MOLINE, Ill. (December 6, 2013) - Jim McKenzie scored twice and the host Quad City Mallards pulled away with three third period goals on the way to a 6-1 win over the Brampton Beast Friday night. The victory stretched the Mallards' winning streak to three straight games and extended their regulation unbeaten streak to seven games (4-0-3).

A McKenzie tip-in opened the scoring and gave the Mallards a lead the would never relinquish at 8:42 of the first period. With just 1:25 left in the first Mike Hellyer (who also had an assist) buried a rebound to double the Mallard advantage.

The Beast cut the gap to 2-1 when Andrew Fournier batted in a power play goal from the doorstep at 10:15 of the second period, but McKenzie would score for the second time and kick off a run of four unanswered Mallard goals by pouncing on a rebound at 11:33 of the second.

The third period Mallard onslaught started when Mike Stinziani (who also picked up an assist) widened the margin to 4-1 from close range at 7:08. At 14:37 Tyler Yaworski scored his first career goal from the left wing circle and just 58 seconds later Darren McMillan capped off the win by rifling in a Gergo Nagy feed- the assist was Nagy's third of the game- from the high slot.

The Mallards' Rivalry Weekend presented by Pub 1848 continues when the Mallards host the Beast tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m and Sunday at 4:05 p.m. The Mallards will join in the spirit of the holiday season by accepting Toys for Tots donations at their games Saturday and Sunday. Fans will receive $3 off a ticket to either of those games for each new toy they donate at the iWireless Center.

Tickets for all Mallards regular season home games can be purchased at the iWireless Center ticket office, Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  The ticket 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.

MOLINE, Ill. (December 7, 2013) - Jason Pitton scored at 1:20 of overtime to give the Brampton Beast a come from behind 4-3 win over the host Quad City Mallards Saturday night. The Mallards, who earned one point for the sudden death loss, remain unbeaten in regulation in their last eight games (4-0-4).

Pitton capped of the Beast's rally from a 3-1 deficit by sweeping in the rebound after Mallard goaltender Thomas Heemskerk (29 saves) stopped his initial point blank bid.

The game went to the extra period after Matt Caruana steered in Rob Collins's feed from the slot to even the score at three at 8:36 of the third. Calin Wild's power play tip-in had started the Brampton comeback at 6:51 of the second period.

The Mallards had seized the initiative first by scoring three times in the opening period. Vladimir Nikiforov's solo rush gave the Mallards a 1-0 lead at 5:27 of the first. Jeff Lee buried Jim McKenzie's centering pass to stretch the gap to a pair at 12:13. The Beast cut the Mallard lead in half when Dan Milan's shot from the left point was deflected home at the 14:15 mark, but Gergo Nagy scored from the slot just a minute and a half minutes later to reestablish the two goal margin. The Mallards however, would not score again.

The Mallards' Rivalry Weekend presented by Pub 1848 concludes when the Mallards host the Beast for the third time in as many days tomorrow at 4:05 p.m.

The Mallards will join in the spirit of the holiday season by accepting Toys for Tots donations at tomorrow's game. Fans will receive $3 off a regularly priced ticket to tomorrow's contest for each new toy they donate at the iWireless Center.

Tomorrow also sees the Mallards play their first Sunday home game of the season and, thus, give fans their first chance to take advantage of the Harris Pizza Puck and Pizza Package. With the Harris Pizza Puck and Pizza Package, fans can purchase four lower level tickets for just $55 or four upper level seats for only $45 and receive a certificate for a free large single topping pizza from Harris Pizza. The Puck and Pizza Package is available at the iWireless Center Box Office for all Wednesday and Sunday games.

Families will have a further chance to save on tickets to tomorrow's game- tickets to that contest are available at the iWireless Center ticket office to children 12 and under for just $1 with the purchase of a regularly priced adult ticket.

Mallards players will join fans for a postgame party at Pub 1848 immediately after tomorrow's tilt. Pub 1848 is located at 1601 River Drive in Moline.

Also after tomorrow's game, fans will have the chance to meet a pair of Mallards for autographs and photographs at each of two Governor's Pub & Grill locations. Nick Grasso and Thomas Frazee will stop by Governor's at 2180 53rd Street in Moline while Darren McMillan and Mike Monfredo will be at Governor's at 3470 Middle Road in Bettendorf.

Tickets for tomorrow's weekend finale and all Mallards regular season home games can be purchased at the iWireless Center ticket office, Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  The ticket 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.

MOLINE, Ill. (December 8, 2013) - Gergo Nagy scored the game winning shorthanded goal with just 27 seconds left in the third period as the host Quad City Mallards rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Brampton Beast 3-2 Sunday.  With the victory, the Mallards extended their regulation unbeaten streak to nine games (5-0-4).

Nagy capped of the Mallards' comeback by firing the puck in off Brampton goaltender Grant Rollheiser from the top of the left wing circle. Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel had set the stage for Nagy's late winner by one timing the tying goal from the high slot at 7:49 of third period. The Mallard recovery started when Matt Duffy wristed a power play goal home from the slot to cut the gap to 2-1 at 8:38 of the second period.

The Mallards found themselves down by a pair after the Beast scored twice in two minutes and thirteen seconds early in the second. Tyler Michel gave Brampton a 1-0 lead by scoring from the side of the net at 3:45 of the middle frame. Dan Milan's power play blue line blast doubled the Beast advantage at the 5:48 mark but the Mallards would bounce back in dramatic fashion.

The Mallards return to action next Friday against the Rush in Rapid City. The Mallards next play at home Saturday, December 21 at 7:05 p.m. against the St. Charles Chill. The first 1,000 fans through the doors for that game will receive free Mallards knit caps courtesy of CBS 4 and Bierstube.

Tickets for the December 21 tilt and all Mallards regular season home games can be purchased at the iWireless Center ticket office, Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  The ticket 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.

The Mallards return to action next Friday against the Rush in Rapid City. The Mallards next play at home Saturday, December 21 at 7:05 p.m. against the St. Charles Chill. The first 1,000 fans through the doors for that game will receive free Mallards knit caps courtesy of CBS 4 and Bierstube.

Rock Island, IL: If you are getting new technology under the tree this year, or thinking about upgrading to a new model, the Rock Island Library will demonstrate how to use new library services to check out eBooks or download music in December and January.

Library "How-to" sessions on downloading books with OverDrive will be offered from:

• 6:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the Rock Island Southwest Branch Library, 9010 Ridgewood Road;
• 2:00 to 3:00 pm on Friday, Dec. 27, at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street, and
• 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 21, also at the Rock Island Main Library.

Patrons with a current library card from an OverDrive subscribing library can check out books to a personal eReader, computer or tablet. The demonstrations cover multiple device types, and registration is not required.

Patrons who want to increase their digital music collection may want to check out another "Library How-To" on downloading music with Freegal. The short demonstration will be offered from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on Tuesday, December 17 at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19^th Street. Songs downloaded from Freegal become part of the user's personal MP3 music collection, and do not expire. The service is available to patrons with a current card to one of the four subscribing libraries, which include Rock Island and the Sherrard District Libraries in Illinois, and the Bettendorf and Davenport Libraries in Iowa. Registration is not required to attend.

The Rock Island Public Library's selection of free digital products available to patrons include OverDrive and OneClick Digital services for checking out eBooks or eAudiobooks, the Freegal music service for checking out music to keep, and a brand new service, Zinio, for checking out free online magazines to read on a tablet, phone or computer. Free mobile apps for these digital products are available via the product links on the library website, www.rockislandlibrary.org.

For more events at Rock Island Public Libraries, visit the library website at www.rockislandlibrary.org, follow the library on Facebook or Twitter, or call 309-732-7323.

Founded in 1872, the Rock Island Public Library serves the area through three locations, which include the Main, 30/31 and Southwest Branches, community outreach efforts, and online opportunities that provide resources to enhance personal achievement and stimulate the imagination.

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CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: SB 114

An Act Concerning: Government

Clarifies regulations and makes technical changes to the Firearm Concealed Carry Act to assist the Illinois State Police in implementing the Act.

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 1496

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Extends sunset for Medical Practice Act, residency program disclosures, and specifies when fines must be paid.

Action: Signed

Effective: Dec. 30, 2013

Bill No.: SB 2335

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Extends the 9-1-1 Services Advisory Board reporting date from Feb. 1, 2014 to May 1, 2014 and extends Public Utility Fund base maintenance contribution from Jan. 1, 2014 to April 1, 2015.

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediately

Largest federal employee union says federal workers have sacrificed enough

WASHINGTON - The American Federation of Government Employees is calling on lawmakers to reject any proposal to reduce take-home pay for federal workers as part of a budget compromise deal.

Members of the Budget Conference Committee reportedly are considering increasing federal employee retirement contributions, which would effectively lower their pay. Details of the budget plan can be found on AFGE's Budget War Room web page.

Federal employees have had their pay frozen for three consecutive years and lost a week of pay this summer due to the sequestration furloughs, while new federal employees already are required to pay higher pension contributions.

"Going after federal employee wages yet again is insulting, demeaning and downright criminal," AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. said. "It is disgraceful for elected officials to think that they can raid a fully funded retirement system to pay down a deficit that federal employees did not create."

Instead of cutting wages for hard-working civil servants, Congress should raise taxes on the wealthiest 1% of Americans and close tax loopholes that allow one out of four U.S. corporations to pay nothing in federal income taxes.

"Federal employees have done more than anyone else to reduce the deficit. The well is dry. Members of Congress need to take their shovels and dig elsewhere," Cox said.

Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley sits on the committee. There are 17,400 federal employees in Iowa, all of whom would be harmed by a reduction in their wages.

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The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 670,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.