01 Aug 2011

Braley Urges Obama to ProvideDisaster Assistance in Iowa

By Alexandra Krasov

Pushes for Help in Benton, Marshall, Story and Tama Counties

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) and the IowaHouse delegation sent a letter to President Obama urging him to provide disaster assistance to Iowa following the severe storms earlier this month in Benton, Marshall, Story and Tama counties.

"These storms severely damaged Iowa schools, hospitals, fire stations and electricity and communications infrastructure," said Rep. Braley. "I strongly urge the President to provide assistance to help Iowa's families, communities, and businesses rebuild as quickly as possible."

A copy of the letter is available here and pasted below: http://go.usa.gov/Kcj

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As you know, Governor Terry Branstad has requested that you declare a major disaster for the Iowa counties of Benton, Marshall, Story and Tama.  These counties were significantly impacted by severe weather earlier this month, which resulted in significant infrastructure and property damage.

The severe storms began on July 9, triggering a chain of damage-causing events, lasting through July 10, when 100 MPH winds caused the damage in the counties noted above.  Thereafter, on July 13th, heavy rainfall caused flooding in other counties (Dickinson and Clay), causing road closures, and extensive property damage.  Again, on July 15th, severe storms caused flash floods in Cerro Gordo, Floyd and Worth Counties.  Finally, on July 22, severe storms caused significant damage in Black Hawk, Butler, Grundy, Hardin, Jasper, Marion and Poweshiek Counties.

The toll from these storms includes damage to local schools, hospitals, emergency communications facilities and fire stations.  Moreover, electrical utility infrastructure damage remains a major concern over a broad area, as is the case for telecommunications infrastructure, agriculture infrastructure (including crop damage & livestock losses) and municipal water pumping stations.

Given the scope of the damage and losses in Iowa at this time, and the potential for realization of further losses, we strongly urge you to grant Governor Branstad's request for assistance under the Stafford Assistance Act.

Sincerely,

Bruce Braley
Leonard Boswell
Dave Loebsack
Tom Latham
Steve King

###

01 Aug 2011

University of Kansas announces spring 2011 honor roll

By readMedia

LAWRENCE, KS (07/29/2011)(readMedia)-- More than 4,400 undergraduate students at the University of Kansas earned honor roll distinction for the spring 2011 semester.

KU's honor roll comprises undergraduates who meet requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and in the schools of allied health; architecture, design and planning; business; education; engineering; journalism; music; nursing; pharmacy; and social welfare.

The spring 2011 honor roll students are listed by name, level (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior), school or college, parents' or guardians' names and high school.

  • Ashley J Sevigny, a senior from Davenport, Iowa was named to the honor roll in the School of Education. She is the daughter of Ken and Linda Sevigny from Davenport, Iowa She is a graduate of Bettendorf High School in Bettendorf, Iowa
  • Dustin W Ramsey, a senior from Rock Island, Ill. was named to the honor roll in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He is the son of Craig and Patricia Ramsey from Rock Island, Ill. He is a graduate of Moline senior High School in Moline, Ill.

Criteria for honor roll vary among the university's academic units and are available online http://www2.ku.edu/~distinction/cgi-bin/regulations16

01 Aug 2011

Rising Mississippi River Requires Extra Caution and Water Safety

By Ronald Fournier

Rock Island, Ill. -- (July 29, 2011) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Project reminds everyone to be careful around the rising waters of the Mississippi River.  With large rainfall amounts to the north, the Mississippi River is rising quickly and many people who recreate on the River may not be prepared for high water this time of year.  In the Quad City area, the river is forecasted to reach flood stage Friday evening and remain over flood stage throughout the weekend.  Areas below the Quad Cities will also see River levels rise as the crest moves downriver over the next several days.

Greater caution is recommended if you plan to be near or on the Mississippi River during this high-water time.  The water is moving very fast and the current is strong.  There is much debris floating as the water washes large trees and logs from tributary rivers and streams, backwater areas and islands.

As always, if you plan to recreate on or near the river please remember to be safe, wear your life jackets and have all recommended safety equipment in working order on your boat.  As a reminder, the Locks and Dam 15 Auxiliary (recreational craft) lock will be closed this weekend due to high water.  It will re-open when the river level below the dam drops below 13 feet.  For more information call (309) 794-5338.

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01 Aug 2011

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action **Friday, July 29, 2011**

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO - July 29, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: SB 178
Transfers functions associated with state healthcare purchasing and grants the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability authority to disapprove proposed state health care contracts.
An Act Concerning: Government
Action: Vetoed

Bill No.: SB 1744
Requires the first and last days of the school year to be no less than five hours long.
An Act Concerning: Education
Action: Amendatorily Vetoed                        

Bill No.: SB 2083
Amends the Limited Liability Company Act by making a change to the section pertaining to the Department of Business Services Special Operations Fund.
An Act Concerning: Business
Action: Amendatorily Vetoed

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01 Aug 2011

Weekly Video Address: Synthetic Drug Bill

By Grassley Press

During his weekly video address, Senator Chuck Grassley discusses his bill targeting synthetic drugs.  The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, on July 28, and would ban chemicals used to make drugs like K2, also known as Spice.  Grassley's legislation is named after David Rogza of Indianola, Iowa, whose death may have been the first in the nation related to K2.

Click here for audio.

The text of the address is available below.    

Weekly Video Address:  Synthetic Drug Bill  

On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed my bipartisan legislation to ban chemicals used to make synthetic drugs like K2, or Spice.

A year ago in June, K2 led an 18-year old from Indianola to take his own life.  David Rozga's death may have been the first in the country stemming from a new type of synthetic drug.  I met with David's family last August, and David's dad traveled to Washington to testify in April at a drug caucus hearing which I co-chaired.

David's death hasn't been the last.  In January, a high-school student in Omaha killed his assistant principal and himself.  He had K2 in his system.

Poison-control centers and emergency rooms are reporting skyrocketing cases resulting from K2 use.  Violent injuries are seen, related to K2 increasing agitation, heart rates and blood pressure, hallucinations, and seizures.  K2 abuse has even led all branches of the military to ban the use of the synthetic drug after high profile cases arose at the Naval Academy and on the U.S.S. Bataan which was deploying to Libya. 

The drug is available at local shopping malls and online.  It's marketed to appear natural and harmless, like a package of incense.  Victims like David Rozga get sucked into trying the drug, unaware of the risks.

Federal legislation is needed because the Drug Enforcement Agency's process of banning drugs is slow, with no guarantee of a permanent ban.  The proposed bill - which I named the David Mitchell Rozga Act -- would treat K2 like banned narcotics such as methamphetamine and cocaine.

The Senate should act to ban this drug as soon as possible.

-30-

01 Aug 2011

RIVERMONT STUDENT GETS HEAD START ON SCIENTIFIC CAREER

By Brittany Marietta

Though the start of the school year finds many students reminiscing about lazy summer days of sleeping in and working on their tan, 79 aspiring young scientists ended the summer of 2011 much more than tan and well-rested!  Participants in the STARS (Students and Teachers As Research Scientists) program spent their summer researching everything from neural circuits to human/robot interaction at the University of Missouri - St. Louis.  Student participants are paired with research mentors from the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (Creve Coeur, MO), Saint Louis University, the Solae Company, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Missouri - St. Louis.  For six weeks, researchers take on student apprentices, who complete science research projects and gain real-world laboratory experience.  For many students, this experience is one of the most important in their decision to pursue a career in science.

Rivermont Collegiate is proud to announce senior Meghana Pagadala, daughter of Mr. Kishore and Dr. Padma Pagadala of Rock Island, is a scholar graduate of the 2011 STARS program!  Meghana's research project, "The Mechanism by Which CD8+FoxP3+T Cells Regulate Osteoclast Activity", was completed with Dr. Rajeev Aurora from Saint Louis University.  Of the 79 STARS participants from 36 schools, only 4 students, including Meghana, came from outside the St. Louis metro area.  Participants are selected based on GPA, test scores (PSAT, SAT, ACT, etc.), student essays, and letters of recommendation.  The entire Rivermont community is extremely proud of Meghana and looks forward to her future contributions to the world of science!

For additional information on the STARS program, visit the University of Missouri - St. Louis website at www.umsl.edu.

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate, contact Cindy Murray at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org and visit us on the web atwww.rvmt.org!

-END-
01 Aug 2011

Braley Fights for Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown

By Alexandra Krasov

Bill benefitting home passes unanimously

Washington, DC - Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) co-sponsored and championed a bill to help the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. With Rep.Braley's help, the bill passed unanimously out of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health. The bill will help the Iowa Veterans Home and similar veterans' homes across the country provide care to millions of elderly and disabled veterans.

"This bill will help us ensure that our veterans are getting the care they deserve - not just in Iowa, but all over the country," said Rep. Braley. "The men and women who served this nation deserve the best care we can possibly provide. That's why I'm proud to co-sponsor this bill which supports the veterans home in Marshalltown that cares for so many of our national heroes."

David Worley, who serves as Commandant of the Iowa Veterans Home and oversees operations, said the bill is an important step for Iowa veterans.

"This bill will be a big boost for the Iowa Veterans Home," said Commandant Worley. "It'll give us the resources we need to care for our elderly veterans, and as we see many more young men and women coming back from battle, this bill will help us provide our returning veterans with the services they need."

Rep. Braley will continue fighting to pass the bill through the full Veterans' Affairs Committee.

###

01 Aug 2011

Parks and Recreation August 2011 Newsletter

By Davenport Parks and Recreation

RECREATION:

For all events go online www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks to register or call 328-PARK (7275) for more information. Look this month to pick up the Fall/WINTER copy of THRIVE! and special events. Registrations begin August 10th for our Fall Session which starts Sept 12th!

  • - This extremely rare and exciting opportunity will be a blast for the whole family.  Please come and support these young students. Info on times and locations can be found @
  • Kindernature: Stars and the Moon. Tues August 9th, 10:00pm-11am at Vander Veer Botanical Park Conservatory. Cost $6.00. Bring your preschooler to learn about the night sky! Price includes an interactive program and snack.
  • Back to School Fiesta: Fri August 12th 1:00pm-7:00pm at Garfield Park. FREE! This is a family fiesta-that has games, activities, dunk tank, piñatas, etc... all to prepare for a fun back to school time!
  • 8th Annual Doggie Dig: Fri Aug 12th 6:00pm-7:30pm at Fejervary Aquatic Center. Cost $3.00 per dog, people get in free!
  • Central High School Jazz & Marching Bands: Wed August 17th at LeClaire Park-Music on the Levee Series. Cost: Free.
  • Chicago Cubs vs St Louis Cardinals Bus Trip to Wrigley Field! Fri August 19th, leaving The River's Edge at 9am. Return will be promptly after the game. Cost 95.00 per person, includes a ticket to the game.
  • City of Davenport Appreciation at the River Bandits! Sat August 20th. Cost-FREE, must pick up tickets at Davenport Parks and recreation and show proof of residency.
  • Iowa Prairie Heritage on display! Aug 20th-Oct 9th, in the Vander Veer Botanical Park Conservatory Park Store we will be hosting a special educational display. The displays will have huge panels that educate the public on the past, present and future of tall grass prairies in Iowa.
  • Wheelchair Basketball Clinic: Tues August 23rd, 5:00-6:30 location TBD. Call the parks office at 328-PARK (7275) for more information.

 

RIVER'S EDGE- Located at 700 W. River Drive (Across from Modern Woodmen Park)

  • The Rivers Edge Turf is hosting another fun month in August!
  • The Ultimate Sports Lock In: August 6th- Join us for an overnight stay packed with sports, sports and more sports! The fee is $40 and runs from 8PM to 8AM.
  • "Summer Showdown" Indoor Soccer Tournament: August 13th- A Coed bracket with a round robin style play leads to a champion! Team fee is $200.
  • Rage In The Cage Dodge ball Tournament: August 20th- Grab the bull by the horns and take home the trophy! Coed bracket, Team fee is $75.
  • Rivers Edge Community Flea Market: August 27th- Join us for one the QC Areas largest flea market. Admission is FREE, Vendor tables are $25 and you keep 100% of your profit. Market opens at 9 am.

GOLF:

  • 50yr Anniversary of Emeis Golf Course! August 19th marks the 50th Anniversary of Emeis Golf Course and the exhibition match played by Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. Come and celebrate the wonderful history and current transformations that have made Emeis a success for 50 years.
  • Golf Gift Cards - great for any occasion, are always available at Davenport golf shops, Parks and Recreation desk at Rivers Edge, and now at Vander Veer Park Store.
  • Visit www.golfdavenport.com for the 2011 Golf fees, latest updates and information
  • Family Friday Nights at Red Hawk Golf and Learning Center - Start a new activity this summer fit for the whole family. (Must be 8 years of age to use the Driving Range Area) Golf clubs sets are available upon request. Age - Children K and up accompanied by an adult. $10 - per family of Four, $2 each additional person, 6pm - 9pm June 3d - Aug 5th (10 Fridays)         
    • Price includes:
    • Unlimited Use of Short Course (Par 3 course)
    • Medium Bucket of range balls - one per family
    • Putting Green Activities - putting course etc.
    • Clubhouse Host with Pizza and Beverage provided. 7:30-9pm
01 Aug 2011

Deep Fried Butter & Deep Fried Pop Tarts - new fair treats!

By Administrator

Machine Shed Restaurant will be serving these treats at the 2011 Mississippi Valley Fair

The Machine Shed continues to bring the extreme and the delicious to the Mississippi Valley Fair adding "Deep Fried Butter" and "Deep Fried Pop Tart" to the 2011 fair menu. The chefs have worked all winter long and have created a pure butter concoction deep fried with a crisp coating.   This treat is crunchy and oozing with melted butter and only a mere 250 calories for each butter ball.  "We had over 50 taste testers over the past few months try several different variations of the fried butter and overwhelming we got a 'gotta have more' opinion" states Jeff Grunder, Manager at the Machine Shed restaurant.  Grunder continues: "The deep fried strawberry pop tart is my favorite, it tastes like a warm strawberry cake, I think it's the only way to eat a pop tart from now on!".   Deep Fried Butter sells for $5 and you get 4 "butter balls", while the Deep Fried Strawberry Pop Tart sells for $2 each.

You will ONLY find Deep Fried Butter and Deep Fried Pop Tarts at the Machine Shed booth at the Mississippi Valley Fair. The Mississippi Valley Fair runs Tuesday Aug. 2nd - Sunday Aug. 7th, 2011.

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01 Aug 2011

Patt Englander Appointed Quad City BBB Leader

By Laura Chavez

The Better Business Bureau is pleased to announce that Patt Englander has accepted the position of Quad City BBB Community Representative.  Patt will be responsible for implementing a new vision and strategic direction for the BBB in the Quad Cities.  She will lead a decade-old office by reenergizing the local BBB brand and promoting the 450 Quad City BBB Accredited Businesses.  

"We are thrilled to have Patt serving the BBB.  We are a 99 year old organization and Patt's skills will propel us in to our second century of work.  She is a proven and recognized Quad City leader," stated Chris Coleman, President of the BBB serving Greater Iowa, Quad Cities and Siouxland Region. 

Former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, Patt has also served in leadership positions at the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities and Center for Active Seniors.    She has a MBA from St. Ambrose University and recently helped create a local Dress for Success affiliate.

In recent years, the BBB system has embraced the benefits of technology with consolidation of services.   The new vision for the Quad Cities reverses that trend by reopening the Bettendorf office and focusing exclusively on the Quad Cities and surrounding areas.  The BBB will still provide state-of-the-art online and phone services to residents of the Quad Cities.  The re-tooled office will add a local flavor and enable the BBB to effectively promote its Accredited Businesses, warn consumers of pending scams, and provide tips and advice to the community.

Englander stated, "The mission to advance trust- right here in the Quad Cities is why I was attracted to this position.  In tough economic times like we are in today, I know the BBB is needed more now than ever.   I look forward to building our brand and our membership."

The BBB's mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. The BBB accomplishes this mission by creating a community of trustworthy businesses; setting standards for marketplace trust; encouraging and supporting best practices; celebrating marketplace role models, and denouncing substandard marketplace behavior.  The BBB is the resource to turn to for objective, unbiased information on businesses. Our network of national and local BBB operations allows us to monitor and take action on thousands of business issues affecting consumers at any given time.

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