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.

Independent study shows checkoff returns more than five dollars for every dollar farmers invest

ST. LOUIS (July 29, 2014) - Under the soy checkoff program, all U.S. soybean farmers contribute a small percentage of their gross soybean sales for research and marketing projects that maximize their profit potential. According to the results of a new, independent study, the checkoff continues to grow those small investments into big results for U.S. soybean farmers.

The results of the checkoff's most recent regular, independent return-on-investment (ROI) analysis found that all U.S. soybean farmers receive $5.20 in profits for every dollar they invest in the checkoff.

"Farmers are always looking for ways to improve profitability and become more efficient, so ROI is very important to them," says United Soybean Board (USB) Chairman Jim Call, a soybean farmer from Madison, Minnesota. "This study shows that U.S. soybean farmers are better off because of the checkoff."

Gary Williams, Ph.D., an agricultural economics professor from Texas A&M University who conducted the study, says 5 percent of all U.S. soybean farmers' revenues are due to the checkoff's research and marketing efforts. Williams also pointed out other conclusions, including:

  • The soy checkoff has increased the size of the U.S. soybean industry.
  • It has lifted the markets for U.S. soybeans, meal and oil, as well as U.S. soybean farmer returns.
  • The checkoff has also increased U.S. soy exports and reduced the competitive threat of the South American soybean industry. As a result, U.S. soybean farmers currently enjoy a larger share of the global soy market.
  • The benefits of the checkoff for U.S. soybean farmers and the industry in terms of net additional returns have far exceeded the cost of the program expenditures over time.

According to USB Audit & Evaluation Committee Chair David Hartke, a soybean farmer from Teutopolis, Illinois, it is one of several tools the checkoff uses to keep farmers' dollars working for them.

"We're always very diligent in making sure that U.S. soybean farmers get the most for their investment," Hartke says. "The ROI study, along with all the other evaluations and reporting we require, ensure that all of our projects remain consistent with our strategy and are working for the good of the farmer."

The results of the most recent soy checkoff request for referendum balloting indicate that farmers know the value of the checkoff. The U.S. Department of Agriculture received 355 request-for-referendum forms from U.S. soybean farmers during May, the month designated this year for the opportunity provided every five years for U.S. soybean farmers to request that a referendum be held on the checkoff's existence. Of those, only 324 were valid, which represents 0.06 percent of all eligible U.S. soybean farmers, falling far short of the 10 percent needed to trigger a full referendum.

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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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 10th 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.

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today issued the following statement on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan:

"Today, Muslims across Illinois and the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the 'festival of the breaking of the fast,' which signifies a commitment to compassion, hope and generosity.

"I was honored to host a traditional 'Iftar' meal at the Executive Mansion for Illinois' Muslim American community leaders on July 2, continuing a new tradition I was proud to start last year.

"Now, after the sacrifice and reflection of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr is a time for community. This is a day to focus on service to others and a time to act generously to those in need.

"To all of those breaking the fast, 'Eid Mubarak!'"

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The Illinois Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism stops in the Quad Cities on their five-day, 16-stop "Road Show" tour around Illinois to share the latest record breaking economic impact numbers of travelers and provide updates on visitor data, job creation, revenue growth and tourism initiatives.

Please join us this week on Thursday!
Thursday, July 31st
3:30 p.m.
Quad City Botanical Center
2525 4th Ave. in Rock Island
Remember Your 20s? Food Science Expert Shares 5 Nutrients That Help You Feel Younger

While barbecues, sports leagues, family vacations, days at the beach and nights out with friends are fun, keeping up with summer recreation while maintaining a steady work schedule can be challenging, says Budge Collinson.

And before we know it, we'll be back into the busy fall grind, getting kids up and off to school, participating in clubs and civic groups that have been on summer hiatus, and yes, before we know it, planning for holidays!

"We like to tell ourselves that there will be a period of rest before the next big thing, but usually there isn't," says Collinson, a food science expert with a passion for health and fitness. "The truth is, most of us like having full and often fast-paced lives, even if we tend to get worn out more quickly as we get older."

Don't resort to caffeine and other stimulants for a temporary energy boost, Collinson says.

"Replacing the nutrients that are depleted when you're active is a much smarter way to maintain or increase your energy level, and many of those nutrients have long-term benefits as well," says Collinson, who formulated an effervescent, natural multivitamin beverage called Youth Infusion, (www.drinkyouthinfusion.com), to make it easier to get all the essential nutrients and minerals in one 6-ounce drink.

He discusses the revitalizing powers of specific nutrients:

•  CoQ10 for that extra energy boost. Every cell in your body uses CoQ10 to produce energy, but your heart needs it the most. CoQ10 can help balance your blood pressure, and its powerful antioxidant properties help protect you against pre-mature aging.

•  Arginine to help with your endurance during workouts and your daily routine. Arginine helps the cardiovascular system by assisting in nitric oxide production, making the arteries more elastic. It also supports the functioning of your hormones and immune system, helps kidneys remove the body's waste and promotes wound healing.

•  Theanine helps support better moods. Theanine is a calming extract of green tea. Clinical research indicates that it helps focus a distracted mind. To a lesser extent, theanine has also been shown to reduce anxiety.

•  Resveratrol: a versatile antioxidant for general well-being and long-term peace of mind. Resveratrol promotes healthy circulation, prevents cholesterol oxidation and protects your entire cardiovascular system from the effects of dangerous free radicals. Initial research shows resveratrol helps defend the body against a number of diseases, including Alzheimer's, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

•  Vitamin D - for when the sun isn't as bright as it was during summer. Up to 90 percent of the vitamin D the body needs comes from sunlight, which is in much shorter supply after summer. Vitamin D is required for the regulation of the calcium and phosphorus in the body. It also plays an important role in maintaining proper bone structure and supporting immunity.

About Budge Collinson

Budge Collinson was the beneficiary of his mother's natural health formula as a sick baby, which led to a deep interest in health and wellness at a young age. After years of research and seeing the growing demand for natural products with clinical support, he founded Infusion Sciences, www.infusionsciences.com. Collinson earned a bachelor's degree in food and resource economics from the University of Florida and certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Recently, he became a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and consistently attends the Natural Products Expo, where he learns the latest science and news about nutritious ingredients. Collinson is also a go-to source for media outlets across the country for healthy lifestyle and food source discussions

Scientists suggest that water vapor will intensify future climate change projections

MIAMI - A new study from scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and colleagues confirms rising levels of water vapor in the upper troposphere - a key amplifier of global warming - will intensify climate change impacts over the next decades. The new study is the first to show that increased water vapor concentrations in the atmosphere are a direct result of human activities.

"The study is the first to confirm that human activities have increased water vapor in the upper troposphere," said Brian Soden, professor of atmospheric sciences at the UM Rosenstiel School and co-author of the study.

To investigate the potential causes of a 30-year moistening trend in the upper troposphere, a region 3-7 miles above Earth's surface, Soden, UM Rosenstiel School researcher Eui-Seok Chung and colleagues measured water vapor in the upper troposphere collected by NOAA satellites and compared them to climate model predictions of water circulation between the ocean and atmosphere to determine whether observed changes in atmospheric water vapor could be explained by natural or man-made causes. Using the set of climate model experiments, the researchers showed that rising water vapor in the upper troposphere cannot be explained by natural forces, such as volcanoes and changes in solar activity, but can be explained by increased greenhouse gases, such as CO2.

Greenhouse gases raise temperatures by trapping the Earth's radiant heat inside the atmosphere. This warming also increases the accumulation of atmospheric water vapor, the most abundant greenhouse gas. The atmospheric moistening traps additional radiant heat and further increases temperatures.

Climate models predict that as the climate warms from the burning of fossil fuels, the concentrations of water vapor will also increase in response to that warming. This moistening of the atmosphere, in turn, absorbs more heat and further raises the Earth's temperature.

The paper, titled "Upper Tropospheric Moistening in response to Anthropogenic Warming," was published in the July 28th, 2014 Early Addition on-line of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The paper's authors include Chung, Soden, B.J. Sohn of Seoul National University, and Lei Shi of NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Ashville, North Carolina.

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About the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School

The University of Miami is one of the largest private research institutions in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, visit: www.rsmas.miami.edu.

PBS KIDS WRITERS CONTEST ANNOUNCES NATIONAL WINNERS

 

 

ARLINGTON, VA/MOLINE, IL - Twelve children in grades K-3 were selected as winners by an acclaimed panel of judges in the PBS KIDS Writers Contest this year. The winning entries in the Contest were chosen from thousands of submissions from 62 participating PBS stations across the country. Paul Schwartz, a third grader from Bettendorf, IA, who partnered with WQPT- Quad Cities PBS, won third place in this grade category.

"This is the third time that one of our local winners has gone on to win on the national level," said WQPT General Manager Mary Pruess. "We are very proud Paul Schwartz of Bettendorf and his story 'If I Were An Engineer' and of all of the 450 entries we received. A special thanks to all of the parents, caregivers and teachers who encouraged the creativity of our young writers."

"We were thrilled to see another impressive batch of submissions for the annual PBS KIDS Writers Contest," said Lesli Rotenberg, General Manager, Children's Programming, PBS. "PBS KIDS and our local stations always enjoy encouraging children to use their imaginations to create memorable stories. We look forward to supporting the next generation of creative thinkers as they develop important writing skills that will lay the foundation of success in both school and life."

PBS stations throughout the country collaborated with schools, public libraries and other community-based organizations to present the PBS KIDS Writers Contest in local communities. Local winners were entered into the national contest, where a panel of esteemed judges ranked the top 12 entries. The national winners and their winning stories are featured on pbskids.org/writerscontest.

The national winners will receive prizes courtesy of national prizing sponsor, LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. Winners will receive a prize package that will include LeapFrog's award-winning LeapReader Reading and Writing System along with educator-developed LeapReader books, maps and more to help children on every step of their reading and writing journey.

The 2014 national winners include :  

 

Kindergarten

1st place: "Grandpa Pig's Pizza" by Nikolai Nawrocki, Wayne, PA - WQED

2nd place: "Bill's Hat is Very Stuck" by Karsten Eckhoff, Stover, MO - KMOS

3rd place: "The Secret Alligator Key" by Inaaya Sethi, Binghamton, NY - WSKG

First Grade

1st place: "Once Upon a Pencil" by Ethan Mattocks, Guys Mills, PA - WQLN

2nd place: "A Survival Guide to South Dakota" by Samuel Ellenbecker, Cascade, WI - MPTV

3rd place: "The Colors I Feel" by Joshua Kafumbe, Middlebury, VT - Vermont Public Television

Second Grade

1st place: "Eric's Job" by Oniana Boulware, Las Vegas, NV - Vegas PBS

2nd place: "Rosy Helps Kathy Catch Her Bus" by Michelle Kang, Annandale, VA - Community Idea Stations

3rd place: "Seeds from Space" by Connor Smith, Pittsburgh, PA - WQED

Third Grade

1st place: "A Humble Book of Poems" by Jishnu Dey, Dover, NH - New Hampshire Public Television

2nd place: "My Special Granddaddy" by Mollie Hensley, Mebane, NC - UNC-TV

3rd place: "If I Were An Engineer..." by Paul Schwartz, Bettendorf, IA - WQPT, Quad Cities PBS

 

PBS KIDS Writers Contest Honorary Judges

A panel of America's leading children's writers, producers, and media creators served as honorary judges for the PBS KIDS Writers Contest this year. The 2014 honorary judges include :

 

  • Billy Aronson, creator, PEG + CAT
  • Jeff Kinney, author (Diary of a Wimpy Kid series), online game developer and designer
  • Martin Kratt, creator and co-executive producer, WILD KRATTS
  • Chris Kratt, creator and co-executive producer, WILD KRATTS
  • Joseph Mazzarino, head writer, director and puppeteer, SESAME STREET
  • Jennifer Oxley, creator, PEG + CAT
  • Bob Staake, author (THE DONUT CHEF, HELLO ROBOTS)
  • Vince Vawter, author (PAPERBOY)

 

The PBS KIDS Writers Contest is made possible through national promotional support from Highlights for Children. The Contest is produced by PBS and based on the Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest, a concept developed by WNED-TV, Buffalo.

 

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University.

 

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IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - Cyber-security is vitally important for all small businesses. You may not realize how lucrative small businesses are as targets to computer hackers, or even know if your own company has information they would strive to steal.
At the next Idea Lab program, Cyber-Security for Small Business, presenter David Bergert will discuss the cyber-security landscape and share tips and resources to help you and your small business to reduce risk.

Cyber-Security for Small Business will be held from 12 to 1 p.m., August 15, at DHCU Community Credit Union, 1900 52nd Ave., Moline, IL. Admission is $15 and the event will include a catered Chick-fil-A meal. Attendees can select from a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich meal, a veggie-wrap meal, or for one dollar more, a Grilled Chicken Market Salad.

Verizon's 2012 Data Breach Investigations Study shows that in 855 data breaches they examined, 71% occurred in businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Also, according to a study by Kaspersky Labs, 31% of businesses surveyed stated that they would not know what to do if they had security breach tomorrow; 40% said they would struggle to recover all data lost; and 25% doubted that they would be able to recovery any information, causing serious disruptions or closure of their businesses.

In his presentation, Bergert will review recent cyber-security trends and focus on some basic controls and processes you can implement, as well as share resources you can use in the future to protect yourself, your friends and family, and your organization though security awareness.

For more information on the event or to register, please call Les Flesher at 563-322-2065 or email  Les@resultsimc.com. Be sure to follow the Idea Lab on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Idealabqc.

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Saturday, October 18, 2014

Tickets on sale Friday, August 1 at 10 am

Brantley Gilbert will bring his Let it Ride Tour to the iWirelss Center for one night, Saturday October 18, 2014. Special guests include Aaron Lewis and Chase Bryant. Ticket prices are $22.75, $29.75, and $37.00 and g on sale Friday, August 1 at 10 am.

Tickets are available at the iWireless Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or on-line at www.ticketmaster.com

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