16 Jan 2015

AIM to Serve Entrepreneurial Start Ups through SPN Integration

By Cara Eccleston

AIM is a not-for-profit community based organization that promotes technology to empower people, enhance organizations and create brilliant communities. AIM is pleased to announce that Silicon Prairie News and Big Omaha have been added as services of our organization to continue the brilliant community impact that the Silicon Prairie News website and events like Big Omaha have had on our startup community for the past six years. AIM's goal is to enhance this value to markets in Omaha, Lincoln, Kansas City, and Greater Nebraska. Recognized for events such as Big Omaha, the Silicon Prairie Awards, and the Startup Job Crawl, Silicon Prairie News is a digital media company devoted to entrepreneurs and tech startups in its communities.

For AIM, this is an opportunity to better serve the local entrepreneurial and startup community and to expand its mission and impact. Headquartered in the heart of downtown Omaha with various satellite locations throughout the Midwest, AIM is a social enterprise that promotes technology to build brilliant communities. Through community engagement, AIM promotes early interest and skills in Information Technology (IT), links graduates and working professionals with IT opportunities in the community, and offers ongoing career development for IT leaders.

Dedicated to providing support and recognition to the local startup community, SPN embraces this opportunity to join an organization like AIM that can "provide the leadership and resources to grow SPN in a way that serves the ever changing needs of the Silicon Prairie startup community for many years to come." (SPN acquired by AIM Institute, Dusty Davidson) AIM and SPN look forward to collaboratively enhancing your IT and startup community.

16 Jan 2015

Samuel Cunningham is named to the Morningside College Dean's List

By Jenny Welp

SIOUX CITY, IA (01/15/2015)(readMedia)-- Samuel Cunningham, son of Dawn Cunningham of Bettendorf, Iowa, was named to the Dean's List at Morningside College for the 2014 fall semester.

Each semester the Dean's List recognizes students who achieve a 3.67 grade point average or better and complete at least 12 credits of coursework with no grade below a "C-." William C. Deeds, provost at the college, recently released the Dean's List for the fall semester, and each student received a letter of recognition.

Morningside College is a small, private college in Sioux City, Iowa, that offers bachelor's degrees in a variety of disciplines, and graduate programs in education and nursing. For more information about Morningside College, visit the college's website at www.morningside.edu.

16 Jan 2015

Upper Iowa University announces Fall 2014 Dean's List

By Monica Bayer Heaton

FAYETTE, IA (01/15/2015)(readMedia)-- Upper Iowa University announces the Dean's List for the Fall semester 2014. To be honored, a student must have earned a minimum 3.50 grade point average for the semester and be enrolled as a full-time student.

Colbey Vance of Port Byron, IL, attending the UIU Fayette Campus location.

Kelly Gillespie of Muscatine, IA, attending the UIU Nursing-Online location.

Shaneika Allbritton of Davenport, IA, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Julian Conner of Rock Island, IL, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Shawn Cotton of LeClaire, IA, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Elizabeth Guy of Le Claire, IA, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Andrew Jensen of Le Claire, IA, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Ram Marme of DeWitt, IA, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Jennifer McKinley of Rock Island, IL, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Britta Ogden of Bettendorf, IA, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Allison O'Hara of Bettendorf, IA, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Terri Pennings of Bettendorf, IA, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Nicholas Pillard of Davenport, IA, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Vanessa Van Pelt of Bettendorf, IA, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Jeffery Weller of Davenport, IA, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Brittney Williams of Rock Island, IL, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Jamie Williams of Bettendorf, IA, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

Travis Zurcher of Moline, IL, attending the UIU Quad Cities location.

About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 5,800 students-nationally and internationally-at its Fayette campus, 25 U.S. education centers, as well as centers in Malaysia and Hong Kong. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and self-paced degree programs. With a focus on developing leaders and lifelong learners, UIU provides dual enrollment programs for high school students as well as continuing education and professional development opportunities for learners of any age. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.

16 Jan 2015

Niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr to Join Concerned Women for America of Iowa on Jan. 19, 2015 - Martin Luther King, Jr Day

By Denise Bubeck

DES MOINES, IA - Concerned Women for America of Iowa is excited to partner with area leaders to host Dr. Alveda King at "Restoring the Dream - Shaping the Future" on January 19, 2015, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, at North High School Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. Alveda King is the niece of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and daughter of civil rights activist Rev. A.D. King and his wife Naomi Barber King. She is the full time Pastoral Associate of African American Outreach for the Roman Catholic pro-life group, Priests for Life, and once served as a Senior Fellow at the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution, a conservative Washington, D.C. think-tank. She is a former member of the Georgia House of Representatives and the founder of King for America. Dr. Alveda King will discuss her new book, King Rules.

Concerned Women for America of Iowa State Director Tamara Scott released this statement:

"We are honored Dr. King offered to spend Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with us in Iowa. We've invited several groups to join us to impart a message of peace and a desire to make our communities safe. As children of the same Creator, we're building bridges, not barriers, and shaping our future by restoring the dream."

The event is free and open to the public. Members of the media are invited to attend.

Date: Monday Jan. 19, 2015

Location: North High School Auditorium

501 Holcomb Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50313

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Cost: FREE

CWA of Iowa is also hosting a breakfast on January 20, 2015 with Dr. Alveda King titled "King Rules" Breakfast, promoting her new book King Rules.

Date: Tuesday Jan. 20, 2015

Location: Airport Holiday Inn & Conference Center

6111 Fleur Drive Des Moines, IA 50321

Time: 7:30 a.m.
Cost: $25
RSVP: Eventbrite

For an interview with Tamara Scott or Dr. Alveda King please contact Denise Bubeck at

(515)-259-0087 or director@iowa.cwfa.org. See more at: http://www.cwfa.org/states/iowa/

Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee is the legislative arm of Concerned Women for America, the nation's largest public policy women's organization with 500,000 participating members across the country, over 450 Prayer/Action Chapters and Home Teams, 600 trained leaders, and over 30 years of service to our nation. For more information visit www.concernedwomen.org

 

16 Jan 2015

Higher Protein Content Boosts Value of Crop

By United Soybean Board

ST. LOUIS (Jan. 15, 2015) - Farmers have often heard that higher-quality soybeans could generate more value. Now, a new soy-checkoff-funded study shows how much more.

The price of soybeans is driven by the combined value of soybean meal, oil and hulls, a measurement known as the estimated processed value (EPV). The study, conducted by Centrec Consulting Group LLC, shows how EPV increases when farmers raise the protein content in their soybeans. In fact, increasing protein content by 1 percentage point, when yield and oil levels remain the same, increases a crop's value per acre.

"Higher-quality soybean meal is a win-win for both the soybean farmer and livestock and poultry producers," says Laura Foell, chair of the United Soybean Board's Meal Action Team and a soybean farmer from Schaller, Iowa. "Farmers can provide animal ag with the quality of feed the industry demands, and the value farmers get in return will rise." 

The checkoff conducted the study in 13 states where EPV increased by between $7.70 and $12.96 per acre, depending on the state. The state-by-state increases are as follows:

•    Illinois: $11.16
•    Indiana: $10.62
•    Iowa: $12.33
•    Kansas: $7.70
•    Kentucky: $10.00
•    Michigan: $8.83
•    Minnesota: $12.43
•    Missouri: $9.07
•    Nebraska: $12.96
•    North Dakota: $10.81
•    Ohio: $9.25
•    South Dakota: $11.35
•    Wisconsin: $11.26

Farmers in regions with higher-quality soybeans receive better prices than those in areas with lower protein content. That is because higher-quality soybeans create more demand. That brings processors more value and allows them to pay more to farmers. Seed selection is the key to growing soybeans that are high in quality. Farmers should ask their seed dealer or visit www.GrowSoybeanValue.com to find varieties that will produce greater protein without sacrificing yield.

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

###

16 Jan 2015

Parenting Successful Kids

By Amanda Heitz

We all want to be the parents of successful children!  Iowa State University Extension of Scott County with support from Scott County Kids, is sponsoring a parenting support and education program called, Parenting Successful Kids.  This is a year-long parent education effort for Scott County residents, that offers monthly programs designed specifically to offer research-based information about common questions and struggles of families with children kindergarten through fifth grade. Many topics are applicable to families with younger and older children.

Certified Family Life Educator and course instructor, Jennifer Best says "Parenting is the most important job we will ever have.  It is also the toughest!  Our society sends parents the message that when we have a child, we will magically know the right things to do. Then when parents have questions or challenges, they feel as if they are doing something wrong, or are bad parents. This is very unfortunate! Nobody knows how to parent just because they have a child, just like nobody knows how to drive just because they get a car. We all have to learn. Parenting is hard and our kids go through stages that are not always very much fun. The good news is, we can help each other. There is great research available that helps us make good parenting decisions."

Each parent session will begin with a free meal. To help parents attend, their babysitter for the evening will be reimbursed $25.00. In addition, parents will leave each session with an implementation material to help them put what they learned into action. Parents who attend five of the ten sessions within the year, will receive $50 worth of items of their choice!

To find out more about this series, including topics, dates, times and locations, visit the Iowa State University Extension, Scott County office online at www.extension.iastate.edu/scott. For more information or to register, call 563-359-7577 or e-mail themasa@iastate.edu.

-30-

16 Jan 2015

The Spy Who Killed Me, The Old Creamery's Comic Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Opens February 13 at the Cedar Rapids Clarion!

By Rick Martin

The Spy Who Killed Me, opens February 13 and runs through March 28 at the Cedar Rapids Clarion Hotel and Convention Center. Opening night is Friday, February 13. Shows are on Saturdays, February 14, 21, and 28, and March 7, 14, 21, and 28. Seating starts at 6 p.m.; show at 6:30 p.m. New this year? two matinees on March 21 and March 28 with seating starting at noon and the show time at 12:30 p.m.

When secret agent Jacob Seal gets an urgent call from his Agency, this comic murder mystery is off to a running start!  When faced with a lethal henchman, double agents, and a chicken pluckers' convention, will Seal be able to find Dr. Doom and stop his evil plan before it's too late?  Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us for hilarious antics and great food, while you help us catch a criminal master mind. The Spy Who Killed Me is written by James Daab.

Cast includes Keegan Christopher, Katie Colletta, Jeff Haffner, Mike Long, Jackie McCall, and Sean McCall. Directed by Sean McCall.

Tickets are $50 for dinner and the show. Includes all tax and gratuity. The Media Sponsor is Z102.9. The Spy Who Killed Me is Rated PG. Call the box office for tickets and information 319-622-6262 or order tickets online at www.oldcreamery.com.

The Old Creamery Theatre is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. In 2015, the company will be celebrating 44 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.
16 Jan 2015

Monica Vernon Launches Congressional Campaign

By Brenda Kole
CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids City Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tempore Monica Vernon today announced her candidacy for Congress in Iowa's First District. Vernon, who distinguished herself by leading and coordinating flood recovery efforts in Cedar Rapids in 2008 as well as leading the charge to build a shelter for homeless women and children, has a long record of accomplishment and problem-solving for Northeast Iowans.
For more information visit: www.monicavernonforcongress.com
"Northeast Iowans deserve a representative in Congress with a track record of solving problems and getting results for families and small businesses across our community. That's why I'm excited to announce my candidacy," Vernon said. "I'm proud of my work growing a small business, helping local communities recover from a devastating flood and working to create jobs, increase access to affordable housing and improve education for students in our district."
Having built a business from her kitchen table, Monica is a working mom who understands that the deck is stacked against the middle class.  And it's why she is running for congress. Monica Vernon will work across the aisle to protect Social Security and Medicare, create good paying jobs for Iowans and give everyone a fair shake.
In addition to her eight years on the Cedar Rapids City Council, as the President and Founder of her own market research firm, Monica has a first-hand understanding of the needs of Northeast Iowa's small businesses and workforce, and she'll take that experience to Congress to support the creation of local jobs.
For additional inquiries please contact Brenda Kole at brenda.kole@gmail.com or 515-710-2117.
Monica Vernon is a Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Iowa's First Congressional District. A life-long Iowan and working mom, Vernon is a leader dedicated to putting the people of Iowa first.
16 Jan 2015

Reserve a Valentine's Day Dinner at Modern Woodmen Park Feb. 13 & 14

By Robert Jackson Jr.
For the fifth year in a row, Quad Cities-area couples seeking a uniquely romantic setting and dining experience this Valentine's Day weekend can make their reservations for a Valentine's Day Dinner in the private luxury suites or Budweiser Champions Club at the award-winning Modern Woodmen Park. Click for the 2015 Valentine's Day Dinner order form.
16 Jan 2015

Business Leaders Brief Administration on Senior Administration on International Trade Policy

By Rachel Harvey
Senior Administration officials gather input from business leaders on how international trade policies affect businesses' bottom lines.

Washington, D.C. - While negotiations for several international trade agreements are in progress, business leaders, including Michael Lassner, President of Allied Steel Buildings in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will meet with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Robert Holleyman, and other senior administration officials yesterday to discuss how international trade policy affects their businesses.

"One of the best opportunities to create economic growth at home is to sell American goods and services to the 95 percent of global consumers who live outside our borders," said Secretary Pritzker. "In 2013, the U.S. achieved $2.3 trillion in exports, more than any other time in history, which supported 11.3 million American jobs. To give our businesses access to more markets and more customers, America must continue leading the world in negotiating high-standard trade agreements that reflect our values and set the rules for trade in the 21st century."

At a roundtable organized by the White House Business Council and Business Forward, the discussion will focus on the importance of government and businesses working together to help more American companies reach more international markets.

"Under President Obama's leadership, the U.S. is spearheading the most significant trade agenda in history," said Deputy USTR Holleyman. "I always appreciate the opportunity to hear directly from business leaders who are affected by international trade policies. By helping our businesses sell more exports abroad, United States trade policy can unlock opportunity, support well-paying jobs, and strengthen our middle class."

The discussion will touch on two significant trade agreements that the Administration is currently negotiating: the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with countries in the Asia-Pacific region and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) with members of the European Union. These agreements would boost American competitiveness and help U.S. businesses access more markets abroad.

"Exporting helps companies like ours to expand beyond our borders, offering our products to a wider customer base. As a result we continue to hire more employees to address this growing demand. This practice also helps us to learn and improve our services both nationally and internationally," said Lassner. "It was extremely valuable to have the opportunity to brief the Obama Administration on ways international trade policy can better support Allied Steel Buildings and other's international business activities."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 300,000 U.S. companies export their goods to international markets. Businesses that do export grow faster and are 8 percent less likely to declare bankruptcy than those that do not export.

About Business Forward

With the help of more than 50 of the world's most respected companies, Business Forward is making it easier for tens of thousands of business leaders from across America to advise Washington on how to create jobs and accelerate our economy. Business Forward is active in more than 100 cities and works with more than 450 senior Administration officials, Members of Congress, governors, and mayors.

To date, the organization has also brought more than 3,000 business leaders to the White House to brief the President's economic advisors. Business leaders who have participated in these briefings have seen their suggestions implemented in the Affordable Care Act, the Jobs Act, three trade agreements, and every one of the President's budgets. Many have also shared their recommendations with their representatives in Congress and through op-eds and interviews with local media. Ninety-eight out of 100 business leaders who have participated in a Business Forward briefing would be interested in participating in another one. For more information please visit www.BusinessFWD.org.

About Allied Steel Buildings

Allied Steel Buildings, is a recognized leading supplier of high-quality pre-engineered steel buildings and metal building systems. In its more than ten years of experience, the company has developed almost 4.000 different steel projects all over the world, delivering building solutions for diverse industries, from aviation to equestrian. One customer and one building at a time.

Pages

more

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.

 
 

Meetings Calendar

Kids Calendar

Eat & Drink Calendar