Regional improv comedy team to hold fundraising show in Tipton

TIPTON, IOWA–The Rock Island-based improvisation comedy troupe ComedySportz will perform at a fundraiser to benefit the Hardacre Theater Preservation Association (HTPA). The show will take place Friday night, April 4. The show is appropriate for all ages and will be held in the Tipton High School auditorium.

This is the second in a series of 2014 fundraising events presented by the HTPA, the nonprofit organization that purchased the theater in February with donor funds. The group is now raising money to renovate and update the theater.

"With this full calendar year of fundraisers, we're hoping to show the community the kind of entertainment we want to bring to the Hardacre Theater once it's renovated, including live entertainment from outside the Tipton community," said Greg Brown, HTPA president. "There will be something for everyone, and ComedySportz is really a show for everyone to enjoy."

The high-energy, all-ages ComedySportz show features two teams of improv comedy "actletes" competing for points and laughs, with a referee keeping things moving and calling fouls. Every show is unique, with new games, players, and audiences supplying all-new suggestions.

According to the ComedySportz website, "the audience of a typical ComedySportz match has everyone, from kids to grandparents and from grade schoolers to college students. Everyone has a good time, and no one gets offended. We are the perfect improv entertainment choice for the entire family or a first date. All ComedySportz matches are Rated E for everyone."

Quad Cities-based comedian Jeff Adamson will provide the opening act. Adamson has performed standup for more than 20 years, opening for such act as Jeff Dunham, Howie Mandel, Sinbad, and Darrell Hammond. The ticket price for the show will also be determined soon.

For more information, go to the HTPA website at thehardacre.org.

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WASHINGTON–Provisions within the Affordable Care Act are both boosting the economy and helping millions of Americans receive affordable, quality health care, but adequate oversight is needed for "self-funded" insurance plans, witnesses testified at a Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee hearing today.

"Of the workers who get coverage through their jobs, about three in five work for an employer who self-funds their coverage, which means that they directly assume responsibility for covering the cost of their employees' medical care," said Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA), a senior Democrat on the subcommittee. "While the ACA provides employers who self-fund with greater flexibility, it also ensures that workers with this coverage have access to many of the law's important new consumer protections."

The landmark health care law protects workers in self-insured plans in a variety of ways. It allows, for example, parents to keep their children on their coverage until the age of 26; bans annual and lifetime limits on coverage so that battling a major chronic or catastrophic disease won't lead to bankruptcy; and provides the right to an external review of a benefit denial and the right to a summary of benefits and coverage, which helps ensure insurance decisions are made fairly and empowers those comparing plan options.

Furthermore, the economy has improved since the ACA was enacted. More than 8 million new jobs have been added, and the law is reducing job lock. With increased flexibility in the labor market, workers can make career decisions, such as changing jobs or starting their own business, without worrying about their health insurance coverage.

Employers may benefit from self-funding their health insurance plans. However, there are risks to such insurance models that require sufficient governmental oversight. For example, protections may be needed to ensure that employers don't repeatedly move back and forth between the fully insured and self-insured markets in a way that could raise costs and provide instability for workers. In addition, oversight of the insurance policies that businesses use to protect against occasionally higher costs in self-insured plans, called stop-loss insurance, will help ensure that this market is stable, especially for smaller employers and their employees.

"Ultimately, self-funding will likely lower costs for some employers who choose this path. But this trend will dramatically increase costs for other employers and their employees who remain in the insured market because self-funding is not a viable alternative," said Maura D. Calsyn, Director of Health Policy at the Center for American Progress. "We must acknowledge this and other trade-offs as part of the discussion about self-funding and affordability. Oversight and regulation of stop-loss insurance, which is extremely limited today, will help stabilize the small-group market and protect both employers and employees."

For more information on the hearing, click here.

For more information on the benefits and consumer protections of the Affordable Care Act, click here.

Committee on Education and the Workforce Democrats

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Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today testified before a House committee on the Food and Drug Administration's aggressive email monitoring of employees who were concerned about the safety of certain medical devices and released an investigative report on the monitoring with Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which convened the hearing.  Grassley made the following statement on FDA comments in media reports on the agency's actions in the case.

"An FDA official is quoted as saying the agency did not target, intercept or prevent any communications to Congress.  That's false.   The FDA may not have begun the email monitoring to try to capture privileged communications with attorneys, the Office of Special Counsel and Congress, but senior managers certainly knew early on that it was happening and they kept doing it.  Emails with two Senate committees' staff and a House member's staff were all intercepted, stored, and summarized for senior managers by the FDA contractors conducting the monitoring.  The FDA is trying to deny the facts rather than own up and take responsibility for what it did."

LISLE, IL (02/26/2014)(readMedia)-- Benedictine University announced that it has awarded Associate of Arts (A.A.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degrees to 168 students who completed their degree requirements on or before December 2013.

Benedictine University has also awarded Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.), Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Master of Arts in Education (M.Ed.), Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) and Master of Science (M.S.) degrees to 261 students who completed their requirements on or before December 2013.

Nine students were awarded an Ed.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change and one was awarded a Ph.D. in Organization Development.

The December 2013 graduates include :

Jason L. Woods of Clinton. Iowa, who earned a Doctorate of Education in Higher Education and Organizational Change

Benedictine University is an independent Roman Catholic institution located in Lisle, Illinois just 25 miles west of Chicago, and has branch campuses in Springfield, Illinois and Mesa, Arizona. Founded in 1887, Benedictine provides 55 undergraduate majors and 17 graduate and four doctoral programs.

Benedictine University is ranked No. 1 among the country's fastest-growing campuses between 2001-2011 in The Chronicle of Higher Education's list of private nonprofit research institutions, and Forbes magazine named Benedictine among "America's Top Colleges" for the third consecutive year in 2013.

Benedictine University's Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program is listed by Crain's Chicago Business as the fifth largest in the Chicago area in 2013.

Group Urges Iowans to Sign Petition at: www.EndIowaDogRacing.com

DES MOINES, Iowa - Today, leaders from Dubuque and Council Bluffs gathered at the state capitol to roll out "Iowans for Ending Dog Racing" -- a new organization aimed at mobilizing support across the state to end dog racing in Iowa.

The leaders of "Iowans for Ending Dog Racing" include Dubuque Mayor Roy Buol, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation President & CEO Rick Dickinson, Council Bluffs Chamber President Bob Mundt and former Council Bluffs mayor Tom Hanafan. 

The Iowa dog racing industry requires $13 million in subsidies every year, which costs Council Bluffs and Dubuque millions in local economic development and charitable giving.  "Eliminating the requirement that dog racing remain in Dubuque would be an enormous benefit to our community in terms of millions of additional dollars that could be spent on charitable giving and local economic development," said Dubuque Mayor Roy Buol.

Ending dog racing in Iowa would also open up the land where the current track is located in Council Bluffs for new development.  "The dog track in Council Bluffs sits directly off of I-80 on one of the top potential development sites in the entire state," said former Council Bluffs mayor Tom Hanafan.  "Since attendance and interest in dog racing has dramatically declined in the last two decades, our community would benefit greatly by opening up that area for new development and job opportunities."

Iowans for Ending Dog Racing is encouraging citizens from Dubuque, Council Bluffs and across the entire state to study the facts about the dog racing industry and sign the petition to end dog racing in Iowa at www.EndIowaDogRacing.com.

The organization is also encouraging Iowans to contact their local legislator and urge him or her to support proposed legislation to end dog racing in Iowa.  The proposed bipartisan bill that has passed a committee in the Iowa House would provide the dog racing industry with $70 million over seven years to end dog racing and explore new opportunities.  In addition, each casino currently subsidizing the dog racing industry has publicly committed to keeping their track employees on staff and giving them a new role within the casinos. 

"Ending dog racing in Iowa is common sense and is strongly supported by local business, citizens and city officials in Dubuque and Council Bluffs," said Mayor Buol.  "The time has come to turn the page on dog racing and allow these communities to create new opportunities for the people of Iowa."

Get the Facts on Dog Racing in Iowa:
  • Dog racing is bad for Iowa. The more you learn about the industry, the more you will want it out of Iowa. Ready to take action? Sign the Petition to get dog racing out of Iowa.

  • Dog Racing is Illegal in Most States.  Iowa is one of only 7 states legally operating greyhound racing tracks.  Commercial dog racing is illegal in 38 states.

  • $13 Million in Subsidies Keeping Dog Racing Alive in Iowa.  The only thing keeping dog racing in business in Iowa is a state law requiring subsidies to dog racing that now total more than $13 million annually.

  • Betting on Dogs Started to Decline 3 Years After Opening in Iowa.  Live dog racing started in Iowa in 1986.  By 1989 betting on dog racing began to decline.

  • Betting is Down 97% since 1986.  Combined betting at the Mystique dog track in Dubuque and Bluffs Run Greyhound Park at Horseshoe Council Bluffs has dropped from $186 million in 1986 to just $5.9 million in 2012 - a 97 percent decline. [Des Moines Register, 1/21/14]

  • 38% of Iowa purse money goes to out-of-state dog owners.

  • Of the purse money remaining in Iowa, 95% is paid to just 25 Iowans.

  • Council Bluffs Chamber and City Support Ending Dog Racing.  The Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce has joined the Council Bluffs City Council in adopting a resolution "strongly supporting" legislation calling for the elimination of live dog racing at the Harrah's/Horseshoe Bluffs Run greyhound race park and in the state of Iowa.  On January 14th the Council voted 4-0 to end dog racing.

  • Dubuque Chamber, City and Racing Association Support Ending Dog Racing.  The Dubuque Chamber of Commerce, the City of Dubuque and the Dubuque Racing Association all support ending dog racing in Dubuque and Council Bluffs.

  • Ending Dog Racing in Council Bluffs Means More Retail, Economic Development & Jobs.  Currently racing in Council Bluffs is conducted in a near empty facility that seats more than 2,500. Located just off I-80 near Bass Pro Shops, that property could be transformed into additional retail space, attracting more customers and revenue to the area and creating more jobs for Iowans.

  • Ending Dog Racing in Dubuque Means Millions to Local Non-Profits, Economic Development.  The current law causes Dubuque's non-profit Mystique Casino to lose more than $4 million each year to subsidize dog racing. With Mystique's profits split equally between the City of Dubuque and local charities, those millions would be better used to fund volunteer first responders, security in our schools, new capital improvement projects and industrial parks.

  • Both Casinos Committed to Keeping Track Employees Employed in Casinos.  Both casinos currently subsidizing dog racing have publicly committed to keeping their track employees on staff and giving them a new role within the casinos.  In addition, quality jobs will be created by ending the subsidy requirement and directing millions of dollars towards local economic development.

  • Proposed bipartisan legislation will end dog racing in Iowa and provide Iowa greyhound breeders and kennel owners $70 million over the next seven years to wind down.
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Walk Fights Stigma and Helps Provide Free Support to Families in Six Counties

DAVENPORT, Iowa (February 26, 2014) - NAMIWalk will step forward Saturday, September 13, 2014, at Centennial Park in Davenport, Iowa, to raise public awareness about mental illness.

Sponsored by the Greater Mississippi Valley affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the walks help raise funds for free family education classes and support groups for individuals and families living with serious mental illnesses. This is the 11th year for NAMIWalk in the Quad Cities area.

NAMI works to spread the good news that early identification, and access to treatment and recovery supports, is proven effective. The affiliate serves families residing in Muscatine, Clinton, Scott Counties in Iowa and Mercer, Henry, Rock Island Counties in Illinois.

"NAMIWalk is a fun event that supports serious work," said the Greater Mississippi Valley walk manager Shari Baker. "NAMI's work is about hope and recovery, and supporting families with adults and children living with mental illness." More than 60 teams and 1,100 persons participated in the 2013 event.

An organizational meeting will be held Monday, March 10, 2014, at 6 p.m. at the NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley office, 1706 Brady Street, Suite 101, Davenport, Iowa. Corporations, labor, civic, faith and social groups are encouraged to form walk teams. For further information, please contact Shari Baker at namiwalksgmv@gmail.com or 563-322-8870.

About NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley

One in10 children and one in four adults experience a mental health disorder in any given year. Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by the age of 14. NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. This grassroots organization complements the work of mental health professionals by providing support, education and advocacy to individuals and families living with mental illness. NAMI works cooperatively through the Quad Cities Community Mental Health Initiative, serving residents in Muscatine, Clinton, Scott Counties in Iowa and Mercer, Henry, Rock Island Counties in Illinois.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Feb. 26, 2014) ? This week, the nationally-syndicated advice column "Miss Manners" advised readers on speaking with a person who stutters. Judith Martin, the legendary "Miss Manners" advice columnist since 1978, responded to an inquiry about the proper protocol when speaking with a person who stutters.

The reader asked:

"DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the proper protocol when speaking with someone who has a stutter? Is it considered helpful or rude to assist him in completing a sentence or question?"

Miss Manners responded:

"GENTLE READER: How can you assist someone in completing his or her statement unless you already know what that person was intending to say? And if you already know what is going to be said, why bother holding a conversation?

"So yes, it is considered rude to finish other people's sentences. And Miss Manners wants it to be clear that this applies not only to stutterers, but to spouses as well."

"Miss Manners nailed it," said Jane Fraser, president of the Stuttering Foundation. "We are thrilled that she chose this topic to address in her column. This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive, and her response is the perfect advice for anyone curious about speaking with a person who stutters.

Here are the 6 tips for speaking with someone who stutters, available at www.StutteringHelp.org.

1. Don't make remarks like: 'Slow down,' 'Take a breath,' or 'Relax.' Such simplistic advice can come across as demeaning rather than helpful.

2. Let the person know by your manner that you are listening to what he or she says ? not how they say it.

3. Maintain natural eye contact and wait patiently and naturally until the person is finished.

4. Refrain from finishing sentences or filling in words.

5. Be aware that those who stutter usually have more trouble controlling their speech on the telephone or in stressful situations, such as a presentation before an audience or job interview. Please be extra patient in these situations and give them some additional time to communicate their thoughts.

6. Speak in an unhurried way ? but not so slowly as to sound unnatural. This promotes good communication with everyone."

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LISLE, IL (02/26/2014)(readMedia)-- Benedictine University proudly announces that 846 students, including Joann Weeks of Pleasant Valley, Iowa, were named to the Fall 2013 Dean's List. The Dean's List recognizes full-time students who achieve a 3.5 grade point average or above.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02), who served as the Senior Democrat on the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Subcommittee of the House Education and Workforce Committee, today delivered the following opening remarks at the hearing entitled "Providing Access to Affordable, Flexible Health Plans Through Self-Insurance."

Loebsack's opening statement, as prepared for delivery, is below.

"Good morning. I want to thank Chairman Roe for calling today's hearing and thank all of the witnesses for testifying.

"The Affordable Care Act paves the way for all Americans to have access to quality, affordable health care coverage for the first time.

"While it is unacceptable that technical problems prevented people from signing up for the marketplaces at the outset, there is more than a month of open enrollment left and millions of Americans are signing up for coverage.

"As of last month, approximately 4 million people have enrolled in a marketplace plan and millions more have secured coverage through Medicaid.

"The ACA is also helping strengthen employer-sponsored coverage for the more than 150 million workers and their families who get their health insurance through employment.

"Of the workers who get coverage through their jobs, about three in five work for an employer who self-funds their coverage, which means that they directly assume responsibility for covering the cost of their employees' medical care.

"While the ACA provides employers who self-fund with greater flexibility, it also ensures that workers with this coverage have access to many of the law's important new consumer protections.

"Because of the Affordable Care Act's ban on annual and lifetime limits, workers no longer face financial ruin if they confront a chronic or catastrophic illness.

"Children can stay on their parent's plan until they are 26, including 5,400 young people in my district alone. This means that rather than worrying about whether they can afford adequate coverage at the very early stages of their careers, we are giving America's young people a chance to focus on building a strong future right from the start.

"Now workers have the right to appeal a benefit denial to an independent third party and they have the right to a summary of their benefits and coverage to help them compare costs and understand their health care plan.

"The Affordable Care Act also provides workers with greater freedom as they are no longer tied to their employer for their health care coverage. This newfound freedom gives workers greater flexibility in the labor market: they are free to make career decisions, such as changing jobs or starting their own business, without worrying about how they will continue to get health insurance.

"Employers are also benefiting from the law and saving money through such provisions as the small business tax credit and medical loss ratio. In fact, last year health care costs grew at the slowest rate in 50 years.

"Spending less on health care allows employers to create more jobs. Since the law's enactment, more than eight million new jobs have been added to the economy?and nine out of 10 of those jobs are full-time positions.

"Recent reports have indicated that more employers may be looking to self-insure.

"As part of today's hearing, I expect we will discuss the issues unique to the self-insurance market. I think this is an important conversation.

"While there are many benefits to employers who self-insure, there also can be significant financial risk.

"The recent story about AOL exemplifies the risks involved with self-insuring and re-enforces why employers must be adequately prepared if they face higher than expected health care costs.

"The CEO of AOL recently blamed the high health care costs incurred by two babies for the company's decision to cut contributions to its retirement plan.

"With 5,000 workers, AOL is not what I would consider a small employer and thus was ultimately able to absorb the costs.  They did not have to shift the costs onto employees, and, after a public outcry, they backpedaled their plan to cut retirement benefits. A smaller employer?regardless of whether they had stop-loss coverage?may not have as much flexibility to absorb unexpected costs in a self-funded plan.

"I hope today's conversation will be a constructive one and look forward to the testimony. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I yield back."

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Opening Friday, April 12, 2014

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