28 Aug 2012

In Iowa`s Interest: Rebuilding Our Middle Class this Labor Day

By Sen. Tom Harkin
By Senator Tom Harkin

On Labor Day, as we honor the contributions that generations of workers have made to the strength and prosperity of our great country, I am reminded of the struggles facing families in Iowa and around the country. America's middle class is the backbone of our economy, and yet, these families have not shared in the prosperity of the last thirty years. Today, they are not feeling the effects of the economic recovery that is in full swing on Wall Street. I have always believed that to grow our economy, we must strengthen the middle class by promoting the creation of good jobs, helping workers save for a secure retirement, making college affordable, and doing what we can to help families balance their budgets.

For these reasons, I introduced the Rebuild America Act earlier this year. This sweeping piece of legislation lays out what I believe our priorities must be in order to grow our economy and help more families achieve the American Dream. These proposals are not radical or revolutionary - they are the bold, forward-thinking policies of the mid-20th century, when America experienced an unprecedented expansion of the middle class. In fact, some of the investments made during that time were so forward-thinking that we still rely on their results today: the interstate highway system, Social Security, and federal student aid for higher education are some examples of investments that are critical to our lives today.

With this history in mind, I included many provisions in the Rebuild America Act that will return these priorities to the forefront. Firstly, we must invest in America to create good jobs and lasting growth. Targeted investments to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and outdated schools; investments in teaching, manufacturing, and job training; improved trade policies; and funds for local governments to hire critical personnel like teachers, police, and firefighters will provide near-term stability and growth in our economy, and pay lasting dividends for future generations.

While economic recovery will undoubtedly help families' budgets, my plan also calls for new policies that will help families achieve financial stability. It would make child care more affordable, protect overtime pay, give workers the chance to earn paid sick days, update the minimum wage, and increase job opportunities for Americans with disabilities.  It would also protect the right to form and join a union - historically one of the most important paths for working Americans to join the middle class.  Additionally, the Rebuild America Act strengthens Social Security and the private pension system, to help workers save enough to enjoy their Golden Years in retirement.

All of these changes are important, but until we restore some fundamental fairness to our tax code, middle class families will continue to lose out. The Rebuild America Act would institute a rule to ensure that the very wealthiest Americans pay at least as much in taxes as middle class families.  It would also impose a transaction tax on Wall Street speculators and end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, among other things.  Combined, these measures would fully fund all of the other policies included in the Rebuild America Act, making it deficit-neutral.

I know that this plan sounds ambitious. But Americans have never been content to sit idly by.  Throughout our history, we have risen to every challenge that our great nation has faced. Our current challenges may be a little harder to define, but Iowa families feel them every day. This Labor Day, it is time to prioritize the middle class. It is time to put workers and their families first. It is time to Rebuild America.

A PDF version of the column is available by clicking here
28 Aug 2012

The 'Musical Chairs' Spiritual Trend

By Rick Martin
Polls Show More Non-Denominational Believers; Commingling Disparate Traditions is Good, Author Says

Growing numbers of Americans are changing their relationship with religion, recent Pew Research Center polls indicate.

Consider the stats:

• Forty-four percent of U.S. adults have either switched religious affiliation, or report "no affiliation"

• More than 16 percent report they are unaffiliated with a religion; that includes those who are spiritual but not religious, and agnostics and atheists

• Twenty-eight percent have switched from the religion in which they were raised

"A full-bodied understanding of the truth does not necessarily come neatly packaged in the form of a church or a scientific theory," says Eli Just, former physics teacher and author of Manny Jones and the Place (www.elijustsupernaturalwriter.com), which links quantum theory, biblical stories and the Mayan precession.

With science developing new concepts about the nature of reality; changing attitudes in institutional religions, and widespread sharing on the internet, more believers are creating their own spiritual narrative -- one that makes more sense to them, he says. Scandals involving sex and money in Christian denominations, which account for more than 78 percent of the faithful in America, have contributed to religious shifting, Just adds.

A recent Pew poll on religion reveals that nearly 40 percent of Americans say there is "too much" religious talk in politics. Many respondents think politicians use religion as a tool for their own benefit, which may serve to increase alienation to religion for the average American, Just says.

Despite wariness on some religious issues, most respondents polled say spirituality plays a significant role in their lives.

"Type in 'new religious movements' in Wikipedia and you'll see the hundreds of religions that have popped up since the 1800s, and those are just the registered ones," Just says. "As a man of science and faith, and I don't think the truths of these two traditions are mutually exclusive. After all, Newton was a fervent Christian."

One of the more recent registered religions was created in 2000 and is called Jediism - a movement based on the philosophical and spiritual ideas posited by Jedi characters in the "Star Wars" movies. Jedi churches often incorporate beliefs from mainstream spiritual traditions including Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism and Stoicism.

"Everything is connected, which is probably why so many people come up with such a variety of spiritual perspectives," Just says. "Personally, however, I don't think the interconnectivity of everything gives license to the notion that all religions are the same."

In addition to the new and fascinating data coming from sources like the Large Hadron Collider in Europe, it's important to remember ideas that are still alive after thousands of years, he says.

"Old religions like Christianity have withstood the test of time," Just says. "That's why the majority of Americans remain spiritual and religious in a traditional sense."

About Eli Just

Eli Just is the author of several books including the popular "Manny Jones" series and "The Eddy." He has a master's in history from Southeastern Louisiana University and is a self-taught student of physics, which he taught at the high school level. As a Christian, Just enjoys exploring themes involving physics and its relationship to religion. He lives in northern Georgia.

28 Aug 2012

Genesis Wellness Program Earns National Recognition

By Craig Cooper

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- August 27, 2012 -- Genesis Health System has been recognized by Wellness Councils of America (WELLCOA) as a national leader in employee wellness.

Genesis has received a Gold Award, which recognizes organizations developing comprehensive programs producing results. Criteria for each designation is based on progressive development and implementation of an organization's wellness initiative within the context of seven critical benchmarks.

Genesis Health System is one of 25 Gold Award winners from across the country. Genesis was less than 3 points from earning a Platinum Award, which is the highest level of recognition.

"A healthy workforce is very important to us,'' said Doug Cropper, President and CEO, Genesis Health System. "Our employees take responsibility for the health choices they make. Our role as leaders is to provide them with wellness programs and opportunities that promote health.''

Genesis Health System offers its employees a variety of incentives and programs to maintain and improve their health.

One of the most successful initiatives has been the Healthy Lifestyles program. Employees receive an annual screening for the five risk factors of metabolic syndrome. Employees who have fewer than three risk factors qualify for lower health insurance rates. Because of the program, Genesis employees have enjoyed nearly stable health insurance costs while rates across the country have risen steeply over the same period.

The Genesis WellPower Program, managed by Jan Treftz-Allen, is a key component of employee health. The program introduces employees and spouses to health habits to improve their lives. The program focuses primarily on exercise, nutrition and stress management, which have the biggest impact on health risks.

Within the Genesis WellPower Program are challenges for participants. Exercise, improved food choices, stress coping skills and taking part in Genesis-sponsored events are documented as part of an incentive program to reinforce good habits. The WellPower website offers employees online education and a variety of other resources to manage their health.

Genesis employees receive discounts for YMCA memberships and other health clubs. The Genesis food service offers healthy entree selections every day and vending machines have healthier options.

Another successful wellness program at Genesis is an annual employee bike sale. Employees are able to purchase bikes, biking gear and exercise equipment on a discounted basis and can have their purchase deducted from their payroll checks.

"We're very proud of the total wellness program at Genesis and the participation by employees and their families in the program,'' Cropper said. "Our wellness initiatives have helped save millions of dollars in our organization's employee health care costs, but more importantly, our employees are benefitting through improved health and lower costs for health insurance premiums.''

Genesis Occupational Health is working with area employers to introduce successful Genesis initiatives to their employees.

Wellness Councils of America, based in Omaha, focuses on building Well Workplaces - organizations that are dedicated to the health of their employees. To date, more than 600 companies have received Well Workplace awards.

WELCOA's Seven Benchmarks of results-oriented workplace wellness programs are: Capturing CEO Support; Creating Cohesive Wellness Teams; Collecting Data to Drive Health Efforts; Carefully Crafting An Operating Plan; Choosing Appropriate Interventions; Creating A Supportive Environment; Carefully Evaluating Outcomes.

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28 Aug 2012

Celebrate Labor Day by giving the gift of life to patients in need

By Ben Corey

As the summer season wraps up and Labor Day approaches, it's important to remember that the need for blood and platelets does not take a holiday. Throughout the summer, especially during the holidays, lifesaving blood donations decline. This often occurs as donors pack their schedules full of fun summer activities, leaving little time to donate.

This Labor Day, the Red Cross is encouraging individuals to end their summer right by making a difference in their community. All presenting donors who give at Red Cross blood drives from August 30 through September 5 will be entered for a chance to win one of five GiftCertificates.com prize packages worth $200 for items of their choosing.

All presenting blood and platelet donors August 30 to September 5 have the chance to win one of five $200 prize packages redeemable at GiftCertificates.com

PEORIA, Ill. (August 27, 2012) - As the hot summer winds down and individuals and families look forward to the Labor Day holiday, the American Red Cross reminds eligible donors that patients can't take a holiday from needing blood or platelets. To help ensure an adequate blood supply this Labor Day holiday, from August 30 to September 5, presenting blood and platelet donors can give a little and live a little by being entered to win one of five $200 GiftCertificates.com prize packages redeemable for items such as books, music, electronics, restaurants, department stores and more!

"Summer holidays pose a serious challenge to the nation's blood supply as donors have less time to give lifesaving blood," said Shelly Heiden, CEO of the American Red Cross Heart of America Blood Services Region. "But patients don't get to take a holiday from needing blood. Approximately every two seconds, a patient in the United States needs blood. So make blood donation a part of your Labor Day plans and help patients enjoy more summers with their friends and families."

The Labor Day promotion is part of the Red Cross' Live Life. Give Life. campaign. The summer-long giveaway (May 21 through September 5) raises awareness of the need for summer blood donations and offers all presenting donors the chance to win a prize certificate package worth $5,000 redeemable at GiftCertificates.com. One lucky donor can use the prize certificate to choose from hundreds of available prize options, including vacations, shopping sprees or meals out for a year. For more information, visit redcrossblood.org/GiveWin.

Donors of all blood types are needed, but eligible donors with blood type O negative, O positive, A negative or B negative are especially encouraged to give. Anyone who gave blood at the start of the summer may be eligible to donate again as summer comes to a close.

How to Donate Blood
Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

The need is constant. The gratification is instant. Give blood.™

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

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28 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Signs Law to Increase School Safety

By Erin Wilson

ELGIN - August 27, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a new law to keep both students and faculty safe as they head back to school.  House Bill 5602 allows juvenile criminal records to be shared with school officials when there is an imminent threat to individuals at the school and certain offenses have been committed by a student. Today's action is the latest by Governor Quinn to improve safety in Illinois schools.

"Our children and their teachers deserve to go to school everyday feeling safe," Governor Quinn said. "This new law will help ensure that schools are safe learning environments where the bright young minds of our future can be nurtured without fear."

Sponsored by Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills) and Sen. John Millner (R-Carol Stream), HB 5602 arose from an incident at School District U-46 in Elgin where a teacher was attacked by a student who was under investigation at the time for two other violent attacks. The new law, which is designed to strengthen safety in schools, provides that information from these law enforcement records may only be shared orally and may not become part of the student's official school record or public record. This bill will require law enforcement and the school district to provide support services to an at-risk student when appropriate. The law is effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Also today, Governor Quinn signed two new laws that benefit community colleges in Illinois.

Senate Bill 3428, sponsored by Sen. Edward Maloney (D-Chicago) and Rep. Daniel Beiser (D-Alton), requires that one of the 12 members on the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) must be a public community college president, the Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago or the CEO of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges. The law, which is designed to improve community college representation, is effective immediately.

Senate Bill 2929, sponsored by Sen. Michael Noland (D-Elgin) and Rep. Keith Farnham (D-Elgin), allows community colleges seeking bids for projects to utilize the Procurement of Domestic Products Act, which requires the promotion and use of goods manufactured in the United States. However, in cases when available domestic products are too expensive, of low quality or when foreign purchases better serve the public interest, the use of domestic products is not required. The law is effective immediately.

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28 Aug 2012

Maria Bribriesco Announces Final Health & Wellness Series Topic

By Sandra Travino
Social Worker Rebecca Dwyer-Elias: Tips On Achieving & Maintaining A Positive Self Esteem

AUGUST 28, 2012 BETTENDORF, IA - Maria Bribriesco, candidate for Iowa House of Representatives (District 94) and Bettendorf resident, has announced the final session in a four-part Health & Wellness series "Tips on Achieving & Maintaining Positive Self-Esteem " with social worker Rebecca Dwyer-Elias, LCSW, LISW.  This presentation will be at the  Bettendorf Public Library August 28, 2012 at 6:30 PM.  Ms. Dwyer-Elias will deliver a short presentation followed by a Q&A.  This event is free to the public.

"Bullying in our society is a tremendous problem.  It's been in the news lately but it still doesn't get enough attention." Maria said recently.  "One's self esteem is battered whenever one is subjected to bullying whether it be at school, at home, or at work.  This type of informational program is a step in the right direction to combating this social problem." 

In private practice since 1999, Rebecca earned a Masters of Social Work from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA. She is skilled at establishing the core conditions of counseling with her clients, developing accurate diagnostic assessments, and applying appropriate treatment planning and theoretical interventions.

About Maria Bribriesco
Maria Bribriesco, a long-time resident of Bettendorf and graduate from the University of Iowa College of Law, is candidate from the Iowa House of Representatives, District 94. After 27 years working for the U.S. Army at the Rock Island Arsenal, Maria retired as a Supervisory Attorney-Adviser in July 2011.

Maria is married to local attorney William J. Bribriesco and is the proud mother of attorneys Anthony and Andrew Bribriesco and doctor Alejandro Bribriesco.
28 Aug 2012

Braley Op-Ed: Paying it Forward - One Year Later

By Rick Martin

It's hard to believe that a year has passed since Andrew Connolly, a Dubuque veteran, passed away from a rare form of cancer in his spinal cord after returning home from his service in Iraq. That day I lost a friend, his wife Jenny and son Brody lost a wonderful husband and father, and Iowa lost one of its greatest sons.

Andrew faced incredible challenges, but throughout it all, he still focused on helping others - "Paying it Forward," as Andrew would say. When he came back from his tour of duty in Iraq, the apartment he, Jenny, and their son Brody who has special-needs, were living in could no longer accommodate their family's needs. They knew that Brody would need a handicapped-accessible living environment for the rest of his life.  As Andrew's cancer spread, it became apparent that there were two members of the household who needed more accessible housing.

They pursued a VA housing grant to help build a handicapped-accessible home, but ran into the same bureaucratic mess that many Iowans experience when dealing with the government.  The Connollys ended up connecting with me, and we worked together to finally secure a VA housing grant for the family.  With the help of that grant, local businesses, and union shops around Dubuque, Andrew and his family were able to stretch their resources and build an accessible home.

This is what Iowa is all about.  Business leaders and union leaders worked together.  Government funding worked with private funding.  Simply put, neighbors came together, and a home was built.

But neither Andrew nor I could understand how wounded men and women returning home from fighting for our country could not even end up with proper housing to accommodate service-connected disabilities.   So Andrew and I worked together to make a change. We introduced a bill called the Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act. Andrew testified in the Veterans Affairs Committee in Congress, and together we convinced Democrats and Republicans that our disabled veterans should not go without housing that accommodates their physical needs.

After a lot of work and bipartisan support, the Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act was signed into law by President Obama on August 6, 2012 - just a few days after what would have been Andrew's 29th birthday. The bill extends the adaptive housing grant program for disabled veterans for ten years, through December 31, 2022, and increases the total adaptive housing grant limit from $63,780 to $91,780. This will help many disabled veterans afford necessary, and often very expensive, changes to their home in order to live a fully functional life.

This bill passed because Andrew worked for it, and he even made some of the most unlikely neighbors - Republicans and Democrats in Congress - come together.  He is deeply missed, but he Paid it Forward every day. And although he's gone, the law bearing his name will continue to Pay it Forward for our wounded warriors for years to come.

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28 Aug 2012

Need Work? Tech Companies are Hiring

By Ginny Grimsley
Business Offers Insights for Future IT Job Candidates

"Do what you love" has been the advice embedded in American commencement speeches for decades. Now, however, it's "do STEM'' -- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

"We have the brains, we have the educational capability and I'm pretty sure students want a job when they graduate high school and college. We do not have to go overseas to find our talent," says decorated Army Ranger and entrepreneur Matthew Brosious, co-founder of FreightCenter.com. The third-party logistics company and freight software technology provider does for freight shipping what Expedia does for travel.

Brosious' company is hiring and, for students and people interested in new careers, what it's seeking in job candidates offers valuable insights.

"A formal STEM education is not necessarily crucial to obtaining a job in a STEM career," says Doug Walls, FreightCenter.com's chief information officer. Walls initially started as the company's IT administrator and after seven years is now CIO. According to Walls:

• Often times, the best developers are the ones who have a natural aptitude and an ability to comprehend emerging technologies.

• Web development and IT offer stable careers with plenty of opportunity for placement straight out of college.

• Web technology is increasingly going more mobile as users access the Internet via smart phones and tablets, so it's important to continue to learn about new techniques to reach this group of users.

• Following development or IT blogs and news is an excellent way to stay ahead in a progressive field.

• Having a well-designed and developed personal site offers employers like us an insight into your skill level and allows us to determine how job seekers apply the knowledge they've learned in school or on the job.

Located in Florida's Tampa Bay area, Freightcenter.com does well attracting qualified professionals, Brosious says. But job creators in other parts of the country may not be so lucky.

National statistics reveal a gap between STEM jobs and potential employees that will only grow wider if trends continue unchanged:

• Only about 6 percent of U.S. graduates leave college with a STEM-based degree, compared to 28 percent in Germany, 37 percent in South Korea and 47 percent in China, according to National Center for Education Statistics.

• STEM jobs are projected to grow twice as quickly as jobs in other fields in the next five years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics.

• Eighty percent of jobs in the next decade will require significant technical skills.

• Of the 20 fastest growing occupations projected in 2014, 15 will require considerable science and/or mathematics preparation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Brosious says getting young people interested in following a STEM track of education will require changes in the classroom beginning at an early age.

"Only one in five college students feel that their grade-school education prepared them very well for their STEM college courses," he says, citing a recently published survey by Microsoft.

That study also indicates students who pursue STEM degrees do so because they're inspired by a class or a teacher. And 16 percent more males than females are interested in those fields thanks to video games and clubs.

About FreightCenter.com

FreightCenter.com is a third-party freight logistics company that uses web-based tools to help businesses and individuals with their shipping needs. It has garnered numerous awards, including Best Companies to Work For (2011, Florida Trend); Service Industry of the Year (2010, Pasco Economic Development Council) and Top 10 Websites (2010, BtoB marketing news magazine.) Matthew Brosious and his father, James, co-founded American Freight Cos. - the parent company of www.FreightCenter.com - in 1998 to facilitate freight shipping for household, business and enterprise shippers. The service enables customers to compare carriers' rates, book LTL, truckload and specialized freight transportation and track shipments online.

28 Aug 2012

Blackhawk Fire Protection District Listing Burn Ban

By Shelly Chapman

WHEREAS, our region had experienced severe drought conditions, as are many areas across the State and Country; and

WHEREAS, 70 ILCS 705/8.20 (d)(i) allowed for the Fire Chief to prohibit open burning within the district on an emergency basis; and

WHEREAS, an amount of rain sufficient enough at this time to reduce the drought conditions has been received.

THEREFORE, I, Gary D. Chapman, Fire Chief of the Blackhawk Fire Protection District, do hereby LIFT THE BURN BAN for ALL OF BLACKHAWK FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT which has been in place since June 28, 2012.

Done this 27th day of August, 2012
28 Aug 2012

BP Awards Camp Courageous $3,000.00 Grant

By Camp Courageous

MONTICELLO, IOWA - BP Petroleum in collaboration with their BP Fueling Communities Program, local BP stations, and Fauser Energy Resources has awarded Camp Courageous a grant in the amount of $3,000.00.  Camp Courageous is a year-round recreational and respite care facility for individuals with special needs.  Run on donations, without government support, formal sponsorship, or paid fund raisers, this year the camp will serve 6,000 campers.

Camp Courageous' relationship with Fauser Energy Resources began in 1981, when Don Fauser visited Camp Courageous as a board member of the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa.  During that visit the Petroleum Marketers decided to take Camp Courageous under their wing, at a time when the camp was struggling to survive.  Since then the camp has grown from serving hundreds of campers to serving thousands of campers, is open-year round, has grown from 40 acres to 200 acres; and from 5 buildings to over 20.

"Don Fauser, and his son, Paul, have been actively involved in the success of Camp Courageous for over 30-years. They are a good and carrying family of incredible integrity...and those exceptional traits pour over into their work.  Camp Courageous feels very fortunate to have BP Petroleum and Fauser Energy Resources come together to make this wonderful gift possible," said Charlie Becker, Camp's Director.

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