TOBYMAC UNPLUGGED - A Night of Stories and Songs, featuring special guest Jamie Grace, is coming this Fall to select cities. It will be a totally different TobyMac show, a time where it's not about the lights, smoke, big stage, numerous musicians... instead it will be more intimate and personal, a "storyteller's night" where TobyMac will share where the songs came from. The song arrangements will be different... not completely acoustic, but basically acoustic–thus the name UNPLUGGED.

The ascension of TobyMac's solo career has been nothing short of spectacular.  In an era of declining music sales he has consistently defied the odds and has seen his sales increase with each new album release. Having climbed the mountain once with the group dcTalk, TobyMac knows how difficult the journey can be and how much work the process actually takes.  Upon embarking on his solo career, Toby sought to surround himself with a talented and diverse cast of characters, aptly named the Diverse City Band. The result has been a musical fusion that radiates with an unquenchable energy and a penetrating message.

Tickets available here:
* Adler Theatre Box Office
* Online at Ticketmaster.com
* Charge by phone at 800-745-3000
* and at all Ticketmaster outlets
* Special Ticket Offers available!

Adler Theatre Box Office:
136 East Third Street
Davenport, Iowa 52801
Phone 563-326-8555

Internet Purchasing: online at Ticketmaster.com

Charge By Phone: call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000

Ticketmaster Outlets:
· Bettendorf, IA: HY-Vee, 2900 Devils Glenn Rd.
· Davenport, IA: HY-Vee, 2200 West Kimberly Rd.
· Davenport, IA: Younkers, Northpark Mall, 320 West Kimberly Rd.
· Moline, IL: Mailboxes & Parcel Depot #2, 5202 38th Ave.
· Moline, IL: Younkers, Southpark Mall, 4200 - 16th St.
·Silvis,IL: HY-Vee,2001 5th St.

Mike Smiddy (38), candidate for State Representative in Illinois' 71st District received an enormous boost in his bid to become the democratic nominee when on Thursday he received the endorsements of the Northwest Illinois Building Trades and the Illinois AFL-CIO.  The Northwest Illinois Building Trades represents unions in Whiteside County the northern part of the 71st District while the Illinois AFL-CIO represents 1,500 local unions and nearly one million union members throughout the State of Illinois.

"Growing up in a middle class family and being the son of a UAW retiree I am extremely proud to have received these organizations support.  It is the hard work of organized labor that created the middle class in America and I plan to be a voice in the Illinois Legislature for those values and Ideals."

Smiddy, a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local #46 at the East Moline Correctional Center believes that each generation is suppose to do better than the previous one.  If Illinois continues down its current path, our children and grandchildren may not be able to reach their potential because of our failures.

"We must demand more from our elected officials.  Being able to believe in the American Dream that we can achieve our goals by hard work and dedication is what our communities were built on. Illinoisans need to be able to trust those that they elect and send to Springfield.  Citizens need to have the confidence that the decisions that are being made by our leaders are done for the right reasons."

Since announcing his candidacy back in September, Smiddy has also received endorsements from the following organizations:

Laborers Local #309 (Rock Island)

The Quad City Federation of Labor

The Tri-City Building Trades

The Great Plains Laborer's District Council (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana)

Rock Island Firefighters Association Local #26

Illinois AFL-CIO

Northwest Illinois Building Trades

Quad City - Illinois UAW CAP Council Endorsement Recommendation

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley has meetings scheduled with Iowans in 16 counties next week.

Beginning on Monday, Grassley will be in Centerville, Albia, Chariton, Corydon, Garden Grove, Mt. Ayr, Creston, Osceola, Winterset, Greenfield, Panora, Grimes, Grand Junction, Boone, Ames, and Le Grand.

Already this month, he has traveled to 20 counties for dialogue with Iowans.  Grassley has held at least one meeting in each of Iowa's 99 counties every year since he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980.

"I look forward to these meetings to hear directly from Iowans and to have the dialogue that's so important to the process of representative government.  This process is a two-way street.  I go to people to answer questions and listen to comments, and they come out and participate in the discussion," Grassley said.

Grassley encourages Iowans to communicate with him on a regular basis.  In turn, he plans regular, face-to-face meetings in Iowa and with Iowans in Washington, and he responds to every letter, email and phone call from Iowans.  Grassley also communicates via Facebook, Twitter and at http://grassley.senate.gov.

Below is more information about this month's meetings.  The town meetings are open to the public.  Local hosts should be contacted regarding other meetings.  Grassley will be available for interviews with local reporters for 15 minutes after every meeting.

Earlier this month, Grassley held meetings in Riceville, Charles City, New Hampton, Waverly, Waterloo, Clarion, Dakota City, Algona, Forest City, Garner, Hampton, Mason City, Manly, Osage, Calmar, West Union, Independence, Manchester, Vinton, and Gladbrook.

Monday, January 16

5-6 p.m.

Appanoose County Weekly Meal at Faith United Methodist Church, Q&A with Attendees

23851 Highway 5 South in Centerville 

Tuesday, January 17

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Monroe County Town Meeting

Albia Area Chamber of Commerce

18 South Main Street in Albia

10:15-11:15 a.m.

Lucas County Town Meeting

Carpenter Hall

1215 Court Street in Chariton

12-1 p.m.

Wayne County Town Meeting

Wayne County Courthouse

100 North Lafayette in Corydon

2-3 p.m.

Speak to Government Class

Mormon Trail Jr./Sr. High School

502 East Main Street in Garden Grove

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Ringgold County Town Meeting

Jamie's Coffee Mill & Deli

118 West Adams Street in Mt. Ayr

Wednesday, January 18

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Union County Town Meeting

City Hall/Restored Depot, City Council Chambers

116 West Adams Street in Creston

9:45-10:45 a.m.

Q&A with Students

Clarke County High School

800 North Jackson in Osceola

12-1 p.m.

Madison County Town Meeting

Winterset Public Library, Meeting Room

123 North 2^nd Street in Winterset

2-3 p.m.

Adair County Town Meeting

Andrews Memorial Adair County Health & Fitness Center, Meeting Room

202 North Townline Road in Greenfield

4:15-5:15 p.m.

Guthrie County Town Meeting

Panora Community Center

115 West Main Street in Panora

Thursday, January 19

8-9 a.m.

Q&A with Students

Dallas Center-Grimes Middle School

1400 Vine Street in Grimes

10:30-11:30 a.m.

Greene County Town Meeting

Grand Junction Community Center

212 Main Street in Grand Junction

12:30-1:30 p.m.

Boone County Town Meeting

Boone County Historical Center

602 Story Street in Boone

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Tour Facility and Q&A with Employees

Becker Underwood

801 Dayton Avenue in Ames

5-6 p.m.

Marshall County Town Meeting

Le Grand Area Community Center

206 North Vine Street in Le Grand

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DES MOINES, Iowa - A Davenport graduate student is making plans to pay off her student loans and make investments for retirement all at the same time, now that she's won a $1 million lottery prize.

"It said $40K for 25 years and I just hyperventilated, basically," Ashley Smrcina said as she claimed her prize Thursday afternoon at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Des Moines. "I couldn't breathe and I was crying at the same time. I was staring at it and crying."

Smrcina, 22, who is working on her master's degree in social work at St. Ambrose University, said she was doing research for a school paper Wednesday night when she decided to take a break and buy a lottery ticket. And that's when her winning streak started.

She won a $20 prize on a $5 scratch ticket and decided to use some of her winnings to buy a $10 ticket. She won $300 that time and said the clerk at the store kidded her, saying she had no choice but to buy a $20 ticket. She chose the "Lifetime Riches" game and won its top prize.

"It feels surreal," said Smrcina, who moved to Iowa from Michigan in July. "I can't believe it. We've been here for such a short time. It still gives me goosebumps."

Smrcina bought her winning tickets at Express Lane Gas & Food Mart, 1909 N. Harrison St. in Davenport.

She said that she especially looks forward to the fact that her lottery winnings will make her student loans "just disappear."

"I'm really excited about that. It takes a lot of weight off my shoulders," she said.

Lifetime Riches is a $20 scratch game. When players match any of "your numbers" to any "winning number" in the play area on each ticket, they win the prize shown for that play area. If they find a "star" symbol, they win the prize shown instantly, and if they find the "5X" symbol, they win five times the prize shown for that symbol.

Smrcina claimed the sixth top prize of $1 million in Lifetime Riches, leaving two $1 million prizes still up for grabs in the game. Players who win the top prize have the option of receiving it in annuitized payments over time or as a one-time, lump-sum payment.

Winners who choose the annuity option will receive $40,000 per year for a period of 25 years. If the winner chooses to receive the lump-sum payment, he/she will receive $650,000 before taxes. Smrcina chose to receive her winnings in a lump-sum payment.

"Last night, I just kept staring at it. The ticket was almost all rubbed off from my sweaty hands and my tears," said Smrcina, who works at Big Brothers & Big Sisters. "I don't think that this is real. I don't know when it's going to sink in."

Since the lottery's start in 1985, its players have won more than $2.8 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised more than $1.3 billion for the state programs that benefit all Iowans.

Today, lottery proceeds in Iowa have three main purposes: They provide support for veterans, help for a variety of significant projects through the state General Fund, and backing for the Vision Iowa program, which was implemented to create tourism destinations and community attractions in the state and build and repair schools.

Prize Details
Top Prize:                                            $1 million
Chosen to receive as:                          $650,000 lump-sum payment
Federal withholding:                            $162,500 (25 percent)
State withholding:                                $32,500 (5 percent)

Net amount:                                         $455,000