 2015 regular season. The team's record of 34 games above .500 is the club's best since finishing the 1992 season at 91-46.
07 Aug 2015

Author Sidonamarie releases 'By the Pond'

By Nicholas Depew

Book uncovers collection of poetry about struggles of mind, heart, soul

 

FENNVILLE, Mich. - Working through adult and childhood trauma, author Sidonamarie offers readers a glimpse into her mind, heart and soul with a compilation of poems that reflect her life. The poems in "By the Pond" (published by AuthorHouse) serve as a therapy in order to sort the chaos of her mind.

 

An engrossing collection of poetry, this book shows the author's journey of remembering who she is, who she has been and who she will fiercely fight with heart, soul, spirit and mind to continue to be. It is also a journey of the mind, working through chaos brought by trauma. While the heart of it is Christian-based, Sidonamarie believes that her poetry speaks to all. It shares her private struggle without preaching or forcing her ideas on anyone.

 

An excerpt from the poem, Can a Voice:

can a voice be the rebel

and not add to wars and their aggression?

can a voice speak the truth

and not add to the lawlessness?

 

A mixing of thoughts, ideas and dreams, "By the Pond" presents a new and fresh way of approaching and creating poetry and using it as a positive avenue through the dark times in life.

 

"By the Pond"

By Sidonamarie

Hardcover | 6x9 in | 110 pages | ISBN 9781504911498

Softcover | 6x9 in | 110 pages | ISBN 9781504911481

E-Book | 110 pages | ISBN 9781504911474

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

07 Aug 2015

TANIELU, HEREDIA WIN ASTROS' JULY HONORS

By Marco LaNave

Four River Bandits alumni named Player or Pitcher of the Month at their respective Houston affiliates

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 4, 2015) - Infielder Nick Tanielu is the Quad Cities River Bandits Player of the Month for July, and right-handed pitcher Angel Heredia is the team's Pitcher of the Month, the Houston Astros announced on Monday.

The Houston Astros Player Development Department named a Player and Pitcher of the Month at each of their minor league affiliate. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team. Led by the River Bandits' 69-36 record through Sunday, the Astros have the best combined overall minor league record among all major league clubs at 359-289 - a .554 winning percentage. Six of the Astros' nine minor league clubs were in first place through Sunday.

Tanielu, drafted in the 14th round by Houston in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Washington State University, led the River Bandits with a .340 batting average, 34 hits, 11 doubles and 24 RBIs. The 22-year-old Huntsville, Ala., native and 2015 Midwest League All-Star also slugged .510, had an on-base percentage of .378, hit two home runs, and committed just three errors in a team-high 26 games defensively. Tanielu entered Tuesday fifth in the Midwest League and sixth among Houston Astros minor leaguers in batting average (.315) and fifth in the league in RBIs (56). He also leads Quad Cities this season in hits (107), doubles (24) and total bases (147). Tanielu won his second career monthly award, as he was the Player of the Month for Short-Season Class-A Tri-City in July 2014.

Heredia, signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Astros on April 20, 2012, out of Palenque, Dominican Republic, made seven relief appearances for the River Bandits in July, posting a 2-1 record and allowing one earned run in 16 2/3 innings for a 0.54 ERA. The 23-year-old converted three of five save opportunities and had 16 strikeouts while allowing seven hits and five walks. Named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for June 29-July 5, Heredia won his fourth career monthly honor, adding to his Pitcher of the Month awards for the Dominican Summer League Astros in June 2013 and August 2013, as well as for rookie-level Greeneville in July 2014.

For other Houston Astros affiliates, four former River Bandits were recognized as Player or Pitcher of the Month in July. Tyler White (2014) was the Player of the Month for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies. For Double-A Corpus Christi, Michael Feliz (2014) was the Pitcher of the Month. With Class-A Advanced Lancaster, Ronnie Mitchell (2014) won Player of the Month, and Keegan Yuhl, who pitched with the River Bandits in 2014 and started the 2015 season with Quad Cities, was the JetHawks Pitcher of the Month.

07 Aug 2015

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Postal Service Celebrate the Coast Guard's 225th Anniversary with Forever Stamp Dedication

By Sarah M. Janaro

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard celebrated its 225th anniversary at the Coast Guard's Douglas A. Munro Headquarters with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Paul Zukunft, and Postmaster General Megan Brennan participating in a dedication of the Postal Service's U.S. Coast Guard Forever stamp Tuesday.

The U.S. Postal Service commemorated the Coast Guard's 225 years of service to the nation by creating a Forever Stamp to honor its role in protecting the security of the nation and advancing vital U.S. maritime interests. The stamp shows two icons of the Coast Guard: the cutter Eagle, a three-masted sailing ship known as "America's Tall Ship," and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, one of the Coast Guard's rescue aircraft.

"Stamps tell America's story and it is a great honor for the Coast Guard to be memorialized on our 225th anniversary in the Forever Stamp collection. For 225 years, the Coast Guard has proven its enduring value to our nation. We warmly welcome this tribute and the opportunity to share our story with the nation we serve," said Zukunft. "It's a time to remember and celebrate the hundreds and thousands of Coast Guard men and women who've gone to sea - and sometimes paid the ultimate price - in boats, cutters and aircraft so that others may live."

Postmaster General Brennan spoke to the significance of the service being featured on the Forever stamp. "The Coast Guard is truly a symbol of safety to all Americans. Those who live in a coastal community, or spend time on our waterways and shores, know that the Coast Guard does whatever it takes to ensure that they are safe and protected," she said.

As the keynote speaker, Secretary Johnson said, "We are here to commemorate the Coast Guard's past, but I am most excited about the Coast Guard's future. We should all be impressed by the dedication and excellence of the men and women who occupy the ranks of today's Coast Guard."

"I see this service growing and growing, taking on more missions, taking on more and more terrific young people like those I saw graduate from basic training last week, who are from all over the country," said Johnson. "I salute you, thank you for your service, and, from this new member of the family, I wish you happy anniversary."

Fifteen million United States Coast Guard Forever stamps will be issued. Aviation artist William Phillips of Ashland, Ore., painted the image using oil and Masonite. Phil Jordan of Falls Church, Va., is the art director.

For photos of the event, please go to https://www.dvidshub.net/image/2104736/postal-service-dedicates-coast-guard-forever-stamp#.VcFELovin8E.

For more information on the United States Coast Guard Forever stamp, go to https://store.usps.com/store/browse/uspsProductDetailMultiSkuDropDown.jsp?productId=S_473204&categoryId=patriotic-stamps.

A high-resolution image of the stamp is available for media use only by emailing mark.r.saunders@usps.gov.

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07 Aug 2015

50th Anniversary Muscatine Art Center - Exhibition opens August 16, 2015

By Lynm Bartenhagen

Exhibition: Celebrating 50 Years of Art and Local History: Musser Museum Anniversary Exhibition

Exhibit dates:  August 16, 2015 - January 3, 2016

Opening Reception: Sunday, August 16 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Details: Program at 2 p.m. and Music by the Creepin' Charlies from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Free Admission.

CONTACT:  Melanie Alexander, Director 563-263-8282 or malexander@muscatineiowa.gov

 

The Muscatine community is invited to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Muscatine Art Center/Laura Musser Museum. On Sunday, August 16, the Art Center will open special exhibitions throughout the facility. Rooms throughout the Musser Mansion will have displays of elegant gowns, handsome suits, domestic servants' uniforms, colorful day dresses, and intricate accessories. Laura Musser's wedding dress will be on view in the master bedroom, and display cases will feature Musser/McColm personal items, belongings of Laura's mother and father, and other family memorabilia.

"The gowns are especially stunning. Some of the fabrics are quite fragile, limiting the number of times that the Art Center can place the pieces on view. The detail is impressive," states Director Melanie Alexander. "For example, Laura Musser McColm had a gown designed specifically to wear to Madame Butterfly. The gown has a wing-like effect with sheer black fabric attaching to the fingers."

In addition to the clothing displays, historic photographs and other archival materials have been placed throughout the Musser Mansion. Visitors will be able to view the spaces as they are today and compare with the historic photographs.

The Stanley Gallery features 50 years of collecting both works of art and local artifacts. The two-dimensional works of art from the permanent collection are presented in chronological order from the year in which the item was added to the collection. "Some works of art in this exhibition are not often on view, and it is unusual to hang works by these artists together," explains Alexander. "A painting by Marvin Cone is in the same space as a print by Mauricio Lasansky. On the middle floor of the Stanley Gallery, a six foot by six foot Arthur Osver (painted with latex) is presented near Georgia O'Keeffe's White Lotus (oil on canvas). Also in the exhibition are works by Grant Wood, Beth Van Hoesen, and John Doyle, Roland Poska. Unless a person has participated in a behind-the-scenes tour, it is challenging to provide visitors with an understanding of the true scope of the collection."

Curator/Registrar Virginia Cooper adds, "Due to the foresight and knowledge of the Art Center's collection policy, by its founder's, Fine Arts Association, board member and directors, the collections have grown to be among the  most distinguished held by a small museum in the Midwest. This dynamic, historic museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, which recognizes high standards and public accountability. The Art Center continues to awe out of town visitors and is a source of pride and heritage for the local community. The anniversary exhibit will highlight the landmark, milestone, and historically important works that have been added to the collection since 1965."

Also on display in the Stanley Gallery is a sampling of highlights from the Muscatine history collection. Again, it is not possible to put out every item that is worthy of being part of the 50th anniversary exhibition. To help present the collection, the Art Center staff challenged Muscatine artist, Randy Richmond, to use photography to show the scope of the collection, provide a glimpse of some of the spaces that are usually off-limits to most visitors, and hint at the museum methods used to preserve collections for future generations. Richmond's photographs will be displayed in the Stanley Gallery and throughout the facility with several works exhibited in the Music Room and Dressing Room in the Musser Mansion.

The Musser Museum Gallery will display the works of art from the Mary Musser Gilmore Collection. Many works from this collection are on long-term view in second floor hallway of the house. The collection includes works  by Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Marc Chagall, Vincent van Gogh, Camille Pissarro, Pablo Picasso, Raoul Dufy, George Rouault, Henri Matisse, and other internationally recognized artists. The initial gift of twenty-seven works was received in 1992.  In 2010, an additional eleven works of art from the Gilmore Collection were gifted to the Muscatine Art Center via the Sarah King Wilmer estate, daughter of Mary Musser Gilmore.

On the main floor of the mansion, landmark pieces from the Mississippi River Collection will be supplemented with some rarely-on-view works from the River Collection. "Many Muscatine-natives love 'View of the Mississippi from Wyoming Hill' by William Bunn, painted in 1946," comments Alexander. "Bunn was born in Muscatine, studied under Grant Wood, and completed several post office murals in Iowa. 'Wyoming Hill' will hang in the Library for the 50th Anniversary exhibition."

The public is invited to celebrations beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 16th. Several speakers will provide reflections on the first 50 years of the organization's history. Mayor DeWayne Hopkins will read the City of Muscatine's proclamation, recognizing the 50th anniversary. Around 2:30 p.m., the Art Center will unveil the oil painting "Vegetable Gardens" by Grant Wood. The work was acquired to commemorate the 50th anniversary. At 2:30 p.m., the Creepin' Charlies will perform, and refreshments will be served.

EVENT DETAILS: Sunday, August 16, 2015 from 2 to 4 p.m. - Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Muscatine Art Center/Laura Musser Museum. A special program will begin at 2 p.m. Admission is FREE.

EXHIBITION DETAILS: The exhibition, "Celebrating 50 Years of Art and Local History: Musser Museum Anniversary" will be on view from August 16, 2015 through January 3, 2016.

The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Visit www.muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events and to download a class brochure.

07 Aug 2015

'Artists Den Presents alt-J' to Premiere in Select U.S. Cinemas on September 2

By Rick Martin
Fathom Events and Artists Den come together to present an intimate concert event starring U.K. rock group alt-J with "Artists Den Presents alt-J" in select U.S. Cinemas for only one-night on Tuesday, September 2 at 7:30 p.m. (local time).
Captured live at Los Angeles' historic Hollywood American Legion, "Artists Den Presents alt-J" features hits from alt-J's newest album, Grammy®-nominated This Is All Yours, and their 2012 debut An Awesome Wave as well as exclusive concert footage and band interviews that will not be shown anywhere else.
"Artists Den Presents alt-J" will be shown at the following movie theaters in your area on September 2:
Cinemark Davenport 18 with IMAX 3601 E 53Rd St Davenport IA 52807
For a complete list of theaters, click here. Please feel free to contact us for review tickets, more information on "Artists Den Presents alt-J" or any of Fathom's upcoming events.
For artwork/photos related to "Artists Den Presents alt-J" visit the Fathom Events press site.
05 Aug 2015

Safe Routes to School Planning

By Be Healthy QC
What is it?

According to the Safe Routes Partnership, Safe Routes to School is a national and international movement to create safe, convenient, and fun opportunities for children to bicycle and walk to and from school. The program was designed to reverse the decline in children walking and bicycling to schools. Safe Routes to School can also play a critical role in reversing the nationwide trend toward childhood obesity and inactivity.

In 1969, approximately 50 percent of children in the US walked or bicycled to school, with approximately 87 percent of children living within one mile of school walking or bicycling. Today, fewer than 15 percent of schoolchildren walk or bicycle to school. In 2009, US families drove 30 billion miles to take their children to and from school, at a cost of $5 billion in fuel. During the morning commute, driving to school represents 5-7 percent of miles driven and 10-14 percent of traffic on the road.

Safe Routes to School programs are built on collaborative partnerships that include educators, parent, students, elected officials, engineers, city planners and engineers, business and community leaders, health officials, and bicycle and pedestrian advocates. The most successful Safe Routes to School programs incorporate the Five E's: evaluation, education, encouragement, engineering and enforcement. The goal of Safe Routes to School is to get more children bicycling and walking to schools safely on a daily basis. This improves the built environment and increases opportunities for healthy physical activity for everyone.
Developing Safe Routes to Schools in the Quad Cities Area
As part of the Be Healthy QC project funded by the CDC, Bi-State Regional Commission has hired a Planner to focus on designing and implementing Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) programs with interested elementary schools in both Illinois and Iowa. The Planner will offer technical assistance to schools to ensure physical activity practices meet CDC or national standards by developing SRTS Travel guidelines that include identification of issues and mitigating solutions for walking and biking near schools in the Rock Island and Scott County school districts.  This objective will facilitate greater access to physical activity by involving the schools, parents and community to ensure connectivity to the schools for adjoining neighborhoods and will promote physical activity through school commuting.
Project Progress
The first three SRTS plans will be developed for Earl Hanson Elementary and Eugene Field Elementary schools in Rock Island, Illinois and Buffalo Elementary in Buffalo, Iowa.
Before classes were dismissed for the summer the SRTS Planner worked with school staff to collect student travel surveys and parent input surveys. During the summer break the Planner worked with local police departments, city halls and school administration to gather information in order to create profiles for the participating schools. These profiles will help the Planner identify areas where the schools can improve in education, encouragement, engineering and enforcement - the staples of an effective SRTS program.
Once school resumes, the Planner will issue a second round of surveys to both students and parents in order to begin tracking patterns and trends in the data. At this time he will also work with school administration to begin implementation of the SRTS plans he was busy drafting over the summer.
05 Aug 2015

Stakeholder Input Sought for Promise Zones Third Round Application Process

By USDA Office of Communications

Public comments are now being accepted on the proposed selection process, criteria, guides and submissions for the third and final round of the federal Promise Zone Initiative led by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The deadline for comments is September 28, 2015.

This is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback and suggestions on how federal agencies can better work in partnership with local leaders in high-poverty communities to leverage private investments that create jobs, increase economic activity, improve affordable housing, increase educational opportunities, and reduce violent crime.

All written comments will be considered before the Third Round Application Guides are finalized. View the Third Round Rural and Tribal Application Guide. View the Urban Application Guide.

Comments may be emailed to PromiseZones@hud.gov with ''Third Round Promise Zones selection'' in the subject line. Comments may also be sent through regular Post addressed to Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 7136, Washington, DC 20410 ATTN: 3nd Round Promise Zones selection.

You may also preview the online electronic application submission process that will be used for Round Three by requesting a personalized test link at MAX Survey. The MAX site includes all fillable forms, attachment upload fields, error checks and email notifications that will be used during the actually application period.

USDA and HUD will host three webinars for those interested in a preview of the proposed selection process, criteria, guides and submissions for the third and final round of the federal Promise Zone Initiative. Comments and questions will also be accepted and answered during the webinars.

Rural Promise Zone Initiative Stakeholder Webinar
Wednesday, August 12, 2015 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. EDT
Click here to register for the Rural Webcast

For full details read the Federal Register Notice or visit the Promise Zones Web Page.

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