Petition drive launched at LathamBailout.com to return the $2.4 million borrowed by his family bank and never paid back

DES MOINES, IOWA -- Progress Iowa today launched a petition drive at LathamBailout.com, calling on Congressman Tom Latham to return the $2.4 million loaned to his family bank, Green Circle Investments, as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). According to his most recent financial disclosure form, Congressman Latham's personal investment in the bank is worth up to $5 million.

"For weeks Congressman Latham has ducked questions about his involvement in the decision to voluntarily accept a bailout from the taxpayers and never pay it back," said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. "We're through waiting for answers, and have just one simple request: we want our money back."

When Latham's family bank, Green Circle Investments, accepted their $2.4 million bailout in 2009, it was just one year after Congressman Latham voted against it. He even issued a press release, asking:

"Why is Washington so quick to focus on the needs of Wall Street at the cost of those responsible Iowans who have sacrificed, saved and spent within their means? No wonder real America has lost faith in Washington."

"Congressman Latham should take his own advice and help restore our faith," said Sinovic. "Every dollar of the Latham Bailout that remains unpaid is a dollar that can't be spent on our schools, our roads, our communities. Iowa taxpayers are footing the bill to support an investment for our Congressman, and we're paying the price for it."

Green Circle Investments is operated by a board comprised of Latham's family and friends, including his brother Bob Latham, who is President and Chairman. Nine financial institutions in Iowa have voluntarily received funds from the Capital Purchase Program of TARP. Only three have failed to pay back any of the principal on their loan, including Green Circle Investments.

To learn more about the Latham Bailout, and to sign the petition, visit LathamBailout.com.

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Background:

• Congressman Latham's Financial Disclosure Forms, filed from 1996-2012
• Listing of all Iowa companies receiving bailout funds and the remainder owed
• Des Moines Register story on 7/1/2012: "Did Latham benefit from TARP while he decried it?
• Congressman Latham's statement after voting no on TARP in 2008
• Information about the Capital Purchase Program

50 farmers' markets in Illinois to receive federal grant funds

 

CARBONDALE - July 24, 2012. Thanks to a federal grant, the number of farmers' markets in Illinois that accept Link, debit and credit cards could double, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, a local food advocate and chair of the Governor's Rural Affairs Council, announced today.

Simon said 41 farmers' markets across Illinois each will receive $1,200 grants from the Illinois Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Wireless Project. Due to popular demand, additional applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The program will enable farmers' markets to accept Illinois Link cards, which access federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, wirelessly for the first time.  A total of 49 SNAP-certified farmers' markets and direct-marketing farmers accepted Link cards in 2011, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, up from 15 in 2009. The wireless EBT project could bring the total to 99, or about one-third of farmers' markets statewide, by this year's end.

"We expect sales of local foods across Illinois, from urban gardens in Chicago to farms in Alexander County, to increase because of this program. Health benefits will follow," Simon said. "As a state, we export more than 95 percent of our food dollars. Doubling the number of farmers' markets accepting Link, debit and credit cards will keep more of those dollars in local communities, while improving the health of our citizens and underserved neighborhoods, at no new cost to state taxpayers."

The wireless EBT project, funded by a grant from the USDA, aims to expand access to fresh produce for low-income residents and boost sales of local foods. The program will be administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department of Agriculture with support from the Lt. Governor's office.

The funding is part of a $4 million nationwide effort by the USDA to increase SNAP use at farmers' markets. SNAP sales at Illinois farmers' markets totaled nearly $70,000 in 2011, an increase of over 522 percent since 2009.

"We're excited to have this opportunity to improve opportunities for low-income individuals to obtain nutritious foods and to support local farmers," said USDA Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Audrey Rowe. "SNAP participation at farmers' markets helps provide fresh fruit and vegetables to families and expands the customer base for local farmers - a win-win for agriculture and local communities."

Simon and Rowe will host a media call-in at 1 p.m. today with Connie Spreen, the executive director of the Chicago not-for-profit Experimental Station, and vegetable farmers, Cheryl and Josh Dotson, of Dotson Farms in Beecher. The mother-son team, along with Josh's wife, Bonnie, sells produce at several farmers' markets in Chicago.

Dotson Farms began selling at farmers' markets in 1979, when the operation was owned by Josh's grandparents. Today the Dotsons sell a variety of tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet corn and 30 other kinds of vegetables at three SNAP-certified farmers' markets in Chicago: Lincoln Square Farmers Market, Division Street Farmers Market and Pullman Farmers Market.

Since those markets began accepting Link, Josh Dotson has seen sales of his produce increase five percent at Lincoln Square and Division Street, and nearly 10 percent at Pullman which is in a low-income neighborhood situated in what is known as a food desert, or an area without easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

"Our farm has been selling at farmers' markets for many years, but we gained access to a whole new set of customers when they began accepting Link cards," Dotson said. "As a family farm, every new customer makes a difference."

The 41 farmers' markets that have been selected are located in 22 different counties across Illinois and range from large operations with nearly 100 vendors and artisans to tiny ventures with less than five farmers selling produce. These markets must obtain certification to accept SNAP benefits through the USDA Food and Nutrition service and sign a contract with the Illinois Department of Agriculture that requires disclosure of sales data, use of the wireless machine on all market days, and participation in required trainings, before seeking reimbursement from the program.

Participating markets will be able to keep the wireless EBT machines, but must absorb the wireless service costs after the project is complete in September 2013 or when their $1,200 grant is expended. Minimal customer service and transaction fees will not be reimbursed by the grant. Markets that are already certified and own an EBT machine can seek reimbursement as long as their certification and EBT purchase happened after November 18, 2011.

"With 1 in 7 Illinoisans currently receiving SNAP benefits, increasing the availability of EBT machines at farmers' markets makes so much sense: SNAP customers will gain access to the healthiest foods, and potentially millions of SNAP dollars will be redirected toward local agricultural producers, enabling them to invest in and grow their businesses," Spreen said.

Grant recipients will be provided community kits developed by the Lt. Governor's office and the Illinois Department of Agriculture that will include training and promotional materials including an EBT implementation guide that explains SNAP regulations, how to use an EBT machine and ways to partner with community organizations to increase the sustainability of a wireless EBT program.

Markets will be required to attend one of three regional trainings that will be held in late August and led by Experimental Station and the Illinois Farmers Market Association. These trainings will be open to any farmers' market in Illinois that would like to attend. An online presentation will be provided for markets unable to attend one of the trainings in person.

Upon completion of the program, Southern Illinois University Carbondale will use monthly sales data and market surveys to study and measure the impact wireless EBT machines and SNAP accessibility have on overall sales at farmers' markets and will release findings at the end of 2013 or early 2014.

Additional applications for the Illinois EBT Wireless Project will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, or to apply, visit www.agr.state.il.us or call 217-524-9129.

Illinois EBT Wireless Project Participants

Abundant Market - Tuscola Downtown Farmers Market (Tuscola)

Alton Farmers' and Artisans' Market (Alton)

Aurora Farmers Market East (Aurora)

Bartlett Farmers Market (Bartlett)

Bureau County Farmers Market (Princeton)

Carbondale Community Friday Night Fairs (Carbondale)

Central Park Farmers Market (Decatur)

City of Mendota Farmer's Market (Mendota)

Clark County Farmers Market (Martinsville)

Clinton Area Farmers and Artisans Market (Clinton)

Deerfield Farmers Market (Deerfield)

DeKalb Farmers' Market (DeKalb)

Discover Sycamore's Farmers Market (Sycamore)

Elmwood Park Farmers Market (Elmwood Park)

F.R.E.S.H. Farmers Market (East St. Louis)

French Market (Villa Park)

George Washington Carver Farmers Market (Chicago)

Haymarket Square Park Farmers Market (Dixon)

Hinsdale Farmers Market (Hinsdale)

Hopkins Park/Pembroke Farmers' Market (Pembroke Township)

Huntley Farmers Market (Huntley)

La Grange Farmers Market (La Grange)

Lincoln Square Thursday Evening Farmers Market (Chicago)

Lockport Farmer's Market (Lockport)

Loyola Farmers Market (Chicago)

Main Street Farmers Market of Olney (Olney)

Morton Grove Farmers' Market (Morton Grove)

Northbrook Farmers Market (Northbrook)

Old Capitol Farmers Market (Springfield)

Oswego Country Market (Oswego)

Palos Heights Farmers Market (Palos Heights)

Portage Park Farmers Market (Chicago)

Ravinia's Farmers Market (Chicago)

Ridgeville Farmers' Market (Evanston)

Seaway Bank Farmers Market (Chicago)

Shelbyville Farmers Market (Shelbyville)

Skokie's Farmers Market (Skokie)

The Land of Goshen Community Market (Edwardsville)

Trinity United Church of Christ Farmers Market (Chicago)

Twin City Market (Sterling)

Uptown Farmers Market at Weiss Memorial Hospital (Chicago)

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Rock Island, IL - Ballet Quad Cities' upcoming season will be nothing short of monumental as it celebrates the return of Domingo Rubio in his role as Dracula and enters into a partnership with another premiere performing arts organization, Orchestra Iowa based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

 

Ballet Quad Cities' 16th season will include live music with Orchestra Iowa for both the holiday favorite

The Nutcracker and the most beloved fairytale of all times Cinderella. To help open Iowa Orchestra's season, dancers from Ballet Quad Cities will perform during their famed season-opening Brucemorchestra! on the lawn of Brucemore Mansion in Cedar Rapids September 9th. The professional dance company will perform to Gershwin's American Paris and Copeland's The Promise of Living. Additionally, 8 performances of two productions will be presented with Orchestra Iowa accompaniment at the Adler Theater in Davenport and the newly refurbished Paramount Theater in Cedar Rapids during the Ballet's 2012-2013 season.

 

Ballet Quad Cities' historic 2012-2013 season officially opens September 26 and 27 as Dracula is performed at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Moline, with renowned dancer Domingo Rubio capturing the lead role he first danced in the Quad Cities in 2008 at the Capital Theater. The original choreography and music collage is by the company's resident choreographer Deanne Carter; the ballet loosely follows the Bram Stoker's piece of litature "Dracula".

 

After providing professional ballet to the Quad Cities region for 16 years, the Ballet's leadership is excited and looking forward to expanding across the state of Iowa. 2012-2013 marks the beginning of an exciting cultural partnership between the Ballet and Orchestra Iowa. The two premier state arts organizations in their respective fields team up for two classic productions. In December, they present Tchaikovsky's famous The Nutcracker ballet and in April, Prokofiev's magnificent masterpiece, Cinderella. Both productions will be staged at both the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids and the Adler Theatre in Davenport. Local auditions will be held for community cast dancer for the productions in both cities.

 

 

Annual subscription renewals for the 2012-2013 season may be made by calling the Ballet Quad Cities office at (309) 786-3779.

Become a Charter Member of Partners in Performance

Ballet Quad Cities is partnering with Orchestra Iowa! This is your invitation to be part of history. Please consider a financial contribution to help us make the magic happen.   For the very first time, Ballet Quad Cities will be presenting live music for our outstanding productions of The Nutcracker and Cinderella! Both of these time-honored performances will be held at the Adler Theater. Please mark your calendars because you don't want to miss either memorable performance. The Nutcracker will be performed with 89 minutes of live music on December 8th and 9th, 2012 Cinderella will be performed with 64 minutes of live music on April 20th and 21st, 2013 You can become a Charter Member of the Partners in Performance by pledging a minimum of $100 by August 27, 2012.  Please consider giving at one of the following levels: $100 will sponsor 10 minutes of live music $250 will sponsor 25 minutes of live music $500 will sponsor 50 minutes of live music $640 will sponsor 64 minutes of live music $890 will sponsor 89 minutes of live music Of course, we will gratefully accept donations at ANY level. All Charter Members of Partners in Performance will be recognized in the annual Ballet Quad Cities program and on a banner to be hung at all performances of The Nutcracker and Cinderella.   Want to help us make history? Your gift of $100 or more will help underwrite the $30,000 cost associated with bringing Orchestra Iowa to Ballet Quad Cities. In return, we'll send you two tickets to the performance of your choice (The Nutcracker or Cinderella) and recognize your generous contribution in print.   We hope that you are as thrilled as we are to be a part of this extraordinary time in Ballet Quad Cities' history!   Tax deductible contributions may be sent to: Ballet Quad Cities 613 17th Street Rock Island, IL 61201   Questions?  Call (309) 786-3779 or e-mail Diane at dkosterballetqc@sbcglobal.net

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.