As lingering spring rains soak eastern Iowa, crews from the U.S. Geological Survey continue efforts to make sure the streamgaging network is providing basic scientific information needed by water-resource managers and the community.

"The accurate flow data from the USGS is an essential part of NWS flood forecasts and warnings," said Jeff Zogg, NWS Senior Service Hydrologist. "Even small errors can negatively impact flood forecasts."

The National Weather Service uses USGS streamgaging information for flood forecasting.  When flooding is frequent, the NWS stays in constant contact with the USGS. The USGS streamgaging network is the principal source of data used by the NWS to develop flood forecasts because of the stage and discharge information they provide.

The USGS operates 150 gages in Iowa that collect both stage and discharge information.

A reliable flood forecast, and subsequent warnings, requires a current source of stage, discharge, and precipitation data. NWS flood forecasts are based on river models that provide estimates of how a river will respond to rainfall. River stage and discharge data provided by USGS gaging stations are essential components of these river models and flood forecasts.

"The USGS places the utmost importance on the high quality and consistency of its streamgage network," said Kevin Richards, Director of the USGS Iowa Water Science Center. "Streamflow information is used in countless ways by government agencies, private industries, and the general public."

In addition to routine discharge measurements made at USGS streamgages, the USGS made 34 additional flood measurements once the rivers started rising in mid-April. With the forecasts calling for additional rain and snow over the next week, USGS scientists will be making extra measurements and checking equipment to assure the information is available for decision makers.

The real-time streamgaging information is available on the USGS Iowa website. Access current flood and high flow conditions across the country by visiting the USGSWaterWatchwebsite.

Emergency Disaster Service (EDS) VolunteersDeploy Throughout Illinois & Iowa

QUAD CITIES, USA: Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) volunteers are being deployed to serve meals and provide emotional and spiritual support to those affected by the floods in Ottawa, IL and Canton, IL.

The spring flooding of 2013 has caused great water damage to property and left people homeless throughout the Quad Cities and surrounding areas.

The Salvation Army served 100+ cups of hot coffee and 200+ snacks to the city-employed sandbaggers on the Mississippi River on a very cold April evening. Steve Garrington, Quad Cities EDS Director, states that "The Salvation Army's mission is to provide a compassionate response to the Quad Cities and the surrounding areas, as well as Boston, west Texas, everywhere there is human need."

After the Barstow Levy breach, The Salvation Army supplied the Carbon Cliff/Barstow Fire Department 200 flood clean up kits. The department's staff walked door to door with the kits to be sure every home had adequate access to assistance.
Another 50 clean up kits were forwarded to East Moline Fire Stations by the Rock Island County Health Department. The Scott County Health Department is waiting for the waters to recede before they make the Salvation Army-provided clean up kits available.

Monetary donations may be sent to your local Salvation Army, online at www.salvationarmyusa.org, byphone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

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Minneapolis - Lorie Line opens her Intimate Series tour Thursday, May 9th and plans to travel to 25 cities this spring/summer.  This is her 24th year of touring, and she will be playing all new music from a brand new album, Come Together, as well as favorites from her previously recorded 45 CDs.  

She will be bringing her Fab Five, and as always, Line has come up with new young talent to present to her adoring fans.  This year, national championship solo drummer Jean-Pierre Bouvet returns to the tour, as well as multi-instrumentalist bass player Josh Fink and the very "handsome" Derek Bromme who is currently pursuing his Doctorate degree on bass trombone at the University of Minnesota.  After a few years in full-time college, violinist/fiddler and fan favorite Robbie Nordstrom will join Lorie once again on the stage, and brand new to the group is 23-year old Mike Linden on guitar, a recent Boston Berklee College of Music graduate.  

Not only has Line recorded 45 CDs, but she has published 39 books of music of her arrangements and compositions, from beginner "practice" to intermediate/advanced level books.  She and her husband/manager Tim (famous for being Santa at the annual holiday show) own and manage Lorie Line Music, Inc., one of the largest independent labels in the country.  Line is most known for her holiday extravaganza and tours annually to 80 cities.  Lorie Line Music, Inc. communicates daily with a 100,000 diehard fan data base and two facebook sites.  Over the years, the Lines have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities, this year supporting Tee It Up For The Troops , a Minnesota volunteer group that helps to support wounded soldiers.

Ms. Line has two adult children and she and Tim are now "empty nesters," enjoying life on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota.


Davenport, Iowa
Davenport Junior Theatre
Nighswander Theatre
Tuesday, June 25th, 7:30 PM
$39.00. All seats reserved. $34 for groups of 10 or more.


New Date for Snow-delayed Climate Debate, May 13

Ethics professor Philip Cafaro (pictured) was prevented by a blizzard from debating energy expert Robert Zubrin on whether population growth and carbon fuels are overheating the planet. They'll finally face off on May 13 at the CCU Beckman Center. Don your long johns and join us. No charge, but reservations are required.

 Philip Cafaro image

Learn More & Register


SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn issued the following statement regarding today's vote by the Illinois House of Representatives to pass a historic and comprehensive pension reform that will stabilize the pension systems, eliminate the unfunded liability, and preserve the pensions of hard-working state employees and teachers. More than a year ago, the governor convened a legislative working group and proposed a comprehensive solution that includes the key elements of Senate Bill 1:

"Today the Illinois House of Representatives took the biggest step to date towards restoring fiscal stability to Illinois.

"With the passage of this comprehensive pension reform solution, Illinois is closer than ever to addressing a decades-long problem that is plaguing our economy, our bond rating and the future of our children.

"I want to thank Speaker Michael Madigan, Leader Tom Cross, Rep. Elaine Nekritz and members of the House who did the right thing today by voting to preserve the pensions of hard-working state employees and teachers. This solution includes the key reform principles that I have long supported: a COLA adjustment, increase in the retirement age and an increase in the employee contribution. It also includes important refinements as outlined in my 2013 budget.

"Senate Bill 1 is a serious solution to the most serious fiscal challenge our state has ever faced.

"Today's action sends a strong message to the people and businesses of our state: Illinois is ready for reform and we understand that this reform is critical to building a brighter future for all."

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Center fielder, right-hander win first of Astros' monthly awards for affiliate's top player and pitcher

DAVENPORT, Iowa (MAY 2, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Teoscar Hernandez is the team's Player of the Month for April, and right-hander Vincent Velasquez is the team's Pitcher of the Month, the Houston Astros announced on Thursday.

 

The Houston Astros Player Development Department named a Pitcher and Player of the Month at each of their four in-season minor league affiliates. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team.

 

A 20-year-old native of Bonao, Dominican Republic, who signed with the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in February 2011, Hernandez started as the center fielder and leadoff batter in 21 of the River Bandits' 23 games in April. He hit .297 in April and led the team with 27 hits, 91 at-bats, 18 runs, seven doubles, three triples, 10 extra-base hits, 40 total bases and eight stolen bases. He is currently 10th among all Astros minor leaguers in batting average.

Velasquez, a 20-year-old native of Pomona, Calif., and a second-round draft pick by Houston in 2010, tied for the organizational leads with three wins and 31 strikeouts in April. He was undefeated in six appearances, including three starts, with two saves and a 2.45 ERA. Velasquez is holding opponents to a .156 average - second-lowest in the Midwest League. He had a 16 2/3 inning scoreless streak from April 14 to April 30, and the River Bandits are 6-0 in games he has pitched.

In April, the Astros' minor league affiliates went a combined 58-39 (.598) for the third-highest winning percentage of any minor league system, trailing only Minnesota and San Francisco. Three of the four full-season affiliates are in first place in their respective divisions, and Class-A Quad Cities (15-8 in April) is in second place in the Midwest League Western Division.

UP NEXT: Time is running out to reserve tickets for the Mother's Day Brunch on the Sky Deck of Modern Woodmen Park. Reservations must be made in advance by Monday, May 6, for the brunch preceding the River Bandits game Sunday, May 12. 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.

CHICAGO - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will give the commencement address on Friday for the City Colleges of Chicago Class of 2013. Nearly 4,000 students are expected to earn an associate's degree this year - the largest number in more than 20 years.

Simon will highlight the accomplishments of seven graduates who overcame obstacles to earn associate degrees that link them to in-demand jobs or bachelor's degree programs. Her featured students include a teenage mother turned valedictorian, a high school dropout turned Field Museum biologist, and an undocumented immigrant who learned Braille and English en route to a degree.

"Just as the City College system is reinventing itself, its graduates are reinventing themselves and making a difference in our communities," Simon said.  

In her first year in office, Simon visited each of the state's 48 community colleges in an effort to increase the proportion of adults with a college credential to 60 percent, up from the current 41 percent, by 2025.

DATE: Friday, May 3

TIME: 4 p.m.

PLACE: UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine Ave., Chicago

ROCK ISLAND, IL (05/02/2013)(readMedia)-- Forty-three juniors were initiated into Augustana's Aglaia Chapter of the Mortar Board National Senior Honor Society on April 14.

Mortar Board members are selected annually by their peers in recognition of their devotion to scholarship, leadership and service. Students are eligible for membership in their junior year. Each member must have at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) GPA or be in the top 35 percent of his orher class, whichever is higher. Approximately 9% of the Class of 2014 was selected to join this prestigious society.

Selected to join this group include :

Breann Nelson, a junior from Moline, Ill., majoring in psychology and sociology.

Hiba Ansari, a junior from Clinton, Iowa, majoring in business administration-management.

Sheila Ahuja, a junior from Rock Island, Ill., majoring in language arts and English education.

Taelar Hillyer, a junior from Bettendorf, Iowa, majoring in language arts and English education.

Kelsey Winter, a junior from East Moline, Ill., majoring in biology.

Eryn Maccabee, a junior from East Moline, Ill., majoring in English and Scandinavian.

The Aglaia chapter at Augustana was chartered in 1965. It succeeded an Augustana Honors Society founded in 1940 for senior women. The name comes from one of the three Greek Graces, along with Euphrosyne and Thalia. Aglaia signifies "brilliance." In 2009, the chapter received a Silver Torch award from the national organization.

Students will be recognized at the Senior Honors Convocation on Saturday, May 18th, at 12 noon at Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave. Rock Island, Ill.).

About Augustana: Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. Augustana is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Alumni include 140 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 14 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.

ROCK ISLAND, IL (05/02/2013)(readMedia)-- Thirty-seven students at Augustana College, in Rock Island, Ill., recently were elected into the college's Phi Beta Kapp chapter. This national academic honor society recognizes scholarly achievement, character, integrity, and independence of mind. Members are elected by faculty. Election is less a reward for past success than a recognition of exceptional promise for future growth and achievement.

Among the students honored:

Manisha Kumar, a senior from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Douglas Peters, a senior from Port Byron, Ill., majoring in neuroscience and biology.

Moselle Singh, a senior from LeClaire, Iowa, majoring in anthropology.

Astrid Tello-Rodriguez, a senior from Milan, Ill., majoring in psychology.

Anna Tunnicliff, a senior from Bettendorf, Iowa, majoring in history.

The new Phi Beta Kappa members will be formally honored on campus and introduced at the Senior Honors Convocation on Saturday, May 18, at 12 noon, in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave., Rock Island).

Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776 and celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. It has more than half a million members and chapters at 283 American colleges and universities. Invitation to membership is a reflection of outstanding achievement. Only about 10 percent of the nation's institutions of higher learning have Phi Beta Kappa chapters, and only about 10 percent of the arts and sciences graduates of these institutions are selected for Phi Beta Kappa membership.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. Augustana is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Alumni include 140 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 14 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.

BETTENDORF, Iowa - Happy Joe Whitty loves people, and it shows. He loves to have a goodtime and to make people laugh, and that's just what his new book, "Not Your Average Joe" does.

You're sure to love this book written by the founder of Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream and theinventor of the Taco pizza! Read about this hard-working, generous, fun-loving entrepreneurwith a natural ability to make people happy. You'll be inspired, laugh, and maybe shed a fewtears. "I'm not only living proof of the American dream, but proof that the American dream canbecome a reality for any one of us," Whitty writes. "This is my story...and yours."

Meet Happy Joe Whitty himself on Saturday, May 4th, 11am - 1pm, at the Barnes & NobleBookstore in North Park Mall in Davenport, or 11am - 1pm the following Saturday, May11th, at Books-A-Million, 4000 E. 53rd Street in Davenport. There will be a meet and greetwhere Joe will visit and answer questions, as well as autograph your book!

Bring your camera and your kids for a photo opportunity with the real Happy Joe and Happy the Dog!

Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstoresnationwide, from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visitingwww.barnesandnoble.com, www.booksamillion.com, or www.amazon.com.
If you would like more information, please contact Kristel Whitty-Ersan at 563.332.8811, Ext.203, or via e-mail at kristele@happyjoes.com.

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