15 Feb 2013

Diane Rehm to be honored as Arab American of Year

By Lana Mini

DEARBORN, Mich. - Renowned journalist Diane Rehm has been named Arab American of the Year for 2013, ACCESS announced today. She will be honored at the prestigious 42nd Annual ACCESS Anniversary Dinner on Saturday, April 27, at the Marriott Detroit Renaissance Center.

As Arab American of the Year, Rehm will take her place a distinguished group of past honorees that includes former White House correspondent Helen Thomas; U.S. Sen. Spencer Abraham; entertainers Casey Kasem and Tony Shalhoub; U.A.W. International President Stephen Yokich; U.S. Congressman Nick Rahall; the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee; and St. Jude Hospital.

The daughter of Arab immigrants, Rehm was born and raised in Washington, D.C. For more than 30 years she has been host of The Diane Rehm Show on WAMU in the nation's capital. The program is distributed nationally by National Public Radio with more than 2.4 million listeners. Rehm has interviewed notables including then-Sen. Barack Obama, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Nobel Laureate and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, and many others. In 2000, she became the first radio talk show host to interview a sitting president (Clinton) in the Oval Office.
Last year, she was featured in Arab Americans, a series of profiles broadcast on PBS stations nationwide.
The Diane Rehm Show was named to the Top 10 list of the most powerful programs in public radio for 2007 and 2008, based on its ability to draw listeners to public radio stations. In 2010, she won a Peabody award (widely considered one of the most prestigious and selective honors in electronic media) for her more than 30 years in public broadcasting

Rehm has been named "Washingtonian of the Year," one of Washington's "100 Most Powerful Women," and one of the "150 Most Influential People in Washington" by Washingtonian magazine. She has been included several times on the magazine's list of the "100 Most Powerful Women," most recently in 2011. She is the author of three autobiographical books: Finding My Voice (Knopf, 1999), in which she describes her childhood, marriage, career, and voice disorder; Toward Commitment: A Dialogue about Marriage (Knopf, 2002), a deeply personal book co-authored by her husband, John; and her most recent book written about her beloved dog, Life With Maxie (Gibbs Smith, 2010).
She was named a Fellow by the Society of Professional Journalists ? the highest honor the society bestows on a journalist. In 2011, she received the Excellence in Journalism Award from the American News Women's Club.

She is a director emerita of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation and a trustee emerita of McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. She has been awarded honorary degrees from Virginia Theological Seminary, Washington College, McDaniel College, and Shepherd University. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, John, and their 6-year-old long-haired Chihuahua, Maxie (short for Maximillian.) The couple has four grandchildren.

15 Feb 2013

Lt. Governor Simon announces game-changing education reforms

By Kara Beach

Simon unveils new white paper on higher education in Illinois at Chicago's Union League Club

CHICAGO - February 12, 2013. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon was the featured guest speaker today at the Union League Club in Chicago. Simon released a white paper on game-changing reforms that will make college more affordable and increase graduation rates.

"We need to make sure that our high school students are ready for college and complete certificates and degrees on time and with less debt," said Simon, Governor Quinn's point person on education reform. "The return on educational investment is proven for graduates seeking living-wage jobs and a state seeking high-quality employers. College is worth it."

According to Simon, affordability is the most significant barrier to students seeking degrees at public universities. Simon's white paper includes game-changing reforms, such as dual degree programs that enable students to enroll simultaneously in community colleges and universities. Students are able to pay lower community college tuitions rates and later transition seamlessly to a university.

Reverse transfer programs enable students who have transferred from community colleges to continue earning credits toward an associate degree when their university classes overlap with community college requirements. Simon also suggested targeted income taxes waivers for students who earn bachelor's or advanced degrees and choose to live and work in Illinois post-graduation.

The paper follows Simon's College Affordability Summits for students, teachers and administrators held this fall at the state's 12 public universities.

As the state's leading voice on education and chair of the Joint Educational Leadership Committee, Lt. Governor Simon is charged with increasing to 60 percent the proportion of working-age adults in Illinois with college degrees or certificates by 2025.

This goal is critical to the economic future of Illinois and its families. Without an educated workforce, Illinois will be unable to attract and retain employers requiring highly-skilled workers to fill current openings and sustain their future growth.

Lt. Governor Simon's white paper can be found here.

###

15 Feb 2013

Iowa Supreme Court Schedules Special Evening Session

By Iowa Judical Branch

Des Moines, February 12, 2013 –On February 19, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case of Residents of Elsie Mason Manor, et al. v. First Baptist Housing Foundation, et al., beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Supreme Court Courtroom on the fourth floor of the Judicial Branch Building in Des Moines. The evening session is a special opportunity for central Iowa residents, who may not be able to attend the court's regular morning and afternoon sessions, to watch the court conduct oral arguments.

In this case the Iowa Supreme Court is asked to interpret Iowa's Private Right of Action for Consumer Frauds Act. Plaintiffs are current and past tenants of Elsie Mason Manor and Ligutti Tower in downtown Des Moines. Plaintiffs brought suit in Polk County District Court seeking damages arising from an infestation of bed bugs in the two residential buildings. Defendants appeal from the district court's certification of a class action on behalf of plaintiffs and the court's ruling that each plaintiff need not prove that he or she relied on allegedly deceptive conduct on the part of defendants.

A public reception with the supreme court justices, sponsored by the Polk County Bar Association, will follow the oral arguments.

For more information, visit http://www.iowacourts.gov/Supreme_Court.

# # #

15 Feb 2013

Auditions for the Classics at Brucemore: Cyrano de Bergerac

By Tara Richards

Audition Information

Auditions for the Classics at Brucemore production of Edmund Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 26 and 27, 2013, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Brucemore Visitor Center, 2160 Linden Dr. SE. Various roles are available for physically agile males, ages 25 to 40; sword fighting or stage combat experience preferred. This is a cold-reading audition; no advance preparation required.

Cyrano de Bergerac is an unabashed historical romance set in the 1640s featuring a swashbuckling hero. While first and foremost a passionate love story, the plot develops as a comedy with fast-paced action and a tragic ending. The larger-than-life character of Cyrano is the genius hero with a ridiculously long nose and a passion for poetry and love. Despite his bravado, Cyrano suffers through unrequited love for Roxanne, whose eyes only see the dashing Christian. Many widely known adaptations have been made, including the film, Roxanne, starring Steve Martin.

The Classics performances will be July 11 - 13 and 18 - 20, 2013, with a rain-date scheduled for July 21. Rehearsals will begin on June 1. For further information on auditions, contact Brucemore at (319) 362-7375 or Artistic Director James Kern (319) 365-0252.

About the Classics at Brucemore

The collaboration of Torchlight Theatrics and Brucemore in 1996 launched outdoor theatre in Eastern Iowa and a new venue at Brucemore. The Classics at Brucemore celebrates a rich history of quality live theatre, including Greek tragedy, Shakespearean comedy, and twentieth century American drama. Fully utilizing the natural amphitheater's rich backdrop, actors emerge from the woods, get dunked in the pond, and help themselves to the audience members' picnics. Characters from the show often seek help from the audience, creating an evening of hilarious and interactive fun.

About Brucemore

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.

###

15 Feb 2013

Icarus the Owl - Spring Tour Announcement

By Zach McLean

Portland Oregon's Icarus The Owl is coming through on their spring '13 tour! The band has been featured on Altpress.com, with the new album Love Always, Leviathan receiving complimentary reviews from Sputnik Music, Absolute Punk and many other review sites. The band will be performing at Rozz Toz in Rock Island on Sunday April 28th.

14 Feb 2013

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 2/14 - 2/20

By QC Chamber

Hello!

Get the family ready for Icestravaganza this Sunday! Enjoy live ice sculpting, horse drawn carriage rides, shopping on the Skybridge with Handmade City, ice skating, live music, and more. We're looking forward to kicking off this new event in style Sunday afternoon!

On Monday, see the Grammy-winning musical that changed theater forever when West Side Story makes it's way back to the Adler to mesmerize audiences once more! The Great River Show Choir Invitational will take place at the Adler, this weekend, too.

Still need a last minute idea for some Valentine's Day fun? Head

to the River Music Experience and see River Roots Live veteran and winner of Australia's Got Talent, Joe Robinson! Joe knocked us out at RRL with his incredible performance last year. On Saturday, visit Brady Street Pub to catch the QC's own Tronicity for more live music.

Plinko, Cliffhangers, Big Wheel...sound familiar? An interactive stage version of TV's longest running and most popular game show is coming to the Adler Theatre! Grab tickets for The Price is Right, Live! and be a part of an interactive show that gives contestants pulled right from the audience a chance to win!

Celebrate Black History Month when Third Sunday Jazz presents "Drum Talk to Jazz" at the River Music Experience featuring singers Maggie Brown and Africa Brown along with the Ayodele African Dancers. Chicago's own electric rock stalwarts, Future Rock, take the stage Friday. Don't forget about the The Smooth Jazz Valentines Concert featuring Paula Atherton & Urban Jazz Coalition, too.

This weekend is your last chance to see the Figge's Picturing Identity: The Allure of Portraiture exhibition. While you're there, check out the Young Artists at the Figge Exhibition featuring artwork from North Scott. Down the street, indulge in Rhythm City's Sweetheart Buffet or book reservations for the Four Course Valentine's Dinner at Bix Bistro from now until Sunday, as well.

See you downtown!

This Week's Events: February 14 - February 20

Thursday, February 14

4 Course Valentine's Dinner at the Bix

Where: Blackhawk Hotel Bix Bistro

Price: $37/person

Search form

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

Subscribe!

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Click this link to Subscribe now.

Meetings Calendar

Kids Calendar

Eat & Drink Calendar