PLATTEVILLE, WI (09/20/2011)(readMedia)-- Tyler Fisher of Rock Island, IL has been selected to be a resident assistant for Brockert Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for the 2011-12 academic year.

It is the job of an RA to help residents in adjusting to university life. The RA informs students of university resources and programs, works with different parts of hall government, gives and receives personal feedback, promotes an educational atmosphere, encourages involvement in campus functions and responds to personal and disciplinary concerns. RAs also work to provide students with a sense of identity, growth experiences and the feeling of responsibility toward others.

UW-Platteville is located in the southwest corner of Wisconsin. The school reached a record-breaking enrollment with 7,212 students in 2011-12 and looks to surpass that record this year. UW-Platteville provides 41 majors and 70 minors to students, as well as the Tri-State Initiative program, a tuition savings program offered only at UW-Platteville. This program offers competitive pricing for students in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa when annual tuition, fees, room, board and books are included.

WASHINGTON, DC - The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) is encouraging consumers to get immunized against influenza and to speak with their pharmacist about the options available at their local pharmacy. Pharmacists are authorized to give flu vaccinations in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico, and more than 150,000 U.S. pharmacists have been trained in the practice of immunization administration. The CDC estimates that approximately 20% of the seasonal flu vaccinations given to adults during the 2010-2011 season were administered by pharmacists.

"APhA encourages consumers to be proactive and talk to their pharmacist about their vaccination needs and the immunization process at the pharmacy," said APhA CEO and Executive Vice President Thomas Menighan.  "A pharmacist goes through six years or more of school, depending on his/her area of specialization. In addition to their specialized training as medication experts, pharmacists can go through a formal training program to gain the skill set and knowledge to administer immunizations. This formal training helps ensure reliable and consistent immunization care for patients. "

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 5 to 20 percent of the US population is infected with influenza every year, and over the past 31 years, annual influenza related deaths have ranged from 3,000 to 49,000. Consistent with the recommendations by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), APhA recommends that all persons six months of age and older be vaccinated each year.

"The local pharmacy is a convenient and easily accessible place to get your flu shot," stated Vincent Hartzell, Owner and Director of Patient Care Services, Hartzell's Pharmacy. "Your pharmacist is readily available to discuss vaccines and how they can help keep your family healthy. Many pharmacies have year-round walk-in hours and immunization clinics during the peak season. In most cases, a patient can get vaccinated in the time it takes to wait for their prescriptions."

The flu vaccine administered in the local pharmacy is supplied by the same major manufacturers who supply the vaccines to doctors and other healthcare providers. The 2011-2012 vaccine is now available and health care providers should begin vaccinating patients as soon as they receive their supply. Consumers are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated early in the season, but immunizations can be received as long as vaccine supply is available. There are several methods of flu vaccination available, depending upon the patient's age and health conditions.  Make sure to ask your pharmacist or other health care provider about which is right for you.

In many states, pharmacists are able to administer other important immunizations. Check with your local pharmacist to determine which vaccines they administer. Immunizations may include :

• Pneumococcal (Pneumonia)
• Meningococcal (Meningitis)
• Hepatitis B
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)
• Zoster (Shingles)

Consumers should hold a conversation with their pharmacist and their other healthcare providers about their vaccination needs. Pharmacists work in conjunction with doctors and other health care providers to optimize care, improve medication use and to prevent disease. APhA encourages consumers to fill all their prescriptions with one pharmacy to get to know their pharmacist on a first name basis, to carry an up-date medication and vaccination list and to share all medical information with each of their health care providers.

About the American Pharmacists Association
The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, is a 501 (c)(6) organization, representing more than 62,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States.

This press release is part of a multi-media educational campaign by the American Pharmacists Association to generate awareness among consumers about pharmacist training in immunization administration, the importance of getting a flu shot every year and the convenience of getting a flu shot at the pharmacy.  The campaign is sponsored in part by Novartis Vaccines.

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Ballet Quad Cities presents Deanna Carter's one-act classic tale of love, lust, jealousy and murder this Saturday at the Adler Theatre.

Opening the performance will be the return of the fan-favorite "Delicatessen" by choreographer Lynn Andrews

Tickets are $14, $18, $22

Sponsored by: The Adler Theatre Foundation

"The national economy is struggling, but Illinois' economy is faring even worse," said Cross (R-Oswego).  "All but one of our neighboring states has lower unemployment than Illinois.  Today, we are introducing a plan to make Illinois more attractive to all businesses from large manufacturers, to small business entrepreneurs to family farmers."

"Family farms are the backbone of our agriculture industry and our economy in Illinois, but estate taxes are pushing families off of the land they have farmed for generations," said Rep. Morthland (R-Cordova). "We need to keep family farmers farming, and implementing a much more reasonable estate tax exemption will help a great deal. That's why we have made expansion of the exemption a key component in the plan we're announcing today."

The House Republican Job Package includes measures to:

1.      Increase the estate tax exemption to $5 million.

Under the current law, when family farms are passed from generation to generation the heirs are hit with a huge estate tax if their assets are worth more than $2 million.  Family farm assets are invested in land and equipment leaving limited available cash flow.  Our proposal would raise the estate tax exemption to $5 million?which mirrors the federal tax code.

2.      Re-instate the Net Operating Loss deduction.

Many businesses are losing money in this tough economy, this proposal allows them to use their net operating loss as a tax deduction extending the corporate carry forwards from 12 years to 20 years, and allowing a two year carry back.

3.      Re-enact the Illinois Research & Development tax credit.

Illinois businesses utilized this tax credit until it expired in December 2010.  Its' reinstatement would allow businesses that are doing legitimate research and development projects as defined in the law to qualify for a tax credit each year.  Our proposal would also add ethanol and biodiesel research as qualified R & D activities.

4.      Extend the life of existing Enterprise Zones by up to 20 years.

Most designated Enterprise Zones in Illinois are set to expire in the next ten years.  Our proposal would allow current municipalities around the state to extend the enterprise zones in their communities to ensure tax incentives to businesses that have located or choose to locate in these underdeveloped areas.

5.      Reduce the administrative costs and burdens involved with setting up and incorporating a Limited Liability Corporation in Illinois.

In Illinois, even the cost to set up a business is much higher.  We are proposing to reduce that fee from $750 to $100. The highest fee that any of our surrounding states currently charges is in Wisconsin at $130.

"This week we learned that our unemployment rate in Illinois is now almost 10%. That's unconscionable. Our neighboring states have launched aggressive campaigns to lure away our employers that provide jobs for our families. We need to fight back, and this plan is a good start," added Morthland.

"Illinois is blessed with hard working families and individuals, but they can't find work. We must become more jobs friendly. The future of our families and our communities depend upon it," stressed Representative Mitchell (R-Sterling). "The best way to attract and keep businesses here is for government to get out of their way and out of their pockets."

"When more people are working and re-investing in our communities, our economy is stronger.  For every point we reduce our unemployment rate, the state generates around $600 million in new revenue to fund state programs and services.  We can't afford not to enact these proposals," said Cross.

The package is supported by the National Federation of Independent Business and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

"As Illinois faces rising unemployment rates and a recession that shows no signs of life, allowing small business owners to keep more of their own money makes sense," said Kim Clarke Maisch, NFIB/Illinois State Director. "NFIB has long supported either eliminating or allowing for a high exemption on the death tax, which gives small businesses a piece of mind that their hard work will be passed on to family members.  As well, reinstating the net operating loss will be very helpful to the many businesses that experienced significant losses during this ongoing recession."

A representative of the Illinois Farm Bureau was on hand to lend support to the provision to raise the estate tax.