MOLINE, IL-- As part of Western Illinois University-Quad Cities' 100th anniversary celebration, set to begin in 2012, WIU-QC staff are calling on Quad Cities-area references to search their photo albums and memory banks.

The WIU-QC Anniversity Committee is seeking photographs and/or media and information related to WIU's presence in the Quad Cities (students and instructor photos; building shots; etc). The anniversary committee is also looking for individuals to interview who may have attended classes at Villa de Chantal and other original WIU sites; who had a relative attended WIU classes in the Quad Cities many years ago; and former professors and students who taught or attended classes in the Quad Cities; etc.

Photos/information and interviews will be used to create a documentary of WIU's history throughout the years in the Quad Cities to air on WQPT. WIU University Television and University historians/archivists will produce the documentary.

To contribute photos and other information by Dec. 30 , contact Tami Seitz at

(309) 762-9481 or TS-Seitz@wiu.edu. Photos, at least 300 dpi JPEG format, should be emailed to Seitz.

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New Laws Will Reduce Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water, 
Allow Recycled Water to be Used for Non-Consumption Purposes

CHICAGO - August 24, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed three bills to improve Illinois environment and water systems. The Governor signed House Bills 2056 and 3090 to improve and enhance pharmaceutical collection and disposal programs, as well as House Bill 248, to allow recycled, treated wastewater to be used for non-consumption purposes, such as watering golf courses. 

"Pure and plentiful drinking water is every Illinois citizen's right," Governor Quinn said. "These bills will help Illinois conserve water, protect the safety of our drinking water supplies and ensure that unused medications are disposed of properly."

Large-scale, non-consumption irrigation projects - such as the maintenance of parks and golf courses - use enormous quantities of drinking-quality water. House Bill 248, sponsored by Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park) and Sen. Susan Garrett, (D-Lake Forest), allows the North Shore Sanitary District to supply sustainable, environmentally-friendly treated wastewater to identified partners. The recycled wastewater will save large volumes of treated drinking water.

House Bill 2056, sponsored by Rep. Joann Osmond (R-Antioch) and Sen. Suzi Schmidt (R-Lake Villa), creates a pharmaceutical collection and disposal program to ensure safe disposal of excess prescription medication. The legislation began as an initiative of students from Pontiac and Antioch High Schools, both of which have been active in efforts to collect and properly dispose of unused pharmaceuticals.  The program is designed as a collaborative effort between communities, local pharmacies, police departments, hospitals, city officials and students to educate the public about the misuse and abuse of pharmaceuticals, as well as discarded pharmaceuticals' impact on the environment. Numerous studies have shown that residue from many pharmaceuticals can be found in both drinking water sources and in finished drinking water.

House Bill 3090, sponsored by Rep. Luis Arroyo, (D-Chicago) and Sen. William Delgado (D-Chicago), allows a city, village, or municipality to authorize the use of its city hall or police department to display containers suitable for use as a receptacles for used, expired or unwanted pharmaceuticals.

"Every year families are left with excess prescription drugs that could be harmful if they are accessible to children who may accidently swallow them or youths who may use the drugs to get high," Senator Delgado, Chairman of the Senate Public Health Committee said. "This legislation will allow for additional locations where people can safely dispose of prescription drugs that have expired or are not needed. This initiative addresses a vital public health and safety issue."

House Bill 248 is effective immediately. House Bills 2056 and 3090 take effect Jan. 1.

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Legislation will help create jobs for returned Iowa National Guard Troops and other veterans

Waterloo, IA - This week, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) is introducing a bill to cut payroll taxes for businesses that hire unemployed veterans. The Combat Veterans Back to Work Act provides employers with a payroll tax break if they hire recently returned veterans, including members of the Iowa National Guard, who are unemployed.  Currently, approximately 600 Iowa Guardsmen, who recently returned from Afghanistan, are looking for work. 

"After their distinguished service in Afghanistan, we should do all we can to help members of the Iowa Guard find employment in their civilian lives," said Rep. Braley.  "This legislation will support our friends and neighbors in the Iowa National Guard, Reserves, and veterans who have recently returned home and face a difficult job market." 

"Thousands of Iowans have returned home after serving overseas this past year.  Now we must support them and bring their experience and talent back into the Iowa workforce."

The Combat Veterans Back to Work Act will exempt small businesses from paying the employer's share of the Social Security tax for up to one year through December 31, 2012 - if they hire current members of the National Guard or Reserve, or any veteran who has returned from deployment within the last 18 months and is currently unemployed. Employers who keep eligible employees on the payroll for 52 consecutive weeks will receive an additional $1,000 tax credit.

Congressman Braley has worked closely with the Iowa National Guard throughout his time in Congress.  Last week, he met with Iowa National Guard leaders and their partners at Camp Dodge to discuss employment initiatives for returning Iowa service members. In 2010, he secured long-overdue back pay for nearly 650 members of the Iowa National Guard and over 22,000 National Guard troops nationwide.  Prior to that, Congressman Braley led an investigation that resulted in nearly 3,500 members of the Iowa National Guard receiving their GI Bill education benefits, after these benefits were initially denied by the Pentagon.                      

Congressman Braley currently serves on the U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs, and as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

This week, Congressman Braley will hold events in Cedar Rapids (Tuesday), Des Moines (Wednesday) and the Quad Cities (Thursday) to inform Iowans of this legislation.

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