New Laws Will Protect Gang Crime Witnesses and Require School Officials to Report Illegal Gang Activity

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed new laws that will help fight gang crimes and protect those who aid law enforcement in these efforts. Today's actions are part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure the safety of all people in every community across Illinois.

"All Illinois residents have the right to be safe in their homes, schools and on our streets," Governor Quinn said. "These new laws give us more tools to fight gang violence, crack down on the criminals and protect those who are doing the right thing for public safety."

House Bill 1139, sponsored by State Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch (D-Westchester) and State Sen. Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago), creates the Gang Crime Witness Protection Act. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority will establish a Gang Crime Witness Protection Program to assist those who are actively aiding in the prosecution of gang crimes. The program will reimburse counties for assistance they provide victims and witnesses, including temporary living costs and moving expenses. The new law takes effect immediately.

"We have to show people that the law is stronger than street gangs," Welch said. "These bills will help make our schools safer by allowing for greater communication between our principals and law enforcement, and protect those who have the courage to stand up to gang violence."

"This legislation will empower people who might be afraid to testify against members of organized crime regimes," Van Pelt said. "If witnesses are willing to tell the authorities everything they know about criminal activity, they can help stop the violence that is rampant in our communities."

House Bill 2768, also sponsored by State Rep. Welch along with State Sen. Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park), requires school principals and assistant principals to report any illegal weapons use or possession, or any illegal gang activity, to the proper law enforcement officials. The bill also requires courts and law enforcement officials to notify principals when one of their students is detained for illegal gang activity. The new law takes effect Jan. 1.

As part of his public safety agenda, last week Governor Quinn issued an amendatory veto of House Bill 183, legislation that would allow and regulate the carrying of concealed handguns in public places. The changes address several serious safety problems with the legislation and will make communities safer across the state.

The governor's changes to House Bill 183 limit concealed carry guns to one per person and one ammunition magazine holding no more than 10 cartridges. The changes would also continue to allow local governments to enact assault weapons bans in their communities; keep guns out of establishments serving alcohol, including most family restaurants; and make the presumption that weapons cannot be carried onto private property or in the workplace unless permission to do so is granted. The Governor's changes establish a better law that puts public safety first. Full details of the governor's amendatory veto as well as how to contact your legislator are available at www.KeepIllinoisSafe.org.

The Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to return to Springfield on July 9 to act on Governor Quinn's amendatory veto. They can vote to accept the veto, which requires a three-fifths majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or they could vote to override the veto, which requires a three-fifths majority in both chambers. If both chambers do nothing, House Bill 183 will not be enacted and Illinois' current concealed carry law will be struck down by the courts.

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Iowa Lt. Governor and DuPont Pioneer President Lead Efforts to Further Science Education 

(DES MOINES) - Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds today announced her role as Chair of the STEM Food & Ag Council, a global council focused on advancing STEM education to help meet the growing demand for food, feed, and renewable fuels, founded by STEMconnector®. The STEM Food & Ag Council will be announced by Lt. Gov. Reynolds on July 14^th in Chicago at the annual meeting of The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) - a co-founder of the Council.

The STEM Food & Ag Council will assemble government, business and education leaders aimed at increasing collaboration and mobilizing resources to connect today's youth to the Food and Ag careers of tomorrow.  Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will serve as inaugural Chair of the Council, and also announced that DuPont Pioneer President, Paul E. Schickler, will serve as Vice-Chair.

"The STEM Food & Ag Council is a unique public-private partnership dedicated to driving education and career opportunities for the next generation of the food and agricultural workforce. We live in a knowledge-based, global economy and it is critical that our students are prepared for the jobs of the 21st century," said Lt. Governor Reynolds. "I look forward to working with Vice-Chair Paul Schickler and the members of the Council to create focused initiatives that enhance STEM skills in our students, heighten careers in food and agriculture, and provide solutions that address workforce needs."

"Advancements in modern agriculture are one of the greatest stories of scientific and technological achievement of our time," said Schickler. "However, to meet the increasing global demand for food will require the next generation of scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs. From listening to students around the world, we know they hear the call and STEM can ensure they have the tools needed to be part of the solution."

Current members of the Council include Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill, the National 4-H Council, the FFA Organization, PepsiCo, Sodexo and Wal-Mart. The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) will serve as co-founder of the Council.

STEMconnector® is the leading communications platform driving collaboration between stakeholders in STEM education.  Launched in 2011 with the mandate of identifying, informing and connecting stakeholders in STEM education, STEMconnector® has over 50 sponsoring organizations from the public, private and non-profit sectors.

The daily newsletter of STEMconnector® - STEMdaily® - reaches over 10,000 key thought leaders throughout the United States and world every day.  In the past year, STEMconnector® has recognized leadership in STEM education through its 100 Women Leaders in STEM, in which Lt. Governor Reynolds was featured, and the recently released 100 CEO Leaders in STEM.

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Mount Carroll, IL-- The Magic Owl Children's Theatre at Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP) presents an hour-long version of Seussical, a musical based on the books of Dr. Seuss July 9, 11, 12 and 13 at 2:00 pm. All tickets for Magic Owl shows are only $6.00 and partially sponsored by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Each year, these subsidized Magic Owl shows introduce thousands of young people to the joy and magic of live theatre.

Seussical tells the stories of Horton, the elephant, who finds an entire planet of Whos on a small speck of dust, Gertrude McFuzz who longs for Horton and a bigger tail, Mayzie La Bird who convinces Horton to sit on her egg and The Cat in The Hat, who plays tricks as these stories intertwine into one adventure for the characters and the audience. The show also includes references to such Dr. Seuss classics as How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Butter Battle Book, McElligot's Pool, Oh, The Places You'll Go, The Sneetches and The Lorax.

In April, with the help of the Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District, TLP gave away 1000 small trees at the Sauk Valley Children's Fair as part of the company Do Something Spectacular campaign. Kids who planted the trees, like the main character in The Lorax, and sent in pictures received free tickets to the show. The Do Something Spectacular Campaign is designed to use the stories happening on stage at TLP to inspire creativity and community involvement in the region.

The cast of Seussical includes members of TLP's professional resident company from all over the country. Will Boze of Sterling, Illinois also stars as Jojo, the young thinker who thinks up the entire adventure.

Seussical has additional performances August 6, 8, 9 and 10 at 11:00 a.m. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Rd. in rural Mount Carroll, IL. Tickets are $6.00 and are available at the box office, by calling 815-244-2035 or visiting www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. The show is appropriate for all ages. Early reservations are suggested, as many Magic Owl shows sell out.

Production Credits:

The Magic Owl Children's Theatre

at Timber Lake Playhouse

SEUSSICAL

Book by  Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty

Music by  Stephen Flaherty

Lyrics by  Lynn Ahrens

Co-Conceived by  Eric Idle

Based on the works of Dr. Seuss

Direction and Choreography by James Beaudry

SEUSSICAL is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also provided by MTI.

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Brian Blasik hits second grand slam of the season, Rio Ruiz finishes a triple shy of the cycle

GENEVA, Ill. (JULY 7, 2013) - For the first time this season, three Quad Cities River Bandits homered in the same game, as catcher Roberto Pena, second baseman Brian Blasik and third baseman Rio Ruiz each went deep among the visitors' 13 hits in a 12-5 victory over the Kane County Cougars at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark Sunday afternoon.

Quad Cities (12-5 second half, 50-36 overall) had its highest run total since a season-high 17 runs against Great Lakes on April 30 and won for the 13th time in 17 meetings with Kane County (4-13, 34-49). Left-hander Colton Cain (4-5) allowed a first-inning run but retired 13 of 14 batters in one stretch and posted a season-high six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings for his first second-half win.

Pena tied the game in the second inning on a one-out home run to the picnic deck in left field off right-hander Tayler Scott (4-4). The home run was Pena's fourth of the season and second against the Cougars. He is 20-for-49 (.408) in 12 games against Kane County.

Quad Cities took the lead in the third inning, as left fielder Dan Gulbransen and designated hitter Jesse Wierzbicki hit back-to-back RBI doubles for a 3-1 lead. Meanwhile, Cain held the Cougars off the board through the fifth inning, retiring 13 of 14 batters in one stretch and posting a season-high six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. He was charged with four runs, two earned, on five hits and three walks.

In the sixth inning, Ruiz hit a one-out single, and shortstop Austin Elkins drew a two-out walk to chase Scott. Right-hander Armando Rivero entered and walked first baseman Jobduan Morales to load the bases for Blasik, who hit his second home run - and second grand slam - of the season on a line drive over the left-field fence, extending the Quad Cities lead to 7-1.

The Cougars tallied three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, with third baseman Jeimer Candelario hitting an RBI double, and two more runs scoring when center fielder Jordan Scott threw a ball into the third-base stands after catching a fly ball. Kane County closed within 7-5 in the seventh inning, as right-hander Gera Sanchez yielded a sacrifice fly to Cougars first baseman Dan Vogelbach. Left-hander Mitchell Lambson got the final out of the inning and worked 1 1/3 scoreless frames.

Ruiz leading off the eighth inning and added an RBI double in the ninth inning to finish a triple shy of the cycle. Wierzbicki added a two-run double in the ninth inning. With a 12-5 lead, right-hander Chia-Jen Lo retired all three hitters he faced.

Sunday's victory lifted Quad Cities to match its season high of 14 games over .500 and also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Monday, July 8. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Monday, July 8. Quad Cities will face Kane County in the deciding game of the five-game series at noon Monday, when River Bandits right-hander Lance McCullers (4-4) faces Cougars left-hander Michael Heesch (3-7).

UP NEXT: Golf Night and the John Deere Classic Celebration open the River Bandits' six-game homestand Wednesday against the Bowling Green Hot Rods at Modern Woodmen Park. Fans can also enter copies of the bills into a drawing to be one of the two paid up to $100 by the River Bandits on a Pay Your Bill Wednesday presented by U.S. Bank and Mix 96. Single-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.