PORT BYRON, IL - Investment scam artists who prey on unsuspecting individuals would no longer
escape prosecution under legislation being advanced by State Representative Mike Smiddy (D-Port
Byron).

"This measure goes after scammers and protects Illinois residents from unscrupulous investors," Smiddy
said. "Too many snake oil salesman and hucksters avoid being held accountable for their crimes - this
legislation aims to change that. By extending the statute of limitations to void crooked investment deals
we can penalize perpetrators while helping people who have been wronged."

House Bill 2969 amends the Illinois Securities Law of 1953 to broaden the limitations period for bringing
an action to void a security's sale. Under current law, a defrauded investor may bring a private or civil
action within three years from the date of sale. This three-year period may be extended by two years if
the investor did not know about the fraud. However, the current statutory language sets a firm cap of
five years for prosecution. Smiddy's legislation removes the five-year cap and provides that limitations
may be further extended as a way to prevent scammers from escaping prosecution.

"Con-artists and those who defraud investors should not be able to avoid liability," Smiddy said. "This is
a strong strep toward increasing consumer protections and decreasing the number of crooked investors
in Illinois. I urge my colleagues in the House to join me in passing this important piece of legislation
quickly."

For more information, contact Smiddy's office at RepSmiddy@gmail.com, (309) 848-9098, or toll free at
(855) 243-4988.

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Iowa Supreme Court Opinions

March 15, 2013

Notice: The opinions posted on this site are slip opinions only. Under the Rules of Appellate Procedure a party has a limited number of days to request a rehearing after the filing of an opinion. Also, all slip opinions are subject to modification or correction by the court. Therefore, opinions on this site are not to be considered the final decisions of the court. The official published opinions of the Iowa Supreme Court are those published in the North Western Reporter published by West Group.

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NOTE: Copies of these opinions may be obtained from the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Judicial Branch Building, 1111 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319, for a fee of fifty cents per page.

No. 11-0934

RENELLA SUE CRAWFORD vs. STEVE YOTTY and MYRON ROPP

No. 11-1714

DAVID TAFT, Plaintiff, vs. IOWA DISTRICT COURT FOR LINN COUNTY
A BOOK by ME: Holocaust Series

True stories written by children for children

™



Teaching History, Tolerance, Courage, Compassion, Kindness, Perseverance, Integrity, Cooperation and more.
Announcing a new title in the A BOOK by ME series
#74 The Footstool
The story of a Catholic husband and wife taken from their
happy lives in Poland to serve as forced labor under the Nazis.
Written by Alanna Rumler and illustrated by Jennifer Banks.
Both girls are from Geneseo, Illinois.
Alanna Rumler
Alanna Rumler
The next book to be released in the Holocaust Series is The Footstool by young author Alanna Rumler, illustrated by Jennifer Banks, both of Geneseo, Illinois.
This story was told to Alanna by the granddaughter of the survivor named Jozef Kodyra. Ironically, Jozef was born in the United States and his family moved to Poland when he was a young boy. He grew up there, married Helena and started their family.

Ironically they are not Jewish but nonetheless were taken as prisoners to Dachau Concentration Camp. You can read more about their story below.
It's wonderful the young author was able to meet Jozef's granddaughter named Amanda who passed along his story. Amanda, Alanna and the young artist named Jennifer were able to preserve the story for future generations.

Amanda would like to speak in classrooms in the Quad Cities area to help educate students. If you know a teacher or you are a teacher interested in your class hearing this important story, please contact us today.  She will have copies of this book to sell by April 12.
Sincerely excited about storytelling,
Deb Bowen
Creator, A BOOK by ME
DAVENPORT, IOWA – Kelly's Irish Pub and Eatery, located at 2222 E. 53rd St., Davenport, IA, since 2004, will host its ninth annual St. Patrick's Day Festival, Friday March 15, Saturday, March 16, and Sunday, March 17.

St. Pat's 2011 Video clips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBGmsOHp-cM&feature=related

The weekend's festivities kick off Friday at 4:00 p.m. in the big tent, with the Mayer School of Irish Dance, and live music, featuring local acoustic and rock acts. popular Quad City country-rockers, the Dirt Road Rockers will headline up Friday night's show. Also at 7:00 p.m. Friday, the first Quad City Beer Pong Championship will be held with 32 bracketed teams vying for the prize of a Kelly's Party Package.

Saturday, doors open at 6:00 a.m., and the events get started at 7:00 a.m. with a Lucky Charms cereal buffet and continue through the day. To accommodate the Skydiving Leprechauns, the Irish Dancers, a magician, a juggler, games, and 10 hours of live music [complete lineup below], Kelly's has a total of 11,000 square feet of heated tent space. And this year the festivities will include a photo booth, a NASCAR simulator, and TVs in the side tent for college regional conference tournaments and other sporting events. 2013 will also find the return of Mississippi River Distilling Company's River Baron Vodka - made in LeClaire, Iowa. This locally produced small-batch artisan spirit will be featured in a Kelly's Irish Pub & Eatery Signature Drink called the "Skydiving Leprechaun." Kelly's will also be featuring the new Jameson Irish Car Bomb express near the inside bar and a Jameson bar in the west tent, featuring specialty drinks.

In the spirit of community, and to continue a nine year tradition of safe, fun St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Kelly's will be offering a free shuttle service Saturday to make sure people get home safely.

Great food has always been a great tradition at Kelly's and over this year's three-day celebration, the Kelly's team will serve up over two thousand pounds of slow-cooked corned beef, either as a sandwich or as a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner, complete with roasted red potatoes.

Sunday will feature a brunch buffet, more live music and the Mayer School of Irish Dance.

The event has consistently been growing since 2005 and Kelly's owner Dan Kelly says he is expecting up to 20,000 attendees this year. "There is no fee for admission, and plenty of nearby parking." Says Kelly, "In addition to an enthusiastic local following, we are seeing folks coming in from the entire region, from as far away as Milwaukee and St. Louis. It's become a regional draw to the Quad Cities."


Event Schedule - Live Entertainment:
FRIDAY
4:00pm  Doors Open
5:00   Mayer School of Irish Dance
6:00   Acoustic Music - Mike Cochrane
7:00   Beer Pong Tournament
7:15   Superfly Samurai
8:45   Pitchin A Tent
10:15  Dirt Road Rockers

SATURDAY
6:00am Doors Open
7:00  Free Lucky Charms Breakfast Buffet
10:00  Irish Spring Giveaway
10:00  Photo Booth Opens
11:00 Irish  Dancers
11:45 Acoustic Music - Chuck Murphy
1:00pm  Acoustic Music - Jason Carl
1:00  Juggler Dean Franzen
2:00  Magician Mark Yeager
2:15  QC Rock Academy Students
3:45  Skydiving Leprechauns
4:00  Mayer School of Irish  Dance
5:00  Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls
6:15  North of 40
7:30  Cosmic
9:00  Third Rail
10:45 Spatterdash

SUNDAY
9:30am   Doors open
11:00  Brunch
11:00  Mayer School of Irish  Dance
12:00pm Myers Brothers
1:15   Whoozdads?
2:45   Jim Ryan

Note: Live entertainment start times are an estimate only and subject to change. The Skydiving Leprechauns will not jump if weather conditions are not optimal.

About Kelly's: Opened in 2004, Kelly's has always been proud of its tradition of great food and great service by a friendly staff in a comfortable atmosphere. With a diverse menu ranging from burgers and pub food to salmon and salads, fried items are hand battered and breaded to order, queso dip and soups are made from scratch, in-house. With 12 flat-screen TV's and a 106-inch big screen, this Irish pub is perfect for watching all the sports action in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Like everyone says: "Kelly's IS Patrick's Day!"

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State Will Seek Federal Funds for Critical Project to Ease Congestion, Create Jobs and Improve Safety by Fixing Nation's #1 Bottleneck

 

CHICAGO - Following approval today by a key planning group, Governor Pat Quinn has directed the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to accelerate a $420 million project that will reconstruct Chicago's famed Circle Interchange, improving traffic flow in the most congested interchange in the nation. Today's decision by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to include the project in the "GO TO 2040" long-term transportation plan allows IDOT to pursue federal funding for the landmark project that will create thousands of jobs. Today's announcement is part of the Governor's agenda to create jobs and drive more economic growth.

"Strengthening our transportation system drives economic growth for generations to come while creating thousands of jobs today," Governor Quinn said. "Reconstructing the Circle Interchange will ease congestion, move people and freight more efficiently, and clean up the environment by reducing emissions from idling vehicles."

The Circle Interchange Improvement project will improve traffic flow on the three expressways that meet in the heart of Chicago. According to estimates by transportation planners, it will reduce traffic delays by at least 50 percent; it will save drivers 5 million hours annually; and the improved traffic flow will lead to savings of 1.6 million gallons of fuel per year.

IDOT Secretary Ann Schneider is chair of the CMAP policy committee and presided today over a meeting at which CMAP agreed to IDOT's recommendation to amend the region's long range transportation plan, GO TO 2040,  to accommodate the Circle Interchange project.  Additionally, this project will put hundreds of men and women to work rebuilding and repairing our critical transportation network.

"Through a comprehensive and transparent process, we have identified a plan for the Circle Interchange that will keep our region and our economy moving," Transportation Secretary Schneider said. "We applaud CMAP's decision to support Governor Quinn's efforts to enhance safety and improve congestion at the Circle Interchange and include this project in the region's long-range plan, so we can continue our planning and design efforts without delay."

The Circle Interchange was constructed between 1958 and 1962, and has outlived its design life according to several performance indicators on safety, infrastructure condition and congestion. The interchange experiences an average of 940 crashes per year. In addition, each day,  more than 400,000 vehicles pass through the Circle Interchange, which connects the Kennedy, Dan Ryan and Eisenhower expressways, and is a vital regional and local hub for commuters, businesses and freight movement. In 2010, the Federal Highway Administration and the American Transportation Research Institute identified the Circle Interchange as the No. 1 bottleneck among highways crucial to the nation's freight transportation system. Of the more than 400,000 vehicles that use the interchange each day, about 33,000 are trucks.

Based on engineering concerns over safety, infrastructure condition and congestion, Governor Quinn last April directed IDOT to begin planning work for this estimated $420 million project. The planning work began in spring 2012 and is proceeding on an accelerated schedule. Extensive stakeholder outreach has been a focal point of a comprehensive planning process, which is expected to be completed in spring 2013.

The proposed scope of the work involve replacing aging ramps and pavement with two existing single-lane ramps (the northbound Dan Ryan (I-90/94) to the westbound Eisenhower (I-290); and the eastbound Eisenhower to northbound Kennedy (I-90/94)) being widened to two-lane ramps providing additional capacity.  In addition, the design of the ramp merging points will be reconfigured to provide safer and more efficient traffic flow. The new design incorporates aesthetic features and improves the multimodal transportation system of the surrounding street network with the inclusion of bike lanes, wider sidewalks and improved access to transit.

As part of the planning process, IDOT has been conducting an extensive public outreach and involvement campaign. The agency has scheduled a Public Hearing to provide an overview of the study process and solicit public input on April 3, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Marriot Chicago at Medical District/UIC, 625 South Ashland Ave. For more information about the project, go to: http://www.circleinterchange.org/.

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Easter Egg Hunt

Immanuel Lutheran Church & Preschool is having their 4th Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30th 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. for all children up to age 10. MORE EGGS this year! Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for registration, or you can register early by emailing your name, address, phone number and ages of the children to immanuel3834@q.com. Ages will be split and times staggered for finding eggs.

There will also be Make-it Take-it crafts, Cookie Walk, Kid's games, Candy guessing game, and facepainting. Bring a basket if you like, or a bag can be provided. Free Coffee and Hot Chocolate. In case of weather, event will be held indoors.

This is a free event open to the public, and all are welcome to join us. For more information please contact the church office at 563-324-6431.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today announced that the East Central Intergovernmental Association, which covers Cedar and Clinton counties, as well as Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson counties has received $58,000 from the Economic Development Agency.  This funding will be used to establish an economic development planning framework, process and strategy that supports private capital investment and job creation in the region.

"I am pleased that the East Central Intergovernmental Association received this funding to continue their important work of developing and implementing a comprehensive economic development strategy for the region," said Loebsack.  "We must focus on growing our economy and putting Iowans back to work. Investing in economic development planning, rural development and supporting public-private partnerships will both help strengthen the regional economy and promote job creation."

This EDA planning investment supports the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) in the region served by the East Central Intergovernmental Association.  The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.

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Original works by local high school students due April 26th

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that high school students in the Second Congressional District may now submit their original artwork to his Davenport office to be considered for the Congressional Art Competition.  The annual competition is hosted by the United States House of Representatives to recognize talented young artists from across the nation. The winning student from each district is invited to Washington, D.C. to attend a reception held in their honor and will have his or her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. The deadline for artwork to be received in Loebsack's Davenport office is April 26th

"The creativity of our talented young artists demonstrates that the arts are thriving in Iowa.  Each year that I have hosted this contest, I have been amazed by the talent of these students," said Loebsack. "For a young artist, having your artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol is quite a remarkable accomplishment. Judging this competition is always difficult, but I look forward to seeing this year's entries and meeting with the artists."

All entries should be sent to Loebsack's Davenport office at 209 West 4th Street, no later than Friday, April, 26th.  Loebsack will also host a reception to honor all students who submit artwork on Saturday, May 4th at 11:00am at St. Ambrose University. For additional details about the competition, students should contact Dave Leshtz at 319-351-0789 or by email at david.leshtz@mail.house.gov.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today congratulated Xi Jinping on becoming China's new president.

Branstad noted Iowa's long-standing history with President Xi, from his first visit to Iowa in 1985.

"Iowa is fortunate to have a strong, friendly relationship with China's new president," said Branstad. "When he was in Iowa last year, Xi Jinping told me he still remembers the families he stayed with in Iowa, and how much he appreciated the friendliness and hospitality that was shown to his entire delegation during their trip to Iowa. He has made a very good impression with the people he has met here in this state, both in 1985 during his initial visit, as well as his visit to our state for the reunion last year. We enjoyed hosting him at a state dinner here, and I was very impressed how he went off his script to describe his first visit to Iowa and the people he had met here. We are very impressed with his leadership. We think he will be someone who is very good to work with and it is an opportunity for us to build better relationships between the United States of America and China. I was honored to be hosted by Xi Jinping at a reunion with his Iowa friends in Beijing last spring. I look forward to visiting President Xi very soon, and continuing our great relationship."

Reynolds says she looks forward to the unlimited growth potential with the world's largest country.

"Whether it is our agricultural exports, or China's growing need for financial services, Iowa is poised for significant growth over the next decade thanks to our strong relationship with President Xi," said Reynolds. "The governor and I have both had the opportunity to meet with President Xi and other high ranking officials as we led trade missions throughout China. When you compare China with where it was just two decades ago, the change is substantial. The standard of living for people has improved exponentially. I think all of this is very positive and it is evident that as China improves economic opportunities for its people, Iowa will have even more customers on the world stage."

# # #
March 18 - 22, 2013

Friday, March 22, 2013

Special Committee of the Whole - 11:00 am
Clarion Hotel, Davenport

1. Roll Call: Earnhardt, Hancock, Minard, Sunderbruch, Cusack

2. Legislature Forum for State Legislators and Scott County Government.

3. Other items of interest.

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