(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, September 11, 2014, to honor those who perished in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Flags will be flown at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

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Fans can enjoy $2 drinks and $5 tickets; amusements will also operate when gates open at 1 p.m.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (September 9, 2014) - Baseball season is not yet over at Modern Woodmen Park, as the Iowa Hawkeyes will play a 2 p.m. game Sunday at the Best Minor League Ballpark, where admission will be just $5, and fans can enjoy a combination of Thirst-Day Thursday and Family Sunday promotions - including $2 beers, pops and peanuts, dogs welcome to attend the game for Bark in the Park, and postgame Kids Run the Bases.
Gates open at 1 p.m. Sunday, and amusements will also operate when the Hawkeyes play their first game since 2011 at Modern Woodmen Park and open their fall schedule against the Ontario Blue Jays, one of Canada's top-ranked amateur baseball programs.
"The Quad Cities is proud to be Hawkeye Country, and we are delighted for the people of this great community to be the very first to see the Iowa Hawkeyes baseball team in action this fall," said Quad Cities River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "Fans will be able to enjoy a great day at America's best minor league ballpark and watch their favorite college team while enjoying $2 beers and pops all day long!"
All individual tickets for Sundays game are just $5 each, while groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for just $3 each. All seating is first-come, first-served. Suite rentals for Sunday's game are $200 each.  Tickets are available by calling the Modern Woodmen Park box office at 563-324-3000. The box office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day through Friday and starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday. At Sunday's game, parking in the lots adjacent to Modern Woodmen Park will be free.
Amusements will operate for Sunday's game, as well as the usual September weekend hours on Friday (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.).
The Hawkeyes finished 30-23 overall last spring, posting a 10-14 record in the Big Ten Conference. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays were 12-6-5 over the 2014 season. The 2013 Ontario Blue Jays team featured 23 players who later committed to play collegiate baseball, including 19 at the NCAA Division I level.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop-N-Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.
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Scholastic School Supply Scam Features False Invoices, 22 States
Des Moines, IA–(September 9, 2014) Better Business Bureau is alerting schools and daycares to a scam involving Scholastic School Supply. The tactics employed by the company are similar to the well-known "Yellow Pages Scam," a business to business operation that surfaced in 2013, and bilked more than $14 million from small businesses and churches before being halted at the request of the Federal Trade Commission.
"This scam takes advantage of schools, daycares, and other educators, and the frenzy at the start of the school year," says Chris Coleman, President & CEO of BBB Serving Greater Iowa, Quad Cities and Siouxland. "Administrators who are just trying to stay on top of bills will recognize the name and pay the invoice without knowing the books were never ordered. Sadly, this type of scam is all too familiar to us at BBB."
Consumers reaching out to the BBB allege that the operation is sending false invoices to schools and school districts throughout the country in the amount of $647.50 for a bulk purchase of text books that were never requested or received. The only contact information available on the invoices is an email address which consumers report does not respond to messages, a phone number which routes to a series of voice mail boxes, and mail drop addresses in either Sewell, New Jersey or Las Vegas, Nevada. Although the entity lists addresses in New Jersey and Nevada on its invoicing, the BBB has been unable to locate any corporation filings, business licensing, or otherwise required business entity documentation for it in either state to substantiate a physical location.
As of September 5, 2014, BBB Serving Southern Nevada (which serves Scholastic School Supply's headquarters) has received a total of 51 complaints from across the country, as well as 2,303 inquiries regarding this scam operation.
With numbers continuing to rise in increments of as many as 15 complaints a day, schools are urged to not pay the invoice, but instead to contact the Federal Trade Commission at (877) 382-4357 www.ftc.gov, the local Postal Inspectors, or Nevada State Bureau of Consumer Protection at (702) 486-3132 www.ag.nv.gov.
Consumers may also contact BBB Serving Greater Iowa, Quad Cities and Siouxland at 800-222-1600.

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ABOUT Better Business Bureau: For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2013, people turned to BBB more than 132 million times for BBB Business Reviews on more than 4.5 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. BBB Serving Serving Greater Iowa, Quad Cities and Siouxland, founded in 1940 and is one of 112 local, independent BBBs across North America. You can reach us at 515-243-8137 or online at bbb.org/iowa.

Nominating petitions and other election materials for the 2015 Black Hawk College Board of Trustees election may be picked up at the college beginning Tuesday, Sept. 16.

In April 2015, there will be three (3) six-year terms up for election.

Election materials are available in office of the chief financial officer in Building 1 at the college's Quad-Cities Campus, 6600 34th Ave., Moline, and in the office of the vice president for East Campus, 26230 Black Hawk Road, Galva (five miles south of Kewanee).

The Black Hawk College district includes all or part of nine counties in west central Illinois, consisting of more than 280 individual precincts.

Nominating petitions may not be circulated until Tuesday, Sept. 23. Completed petitions may be filed beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15 through 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22 in the office of the chief financial officer at the Quad-Cities Campus.

For more information, call 309-796-5302.

Congressman urges Administration to quickly approve Guard funds

Washington, D.C. - Continuing his effort to prevent a budget shortfall from threatening the Iowa National Guard's September training exercises, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today pushed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expedite approval of a reallocation of funds that would allow the Guard to hold its scheduled drills.

A high participation rate in previous training exercises this year, along with higher than expected training costs, has contributed to a $2.4 million budget shortfall in the Iowa National Guard's budget. If that shortfall is not addressed, it could jeopardize Guard drills scheduled for September. The National Guard recently submitted a reprogramming request that would allow them to transfer money between accounts, and allow the proposed drill to go forward as scheduled.

"The funds can't be allocated until the Administration sends the request to Congress, and that needs to happen as quickly as possible," Braley said. "Iowans all over our state know the tremendous sacrifice the Iowa National Guard has made to our country and they need to have the resources necessary to conduct their scheduled trainings."

 

Braley's letter to OMB Director Shaun Donovan urges him to quickly approve any reprogramming request made by the Guard, and send it for approval to the House Appropriations Committee so that the funds can be made available.

"The option of canceling drills is alarming and would lead to a loss of income for Guard members?many of whom rely on the income for basic necessities," Braley wrote.

Braley has been a consistent advocate for Iowa's National Guard. This year, he repeatedly fought proposed cuts to the Iowa National Guard, citing their work on behalf of Iowans in the aftermath of natural disasters and in combat deployments outside the United States. In December of 2012 he joined Rep. Tom Latham in efforts to block cuts to the Des Moines Air National Guard.

A copy of Braley's letter is available HERE.
The American Red Cross is launching a first-of-its kind Blood Donor App today that puts the power to save lives in the palm of your hand. The new app makes it easier and faster for users to find a nearby blood drive, schedule blood donations, track their total donations, get rewards and invite friends and family to join them on a lifesaving team. It's free and available for download through the App StoreSM and Google PlayTM.

As the nation's single largest supplier of blood and blood products, the Red Cross is uniquely positioned to bring this technology to blood and platelet donors. The attached news release details the new app and highlights its key features. By providing this information to your community, you can introduce them to a new way to help meet the constant need for blood.

JOLIET – Officials with Joliet Junior College and the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters will host a reception to honor Lt. Governor Sheila Simon for her support in launching an educational program that will open the doors for members of the carpenters` union to earn bachelor`s degrees.

Working with Joliet Junior College, Simon gave her support to a program that allows union members to gain college credit for applicable on-the-job experience that can go toward degrees and certificates.

JJC president Dr. Debra S. Daniels and CRCC President Frank Libby will present the event.

McGoven steps into positon of acting commissioner with 32 years of service in Iowa Division of Labor and Iowa Workforce Development

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today named Michelle "Miki" McGovern the acting Workers' Compensation Commissioner effective immediately. McGovern has served as an Iowa Workers' Compensation Deputy Commissioner for the past 26 years. A photo of McGovern can be found here.

The Workers' Compensation Commissioner is the head of the Division of Workers' Compensation which is part of the Iowa Workforce Development. Workers' compensation has the responsibility of administering, regulating, and enforcing the workers' compensation laws. Though the workers' compensation commissioner's office cannot represent the interests of any party, the agency provides information regarding the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Law, the rights of the parties, and the procedures the parties can follow to resolve their disputes.

McGovern began working for the Iowa Division of Labor, the precursor to Iowa Workforce Development, in January 1982. In 1988, she became a Deputy Workers' Compensation Commissioner. She holds a Bachelor's of Science degree from Iowa State University, a Master's degree from the University of Iowa and a law degree from Drake University. Miki and her husband, Jack Janda, reside in Woodward, Iowa.

McGovern will serve as acting Commissioner while an exhaustive and extensive search for a permanent Commissioner continues.

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Going to a restaurant can be challenging for diabetics, but there are ways to eat wisely and still enjoy yourself.

Maintaining a healthy diabetes diet away from home requires planning ahead and making smart choices. It can be a challenge, but dining out doesn't have to be overwhelming. Many of the dietary rules people with type 2 diabetes need to follow ? limiting salt, sugar, and fat intake ? are beneficial for anyone.

The key to enjoying a meal at a restaurant is to have a plan going in, according to Dietlinde Wolter-Nitta, RD, CDE, of the Clinical Diabetes Center of Montefiore Hospital in New York City. That means knowing what's on the menu, what to avoid, and how to control the way food is prepared and served.

Here are some ideas to make your night out more fun and less work.

Tip 1: Do Your Homework

Wolter-Nitta suggests looking at the menu before trying a restaurant. "It's hard to make smart diet decisions when you're hungry," she said. "So if you decide beforehand, you can make yourself stick to it."

For people with diabetes, when they eat can be as important to maintaining their blood sugar level as what and how much they consume. It's a good idea to make a restaurant reservation whenever possible, and avoid peak times when the wait for a table is longer.

If you're concerned about slow service, speak to the waiter and ask if certain meals take longer to prepare than others.

Tip 2: Portion Control

One of the biggest challenges to eating sensibly is the temptation to finish everything on your plate. There are tricks you can use to control that urge.

"Decide to take a doggie bag home before you start eating," suggests Wolter-Nitta. "Put half of the food away before you dig in. With diabetes, you have to watch out for sugar, sodium, and fat, and this will cut those in half."

Another way to reduce portion size is to split a meal with a dinner companion. "Order an appetizer each and split an entrée," she said. "That's a great way to lower calories."

Tip 3: Know What to Eat and What to Avoid

The first thing you usually have to watch out for in a restaurant is the bread basket. "They put it out on the table and it's so hard to say no," said Wolter-Nitta. "You have to ask yourself whether you're at the restaurant to eat bread or your meal."

Sauces and salad dressings can be loaded with salt and fat. "Sauces such as butter sauces, béchamel, au gratin, and hollandaise should definitely be on the do-not-eat list," she said. If you must have salad dressing, try dipping your fork in it rather than pouring it on.

Certain cuisines are trickier than others. For instance, "Chinese restaurants add corn starch and sugar to most foods," she said. "Stick to white rice and vegetables and avoid the soy sauce."

When it comes to food preparation, ask if a dish can be baked, grilled, or broiled rather than fried. When you do eat fried food, remove the fat- and calorie-laden bread coating.

It's not just what you eat: Sugary drinks affect your weight and glucose levels, and they have been directly linked to type 2 diabetes.

Tip 4: Indulge ? a Little

"Eating dessert isn't forbidden," said Wolter-Nitta. "It's just a matter of doing it the right way." One suggestion: "Instead of going for the chocolate cake, go for a piece of fruit or something sugar-free."

A meal at a fast-food restaurant can easily exceed your daily recommended allowance for calories, fat, and salt. If you're going to treat yourself to a grab-and-go bite, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) reminds you to check the nutritional information before ordering, avoid "super-sized" or "deluxe" meals, and ask for healthy substitutions when you can.

Whatever you're treating yourself to, moderation is key.

Here are some more suggestions from the ADA when ordering out: ·

Be Creative. Just because dishes are labeled "appetizers," "entrees," and "desserts" doesn't mean you can't mix things up. The ADA suggests a fruit cup as a starter, or a salad and appetizer as a main course. ·

Order Ahead. Call the restaurant and ask if your food can be prepared to meet your dietary needs. By giving the kitchen advance notice, they might be able to better accommodate you. ·

Think About What You Drink. If you're going to treat yourself to an alcoholic beverage, remember that mixers can pack a lot of calories and sugar.

Watching what you eat and drink all the time "takes a lot of discipline," as Wolter-Nitta points out. "But it pays dividends for your health."

Sept 2014 QC Interfaith Newsletter

Gamaliel of Illinois & QCI Rally in Support of  Jobs Training , Education Equity at State Wide Public Meeting. Nearly 1000 lay and clergy leaders, elected officials and allies rallied at New Life Community Church in East St. Louis Thursday August 14th for Gamaliel of Illinois's first ever state wide public meeting.  The "Fire of Faith" public meeting brought together hundreds  from Illinois (and our allies in Iowa too).

Governor Pat Quinn and local office holders listened to testimony  from people calling on infrastructure jobs and jobs training, equitable early learning education and addressing criminal justice issues across Illinois and the QC region. 
GOI won support for a state wide summit on restorative justice; for the Springfield and Quad Cites Community Benefits Agreement and a rail station in East St Louis!

Michael Jones from Rock Island, a graduate of the Highway Construction Careers Training Program (HCCTP) at Black Hawk College testified to his success in getting the job he wanted thanks to the HCCTP.

QCI Trivia Night Fundraiser is this Saturday, Sept 13th

A Trivia Night Fundraiser to Benefit QCI is Saturday, Sept. 13th at Second Baptist Church, 919 - 6th Avenue Rock Island.

$10.00 a person or $80.00 for a table of 8.   Doors open at 6:30pm and game begins at 7:00pm. Mulligans, Double Downs, Door Prizes!

Food for Sale!!!! $6.00 pulled chicken sandwich meal, drinks and baked goods to benefit QCI and the Second Baptist Church Hunger Ministry!

Also, you may bring your own food. Please, no alcohol.

To reserve your table, or for questions,  call 563.322.4910 or qcinterfaith@gmail.com

Please spread the word and join us for a night of fun and fundraising!

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