The Rock Island Public Library Foundation will offer book-loving guests a tasty way to 'eat, drink and support their library" with the 8th annual Food for Thought, a signature event from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 8 at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19^th Street.

The one-night only event transforms the historic library into a spot for dining, socializing and bidding on books signed by best-selling authors. Admission includes tastes of Rock Island from six guest chefs, wines poured by Thad Miller, wine and spirits manager at the Rock Island Hy-Vee and craft brew samples from Dan Cleaveland of the Blue Cat Brew Pub, and music by the BHC Jazz Combo and Lee Blackmon.

Food stations include selections prepared by Brad Scott and the Scott Community College Culinary Arts Academy, Martha Cleaveland of Blue Cat Brew Pub, Eudell Watts, III, of Eudell's Specialty Foods, Chef Robert Lewis, "the happy diabetic," Chef Craig Joos of the Rock Island Hy-Vee and Chef Kyle, of Doc's Inn.

Guests can bid on more than 30 books signed by their authors, as well as other unique gift items, including a private home dinner party for four, baskets and packages from local businesses.

The 8^th annual fundraiser helps the Rock Island Public Library Foundation fulfill requests for special programs and projects that are outside the Rock Island Library's normal operating budget. Rock Island Library Foundation dollars support special purchases of materials, equipment, beautification projects and more.

The Main Library is open to Food for Thought guests only that night, with admission payable at the door by cash, check or credit. A new feature this year is preferred admission to reward those who RSVP. Admission with an RSVP is $30 for one person or $50 for two. Without an RSVP, admission is $35 at the door per person.

In order to prepare for the event, the Main Library will close at noon on Nov. 8. The Rock Island 30/31 and Southwest Branches will be open until normal hours.

To RSVP, please call Foundation secretary Amy Penry at 309-732-7302 by October 31. Donations to the 501c3 Rock Island Library Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Friday, September 28, 2012

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley is asking Deputy Attorney General James Cole about his office's knowledge about the falling-out between the Reno, NV offices for the U.S. Attorney and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

In a letter sent late last night, Grassley wrote, and provided documents, that ATF agents in Reno notified the Office of Professional Responsibility nearly one year ago, yet the breakdown between the two offices continued.

"It appears the ATF and the US Attorney's Office may finally be stepping up to resolve the problem in Reno, but we need to learn how it got to this point.  It's inexcusable that it festered for more than a year," Grassley said.

Here's a copy of the text of Grassley's letter.  A signed copy can be found here.

September 27, 2012

Via Electronic Transmission

The Honorable James M. Cole

Deputy Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

Dear Deputy Attorney General Cole:

As you may be aware, I recently contacted both Nevada U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Acting Director B. Todd Jones about allegations from whistleblowers that a breakdown in relations had occurred between ATF and the U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) in Reno, Nevada.[1] I have not yet received a briefing from either of their offices.

The alleged breakdown is illustrated in a declination memorandum from the Reno USAO, which indicates that as of September 29, 2011, the Reno USAO categorically refused to accept any cases submitted by Reno ATF.  The declination memo states, "We are willing to consider your cases again when your management addresses and resolves the issues at hand."[2] Apparently as a consequence, ATF's Reno Field Office has only opened one case in 2012, as the attached chart indicates.[3]

I have since obtained documents from whistleblowers which indicate that these issues were raised with ATF headquarters and the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) almost a year ago.  According to one document, ATF agents in Reno notified ATF's Internal Affairs Division of the issue on October 13, 2011.[4] According to a second document, an ATF agent in Reno notified OPR on October 25, 2011.[5] As you may know, because of ATF and the Reno USAO's inability to resolve these issues, three ATF line agents and a supervisor were transferred out of Reno in April 2012.

In light of these facts, I am seeking to understand whether Justice Department management was also notified of the problems between ATF and the USAO in Reno, and if so, what actions were taken to rectify these issues.  Your office, the Office of the Deputy Attorney General (ODAG), is responsible for overseeing both ATF and U.S. Attorneys.  Therefore, please answer the following questions:

1)      Was anyone in ODAG notified in any way of these problems prior to my letters to ATF and U.S. Attorney Bogden on September 17, 2012?

a.      If so, when were individuals in ODAG first notified?

b.      What actions did they take to inquire into the situation?

c.       What actions did they take to address the situation?

2)     Were you aware of these problems prior to my letters to ATF and U.S. Attorney Bogden on September 17, 2012?

a.      If so, when were you first notified?

b.      What actions did you take to inquire into the situation?

c.       What actions did you take to address the situation?

3)     Was anyone in the Office of the Attorney General notified in any way of these problems prior to my letters to ATF and U.S. Attorney Bogden on September 17, 2012?

a.      If so, when were they first notified?

b.      What actions did they take to inquire into the situation?

c.       What actions did they take to address the situation?

Please also provide the following documents:

4)     All emails pertaining to anyone at Justice Department headquarters becoming aware of these issues prior to my letters to ATF and U.S. Attorney Bogden on September 17, 2012.

5)     All emails pertaining to anyone at Justice Department headquarters responding to these issues prior to my letters to ATF and U.S. Attorney Bogden on September 17, 2012.

Please provide a response and produce these documents by Thursday, October 11, 2012.  If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Brian Downey or Tristan Leavitt of my staff at (202) 224-5225.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley
Ranking Member

Attachments

cc:       The Honorable Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General

U.S. Department of Justice

B. Todd Jones, Acting Director

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

[1] Letter from Senator Grassley to U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada Daniel G. Bogden (Sep. 17, 2012) (Attachment 1); Letter from Senator Grassley to ATF Acting Director B. Todd Jones (Sep. 17, 2012) (Attachment 2).

2 Letter from Assistant U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami to ATF Special Agent (Sep. 29, 2011) (Attachment 3).

3 "Cases Initiated by Program Area," ATF Reno Field Office (Attachment 4).

4 Memorandum from ATF Internal Affairs Division to ATF Assistant Director for the Office of Professional Responsibility and Security Operations, "Request to Close Investigation" (Feb. 10, 2012) (Attachment 5).

5 Letter from Justice Department Office of Professional Responsibility to ATF Special Agent (Dec. 12, 2011) (Attachment 6).

Rock Island, IL: Learning isn't just for schoolchildren. Beyond the thousands of books, DVDs and other resources at Rock Island Public Library locations, fall brings plenty of ways for adults to learn something new with free programs on genealogy, technology and job searching.

Learn More About Who You Are:

With the help of two new genealogy programs at the Rock Island Main Library, participants can learn how to find out more their family ties. On Tuesday, Oct. 2, the Rock Island County Genealogical Society presents Genealogy: Getting Started, for an introductory look at how to start a family tree. On Wednesday, Oct. 17, the library and the Genealogical Society will offer Genealogy: Online Resources, for a look at how to use computerized research databases, such as Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest. Both programs start at 6:00 pm in the Main Library Community Room at 401 19^th Street. No registration is required.

Learn More About Using and Buying Technology:

If you're discovering the world of digital books, the Rock Island Library offers OverDrive, which contains a large number of eBooks, and a small number of eAudiobooks; and OneClickdigital, which contains more than 3,500 eAudiobook titles that can be checked out for free. The library will offer a demonstration on using OverDrive at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 10 and Wednesday, Nov. 14, both  at the Rock Island Southwest Branch Library, 9010 Ridgewood Road. No registration is required. Time is provided for questions and one-on-one help after each demo.

If you're considering a purchase of new technology (or putting some devices on your gift list), the library will offer a showcase of what to look for in a new computer, eReader, tablet or cell phone, and an overview of their compatibility with library products, such as OverDrive, OneClickdigital and Mango online languages. All three products offer mobile apps to help patrons use them on mobile devices. Technology Basics will be offered at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, Oct. 16 in the Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19^th Street.

Learn more about social media, with Facebook and Twitter: What You Want to Know, at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Library employees will answer some common about the features of both Facebook and Twitter, and how people use them to build connections with others.

Learn More About Finding and Landing a Job:

In a crowded job market, knowing how to present knowing how to present yourself can be the edge you need to stand out in the crowd. The Rock Island Library Reference and Information department will host two free programs to help you do just that:

Getting That Job: Tips on Making the Cut will be presented from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Participants will hear tips from a panel of experts on how to fill out the application, what to avoid on a resume, and what to do during an interview. No registration is required.

Getting That Job: Resume Tips will be presented from 11:00 am to noon on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Participants will hear tips and suggestions for putting together a resume. Registration is required for this course, as computers are limited. To sign up, call 309-732-7341.

Both programs will be presented in the Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19^th Street.

For more computer tip workshops and other hands-on demos for adults at the Rock Island Library, visit the library calendar at www.rockislandlandlibrary, call 309-732-7341 or follow the library on Facebook.

Leaders Concerned With Reports of Taxpayer Dollars Paying for the Inclusion of Health Law Promotion in Network TV Shows

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan today asked the Department of Health and Human Services to explain waste and what appears to be inadequate or non-existent oversight of the open-ended federal checks awarded to states to establish health care exchanges through the President's health care law.  More than $1 billion has been awarded to date, and revelations of questionable expenses, such as a public relations contract in California to promote the health care exchanges on primetime network television shows, continue to surface.

Grassley and Upton expressed concern over an unlimited budget and little or no restrictions and accountability for federal dollars to help states establish health care exchanges under the new federal health care law, especially in light of looming mandatory budget cuts of $1.2 trillion.  News reports have detailed the state of California's contract with a public relations firm to "tap major network TV shows like 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Modern Family' to sell Americans on the health care law."

"HHS has failed to provide substantive guidance to states on how the money is to be used," Grassley and Upton wrote in a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.  "Unsurprisingly given these facts, news reports have shown how states have engaged in questionable contracts with taxpayer dollars. ... Ensuring proper use of American taxpayer dollars is of the upmost importance, and we trust that you share our concerns."

Grassley is ranking member of the Judiciary Committee.  Upton is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The text of their letter is available here.

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