Registration is open for fun, educational tours of Landfill, Recycling Center 

DAVENPORT, IA–Wanna see trash get smashed under 108,000 pounds? Hungry for a delicious treat, layered landfill-style? If your love for big wheels can only be matched by your burning desire to see exactly what happens to your garbage and recyclables after they leave the curb, then read on: We've got two tours for you.

Online registration is open for Waste Commission of Scott County's fall tours at www.wastecom.com. Tours are free of charge and will be held Oct. 3 at the Scott Area Recycling Center, Davenport, and Oct. 4 at the Scott Area Landfill, near Buffalo. Space is limited, and registration is required.

This fall, landfill tour-goers will get a free "trashy" treat and have the chance to check out equipment with monster-sized wheels. Recycling Center tourists will vie for green prizes by testing their recycling know-how and learn about upcoming changes to the recycling process in Scott County.

The Commission provides public tours of its facilities in spring and fall. Tours showcase our state-of-the-art solid waste programs and facilities, and educate residents about proper waste disposal. Can't make it this time? Sign up to receive e-news from the Commission, and you'll be among the first to know when upcoming dates are announced. E-news signup is online at www.wastecom.com.

Waste Commission of Scott County is an inter-governmental agency whose mission is to provide environmentally sound and economically feasible solid waste management for Scott County. For more information about the Commission, please call (563) 381-1300 or visit www.wastecom.com.

Congressman turns hundreds of comments about Iowans' experiences with college student loans over to Secretary of Education

Washington, D.C. - After asking for and receiving hundreds of stories about Iowans' experiences attaining and paying back student loans, Rep.  Bruce Braley (IA-01) today shared those comments with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

"The Department of Education needs to hear first-hand from Iowans about the struggles current and former students face as they try to get and repay student loans," Braley said. "The fact is that tuition and debt levels are rising much more quickly than wages?and we've got a responsibility to put solutions on the table."

 

Iowa students graduate with the 6th highest average student debt of any state. According to the Project on Student Debt, the average debt of an Iowa college graduate is $29,456 and Iowa ranks 3rd nationally in the percentage of students who graduate with debt, with nearly 71% taking on student loan debt.

Yesterday, Braley unveiled the outline of his College Affordability Plan which contains four central components to help students, graduates and parents deal with rising tuition costs and growing student loan debt. The plan includes tax incentives, a grant program for current college students facing financial hardship, and a bill allowing students to refinance their loans at lower market rates.

For decades college tuition costs have been rising significantly. Student loan debt today totals $1.2 trillion, $864 billion of which is backed by the federal government. More than 70 percent of students who graduated from college in 2012 had student loan debt.

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DAVENPORT, Iowa - Sept. 16, 2014 -- The Genesis Foundation will present two free seminars on wills and estate planning in October.

Topics of each seminar will include the importance of a will, what can happen if someone dies without a will, how existing wills can be changed, and whether wills can be self-written.

Here is more information about the seminars:

When? -- Tuesday, Oct. 14, 11:30 a.m. Where? - Larson Center, Meeting Room A, Genesis Medical Center, Silvis, 801 Illini Drive, Silvis; Featuring - Mary Ann Brown, elder law and estate planning specialist, Nash Nash Bean & Ford.

When? - Tuesday, Oct. 21, 12:30 p.m.; Where? - Annunciata Meeting Room, Pavilion 2, Genesis Medical Center, 1401 West Central Park, Davenport. Featuring - Curt Oppel, tax, estate planning and trust specialist, Stanley, Lande & Hunter.

There is no fee for these seminars, however, advance registration is required.

Please make your reservation by contacting Deb Hughes at hughes@genesishealth.com, or calling (563) 421-6861. If you have questions, contact Steve Goebel, CFRE at goebels@genesishealth.com, or at (309) 281-4392.

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Des Moines, IA - TODAY, September 16, 2014 at 10:15am, Senator Debbie Stabenow will join a Braley for Iowa conference call that will unveil a new report that details the damaging economic impacts of state Sen. Joni Ernst's reckless ideas on energy policy. State Sen. Ernst is "philosophically opposed" to energy subsidies, and her campaign has confirmed that "in a perfect world, in a free market, she would support doing away with (the RFS)."

A new report released today by Braley for Iowa details the damaging consequences state Sen. Ernst's energy plan would have in Iowa - including jeopardizing jobs, costing Iowa's economy billions of dollars, and reducing private sector business investment in Iowa.
The first-ever Batting for Scholars Home Run Derby to benefit the Bandit Scholars Program is coming up on Sunday, Sept. 21. Presented by Modern Woodmen of America and Triumph Community Bank, the event will give fans and people across the Quad Cities region the chance to swing for the fences at Modern Woodmen Park. Registration has been extended to Friday, September 19! More »

CIRCLEVILLE, OH (09/15/2014)(readMedia)-- Angela Vargus has been named to the Dean's List at Ohio Christian University College of Adult and Graduate Studies for the Fall 2013 Semester.

To be eligible for the Dean's List, a student must achieve a semester GPA of 3.5 or better and be enrolled in at least 12 "graded" semester hours.

Ohio Christian University, founded in 1948 is one of the fastest growing universities in the nation, and is committed to offering a complete education that develops students intellectually, professionally, and spiritually. OCU offers degree programs for traditional undergraduate students, graduate students, and adult and online students. Additionally, OCU's Trailblazer Academy allows high school students to complete college classes on campus or online. All programs are designed to equip students to become leaders in their careers, communities, families, and the world.

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Reps. George Miller (D-CA), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), and Bobby Scott (D-VA), senior members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statements today upon the House's passage of a bill to improve and reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act.

"The Child Care and Development Block Grant is an indispensable resource for millions of children and families nationwide," said Rep. Miller, senior Democrat on the committee. "CCDBG enables parents to send their kids to safe, high quality and affordable child care so that they can work or attend a training program and provide for their families. Meanwhile, the program helps to place children in the sorts of environments they need for healthy growth and development. The bipartisan, bicameral agreement passed today by the House improves child care access, makes critical new investments, and helps to ensure children are safe and are receiving quality care. These updates to CCDBG are vital for our children, our families, and our nation's future."

"I am pleased the House acted swiftly to pass the reauthorization of the Child Care Development Block Grant. This bipartisan effort shows that when Congress comes together with a spirit of compromise and a common goal that we are able to actually get things done and accomplish what the American people sent us here to do," said Rep. Loebsack, ranking member on the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. "This revamp of the CCDBG will bring important safety and quality improvements to child care delivery in our country and support working families as they strive to enter the middle class."

"Quality child care offers children vital early learning experiences that will set them on a path toward success in school, in the workforce and in the rest of their lives," said Rep. Scott, a senior committee Democrat. "This long overdue update of the Child Care and Development Block Grant program will significantly improve services, quality and access for our nation's children."

The legislation includes commonsense reforms to:

·         Promote high-quality child care by increasing state-level investments in activities to improve the quality of care, enhancing states' ability to train providers and develop safer and more effective child care services.

·         Strengthen health and safety requirements in child care programs and providers.

·         Improve access to child care by expanding eligibility for participating families and helping families connect with quality programs that meet their needs.

The full text of the bill is available here.

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Sept. 15, 2014) - The student(s) listed below graduated from Mount Mercy University in August 2014. Graduates were part of a spring commencement ceremony held in May.

Marissa Jade Albracht of Bettendorf graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Founded in 1928, Mount Mercy University offers students a personal, practical and faith-inspired education that distinctly blends professional career preparation and liberal arts with a strong curriculum grounded in leadership and service. Mount Mercy University is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and is a member of the Conference for Mercy Higher Education [CMHE].

Over 85 years, Mount Mercy has grown in size and reputation, adapting to meet the changing educational needs of the Cedar Rapids community. Mount Mercy offers baccalaureate and graduate education to nearly 1,800 students. Popular undergraduate majors include business, nursing, biology, elementary education and criminal justice. Graduate programs are offered in business, education, nursing, marriage and family therapy, strategic leadership, and criminal justice. For more information on Mount Mercy, visit www.mtmercy.edu.
Second annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange brings in soy buyers from around globe

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 15, 2014) - "Brew City" recently became "Soy City" as more than 270 representatives of major international companies interested in importing U.S. soy came together for the second annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Milwaukee. Areas represented included China, the Middle East, Vietnam and many others.

"Every other row of U.S. soybeans is exported, so it is imperative to build and retain strong relationships with our international customers," says Jim Call, soybean farmer from Minnesota and United Soybean Board (USB) chairman. "The Global Trade Exchange gives U.S. soybean farmers a great opportunity to meet face to face with these valuable customers and prospective buyers as they commit to buying millions of bushels of our soybeans."

International representatives committed to buy $2.8 billion worth of U.S. soy during last year's U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Davenport, Iowa.

In the most recent marketing year, U.S. soybean farmers exported more than 1.7 billion bushels of U.S. soy to customer beyond our borders. The value of these exports set a record of more than $28 billion.

The event, which is co-sponsored by USB, the American Soybean Association (ASA), the checkoff-funded U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the Midwest Shippers Association, continues through Thursday, Sept. 18. Besides meeting with U.S. soy farmer-leaders, attendees will also attend a variety of presentations to learn about the sustainability and quality of U.S. soybeans.

"This event offers a taste of American ag that they don't get every day," Call says. "This experience should give them a better understanding of the pride we take in our farms and product and how U.S. soybeans will benefit them for the long haul. Choosing U.S. soy is a win-win situation for all of us."

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

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Center for Active Seniors, 1035 West Kimberly Road, Davenport              2:00pm until 4:00pm

Moderator:  Jim Mertens

The Quad Cities Chapter of the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans is sponsoring a candidate forum for contested Iowa House and Senate Districts.  Invited candidates include those in:

Iowa House:

HD 92:  Frank Wood and Ross Paustian

HD 93:  Phyllis Thede and Mark Ross

HD 97:  Norlin Mommsen and Jay Saxon

 

Iowa Senate:

SD 47:  Roby Smith and Maria Briebriesco

SD 49:  Rita Hart and Brian Schmidt

 

This will be a professionally moderated forum, with questions related to senior issues at the state level submitted from the audience and selected by moderator Jim Mertens.

 

The purpose of the forum is to allow seniors the opportunity to hear the candidates speak about these issues before the mail balloting begins on September 22.

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