ROCK ISLAND, IL (04/16/2013)(readMedia)-- Augustana College announced 872 students were named to the Dean's List for the 2012-2013 winter term. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on a four-point scale for courses taken during the term.

From your area, students who have earned this honor include :

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

Sarah Althaus from Moline, Ill., a junior majoring in political science.

Amber Anderson from Port Byron, Ill., a senior majoring in accounting.

April Anderson from Davenport, Iowa, a senior majoring in asian studies.

Leo Anderson from Rock Island, Ill., a junior majoring in business administration-management and accounting.

Anthony Ash from Davenport, Iowa, a senior majoring in accounting and business administration-finance.

Jessica Bacon from Rock Island, Ill., a sophomore majoring in elementary education.

Hannah Barney from Bettendorf, Iowa, a senior majoring in business administration-marketing and communication studies.

Samantha Bazely from Coal Valley, Ill., a senior majoring in communication studies.

Adam Bengfort from Davenport, Iowa, a junior majoring in engineering physics.

Ryan Bertram from Rock Island,, Ill., a senior majoring in accounting certificate.

Andrew Beveroth from Sterling, Ill., a freshman majoring in history.

Allie Bierhaus from Bettendorf, Iowa, a senior majoring in elementary education and Spanish.

Christopher Boley from Moline, Ill., a senior majoring in political science.

Austin Boyle from Moline, Ill., a senior majoring in business administration-finance, political science, and accounting.

Joe Bright from Erie, Ill., a senior majoring in political science and international business.

Jasmine Brooks from Moline, Ill., a senior majoring in political science.

Allison Brown from Milan, Ill., a junior majoring in English and language arts education.

Samantha Bull from Port Byron, Ill., a junior majoring in communication sciences and disorders.

Arielle Campos from Rock Island, Ill., a senior majoring in art and business administration-marketing.

Ceara Campos from Rock Falls, Ill., a senior majoring in business administration-management.

Nicholas Clark from Moline, Ill., a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

David Cook from Silvis, Ill., a senior majoring in history.

Tyler Cowherd from Bettendorf, Iowa, a junior majoring in business administration-finance, accounting, and Spanish for professional use.

Rowan Crow from Coal Valley, Ill., a freshman majoring in history education.

Angela Cummins from Rock Island, Ill., a senior majoring in communication sciences and disorders and psychology.

Rosa De La Torre from Rock Falls, Ill., a sophomore majoring in pre-medicine and biology.

Zachary Dryoel from Moline, Ill., a senior majoring in economics and business administration-finance.

Katelin Durham from Sterling, Ill., a sophomore majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Erin Gehn from Rock Island, Ill., a senior majoring in applied mathematics.

Elizabeth Gehrmann from Bettendorf, Iowa, a freshman majoring in liberal studies.

Alannah Golden from Davenport, Iowa, a senior majoring in elementary education.

Jonathan Grchan from Moline, Ill., a senior majoring in business adminstration-management information systems.

Thomas Harris from Davenport, Iowa, a senior majoring in biology.

Fenner Hengst from Bettendorf, Iowa, a junior majoring in graphic design.

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

Lucas Hodgerson from Moline, Ill., a freshman majoring in liberal studies.

Darshan Hullon from Moline, Ill., a senior majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Andrea Hult from Moline, Ill., a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Paul Hurd from Wilton, Iowa, a senior majoring in business administration-management.

Jens Hurty from Moline, Ill., a junior majoring in vocal music education.

Kjerstin Hurty from Moline, Ill., a senior majoring in business administration-marketing.

Jillian Jespersen from Rock Island, Ill., a freshman majoring in liberal studies.

Samantha Johannsen from Davenport, Iowa, a sophomore majoring in business administration-advising.

Zoee Johnson from Rock Falls, Ill., a freshman majoring in liberal studies.

Katherine Karstens from Moline, Ill., a junior majoring in business administration-advising.

Michael Kautz from East Moline, Ill., a senior majoring in accounting and business administration-finance.

Alyssa Kendell from Davenport, Iowa, a freshman majoring in liberal studies.

Clare Kilbride from Rock Island, Ill., a senior majoring in communication sciences and disorders.

Jordan Kirkbride from Rock Island, Ill., a junior majoring in French and art history.

Matthew Klyman from East Moline, Ill., a freshman majoring in liberal studies.

Benjamin Knapper from Davenport, Iowa, a junior majoring in applied mathematics and computer science.

Rebecca Knapper from Davenport, Iowa, a freshman majoring in creative writing.

Kylie Koger from Davenport, Iowa, a junior majoring in classics.

Ryan Kopatich from Davenport, Iowa, a senior majoring in psychology.

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

Jamie Lawrence from Moline, Ill., a senior majoring in English and language arts education.

Courtney Linn from Bettendorf, Iowa, a senior majoring in biology.

Madison Logan from Moline, Ill., a junior majoring in communication sciences and disorders and psychology.

Makenzie Logan from Moline, Ill., a freshman majoring in psychology.

Autumn Loose from Moline, Ill., a freshman majoring in liberal studies.

Kelsey Lovaas from Davenport, Iowa, a senior majoring in business administration-management and accounting.

Hannah Maloney from Davenport, Iowa, a senior majoring in psychology and communication studies.

Samantha McGreer from Illinois City, Ill., a sophomore majoring in pre-medicine and biochemistry.

Garrett Miner from Moline, Ill., a freshman majoring in liberal studies.

Landon Neese from Davenport, Iowa, a sophomore majoring in pre-medicine.

Long Nguyen from Rock Island, Ill., a freshman majoring in applied mathematics and computer science.

Jacob O'Rourke from Davenport, Iowa, a senior majoring in accounting and buisness administration-finance.

Muna Omar from Bettendorf, Iowa, a senior majoring in biology.

Andrew Palm from Rock Island, Ill., a senior majoring in physics.

Eric Pease from Sterling, Ill., a senior majoring in neuroscience and pre-medicine.

Nicholas Petre from Moline, Ill., a senior majoring in philosophy, pre-med, and biochemistry.

Owen Pomije from Rock Island, Ill., a junior majoring in computer science.

Phillip Powell from Bettendorf, Iowa, a freshman majoring in English education.

Anish Reddy from Rock Island, Ill., a freshman majoring in pre-medicine.

Tyler Richards from Port Byron, Ill., a junior majoring in business administration-marketing.

Sarah Riedel from Long Grove, Iowa, a sophomore majoring in creative writing.

Omar Rizvi from Bettendorf, Iowa, a freshman majoring in liberal studies.

Jessica Roche from Moline, Ill., a senior majoring in biology.

Anna Rusch from Davenport, Iowa, a junior majoring in business administration-marketing.

Keith Sands from Silvis, Ill., a freshman majoring in liberal studies.

Jessica Scheckel from Taylor Ridge, Ill., a senior majoring in biology and psychology.

Lauren Schneiderbauer from Sterling, Ill., a senior majoring in biology.

Austin Schoeck from Rock Island, Ill., a freshman majoring in political science.

Jennifer Schroder from Rock Island, Ill., a senior majoring in communication studies.

Katelyn Sedig from Morrison, Ill., a senior majoring in communication sciences and disorders.

Andrew Shearouse from Coal Valley, Ill., a senior majoring in business administration-advising.

Moselle Singh from Le Claire, Iowa, a senior majoring in anthropology.

Alexandra Skinner from Bettendorf, Iowa, a junior majoring in theatre arts and psychology.

Jonathan Smith from Moline, Ill., a senior majoring in biology.

Cristina Stan from Davenport, Iowa, a junior majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Andrew Statz from Davenport, Iowa, a sophomore majoring in pre-medicine and biology.

Grant Stewart from Sterling, Ill., a senior majoring in elementary education.

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

Emma Thompson from Port Byron, Ill., a senior majoring in psychology and Spanish for professional use.

Sara Tilp from Rock Island, Ill., a freshman majoring in liberal studies.

Anthony TouVelle from Bettendorf, Iowa, a junior majoring in German and international business.

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

Megan Vandersee from Sterling, Ill., a senior majoring in chemistry education.

Chelsea Vickerman from Silvis, Ill., a senior majoring in business administration-finance.

James Wiebler from Davenport, Iowa, a senior majoring in biology.

Shelby Womack from Davenport, Iowa, a junior majoring in biology.

Rong Zheng from Silvis, Ill., a freshman majoring in liberal studies.

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.

SPRINGFIELD - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will preside over the quarterly meeting of the Governor's Rural Affairs Council (GRAC) tomorrow in Springfield. The meeting will feature updates about Illinois' EBT Wireless Project, which enables farmers' markets to accept Illinois Link, debit and credit cards wirelessly for the first time.

To date, 31 markets have received the wireless grants coordinated by Simon's office, and most of the markets will start accepting Link cards this spring. One of the newest recipients, EP!C Market, of Peoria, will discuss its expansion plans during the GRAC meeting Wednesday.

"Our wireless project is not only making locally-grown, healthy food available to low-income residents, it is helping us create job opportunities for those in need and supporting farmers," Simon said.

EP!C Market provides employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Currently, approximately 40 individuals work in the greenhouse, and plants are sold at local retailers. The organization looks forward to adding an outdoor garden, doubling the number of workers. EP!C will hold its first outdoor farmers' market in May. 

Applications for the EBT wireless project are still being accepted. For more information, please click here

Wednesday, April 17

EVENT: Governor's Rural Affairs Council (GRAC) quarterly meeting

TIME: 2 p.m.

PLACE: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Lakeview Rooms B and C, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield

NOTE: Media availability will take place prior to the meeting's start.

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If you catch United Soybean Board Chairman Jim Stillman in the kitchen, chances are he's whipping up one of his favorite soy-based dishes. Join Stillman in making one of his favorites - Overnight Egg Casserole. Click here to watch.
The Development Committee of Humility of Mary Housing invites everyone to an evening of trivia games, a chance to bid on some exciting silent auction items and, above all to help homeless children have a brighter future. Humility of Mary Housing, Inc. is a supportive housing program for single parent families who have experienced homelessness.

The games start at 7 pm, Friday, April 26, at the Golden Leaf, 2903 E. Kimberly Rd, Davenport, doors open at 6 pm.

All trivia fans and potential trivia fans, come, join in the fun. Bring your team of eight or join others to form full teams. Ticket price is $10 per person. Bring your own snacks, but please, no beverages?a full cash bar is available.

Call 563-326-1330 to make your reservation NOW.

Silent auction baskets include : Happy Joe's One pizza/month for a year; Mississippi River Distilling Company; Lilac Hill photography session; John Deere Battery-Operated Ground Force 12 volt tractor with trailer; Best Western Plus Steeple Gate one night's stay in either Davenport or Dubuque; four tickets to the Iowa-Missouri football game September 7; gift cards to Steventons and Blue Iguana in LeClaire;

What is one thing 80 percent of employers in Illinois have in common?

In the past 10 years, they have hired a community college student.

What do nearly 1 million Illinois residents have in common each year?

They are taking classes at a community college.

What happens to nine out of 10 community college graduates in Illinois?

They stay in Illinois where they live, work, pay taxes and raise their families.

Community colleges equal opportunities:

·         Opportunities for high school students to earn college-credit while still in high school.

·         Opportunities for recent grads as well as adult learners to get an education and quickly enter the workforce.

·         Opportunities for businesses to hire local employees with specialized skills and training.

·         Opportunities for immigrants to learn English and become part of their new community.

"Our college simply does not exist apart from the communities we serve," says Dr. Thomas Baynum, Black Hawk College president.

"We are our community's college. The strength of a community college lies in the word 'community.' "

The month of April is designated as Community College Month. It is a time to celebrate a uniquely American institution, a place where anyone from any walk of life can become a college student.

This semester Black Hawk College is educating 5,570 college-credit students and more than 1,300 Adult Education students.

Across the college district, the college has students from approximately 50 countries. Some are beginning to learn English while others are pursuing associate degrees.

This summer Black Hawk College will host more than 1,000 elementary, middle and high school students through College for Kids, Digital Divas, softball and basketball camps, swim lessons and community education programs.

From the beginning, Black Hawk College has been here to serve the community. The college began in 1946 as Moline Community College to accommodate World War II veterans seeking higher education.

A lot has changed in 67 years, but one thing has not - Black Hawk College is still here, adapting and evolving to continue serving the needs of the community.
  • Chase Davidson activated from Quad Cities Temporary Inactive List.
  • Carlos Perdomo transferred from Quad Cities to Lancaster.
  • Joe Bircher transferred from Quad Cities to Extended Spring Training.
  • Austin Elkins transferred from Extended Spring Training to Quad Cities.

WEST DES MOINES- April 16, 2013 - The Marshalltown 1 Envirothon Team beat out 13 teams from around the state to win the 18th annual Iowa Envirothon title at Springbrook State Park in Guthrie Center on Monday.  The Marshalltown team receives an expense-paid trip to participate in the Canon National Envirothon competition held at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, August 4-9.

Team members of the Marshalltown team include (from left to right): Sean Finn, Adam Willman, Joe Metzger, Emma Runquist, Abby Snyder and Coach Susan Fritzell.

The Envirothon is a program for Iowa high school students who want to learn more about natural resources and current environmental challenges. Teams are tested in wildlife, aquatics, forestry, soils and current issues. This year's current issues oral competition theme was grazing and rangeland management: livestock, grazing and long-term management for absentee land owners in Iowa.

Participating teams included: Des Moines FFA, Decorah Supafly, Nodaway Valley FFA, Alburnett FFA, Decorah Eagles, Waverly Shell Rock Sharptails, Marshalltown 2, Iowa City High Benthos, Columbus Junction FFA, Mediapolis, Glenwood 3, Charles City FFA Blue and Muscatine FFA.  The top FFA team title went to Des Moines FFA.

The Iowa Farm Bureau has sponsored the Iowa Envirothon since the program began in 1996.  Today Iowa Farm Bureau works in cooperation with several farm organizations to offer Iowa high school students the opportunity to compete and increase knowledge and awareness of our natural resources.

For the complete results, visit https://sites.google.com/a/cfu.net/iowa-envirothon/.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the Newsroom page on the IBF website at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

By Senator Tom Harkin

In emotional testimony before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee last week, Carroll native Stacy Cook described her experience battling breast cancer and having to pay out-of-pocket for services when she was denied health care coverage.

The testimony came during a hearing I convened to examine progress at the state and federal levels in creating health insurance exchanges authorized by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and to review the new consumer protections that will begin in 2014. Having worked to help craft the law, I wanted to hear firsthand how these changes will impact consumers.

Cook was first diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2004, when she was 28 years old.  At the time, she was fortunate to have adequate health insurance through her job to receive the care that she needed.    But in March of 2012, after moving to Arizona, the cancer reappeared.   She underwent a mastectomy only to discover her insurance would not cover the procedure or the chemotherapy treatments she would need.  Further, the insurance would pay for only five doctor visits a year.

It was only after friends and family intervened that she was able to afford three of the six chemotherapy treatments that were recommended by her oncologist.

Cook's growing medical bills left her unable to pay her rent in Arizona, forcing her to move back in with her family.  After she moved back to Iowa, she continued her search for health insurance coverage.  Sadly, she has been denied coverage and is continuing to pay out-of-pocket for care.

"Unfortunately, I am now $40,000 in debt because of my medical bills, and I feel that I will likely need to file bankruptcy in 2013," she described to the HELP Committee.

As a result of the Affordable Care Act, as of January 1st of next year insurance companies cannot discriminate against Americans with preexisting conditions, or charge higher premiums based on health status or gender, and their ability to raise premiums based on age will be limited.

"I now have peace of mind knowing that, in 2014, I will no longer be denied coverage because of my pre-existing condition - cancer," Cook continued.  "Having access to affordable insurance coverage and quality medical care will give me a better peace of mind for the future. My future is much brighter today than before the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, and for that I am very grateful."

It is testimony like Stacy's that make this fight so personal, so important to increasing access to quality, affordable health care in our country.  It was stories like hers that inspired the debate when we were crafting this law and will lead to the progress when the full benefits of this law are realized next year.

If you have a story about how the Affordable Care Act will help you or your family, please share it via my website at http://www.harkin.senate.gov/.

A PDF version of this article is available by clicking here.

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Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today pressed the head of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to account for recent media reports stating that agency internal documents say agents have the ability to access taxpayer emails without warrants, despite a court opinion to the contrary.  Grassley questioned Steven T. Miller, acting commissioner, at a Finance Committee hearing this morning.   The media reports indicate the IRS has taken the position that it can access taxpayer emails without a warrant under the Electronic Communication Privacy Act.   While the Act does allow federal agencies to obtain electronic communications from a remote computing service without a search warrant, provided they are older than 180 days, this position is contrary to the 6th Circuit's decision in U.S. v. Warshak. In Warshak, the court held that a search warrant is necessary to obtain any content of an email, regardless of age.  The Department of Justice has extended this policy to all circuits.   Grassley has long worked to expand taxpayer rights, winning approval of the first-ever Taxpayer Bill of Rights in 1988 and a sequel enacted in 1996.  The legislation codified rights and protections for taxpayers in dealing with the IRS after a series of abuses came to light and were the subject of congressional hearings.

Grassley made the following comment on the IRS' email access policy.

"The IRS has a very high burden to treat taxpayers within legal bounds and without abusive intrusion of privacy.  The agency's written materials suggest agents have the ability to access taxpayer emails without warrants.   Acting Commissioner Miller said today this isn't the agency position.  If it's not agency policy or practice, the IRS needs to clarify the true policy in writing, agency-wide.  That's critical.  But it's not enough.  The IRS also needs to explain its aggressive stance in internal documents about accessing electronic communications and whether it in fact accessed electronic communications without search warrants and if so, when and why.  The IRS has to take this issue seriously, and a casual explanation is inadequate.  I'll ask Acting Commissioner Miller follow-up questions on this issue to be answered in writing for the hearing record, as a start."

It's National Library Week: Celebrate Libraries with Us!

Communities Matter at Your Library" is the theme of National Library Week, April 14-20, and to celebrate, the Rock Island Public Library is bringing together varying interests, services, and communities of learners and readers.

 

Take a Pass! Two new cultural and attraction passes became available just this week for checkout at the Rock Island Main, 30/31 and Southwest Branch Libraries. You can now checkout a free family pass for:

 

  • The Figge Art Museum in Davenport - admits four
  • Niabi Zoo in Coal Valley - admits two adults and up to 4 children, and
  • The Quad City Botanical Center - admits 4

Passes check out for seven days, and must be picked up and returned in person at the issuing library branch. There is a $1 per day fee if passes are not returned on time.

 

A new awareness service from Prairie State Legal Services also started this week at the Main Library, 401 19th Street. Trained volunteers from Prairie State Legal Services will be available from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays on the 2nd floor of the library to offer information and assistance with navigating public benefits for food, cash, medical assistance, disability and township assistance. Prairie State Legal Services volunteers cannot offer legal advice.

 

Read on for more special events this week!

 

5:30 to 7:30 pm, Blues and Gospel film and discussion, Main Library Community Room, 401 19th Street. The scholar-led discussion on Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Episode 1, Feel Like Going Home and Say Amen,Somebody, is the first of three Rock Island Library programs in the America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway series.

America';s Music Logo Graphic

America's Music is a grant-funded series of film viewings, discussions and performance events at Rock Island, Moline, Bettendorf and Davenport Public Libraries, River Music Experience and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities. For more events in the series, visit www.americasmusicqc.com

 

10:30 am, Special "How I Became a Pirate" storytime presented by Circa 21, Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. Captain Braid Beard (Janos Horvath), from the Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse's new musical adventure, will stop by to help read stories, talk like a pirate and help with pirate crafts for ages birth to five. The musical is based on the popular children's book of the same name, by Melinda Long.
  • 4:00 pm: Lego Time, Rock Island Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. Make something fun for display at the library with Lego-brand building blocks.

Later in the week, on Friday, April 19, join us for a dinosaur storytime at 10:30 am at the Rock Island Main Library Children's Room. Free story and dinosaur activity, especially for ages birth to five.

 

Wednesday: Download eBooks and eAudiobooks

Free sessions on how to use the Library's OverDrive eBook subscription to check out eBooks and eAudiobooks for free to read on an electronic device:

Wednesday, April 17, 6:00 pm Southwest Branch.

Details online - click the OverDrive or OneClickdigital logos on the right side of our webpage.

 

Thursday, April 18: Teen Movie Night

Join us at 6:00 pm, on Thursday, April 18, for a Teen Movie Night at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street.

 

The free movie screening, snacks and more fun is especially created for ages 12 to 18.

 

Saturday: Special El Dia Family Storytimes

Quetzacoatl imageStart your family's Saturday off right with tales from around the world for the whole family!

 

Each of the short storytimes start at 10:00 am, and include a fun activity:

 

 

Saturday, April 20: Main Library Children's Room

Saturday, April 27: Main Library Children's Room

 

El Dia is an annual celebration of children's books and reading, created by author Pat Mora. Free!

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