CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on the case of Harris v. Quinn:

"Today's 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court is disappointing.

"There are thousands of workers who care for our seniors and people with disabilities in Illinois, and they deserve the right to collectively bargain for decent wages, benefits and proper working conditions.

"A high-quality workforce of long-term, in-home care workers gives our most vulnerable citizens the opportunity to live independently in their own homes, instead of forcing them into expensive, long-term care institutions. All people, no matter what their challenges are, deserve the opportunity to choose to live in the community.

"We will continue working to provide quality care for our most vulnerable citizens and we will continue fighting to ensure workers get a fair shake for a hard day's work."

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Pitcher makes Quad Cities only Class-A team with active representative both of last two seasons

DAVENPORT, Iowa (June 30, 2014) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-handed pitcher Michael Feliz has been added to World Team roster for the 2014 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, set for Sunday, July 13, at Target Field in Minneapolis. Feliz's selection makes the River Bandits are the only Class-A team in baseball to be represented by a current player in each of the last two All-Star Futures Games.

The Azua, Dominican Republic, native is replacing Chicago White Sox prospect Francellis Montas on the World Team roster. Feliz is one of two current Midwest Leaguers selected to the game, as he joins Burlington right-handed pitcher Alfonso Alcantara on the World Team.

The 21-year old Feliz was signed by the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent on May 19, 2010. He is currently 3-2 with a 3.64 ERA over 14 appearances, including 10 starts. Rated among the top prospects (No. 9 by Baseball America and No. 10 by MLB.com) in the Astros organization entering the season, Feliz has tossed 47 innings, allowing just 41 hits while walking 21 against 56 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .232 against him on the season. In his final five first-half appearances, the River Bandits' youngest pitcher was 2-0 with a 0.40 ERA, giving up only one earned run in 22 1/3 innings with one walk, 13 hits allowed and 27 strikeouts.

Former River Bandits shortstop Carlos Correa was selected to the initial World Roster for the All-Star Futures Game but will not compete due to injury.

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Shelby Miller was the last River Bandit selected for the All-Star Futures Game while on the Quad Cities roster. Miller pitched for the U.S. in the 2010 game in Anaheim, Calif., and worked two-thirds of a scoreless inning in a 9-1 U.S. victory.

SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which features the top Minor League prospects competing in a nine-inning contest as part of Taco Bell All-Star Sunday. The U.S. Team leads the all-time series, 9-6. The game will begin at 4 p.m. Central Daylight Time July 13. It can be seen live on MLB.com and MLB Network, and followed live on MLB.com's Gameday. In addition, XM Radio witll broadcast play-by-play coverage of the event live on MLB Network Radio XM 89 and Sirius channel 209. MLB.com will also provide complete coverage before, during and after the game. Fans can stay updated by following @MLBFutures on Twitter and can send and receive tweets to and from the U.S. and World Team dugouts during the game by tagging tweets with the hashtags #USDugout and #WorldDugout.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits return home for the Fourth of July weekend, beginning with a 7 p.m. game Friday, July 4, to be followed by Fourth of July Fireworks presented by Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD. 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.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership recently 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, and Space Camp opened June 20. Soon to come is another new ride, this one called a "Drop and Twist." In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. Last season, the team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.

Attention Downtown Business Owners & Residential Property Managers: A briefing has been scheduled for 3:00 p.m., this afternoon, Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at City Hall in the Council Chambers to inform business partners on the City's flood plan, the flood forecast, and preparations currently underway. We encourage business owners and property managers to attend for a chance to receive the latest information and get questions answered.

President Kenny Massey reports four years of solid growth

 

Indianapolis, Ind. - Modern Woodmen of America President W. Kenny Massey, LeClaire; National Secretary Denis P. Prior, Davenport; and all members of the board of directors were unanimously elected on June 30 by the fraternal financial services organization's 42nd National Convention. Massey has been president since 2005; Prior has been national secretary since 2009.

An organization with a democratic form of government, Modern Woodmen represents its members' ideas and concerns through elected delegates who participate in a National Convention once every four years.

Local residents Darcy G. Callas, Moline; David B. Emrick, Davenport; Gary L. Medd, Davenport; and Jerald J. Lyphout, East Moline; were elected to Modern Woodmen's Board of Directors. Other members elected to the board of directors were Albert Hurst Jr., Little Rock, Arkansas; Judge Robert C. Pollex, Perrysburg, Ohio; and William D. Keltner, Jackson, Tennessee.

Also elected were: Eugene A. Ortis, national adviser, Alexandria, Louisiana; Anthony W. High, national escort, Tompkinsville, Kentucky; Donald D. Wixom, national watchman, Nampa, Idaho; and Cary L. Mathes, national sentry, Parkville, Missouri.

Solid growth

More than 1,300 Modern Woodmen members and guests, including 190 delegates, from throughout the United States gathered at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana, to attend Modern Woodmen's 2014 National Convention.

Massey shared Modern Woodmen's progress during the four-year period from Jan. 1, 2010, to Dec. 31, 2013, and reported gains in all phases of operation.

–  Assets increased 45 percent to a total of $13.4 billion.

–  Life insurance in force increased 8 percent to $36.3 billion.

–  Surplus increased 33 percent to $1.51 billion.

–  Total benefits paid to members increased 18 percent to $2.9 billion.

–  Fraternal expenditures grew to $77 million, a 10 percent increase.

Modern Woodmen has more life insurance in force than 90 percent of all life insurance companies in America.  The third largest fraternal organization in the U.S., in terms of assets, Modern Woodmen's A.M. Best Rating remains A+ (Superior) - the second highest of 15 ratings.

"Ten years ago our assets totaled $6.9 billion and today we stand at $13.4 billion," said Massey. "That's an increase of $6.5 billion, which makes us the fastest going fraternal organization in America during the past decade."

Massey explained that Modern Woodmen continues to exist to:

·         Help members in times of financial crises (especially after the death of a loved one).

·         Accumulate funds for a secure retirement.

·         Engage members and enrich their lives with fraternal benefits and activities.

·         Benefit communities through fraternal benevolence and outreach programs.

"Our mission statement reads 'to improve the quality of life for our members,'" he explained. "We live out our mission every day, it's in our DNA. It drives our decisions and actions as an organization."

Fraternal focus

In the past four years, Modern Woodmen's fraternal programs benefitted members and communities across the country.

• Fraternal benefits help members, their families and their communities in good times and in times of need. From disaster relief aid to scholarships to providing for orphans, members have a safety net of benefits.  In the last four years, Modern Woodmen gave $4 million in benefits to members.
• Modern Woodmen put $34.2 million into matching fund activities in the past four years. Matching fund activities allow members to show their support for a community cause or an individual in need.
• Through more than 99,500 chapter activities across the nation. Members and their families participate in social and volunteer activities.
• Through nearly 48,500 youth service club activities. Modern Woodmen children from tots to teens discover the benefit of helping others. Youth service club volunteers have given nearly 1 million hours of volunteer service in the past four years.

Modern Woodmen of America is a member-owned fraternal financial services organization. Since 1883, the organization has brought people together, supported families and strengthened communities nationwide. Modern Woodmen - touching lives, securing futures.

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