Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on the disclosure that the White House did not raise any concerns or ask questions of a top aide - now the President's nominee for United States Trade Representative - about his offshore investments upon joining the White House staff, despite the President's condemnations of offshore investments and tax havens.  Grassley received answers to his questions from U.S. trade representative nominee Michael Froman for the Finance Committee hearing record.  The President has named three Cabinet-level nominees in recent months with offshore accounts.

"Despite the President's condemnations of offshore tax havens and his characterization of the Ugland House as 'the largest tax scam in the world,' his administration didn't ask a top aide about his investments in the Cayman Islands and the Ugland House.  If this were a priority, the White House would have asked a top adviser about these investments.  This is an example of the President's having one set of standards for his political opponents and another for his friends and supporters."

The responses to Grassley's questions for the hearing record are available here and here.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (June 7, 2013) - [Name] of [City] was recognized with [Award(s)] for outstanding achievement at Mount Mercy University during Honors Convocation this spring. Over 100 students were recognized during the ceremony for excelling in academics and extra-curricular activities while demonstrating leadership and personal growth during their time at Mount Mercy.

Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mount Mercy enrolls over 1,800 students and offers 35 majors and as many minors in eight academic departments. The university also has four graduate programs.

Teri Anson of Davenport,  Kappa Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society of Nursing.

About Mount Mercy University

Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mount Mercy University is the regional Catholic, Mercy University that promises students of diverse backgrounds, ages and faiths a challenging, practical education that inspires them to discover knowledge, build community and lead courageous lives. Mount Mercy offers baccalaureate and graduate education to more than 1,800 enrolled students and uniquely blends liberal arts education with professional preparation.

NORTHFIELD, MN (06/11/2013)(readMedia)-- Marci Sortor, Dean and Provost of St. Olaf College, has named Joseph Dickens from Bettendorf to the St. Olaf College Dean's list for the Spring 2013 semester. Dickens is a Mathematics major. He is the son of Dan Dickens and Jayne Rose.

The Dean's list recognizes students with a semester grade point average of 3.75 or higher on a 4-point scale. Dean Sortor stated, "These students have distinguished themselves among a talented and highly qualified student body. We celebrate their success in gaining recognition for academic excellence."

St. Olaf College

As one of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges, St. Olaf College offers an academically rigorous education with a vibrant faith tradition as a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. St. Olaf prepares students to become responsible citizens of the world by fostering the development of mind, body, and spirit. Widely known for its programs in mathematics, the natural sciences, and music, St. Olaf also provides dynamic opportunities for interdisciplinary study. Committed to global education, more than three-quarters of St. Olaf students participate in off-campus study programs. Over the years, St. Olaf College has been a national leader among liberal arts colleges in producing Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Fellows, and Peace Corps volunteers.

Newsboys, known for amazing live shows, will bring their Restart Tour to the Adler Theatre on Saturday, October 19, 2013.  Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 14.

FIND TICKETS


Clear Channel Radio Quad Cities is proud to announce that beginning this fall, FOX Sports Radio 1230 (WFXN-AM) is the area's exclusive radio home for the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay Packers Rushing to 1230AM WFXN

Davenport, IA - The Quad Cities' AM 1230, WFXN is proud to announce that starting with the 2013-14 NFL season the station will be the exclusive Quad Cities home for Green Bay Packers football. WFXN will carry all games including home and away during the regular season, plus preseason and any postseason appearances.  

WFXN will broadcast the games on the radio on AM 1230 or online at www.wfxn.net or on iHeartRadio. "It is a thrill to bring NFL icons like the Green Bay Packers to WFXN's listeners", said WFXN program director, Ron Evans.  "We hope the 'cheeseheads' who love the Pack, and even those who don't; will tune in for the latest and greatest from historic Lambeau Field with this year's green and gold squad."

The addition of Green Bay Packers football to WFXN Fox Sports 1230 means the return to Quad Cities radio for veteran play-by-play man Wayne Larrivee; who worked in the area earlier in his career at KSTT-AM in Davenport. While broadcasting in the Quad Cities Wayne called for Iowa Hawkeye football as well as local high school football and Quad City Angels baseball. Larrivee also has worked for The Chicago Bears.

The Green Bay Packers are among the most storied franchises in the National Football League, having won 13 championships?the most of any team.

AM 1230 WFXN is one of six Quad City area radio stations owned by Clear Channel Media and Entertainment.  Other stations in the local Clear Channel cluster includes, 103.7 FM WLLR, 101.3 FM KISS, 96.1 FM KMXG, 101.3 FM KCQQ, and AM 1420 WOC.  With 243 million monthly listeners in the U.S. Clear Channel Media and Entertainment has the largest reach of any radio and television outlet in America.

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Q:        Will wrestling retain its status as one of the core sports for the 2020 Summer Olympics?

A: Thanks in part to wrestling fans across Iowa, the popular sport may retain its status in the Olympic games after all.  Uniting fans from around the world, an international groundswell of support captured the attention of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which in February voted to put wrestling on the chopping block for the 2020 games.  Crossing geo-political boundaries, wrestling enthusiasts from the United States joined forces with those who share a passion for wrestling from 180 other countries, including an unlikely alliance for wrestlers from the United States and those from Russia and Iran.  Considering that 71 countries sent wrestlers to the London games last summer and the sport attracts a global audience averaging 23 million viewers, it seemed incredible that the IOC chose to pull the mat out from underneath this beloved sporting event.  A competition with roots dating back to the games of ancient Greece, wrestling first made its Olympic debut in 708 B.C.  The astonishing proposal to eliminate wrestling by the IOC earlier this year mobilized the wrestling community into high gear.

Q:        Do you support efforts to keep wrestling in the Olympic games?

A:        Absolutely. In February, I introduced a Senate Resolution with Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio to put the disapproval of wrestling fans on public record.  Our bipartisan resolution won Senate passage in March.  And, the global wrestling community captured the attention of decision-makers at the IOC, who in late May voted to keep wrestling on a short list of finalists for a crucial vote this fall.  The meeting in Russia of the IOC executive board will now be followed by a final vote in September of the general assembly in Buenos Aires.  I applaud efforts of the grass roots, from athletes, their families and the fans who raised their collective voice through social media and online petitions to help continue the efforts to clinch wrestling's spot in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.  Iowa enjoys a dynamic, rich wrestling tradition, from youth programs to high school and intercollegiate competition.  Anyone who has watched a match understands it takes true grit for an athlete to compete one-on-one on the mat.  Win or lose, athletes score life-long lessons during training and competition, including self-discipline, self-confidence and goal-setting.  Many of the best and brightest students who apply for appointment to an elite military service academy through my Senate office are high school wrestlers.  Nationwide, more than 270,000 high school athletes wrestle, including more than 8,000 women.  The IOC has approved 25 core sports for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, including athletics (track and field), rowing, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, football, gymnastics, weightlifting, handball, hockey, Judo, aquatics, modern pentathlon, Tae Kwon Do, tennis, table tennis, shooting, archery, triathlon, sailing and volleyball.  A few years ago, the IOC added golf and rugby for the XXXI Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.  Its vote in September will decide if wrestling, squash or softball/baseball pins the 28th spot for the 2020 Olympic Summer Games.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Wednesday, June 12 at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.

WHO:             Dan Wardell, popular host of the IPTV KIDS Clubhouse, will travel to 67 local communities this summer as part of the seventh-annual Reading Road Trip.

WHAT:          Now in its seventh year, IPTV's Reading Road Trip features an original, interactive story that is connected to the libraries' summer reading theme. This year, Dan's story time encourages kids to "dig into reading " complete with a special gift for every child who comes to story time.

WHEN:          Wednesday, June 12 at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:        Davenport Public Library - Eastern Avenue Branch, 6000 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, Iowa

 

Peoria moves one-half game ahead of Quad Cities for third place after third straight home win

PEORIA, Ill. (JUNE 10, 2013) - Former Quad Cities River Bandits left-hander Hector Hernandez held this year's team to one run on seven hits in seven innings, and former four-year River Bandit Robert Stock earned his first professional save in a 5-1 Peoria Chiefs win at Dozer Park Monday night.

Hernandez (3-2) kept his former club scoreless for the first six innings, but the River Bandits (34-28) missed opportunities in the third, fourth and fifth innings and left 11 runners on base Monday. The visiting team left 22 on base in the series and was outscored 15-2.

In the third inning, center fielder Teoscar Hernandez singled, and left fielder Ruben Sosa reached on a bunt single. With two runners on base and no outs, second baseman Austin Elkins popped up a bunt. Then shortstop Carlos Correa lined out to right field, and first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki flied out to right field to end the threat. Quad Cities got a fourth-inning, two-out double by catcher Roberto Pena, followed by designated hitter Brian Blasik's single - the team's only hit in 11 at-bats with runners in scoring position Monday. Quad Cities finished the three-game series 2-for-18 in such situations. Hector Hernandez fanned Teoscar Hernandez to keep the game scoreless through 3 ½ innings.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Chiefs left fielder and former River Bandit Jordan Walton hit a one-out single to right-center field, and third baseman Patrick Wisdom hit a two-out triple over the head of right fielder Terrell Joyce for the first run. Chiefs center fielder and former River Bandit Nick Martini lined a single to left field, scoring Wisdom for a 2-0 Chiefs lead. The River Bandits loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning, but Hector Hernandez struck out Joyce and third baseman Rio Ruiz.

The Chiefs (34-27) added three more runs in the fifth inning, as catcher Gerwuins Velazco and second baseman Breyvic Valera started the inning with back-to-back singles. After shortstop Ildemaro Vargas popped out on a bunt attempt, designated hitter Jacob Wilson drove a two-run double down the left-field line to extend the lead to 4-0. Two batters later, first baseman Jeremy Schaffer added an RBI single for a 5-0 advantage. Cotton allowed all the Chiefs runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out two in five innings.

Quad Cities scored its only run in the seventh inning, as Sosa hit a leadoff single, stole second and third bases and scored on Correa's groundout. With a 5-1 deficit in the ninth inning, Sosa drew a one-out walk, and Elkins followed with a single off right-hander Joe Scanio. Stock then entered to face his former team for the first time since catching parts of three seasons and pitching one for the River Bandits. He allowed both runners to advance on a wild pitch before fanning Correa and Wierzbicki to end the game.

With the sweep, Peoria moved one-half game ahead of Quad Cites for third place in the Midwest League Western Division. With six days and seven games remaining for the River Bandits in the first half, they are four games behind second-place Beloit, which won its seventh straight game Monday. First-place Cedar Rapids is five games ahead of Quad Cities and begins a three-game series at Modern Woodmen Park Tuesday night. River Bandits right-hander Lance McCullers (3-4) will face Kernels left-hander Hein Robb (0-0) at 7 p.m.

UP NEXT: Fireworks conclude Thrivent Night in the first game of the River Bandits home stand Tuesday at Modern Woodmen Park. All tickets are buy-one-get-one free, kids eat free and fans can recycle a can or bottle of Mountain Dew at the gates for a free 16-ounce soda voucher on a Dew for Twosday presented by Pepsi, WOC and Q106.5. It'sreturn home for Thrivent Night at 7 p.m. TuesdaySingle-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley made the following comment after the Senate passed the farm and nutrition bill.  The final vote was 66-27.  The bill keeps intact Grassley's provisions to focus farm payments on small- and medium-sized farmers and close loopholes that allow non-farmers to game the farm program system.

"The bill that cleared the Senate tonight is a step in the right direction.  Having responsible payment limits on the commodity program is crucial to the defensibility of the farm safety-net.  We need payment caps on our commodity programs, and we need to close loopholes that have allowed non-farmers to game the system.  I hope the House takes notice at the reforms in the Senate-passed bill and sees the positive changes we made to the farm payment system.

"And, while the inclusion of my payment limits plan is very reform-minded, the target price program that is included in the final bill will take us back a step.  Target prices distort planting decisions, and I hear opposition to it from Iowa farmers all the time.  We've tried it before and it doesn't work.

"While I continue to have concerns about the potential impacts of the shallow loss and target price programs created in this farm bill, I would also agree with the overwhelming sentiment from Iowa farmers that they need to have certainty.  A five-year farm bill that includes my payment limit reforms, maintains the crop insurance program, and streamlines conservation programs gives that certainty."

Background information:

Grassley has long sought reform of the farm payment system.  His provisions that were included in the bill are nearly identical to legislation he introduced earlier this year that would place a hard cap on the farm payments an individual farmer can receive in a year and close long-abused and well-documented loopholes in the farm payment program.   The legislation would establish a per farm cap of $50,000 on all commodity program benefits, except those associated with the marketing loan program (loan deficiency payments and marketing loan gains), which would be capped at $75,000.  Thus the combined limit would be $125,000, or, for married couples, $250,000.  The $50,000 cap would apply to whatever type of program is developed as part of the new Farm Bill. The bill also closes loopholes that currently allow non-farmers to qualify for federal farm payments and would allow one off-farm manager, but only one.

A genius hero with a ridiculously long nose and a passion for poetry and love will have crowds roaring with laughter during Cyrano de Bergerac, July 11 - 13 and 18 - 20 at 8:00 p.m. The 18th annual production, directed by Richard Barker and starring Jason Alberty, will be one of the largest productions in the history of the Classics at Brucemore. The natural amphitheater near the estate's pond will provide an encompassing backdrop as sword-wielding brawls erupt amidst the audience and romantic verses gush on stage. The gates will open at 7:00 p.m.; audiences are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnics, and beverages to enjoy pre-show revelry.

Cyrano de Bergerac is an unabashed historical romance set in the 1640s featuring a swashbuckling hero. While first and foremost a passionate love story, the plot develops as a comedy with fast-paced action and a tragic ending. Despite his bravado, Cyrano suffers through unrequited love for Roxanne, whose eyes only see the dashing Christian. Many widely known adaptations have been made, including the film Roxanne, starring Steve Martin.

Advance tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for Brucemore members and students. All tickets at the gate are $20.  Tickets may be purchased online at www.brucemore.org, by calling (319) 362-7375, or by visiting the Brucemore Store located in the Visitor Center.

Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and media sponsored by The Gazette, KCRG-TV9, and Hoopla, Cyrano de Bergerac features a cast of the area's finest actors. Ten return to the Classics stage, including Jason Alberty, Angela Meisterling Billman, Andrew Clancey, Brett Engmark, Steve Ginsberg, Larry Hansen, Scott Humeston, Matthew James, Jim Kropa, Bill Lammers, Rob Merritt, David Morton, Marty Norton, Len Struttmann, and Cherryl Thomason. Making their Classics debut are Jon Day, Taylor Foster, Paul Freese, K. Michael Moore, Angie Toomsen, and Steve Worthington. For additional information, please visit the Brucemore website, www.brucemore.org.

The Classics at Brucemore began as collaboration between Torchlight Theatrics and Brucemore in 1996, thus launching outdoor theater in Eastern Iowa. The Classics celebrates a rich history of quality live theater, from Greek tragedy to Shakespearean comedy and twentieth century American drama. Much more than a play performed outdoors, the Classics fully utilizes the site as the natural amphitheater provides a lush backdrop and the outdoor environment is incorporated into the action ? actors emerge from the woods, get dunked in the pond, and help themselves to the audience's picnics.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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