Thursday starts with a bang, with two performances of the Mad Mixtures Science and Nature Show. Free shows will be offered July 16 at 10:00 am at the Main Library, 401 19th Street, and at 1:00 pm at the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. Presented by Jason Dornbush, outreach coordinator of  the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium in Waterloo, the Mad Mixtures show is the best of the center's Super Cold, Combustion, Snakes Alive, and Kitchen Science presentations. With chances to pet a live python to hands-on science experiments involving liquid nitrogen, flash powder and paper, and everyday materials found in your kitchen, Mad Mixtures offers learning fun for students of all ages.

On Thursday night, teens ages 12 to 18 can try their hand at Melted Crayon Art, with a free craft class offered at 6:00 pm at the Rock Island 30/31 Branch, 3059 30th Street. Teens will create unique works of art using melted crayons, so participants should wear old clothing. Creativity is messy! No RSVPs are required for the teens-only event.

Thursday also offers an opportunity for adults to get a little help figuring out to check out free eBooks on their tablets, computers and eReader devices. The library will offer a free class on downloading OverDrive eBooks at 6:00 pm on July 16 at the downtown Main Library, 401 19th Street.  Participants who want to try downloading eBooks should bring their device and library card along.

Friday marks a number of events for children at the Main Library, including a toddler storytime on "Heroes at School" at 10:30 am, and the final Read with Rover  time at 11:00 am. Both events are in the library's Children's Room. Read with Rover brings in therapy dogs from the QC Canine Assistance Network, who provide a warm, non-judgmental audience for kids'  reading practice. Read with Rover is open to kids of all ages.

At 12:30 pm, the library will hold a superheroes costume parade to provide kids with one last chance to wear their capes and masks. The parade will be immediately followed at 1:00 pm by a free family movie featuring a certain superhero who lives in a pineapple under the sea. Both events are in the Community Room of the Main Library.

The superhero theme wraps up with a superhero treat box family craft on Saturday at the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. The craft starts at 10 am, and reservations are required. To sign up for either the Saturday session or an earlier program on Tuesday, July 14, call 309-732-7338 or select "register" on the library's online calendar.

Entries for library's Every Hero Has a Story contests for children and Escape the Ordinary teen and adult reading contests are due by 5:00 pm, Saturday, July 18. Grand prizes will be drawn following the close of the program, with winners notified by phone or email.

While superhero summer reading contests may be ending, summer events go on through August. For more information about Rock Island Library programs, visit the library's online branch at www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-READ, or follow the library on Facebook or Twitter.

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Founded in 1872, the Rock Island Public Library provides resources to enhance personal achievement and stimulate through the Main, 30/31 and Southwest Branches, community outreach efforts, and online opportunities.

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of Dr. Robert Johansson as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Chief Economist, effective July 12. Dr. Johansson has served as USDA's acting chief economist since Jan. 3, 2014, and as Deputy Chief Economist since 2012. He joined USDA in 2001.

"I am pleased that Dr. Johansson's leadership will continue to guide informed decision making at USDA to benefit American agriculture," said Vilsack. "Dr. Johansson is highly respected for his analysis and experienced insight, and extremely well prepared for the demands of this position."

As Chief Economist, Dr. Johansson is responsible for USDA's agricultural forecasts and projections and for advising the Secretary of Agriculture on economic implications of programs, regulations, and legislative proposals. His responsibilities include the Office of the Chief Economist, the World Agricultural Outlook Board, the Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit analysis, the Global Change Program Office, and the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. He also serves as Chairman of the Federal Crop Insurance Board of Directors.

During his federal career, Dr. Johansson also worked as an economist at USDA's Economic Research Service, as well as in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget, and at the Congressional Budget Office. In 2011, he was appointed senior economist for energy, environment, and agriculture on the President's Council of Economic Advisers where he also participated on the White House Rural Council and the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

Dr. Johansson holds a Ph.D. and a master's degree in agricultural economics from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Northwestern University. He served with the U.S. Peace Corps from 1990 to 1995 as an extension agent in Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. His research has spanned a wide range of issues, including biofuels policy, water quality and quantity policies, regulatory economics, food security, and regional modeling of agricultural systems.

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DAVENPORT, Iowa -- July 10, 2015 -- Over the years, land at 10th and Gaines Streets in central Davenport has had at least a few names. On the good days it is called Goose Hollow. Other days it is called by a less-affectionate name, and referred to simply as "The Pit."

Until 2001, Goose Hollow was home to the Davenport Central High School tennis teams.  Central needed facilities closer to the school and decided to build courts directly across Harrison Street from the high school.  While the school district continued to maintain the Goose Hollow property for the next decade, liability issues and the burden of maintenance became too much for the district. The City of Davenport acquired the property in 2013.

The city now is working to improve the property.

The first improvement that the city is making is fixing a highly eroded slope on the east side of the property. This slope presents a safety issue to those walking or driving along Gaines Street. To fix this slope, the city will use approved fill consisting of soil, brick, and broken concrete to recreate the slope.

The fill is coming from Genesis Health System, which is working on a $138.5 million expansion and renovation of the hospital campus of 1227 E. Rusholme Street.

According to Ken Croken, Genesis Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations, Genesis will be providing the City of Davenport with 25,000 cubic yards of fill.

"That is enough to fill six-and-a-half Olympic-sized swimming pools,'' Croken said.

Once the slope is completed, it will be topped with clean soil and planted with native vegetation to provide a prairie-style ground cover.

"Genesis is thrilled these materials from the Campus Optimization Project can be recycled and put to such good use for our city and our neighbors," Croken added.