06 Feb 2013

Ending Deals that Delay Cheaper Prescription Drugs to Consumers

By Grassley Press

Tuesday, February 5, 2012

Klobuchar, Grassley Reintroduce Legislation to Crack Down on Anti-Competitive Pay-for-Delay Deals

Legislation would help put an end to pay-offs by brand-name drug manufacturers to keep cheaper generic equivalents off the market and help make sure consumers have access to cost-saving generic drugs they need

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently released a report indicating a significant increase in the number of potential pay-for-delay settlements over the past year

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today reintroduced legislation to crack down on anti-competitive pay-for-delay deals. The Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act would help put an end to the practice of brand-name drug manufacturers using pay-off agreements to keep more affordable generic equivalents off the market and help make sure consumers have access to cost-saving generic drugs they need. A report released by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shows the number of potential pay-for-delay agreements rose over 40 percent in 2012. Klobuchar and Grassley introduced similar legislation in 2010 following a resurgence of patent settlement agreements. 

"These pay-for-delay deals keep more affordable generic drugs off the market, hurting consumers and stifling competition," said Klobuchar. "I have long supported efforts to crack down on this behavior and the recent rise in pay-for-delay agreements underscores the need for legislation to help make sure people have access to the drugs they need at a price they can afford."

"Clearly, pay-for-delay deal-making is an obstacle to getting cheaper prescription drugs on the market," Grassley said.  "These anti-competitive patent settlements between brand and generic drug companies hurt consumers' access to affordable medications, and they hurt taxpayers who pay for prescription drugs under both Medicare and Medicaid.  It's a practice that puts the interests of drug companies above the interests of consumers, and it's time for it to end."

Pay-for-delay settlements occur when brand-name drug companies seek to eliminate competition by paying generic manufacturers not to sell their products for a period of time. These agreements delay generic entry into the market nearly 17 months longer on average than agreements without payments. These pay-off settlements (also known as "reverse payments") delay consumer access to cost-saving generic drugs, which can be as much as 90 percent cheaper than brand-name drugs.

The Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act would make it illegal for brand-name drug manufacturers to use anti-competitive pay-off agreements to keep more affordable generic equivalents off the market.  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) expects that enacting this legislation would accelerate the availability of lower-priced generic drugs and generate over $4.7 billion in budget savings to the Federal Treasury between fiscal years 2012 and 2021.

Klobuchar has been a leader in Congress on working to advance consumer protection and was recently appointed to chair the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights. Grassley is the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
06 Feb 2013

Van Hoesen Exhibition at the Muscatine Art Center

By Lynn Bartenhagen

The Muscatine Art Center will provide visitors with an escape from Iowa winter with the opening of an exhibition of works by Beth Van Hoesen. This exhibition will be the first opportunity for the public to view the twenty-six prints and drawings of flowers gifted to the Art Center in 2012. The exhibition will be on view from February 1 through June 16, 2013.

Van Hoesen's flowers are richly colored and draw attention to the idea of art being all around us. Van Hoesen takes everyday objects and highlights the sublime hidden in small things. Her works are nearly scientific in detail but also quite charming.

For much of her career, Van Hoesen functioned outside of the "fleeting and fashionable" movements of the time. Van Hoesen was a realist when many artists tended towards abstraction. Her printmaking technique was highly regarded, and her work is represented in the collections of major art museums. These include the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Art Institute of Chicago, Boise Art Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Cincinnati Art Museum, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Smithsonian Institution and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Born in Boise, Idaho in 1926, Van Hoesen studied art at Stanford University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948. After graduating from Stanford she studied art in France and later at the California School of Fine Arts (San Francisco Art Institute). Her career spanned more than five decades.

The E. Mark Adams and Beth Van Hoesen Trust of San Francisco, California gifted the works to the Muscatine Art Center. The collection includes the medias of graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, aquatint, etching, drypoint, engraving and lithography.

The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated.

06 Feb 2013

Chinese Calligraphy

By Lynn Bartenhagen

The Muscatine Art Center is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibition, "The Other Side of the Earth" by Chun Arthur Wang. The exhibition will open on Sunday, March 10 and run through Sunday, April 21, 2013.

In conjunction with Wang's exhibit, the Muscatine Art Center is offering a class on the art of Chinese calligraphy. An instructor from the Confucius Institute, a branch of the University of Iowa's International Program will be conducting the class. There is no experience needed, and all supplies will be provided.

The English word "calligraphy" refers to that which is "beautiful writing", which includes both aspects of calligraphy- as a practice and as an art form. Chinese calligraphy is functional as a means of communication- at its basic level calligraphy is focused on writing well. However, calligraphy is also considered an art form in its own right, where works are appreciated more or only for their aesthetic qualities. Calligraphy has also led to the development of many different forms of art in China, including seal carvings, ornate paperweights, and inkstones.

CLASS DETAILS:

What: Chinese Calligraphy Class

When: Thursday, March 28, 2013

Time: 5:15 PM

Fee: $10.00 /$9.00 for Friends Members

Where: The Muscatine Art Center's Art Studio

To register, please contact Katy Doherty, Program Coordinator, at 563-263-8282 or by email at kdoherty@muscatineiowa.gov. Registration is appreciated no later than Wednesday, March 27. Class size is limited. For more information about the University of Iowa's Confucius Institute, please visit: http://international.uiowa.edu/confucius.

The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Go to www.muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events and to download a class brochure.

06 Feb 2013

DANIEL TOSH "The June Gloom Tour"

By Rick Martin

PEORIA CIVIC CENTER THEATER - PEORIA, IL
THURSDAY, JUNE 6th at 7pm & 9:30 pm
On Sale Friday, February 8th at 10am

Peoria, Ill. - The SMG managed Peoria Civic Center, Live Nation and Comedy Central welcome "The June Gloom Tour" with Daniel Tosh and special guest, Jarrod Carmichael to the Peoria Civic Center Theater on Thursday, June 6th, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The tour kicks off on May 30th in Salt Lake City and travels to over 25 cities across the United States.

"Tosh.0" currently airs on Tuesday nights at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central and consists of 30 episodes throughout 2013. The series premiered on June 4, 2009 and features the razor-sharp humor and biting commentary from comedian Daniel Tosh and delves into all aspects of the Internet from the absolutely absurd to the incredibly ingenious in this weekly, topical series.

Tickets are $49.50, $65.00 and go on sale Friday, February 8th at 10 a.m. at Livenation.com, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office or by phone at 800-745-3000.

All tickets subject to applicable service charges and fees. Dates and times subject to change without notice.

06 Feb 2013

TRUMAN STATE UNIV FALL HONORS

By Heidi Templeton

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - Truman State University has released the Fall 2012 President's List. To qualify for this list, an undergraduate student must attain a semester 4.0 grade point average and must complete 12 semester hours of credit.

Local students attaining this honor include Scott Joseph McKillip of Davenport majoring in Health Science, Business Administration

Also, Truman State University has released the Fall 2012 Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs List. To qualify for this list, an undergraduate student must attain a semester 3.50-3.99 grade point average and must complete 12 semester hours of credit.

Local students attaining this honor include Andy Wang Yang (Computer Science) and Logan Christian Carney (Business Administration) both of Bettendorf; Aubrey Danielle Bailey (Biology, Exercise Science), Aubrey Ann Crowley (Health Science), Allison Jean Fullenkamp (Exercise Science) and Kayleen Marie Green (History, Pre-Education/Secondary) all of Davenport; and Simone Lorraine Kazel Collins (Psychology) of Rock Island.

Founded in 1867, Truman is Missouri's highly selective public liberal arts and sciences university. Truman has the highest graduation rates among Missouri's public colleges and universities and approximately 50 percent of Truman's graduates pursue an advanced degree immediately upon graduating. Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine listed Truman at No. 19 on its list of 100 "Best Values in Public Colleges" and featured the University in the February 2013 issue. U.S. News & World Report's 2013 edition of "Best Colleges" ranked Truman as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest region and Truman was recognized in the Washington Monthly September/October 2012 magazine as the No. 6 master's university in the nation. Truman was the only public Missouri school on the entire Top 100 Master's Universities list. The University, located in Kirksville, enrolls more than 6,100 students.

06 Feb 2013

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action **Monday, February 4, 2013**

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO- February 4, 2013. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: SB 281

An Act Concerning: State Government

Allows for the continuation, validation and re-enactment of a provision authorizing the Capital Development Board to charge certain contract administration fees that were inadvertently repealed on June 30, 2012.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 1543

An Act Concerning: Safety

Extends Wireless 911 Sunset from April 1, 2013 until July 1, 2013.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

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06 Feb 2013

News release announcing the publication of HALAFAX, a new novel

By Joan Mauch
DAVENPORT (February 5, 2013 ) ? In her debut novel, HALIFAX (Whiskey Creek Press)  author Joan Mauch spins the chilling tale of a woman who kills a man in self-defense only to discover she enjoyed it and now fears she may be turning into a serial killer. In a review of the book, Michael Romkey, author of I, VAMPIRE and nine other novels writes:
"Eleanor Hurley is a woman leading a life of quiet desperation when a single moment of violence changes everything. Eleanor kills a homicidal man to save a group of children. This lethal act releases Eleanor from her former existence, yet her freedom comes with a price. Eleanor is not repulsed by her capacity for violence, but rather exhilarated by her unsuspected power to take a life. Frightened at the darkness within, Eleanor flees, but cannot run away from herself, or from the troubles that lie ahead in Halifax. Author Joan Mauch delves into the psychology of the average person and discovers that what lies beneath the surface is something complex, disturbing and altogether unexpected."
Former librarian Diane Willett of Spokane, Wash., calls the plot amazingly topical. "Violence, bullying, murder, psychopaths/sociopaths are in the headlines and in HALIFAX as well." Referring to the main character, Eleanor Hurley, she writes: "She is a most interesting character. ...not worldly-wise at all, a sort of lamb. I recognize parts of myself in Ellie. I think most people will."
Michael McCarty the author of over 30 books including the recently released CONVERSATIONS WITH KRESKIN says HALIFAX is "a sojourn of discovery spanning two countries from sunny Florida to eastern Canada. Joan Mauch begins her novel-writing career with such an impressive piece of work. Highly, highly recommended."
Chicago playwright Richard James Zieman writes, "What is keeping me turning the page is the writing. It comforts my senses like a boat floating in perfect rhythm on genteel waves. I am on page 24 and still want to read more because for me, the story has struck a chord. I love psychological thrillers. I like her (Eleanor Hurley), have empathy for her and already find myself rooting for her."
A native of Illinois, Joan has lived in Washington state, Oregon and Chicago over the course of her life, variously working as a teacher, public aid caseworker, head of a nonprofit housing development corporation, real estate sales agent, public relations executive and vice president of marketing for a national association. Nine years ago Ms. Mauch a native of the Quad-Cities, relocated from Chicago to Davenport where she divides her time between proofreading at The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus newspapers and novel writing. Joan holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a master's degree in urban studies.
Joan will be signing copies of HALIFAX from 11-2:00 on Saturday, March 2 at The Book Rack's Davenport store at 4764 Elmore Ave. (across from Best Buy) and on the following Saturday, March 9 at the store's Moline location, 3937 41 Ave.
HALIFAX may be purchased as an e-book at Amazon, Barnes & Nobel or Whiskey Creek's website: whiskeycreekpress.com. Buy the paperback at The Book Rack or order it through Ms. Mauch's website at: www.joanmauch.com.
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06 Feb 2013

IOWA ILLINOIS REGIONAL AUTO SHOW SHOWCASES NEWEST IN-CAR TECHNOLOGY

By Carol Slaughter

Davenport, IA - Technology continues to improve the safety and entertainment value of vehicles and Iowa Illinois Regional Auto Show attendees will get a first-hand look at these innovations Friday, February 8th through Sunday, February 10th at the River Center in Downtown Davenport. These technological advancements are currently available in select new model vehicles:

Inflatable Rear Seat Belts - When these new air bag seat belts deploy, they provide added protection for both children and adults in the back seat. (Currently available as an option in the Ford Explorer and Lincoln)

Accident Avoidance Sensors - State-of-the-art sensors monitor other vehicles around the car, as well as the driver's reactions to preemptively prepare for collisions, and in some cases, prevent them. In addition, cars are now equipped with radar-guided cruise control to minimize rear-end accidents and chime alerts to wake sleepy drivers. (Currently available in select models from Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Ford, Hyundai, Infiniti, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Toyota and more.)

Pandora Internet Radio - Popular on computers and even mobile devices, this feature plays music similar to the song or artist suggestions entered. Pandora also allows users to create their ideal custom radio station and take it on the road. (Currently available in vehicles from BMW, Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Hyundai, MINI, Toyota and Scion.)

Smartphone Applications - With smartphones quickly overtaking the mobile market, auto manufacturers have developed Apps to integrate with their product. Many of the Apps enable owners to lock/unlock doors, check tire pressure and even remotely start the vehicle. Some electric cars, like the Nissan LEAF™, enable drivers to check the car's charge through the app as well. (Available in select vehicles from Buick, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Nissan and more.)

Parking Assist - Ideal for drivers who struggle with parallel parking, sensors maneuver the vehicle into a parking spot with the push of a button. (Currently available in several vehicles from BMW, Ford, Lexus, Toyota and more.)

Built-in WiFi - From inside a car, weather, navigation, show times, email and even gaming are just a click away. Passengers can surf the web from their laptops while the car is moving and drivers can access the web from the navigation screen while the vehicle is parked. (Currently available in several Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.)

Streaming Bluetooth Audio - Music enthusiasts can now listen to MP3 players through Bluetooth. Streaming Bluetooth audio offers the ability to play stored MP3s without wires. This capability is available on the iPhone, Droid and any MP3 player equipped for streaming with an adapter. (Currently available in select models from Lexus, Subaru and Toyota.)

Pause Live Radio - This new technology allows the driver to pause the radio and record up to 20 minutes of live broadcasting, which can be played back later. (Currently available in several new vehicles from Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC.)

My Gig -Transferring CDs and MP3s is now a breeze. Once a CD is loaded, or an MP3 player connected, files can be transferred to the head unit's hard drive and the music will remain available, even when the CD or MP3 player is removed. (Currently available in several Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles.)

Voice Controlled, Hands-Free Music in Ford and Lincoln SYNC - Allows users to search music collections by song, artist, genre, album or playlist with voice commands. Drivers can simply say "play track" and the name of a favorite song to hear the tune. To create a custom playlist, drivers simply tell the SYNC to "play similar" to hear an entire song playlist of the same genre. (Currently available in several Ford and Lincoln vehicles.)

BMW Connected - Drivers can use their iPhones to connect with their BMW. Connected uses the phone's data connection to display news, Twitter feeds, Google searches and Pandora Internet Radio on the car's screen. It also features an analyzer to help owners drive more efficiently. (Available on models from BMW.)

Engine Start-Stop Systems - To improve fuel economy, automakers are installing start-stop systems in many hybrid models, and they are catching on for non-hybrid models as well. The system automatically shuts down and then restarts the engine to minimize idling, improving fuel economy by anywhere from 5 to 15% and reducing emissions. (Currently available on select models from BMW, Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, Kia, Toyota and Volvo.)

Many of these technology options can be found in vehicles displayed on the auto show floor. For more information on a specific vehicle or technology, please speak with a manufacturer representative at the show or visit a local new car dealer. See the all new 2014 GM C Sierra and the 2014 Chevy Silverado.

Six scholarships will be awarded at the premier event on February 7th. $25,000 will be awarded to college bound and tech school bound students. To date, the Auto Show has given $205,000 in total scholarships.

Show hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens (62 and older), $3 for children 7-12. Children six and younger are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Save time and money, purchase E-tickets in advance at www.QuadCityAutoShow.com and receive a $1 discount off regular adult admission. Attendees will receive a free one-year subscription to Motor Trend magazine with each admission (a $12 value). 

Additional information, discount coupons and directions are also available at www.QuadAutoShow.com.

Saturday February 9, from 12p-3p the Quad City Animal Welfare Center will have cuddly adoptable pets at the show and Sunday February 10 is Family Day. Bring cameras to pose with SpongeBob SquarePants. The Kadel Petting Zoo with be there and the Niabi Zoo will have exotic animals. Balloon artists will be at the show Saturday and Sunday 12p-3p.

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06 Feb 2013

QC StorySLAM to Present Third Storytelling Competition

By Tim Suddarth
ROCK ISLAND, IL - February 4, 2013 - The third story-telling competition in the QC StorySLAM series will feature stories that offer a glimpse into hidden parts of our everyday world. Damascus Road QC and Theo's Java Club present "Behind the Curtain: Stories From the Inside" on February 15, 2013 at 7:00 PM. The free event will be held at Theo's Java Club at 213 17th Street in Rock Island.
The theme for the evening is "Behind the Curtain: Stories from the Inside." You'll hear stories that give a glimpse into something with which the general public is not familiar. It may be a story about what it's like to be on tour in a band or be a key grip for a movie or teach ballroom dance classes or build a theatrical set that barely holds together for the run of the show with crew members literally holding it up during the last performance.
QC StorySLAM is a storytelling competition. Anyone who attends can tell a story on the night's theme. Potential storytellers put their names in a hat and up to ten storytellers are chosen at random to present on the stage. Each story is judged by the following criteria: the story must be true, be five minutes or less, be told without notes, be about the storyteller (not someone else's story), and revolve around the night's theme.
"Everyone has a story to tell," said Kristin Meyer, host of the first two QC StorySLAM competitions. "StorySLAM is a great chance for people to share the story of their lives " Meyer said, "and it's a good time for the audience."
The QC StorySLAM champion wins a $25 gift card to Theo's Java Club and a custom-designed T-shirt that humbly declares their champion status. Music throughout the event will be provided by local band FRIEND AND FOE. More details and a guide to telling a good story may be found at www.facebook.com/QCStorySLAM.

About QC StorySLAM:
QC StorySLAM is a regular storytelling competition in the Quad Cities, inspired by the New York City club The MOTH. Contestants tell true stories without notes and are judged on sticking to the five-minute time limit, sticking to the theme and having a story that sticks. QC StorySLAM is is sponsored by Damascus Road QC a nondenominational church dedicated to honesty, compassion and spiritual life.

Contact Information:
Tim Suddarth
(Director, QC StorySLAM / Minister, Damascus Road QC)
(309) 721-7064
QCStorySLAM@yahoo.com
www.facebook.com/QCStorySLAM
www.DamascusRoadQC.com
06 Feb 2013

Davenport Cemetery to Commemorate Medal of Honor 150th Anniversary

By Dustin Oliver
Saturday, February 16th, 2013 at 2:00PM

Davenport, Iowa - Next month, Oakdale Memorial Gardens will host a ceremony in remembrance
of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient John Vale. This event is endorsed by the Iowa Civil War
Sesquicentennial Committee. John Vale earned his Medal in a skirmish that took place on February 15, 1863.

Vale was born in London, England, and emigrated to Le Claire, Iowa as a young man.
He later moved to Minnesota, where he enlisted in Company H of the 2nd Minnesota
Volunteer Infantry. On the fateful day of February 15, 1863, he was one of a
detachment of sixteen men who defended a Union supply convoy against a Confederate
Calvary unit 125 strong. After the war, he settled in Davenport, where he worked in the
Post Office for many years. In 1897, he was one of eight other men from that group of
sixteen who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

A ceremony to honor Mr. Vale will be held at his gravesite in Oakdale Memorial
Gardens, 2501 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 2:00 pm.
The ceremony will include a reading of the official Medal of Honor citation as well as
the report of the skirmish by Brigadier General James Steedman, a wreath-laying by
Company "A" 49th Regiment Veteran Volunteer Infantry / SVR Honor Guard for the
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and military honors.

Oakdale Memorial Gardens, an independent non-profit cemetery, was established in 1856 with burials
beginning in 1857. Located on Eastern Avenue in the heart of Davenport, Oakdale Memorial Gardens is one of
the Quad Cities' oldest and most beautiful cemeteries, boasting century-old oaks, gentle rolling hills and knolls,
and a beautiful reflecting pond near the cemetery entrance. Known as a rural or Victorian cemetery (though
burials still take place today), it is the final resting place for many historic Quad Cities figures, including Leon
"Bix" Beiderbecke, Mary Putnam (of the Putnam Museum), members of the Palmer family (the founders of
chiropractic and Palmer College of Chiropractic) and over 288 veterans of the Civil War.

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