THIS WEEK
Friday, December 13, 8:05 p.m.
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City
Quad City Mallards vs. Rapid City Rush

Saturday, December 14, 8:05 p.m. 
Rushmore Plaze Civic Center, Rapid City
Quad City Mallards vs. Rapid City Rush

LAST WEEK
Friday, December 6
Quad City 6 Brampton 1

Saturday, December 7
Brampton 4 Quad City 3 (OT)

Sunday, December 8
Quad City 3 Brampton 2

Quad City
9-3-5 (23 points) 
tied 6th place 
Coach: Terry Ruskowski 

Rapid City 
16-2-0 (32 points) 
1st place 
Coach: Joe Ferras

QUACK TRACKS
Last Weekend
The Mallards earned five of a possible six points by going 2-0-1 in three home games in 48 hours against the Brampton Beast last weekend. The Mallards rolled to a 6-1 win last Friday before squandering a 3-1 lead and falling 4-3 in overtime one night later. Yesterday it was the Mallards who came from behind, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to take the rubber match 3-2.

Streaking
While last Saturday's overtime setback did halt the Mallards' three-game winning streak, the Mallards are now unbeaten in regulation in their last nine games (5-0-4). The Mallards have lost just once in regulation in their last 12 games (7-1-4).

Deadlock
With yesterday's win the Mallards moved into a tie for sixth place with the Beast. The Mallards find themselves tied for sixth despite boasting the league's third best winning percentage (.676) because they have played fewer games (17) than any other CHL club.

Home Sweet Home
The Mallards yesterday finished a five-game home stand 4-0-1. While last Saturday's sudden death defeat ended the Mallards' five game home winning streak, the Mallards remain unbeaten in regulation in their last seven home tilts (6-0-1).

On the Road
The Mallards play their next four games- and eight of their next nine- on the road. Each of the Mallards' last four road games and five of their first six away contests went to the shootout. The Mallards won just one of those shootouts. They have gone 1-1-4 on the road overall.

Goals, Goals, Goals
The Mallards remain the league leaders in goals per game (4.1). Yesterday the Mallards for the first time this season won in regulation while scoring fewer than four goals.

Late Show
Yesterday, the Mallards got a game winning goal in the final minute of regulation- from Gergo Nagy with 27 seconds remaining- for the second time this season. Mike Hellyer scored with 55 seconds left in the Mallards' November 9 game against Denver to give the Mallards a 4-3 win over the Cutthroats.

Shorty
Yesterday's game winner was also Nagy's second shorthanded goal of the season and the Mallards' fourth man-down goal in just their last seven games. Three of those four shorthanded goals have either tied or won the game for the Mallards in the third period..

Streaking, Take 2
Jim McKenzie is on a five-game point-scoring streak (4-3-7) while Vladimir Nikiforov yesterday saw his five-game point streak (1-5-6) come to an end. Nagy has recorded seven points (three goals and four assists) in just his last four games.

Between The Pipes
Thomas Heemskerk remains unbeaten in regulation (5-0-3) and has gone 3-0-1 while playing four straight games.

Leaders
Thomas Frazee is tied for seventh in the CHL in plus/minus rating (+11) while Jeff Lee and Nicholas Roux (+10) are tied for ninth...Among rookies Frazee is tied for second in assists (12), ranks fourth in points (17) and is tied for sixth in goals (5)...Heemskerk ranks fourth in goals against average (2.68) and fifth in save percentage (.915).

Milestones
Matt Duffy collected his one hundredth career point- an assist- last Saturday after playing his one hundredth game as a Mallard last Friday...Vladimir Nikiforov recorded his two hundredth career point- an assist- last Friday...Darren McMillan has collected 96 career CHL assists...Matt Boyd has played 193 career games.

OK in OKC
Goaltender Ty Rimmer was recalled from the Mallards by the American Hockey League's Oklahoma City Blazers last Monday and last weekend went 1-0-1 in three AHL games with a 2.65 goals against average and .930 save percentage.

Special Teams
The Mallards have dipped to eighth in the CHL in power play efficiency (15.2 percent) after going 1-for-12 on the power play last weekend and 1-for-18 over their last three-plus games. Duffy's power play goal in the second period of yesterday's game ended an 0-for-16 man advantage drought for the Mallards. The Mallards rank fifth in penalty killing (83.1 percent) and are now tied for second in shorthanded goals (4).

Head to Head
Friday's game is the second of six this season between the Mallards and Rush. The Mallards dropped their opener to Rapid City 6-4 on home ice on October 19. All-time the Mallards have gone 9-7-1 against the Rush and have posted a record of 4-3-0 in Rapid City. The Mallards' Jeff Lee skated for the Rush last season while there are four former Mallards on the Rapid City roster- Jared Brown, Eric Giosa, Ryan Palmer and Bob Preece. Brown and Preece are currently on injured reserve.

Ins and Outs
In the wake of Rimmer's AHL recall last Monday the Mallards signed goaltender Nick Niedert last Tuesday..

NEXT HOME GAME
Saturday, December 21, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. St. Charles Chill
Mallards Knit Cap Giveaway
The first 1,000 fans through the doors for the Mallards' December 21 game at the iWireless Center will receive free Mallards knit caps courtesy of CBS 4 and Bierstube.

ON THE AIR
Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Power Sports Performance.  Mallards games broadcast on AM 1230 also stream live online at www.wfxn.net.  A limited number of Mallards games- including Saturday's contest- will not air on Fox Sports Radio 1230 due to conflicts with University of Illinois basketball and football and Green Bay Packer football.  Free audio webcasts of games that do not air on AM 1230 are available at myqcmallards.com.  CHL-TV pay-per-view video webcasts of all Mallards games are also available at myqcmallards.com.  For a full Mallards broadcast/webcast schedule, go to myqcmallards.com/schedule/broadcast_schedule/.

TICKETS
Single Game Tickets
Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season contests are now available.  Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 orinfo@myqcmallards.com for more information about tickets.  Single game tickets are also available at the i wireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free.  The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

Group Tickets
Groups of at least ten can receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of other great group benefits.  Mallards group tickets are a great fit for youth organizations, friends, co-workers, family groups, religious groups, school functions and business events.  For more group ticket information, fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com.

 

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CEDAR RAPIDS - Today, Rep. Tyler Olson's Campaign Manager, Alex Youn, released the following statement regarding the news of the Toledo Juvenile Home closing: 

Governor Terry Branstad's mismanagement of the Toledo Juvenile Home continued today. Choosing to close the Toledo Juvenile Home is a poor decision made in secrecy. Governor Branstad's lack of oversight resulted in unsafe conditions and now further turmoil for the home's residents.
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with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Q:        What's held up the Defense Authorization bill?

A:       Action stalled in November on the $625 billion defense bill because the Democratic leader refused to agree on allowing additional amendments, beyond those he supports, to be considered during floor debate.  This time the legislative logjam affects national security and U.S. troops.  In addition to military funding that would be authorized, the bill gives lawmakers an opportunity to legislate policy reforms.  Throughout this year I have laid bipartisan groundwork to advance measures designed to strengthen morale among our men and women in uniform.  A recent Pentagon study surveyed 100,000 active-duty service members.  It found 26,000 members experienced offenses ranging from sexual harassment to sexual assault.  Fewer than 3,400 reported the incidents.  These numbers reflect a failure of leadership among the top brass to address an issue that has raised questions about the culture of the U.S. military since the 1991 Tailhook scandal two decades ago.  The survey suggests the chain of command is unwilling or unable to address this sensitive issue when more than one-quarter of respondents experienced sexual misconduct, but less than four percent stepped forward to report it.  Policymakers can't afford to allow a culture of sexual misconduct to continue harming our troops and the military's reputation.  Doing so would add up to bigger problems that damage recruitment, retention and readiness.

Q:        What are the bipartisan reforms you are championing to combat sexual misconduct within the military?

A: The first is called the Military Whistleblower Protection Act. This amendment would beef up laws intended to protect those who report sexual assault, fraud or other misconduct within the military.  Blowing the whistle on wrongdoing should not result in retaliation and victimization of those who come forward to tell the truth.  It would extend reporting rules from 60 days to one year and require corrective relief to victims and discipline measures for those who retaliate. It would include support for victims as well as witnesses.  This reform would empower service men and women to come forward and report wrongdoing without fear of reprisal.  Victims and witnesses should not have to worry that telling the truth would negatively impact their military careers.

The second is called the Military Justice Improvement Act.  The military has a blemished track record to prevent and prosecute sexual assaults among its ranks that calls for long overdue reforms.  This bill would empower victims to come forward by taking the judicial process for sexual assault cases outside the chain of command.  I'm working to help build bipartisan support from lawmakers to get this reform adopted once and for all.  It would send an important message to the troops.  Sexual predators who prey on their victims within the service branches of the military must stand down.  They disgrace the code of honor upheld by the vast majority of men and women in uniform and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  This is a law enforcement issue to help ensure impartial justice.

These reforms would show that the people's branch of the federal government stands up for our brave men and women who put themselves in harm's way to protect the blessings of freedom.

Q:        What other amendments are you working to include in the defense bill?

A: As a longtime watchdog for the taxpaying public, I'm supporting two reforms that would protect tax dollars from wasteful spending, including a bipartisan amendment that would limit taxpayer-reimbursed compensation for defense contractor executives.  Under current law, the compensation reimbursement cap for federal government contractors would automatically increase from $763,029 to $952,308, retroactive to January 2012.  When the Pentagon and other federal bureaucracies are being asked to tighten their belts to stay within the budget caps, it just doesn't square that taxpayers will be on the hook for exorbitant salaries for government contractors.  I can tell you that not one taxpayer, in my thousands of meetings in each of Iowa' 99 counties in the last 33 years, has said this is a reasonable use of tax dollars.  The second reform would improve processes to audit the Pentagon's books.  The Department of Defense needs better tools to ensure that money spent is money owed.

I'm also advancing proposals that would make more effective use of the nation's military arsenals, such as the Rock Island Arsenal, to include a requirement that the military consider arsenals when looking at fulfilling equipment needs.

Finally, I'm throwing my support behind two amendments to improve services for veterans. The first is an amendment that would help recruit the best and brightest medical professionals to the Veterans Administration medical system by allowing VA doctors to access an existing program that provides loan forgiveness and scholarships to doctors working in underserved areas.  The second is an amendment that would protect the integrity of veterans programs that help those returning from active military service to transition to the private sector. The amendment would clarify the term "veteran" as one who served in the Armed Forces.  It would end a loophole that allows individuals to game the system by claiming "veteran status" based solely on attendance of a military prep school.  It would not affect those who attend a military service academy or who enlist in the military after attending a military prep school.  The Support Earned Recognition of Veterans Act would clarify the definition of a veteran to exclude claims made by those who only attended a military prep school from obtaining hiring preferences, "veteran-owned small business status" or lifetime compensation benefits.

Let's hope the Senate Majority Leader will have a change of mind when the Senate resumes consideration of the defense authorization bill and allow these and other amendments to be debated.  These are sensible reforms that would protect the taxpaying public, support the troops and help get the U.S. military get off to a good start in the New Year.

Monday, December 9, 2013

by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Among the objectives named in the preamble of the Constitution, the Founders specified one of the primary responsibilities of governance for the newly formed republic is to provide for the nation's common defense.  For more than two centuries, the United States of America has protected its borders, people, international commerce and national security backed up by a civilian controlled military funded by the taxpaying public.

Our system of checks and balances works to keep the military under civilian control.  The Constitution specifies the president serves as commander in chief.  The people's branch appropriates and the executive branch spends money to provide for the Armed Services.  This dual authority works to ensure the military serves, not subverts, we the people.

Since our nation's founding, policymakers have debated the merits of the size, scope and strategy of the nation's military. Between the White House and Congress, presidents and lawmakers have used the strength of the U.S. military to maintain peace, protect and defend the blessings of freedom and provide for national security.

Generations of Americans owe a debt of gratitude to those who have served in the Armed Forces, putting their lives on the line and often separating from their families to serve, defend and protect.

Although the U.S. military serves a critical role in upholding the nation's common defense, lawmakers should not issue blank checks to the Department of Defense.  In fact, my longstanding crusade to protect the taxpaying public has exposed serious financial mismanagement at the Pentagon that undermines military readiness and exposes cultural, systemic flaws that weaken this critical institution of the federal government.

Protecting the taxpaying public and providing for the nation's common defense are not mutually exclusive.  Too many people in Washington think that throwing more money at something will solve the world's problems.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

As Congress works to dial back the spending spigot that has created a $17 trillion national debt, I am working to hold the line on overspending.  As keepers of the public purse, lawmakers need to demand more accountability for each tax dollar, including defense spending. Although no one thinks the across-the-board sequester was the smartest way to hold spending to the level Congress agreed to live under, I reject the notion that there are no parts of the federal budget that can be cut and the only solution is to ditch the spending caps that have forced Uncle Sam to borrow and spend less of taxpayers' money.

For those who ballyhoo that the sky will fall if the Pentagon's budget is trimmed further, I would direct their attention to the apparent shenanigans of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).  What's worse, the independent watchdog at the Pentagon may have schemed with DFAS and turned a blind eye to problems with the agency's financial statements to snow policymakers and the public.

One of my earliest crusades against government waste started at the Pentagon.  At that time, a Pentagon maverick reported serious fiscal mismanagement and an astonishing waste of tax dollars.  Remember the $500 hammers and $7,600 coffee pots?  It's been a few years since I drove my orange Chevette to the Pentagon from Capitol Hill to track down answers about bloated defense budgets.  Thanks to the courage and pursuit of the truth from a civil servant at the Defense Department, we succeeded in exposing fantasy financials that front-loaded the budget with massive, unaffordable programs.  At the time, the Pentagon was flushing tax money down the drain with $700 toilet seats.  His testimony at a joint congressional hearing helped lead to a freeze on the defense budget build-up at the height of the farm crisis in the mid-80s, sparing taxpayers billions of dollars.  Ever since, I've championed all means necessary through oversight and legislation to hold the Pentagon accountable for the money it spends to uphold the nation's common defense.

As Abe Lincoln discovered during the Civil War, there's no shortage of profiteers who troll federal spending for financial gain.  Or in the case of the DFAS, allegedly fudging the numbers to mislead policymakers and protect its funding stream.  It takes a tireless commitment to prevent the taxpaying public from getting fleeced. Sometimes it feels like paddling upstream, especially as the federal government has a record of using antiquated systems to track spending and prevent fraud.

Rooting out waste, fraud and abuse is hard enough even with proper auditing tools.  So if integrity at the auditing shop in the Inspector General's office is up for grabs, policymakers would have better luck finding a needle in an Iowa haystack than getting accurate numbers to make the right spending decisions.  If this episode is a reflection of widespread "financial delusions" the DFAS conducts throughout the Pentagon, then Congress needs to tighten, not loosen, the purse strings until the Department of Defense can right its fiscal ship.

Monday, December 9, 2013
Monday, Dec. 9, 2013

Here is information about Senator Grassley's schedule this week.  The Senate is in session.

Senator Grassley will meet with Iowans in Washington from the Iowa Bankers Association and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Senator Grassley will meet with Iowa families visiting Washington from Waukee and Ankeny.

Senator Grassley will be a guest on public affairs programs hosted by Mike Savage on KBUR in Burlington and Scott Voorhees on KFAB in Omaha.

On Tuesday, December 10, at 10 a.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will participate in a Finance Committee hearing on the nomination of John Andrew Koskinen to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue.

On Wednesday, December 11, at 2 p.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will participate in a Judiciary Committee hearing on "Continued Oversight of US Government Surveillance Authorities."

On Wednesday, December 11, at 2:30 p.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will attend a members' only briefing on Iran.

On Thursday, December 12, at 10 a.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will participate in the weekly executive business meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  The committee may consider the nominations of John B. Owens to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Michelle T. Friedland to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Nancy L. Moritz to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit, David Jeremiah Barron to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit, Matthew Frederick Leitman to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, Judith Ellen Levy to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, Laurie J. Michelson to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, Linda Vivienne Parker to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, Christopher Reid Cooper to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia, Gerald Austin McHugh, Jr. to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, M. Douglas Harpool to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri, Edward G. Smith to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Sheryl H. Lipman to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee, Stanley Allen Bastian to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington, Manish S. Shah to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, Peter Joseph Kadzik to be an Assistant Attorney General, Robert L. Hobbs to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas, and Gary L. Blankinship to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of Texas.  The committee may also consider S.619, Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013, sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy and Rand Paul; S.1410, Smarter Sentencing Act of 2013, sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin, Mike Lee and Patrick Leahy; S.1675, Recidivism Reduction and Public Safety Act of 2013, sponsored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse; and S.975, Court-Appointed Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act, sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar and John Cornyn.

On Thursday, December 12, at 10 a.m. (ET), Senator Grassley will participate in a Finance Committee mark up meeting to consider an original bill to repeal the sustainable growth rate system and to consider health care extenders; and the Supporting At-Risk Children Act.

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Washington, D.C - Congressman Dave Loebsack today announced that his office is now accepting applications from Iowa college students to participate in a Congressional internship program in his Washington, D.C. office. The internship program is open to undergraduate students and recent graduates, regardless of major.

"As a former teacher, I have seen the benefits that internships can provide by giving students a firsthand look into the government process," said Loebsack. "I encourage all hardworking, motivated students and recent graduates to apply."

Interns will have the opportunity to learn about the legislative process and the federal government by working closely with the legislative, communications and constituent services staff members. Interested candidates should email their cover letter, resume, a short writing sample and a letter of recommendation to LoebsackInternship@mail.house.gov.

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We thank those of you who came out to our concerts this past weekend to hear our Concertmaster Naha Greenholtz perform the music of Jennifer Higdon and Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 led by Guest Conductor Alasdair Neale. We hope you enjoyed the show.

Even if you were unable to attend this weekend's concert, we'd love to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey. Your input is very important to us as we strive to improve our services at the QCSO.

And now to announce the winner of our drawing for the iPad Mini...
Congratulations to Carol Cather!

If you would like to enjoy the concert again, it will be rebroadcast by our media partner WVIK-Augustana Public Radio on December 15 at 7:00 p.m. Be sure to tune in at 90.3 FM or listen online at www.wvik.org.

DES MOINES -Today, the Branstad Administration announced its secretive decision to close the Iowa Juvenile Home and outsource the services the Juvenile Home provides to some of Iowa's most troubled youth.

"We are shocked to hear the Governor's office has taken this course of action. Many groups have been working together to solve the issues at the Iowa Juvenile Home. Not only is this a sad day for the workers, but it is a sad day for the Iowa's troubled youth displaced because of the Governor's actions," said AFSCME Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan.

"The troubled youth at the Juvenile Home deserved a truly open decision making process that sought a dialogue with all Iowans, including legislators. The students at the Juvenile Home deserved an honest and public discussion about how the students will receive assistance in the future. Governor Branstad's closed door decision making process failed to live up to these principles and the Governor's pledge for transparency in state government," added Homan.

Juvenile Home employees have and continue to be willing partners in addressing the failures of management policies at the Juvenile Home.

"Our members and our union will continue to advocate for troubled youth and for the state's responsibility to see them through their difficult times," said Homan.

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Rock Island, IL - The Moline Foundation recently awarded a $2,500 grant to Christian Care to help fund their 24-hour crisis hotline. "Part of our mission is to provide support and resources," said Dr. Elaine Winter, the organization's chief executive officer. "And one of the most effective ways to fulfill our mission every day is through our 24-hour crisis hotline, where we will receive over 1,000 phone calls this year from individuals who need safe shelter, food, and other community resources. We're grateful that the Moline Foundation is once again providing funds for this much-needed service."

Christian Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization operating two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for abused women and children and a rescue mission for homeless men. It serves homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and those with mental illnesses.

Christian Care's community meal site is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays Monday through Friday, and for breakfast and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast is served at 6:30 a.m., lunch at 12:15 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m. If you know of someone in need, call Christian Care's crisis hotline any hour of the day at (309) 788-2273 or visit online at christiancareqc.org.

New Round of Funding to Spur Housing Construction and Preservation, Support 2,400 Jobs in Communities Across Illinois

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced more than 1,470 affordable apartments will be created or preserved for working families, seniors and people with disabilities in communities across the state. Today's announcement is part of the Governor's agenda to ensure quality affordable housing for working families, seniors and people with disabilities across Illinois.

"Easing the cost of housing for hard-working families, seniors and people with disabilities is a priority in Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "We must do everything we can to both increase and preserve quality affordable housing to help working families achieve housing stability and create thousands of jobs."

Financing for the apartments was approved from two sources - the federal low-income housing tax credit (Housing Credit) and the Illinois Housing Development Authority's (IHDA) Preservation Now program. A new round of Housing Credit financing will support the construction and rehabilitation of 1,021 units in 16 developments in the areas of Chicago, Metro East, Springfield and Peoria. Under the state's Preservation Now program, more than 450 units of affordable housing for hard-working families and seniors will be preserved in six developments located in Southern Illinois, Peoria and the Quad Cities. This combined financing will support an estimated 2,400 jobs statewide and local real estate tax and revenue will be generated to spur economic activity. Under Governor Quinn, the IHDA has financed the creation and preservation of more than 17,800 rental homes statewide.

As the state's housing finance agency, the IHDA allocates the federal Housing Credits through a competitive process to finance qualified affordable housing developments. With the recent approval of the IHDA board, developers will now seek private investment for the new developments. Work to build new housing or rehabilitate existing multifamily developments will generate construction and post-construction jobs. Construction is expected to begin by next spring.

In 1986, Congress created the federal tax credit program to spur the development of affordable housing. It is widely considered the most productive affordable housing financing tool in the nation. The sale of federal housing credits to private investors generates equity, and this equity reduces the need for the developer to borrow money for the new development. This savings results in lower rents.

This was the second round of funding under the Preservation Now program, which Governor Quinn launched this year. Last month, the IHDA approved financing to preserve an additional 600 affordable rental units for seniors and people with disabilities in Chicago and Peoria, creating more than an estimated 500 jobs. Approximately $245 million in project-based rental subsidy will be preserved over the next 20 years as a result of Preservation Now, which provides funding through the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund and other resources. Trust Fund revenue is generated from half of the state real estate transfer fee.

"Governor Quinn is a strong advocate for leveraging public-private partnerships to meet the affordable housing needs of the state's low- to moderate-income residents," IHDA Executive Director Mary R. Kenney said. "The Housing Credit and Governor Quinn's Preservation Now program effectively safeguard the affordability of these developments for decades."

To qualify for the affordable units, residents must earn at or below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), or $35,340 in the Chicago area, $32,280 in the Springfield area, or $33,240 in Madison County for a two-person household.

Developments approved for financing include :

·         Nehemiah Homes in Springfield - A new construction family development of 30 rental single-family homes will be built on various sites in Springfield's Eastside neighborhood. Developed by the Calvary Mission Baptist Church, this is the third phase of the Nehemiah Homes development initiated to provide decent affordable housing after storms ravaged the area.

·         Aurora Impact Initiative in Aurora - Forty units of vacant single-family homes will be acquired and rehabilitated to return to the market as rental housing in Aurora. All units will receive rental assistance through the Aurora Housing Authority.

·         Wisdom Village of Oak Street - An abandoned building and unused tennis courts on Chicago's Near North Side will be replaced with a 106-unit new construction mixed-income development for seniors.

·         Bloomington-Normal Scattered Site - In the Bloomington-Normal area, 26 vacant single-family homes will be acquired and rehabilitated to return to the market as rental homes. Work will include upgrades to add more energy-efficient features.

·         May Apartments in Edwardsville - An existing independent living development serving seniors and people with disabilities will be rehabilitated, and a new wing will be built in Edwardsville - creating and preserving 70 affordable apartments.

·         Shawnee Village in Marion - The 120-unit Shawnee Village for working families and seniors in Marion will be equipped with new flooring, roof and HVAC replacements, energy efficient appliance and lighting upgrades.

·         Sandburg Village Apartments in Galesburg - New flooring, windows, roof and HVAC replacements, energy efficient appliance and lighting upgrades will be added to the 128-unit Sandburg Village Apartments in Galesburg.

For a full list of approved developments, please visit www.ihda.org/about/news.

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