The Quad Cities River Bandits' opening day is Thursday, April 3, at the #1 Minor League Ballpark in the country, according to USA Today. Modern Woodmen Park in downtown Davenport, Iowa, is consistently ranked among the top minor league ballparks for its stunning view of the Mississippi River.

Niabi Zoo opens on Monday, April 7, 2014, for their season. Get a passport to Africa to see the graceful giraffes, the King of the Jungle lion, colobus monkeys and more, or take an Australian Walkabout with wallabies and lorikeets. Visit the Jungle Trek for hands-on activities about rainforests and the place for frog-lovers. Niabi Zoo, 13010 Niabi Zoo Rd. in Coal Valley, Ill., is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and longer hours in the summer.

The 850-person capacity Celebration Belle riverboat starts its cruises the first week of April. It is the largest non-gaming luxury excursion vessel on the upper Mississippi River. The boat offers lunch and dinner cruises, big band cruises, sightseeing, and specialty cruises. Contact 800-297-0034 or celebrationbelle.com for its schedule and more information.

The Twilight riverboat offers two-day overnight cruises from LeClaire, Iowa, to Dubuque, Iowa. Cruises include all meals, activities, and lodging.

Walnut Grove was a Scott County cross-roads settlement and stage coach stop in the 1860s. The Walnut Grove Pioneer Village now includes 18 historic buildings to tour, some relocated from rural Scott County. It is open daily April through October 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Village is located in Scott County Park, 18817 290th Street, Long Grove, Iowa.

According to folklore, springtime is the BEST season for pixie spotting! Children are invited to the Pixie Tea on Sunday, April 6th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island, Ill. In the lush enchanted garden, find tea and pixie treats. There will be magical crafts for the children and the gift of a pixie wand for remembering the day! (Reservations are required.)

Ballet Quad Cities premieres their interpretation of Igor Stravinsky's famous Rite of Spring, one of the most inspiring and challenging ballets ever written. International renowned director and choreographer Elie Lazar will also premier his new piece set to Appalachian Spring. Performances are Saturday, April 12 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with live music provided by Orchestra Iowa at the Adler Theatre, 136 E. 3rd Street in Davenport, Iowa.

Join in the inaugural Tour de Brew of the Quad Cities on Saturday, April 12. Registration starts at 12 noon at the Front Street Tap Room at the Freight House, 421 W. River Dr. in Davenport. This bicycle ride follows the bike trail to visit 5 different stops before returning to Front Street by 5 p.m. It's a poker ride format with a donation of your choosing to the LIVESTRONG Foundation.

Look for spring crafts at the German American Heritage Center in Davenport on Saturday, April 12, during their Eiermarkt (Egg Market) and Spring Craft Fair. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local and regional vendors sell their springtime wares including decorated eggs, carvings, baked goods, and more!

Celebrate with the Easter Egg Scramble 5K Run on Saturday, April 19. The 9:00 a.m. start/finish is in the Historic Village of East Davenport. Those who choose to run or walk the event will receive a swag bag. Brunch-style breakfast items will be available along with your typical refreshments. A live band rocks the 11th Street Precinct, and don't forget photos with the Easter Bunny. There is also an Easter Egg Hunt for children 8 years of age and younger.

The annual free Stroll Through Springtime is Saturday, April 26th from 7:00 a.m. until noon at the Black Hawk State Historic Site, 1510 46th Ave. in Rock Island, Ill. All events are free, and participants can come for any or all of the events. Birds will be the focus of groups going in the field from 7-9 a.m. Expert leaders will help to locate both resident and migratory birds. At 9 a.m., enjoy refreshments inside the Lodge, including wild violet jelly and a short program about invasive plants. At 10:00 a.m., participants will walk outside to observe and identify wildflowers.

By: Larry Katzen

It remains one of the greatest travesties in the history of American business: In 2001, the 85,000 employees of one of the world's largest accounting firms began losing their jobs in droves. Their employer had become tainted by its loose association with Enron  Corp., a financial house of cards that was imploding and taking with it billions of dollars in employee pensions and shareholder investments.

In 2002, accounting firm Arthur Andersen was convicted of charges related to Enron's fraudulent practices. The charges had nothing to do with the quality of their auditing - or any of Enron's illicit practices. The conviction was appealed, and in 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court struck it down in a unanimous vote. But the damage had already been done.

To date, despite millions of records being subpoenaed, there is no evidence Arthur Andersen ever did anything wrong. Still, perceptions are everything: Most people are not aware that the accounting firm, which led the industry in establishing strict, high standards, became a government scapegoat.

When I speak to groups across the country, I ask the following questions. Below are the typical responses I receive - and the actual facts.

1. What do you remember about Arthur Andersen?

Typical Response: They were the ones that helped facilitate the Enron fraud. They deserved what they got.

Fact: Arthur Andersen was the largest and most prestigious firm in the country. It was considered the gold standard of the accounting profession by the business community.

2. For what was Arthur Andersen indicted?

Typical Response: They messed up the audit of Enron and signed off on false financial statements.

Fact: They were indicted for shredding documents. These documents were drafts and other items that do not support the final product. All accounting firms establish policies for routinely shredding such documents.

3. How long was it between the Enron blowup and when Arthur Andersen went out of business?

Typical Response: One to three years.

Fact: The largest accounting firm in the world was gone in 90 days.

4. Was the indictment upheld?

Typical Response: Yes, that is why they went out of business.

Fact: No. The Supreme Court overruled the lower court in a 9-0 decision, and came to the conclusion within weeks, making it one of their quickest decisions ever.

5. How many people lost their jobs as a result of the false accusations?

Typical Response: Have no idea, but the partners got what they deserved.

Fact: Eighty-five thousand people lost their jobs and only a few thousand were partners. Most were staff people and clericals who made modest sums of money.

6. Who benefited from Arthur Andersen going out of business?

Typical Response: Everyone - we finally got rid of those crooks and made a statement to the rest of business to operate ethically.

Facts: It was not the Arthur Andersen people; they lost their jobs. It was not the clients; they had to go through the stress and expense of finding a new auditing firm. It was not the business world in general: It now has fewer firms from which to choose and rates increased. It was their competitors who benefited- they got Andersen's best people and clients and were able to increase their rates and profitability.

7. What accounting firms now have ex Arthur Andersen partners playing leadership roles in their firms?

Typical Response: None

Facts: The "big four," all the large middle-tier firms and many small firms have former Arthur Andersen partners in leadership positions. Finally, many members of the new Public Accounting oversight Board (PCAOB), which oversees these firms, now have former Arthur Andersen people involved in reviewing the quality of these firms.

About Larry Katzen

Larry Katzen, author of "And You Thought Accountants were Boring - My Life Inside Arthur Andersen," (www.LarryRKatzen.com), worked at Arthur Andersen from 1967 to 2002, quickly rising through the ranks to become a partner at age 30. His new memoir details the government's unjust persecution of a company known for maintaining the highest standards.

Representatives from the United Soybean Board (USB) and the American Soybean Association (ASA) will soon join their fellow soybean farmers from South America in China to represent the International Soy Growers Alliance (ISGA). The ISGA delegation will meet with industry and government officials to discuss the commitment of farmers from both hemispheres to being good partners in providing a safe and stable food supply.

Please join North Dakota soybean farmer and USB treasurer Jared Hagert and Iowa soybean farmer and ASA president Ray Gaesser via teleconference to discuss this important mission.

Dubuque, Iowa- March 3, 2014– The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College debuts a 110 foot panoramic group portrait of hundreds of festival-goers at DubuqueFest 2013. The Exhibit is open March 15th through April 25th and a special reception will take place Sunday, April 6th.

The panorama was shot by Dubuque artist Tim Olson and photographer Tony Moline on May 18th and 19th, 2013 in Dubuque's Washington Park. The photographers used a massive 1930s era studio camera. It was modified by metal worker Jim Avery so that it could be wheeled through the park. At 10 foot intervals, the photographers stopped and exposed a single sheet of black and white 5"x7" film. Over the course of the festival they photographed over 600 people on 220 sheets of film. Moline helped keep
track of the subjects and gathered signatures which have been worked into the final print. He also used a digital camera to take in-between and background shots. After the festival, Olson processed the film then digitally stitched the single photographs together to create the seamless, 110 footlong photograph on exhibit. The final print has the look of black and white panoramic photographs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In 2012 Olson and the Center for Dubuque History partnered on A City at Work: 1912 and 2012, a photographic project that created a historic comparison of Dubuquers at work 100 years apart. During research for the project Olson was intrigued by the challenge of panorama photography and decided to try his hand at the festival.

A free reception for the exhibit on Sunday, April 6th, 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Center which will feature a short documentary by filmmaker Tim Connery about the making of the panorama. Refreshments will be served and the artist will be on hand to answer any questions. The Center for Dubuque History (CDH) is located in the lower level of the Academic Resource Center (the library) on the Loras College Campus. For CDH hours see: Loras.edu/library

This project was made possible by funding from the DubuqueFest Fine Arts Festival, Art Gumbo, and the Iowa Arts Council. For more about the DubuqueFest Panorama see: ACityAtWork.com.

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