11 Jul 2012

Big Win for Baby Sea Turtles

By Sierra Club
The Sierra Club's Puerto Rico Chapter notched a huge victory when the island's governor signed a bill protecting nearly 2,000 acres of the Northeast Ecological Corridor from development. For more than 15 years, a proposal to build two megaresorts loomed over the Corridor, which includes one of the most important nesting grounds on Earth for the endangered leatherback sea turtle.

"Golf courses and baby sea turtles don't mix," says Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune. Find out how the Sierra Club Puerto Rico Chapter and other grassroots groups kept this wondrous place from being turned into condos and putting greens.
11 Jul 2012

Governor Quinn Announces Start of LIHEAP Summer Cooling Program

By Leslie Wertheimer

Assistance Available to Help Low-Income Residents Pay Electric Bills

CHICAGO - July 10, 2012. In an effort to provide relief to residents facing high energy bills in the wake of the recent heat wave, Governor Pat Quinn today announced that applications will be accepted for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) beginning July 11. Through LIHEAP, utility bill payments are made on behalf of households with incomes of up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level.

"Temperatures have already reached dangerous levels across the state, and keeping people safe during the heat is my priority," Governor Quinn said. "We must do everything we can to ensure Illinois' most vulnerable citizens can remain healthy, safe and cool this summer."

The LIHEAP summer cooling program will run from July 11 through July 27, or until funds are exhausted. A total of $10 million in federal funding is available for the program. Households that are responsible for their own electric bills will be eligible only under the following criteria: household income over the last 30 days does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty standard threshold; and the household includes a person at least 60 years of age, a child under 60 months of age, and a person with a disability or an individual with a documented medical condition aggravated by excessive heat. In addition, current customers under the electric Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) are ineligible for cooling assistance.

"Through the LIHEAP program, we have helped more than 378,000 Illinois families to live more comfortably and safely in their homes, while helping reduce burdensome energy bills for those who need it most," said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Acting Director David Vaught.

People can apply for LIHEAP assistance by visiting their local administrating agency, but are encouraged to call ahead, as long lines should be expected. A complete listing of LIHEAP's local administrating agencies and additional information about the program are available at www.liheapillinois.com, or by calling the toll-free "Keep Cool Illinois" hotline at 877-411-9276 between 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Seniors are among the most vulnerable to extreme heat. With temperatures remaining high, Governor Quinn urged seniors and families with small children to take special measures to stay safe. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) advises residents to stay hydrated; avoid going outdoors during extreme heat; avoid or minimize physical exertion; keep window shades drawn; wear loose cotton clothing; and avoid eating heavy meals and cooking with ovens. People taking medications should check with their pharmacist or doctor to find out about any heat-related side effects.

Governor Quinn also urged Illinoisans to take advantage of more than 120 state facilities that serve as cooling centers. The cooling centers provide a place to stay cool and comfortable during the scorching hot days of summer. The centers are located at Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) offices throughout the state and the seven Illinois Tollway Oases in Northern Illinois. They will be open to the public during regular business hours.

More information on the state's cooling centers is available by calling the IDHS toll-free hotline (800-843-6154), or search by zip code for the nearest cooling center at www.keepcool.illinois.gov.

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11 Jul 2012

House Farm Bill Needs Much Work

By Elisha Smith

By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

The House Agriculture Committee's draft farm bill is deeply disappointing.

It would make federal subsidies for crop insurance premiums the primary farm program, but impose no payment caps, no income limits for recipients and no conservation requirements. Mega farms would get unlimited subsidies to bid land away from small, mid-size and beginning farmers.

For traditional farm programs, the draft would increase the commodity payment limit by 250 percent above generous Senate-passed levels. Unlike the Senate bill, however, it would leave current loopholes that invite widespread farm program abuse wide open. It would also reduce acreage enrollment for the Conservation Stewardship Program by a staggering 30 percent at a time when record numbers of farmers are enrolling acres into the program.

But that's not all, this farm bill would remove restrictions on subsidies intended to protect native grasslands everywhere except one small region of the Northern Great Plains. It would slash investment in programs for beginning farmers and ranchers by half. It would cut investment in proven job-creating rural development initiatives by 88 percent.

The House's draft farm bill fails to deliver for family farmers and ranchers, rural communities and the natural environment. The Committee should address these deficiencies when they take up the bill this week and, failing that, all members of Congress should prepare to debate these crucial issues on the House floor if there is any hope that this farm bill will reflect rural America's values and invest in a better future for our rural communities and the people that live there.

11 Jul 2012

Loebsack Announces More than $2.7 Million for Community Development and Housing

By Joe Hand

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today $2,763,341 in funding for housing development in Davenport and Iowa City.  The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME program.

"This HUD funding will assist communities in Davenport and Iowa City with providing affordable, quality housing to those who are struggling," said Loebsack. "As someone who grew up in poverty, I believe we need to ensure an adequate safety net is in place for Iowans, particularly those who are getting back on their feet in these difficult economic times.  This funding will provide better opportunities to succeed for many in eastern Iowa, as well as support economic growth and greater prosperity in Iowa communities."

The CDBG program helps develop more viable communities by investing in local economic development projects and expanded economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals.  The HOME program helps to increase the supply of decent, affordable housing to low- and very low-income families by providing grants to fund housing and development initiatives that meet local needs and priorities.

Details of the funding are below:

$1,328,125 - Davenport (CDBG)

$410,918 - Davenport (HOME)

$638,918 - Iowa City (CDBG)

$385,380 - Iowa City (HOME)

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11 Jul 2012

Braley Statement on CFTC Complaint against Peregrine Financial Group

By Jeff Giertz

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today released the following statement after the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced it had filed a complaint against Peregrine Financial Group of Cedar Falls:

"Like many residents of the Cedar Valley, I was shocked at the seriousness of the allegations levied against Peregrine Financial Group today.  My immediate concern is with the Iowa farmers and grain elevators who may be victims of Peregrine's alleged fraud.  I'm also deeply concerned about the impact of this situation on the employees of Peregrine and the entire Cedar Valley community.  In the days and weeks to come, I'll be closely monitoring the actions of the CFTC and the FBI investigation of Peregrine."

# # #
11 Jul 2012

Find Catfish in Holes

By John Phillips
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - 07/10/2012 - Editor's Note: Phil King is not only a catfish guide, but he's one of the nation's and the world's top tournament catfishermen, having competed in the World Catfish Classic in Spain.
King guides on the Tennessee River near Pickwick Lake and Memphis, Tennessee. In 2009, King took first place in the Bass Pro Shop Big Cat Quest tournament held in Memphis with nine catfish weighing 234 pounds. His largest catfish was a 67.10-pound blue cat. For much of his life, King has fished either full-time or part-time as a commercial catfisherman on the Tennessee River. He knows the places in the river where the big cats hang-out, because he's fished this river for more than 2 decades.

"I don't know why catfish prefer chicken livers, because they certainly aren't found naturally in anywhere," King says. "But I've learned that during the hottest part of the summer, for some reason, chicken livers produce more and bigger cats during hot weather than any-other bait I've ever fished." King's catfish honey hole at Pickwick Lake on the Tennessee River is a spot in the middle of the river where the bottom drops off from 41 to 78 feet. "Upriver of the hole are a lot of mussel beds," King explains. "The cats feed on those mussels and then come back and rest in the hole. At this particular spot, the river necks-down. Even when there's not much current coming-through the river, this place almost always has more current than other locations on the river do. Anytime you can find a spot where a river becomes a bottleneck, and the area has plenty of current as well as a deep hole in it, you not only can find cats there but specifically big cats."

King fishes with bottom-bumping tackle and techniques. King also carries with him a large dip net, another of his secrets for landing big cats. "Many big cats are lost at the boat because an angler isn't prepared to boat a large catfish," King comments. "I use a 32-inch x 27-inch size dip net. Then, I can get a big cat in the net and pull it into the boat." King caught his biggest catfish ever, a 64 pounder, in 1997 during the National Catfish Derby. King has spent his lifetime fishing and more than 25 years targeting catfish on the Tennessee River and other places, including overseas. He'll take two anglers catfishing with their rods and reels all day, and they'll average 30 to 100 pounds of cats. "All the fishermen have to do is show-up with their fishing licenses, what they want to eat and drink and an ice chest to carry home their catches," King says. "I provide the rods, the reels, the hooks, the tackle and the bait. I clean the fish for them and then put the fish in their ice chests." To fish with Phil King's Catfishing Guide Service, call 662-286-8644, or go to http://www.h2othouse.com/catfish/

In John E. Phillips' new Kindle book, "Catfish Like a Pro," he interviews some of the best catfishermen in the world, to learn the techniques for not only catching big catfish, but also for catching large numbers of eating-size catfish. Or, you can go to http://www.amazon.com/kindle-ebooks, and type-in the name of the book to find it.
11 Jul 2012

Hewlett-Packard, Deere, BestBuy, CVS, and MillerCoors dump ALEC

By Matt Sinovic

When will Iowa stop sending tax dollars to this extreme organization?

DES MOINES, IOWA -- Five additional companies have left the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC): Hewlett-Packard, John Deere, BestBuy, CVS, and MillerCoors, in an announcement made today. In total, twenty five corporations, four major non-profits, and fifty five confirmed elected leaders have dropped out of ALEC since the killing of Trayvon Martin in February.

"Today five prominent corporations have added their names to a long list of those who realize that ALEC should be prevented from influencing our legislative process," said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. "When will Iowa legislators stop using our tax dollars to fund such an extreme organization?"

In May, Iowa State Representative Brian Quirk announced he was cancelling his membership in ALEC, and went on to say that "ALEC is not the bipartisan organization it claims to be. I disagree with ALEC's extreme agenda and the partisan way in which they operate. Our tax dollars should never be spent on funding such a partisan organization."

In April, Progress Iowa began a petition campaign to stop taxpayer money from funding state legislative membership in ALEC. The petition can be found here: http://bit.ly/IowaALEC

ALEC is a secretive, corporate front group that drafts legislation, allowing Iowa legislators to pass it off as their own - turning them into what the New York Times calls "stealth lobbyists". According to the Center for Media and Democracy, ALEC has provided model legislation in Iowa to suppress voter rights, withdraw from regional environmental partnerships, and require 'intellectual diversity' reporting from our college campuses. ALEC also holds direct influence in the Iowa legislature, with State Representative and House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer serving as Second Vice Chairman on ALEC's Board of Directors.

###

Background:

John Deere, CVS Caremark, MillerCoors, HP, and Best Buy will no longer fund American Legislative Exchange Council
http://colorofchange.org/press/releases/2012/7/10/five-more-major-companies-will-no-longer-fund-alec/

Brian Quirk cancels ALEC membership
http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/brian-quirk-cancels-alec-membership/article_1e1fac1f-9ede-54d6-bc03-3a64a6d2e7a1.html

ALEC-modeled legislation introduced in Iowa
http://alecexposed.org/wiki/Iowa

About ALEC (Board of Directors, listing Rep. Upmeyer as Second Vice Chair)
http://www.alec.org/about-alec/board-of-directors/
11 Jul 2012

New Food and Fun at the 2012 Iowa State Fair

By Lori Chappell

DES MOINES, IA (07/10/2012)(readMedia)-- The Iowa State Fair will offer a plethora of new attractions to try, taste and watch this year. New Fair foods, attractions and contests are available in addition to the many traditional Fair favorites. "Nothing Compares" to this array of new excitement that awaits Fairgoers August 9-19.

Attractions

Experience the Fair's new zipline, located west of the Jacobson Exhibition Center. Leap from the 28-foot tower and fly 130 feet across the grounds. Buy your tickets now and save $4. A two ticket zip pack is $10 through August 8. Details at iowastatefair.org.

Get your adrenaline pumping with the BMX Pros Trick Team, also located west of the Jacobson Exhibition Center. This BMX show features the world's most extreme bicycle stunt riders in a spectacular, non-stop, action-packed event. Visit the Bengal Tiger Encounter in Kids' Zone for an inspirational program featuring the Bengal Tiger. On display all day with three shows every day of the Fair, these tigers are helping to educate the public on the loss of habitat and the killing of tigers for profit in India and Africa.

The eco-friendly transformation of Expo Hill will be complete for the 2012 Iowa State Fair. The latest additions include a uniquely-designed covered structure which provides a new location for free entertainment and solar panels worked into the design of the structure which will provide a portion of the venue's power needs. Expo Hill will feature the Red Trouser Show each day at noon, 2 and 5 p.m. This duo amazes audiences with their flawless combination of acrobatics, juggling and comedy.

Ag Education

Sheep Stop joins our other agricultural education stops Pig Place, Horse Haven and Cattle Corner; each located in its respective barn. In this newest exhibit, learn how many sheep there are in Iowa and how much wool they produce.

Learn about Iowa's agricultural commodities with the AgVenture Discovery Trail. Explore ten stops by starting at the USDA booth in the Agriculture Building or the Canstruction exhibit in the Varied Industries Building. Learn about plants and what makes them grow with Seed Survivor. This interactive display is located in the John Deere Agriculture Building. The Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center will also be expanding its programming for the 2012 Fair by adding an aquaculture exhibit.

Foods

The Elwell Family Food Center will house a life-size moose made of Dutch chocolate. This delectable creature, crafted by the master chocolatiers at Chocolaterie Stam, will stand more than 9 feet tall. The building is also home to the largest foods department in the nation with 893 contests, 43 of which are new this year. New contests include A Taste of Ireland, Seattle's Best Coffee "Search For Deliciousness," Best Pizza in Iowa, Gramp's Bacon and more.

New mouthwatering foods to join the list of Fair favorites include :

• Gourmet s'mores, available at Beaverdale Confections in the Shoppers' Mart;

• Peach, apple or cherry crisps, available at Iowa Orchard located inside the southwest entrance of the Agriculture Building;

• Caribbean-style crab fritters, available at Ollie's Crab Fritters west of the Jacobson Exhibition Center;

• German chocolate funnel cakes, available at The Best Around on the Triangle;

• Carrot cake funnel cakes and blue sapphire funnel cakes from Westmoreland Concessions, located south of the Riley Stage;

• Chocolate chip cannolis and chocolate chip cookie dough pops, both dipped in chocolate and on a stick, will be featured at Oasis Concessions on the southwest corner of the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion;

• Deep fried pickle "dawgs," available at the Dawg House on the Triangle.

Also, look for our new Fair Square flavor made with marshmallows, crisped rice cereal, pretzels, potato chips, Oreos, toffee and M&Ms®. Find the Fair Square stand on the northwest corner of the Administration Building.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, August 9-19. A complete listing and details of all daily programs is available online, for more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

* * *

11 Jul 2012

Genesis Is Most Wired For 9th Straight Year

By Craig Cooper

DAVENPORT, Iowa - July 10, 2012 -- The health professionals providing patient care at Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus have education, experience, critical-thinking skills and one more important tool.

That additional tool is a laptop and software that allows the provider to enter care instructions, medication orders and patient history into a record that can be shared between providers with limited use of handwriting and paper.

Handwriting can be difficult to read and paper can be misplaced. Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) reduces both of those concerns to help Genesis provide a safer patient experience with quality outcomes.

Now fully implemented at Illini Campus and in the process of being fully implemented throughout in Genesis Health System, CPOE is one of the advancements that helped Genesis be recognized as one the nation's 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems for the ninth consecutive year.

The 100 Most Wired are named by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine based on the use of information technology to accomplish key goals, including safety and quality objectives.

Genesis Health System is the only Iowa hospital or health system to be recognized as a 100 Most Wired for nine consecutive years.

"Genesis is well ahead of most health care organizations in the country in its use of technology to benefit our patients,'' said Rob Frieden, Vice President of Information Services, Genesis Health System. "The technology implemented by Genesis in recent years has resulted in fewer medical errors, improved safety and quality of care for patients and has created efficiencies to help us control costs.

"Genesis is moving toward a seamless approach to medical records, which makes health care safer, more convenient and less stressful for patients.''

A highlight within Genesis over the past year is that all physicians admitting patients at Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus now are using CPOE.

"Illini is the test tube baby for Genesis when it comes to CPOE, but we're getting better and the process is getting easier. We're making reasonable progress,'' said Dr. Peter Metcalf, a pediatrician with Genesis Health Group who is also Vice President for Medical Affairs at Illini. "It has taken a long time, and it is quite a task but over the long-term, the benefits will be worthwhile.

"We will eliminate all paper records, will move away entirely from handwritten orders and we will be sharing patients records between providers both within Genesis and outside of Genesis. It is a major undertaking that will require years of refining, but every health care organization in the country is headed in the same direction.''

Physicians within Genesis Health Group are also advancing toward 100 percent use of electronic medical records. By using electronic records, patient records are more easily shared across the system.

For the past 14 years, the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study has been conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks. The benchmarking studies ask hospitals to report their uses of information technology in five areas: safety and quality, customer service, business process, workforce, and public health and safety. Every hospital in the U.S. is invited to participate.

The nation's 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems demonstrate better outcomes in patient safety, risk-adjusted mortality rates and other key quality measures through the use of information technology, according to analysis.

"Our focus is always patient safety and quality of care,'' Frieden said. "Will the new technology make our patients safer? Will it provide them with a better patient experience?

"And finally, will the new technology also create efficiencies for our caregivers and staff?'' Frieden said one of the goals within the system is to continue implementing information and medical technology throughout the system, including at Mercer County Hospital in Aledo, Ill., and Jackson County Regional Health Center in Maquoketa, Iowa.

The 100 Most Wired winners are featured in the Summer edition of Hospitals and Health Networks (H&HN) magazine.

About Genesis Health System
Genesis Health System, its affiliates and partners offer a full continuum of health care services in a 12-county region of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. Our affiliates include : acute and tertiary hospital care at Genesis Medical Center, Davenport and DeWitt, Iowa and at the Illini Campus in Silvis, Illinois; home health and hospice services through Genesis VNA and Hospice; Genesis Workplace Services, including occupational health, employee assistance program and wellness services for employers and their employees; the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House; senior living facilities offering rehabilitation and long-term care; Genesis Health Group, with more than 170 primary care physicians and specialists; the Genesis Quad Cities Family Medicine Residency Program; Genesis Psychology Associates; three Convenient Care clinics; and Genesis Home Medical Equipment. Partners include the Genesis Medical Park, Crow Valley and Spring Street Surgical Center, Davenport. Genesis Health System also manages Mercer County Hospital, Aledo, Ill., and Jackson County Regional Health Center, Maquoketa, Iowa. For more information, visit our Web site at www.genesishealth.com.

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11 Jul 2012

"A Birthday Celebration: The Grateful Dead Movie Event" Arrives in Movie Theaters on Wednesday, August 1 at 7:00 p.m.

By Rick Martin
In celebration of what would have been the 70th birthday of the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia, NCM® Fathom Events and Rhino Entertainment will present "A Birthday Celebration: The Grateful Dead Movie Event" on Wednesday, August 1 at 7:00 p.m. local time. During this special in-theater gathering, fans will be treated to the 1977 cinematic concert journey The Grateful Dead Movie, as well as a special birthday commemoration on Garcia directed by Justin Kreutzmann, featuring the Dead's Bob Weir and other surprise guests.
Tickets for "A Birthday Celebration: The Grateful Dead Movie Event" are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.fathomevents.com.
A Birthday Celebration: The Grateful Dead Movie Event will be playing at the following theaters in your area on August 1 at 7 p.m.:
RAVE Davenport 53 18 with IMAX 3601 E 53Rd St Davenport IA 52807

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