05 Jul 2011

Governor Quinn Signs Election Reform Legislation

By Laurel White

Governor's Reforms Empower Citizens with more Access to Democratic Process

DES PLAINES - July 4, 2011.  Governor Pat Quinn today signed election reform legislation that will empower Illinois' residents with better access to democratic process. Senate Bill 1586 creates more opportunities to initiate referenda at the local and statewide levels, and simplifies the election code to make it more consistent and clear.

"On the very day we celebrate our democracy, I am enacting a bill that will put more power in the hands of the people of Illinois," said Governor Quinn. "By giving voters more authority at the ballot box, they will have a better opportunity to hold elected officials accountable and we will continue to create a more vibrant democracy in our state." 

Historically, Illinois has had limited ballot access. This bill contains three major reforms that were led by Governor Quinn to improve access to the democratic process throughout Illinois. 

The legislation allows local school boards to initiate advisory referendum by resolution for the first time in Illinois history. It also lowers the petition signature requirement for initiating referenda to a uniform 8 percent of the gubernatorial vote. 

Additionally, the bill eliminates bureaucratic hurdles in the petition process for constitutional amendments by cutting the requirement that petitions to initiate referenda be segregated by election jurisdiction. This reduces the chance that petitions or an initiative could be thrown out based on a technicality.

The bill also increases voting access for service members by allowing ballots to be emailed to military voters who are overseas. 

Sponsored by Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and Represenative Michael Zalewski (D-Chicago), the new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2012. 

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05 Jul 2011

U OF IOWA SPRING DEAN'S LIST

By The Link Delivery Service
Iowa City, Iowa - (Student's name) of (hometown) is among 3,800 undergraduate students at the University of Iowa named to the UI Dean's List for the 2011 spring semester.
All students named to the dean's list carried at least 12 graded hours during the semester. A minimum 3.5 grade-point average (based on a 4.0 scale) for current work is required for inclusion on the dean's list in the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Nursing, Business Administration and Engineering. College of Pharmacy students on the dean's list carried at least 12 graded semester hours and maintained a minimum 3.25 grade point average (based on a 4.0 scale).

Moline, IL
Katelyn Marie Duyvejonck, Liberal Arts and Sciences; Samantha Nicole McCarthy, Liberal Arts and Sciences; Benjamin Louis Meersman, Business; Gregory J. Pepping, Business; Jessica Renae Welsh, Liberal Arts and Sciences;

Rock Island, IL
Kevin Robert Johnson, Engineering;
05 Jul 2011

Governor Quinn Signs Bills to Increase Protections for Veterans and Servicemembers

By Andrew Mason

Bills Prevent Winter Heat Shutoff, Increase Driver's License Renewal Period; Help Injured Veterans Access Needed Services

CHICAGO - July 3, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed three bills to provide more protections for Illinois' servicemembers and help injured Veterans get the services they need. Together, the bills will make Illinois a more supportive place to live for servicemembers and veterans.

"On the day before we celebrate our democracy, we want to remember and protect our heroic men and women who answered the call to service," said Governor Quinn. "When our Veterans and servicemembers return to their homes in Illinois, it is our duty to give them the thanks and respect they deserve."

These bills prevent Illinois utilities from cutting off heat to Veterans and servicemembers during the winter months; extend the driver's license renewal time for servicemembers returning from overseas or out-of state; and create a fund to support public service announcements to increase awareness of Veterans' programs.

Sponsored by Rep. Keith Farnham (D-Elgin) and Sen. Michael Noland (D-Elgin), House Bill 1260 prohibits utilities from cutting off heat to Veterans and Servicemembers during the winter months. Under the new law, gas and electric utility companies are prevented from cutting off gas or electricity to Veterans and servicemember's homes from Dec. 1 through March 31 of the following year.

Many of Illinois' men and women in uniform who serve out-of-state or overseas find it difficult to renew their driver's license within the time required under current law. Sponsored by Rep. Eddie Jackson (D-East St. Louis) and Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights), House Bill 3331 extends the expiration of a servicemember's driver's license to 120 days upon their return to Illinois. Current law only allows for a 90 day deferral.

House Bill 3275 creates a fund to support public service announcements to inform Illinois' Veterans and servicemembers of the benefits and services available for treatment of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. The fund will be administered by the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, which will collect private gifts, donations and charitable contributions to support the fund. The new law was sponsored by Rep. Jason Barickman (R-Champaign) and Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago).

"As a veteran of the Illinois Army National Guard, there are few things more important than helping our men and women in uniform," said Rep. Barickman, who sponsored HB 3275. "I'm proud of this law, which allows people to donate private dollars to promote services available to men and women injured in combat."

The three new laws take effect Jan. 1, 2012.

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05 Jul 2011

Children's Art Camp at Maquoketa Art Experience in July!

By Administrator

[MAQUOKETA, IA] Maquoketa Art Experience welcomes Iowa artist Elizabeth Roberts to Maquoketa July 25-29. Roberts will host a week-long Children's Art Camp designed for 10-13 year olds at the Maquoketa Art Experience Studio, 124 S. Main Street, July 25-29 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily. Roberts has designed a week long art camp for young artists who want to explore a variety of mediums, creating several finished pieces. In five, three-hour sessions, students will have the opportunity to learn the Japanese art of Shibori (dyeing cloth), Printmaking, and Weaving, and other 2-Dimensional art projects. The students will also engage in a collaborative painting in which the students will learn about the work of an established artist and create and finish a painting in the style of the featured artist. This collaborative painting will be displayed throughout the day (week) and students will be invited to collaborate to finish the piece however they'd like. Students will work with paints, oil pastels, markers, paper, and modge podge. Skill level is for beginners, but enthusiasm is a must.

Elizabeth Roberts received her BFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore (2006), and recently earned her K-12 Art Teaching Licensure at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa (2010). Elizabeth's paintings explore an abstract narrative while composition and emphasis of color play an important role in her aesthetic and sensibility as an artist. Using ideas of myth and lore, the artist is currently creating a series of abstract works depicting tales from The Brothers Grimm. Elizabeth's artwork is represented by Outside the Lines Art Gallery, Dubuque, Iowa, and has participated in several exhibitions including, Metamorphosis @ the Voices Warehouse Gallery (2008) and the Dubuque Museum of Art's Biennial Juried Exhibition (2007), a joint showing at Outside the Lines Art Gallery (2009), and a solo show, "The Nature in Existence" at the Nash Gallery (2008). In September of 2009,

Registration materials are available at www.maquoketa-art.org. For more information contact Paula Neuhaus at paula@maquoketa-art.org or call 563.652.9925.

Maquoketa Art Experience programming is made possible in part by a grant from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.

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05 Jul 2011

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action **Saturday, July 2, 2011**

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO - July 2, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bill:

Bill No.: HB 3500

Amends the Freedom of Information Act to provide that the names and information of people who have applied for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act are exempt from inspection and copying.

An Act Concerning: Safety

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

"As Governor, I have made increasing openness and transparency in government one of my top priorities. It is essential to have an open and transparent state government; however, it should not come at the expense of the public's safety. This bill has the support of the Illinois State Police because it ensures that individuals who have FOID cards or who have applied for FOID cards are protected from having their personal information made public, which could make them vulnerable to potential crimes and jeopardize public safety."

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05 Jul 2011

Harkin Announces over $121 Million in Funding for Special Education in Iowa

By Harkin Press Office

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that $121,013,583 from the U.S. Department of Education will be available in funding to the state of Iowa for special education in the 2011-2012 school year. The financial support helps meet the cost of special education and related services for children in Iowa and across the United States with learning and physical disabilities. The funding was made available by the Fiscal Year 2011 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act and will help support over six million students across the United States.

"I am pleased to announce this funding for students with disabilities across Iowa," said Harkin. "It is imperative that we fund efforts that allow students to meet their full potential. This allocation will help ensure students will have access to the instruction and support they need to be successful."

Harkin chairs the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds education and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

05 Jul 2011

Braley Announces $513,900 for Eastern Iowa Schools

By Alexandra Krasov
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) announced that theUnited States Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $513,900 in grants to Allen College, Clarke College and St. Ambrose University in Eastern Iowa. The grants will fund nurse faculty loan programs and scholarships for disadvantaged students through the end of June 2012. Each school received the following amounts:

Clarke College - Dubuque: $56,485

Allen College - Waterloo: $49,011

St. Ambrose University - Davenport: $408,404

"These schools have a reputation and tradition of excellence," Braley said. "And these grants will allow them to build and expand upon programs that are already extremely successful, helping to graduate qualified and successful students."

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05 Jul 2011

Harkin Announces More Than $825,000 for Nurse Faculty and Disadvantaged Students at Iowa Colleges and Universities

By Harkin Press Office

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), today announced that several Iowa colleges and universities will receive a total $825,750 for the creation and continuation of programs that support nurse faculty and disadvantaged students.  The funding comes from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

"Investing in Iowa's colleges and universities means investing in the future of our state and its residents," said Harkin.  "Education is a major rung in the ladder of opportunity and with this funding, we strengthen that opportunity.  In addition, Iowa has some of the strongest health training programs and best health professionals in the country, and by making further investments in educating Iowa's healthcare workforce we will keep our state a leader for generations to come."

Harkin is Chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds HHS.  He is also Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

The funding is as follows:


Allen College, Waterloo
$31,278.00 in new funding through the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program.
$17,733.00 in continued funding through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program.

St. Ambrose, Davenport
$408,404.00 in new funding through the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program.

University of Iowa
$98,566.00 in new funding through the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program.
$131,540.00 in continued funding through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program.

Indian Hills Community College
$81,744.00 in new funding through the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program.

Clarke College, Dubuque
$56,485.00 in continued funding through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program.

05 Jul 2011

Six Additional Bands Join River Roots Live Lineup

By Kyle Carter

(Davenport - Iowa) River Roots Live, the Quad-Cities' premiere music festival featuring top national bands and barbeque, is excited to announce the remainder of its 2011 band lineup. National acts Apache Relay and 500 Miles to Memphis will be joined by Quad-City natives Chrash, The Candymakers, Bacon, and The Lion in Rome. River Roots Live will continue to offer free admission and the festival will take place in downtown Davenport's LeClaire Park on the Mississippi riverfront Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20.

Apache Relay's first studio record, 1988, was hailed as the "Best of What's Next" and one of the "Eight Most Auspicious Musical Debuts of 2009" by Paste Magazine. 500 Miles to Memphis has received critical praise for their ability to satisfy the musical hunger of fans in both country and alternative/punk genres. Their song "All My Friends Are Crazy" is now part of the Rock Band video game, and 500 Miles To Memphis has also received the praise of music journalists worldwide.

Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms will headline River Roots Live in 2011 supported by a strong lineup of additional outstanding national artists including Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Nikka Costa, Cory Chisel & the Wondering Sons, Trampled Under Foot, The Giving Tree Band, Chamberlin, and the Kris Lager Band. Additional regional acts include Dan Hubbard and the Humidors, and Kevin B.F. Burt & the Instigators.

For complete details regarding band bios, barbeque rib vendors, and festival activities, please visit www.RiverRootsLive.com.

PARTNERS

Downtown Partnership, River Music Experience, and Living Lands & Waters

Presented By:
River Roots Live is presented by Rhythm City Casino and Riverboat Development Authority.

Major sponsors
U.S. Cellular, Wiebler's Harley Davidson, Mediacom, 97X, Budweiser, The Quad-City Times, WQAD Channel 8, and West Music.
Additional Sponsors
Rock 104.9, B100, Star 93.5, Iowa American Water, Pepsi, Lujack's, Zimmerman Honda, Living Lands & Waters, Ryan & Associates, MidWestOne Bank, HomeRidge Inn & Suites, Rexroat Sound, Victorystore.com, TAG Communications, One-Step Printing, RiverCenter/Adler Theatre, HyVee, John Deere, Printguru.com/Herman's Inc, City of Davenport, US Adventure RV, Electronic Engineering, Jim Hawk Truck Trailers, Aerial Platforms, Per Mar Security Services, Barkley Event Photography, Video Games Etc., Argo Moving & Storage, Molo Quint, Liftruck Service Co. Inc, and Happy Joe's.
05 Jul 2011

Weekly Video Address: Deficit-Reduction Talks

By Grassley Press

Advisory for Iowa Reporters and Editors

Friday, July 1, 2011

During his weekly video address, Senator Chuck Grassley discusses the status of the deficit-reduction talks and the importance of not leaving a legacy of debt to the next generation.

Click here for audio.

The text of the address is available below.

Grassley Weekly Video Address:

Deficit-Reduction Talks

The President is finally involved in the deficit-reduction talks, where $2.4 trillion in savings over 10 years is needed in order to offset about that level of an increase in the federal debt ceiling.  August 2 is the operational deadline, at this point.

The President's posture is very combative, and the pressure that's coming from the White House and Senate Democrats to raise taxes to increase revenues ignores two very important facts, separate from the harm it would do to the economy where job creation is still so weak.

First, Americans sent a clear message in the last election that they want government spending reined in.  They know it's morally wrong to make the next generation pay the bills for the way we live today, and that the problem isn't that people are taxed too little but that Washington spends too much.  In just the last two years, government spending increased by 22 percent.

Second, if history is a guide, then an increase in taxes is really a license for Congress to spend more money.  Professor Vedder of Ohio University has found that since World War II, for every dollar in tax increases, Washington has spent $1.17.

Serious spending reforms are needed for the sake of America's fiscal well-being.

One of those reforms is a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.  The federal deficit is 15 times bigger today than it was in 1997, the last time there was a vote in Congress on a balanced budget amendment.  It's time to bring it up again.  I'm a cosponsor of legislation and have formally asked Senate leaders to hold hearings on a balanced budget amendment.  Forty-six of 50 states have a balanced budget requirement, and there should be one at the federal level.

In the meantime, the debt-ceiling debate provides a major opportunity to help bring fiscal accountability and responsibility to Washington.  And it emphasizes the need for pro-growth policies out of Washington - including less debt, but also regulatory relief, more exports, lower and simpler taxes and greater certainty about taxes, lower health care costs and an increased domestic energy supply.

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