July 26, 2015 -  Today marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  This milestone law prohibits discrimination on the basis of physical or mental disability, and grants overdue rights and opportunities to people who historically had been treated as second-class citizens.

I know how critical the support services created by the ADA are to families living with disabilities. The ADA was an important first step, but far too often people with disabilities still face discrimination and prejudice.  That is why I am a proud cosponsor of the IDEA Full Funding Act, which would ensure that special education is funded appropriately, and the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act, which would allow individuals with disabilities to create their own special needs trusts through Medicaid.  Currently, only a grandparent, parent or legal guardian can set up this trust, even though they use the individuals own money.  This must be changed to empower the individual.

Please know that I am committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have the opportunity to live productive, happy, fulfilling lives, and I look forward to staying in touch about this important topic.

Sincerely,

Dave Loebsack
Iowa's Second District

BANDITS STING BEES WITH 3-RUN 8TH INNING

Quad Cities earns its 27th comeback win of the season in series rubber match

BURLINGTON, Iowa (July 26, 2015) - In his first start since July 2, Brock Dykxhoorn threw five shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out three, and a three-run top of the eighth inning lifted the Quad Cities River Bandits over the Burlington Bees by a score of 5-4 at Community Field Sunday afternoon.

Dykxhoorn, who left the game after five innings with a 2-0 lead, saw that lead erased by four runs by the Bees (12-19 second half, 47-53 overall) in their half of the sixth inning against reliever Joshua James (3-2).

Trailing 4-2, the River Bandits (18-13, 63-36) began their eighth-inning comeback after shortstop Alex Bregman began the inning with a ground ball misplayed by third baseman Erick Salcedo. First baseman Nick Tanielu followed with a walk, putting two on with nobody out against Burlington reliever Jacob Kopra (0-1). After right fielder Drew Ferguson struck out swinging, center fielder Ramon Laureano singled to load the bases with one out, knocking Kopra out of the game in favor of Bees closer Eduardo Paredes. Pitching for the second straight game, Paredes struggled initially, as right fielder Sean McMullen hit a ball to the warning track in right, more than deep enough to score Bregman from third and bring Quad Cities within one. With two outs, back-to-back RBI singles by catcher Trent Woodward and third baseman Luis Reynoso scored Tanielu and Laureano, respectively, putting the River Bandits ahead, 5-4.

The eighth inning erased a lead the Bees had built with a four-run sixth inning. Bees second baseman Tim Arakawa began Burlington's sixth-inning rally with a hit against James, followed by a fly ball to left off the bat of first baseman Nick Flair. The next three men all reached base for the Bees, beginning with a single by designated hitter Steven Mateo. Left fielder Trever Allen was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with one out for right fielder Natanael Delgado, who hit a ball to deep left-center field for a two-run, game-tying double. With Salcedo batting, James threw a wild pitch that allowed Delgado to advance to third and Allen to score for a 4-2 Burlington lead. After Salcedo struck out, the lead became two on a base hit by catcher Brandon Gildea.

Quad Cities had taken the game's first lead, wasting no time getting on the board in the first inning. Center fielder Bobby Boyd and Bregman each drew walks against Burlington starter Jake Jewell, with Boyd scoring on Tanielu's single, the 47th RBI of the season for the Quad Cities All-Star. The Bandits' second run came in a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the fourth inning. Ferguson led off with a single before Laureano, attempting to sacrifice the runner over, reached on a bunt single, and McMullen was hit on the foot by Jewell to load the bases for Woodward, who bounced into a double play to short, scoring the runner from third in the process for a 2-0 River Bandits lead.

After Quad Cities regained the lead in the eighth inning, Angel Heredia pitched spotless innings in both the eighth and ninth innings, striking out three batters to record his fifth save of the year.

After a Midwest League-wide off day Monday, the River Bandits will finish their road stretch with three games in Beloit beginning Tuesday. River Bandits right-hander Christian Powell (2-1, 2.53) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Junior Mendez (3-7, 5.10).

UP NEXT: Vote now until Monday for the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Quad-City Times Readers' Choice Awards. The River Bandits are up for Best Entertainment Venue, Best Family Entertainment, Best Place for a Kid's Birthday Party, and Best Place to Take Out of Town Guest. 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.

BANDITS' LATE RALLY FALLS SHORT, AS BEES TRIUMPH, 4-3

Strong, timely pitching holds Quad Cities away from victory

BURLINGTON, Iowa (July 25, 2015) - Burlington Bees starter Austin Robichaux shut out the Quad Cities River Bandits for the first six innings, and Bees right fielder Trever Allen was 3-for-4 and drove in three runs in his team's 4-3 win at Community Field Saturday night.

The one-run margin of victory for Burlington (12-18 second half, 47-52 overall) marked the second straight game and seventh this season decided by one run between the Bees and River Bandits (17-13, 62-36) in their first 16 meetings this season.

Robichaux (8-6) earned his second win in three starts against Quad Cities by pitching six-plus innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out two and walking four. Robichaux departed after allowing a hit and two walks to the first three batters in the seventh inning.

Burlington got on the board against Quad Cities starter Elieser Hernandez (0-1) in the third inning on a rally started by a one-out single by center fielder Ayendy Perez. Second baseman Tim Arakawa singled, advancing Perez to third. First baseman Nick Flair then hit a fly ball to right that was caught by Drew Ferguson, but deep enough to score Perez from third. Catcher Wade Wass followed with a walk, advancing Arakawa to second. Allen singled home Arakawa on a base hit to center field to double the Bees' lead to 2-0. The runs off Hernandez were the first the right-hander had allowed after 22 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to a June 29 outing in the Short-Season Class-A New York-Penn League with the Tri-City ValleyCats.

Burlington doubled its lead in the fifth inning against Hernandez on a one-out single by Wass and a home run by Allen - his fourth of the season - off the top of the second tier of signage in left field. Hernandez, who struck out three batters in his first two innings, allowed one hit in each of the first, second, and fourth innings, despite his struggles in the third and fifth.

Ryan Thompson finished the fifth inning for the River Bandits, and pitched 2 2/3 innings for Quad Cities, allowing no runs on one hit. Riley Ferrell threw a perfect eighth inning with a strikeout.

The River Bandits were able to knock out Robichaux with their rally in the top of the seventh, forcing the right-hander out of the game with the bases loaded and nobody out. However, reliever Jordan Piche got catcher Garrett Stubbs to ground into a double play, crippling the rally and limiting Quad Cities to just one run on the play. Second baseman Kristian Trompiz followed with a groundout to shortstop that ended the inning after only one run had scored.

The game tightened in the eighth inning on a two-out rally by the River Bandits, starting with a two-out walk to shortstop Alex Bregman and capped by a booming home run to left by All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu, making it a one-run game. With fresh life and a tie game in sight, Ferguson singled down the right-field line and was thrown out trying to reach second base, ending the inning. Burlington closer Eduardo Paredes pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 18^th save of the year.

PAULINO, BANDITS BULLPEN COMBINE TO SHUT OUT BEES

First-inning run is enough to vault Quad Cities to series-opening win

BURLINGTON, Iowa (July 24, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits starter David Paulino pitched 6 2/3 innings of shutout baseball, striking out six and allowing three hits and three walks, and a two-out rally in the first inning capped by an RBI single by designated hitter Ramon Laureano was all the team needed in a 1-0 win over the Burlington Bees Friday night at Community Field.

Paulino (3-2) has shut out the opponent in all three of his wins with Quad Cities (17-12 second half, 62-35 overall), and has not allowed a run in five of his seven starts between Quad Cities and Short Season Class-A Tri-City this year. Prior to Friday, he pitched seven scoreless innings in his latest start Sunday against Cedar Rapids. Zach Davis, who was called up Friday from Tri-City, pitched one inning in his Midwest League debut, and Eric Peterson went the final 1 1/3 innings for his fifth save of the season.

The River Bandits shut out Burlington (11-18, 46-52) by a 1-0 score for the second time at Community Field this season and pitched their 10th shutout of the season - the most for the club since pitching 11 shutouts in 2010.

With two outs in the top of the first inning, shortstop Alex Bregman drew a walk on five pitches from Bees starter Justin Anderson (6-8). All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu followed with a base hit to right field that advanced Bregman to third. With runners on the corners, Laureano looped a ball into right that dropped in front of All-Star right fielder Natanael Delgado, scoring the first and only run of the game.

The Bees had one man reach base in each of the first four innings against Paulino, including the leadoff batter in both the first and third, but solid pitching and great defense, including a diving catch in left-center field by center fielder Bobby Boyd helped keep Burlington off of the board. The Bees' best threat came in the fifth inning against Paulino after Delgado singled up the middle for the Bees' first hit. Center fielder Ayendy Perez reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second base with Burlington second baseman Tim Arakawa batting. After Arakawa struck out, shortstop Jake Yacinich reached on an infield single, advancing Perez to third and putting runners on the corners with two down, but Paulino struck out left fielder Trever Allen to end the opportunity.

Burlington had one last chance in the ninth inning, starting with a leadoff single by third baseman Zach Houchins, who was lifted for pinch-runner Erick Salcedo. Designated hitter Trevor Gretzky was able to bunt Salcedo into scoring position with one out. After catcher Wade Wass struck out looking, with Delgado hitting, Salcedo was able to steal third, but Delgado struck out swinging to end the game.

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PORT BYRON, Ill. - As temperatures continue to climb through the month of July, state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, is urging residents to stay safe during the summer heat, and highlighting local resources to avoid health problems.

"Extreme temperatures can pose a serious threat for those without access to a cool place, and, unfortunately, heat-related illnesses claim the lives of people in Illinois every year," Smiddy said. "I urge everyone to know the signs of heat stroke, take a few moments to check on elderly or sick neighbors and get to a cool place before you're overheated and are feeling badly."

Symptoms of heat-related illness include headaches, skin that is hot to the touch, increased body temperature, loss of consciousness, seizures and irregular heartbeats. Smiddy urges residents to stay cool and avoid illness by increasing water intake, decrease strenuous, outdoor physical activity and remain in air-conditioning when possible.

Illinois maintains over 120 state facilities that can provide a cool, comfortable place for those in need to stay safe during extreme heat. The centers remain open during normal business hours from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday excluding holidays. For more information about cooling centers or to find a location near you, please call the Illinois Department of Human Services hotline at 800-843-6154 or visit www.illinois.gov/KeepCool.

Area Cooling Centers Include:

Rock Island County Department of Human Services (500 42nd St. Ste. 6, 2nd Floor, in Rock Island and 4711 44th St., Suite 3, in Rock Island)

Mt. Carroll Firehouse, (318 South Clay, in Mt. Carroll - Call 815-244-5313)

River Valley District Library, (214 S Main St., in Port Byron)

Whiteside County Department of Human Services (2605 Woodlawn Rd., in Sterling)

Henry County Department of Human Services (125 West South St., in Kewanee)

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SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has made appointments to the Illinois Workforce Investment Board, the State University Retirement Board, the Medical Disciplinary Board, the Medical District Commission, and the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.

 

Name: Angela Mason

Position: Board Member - Illinois Workforce Investment Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Angela Mason to Illinois Workforce Investment Board. She brings more than 11 years of management and leadership experience to the board.

Currently, Mason works as the Associate Vice President, Urban Agriculture/Windy City Harvest of the Chicago Botanic Garden. In this role she oversees the development and management of the program including budgeting, fundraising, staff and business development. Mason previously held two other positions with the Chicago Botanic Garden, Director of Windy City Harvest and Manager of Community Gardening.

Over the course of her career, Mason has developed and implemented effective programs across Chicagoland. She has collaborated with local, state and national government entities as well as with cultural, non-profit and educational institutions.

Mason holds a bachelor's and master's degree in soil and general agriculture from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. She lives in Chicago.

 

Name: Eloy Salazar

Position: Board Member - Illinois Workforce Investment Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Eloy Salazar to the Illinois Workforce Investment Board. He has served on the board since December 2012.

Salazar has been with the Illinois Migrant Council since 1969. Currently, he serves as the Executive Director. He is in charge of the day-to-day operations and human services program for the council. Salazar also served as an associate director, field operations director, regional director and job developer.

In addition to his role at the council, Salazar is active on a number of professional and civic boards that include : Illinois Affordable Housing Task Force, Workforce Development Board of East Central Illinois, Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies, Arden Shore Child and Family Services and Pilsen Wellness Center.

Salazar holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Illinois State University. He lives in Mundelein.

 

 

Name: Francis Idehen Jr.

Position: Board Member - State Universities Retirement Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Francis Idehen, Jr. to the State Universities Retirement Board. He brings a strong background in pension investment strategies and investment relations to the board.

Idehen is currently Vice President for Investor Relations at Exelon Corporation. At Exelon, Idehen is responsible for developing and implementing the company's strategic investor relations program. He was previously a managing director at Exelon, where he developed and executed an investment strategy of more than $3 billion in alternative investments for the company's pension plan and other retirement plans. Before coming to Exelon, Idehen was a Senior Portfolio Manager at Intel Corporation, and an Associate at Lehman Brothers.

Idehen holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Yale University and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard Business School. He lives in Chicago.

 

Name: Albert F. Tracy

Position: Board Member - Medical Disciplinary Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Albert F. Tracy to the Medical Disciplinary Board. He brings more than a decade of health service investigation and close to 30 years of tax law enforcement experience to the board.

Tracy currently serves as a health service investigator for the State of Illinois, a position he has held since 2002. Before working for the State of Illinois, Tracy worked for almost 30 years as a special agent for the Internal Revenue Service, ensuring that the tax code was properly enforced.

Tracy is also President of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 9F, and is a member of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, The Illinois Police Association and the Federal Criminal Investigator's Association.

Tracy holds a degree in education from Chicago State University. He resides in Spring Grove.

 

 

Name: George Bilicic

Position: Member - Illinois Medical District Commission

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed George Bilicic to the Illinois Medical District Commission. His experience in finance and investment banking makes him an asset to the commission.

Bilicic is currently the Vice President of Investment Banking at Lazard and oversees the company's banking efforts in the areas of power, energy and infrastructure. He also serves on the firm's Investment Banking Committee. He has worked for Lazard since 2002, except for a few months spent at the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. He also spent a year at Merrill Lynch from 2001-2002.

Prior to his work in banking, Bilicic was a partner at the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore. He joined the firm as an associate in 1989, and his practice focused on mergers and acquisitions.

Bilicic earned his bachelor's degree from DeSales University and his law degree from Georgetown University. He lives in Chicago.

 

Name: Connie Beard

Position: Chairman - Illinois Liquor Control Commission

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed the Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) to lead the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC). Beard will do this in conjunction with her duties as Director of IDOR, and will forego any compensation related to her role as chairman. The ILCC is already under the purview of IDOR, and work very closely together. Having Beard serve as the head of both will save taxpayers money, and will help both agencies work together more efficiently.

Beard joined the administration in January, bringing more than 30 years of experience in state and local taxes to the position. From 1997 to 2015 she was the Executive Director for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Tax Institute. Prior to that, Beard worked for IDOR under Governors Thompson, Edgar and Ryan. She held a number of positions, rising to the position of Deputy General Counsel.

Beard is a licensed attorney, earning her law degree from the University of Illinois. She earned her bachelor's degree in sociology from Eastern Illinois University. Beard currently resides in Jacksonville.

 

 

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