IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - According to a survey from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2.1 billion people - almost 30 percent of Earth's population - are either overweight or obese. America's population includes 78 million obese adults, and nearly 30 percent of U.S. children and teens are either overweight or obese.

"Obesity has become a global epidemic," said Dana VanGilder, General Manager of Fitness Xpress, a locally owned fitness club with locations in Davenport, Moline, and Iowa City. "At Fitness Xpress, we offer the Project 10 Challenge to help people in our communities to develop healthier lifestyles and slim down."

Visitors can register for the Project 10 Challenge at the Fitness Xpress website, www.fx247.com. This fitness and weight-loss program features an effective mix of exercise and eating right. Fitness Xpress has partnered with ViSalus Sciences, developers of Project 10, to provide clients with Vi-Shape, a high-protein shake mix which is integral to the program. ViSalus Sciences is a healthy lifestyle company which has developed a platform for achieving weight-loss and fitness results by encouraging participants to concentrate on losing just 10 pounds at a time.

Fitness Xpress will be part of ViSalus' upcoming World's Largest Simultaneous Group Workout. "We're working on setting a Guinness World Record," VanGilder said. "People in 11 countries will be participating." The event will be held at 11:45 a.m., Saturday, January 3. Local sites for the event will be the three Fitness Xpress locations:

109 East 50th Street, Davenport, IA 52806, 563-386-2348

More than 12,000 students graduate at ASU spring commencement

TEMPE, AZ (01/01/2015)(readMedia)-- More than 12,000 ASU undergraduate and graduate students had their degrees conferred at the May commencement ceremonies.

The following local students were awarded diplomas from Arizona State University:

Samuel Russell of Bettendorf, IA

Linda Taylor of Bettendorf, IA

ASU announces Fall 2014 Dean's List

TEMPE, AZ (12/31/2014)(readMedia)-- Undergraduate students who earn 12 or more graded semester hours during a semester in residence at ASU with a GPA of 3.50 or higher are eligible for the Dean's List. A notation regarding Dean's List achievement appears on the unofficial transcript.

The following local students were named to the Fall 2014 Dean's List at Arizona State University:

Aaron Betczynski of Geneseo, IL

Destini Goodwin of Davenport, IA

Mikala Malmgren of Bettendorf, IA

Hannah Mcatee of Davenport, IA

William Murphy of Davenport, IA

ASU announces Spring 2014 Dean's List

TEMPE, AZ (12/31/2014)(readMedia)-- Undergraduate students who earn 12 or more graded semester hours during a semester in residence at ASU with a GPA of 3.50 or higher are eligible for the Dean's List. A notation regarding Dean's List achievement appears on the unofficial transcript.

The following local students received academic honors from Arizona State University by making the University's Dean's List for the Spring 2014 semester:

Hannah Mcatee, a Davenport, IA native.

Linda Taylor, a Bettendorf, IA native.

Arizona State University is a New American University-a major public educational institution, a premier research center and a leader in innovation. Our vision is described by our three core principles: excellence in scholarship, access to education and impact in our global community. As a New American University, ASU is intellectually vibrant, socially conscious and globally engaged.

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: SB 649

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Extends the sunset of the Medical Practice Act to December 31, 2015.

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 803

An Act Concerning: Children

Amends the implementation date of the "differential response program."

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 1740

An Act Concerning: Revenue

Makes changes needed to implement a law enacting penalties for erroneous homestead exemptions in Cook County.

Action: Signed

Effective: Jan. 1, 2015

 

Bill No.: SB 2887

An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits

Makes changes to the return to work policy for certain university employees.

Action: Signed

Effective: June 1, 2015

 

Bill No.: SB 2992

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Creates a partial exemption for positions within the Department of Juvenile Justice that require licensure with the State Board of Education.

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediately

 

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Eighty Percent of Illinois Enrollees are Eligible for Financial Assistance

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced that more than 121,000 people have enrolled or re-enrolled in a healthcare plan in the first month of enrollment for the second year of Get Covered Illinois (GCI). The strong start for year two means that approximately 800,000 people in Illinois have obtained coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) either through the private plans offered through the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace or the expanded Medicaid program. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure that all people have access to quality healthcare and improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Illinois.

"In the past 14 months, we have been able to help 800,000 people enroll in health coverage through Get Covered Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "Expanding health coverage to more families has strengthened Illinois' comeback. For all of those who have taken advantage of this historic opportunity, it means better health and financial stability, which are instrumental to a healthy family and a healthy state."

According to a report released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 121,243 people in Illinois selected plans through the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace leading up to the December 15 deadline for coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2015.

About 80 percent of Illinois residents who selected health insurance plans in the first month of open enrollment were determined eligible for financial assistance to lower their monthly premiums, compared to 73 percent who selected plans over a similar period last year. Of the 121,243 Illinoisans who selected a plan, 46 percent re-enrolled in a Marketplace plan in 2015 and 54 percent signed up for the first time.

"We're pleased that in Illinois 121,243 people signed up for Marketplace coverage during the first month of open enrollment. The vast majority were able to lower their costs even further by getting tax credits, making a difference in the bottom lines of so many families," HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said. "Interest in the Marketplace has been strong during the first month of open enrollment. We still have a ways to go and a lot of work to do before February 15, but this is an encouraging start."

In year one of the Marketplace, 217,000 people enrolled in a private healthcare plan. In addition, to date, more than 536,000 have enrolled in the expanded Medicaid program under the ACA.

Get Covered Illinois has a made an aggressive push to start to the second enrollment season with more than 500 enrollment events and extended enrollment hours across the state.

"Year two of Open Enrollment is off to a successful start. These first month's results show that Get Covered Illinois' outreach and education efforts are making an impact," GCI Executive Director Jennifer Koehler said. "In fact, we enrolled more people in the first 30 days of this round of open enrollment than we did in the first 90 days last year. As pleased as we are with our progress, we know there are still tens of thousands of uninsured residents in Illinois, and our goal is to reach and enroll as many of them as possible in the remaining 47 days of the Open Enrollment Period."

There are more than 400 plans offered through the Marketplace in 2015, all of which are quality, private insurance plans available from the top insurance companies in the state to fit consumer needs. All plans cover essential health benefits including doctor visits, emergency care, preventive services and more.

Residents can seek free, in-person help enrolling in coverage from a trained professional near them. To learn more about GCI and how to find free in-person help:

·         Visit our website at GetCoveredIllinois.gov (which includes a Spanish-language version) for more information and to make an appointment for free- in-person help with a trained professional near you.

·         Call the GCI Help Desk at (866) 311-1119. Help desk representatives are available each day from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

·         Meet in person with a specially trained Navigator, agent or broker who can help you understand your options and help you enroll. There are hundreds of certified professionals ready to help you that can be located on the GCI website or through the GCI Help Desk.

Twitter: @CoveredIllinois

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