05 Jul 2012

GAHC celebrates opening of new exhibit

By GAHC
Grimm Opening
05 Jul 2012

Quad Cities Eating Disorder Consortium Re-Launched As Amy's Gift

By Amy's Gift
TRREGI_Amys_Gift_Final.jpg
The Quad Cities Eating Disorders Consortium has changed their name to Amy's Gift and relaunched a new website at www.amysgift.com to honor the Amy Helpenstell Foundation, who provides the grant which funds the organization, and Amy Helpenstell herself, the bright Quad Citian who created the foundation before her passing due to complications from anorexia. The mission of Amy's Gift is to be guided by the Amy Helpenstell Foundation's message of help, hope and healing by promoting awareness, understanding, diagnosis and treatment for eating disorders so that those experiencing the disease in our community can receive the best treatment possible.  Amy's Gift provides resources, a local support group, and educational events for health care professionals, educators, and families alike on the subject of eating disorders.

To find these resources, information on upcoming events and more, visit the website at www.amysgift.com, call (309) 779-3077, or email info@amysgift.com.  To inquire about the local eating disorders support group facilitated by Amy's Gift from 6-7p.m. the first four Wednesdays of every month, call the Trinity Enrichment Center at (563) 742-5800.
05 Jul 2012

For July 4th Young Adults Affirm the Principles of the Declaration of Independence

By Matthew Faraci

Generation Opportunity Encourages Millennials to Stay Vigilant on Behalf of Principles

Washington, DC - (7/3/12) - Generation Opportunity, one of the largest groups in the nation educating and mobilizing young Americans ages 18-29 with more than 3.4 million Facebook fans and an extensive grassroots field program, has rolled out a new online effort for the July 4th Independence Day holiday. The initiative, called "Sign the Declaration," encourages young adults to reaffirm the principles of the Declaration of Independence by symbolically signing the document themselves online. Anyone can participate in the online initiative by visiting http://generationopportunity.org/independence-day/.

The effort comes as Generation Opportunity's flagship Facebook page, "Being American by GO," surged past 1.5 million fans, fueled by the intense patriotism and strong belief in American Exceptionalism held by the majority of young Americans ages 18-29.

"Two hundred and thirty-six years ago, our Founding Fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in the cause of liberty so that America could gain independence from British rule and secure its own destiny. Young Americans believe in American Exceptionalism and know that the principles of liberty and freedom outlined in the Declaration of Independence are as relevant in 2012 as they were in 1776. On July 4th, we invite all Americans to join us in affirming their commitment to these principles, to honor those whose actions and sacrifices formed our nation and the freedoms we enjoy today, and to remain vigilant in their defense," said Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity and former Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Labor.

The online effort then specifically asks young Americans to join Generation Opportunity and affirm their commitment to the principles that inspired the courage and convictions of America's Founding Fathers by "signing" the Declaration of Independence at http://generationopportunity.org/independence-day/.

The importance of the principles behind the Declaration of Independence cannot be overstated, especially at a time when America's elected leaders should be listening to the concerns of young Americans about the growing size of government, the stifling burden posed by thousands of laws and regulations, increasing taxes, and America's indebtedness to foreign powers as a result of the government's reckless and unrestrained spending. The stakes are high and require the involvement and constant vigilance of young Americans, lest our elected leaders adopt solutions that cost future generations both their wealth and liberty.

HOW IT WORKS

Generation Opportunity commissioned a poll last year with the polling company, inc./WomanTrend (April 16 - 22, 2011, +/- 4% margin of error) and highlights some of the results below.

Young People By The Numbers - Exceptionalism, National Direction, Views on 2012:

  • 56% - more than half - indicated their agreement with "American Exceptionalism" - described as an ideal of freedom and democracy exclusive and unique to the United States. Only 29% disagreed.
  • 54% believe that things here in the United States have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track; only 24% believe that things are headed in the right direction. 52% indicated they are not optimistic about the country's future.
  • 54% - more than half - are not confident that the U.S. will be a global leader in just 10 years. Only 9% said they were "very confident" that the U.S. would be.
  • While 54% agree they have "more opportunity" than their parents, only 16% think their children will have "much more opportunity," and 27% actually think their children will have less.
  • 69% say political leaders do NOT reflect the interests of young Americans, and just 31% approved of the President's handling of youth unemployment.
  • 57% also say they will learn more about the policy positions of presidential candidates in the 2012 election than they did in 2008.

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY

Generation Opportunity is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c)(4) organization that seeks to engage everyone from young adults, to early career professionals, college students, young mothers and fathers, construction workers, current service men and women, veterans, entrepreneurs, and all Americans who find themselves dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to create a better tomorrow.

Generation Opportunity operates on a strategy that combines advanced social media tactics with proven field tactics to reach Americans 18-29. The organization's social media platforms - "Being American by GO," "The Constitution by GO," "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High," and "Keep Texas Awesome" on Facebook - have amassed a total fan base of more than 3.4 million. All four pages post links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.

Read about Generation Opportunity here; visit "Being American by GO" on Facebook here, "The Constitution by GO" on Facebook here, "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High" on Facebook here, and "Keep Texas Awesome" on Facebook here.

For our Spanish-language page - Generación Oportunidad - click here.

 

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05 Jul 2012

Q&A on Fast and Furious

By Sen. Chuck Grassley

with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Q:        What is so important about this congressional investigation?

A:        When a person dies in service to his country, and his own government may have contributed to his death, covered up evidence about the circumstances, or both, the survivors' families and the American people have a right to know the truth.  In December 2010, Customs and Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered and two of the weapons found at the scene were linked to Operation Fast and Furious, a gun-walking operation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  Since then, despite numerous requests from Congress - made in letters, meetings and hearings and by subpoena - the Department of Justice, which is in charge of the ATF, has stonewalled and resisted providing documents about the operation.  Along the way, the Department of Justice has insisted there was no gun-walking, then retracted that statement and reversed itself.  Clearly, the only way to try to get an accurate, complete account of what happened and why is to obtain every record and account of the facts.  Without the complete set of facts, fair and informed conclusions can't be drawn, and we might never know what happened to Agent Terry.  That can't stand.

Q:        How did you get involved?

A:        A month after Agent Terry's death, whistleblowers within the ATF came to my office with information about the guns found at the murder scene and evidence that Operation Fast and Furious possibly let as many as 2,500 other weapons flow from gun stores in Phoenix, Arizona, to Mexico and other places in the United States.  These whistleblowers had expressed concerns to the ATF about the dangers of selling to known straw buyers, but the ATF and the U.S. Attorney's office had urged the dealers to keep selling anyway.  I sent a letter to the ATF asking if there was any truth to these allegations and indicated I had documents to back them up.  Amazingly, the Department of Justice responded with a flat-out denial one week later.  I kept asking and showed evidence to the contrary to government officials.  A full ten months later, the Department of Justice withdrew its denial.  The oversight committee investigation in the House of Representatives stemmed from these inquiries and resulted in the Attorney General being held in contempt of Congress by the House of Representatives, for the first time ever.  The vote was 255 to 67.  The House also voted to authorize civil action in courts to compel production of subpoenaed documents.  I supported these efforts because contempt is the only tool Congress has to enforce a subpoena.  It is not a finding that the Attorney General is guilty of any wrongdoing in the underlying case.  Rather, it's an important procedural mechanism in our system of checks and balances to require that information be provided to Congress.  People deserve transparency and the accountability from their government.

Q:        What would motivate the government to let guns walk into the hands of criminals?

A:        Fast and Furious was built on a strategic decision to gather information rather than to enforce the law, all in the service of making a big, headline-grabbing case.  Tragically, when the headlines came, they were about the death of a brave federal agent rather than the capture of a drug kingpin.  Such a death was just what was feared by a cooperating gun dealer six months earlier.  This dealer expressed concerns in emails to the ATF that his cooperation with the government might get someone killed.  The ATF replied in writing and said not to worry, just keep selling to the straw buyers and ATF would stop the guns before they went south.  The gun stores were told their cooperation was necessary to the ATF case.  Without that assurance, there's little doubt they would have stopped making the suspicious sales.  But the gun dealers depend on the ATF for their licenses, so when the ATF asks for help there isn't much choice but to cooperate.  The ATF assured gun stores it was taking care of everything on its end but, instead, the ATF let the straw-buying ring operate and grow for months and months.  They watched and waited despite having information about the ring leader from the beginning.  To say the operation was "fundamentally flawed," as the Attorney General has admitted, is an understatement.  Along with getting information for the family of Brian Terry and holding the highest ranking government official accountable, my goal for this congressional investigation is to make sure a disastrous government program like this never happens again.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012
05 Jul 2012

Grassley asks for Justice Department records of field agent memo on Fast and Furious

By Grassley Press

ATF agent describes discussion of operation one day before Justice Department denial

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley today asked Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. for information about who at the Department of Justice (DOJ) saw a memo from a special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) who was stationed at the Phoenix field division and was knowledgeable about Operation Fast and Furious.  This memo was produced the day before the Department of Justice flat out denied there was a program underway to let guns walk to straw buyers.

In a letter to Attorney General Holder this afternoon, Grassley said the memo traveled rapidly through the chain of command at ATF and was allegedly forwarded to DOJ headquarters on February 3, 2011, in advance of the February 4, 2011, denial by DOJ.  Grassley's office has been told that the substance of the memo "caused such a stir that ATF planned to put a panel together to address the allegations but someone within DOJ suppressed the idea."  The details in the agent's memo would have provided DOJ officials important information about what, in fact, was happening in Operation Fast and Furious.

Grassley said he is asking questions today because discovering how high up the chain of command the memo was reviewed "has not been easy."  His requests to interview officials who might corroborate accounts has been denied, and DOJ may have withheld relevant documents from what it said were the deliberative materials used to draft the February 4, 2011, letter.  Ultimately, in the face of mounting evidence presented by Grassley and others, DOJ withdrew its February 4 denial.

"Without the complete, documented set of facts, fair and informed conclusions can't be drawn, and the Justice Department's lack of transparency about what it knew and when about Operation Fast and Furious is unacceptable, especially in light of the connections to the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and an unknown number of Mexican citizens," Grassley said.

Click here to read today's letter from Grassley to Holder, which includes a copy of the February 3, 2011, memo by the ATF agent.
05 Jul 2012

Area Students Earn Prestigious Academic Awards at Illinois College

By Elizabeth Findley

JACKSONVILLE, IL (07/03/2012)(readMedia)-- The following students of Illinois College have been recognized for their academic excellence on April 27 when liberal arts college held its annual Honors Day Celebration.

Hannah Oak a sophomore from Taylor Ridge was awarded the Edith Rammelkamp Elliott Memorial Award. This award is presented to selected students desiring to travel abroad. Oak is a graduate of Rockridge High School and the daughter of Kevin and Cynthia Oak of Taylor Ridge.

Dustin Secrist a junior from Hillsdale was awarded the John G. Anderson Award in Theatre. This award is presented to a student who demonstrates dedicated and consistent excellence in theatre productions. Secrist is a graduate of Riverdale High School and the son of Casey Secrist of Hillsdale.

Founded in 1829, Illinois College is a residential liberal arts college fostering academic excellence rooted in opportunities for experiential learning while preparing students for lifelong success.

05 Jul 2012

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action Tuesday, July 3, 2012

By William Palmisano
CHICAGO - July 3, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today acted on the following bills.

 

Bill No.: SB 174

An Act Concerning: Government

Requires the State Board of Health to deliver to the Governor for presentation to the General Assembly a State Health Improvement Plan on Jan. 1, 2016 and every five years thereafter (rather than on Jan. 1, 2013 and every four years thereafter).

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 2820

An Act Concerning: Public Aid

Expands the purposes for which the Public Assistance Emergency Revolving Fund may be used.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3324

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Provides that compensation of township officers shall be for time served, and no officer may receive compensation for any future or anticipated days of duty.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3380

An Act Concerning: Safety

Increases the number of members on the Carnival-Amusement Safety Board from eight to nine, and modifies the composition of the Board.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

###

05 Jul 2012

Empower Kids by Giving Them 'Keys to Peace'

By Rick Martin
Well-Meaning Parents Often Fail to Teach Vital Values, Author Says

Parents and educators are always trying to spark student participation whether it's in the classroom, in the local community, or throughout the world.

When middle-school students at Allison Academy in North Miami Beach were asked what they could do to improve their country, they focused on what they understood - bullying, violence and racism.

Those problems are all rooted in the same issues, says Rachel Albert, author of "Quest to Telos," (www.QuestToTelos.com), a young adult novel where fantasy meets reality and even world peace is possible.

"They stem from a lack of personal integrity and absence of social responsibility," she says.

"Children who choose to put those values into practice are actively working toward peace. But they can only put into practice what they've learned; instilling those values may seem simple, but many parents miss the mark and actually model the opposite."

Throwing money at social problems like racism or violence doesn't resolve them, Albert says. But children can.

"The energy from kids' excitement can make a real difference and we need their energy focused right here at home," says the mother of four. "They see problems; it's up to us to give them the tools to address them."

The following tips can help parents teach their children personal integrity and social responsibility, giving them the keys to world peace.

• Never lie in front of your kids. It may seem obvious, but many parents lie in front of their children or encourage them to lie; misstating a child's age to save money on movie tickets or allowing them to take credit for school projects completed by the parent.  These seemingly inconsequential lies suggest it's OK, even good, to distort the truth. This causes long-term damage a million times more costly than whatever was gained in the short term.

• Give your kids a reason why. Author Mark Twain once said that the two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you figure out why.  If you fail to tell your kids why we are here, you have missed the opportunity to
figure out what motivates them and gets them excited. This is the most important key to getting kids' cooperation and empowering them to help the world.

• Don't criticize your children. Criticism is toxic, so why do almost all parents criticize their kids?  When we focus on what they aren't, they believe they can't. This creates angry children who express their pain by bullying others.  It's better to tell them how you feel rather than what you think of them, e.g., "I feel frustrated that you didn't listen to me," or "Can you say that in a more loving way?"

• Don't speak badly about other people. This is probably one of the hardest things to do, considering we're a generation that pays for gossip.  Speaking badly about others teaches kids to look for what they view as the negative in others and take joy in sharing it.

• Model charity. Actions speak louder than any words. When you teach kindness to children, they tend to feel empathy and have more successful lives, a crucial step toward achieving world peace.

Once we tackle the issues plaguing America, then as a model nation, we will be ready to tackle world peace, Albert says. Kids are hungry to form an identity and make their mark on the world. It's easier to try to bring peace to another country, but that never works. We need to start at home.

About Rachel Albert

Rachel Albert is a certified court reporter and business owner. "Quest to Telos" is her debut novel; it's being used by a private school to develop an inspirational, critical-thinking curriculum for middle-school students ready by the summer. Albert is currently working on a sequel. She is a staunch advocate of boosting teen literacy while inspiring kids to make a difference starting with their own hearts.

05 Jul 2012

Branstad names Jason Carlstrom chair of the Iowa Board of Parole

By Office of the Governor of Iowa, Terry Branstad

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today named Jason Carlstrom, of Spirit Lake, as chair of the Iowa Board of Parole, effective September 3.

Carlstrom, 41, replaces Doris Kelley, who will resume her responsibilities as vice chair of the board.

"Jason will be a great leader for this board, and brings with him an unmatched ability and experience," said Branstad. "I am excited to see the great work he will do on behalf of Iowans in his new role of service."

Carlstrom is currently the Dickinson County Attorney. Prior to this elected position, he served as an attorney in private practice, and was an adjunct professor at both Buena Vista University and Iowa Lakes Community College.

"I am excited to serve in this new position, as we look to find effective, efficient and streamlined operations," said Carlstrom. "This is an exciting time for the Iowa Parole Board, as Governor Branstad has made it a priority to improve its services."

Branstad thanked Doris Kelley for her work, and is pleased she will continue serving on the board in a leadership capacity.

"I want to thank Doris for her outstanding work during this transition period, and am excited to see her resume her responsibilities as vice chair," said Branstad. "Her time was extremely valuable for the board, as she led on a number of positive new initiatives."

"Jason Carlstrom is taking the reins at an important time for the Iowa Board of Parole, and I look forward to seeing the great work he'll accomplish," said Kelley. "I will work with him every day to ensure the needs of this board are met in order to effectively serve the people of Iowa."

Carlstrom will move to the Des Moines metro area, where he will reside full-time.

05 Jul 2012

Final Week of 2012 Riverside Theatre in the Park

By Sarah Burnett

Iowa City, IA - Riverside Theatre in the Park is entering the final week of its 2012 summer season with 5 more performances of Shakespeare's As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice. The 17-performance summer season opened on June 15 and will close July 8.

 

As You Like It by William Shakespeare and directed by Theodore Swetz will be performed this Thursday, July 5 at 8 p.m., Friday, July 6 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 8 at 7 p.m. In one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies our heroine and hero flee an oppressive court for the beautiful and healing Forest of Arden.

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare and directed by Kristin Horton will be performed tonight, Tuesday, July 3 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 7 at 8 p.m. One of Shakespeare's less frequently produced plays, The Merchant of Venice introduces characters rich in complexity, humor and, most of all, flaws.

Post-performance Talkbacks will be held after both performances of The Merchant of Venice.

Don't miss your last chance of the summer to escape with an evening of live theatre under the stars at Riverside Theatre in the Park!

Tickets, reviews, photos, videos and more information on the plays is available at www.riversidetheatre.org, or call the Riverside Theatre Box Office at 319-338-7672 to order tickets.

Performances take place outdoors at the Festival Stage in Iowa City's Lower City Park.

Tickets range from $17-$39. To purchase tickets, call the Riverside Theatre Box Office at 319-338-7672 or order online at www.riversidetheatre.org. Tickets can also be purchased at the Festival Stage Box Office starting 90 minutes before each performance.

 

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Final Week Performance Calendar:

Tuesday, July 3 - The Merchant of Venice, 7 p.m.

Thursday, July 5 - As You Like It, 8 p.m.

Friday, July 6 - As You Like It, 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 7 - The Merchant of Venice, 8 p.m.

Sunday, July 8 - As You Like It, 7 p.m.

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