BANDITS SILENCE SNAPPERS FOR 12TH STRAIGHT WIN

Quad Cities extends pro baseball's longest active winning streak and moves baseball's best record to 25-6

DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 11, 2015) - Designated hitter Sean McMullen came within a single of the cycle, and right-hander Daniel Mengden ran his personal scoreless streak to 21 innings with six shutout frames, as the Quad Cities River Bandits won their 12th straight game - to extend what is believed to be the franchise's longest winning streak in 36 seasons - with an 8-0 triumph over the Beloit Snappers in front of 1,833 at Modern Woodmen Park Monday night.

The River Bandits (25-6) continued their hold on the best record in professional baseball this season with their third shutout - all of which have come during the team's 12-game winning streak that is believed to be the longest for the Midwest League franchise since the Quad City Cubs won their final 13 regular season games in 1979. Mengden has started all three shutouts and has the longest individual scoreless streak by a River Bandits pitcher since Dean Kiekhefer was not charged with a run in his final 24 1/3 innings of the 2011 regular season.

Mengden (3-1) started the game by retiring the first six Beloit batters, and Quad Cities gave him a lead in the second inning against right-hander Daniel Gossett (1-4). Second baseman Mott Hyde hit a one-out single to down the first-base line and scored when McMullen hit a line drive to right field that skipped past a diving Shawn Duinkerk for an RBI triple.

With a 1-0 lead, Mengden allowed his first baserunners in the third inning, as Snappers left fielder Max Kuhn drew a leadoff walk, and center fielder James Harris drew a two-out walk. Second baseman Trent Gilbert hit a sharp line drive down the third-base line, where third baseman Nick Tanielu's dive stopped the ball from reaching the outfield and kept Kuhn at third base. With the bases loaded, Mengden got shortstop Yairo Munoz to ground into an inning-ending fielder's choice.

Beloit (13-18) never put the tying run in scoring position for the rest of the game, as Kuhn was caught stealing at second base following a leadoff single in the fifth, and Harris was erased on a double play after a leadoff walk in the sixth. Mengden pitched six shutout innings for a second straight start, yielded two hits and a career-high three walks, and struck out three batters.

The River Bandits widened their lead and chased Gossett in the fifth inning. McMullen hit a leadoff double to left-center field and reached third base on a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Jason Martin. Gossett fielded the bunt and threw toward first base, but the ball struck Martin's back, and the latter reached first base safely, while McMullen scored. Martin then stole second base, before shortstop Thomas Lindauer walked, and right fielder Bobby Boyd sacrificed both runners into scoring position. With the infield in and an 0-2 count, first baseman Jamie Ritchie lined a two-run single to right-center field to make it 4-0. Gossett then walked center fielder Derek Fisher and was removed after 4 1/3 innings, in which he allowed four runs - three earned - on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

Relieving Gossett, right-hander Carlos Navas worked 1 2/3 innings with four strikeouts but allowed McMullen's home run to the Built Ford Tough Deck in the sixth inning that made it 5-0. Quad Cities added its final three runs in the seventh inning against left-hander Mike Fagan. Ritchie drew a leadoff walk, and Fisher extended his team season-high 10-game hitting streak with an RBI double to left-center field. Hyde hit one-out double past a stumbling Duinkerk in right field, and Tanielu singled to left field to bring in Hyde for an 8-0 lead.

Following Mengden, right-hander Keegan Yuhl struck out five batters in two scoreless innings, and right-hander Jose Montero worked around two walks and a dropped popup for a scoreless ninth inning. The two Beloit hits Monday were the fewest Quad Cities pitchers had allowed in a game since yielding two to Kane County in Game 1 of a doubleheader April 5, 2014.

The River Bandits continue their series against Beloit at 11 a.m. Tuesday, when River Bandits right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn (2-1) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Brett Graves (1-0).

UP NEXT: Book Buddies reading program participants will get to see the 11 a.m. game on a Dew-for-Twosday presented by Pepsi, WOC, and Q106.5. Regular individual tickets are buy-one-get-one free, and anyone who brings an empty Mountain Dew can to the box office can exchange it for a free 16 oz. Mountain Dew voucher. 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.

NOTTINGHAM BLASTS BANDITS TO 11TH STRAIGHT WIN

The longest active winning streak in baseball is believed to be the Midwest League franchise's best since 1979

DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 9, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits catcher Jacob Nottingham hit a three-run home run and a two-run triple Saturday night to help his team to a 6-3 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for Quad Cities' 11th straight victory - the longest active streak in professional baseball and believed to be the longest for the franchise since 1979 - in front of 4,229 at Modern Woodmen Park.

With the best start for the franchise in more than 30 years, the 24-6 River Bandits have the best record in affiliated professional baseball through Saturday, and won six games in nine days against Wisconsin (8-22), which has dropped its last nine games overall.

River Bandits right-hander Austin Chrismon (4-1), who earned the win April 29 in the first game of Quad Cities' current streak, won for the third time in 11 days, after allowing one earned run on five hits and no walks with five strikeouts. However, he allowed Wisconsin to take the game's first lead in the second inning, as designated hitter David Denson hit a two-out double to the center field warning track, and right fielder Elvis Rubio hit an RBI double to the left-center field gap for a 1-0 Timber Rattlers lead. Chrismon then worked around three hits in the next three innings to pitch five innings for a fourth consecutive start.

Against Wisconsin right-hander Milton Gomez (1-2), the River Bandits had two hits but no runs through two innings, but they took the lead for good in the third inning. Right fielder Bobby Boyd hit a one-out chopper over the pitcher's mound for an infield single and went to third base on a two-out single to center field by center fielder Derek Fisher. Nottingham then hit the very next pitch from Gomez to the Miller Lite Party Deck in right-center field for a 3-1 lead on his team's first home run in nine May games and his fifth home run of the season.

Chrismon kept the 3-1 lead until left-hander Reymin Guduan began the top of the sixth inning. Guduan worked around a hit batter in the sixth inning, but Wisconsin did tally a run in the seventh. Denson led off with a double to right field and went to third base on a groundout by Rubio before a two-out wild pitch on a strikeout of left fielder Mitch Meyer allowed Denson to score, trimming the River Bandits' lead to 3-2. With the tying run at first base, Guduan got second baseman Francisco Castillo to fly out to left field. Guduan was charged with one earned run on one hit and no walks with two strikeouts in two innings.

For Wisconsin, Gomez lasted 5 2/3 innings, and left-hander Tyler Linehan recorded the final out in the sixth inning, before left-hander Luis Ortega began the bottom of the seventh with a 3-2 deficit. The first four batters of the inning all bunted. Left fielder Jason Martin placed a bunt single down the first-base line, and shortstop Kristian Trompiz sacrificed him to second base. Boyd then put a bunt single to the third-base side of the grass in front of home plate. With runners at first and third bases, second baseman Mott Hyde bunted to the first-base side of the pitcher's mound and beat the through from Ortega for an RBI single. With runners at first and second bases, Fisher struck out, but Nottingham launched his first triple since last July 14 to right-center field to score Boyd and Hyde for a 6-2 River Bandits lead. Ortega went on to finish two innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Nottingham matched a career high with five RBIs and was the first River Bandit with a five-RBI game since Brian Holberton had five RBIs at Kane County on May 18, 2014.

River Bandits right-hander Ryan Thompson began the eighth inning with a four-run lead and worked around a one-out walk and single for a scoreless eighth inning. In the ninth, Timber Rattlers shortstop Gregory Munoz grounded a one-out double down the third-base line, went to third base on a groundout and scored on Castillo's RBI infield single toward second base. But Thompson struck out center fielder Brandon Diaz for the final out of the team's third straight series sweep.

Following a Midwest League-wide off day Sunday, the River Bandits open their first scheduled four-game series against the Beloit Snappers (13-17) at 7 p.m. Monday at Modern Woodmen Park Monday. River Bandits right-hander Daniel Mengden (2-1) is scheduled to face Snappers right-hander Daniel Gossett (1-3).

BATS BACK BOSTICK; BANDITS' WIN STREAK IS 10

Quad Cities scores a season-high 11 runs and improves to 23-6 to keep the best record in baseball

DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 8, 2015) - The Quad Cities River Bandits scored four first-inning runs, and right-hander Akeem Bostick tossed five innings of one-hit, shutout baseball in his Midwest League debut to help his team to its 10th straight win with an 11-6 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in front of a season-high 4,673 at Modern Woodmen Park Friday night.

The River Bandits (23-6) maintained their hold of the best record in affiliated professional baseball this season and increased their Midwest League Western Division to 5 ½ games while posting their longest winning streak since 10 straight games April 26-May 7, 2002. Five of the wins in their current streak have come against Wisconsin (8-21), which has lost eight consecutive games.

After Bostick (1-0) began his first start for a Houston Astros minor league affiliate with a perfect top of the first inning, Quad Cities got started against Timber Rattlers right-hander David Burkhalter (0-3). Right fielder Bobby Boyd blooped a single into right-center field for his first of a game-high three hits, stole second base on the next pitch and went to third base on a flyout by catcher Jamie Ritchie. Center fielder Derek Fisher drew a walk, and third baseman Nick Tanielu flied out to right field. With runners at first and third bases, two outs and an 0-2 count, first baseman Bryan Muñiz lined a single into center field to score Boyd for the game's first run. Second baseman Alex Hernandez then drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Burkhalter worked to an 0-2 count against designated hitter Ryan Bottger, who then drove a double to the right-center field warning track to score Fisher, Muñiz and Hernandez for a 4-0 Quad Cities lead.

Bostick worked around a hit batter in the second inning to retire 10 of the first 11 batters he faced. Timber Rattlers second baseman Francisco Castillo got his team's first hit with a fourth-inning, one-out single to left-center field. Two batters later, Bostick hit designated hitter Dustin DeMuth for a second straight plate appearance before retiring the next four batters to finish five innings with one strikeout and no walks. It was the first time Bostick had not allowed a run in a game since pitching five shutout innings for a victory as a Hickory Crawdad in the Texas Rangers organization last July 3 at West Virginia in the Class-A South Atlantic League.

Burkhalter set down 10 consecutive River Bandits batters in one stretch before shortstop Kristian Trompiz led off the fifth inning with a double to left-center field. Boyd then placed a bunt single to third baseman Tucker Neuhaus, who overthrew first base to allow Trompiz to score and Boyd to reach second base. Ritchie's groundout and Fisher's RBI single scored Boyd to make it 6-0. Burkhalter was charged with six earned runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Following Bostick, right-hander Brandon McNitt made his Midwest League debut to begin the sixth inning. He kept the shutout until one out in the eighth inning, when Timber Rattlers center fielder Brandon Diaz hit a solo home run to the Modern Woodmen Berm in left field for the first Wisconsin run since Diaz homered in the first inning Thursday. With two outs, Neuhaus reached on a bunt single, and DeMuth hit a two-run home run to right-center field to cut the Quad Cities lead to 6-3.

Quad Cities added to its lead in the bottom of the eighth inning against left-hander Kodi Medeiros. Muñiz and Hernandez began the inning with consecutive walks, and after a wild pitch, both scored on a one-out single by left fielder Jason Martin. Trompiz and Boyd each singled, with the latter plating Martin to make it 9-3. Ritchie walked to load the bases, and Fisher reached on an error by first baseman David Denson to score Trompiz. Tanielu hit a sacrifice fly against right-ahnder Luke Curtis to cap the five-run inning.

With an 11-3 lead, right-hander Jose Montero started the ninth inning. Shortstop Gregory Munoz hit a leadoff double, Montero walked two batters, and errors by Hernandez and Trompiz helped score three unearned runs before Montero fanned Neuhaus to end the game.

The River Bandits seek their third straight series sweep when they host the Timber Rattlers for the series finale at 6 p.m. Saturday, when Quad Cities right-hander Austin Chrismon (3-1) is scheduled to face Wisconsin right-hander Milton Gomez (1-1).

CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has nominated James Dimas as the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services and Anna Hui as the Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Labor. He has also appointed the chairman of the Illinois Housing Development Authority

Name: James Dimas

Position: Secretary - Illinois Department of Human Services

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected James Dimas to become the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Dimas is an experienced leader in transforming human services departments at the state and local level, including Illinois. He was a primary architect in the consolidation of the current agency.

Dimas worked in a number of roles at IDHS including the Acting Director of Community Operations. He also led strategic planning and performance management, as well as, the welfare-to-work system. As the Acting Director of Community Operations he led one of the nation's most successful welfare-to-work initiatives by increasing the monthly job retention rate among TANF clients to 96 percent. He also decreased the TANF caseload and food stamp error rate. Dimas also led IDHS' move to performance-based budgeting and oversaw the transformation of using performance knowledge to improve program quality.

Dimas began working for the State of Illinois in 1995 on the Governor's Task Force on Human Services Reform under Governor Edgar. He led the development and marketing for the consolidation effort into the agency's current organizational structure. IDHS was consolidated into the state's largest agency in 1997 from seven previously separate health and social services agencies.

Currently, Dimas is the owner and CEO of Dimas Consulting, Inc. It provides performance management, and human services policy, programming and administration consulting services. He is one of two accountability agents appointed by a federal court to oversee major reforms of Georgia's child welfare system. He also has designed reform campaigns for the Chicago Housing Authority.

Dimas is a graduate of Knox College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science. He holds a master's degree from the University of Texas in public affairs. Dimas also attended Harvard University's Executive Program for government performance.

Name: Anna Hui

Position: Assistant Director - Illinois Department of Labor

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Anna Hui as the Assistant Director to the Illinois Department of Labor. She brings years of experience at the state and federal level to the position.

Hui worked for the U.S. Department of Labor from 2002-2009 as an Associate Deputy Secretary and as a special assistant to the CFO. In her role as Associate Deputy Secretary, Hui worked on outreach programs for people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and other historically underserved communities. She was also a member of the senior executive service on the management team for Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. As the special assistant to the CFO, she oversaw legislative review and proposals, the procurement process, human resource matters, accounting compliance and the CFO's activities in the Asian-Pacific American communities.

Hui is an Illinois native, and has previously worked for the State of Illinois under two governors. She worked for Governor Edgar for two years as the special assistant to the governor on Asian-American affairs. For Governor Ryan, she was a senior-member of the Washington, D.C. policy management team.

Currently, Hui is a senior adviser and policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation. She also serves as the chief of staff to former Secretary Chao. She oversees planning, preparation, research, and activities for the secretary.

Hui earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois. She holds a law degree from Loyola University of Chicago. Hui also has a master's degree in management and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Name: Joseph P. Galvan

Position: Chairman - Illinois Housing Development Authority

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Joseph P. Galvan to serve as chairman of the Illinois Housing Development Authority. He brings more than 30 years of public and private sector experience to the position.

Galvan currently serves as Principal of Galvan and Associates, LLC, which is a housing development and consulting practice located in Chicago and Washington, D.C. His prior work includes eight years at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). President George W. Bush appointed him to oversee HUD operations in the Midwest region. He was a liaison to elected officials at every level of government and oversaw a $16 billion federal budget. Under his direction, the Midwest was consistently the best performing region in the country.

Galvan's other work includes consulting with Olmeca Planning Consultants and city planning for the City of Country Club Hills, the Village of Franklin Park and the Village of Maywood.

Galvan received a bachelor's degree in economics and a graduate's degree in urban planning from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also received a graduate's degree in philosophy from Loyola University Chicago. Galvan lives in Elgin.

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Event Date: Saturday May 30^th, 2015

The Davenport Public Library's Summer Reading Program offers FREE programs for all ages all summer long! This year's Summer Reading Program runs from May 30 through August 1, and our theme is Every Hero Has a Story. Kids, teens, and adults can sign up for the Summer Reading Program at any of our three Davenport Public Library locations starting on May 30^th for a chance to win fabulous prizes, just for reading!

To get a jump start on summer, join us for our Summer Reading Program Kickoff Party on Saturday, May 30^th from 1-4 pm at the Fairmount Street Branch Library (3000 N. Fairmount Street) for tons of superhero-themed fun.  We'll be practicing smashing with our Hulk hands, planting Baby Groots, pinning the star to Captain America's shield, and more!

Local Iowa officials and activists urge Vice President Joe Biden to jump into 2016 Presidential Race

Prominent Iowa elected officials have come forward to publicly endorse the Draft Biden movement and have planned to sign onto a letter urging Vice President Joe Biden to jump into 2016 Presidential Race.

"Despite all the recent political activity and announcements regarding the presidential elections, it is exciting to see that there are people still urging Joe Biden to get into the 2016 race," said Draft Biden 2016 Executive Director Will Pierce. "Joe is busy performing his duties as the Vice President and has said publicly that he has time to make a decision. Building a base of strong support among Iowans and other key early states for a Biden candidacy will allow the Vice President to jump into the race with an infrastructure and organization already in place."

Draft Biden 2016 Executive Director Will Pierce visited Iowa last month to meet with local officials, activists, and media. As a result of the meetings, prominent Iowa elected officials have come forward to publicly endorse the Draft Biden movement and have planned to sign onto a letter urging Vice President Joe Biden to jump into 2016 Presidential Race.

Headlining the list of initial endorsers include State Senator Tony Bisignano (17th District), State Representative Jim Lykam (89th District), State Representative Mary A. Gaskill (81st District), and Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz.

Excerpts from the letter that will be sent on behalf of the elected officials urging Vice President Biden to run for the Democratic presidential ticket in 2016:

"Everything you and President Barack Obama have done for this country during the last two terms will be on the line. Will we continue the great work that has been done or let this country take a sharp turn onto the wrong path? There are so many accomplishments and yet so much left to be done."

"We also believe that we hold elections in this country, not coronations. No candidate is "inevitable;" Democratic primary voters deserve a choice. All voters deserve a choice."

"We as elected officials, organizers and leaders of the great state of Iowa, are strongly endorsing the efforts of Draft Biden 2016 and urging you to enter the 2016 Presidential Race."

Local supporter of the Draft Biden 2016 movement and Regional Field Organizer on Vice President Biden's 2008 Presidential campaign, Sharon Holle of Davenport, IA, highlighted the strong relationship the Vice President enjoys with Iowans, "Since the 2008 election, Vice President Biden has kept in touch with his 2008 campaign staff.  Each time that he comes to Iowa he makes sure that he gets to see us in person; he calls us his family."

Holle further articulated the growing anticipation for his announcement, "Now it's 2015 and another Presidential election is near. Every one of our 2008 Biden staffers continue to wait for his announcement and are anxious to open a new Biden for President office when he does. There are thousands of Iowa volunteers and counting who can't wait to get to work for Joe, he just needs to announce."

With Iowa being the first true test of a candidate's organization and support, Draft Biden will soon have Iowa staff and a field office up and running within the next month.  Draft Biden's Executive Director, Will Pierce, also attended the South Carolina Democratic Convention last month as well as the South Carolina Jefferson-Jackson dinner the night before with base-building already underway in the "First in the South" primary state.