Law Establishes a Statewide Advisory Referendum on Nov. 4 Ballot

BERWYN - Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that will give Illinois residents the opportunity to voice their opinion on whether millionaires should pay a little more to help ensure all students have access to a high-quality education. The legislation establishes a statewide advisory referendum on the November 4 ballot to ask voters if they favor a surcharge paid by the state's wealthiest individuals to provide much-needed funding for public education in classrooms across Illinois. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to delivering stronger education in Illinois.

"Our democracy is strongest when more voters make their voices heard about important matters of public policy," Governor Quinn said. "Illinois voters will now be able to have their say when it comes to whether the state's most fortunate should pay a little more to put more resources in our classrooms. An investment in education is the best investment we can make for our economic future."

House Bill 3816, sponsored by Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and State Senator Michael Noland (D-Elgin), creates a Nov. 4, 2014 advisory referendum to ask voters whether the Illinois Constitution should be amended to require that each school district receive additional revenue, based on their number of students, from an additional three percent tax on income greater than one million dollars. These resources would be directed towards classroom education. The legislation is effective immediately.

The Illinois Department of Revenue estimates that a three percent tax on income greater than $1 million would generate approximately $1 billion annually for elementary and secondary education. The Governor signed the legislation today at Irving Elementary School in Berwyn.

"This legislation will provide an important benchmark. Illinois is long overdue for tax fairness and a much needed boost for our school children," Speaker Madigan said.

Governor Quinn is committed to properly funding education in Illinois in order to give every child the opportunity for success. The Governor's 5-year budget blueprint includes an historic $6 billion increase in classroom spending over the next five years, doubling the investment in college scholarships for students in need and increasing access to higher education through dual enrollment and early college programs. Over the next five years, the Governor's plan would bring classroom funding to the highest levels in Illinois history.

###

Memphis, TN (July 29, 2014) ? As teachers, parents and students prepare for the start of the new academic year, the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation, the leading charitable organization dedicated to supporting the stuttering community, offers an array of free tools for teachers with students who stutter in their classroom.

"One in every one hundred people stutters," said Jane Fraser, president of the Foundation. "But as many as two or three younger children in each classroom may struggle with this complex disorder.

"We know that teachers have a wonderfully positive influence on our children and their classmates, and we are thankful for the opportunity to provide the tools that prepare them with best practices and tips for working with and advocating for the child who stutters."

Tools for teachers available from the Stuttering Foundation include :

· 8 Tips for Teachers - answers to urgent questions teachers may have

· Famous People Who Stutter - mini-poster to print out

· Dear Teacher - a personal letter

All of these resources can be found at www.StutteringHelp.org/school.

The Stuttering Foundation ? known internationally for the quality of its resource materials available to the public ? offers DVDs, books, brochures, newsletters and referrals through its website www.StutteringHelp.org as well as its toll-free helpline: 800-992-9392.

###

Foundation Spokesperson Jane Fraser

Jane Fraser is president of The Stuttering Foundation and co-author of If Your Child Stutters: A Guide for Parents, 8th edition. She is also vice president of the Action for Stammering Children, Michael Palin Centre in London.

About the Foundation

Malcolm Fraser, a successful businessman and stutterer, established and endowed the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation in 1947. The Stuttering Foundation provides a helpline, 800-992-9392, and free resources at www.StutteringHelp.org, including services, referrals and support to people who stutter and their families, as well as support for research into the causes of stuttering.

Bagwell Bobblehead, Used Car Giveaway, Team Photo, Star Wars Night, "The Million Dollar Man"

DAVENPORT, Iowa. (July 28, 2014) - The Quad Cities River Bandits, Class-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, battle the Clinton LumberKings, Class-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, in a three-game series from Tuesday, July 29, through Thursday, July 31, at Modern Woodmen Park. Tickets are still available on riverbandits.com or by calling the box office at (563) 324-3000. Below are the highlights of promotions and events for the homestand.

Tuesday, July 29, 7:00 p.m. (Gates 5:30 p.m.) Sponsors: Hebrew National, CBS4, Pepsi, WOC & Q-106.5

- Jeff Bagwell Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Hebrew National & CBS4 WHBF - The first 700 fans will receive a bobblehead of Jeff Bagwell, who accumulated 449 home runs, the 1994 National League Most Valuable Player award, the 1991 NL Rookie of the Year award, four All-Star Game selections and three Silver Slugger awards in a 15-year career with the Houston Astros.

- Buy-One-Get-One Free Tickets - All regular individual tickets are buy-one-get-one free on Tuesdays the rest of the regular season.

- Kids Eat Free - Kids 12 and under receive a voucher for a free meal at the ballpark.

- Dew for Twosday - Fans can bring in old Mountain Dew cans and exchange them for a voucher for a free 16-ounce Mountain Dew.

Wednesday, July 30, 7:00 p.m. (Gates 5:30 p.m.) Sponsors: Reynolds Ford, Burlington Trailways, U.S. Bank & Mix 96

- Used Car Giveaway presented by Reynolds Ford - Fans will be able to enter to win a used car.

- Team Photo Giveaway presented by Burlington Trailways - The first 1,000 fans will receive a 2014 River Bandits team photo.

- Star Wars Night - All fans who wear a Star Wars T-shirt will receive $1 off the regular ticket price. Fans who dress in a Star Wars costume will receive $2 off the regular ticket price.

- Pay Your Bill Wednesday presented by U.S. Bank & Mix 96 - Fans can bring copies of their unpaid bills to Modern Woodmen Park and enter them in a drawing to be paid up to $100 by the River Bandits. The team will randomly select two to be paid.

- Organization of the Night: American Fire Safety - Proceeds from the postgame Zeglin's Charity Ball Toss will benefit American Fire Safety (http://www.americanfiresafety.org/).

Thursday, July 31, 7:00 p.m. (Gates 5:30 p.m.) Sponsors: Quad-City Times & the River Cities' Reader

- Pro Wrestling Night - "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase will be available to sign autographs in the ESPN Radio Quad Cities Sports Lounge.

- Thirst-day Thursday presented by the River Cities' Reader - Fans can enjoy $2 drink specials throughout the game.
- Buy One-Get-One presented by IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union - All Thursday tickets for IHMVCU members are buy-one, get-one free. Fans must show membership at the box office to receive the ticket special.

- Organization of the Night: Women in Defense - Proceeds from the postgame Zeglin's Charity Ball Toss will benefit Women in Defense (http://widiic.org/).
- MC22 Telecast - Mediacom Connections (MC22) will record a television game broadcast to be re-aired on MC22.

UP NEXT: Gates open for the next River Bandits homestand at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the first 700 fans will receive a Jeff Bagwell Bobblehead courtesy of Hebrew National and CBS4 WHBF. Kids Eat Free and regular tickets are Buy-1-Get-1 Free for the 7 p.m. game. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

Quad Cities starter Adrian Houser earns first win since June 2; Kevin Comer saves first win since May 6

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (July 28, 2014) - Brett Phillips hit the first pitch of Monday's game for a home run, A.J. Reed homered for his first Midwest League hit and Chase McDonald hit the deciding home run Monday afternoon to lift the Quad Cities River Bandits to a 4-3 win and three-game series sweep of the Bowling Green Hot Rods at Bowling Green Ballpark.

The River Bandits (20-16 second half, 55-50 overall) completed their first sweep ever of Bowling Green (14-22, 46-59) to finish 5-1 on their six-game road trip to Eastern Division ballparks. Quad Cities won eight of its last nine games to finish with an inter-division record of 13-11 - the River Bandits' first winning inter-division record since 2011.

Phillips gave Quad Cities a 1-0 lead with his 10^th home run of the season on the first pitch by Hot Rods left-hander Bruedlin Suero (2-3). It was Phillips' second career leadoff home run and first since April 27 in Peoria. It was Phillips' team-high sixth home run in July.

The Hot Rods took their only lead in the second inning against right-hander Adrian Houser (5-4). With one out. Hot Rods first baseman Alexander Simon singled to left field, left fielder Julian Ridings put a bunt single down the third-base line, and right fielder Darryl George hit a game-tying double to left field. Center fielder Spencer Edwards added a go-ahead RBI single to left field for a 2-1 lead.

Suero kept the 2-1 lead by retiring nine of 10 batters before allowing a one-out single to McDonald in the fourth inning. Reed then drove a 1-1 offering over the right-center field fence for a home run in the second at-bat of his Midwest League debut, giving his team a 3-2 lead.

The Hot Rods tied the game in the next half-inning, as George hit a two-out single and stole second base. Consecutive walks to Edwards and Smedley loaded the bases, and a wild pitch by Houser brought in the tying run. Houser then retired the next four hitters to complete five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

In a 3-3 tie in the top of the sixth inning, McDonald hit a leadoff home run to right-center field off Suero for a 4-3 River Bandits advantage. It was McDonald's fifth home run in his last 13 games, and the River Bandits' sixth in the three-game series. Quad Cities has hit 25 July home runs - the most for the club since hitting 30 in 31 games in May 2012. Suero finished seven innings and was charged with four earned runs on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Left-hander Stone Speer worked around a walk and hits by McDonald and third baseman J.D. Davis - who both had three hits - in two shutout innings.

River Bandits right-hander Kevin Comer began the sixth inning and worked around a double and walk in the sixth inning. The Hot Rods' best scoring threat came in the eighth inning, when Simon and Ridings hit consecutive one-out singles. On a wild pitch, Ridings broke from first base but was caught in a rundown by catcher Brian Holberton. When Simon broke for third base, Ridings reached second base, and Simon eluded a tag, but then broke for home plate with no player covering, until Ronnie Mitchell came in from left field to make the tag along the third-base line to cap a 2-3-5-4-1-7 scoring play for the second out. Comer then set down four in a row to earn his third save.

Quad Cities opens a three-game home series with Clinton (13-23, 43-61) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Modern Woodmen Park. River Bandits right-hander Andrew Thurman (4-6) is scheduled to face LumberKings right-hander Edwin Diaz (3-6).

UP NEXT: Gates open for the next River Bandits homestand at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the first 700 fans will receive a Jeff Bagwell Bobblehead courtesy of Hebrew National and CBS4 WHBF. Kids Eat Free and regular tickets are Buy-1-Get-1 Free for the 7 p.m. game. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.