CARBONDALE – July 2, 2014. Heading into the Fourth of July weekend, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

"As we prepare to celebrate our country`s 238th birthday, we should take time to look back on the half century since the enactment of the Civil Rights Act," Simon said. "Today, we should honor the brave struggle of activists like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and the Freedom Riders. We have come a long way, but there is still more work to be done to ensure true equality."

Simon spent part of the day Wednesday, the anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act, at Southern Illinois University, where she spoke to international students about American politics and civil rights.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was conceived by President John F. Kennedy, defended in Congress by U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois, and enacted under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Signed July 2, 1964, it ensures equality under the law regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The law has given Americans a tool to fight discrimination in housing, the job market, the courtroom, and at the polls.

Simon continues to support the expansion of civil rights in Illinois. She spoke out in favor of marriage equality, and celebrated alongside activists as the marriage equality law went into effect last month. The law ensures the marriages of same-sex couples are legally recognized in Illinois.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 2, 2014) - The Quad Cities River Bandits are among 113 teams across Minor League Baseball teams that will honor America and help raise much-needed funds for a worthy cause this Independence Day holiday weekend by wearing specially designed "Stars & Stripes" caps from New Era Cap Company.

The River Bandits will wear the specialty caps - as well as sell the caps in the team store at Modern Woodmen Park - as part of fundraising and awareness initiatives for Welcome Back Veterans, an organization dedicated to addressing the ongoing needs of military personnel and their families.

"Our military and their families make tremendous sacrifices to protect our freedom and defend our country, and we look forward to honoring them this Fourth of July weekend," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "The Stars & Stripes program gives River Bandits fans a unique opportunity to support our military personnel and their families, show their Bandit pride and look great in the process!"

The caps have the American flag etched into a star behind the team's white primary logo, with a red crown and blue brims and buttons. The caps can be purchased in the River Bandits team store for $30 each beginning Thursday, and they will be available to order online beginning Monday, July 7.

Minor League Baseball, in conjunction with its licensing partner Major League Baseball Properties, will once again donate 100 percent of the proceeds from cap sales to Welcome Back Veterans as part of its contribution to the program. Since the program's inception in 2010, MiLB has contributed annually to the veterans' organization.

The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park to face the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at 7 p.m. Friday in the opener of a three-game series and a six-game homestand. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com.

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.

Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Civil Rights Act by Signing New Law at Chicago's Oldest African American Church

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed a new law to strengthen the Illinois African American Family Commission. The Governor signed the legislation at the Quinn Chapel AME Church, the oldest African American congregation in Chicago. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all Illinois residents.

"The Civil Rights Act was signed 50 years ago and proved that working hard for what you believe in can change the world," Governor Quinn said. "History shows that in the fight against injustice, justice will always prevail. This new law is the latest of many steps in the long journey toward true equality in Illinois."

Senate Bill 121, sponsored by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and State Representative Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago), expands the African American Family Commission's role to include monitoring legislation and developing programs to address the needs of African Americans in Illinois. The new law also updates official statistics concerning education, employment, income and health and adds additional state agencies to the commission to assist with implementing the commission's recommendations. The new law is effective Jan. 1, 2015.

"Including African-Americans in the development and planning process of policies and programs will guarantee Illinois is better serving the needs of minorities," Senator Hunter said.

"I am proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights movement and the strides that we have made toward social equality," Representative Dunkin said. "The African American Family Commission is a critical tool in furthering our efforts to overcome inequalities in the black community such as access to employment opportunities, healthcare, quality education and a fair justice system. I am honored to stand here with my colleagues and the residents of Illinois to make positive change for the future of our state."

Courageous acts such as nation-wide sit-ins, the March on Selma and the integrated Southern bus tour of the Freedom Riders in the 1960s helped lead to passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. President John F. Kennedy first proposed the legislation, and it was drafted by Attorney General Robert Kennedy. President Lyndon Johnson picked up the torch and a bipartisan push in the U.S. Senate, led by Illinois' U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen, broke the filibuster that opponents were trying to use to stop the legislation.

Governor Quinn has long supported equal rights and opportunities for all. Between 2008 and 2013, Illinois increased state contracts awarded to minority and women-owned firms by more than 59 percent - an increase of more than $120 million. He fought for legislation creating a program that provides working capital loans for minorities and women and ensuring a fair state contract bidding process for minority and women-owned businesses.

In addition, Governor Quinn led the charge for marriage equality and signed legislation making Illinois the 16th state in the nation to embrace full marriage equality. He also created the Governor's Office of New Americans to provide services, build partnerships and spearhead legislation to improve the integration of Illinois' two million immigrants. The Governor has also more than doubled the number of Illinois Welcoming Centers, which provide a wide range of services to newcomers.

Front Street Brewery's signature beer is called Raging River Ale.

The name is hitting a little close to home for the long-time Davenport business, which boasts two riverfront locations - one between Pershing and Perry streets on River Drive and the other in the riverfront Freight House building.

The muddy Mississippi may be knocking at the front door, but manager Jenny Ash says both locations are open and serving.

"It was a little slow at lunch today, probably because parking is hard to find," she said. "But this flood is typical and manageable."

Ash has worked at Front Street for 22 years and has been through seven major floods. Improvements in the city's flood protection plan over the years have made them much easier to deal with than the deluge in 1993 that knocked the brewery out of business for an extended period.

"When we see the Hesco barriers going in, it's very reassuring to us," she said, as several patrons stepped in to order lunch and gawk at the rising waters just outside the large picture window out front.

Downstream a bit, Ed Kraklio Jr. of Nostalgia Farms Deli said the lunch rush today was more like a trickle. Too many people don't realize that despite River Drive being closed, you can still access businesses south of the road. Still, he's pleased with the flood protection measures in place.

"We're still prepping and getting ready for the weekend," he said. "Although we will be closed on the 4th because they cancelled Red, White and Boom."

Michelle Magyar, one of the co-owners of Mid-American Glass on River Drive, said they are coping with this flood much better than the last major flood in 2011.

A recent $5 million expansion, with a new building on their site, allows them to ship out a new dock to the north, meaning they no longer need access from River Drive.

"We are an island, but it's business as usual although it's hectic," she said. "The city helped us put this new building in and we can now get in without going through the water."

Any business owner that needs assistance with flood fighting should contact Public Works at (563) 326-7923.