Danville, Va. – Constitutional attorney John W. Whitehead will speak to students and faculty at 11a.m. on September 17, Constitution Day, in Oliver Hall at Danville Community College in Danville, Va. in order to emphasize the importance of the Constitution in the era of the emerging American police state. Described by one historian as "the owners' manual to the greatest form of government the world has ever known," the Constitution has come under increasing attack by government agents in recent years, a phenomenon which is thoroughly documented in Whitehead's new book, A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State (SelectBooks, 2013).

"The Constitution provides us with the blueprint for maintaining a balanced republic, and it must always be the starting point. Each of us, from public officials to citizens, has an affirmative duty to hold our government accountable," said Whitehead. "However, in the end, it is still the people who hold the ultimate power, and with it the concomitant responsibility, to maintain our freedoms."

Hailed by those at all points along the political spectrum for its masterful chronicling of America's shift away from the rule of law, the U.S. Constitution, which historically shielded the citizenry from government abuses, A Government of Wolves paints a chilling portrait of a nation in the final stages of transformation into a police state, complete with surveillance cameras, drug-sniffing dogs, SWAT team raids, roadside strip searches, blood draws at DUI checkpoints, mosquito drones, tasers, privatized prisons, GPS tracking devices, zero tolerance policies, overcriminalization, and free speech zones. Drawing on his vast knowledge of history, culture, and law, John W. Whitehead compellingly argues that fiction has now become fact. Indeed, with sci fi movies such as Minority Report, 1984, The Matrix, They Live, and V for Vendetta pointing the way, America has become that futuristic society of celluloid fantasies in which a passive, uninformed populace gives rise to an overbearing, out-of-control government. This is the future Aldous Huxley and George Orwell warned against. This is the present that Whitehead cautions could become an endless nightmare from which there is no awakening unless we act now. As American historian and nationally syndicated columnist Nat Hentoff notes in his special introduction to A Government of Wolves: "We have been through some troubling times before in our nation's history. There were the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 . . . the Red Raids in the early 1920s . . . the Japanese internment camps of World War Two . . . What we have now may be more insidious. Indeed, I believe we are in a worse state now than ever before in this country. With the surveillance state closing in on us, we are fighting to keep our country free from our own government."

John Whitehead is an attorney and author who has written, debated, and practiced widely in the area of constitutional law. A prominent leader in the national dialogue on civil liberties and human rights and a formidable champion of the Constitution, Whitehead's concern for the persecuted and oppressed led him in 1982 to establish The Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the defense of civil liberties and human rights. "John Whitehead is one of the most eloquent and knowledgeable defenders of liberty, and opponents of the growing American police state, writing today," declared Ron Paul, twelve-term US congressman and former presidential candidate. "I am pleased to recommend A Government of Wolves to anyone interested in learning how modern America increasingly resembles a dystopian science fiction film instead of a Constitutional Republic."

A Government of Wolves is available in bookstores and online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Q:        Why should people pay attention to National Farm Safety and Health Week?

A:        One of the busiest seasons of the year is fast approaching in Iowa.  Heads of household can breathe a sigh of relief.  It's not yet tax season.  Over the course of the next couple of months, tens of thousands of Iowa farmers, hired hands and grain haulers will harvest more than 22 million acres of crops.  Our state's economy and heritage is heavily anchored in agriculture.  When the fall harvest hits, it's good for Iowans to have a bit more patience behind the wheel when sharing the road with farm traffic.  It's the perfect time to emphasize to new drivers that the fluorescent orange emblem on the rear of a vehicle means to slow down.  And, it never hurts to make a mental note to appreciate the grain making its way to market is not only a farm family's livelihood.  It's helping to fuel, clothe and feed America, all the while invigorating the local economy.  For generations, farm families have understood the risk that comes with earning a living from the land, tending livestock and fixing what's broken, from fences to heavy machinery.  On a daily basis, farm safety is key to survival and livelihood.  Farm families, especially those with young children, understand that safety is a high priority all 365 days of the year.  National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 15-21, helps to draw attention to environmental safety, workplace precautions and emergency response practices that farming communities can put in place to keep families and their neighbors safe and sound.  Whether we live on the farm or in a town or city, it's a good reminder to take farm safety seriously.

Q:        What precautions are recommended?

A: As a farmer, I appreciate the job pressures that are handed down from one generation to the next.  During harvest season, farmers put in even longer hours and must deal with seemingly endless equipment breakdowns and uncooperative weather.  Just consider the drought has spread across nearly 42 percent of the state, impacting crop yields and adding more stress to a farmer's worries.  Injuries and illnesses also add to the uncertainty.  According to Farm Safety For Just Kids, a national farm safety organization based in Iowa, farmers are advised to secure the slow moving vehicle emblem on their farm equipment.  Be sure it's clean and visible.  Be mindful of flowing grain suffocation hazards while unloading in bins and wagons.  Take advantage of rollover protection, especially for older tractors.  Staying alert and getting enough sleep is perhaps the cheapest advice, but also the hardest to follow during the harvest season.  It's tempting to take short cuts or avoid a safety precaution when time seems more important.  Remember a golden rule of farming:  It's better to be safe than sorry.  Taking common sense precautions will help yield a safe, bountiful harvest.

Judy Winnick portrayal of Warsaw Ghetto heroine featured around QCA Oct. 1^st-3^rd

ROCK ISLAND, IL - The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities announces that Judy Winnick will bring her portrayal of Irena Sendler, "The Angel of the Warsaw Ghetto," for a series of Quad Cities' events highlighting Holocaust Education from October 1^st-3^rd, 2013. The appearances, as well as the annual Holocaust Institute, are presented by the Jewish Federation, the Rauch Family Foundations II and the Holocaust Education Committee of the Greater Quad City Area.

Winnick, a former Colorado Distinguished Teacher Award winner, will serve as the keynote for the institute on Thursday, Oct. 3^rd, 3:30-7:30 PM at the Tri-City Jewish Center, 2715 30^th St., Rock Island, IL. Educators, as well as the public, may attend for $15 in advance by Sept. 20th, $20 after or at the door the day of event. Students can attend for FREE.  Those interested are asked to contact the Jewish Federation directly at (309) 793-1300.

In addition, two free public performances are scheduled. The first is Tuesday, Oct. 1^st, 6:30 PM, at Rock Island Public Library, 401 19^th St., Rock Island, IL. Another will be Wednesday, Oct. 2^nd, 7:00 PM, at the Rogalski Center on the campus of St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA.

"Recounting stories of the Holocaust is important to remind everyone that they should never forget what happened," said Allan Ross, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation. "At the same time, the story of Irena Sendler is representative of those non-Jews who risked everything to save Jewish lives. They remind us to be vigilant and to boldly counter oppression and genocide at all times."

The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cites (www.jfqc.org) is a non-profit, 501 c (3) Illinois corporation founded in 1980. With other local organizations, JFQC addresses a broad range of needs to include cultural, religious, educational, family welfare, care of the elderly and interfaith relations. The Federation combats hate and anti-Semitism by supporting religious liberty and civil rights for everyone.

Its core mission is to preserve, protect, enrich and enhance Jewish communal life and the well-being of Jews locally, in Israel and throughout the world. It is a proud member of the Jewish Federations of North America (www.jewishfederations.org). The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jewishfedqc.

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Families are invited to Brucemore for an afternoon of autumn-themed activities, crafts, and snacks to celebrate the season during Fall Family Day on Sunday, October 13 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Highlights include :

·         Exploring the estate's historic 26 acres during a nature scavenger hunt offered at 1:15 and 2:15 p.m.

·         Creating a scarecrow to be included in Brucemore's Scarecrow Invasion. One scarecrow armature per family, straw filling, and basic supplies to put the scarecrow together will be included with the Fall Family Day registration fee; participants should bring clothing or thematic elements to decorate their unique scarecrow.

Admission is $10 per child and $7 per child of a Brucemore member. One free adult admission is included with each child; additional adults are $5 each. This event is intended for children 6 -10 years old. Space is limited, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org to purchase tickets. Children should dress appropriately for outdoor activities. Family programming at Brucemore is sponsored by US Bank.

Scarecrows made during Fall Family Day will be included in Brucemore's Scarecrow Invasion?a display of scarecrows made by individuals, classes, businesses, organizations, and families on Brucemore's lawn from October  14 through October 28. Registration for the Fall Family Day is not required for participation in the Scarecrow Invasion. More information can be found at www.brucemore.org.

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.