10 Feb 2012

Breuer Violates DoJ Policy in Advocating for Gunwalking

By Grassley Press

Prepared Floor Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley

Justice Department Accountability Matters

More Fast and Furious Stonewalling

Thursday, February 9, 2012

 

For over a year now I have been investigating Fast and Furious, an operation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

This has been a complicated investigation.  It's been made even more difficult because of the Justice Department's lack of candor and transparency.  The Justice Department is stonewalling, interfering with Congress' constitutional responsibility of oversight.

For example, the Justice Department Office of Inspector General recently disclosed that it has received 80,000 pages of documents from the Department and over 100,000 emails.  That stands in stark contrast to the 6,000 pages of documents we've received from them.

Similarly, the Inspector General has been allowed to conduct 70 witness interviews.  By contrast, the Justice Department has only provided 9 witnesses to us.

Last week Attorney General Eric Holder testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.  The Justice Department did a document dump to Congress the Friday night before the hearing.

That has become a bad habit for the Department.

In fact, without giving us any advance notice that it was coming, they slid a CD of documents under our door after business hours when my office was already closed.  They managed to find time to leak the documents to the press during regular business hours.

Why would they be so mysterious, wanting to put a disk under our door on a Friday night, giving it to the press hours before?  What sort of attitude is that of the Justice Department towards the cooperation that you ought to have with our filling our constitutional role of oversight?

I'd say it's hardly any cooperation whatsoever.

Now, even though we get a dribble here and a dribble there, even though we get a c.d. under the door instead of very open face-to-face receiving documents, what we got last Friday did reveal further facts about a previously unknown proposal to allow these guns to cross the border.

We have long known that in March 2011, Deputy Attorney General James Cole had a conference call with all Southwest Border U.S. Attorneys.

In a follow-up email after the call, Mr. Cole wrote:

"As I said on the call, to avoid any potential confusion, I want to reiterate the Department's policy: We should not design or conduct undercover operations which include guns crossing the border. If we have knowledge that guns are about to cross the border, we must take immediate action to stop the firearms from crossing the border, even if that prematurely terminates or otherwise jeopardizes an investigation."

Attorney General Holder himself told us at a hearing in May that Mr. Cole was simply reiterating an existing Justice Department policy in his email, not communicating a new policy.

So imagine my surprise when I discover in the documents slid under my door late that Friday night that while in Mexico, Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer proposed letting guns cross the border.

His proposal came at the same time the Department was preparing to send its letter to me denying that ATF ever does the very thing he was proposing.

In a February 4, 2011 email, the Justice Department attaché in Mexico City wrote to a number of officials at the Justice Department:

"AAG Breuer proposed allowing straw purchasers to cross into Mexico so [the Secretariat of Public Security] can arrest and [the Attorney General of Mexico] can prosecute and convict.  Such coordinated operations between the US and Mexico may send a strong message to arms traffickers."

So, we've got people here in Washington who say the program doesn't exist.  At the same time we've got people talking down in Mexico City of what we're trying to accomplish by the illegal sale of guns.

The recipients of this email included Mr. Breuer's deputy, Jason Weinstein, who was helping to write the Justice Department's letter to me that they would later withdraw for its inaccuracies.

Mr. Weinstein was sending updates about the draft letter to Mr. Breuer in Mexico.  Yet, during his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mr. Breuer downplayed his involvement in reviewing the draft letter.

It is outrageous to me that the head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division proposed exactly what his Department was denying to me was happening.

The Justice Department's letter to me clearly said:

"ATF makes every effort to interdict weapons that have been purchased illegally and prevent their transportation to Mexico."

Yet as those words were being sent to Congress Mr. Breuer was advocating that a Justice Department operation allow weapons to be transported into Mexico.  Further, it directly contradicted what the Justice Department has said its policy was.

They can't have it both ways.

If they didn't have a policy against such operations, perhaps it is not a surprise that an operation like Fast and Furious sprang up.

After all, as that same Justice Department attaché wrote of a meeting a few days after his first email:

"I raised the issue that there is an inherent risk in allowing weapons to pass from the US to Mexico; the possibility of the [Government of Mexico] not seizing the weapons; and the weapons being used to commit a crime in Mexico."

The light bulb went on.   Of course, if you're selling guns illegally, 2,000 of them, then don't interdict them, they end up murdering people in Mexico and one person in the United States at least.

If the Justice Department did have a policy against such operations, this is a record of Mr. Breuer proposing to violate it.

That's not just my conclusion.  That's the Attorney General's conclusion as well.

At last week's hearing, the Attorney General was asked to explain the contradiction between his deputy's anti-gunwalking policy and the evidence of Mr. Breuer's proposed operation to let guns cross the border.

He couldn't.

The Attorney General answered: "Well, clearly what was proposed in, I guess, February by Lanny Breuer was in contravention of the policy that I had the Deputy Attorney General make clear to everybody at Main Justice and to the field..."

Perhaps this disconnect between Justice Department policy and Lanny Breuer's proposal explains Mr. Breuer's previous inaction to stop gunwalking.

When he found out about gunwalking in Operation Wide Receiver in April 2010, he failed to do anything to stop it or hold anyone accountable.  He simply had his deputy inform ATF leadership.

Regardless, Mr. Breuer's contravention of Justice Department policy is yet another reason why it is long past time for him to go.  Mr. Breuer has misled Congress about whether he was aware of the Department's false letter to me.

To this day, he is still the highest-ranking official in ANY administration that we know was aware of gunwalking in any federal program.

Yet he took no actions to stop gunwalking.  He failed to alert the Attorney General or the Inspector General.  Mr. Breuer has failed the Justice Department, and he has failed the American people.  This failure raises some important questions.

When did Attorney General Holder determine that Mr. Breuer was proposing allowing straw purchasers to reach Mexico with trafficked weapons?

What has he done about it?

Will Mr. Breuer be held accountable for hatching a plan to directly violate the Attorney General's anti-gunwalking policy?

The Attorney General clearly testified that the proposal was in "contravention" of the policy.

How does the Justice Department know other senior Criminal Division officials weren't proposing operations similar to Fast and Furious?

These are just a subset of some of the major questions remaining in our investigation of Operation Fast and Furious.

It has now been one year since the Justice Department sent its false letter to me.

How did the Justice Department move from its position of dismissing the complaints of whistleblowers to acknowledging that they were true?

What officials were internally dismissive of the whistleblowers' complaints, and who believed they could have merit and should be taken seriously?

To what extent did Justice Department officials seek to retaliate against whistleblowers?

Exactly how and when did Justice Department officials begin to learn the truth of what happened?

Former ATF Director Ken Melson has testified how and when he learned that guns had walked.

What about Attorney General Holder?

What about Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer?

A year after Operation Fast and Furious concluded, who will be held accountable?

Why didn't top Justice Department officials see the clear connections between Fast and Furious and previous flawed operations that they have admitted they knew about?

How has the Justice Department assessed the mistakes and culpability of these top officials?

It's time for the Justice Department to stop stonewalling and start providing answers.

It's time for them to share with Congress the other 74,000 pages of documents they've turned over to the Inspector General.  It's time for them to give us access to the dozens of other people the Inspector General has been allowed to interview.

In short, it's time for them to come clean with the American people.


10 Feb 2012

Beltway Beef Newsletter

By National Cattlemen's Beef Assoc.

The 2012 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show attracted more than 8,200 cattlemen and women to Nashville, Tenn., to take part in the record-breaking event. From policy committee meetings and electing new NCBA leadership to a cowboy's night at The Grand Ole Opry and more, 2012 NCBA President J.D. Alexander said the convention was reflective of optimism and momentum in the industry. Check out information about new policy resolutions passed during the convention, learn a little about newly elected NCBA officers and hear straight from Alexander about his priorities as NCBA president in this week's edition of Beltway Beef.

In September 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) declared six additional strains of non-O157 shiga toxin-producing E. coli (non-O157 STECs) as adulterants and announced the agency will require the industry to begin testing for those strains in addition to E. coli O157. Late Wed., Feb. 8, 2012, FSIS announced it will delay the effective date to begin testing to June 4, 2012. NCBA appreciates the delay to ensure all testing methods are validated and properly working. Read more about this issue in this week's Beltway Beef newsletter.

NCBA's staff in Washington, D.C., works each day to educate lawmakers on Capitol Hill and their staff about the beef industry. One important tool to accomplish this is NCBA's Beef 101 educational series. NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts said there will be Beef 101 briefings Fri., Feb. 10, 2012, in the U.S. House and Senate to educate Hill staffers about the nutritional benefits of beef in the diet. She said the House briefing will be at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) in room 1300 in the Longworth House Office Building. The Senate briefing will be at 1:30 p.m. EST in room 328 A in the Russell Senate Office Building.

Click here to read this edition of Beltway Beef. You can also scroll down to read the articles included in this week's newsletter.

Be sure to read the Beltway Beef blog; follow Beltway Beef on Twitter; like us on Facebook; subscribe to us on YouTube; check out our photos on Flickr; and listen to our podcast.

Thank you!

NCBA Washington, D.C. Office

National Cattlemen's Beef Association

NCBA Members Pass Policy Resolutions

- Policy Resolution Passed to Advance Trade Opportunities for US Beef

International trade, cattle payment efficiency and herd health were among the policy issues National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) members honed in on during the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville, Tenn. 2011 NCBA President Bill Donald said the grassroots policy process was put into action as policy resolutions, which originated in local and state cattlemen organizations, advanced through committees and were passed by NCBA members.

"NCBA's policy is not developed in a board room in Washington, D.C. It's developed, debated and deliberated on by cattlemen and women. This process is and always has been the strength and backbone of the organization," Donald said. "From the health of the herd, economic profitability, international trade and more, NCBA members worked this week to ensure a successful and sustainable U.S. beef industry."

Donald said NCBA members keyed in on international trade, specifically the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), during the convention. He said a resolution was passed that codified NCBA support of a TPP that removes tariff and non-tariff trade barriers for U.S. beef to participating countries, which include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Donald said NCBA insists all participating countries, as well as any countries that join the TPP in the future, must fully abide by guidelines set by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall said a resolution was passed to encourage a more efficient payment system for fed cattle. Woodall said at a time when it takes more capital to feed cattle and when cattle feeders want to buy replacement cattle in a timely manner, a recent announcement from the U.S. Postal Service that first class mail delivery will slow in the future will cause problems for the efficient delivery of payment for cattle. He said NCBA will work with the packing sector of the industry to development a more efficient and expeditious payment system for fed cattle.

Donald, who is a Montana rancher, said the current management of bison on federal lands by the Department of Interior has cattlemen concerned about the health of the cattle herd. While co-mingling of bison and other native wildlife with cattle is unpreventable, Donald said the relocation of the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) or other federally-owned bison is a liability cattlemen aren't willing to bear. NCBA members passed a resolution opposing the relocation of any bison outside the current GYA management area, the expansion of that area and any increase in the currently authorized GYA bison population.

 

USDA Delays Implementation Date to Begin Testing for Non-O157 STECs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a 90-day delay of the implementation date to begin testing for six additional strains of non-O157 shiga toxin-producing E. coli (non-O157 STECs). In September 2011, FSIS declared these strains of non-O157 STECs as adulterants and announced it will require the industry to begin testing beef trim for them. The delay will move the effective date to June 4, 2012.

National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts said cattlemen appreciate the delay to ensure all testing methods are validated and working properly.

"Cattlemen are committed to producing a safe, wholesome beef product for consumers as evidenced by the more than $550 million the industry invests annually in beef safety research and technology implementation. Part of that commitment includes preventing foodborne illness and eliminating pathogens that may affect public health," Butts said. "As the USDA's FSIS moves forward with its plan to test for six additional strains of non-O157 STECs, it is critical to ensure all testing methods are validated and are properly working. Everyone plays a role in the safety of food and we appreciate FSIS' recognition of the importance of working with industry so we get this right. It is because of our commitment to producing safe beef products that we encourage FSIS to work with the industry as we share the common goal of producing safe food."

 

 

NCBA Names New Leadership

Nebraska cattleman J.D. Alexander was named 2012 president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) during the organization's annual meeting in Nashville. Alexander officially took the reins of NCBA from Bill Donald, a rancher from Melville, Mont.

The 2012 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show attracted a record 8,216 attendees. The attendance eclipsed the old record of just less than 7,000, set at NCBA's 1998 centennial celebration.

Elected NCBA president-elect was Scott George, a second generation Wyoming farmer. Also elected to NCBA posts at the meeting were Bob McCan, Texas, to vice president; Craig Uden, Nebraska, federation division chair; Richard Gebhart, Oklahoma, federation division vice chair; Don Pemberton, Missouri, policy division chair; and Philip Ellis, Wyoming, policy division vice chair.

Alexander said the turnout was representative of the enthusiasm in the industry.

"If you want a voice, want to make a difference and want to ensure that your family operation stays in the family, you must step up to the plate, get off the sidelines and become actively involved in your industry," he said. "Together - with our state and national partnership - we will be at the table and off the menu."

Alexander has served as chairman of the federation division and on numerous NCBA committees. George was previously NCBA vice president and has also served on the Beef Promotion Operating Committee and as chair and vice chair of the federation division.

The next generation of cattlemen and women took an active role in the convention, with more than 1,000 young people registered to attend. Marketing, public speaking, quiz bowl and livestock judging contests were held for youth of all ages.

In addition, more than 250 companies and organizations exhibited at the NCBA Trade Show - another record. While convention attendees spent a great deal of time in meetings and at educational seminars, there were multiple entertainment events for them to attend. A Cowboy's Night at the Grand Ole Opry, with performances by the Oak Ridge Boys, Josh Turner, Charley Pride and others was a highlight of the convention.

Alexander called the 2012 Convention and NCBA Trade Show "a convention of a lifetime." He said it exceeded expectations.

"There was a lot of optimism and positive energy at this convention," Alexander said. "We saw a lot of ranchers and farmers - both young and old - looking to the future and the possibilities it holds. We've got a lot of momentum in this industry and in NCBA."

 

 

On the Menu

By NCBA President J.D. Alexander

If you're not at the table, you risk being on the menu.

It's a phrase you will hear a lot over the course of my term as National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) president this year. As cattle producers, we have never faced more exciting opportunities or more risk than we do right now. We have come a long way as an industry, and as an organization, over the past year. The spirit of optimism and energy we saw in Nashville, Tenn., as more than 8,200 cattlemen and women gathered to shape the future of this industry was a testament to how far we have come and it gave me a sense of encouragement about our shared opportunities during the year ahead.

As an industry there are significant challenges ahead of us, and it is important for each and every one of you to be involved at the local, state and national levels as we work to protect this business and ensure our opportunity to pass growing and stable operations onto the next generation of beef producers. At NCBA, we will be working hard to eliminate the estate tax this year. If Congress fails to act, estate tax levels will revert to $1 million exemption threshold with assets exceeding that level being taxed at a 55 percent rate. Let's face it, in today's environment; it doesn't take a lot of land, cattle or equipment to quickly exceed the value exemptions. With the help of cattlemen and women and NCBA's state affiliates, we are going to push for the total elimination of this harmful and outdated tax. There are many operations which are second-, third-, fourth- and in some cases even fifth-generation businesses. What we have received as a result of our forefathers we ought to be allowed to pass onto the next generation without being penalized. We must be able to do that if we are going to protect our rural communities and help the next generation return to the ranch and thrive.

We are going to need the next generation to return if we are going to meet the challenge of a growing global population. We are already faced with a shrinking supply of cattle, which has been further diminished by drought and other factors. While we cannot force herd growth, we need to create an environment where producers are willing and able to expand when the market signals dictate, rather than trying to unduly influence growth that becomes unsustainable in the future.

We expect our cowboys at home to be able to spot a sick steer before it is sick. At NCBA, we rely on our team in Washington, D.C., to be able to do the same thing. We need them to be able to identify potentially damaging rules, regulations and legislation and push back on those items that would be harmful to our sustainability. Although it isn't always easy to see what's ahead, I can tell you that we will be working to craft a farm bill which levels the playing field for all of us, one which doesn't pit us, as producers, against each other. We will continue to seek fair standards for each of us along the production chain and we will be working hard to fully implement the free trade agreements NCBA worked so long and hard to get signed last year. At the same time, our team will be working to make certain that all of our trading partners are in full compliance with international recognized, science-based standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health. We've got safe beef - Period. We want standards that are based on science, not guesswork or hunches so we can compete in the world market.

None of us gets to pick or choose the battles we are going to face in the year ahead. But, I can assure you that our team at NCBA, with the constant help from state affiliates, is prepared to face those battles on your behalf. We won't sit on the fence or back away because something looks too tough. We have a set of policies, based on the marching orders provided by our grassroots and we will follow that policy, but we are going to need help from all of you. We need good voices for our industry. We need good leaders and we need each of you to be involved. At NCBA, our leadership and staff is out there working on your behalf every day because you can't be. But, what we would ask of you is to provide your support, recruit new members and give us the strength we need to represent each of you. Because, if you're not at the table, we might all be on the menu. Now, let's get to work.

 

Your NCBA

Make Plans to Attend 2012 Legislative Conference:

Mark your calendars and make plans to attend the 2012 NCBA Legislative Conference April 17-19, 2012, in Washington, D.C. Attending the NCBA Legislative Conference will provide the opportunity to meet with key congressional and agency influencers and articulate policy priorities of our industry for the future. The conference will be held at the Dupont Circle Hotel and reservations can be made by calling 202-483-6000. Please reference "NCBA 2012" to receive the group rate. Registration will open soon for the conference.

2012 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Breaks Attendance Record: The 2012 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show set a new attendance record with more than 8,200 cattlemen and women in attendance. Visit www.beltwaybeef.com for coverage of the convention or click herefor pictures from the event. The 2012 Cattle Industry Summer Conference will be July 25-28 in Denver. The 2013 convention will be held Feb. 6-9 in Tampa, Fla.

10 Feb 2012

AUTO SHOW TOPS $205,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS $31,000 in Scholarship Money Given at Premier Night at the Iowa Illinois Regional Auto Show

By Susan Shrader
(Davenport) The Community Foundation of the Great River Bend is pleased to announce the 2012 recipients of the Iowa/Illinois Regional Auto Show Scholarships:

Gracie Deery: Notre Dame High School, Recommended by Deery Brothers, Burlington. Hannah was awarded $4,000

Kyle Hoffman: Orion High School, Recommended by Lujack's Northpark Auto Plaza. Kyle was awarded $2,000

Sienna Klauer: Davenport Central High School, Recommended by Reynolds Motors. Sienna was awarded $4,000

Paige Klinck: Galesburg High School, Recommended by Galesburg Nissan. Paige was awarded $2,000

Benjamin Kuhn: Galena High School, Benjamin was awarded $3,000

Jacklyn Nation: Mercer County High School, Recommended by Eriksen Chevrolet-Buick.  Jacklyn was awarded $4,000

Elizabeth Penrose: Bettendorf High School, Recommended by Lujack's Northpark Auto Plaza. Elizabeth was awarded $2,000

Amy Rogers: United Township High School, Recommended by Zimmerman Honda. Amy was awarded $3,000

Kylie Sterk: Clinton High School, Recommended by McEleney Chevrolet-Buick-GMC-Toyota. Kylie was awarded $3,000

Christine Walsh: Davenport North High School, Recommended by Eriksen Chevrolet-Buick. Christine was awarded $4,000

The Auto Show has given to date over $205,000 in scholarships to 71 area students. This year given to 10 students, the most in the history of the Auto Show. Proceeds from the Auto Show support the Scholarship Fund. A special presentation of $10,000 was made by the Quad City Times to be deposited to the scholarship fund from sales efforts of the Auto Show Special Supplement. Sponsors of the Premier include : IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union, AutoTrader.com, Automated Data Processing, S & S Automotive, The Greater Quad City Auto Auction and Enterprise Car Rental.
09 Feb 2012

Broadway Tour of Homes

By Anthony Heddlesten
We will be having our annual Broadway tour of homes on Mother's Day, May 13th, 2012.  11 AM - 4 PM in Rock Island.
The tour will include 3 furnished homes, 1 "renovation in progress" home that is being rehabbed under the NSP grant, the Word of Life Church/Buford Mansion, the new Karpeles Museum (old Church of Christ Scientist) and the new Bent River Brewery. 
The entire details haven't been solidified, but there will be samples from the brewery included with the price of the ticket.  There will be a shuttle to transport folks from location to location and a variety of other activities and information throughout the neighborhood.  More information is available at our facebook page and website: www.broadwaydistrict.org
Addresses of the houses:
725 19th St
NSP House - 544 23rd St
1217 21st St
727 19th St
Word of Life - 1855 7th Ave
Brewery - 5th Ave @ 23rd St
09 Feb 2012

Scott County Board of Supervisors Agenda

By Chris Berge
SCOTT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

TENTATIVE AGENDA

February 13 - 17, 2012

Committee of the Whole - 8:00 am
Board Room, 1st Floor, Administrative Center

1. Roll Call: Cusack, Earnhardt, Hancock, Minard, Sunderbruch

2. Discussion of Public Hearing on the Construction Permit Application of Thomas
Dittmer, dba Grandview Farms, Inc in the SW¼SW¼ Section 7, T79N, R3E
(Sheridan Township) for the expansion of a confined animal feeding operation
located at 12090 240th Street. (Item 2)

3. Discussion of Public Hearing and presentation of Planning Commission's
recommendation on application to rezone 15 acres (more or less) from A-G to R-1
located west of Great River Rd, south of Olethea Golf Course in the SW¼ of the SW
¼ of Section 14, LeClaire Township. (Item 3)

4. Presentation by Councilman Eddie Spengler of New Liberty.

5. Update on MH/DD FY12 Fund by Lori Elam.

6. Approval of Final Plat of Charles Brozovich Subdivision, a two lot residential and
agricultural subdivision located east of 100th Avenue, south of 12705 and 12581
100th Avenue in the part of the south 35 acres of the west 70 acres in the NW ¼ of
Section 11, Buffalo Township. (Item 6)

7. Approval of property tax abatement on County Tax Deed properties (Item 7).

8. Discussion of strategy of upcoming labor negotiations with the County's organized
employees pursuant to Iowa Code Section 20.17(3). - CLOSED SESSION

9. Approval of appointment of Assistant County Attorney at 94% of midpoint of salary in
the Attorney's Office. (Item 9)

10. Approval of appointment of Shop Supervisor at 91% of midpoint of salary in the
Secondary Roads' Office. (Item 10)

11. Approval of personnel actions. (Item 11)

12. Discussion of quarterly financial summary report. (Item 12)

13. Approval of quarterly financial reports from various county offices. (Item 13)

14. Discussion of Board Members annual visits with County Departments. (Item 14)

Regular Board Meeting - 5:30 pm
Board Room, 1st Floor, Administrative Center
09 Feb 2012

Slumberland Donates New Beds to Homeless Shelter Serving Quad Cities Families

By Holly Nomura

Quad Cities, USA: Slumberland Furniture in Davenport, Iowa, is working to provide families in need with a comfortable bed in which to sleep at night. Through its annual Making Homes for the Holidays Program, Slumberland donated 26 mattress and box spring sets to The Salvation Army Family Service Center, a facility that provides food and shelter to families that are rebuilding their lives.

Slumberland realizes that a good night's sleep can have a positive impact on the shelter clients' progress in their program. "For far too many families, a warm bed has become a luxury, especially in today's tough economic environment. With Making Homes for the Holidays, Slumberland is working to ensure that everyone in our community gets a good night's sleep," said Lee Kerr, Owner of Slumberland Furniture in Davenport.

In recognizing that there a 52 beds in the Emergency Shelter Program and 48 beds in the Transitional Housing Program, Slumberland has made a commitment to supply beds to the shelter anytime another bed needs disposal.

The Making Homes for the Holidays Program began in 1993. Since then, Slumberland has donated more than 20,000 new mattresses and box springs to deserving families nationwide. For more information about this program, please visit Slumberland's website at www.slumberland.com.

To learn more about the programs at the Family Service Center, please call Brandon Luke or Holly Nomura at 563-324-4808.

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09 Feb 2012

ANTI-VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY for TEENS

By Rick Martin

The Davenport Public Library is the place for teens tired of the saccharine romance of Valentine's Day. Not everyone wants to have a mushy, greeting card holiday so the Library is hosting an Anti-Valentine's Day party. Stop by the Fairmount Branch Library (3000 N. Fairmount Street) on Tuesday, February 14 at 5:30 p.m. for a hilarious alternative to a traditional Valentine's Day with unusual activities, great music, and a lot of fun!  Call 563.326.7832 for more information.  Visit the library's website at www.davenportlibrary.com for more information on other great programs!

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09 Feb 2012

TEEN CHOCOLATE FEST!

By Steve Hart

Finally a Chocolate Fest for Teens with an adventurous palate and/or a deep love of chocolate!  All teens are invited to register for the Eastern Avenue Branch library's (6000 Eastern Avenue) Chocolate Fest.  Taste exotic, rich, and unusual types of chocolate in this pre-Valentine's Day event, Saturday, February 11 at 2:00 p.m.

Teens will not only learn weird facts about chocolate, but they will also do activities with this tasty food. A chocolaty-good time is in-store for all attendees. Registration is required for this FREE, delicious event.  For more information or to register call 563.326.7832 or in person at one of the Davenport Public Libraries!

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09 Feb 2012

Governor Quinn Launches New Education Initiative to Support Economic Growth

By Nafia Khan

Public-Private Partnership with Business and Education Communities to Focus on STEM Learning and Provide Students with College and Career Readiness

 

BLOOMINGTON - February 9, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today joined business and education leaders to launch the Illinois Pathways Initiative, an innovative public-private partnership between Illinois' public education institutions and the business community to foster Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) learning. Funded through the state's secured Race to the Top funds, Illinois Pathways will help prepare students for college and careers in new and growing fields. As part of Governor Quinn's agenda to reform and improve education in Illinois, this initiative will provide for strong collaboration in Illinois' business and education communities to prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

"We have a mission in Illinois to ensure that at least 60 percent of adults have either a college degree or a career certificate by 2025," Governor Quinn said. "Through this initiative, our state agencies will partner with the education community and our business leaders to better support students and prepare them to graduate and get a good job in the 21st century economy."

Illinois Pathways is a STEM initiative that will help students pursue their academic and career interests through STEM Learning Exchanges. The Learning Exchanges work to increase student enrollment in STEM programs by forming public-private statewide networks in specific career areas. Networks will include PreK-12 and higher education institutions working together with employers, industry associations, labor organizations and other education partners.

During his State of the State address last week, Governor Quinn laid out a proposal to prepare students for jobs in the 21st century by implementing more reforms and investing in early childhood education, college scholarships and 21st century classrooms. The Governor will also work with Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon to achieve the goal of ensuring at least 60 percent of adults in Illinois have a college degree, an associate's degree or a career certificate by 2025.

"Across Illinois, we can find individual examples of school-to-work success. We need to build a statewide system of school-to-work success," said Lt. Governor Simon, the Governor's point person on education reform. "STEM Learning Exchanges can get us there by instilling a love of science and technology in middle school and keeping lessons relevant and connected to the job market as students become working age."

The STEM Learning Exchanges will focus on educating and training students in nine key career fields, including:

  • Health Science
  • Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • Information Technology
  • Finance
  • Architecture and Construction
  • Transportation, Distribution and Logistics
  • Manufacturing
  • Research and Development
  • Energy

"We need to reach students early; tap their innate energy, curiosity and love of learning and show them the real world relevance of what they're learning in the classroom," said Rick Stephens, a senior vice president of Human Resources and Administration for The Boeing Company and chairman of the Illinois Business Roundtable. "Illinois Pathways is one way to help more students find their way from the classroom to the labs, drafting tables and board rooms of more Illinois businesses in the future."

The STEM Learning Exchanges will feature strong collaboration between PreK-12 schools, colleges and professionals in each of the nine STEM fields. The STEM Learning Exchanges will provide targeted resources that provide students with internships and other work-based learning opportunities. The Exchanges connect students with adult mentors and offer a clear path from school to work.

An interagency team, consisting of representatives from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the Illinois Department of Employment Security, will set priorities and identify the first public-private STEM Learning Exchanges to launch in fall of 2012. The initiative is funded through $3.2 million in federal Race to the Top education funds.

Governor Quinn and Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon made the announcement today at an Illinois Pathways conference hosted by State Farm and the Illinois Business Roundtable, a business association consisting of 63 chief executive officers of Illinois' leading businesses.

For more information about Illinois Pathways, visit: www.illinoisworknet.com/ilpathways.

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09 Feb 2012

Braley Statement after Delegation Meeting with Air Force Secretary Michael Donley

By Jeff Giertz

Iowa Delegation met with Donley to press case for Iowa Air National Guard F-16 Wing

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement after he joined Iowa's Congressional delegation for a meeting to urge Air Force Secretary Michael Donley to abandon plans to remove all F-16 fighter aircraft operated by the Iowa Air National Guard from their base in Des Moines:

"It's clear from today's meeting that the Air Force must provide more answers and better justification for their decision.  The Iowa Delegation made clear our objections to the removal of F-16s from the 132nd Fighter Wing, one of the most cost-efficient units in the Air Force."

 

"If the goal is to reduce costs, downsizing the Iowa Air National Guard while less efficient units and less experienced pilots are preserved just doesn't make any sense.  We urged Secretary Donley to carefully reconsider whether this recommendation is in the best interest of national security  and American taxpayers.

 

"I am hopeful that today's meeting will result in the Air Force reversing their position.  In the meantime, I'll keep working with the Iowa delegation to press our case with the Air Force and the Pentagon."

 

Braley met yesterday with Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Timothy Orr and senior leaders of the Iowa Air National Guard to discuss the Air Force proposal.  Braley also sent a letter yesterday to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta expressing his concerns with the removal of F-16s from Des Moines.

 

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