18 Feb 2011

Grassley seeks full audit and accountability for use of funds by law enforcement officials

By Grassley Press
WASHINGTON - February 17, 2011 - Senator Chuck Grassley has asked the Commerce Secretary to ensure a full accounting and appropriate discipline for abusive spending of asset forfeiture funds collected by federal law enforcement officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Grassley's request is based on questionable purchases including a $300,000 luxury boat purportedly for undercover operations.  The law enforcement office was unable to provide documentation that the boat had ever been used for an undercover operation when the Inspector General began inquiring, but indications are that it was used by executive staff for fishing trips.  Other expenditures include the unauthorized purchase of 200 vehicles for a 172-person law enforcement office, and $580,000 in international travel, with only 17 percent of the travel directly related to law enforcement investigations.

"Nothing's being done to fully account for what happened, and no one's been held responsible for wrongdoing," Grassley said.  "Turning a blind eye is license for more of the same and continued disregard for the public trust held by these public officials.  In this case, it's at the direct expense of average Americans."

A report issued by the Inspector General for the Commerce Department found that as much as $96 million may have gone through this fund in the last five years.  The amount of money could not be verified because the books were in such disarray.  The fund also was unusual in that it wasn't created through the sale of assets seized as a result of their use in criminal enterprises.  Rather, it consisted of money collected through administrative fines and penalties imposed with little oversight or judicial review.

In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gary F. Locke, Grassley said the nature of the fund "has led to allegations of questionable conduct on the part of enforcement officers who had an incentive to impose exorbitant penalties and fines on fisherman."

Grassley said that while an outside auditing firm has been brought in to determine the balance of the fund and audit the most recent fiscal year, that fails to account for what went on since 2005.  "The public deserves to know, and the abuse needs to be stopped," Grassley said.  "If heads don't roll, nothing's likely to change."

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7356343n

18 Feb 2011

Kindergarten round-up at Rivermont Collegiate

By Tammy Burrell

Put on your boots and come discover a unique style of learning! Rivermont Collegiate will host Kindergarten Round-up Thursday, February 24th from 11:30 -1:00pm.  Families are invited to have lunch and conversation with Kindergarten Teacher Cindy Corrigan about what to expect when your student transitions to Kindergarten. This informal setting is the perfect opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the Rivermont philosophy as well as obtain proper immunization and dental forms which are required for every student enrolling in an Iowa Kindergarten program.  Interested families may also browse the Rivermont campus (home to the historic Joseph Bettendorf Mansion) with Cindy Murray, Director of Admissions, who will be on hand for individual discussions.

Rivermont Collegiate provides an academically rigorous yet nurturing environment, where students develop skills and attitudes that provide the foundation for future learning.  Our gifted faculty provides students with the tools and desire to pursue knowledge independently, take intellectual and artistic risks, and enthusiastically meet the challenges of the 21st century.  Rivermont Collegiate is located at 1821 Sunset Drive in Bettendorf, Iowa.  This event is free and open to the public.  Come explore our approach!

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate or Thursday's Kindergarten Round-up, contact Cindy Murray at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.

18 Feb 2011

Allegiant News: Company to Give Away Flights to Lucky Facebook Fan in March Madness Promotion

By Sarah Gannon

BRING ON THE TEAM SPIRIT... ALLEGIANT TEAM SPIRIT, THAT IS!

COMPANY TO GIVE AWAY FLIGHTS TO LUCKY FACEBOOK FAN IN MARCH MADNESS PROMOTION

 LAS VEGAS--- Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is giving away the opportunity to fly to one of its many vacation destinations for free! In honor of March Madness, the company recently launched a contest on Facebook that will reveal the Allegiant "fan" with the most team spirit for the travel company.  The winner will receive two roundtrip tickets to any destination of their choice on Allegiant.

Allegiant's Facebook fans are being asked to submit photos showing team spirit for the company by donning the company's colors of blue, orange and yellow. Contestants have until Feb. 23, 2011, at 8 p.m. ESTto submit photos to the e-mail address contest@allegiantair.com.  The best photos will be chosen by Allegiant staff and posted to Allegiant's Facebook page on Feb. 24, 2011, at 12 p.m. EST.   Allegiant is requesting fans vote for the contestant they think has the most team spirit by "liking" their favorite photo in the Facebook album. The photo with the most votes on March 2, 2011, at 8 p.m. PM ESTwill win two roundtrip tickets on Allegiant.

For contest rules and information please visit http://www.allegiantair.com/AllegiantFBpromoTeamSpirit.php"Like" Allegiant on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/Allegiant.

Allegiant, travel is our deal.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT), is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix-Mesa, Orlando, Fla., and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.  Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel-related services.  In 2010, Allegiant was ranked number one for low-cost carriers in Aviation Week's Top Performing Airline study and ranked 25 on FORTUNE magazine's Fastest-Growing Companies list.  Receive breaking news from Allegiant by visiting Allegiant's Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/Allegiant or follow Allegiant on Twitter at twitter.com/allegiantair.

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18 Feb 2011

THE BON-TON STORES, INC.COMMUNITY DAY EVENT HELPS LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

By Christine Hojnacki

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. (February 17, 2011) - Local nonprofit organizations are participating in a unique fundraising opportunity with their local Bergner's, Bon-Ton, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's, Younkers and Parisian stores.  Everyone can take advantage of the saving and at the same time supporting their community by buying a $5 coupon booklet from a participating organization or at the store on Saturday, February 26, 2011. Stores open early at 7 am providing an opportunity for local 501C3 organizations, schools and churches to sell booklets at the store to earn funding needed to support their mission.

Groups selling the booklets keep 100% of the $5 price.  Each booklet contains special savings coupons valid on regular and sale price merchandise on Community Day.  Last February, this event helped non-profits raise nearly $4 million.

Organizations will continue selling booklets through Saturday, February 26.  For a $5 donation, purchasers get a $10 off coupon, valid on an item of $10 or more, a 30% off early bird coupon that is valid until 10 a.m., a 20% off shopping pass to use over and over on almost everything in the store, plus special bonus items.

"We encourage the community to support their local participating groups on Community Day." stated Bud Bergren, president and chief executive officer for The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., "We have made it easy by giving customers shopping discounts including a $10 coupon for every $5 donated.  Our customers and community partners find great value in this fundraising event."

Customers do not need to purchase a booklet to shop on Community Day.  Hundreds of door buster items will be available from 7am-1pm as well as other great offers throughout the store.

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 275 stores, including 11 furniture galleries, in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers nameplates and, under the Parisian nameplate, stores in the Detroit, Michigan area. The stores offer a broad assortment of brand-name fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings. The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc is an active and positive participant in the communities that it serves. The Community Day Event is a long standing charitable partnership the Company developed to support and build strong communities.

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18 Feb 2011

Camp Courageous Dinner/Dance Benefit - Feb. 25th

By Camp Courageous
MONTICELLO, IOWA -  Camp Courageous will be the beneficiary of a Dinner/Dance, Friday, February 25, 2011 at the El Kahir Shrine, 1400  Blairs Ferry Road NE  in Cedar Rapids.  Dinner will be provided starting at 6:00 PM with dancing from 7-10 PM.  Performing at the dance will be The Hosers, which play a variety of 50s, 60s, and 70s Rock n Roll music and requests. They are composed of members of the Iowa Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame.  Members of the band include :  Randy Faulkner, Al Hendricks, Skeeter Lewis, Tim Canfield,  and Jason Christenson.

Tickets are $20 each and can be obtained through Camp Courageous, 12007 - 190th Street, Monticello IA 52310, www.campcourageous.org, 319/465-5916 or The Fire House, 3321 - 1st Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids or Hawkeye Dry Ice,  319/360-0660.

Camp Courageous is a year-round recreational and respite care facility for individuals with disabilities.  Run on donations, nearly 6,000 individuals with special needs are served annually.
18 Feb 2011

Braley Fights to Save Iowa Jobs, Ethanol Industry

By Alexandra Krasov
Washington, DC - February, 16, 2011 - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) offered an amendment to save thousands of Iowa jobs supported by the ethanol industry. Rep. Braley introduced the amendment to safeguard the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and to make sure fuel standards could be properly set for 2012. The House Republican leadership blocked the amendment with a procedural maneuver.  

"Some 50,000 Iowa jobs depend on renewable fuels and the ethanol industry," said Rep. Braley. "And I am deeply disappointed that my Republican colleagues would pass a budget bill that would threaten to kill off this industry and the livelihoods of thousands of families that depend on it."

The RFS promotes clean, renewable, homegrown fuel and boosts American security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. The Republican budget continuing resolution puts the RFS program at risk by preventing the Environmental Protection Agency from setting renewable fuel standards for 2012.

The American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association and the Renewable Fuels Association came out in strong support of the Braley amendment earlier today.  

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18 Feb 2011

Analysis of House Republican Budget Cuts on Employment and Training in Iowa

By Sen. Tom Harkin

February 17, 2011

This week, the U.S. House is considering a budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2011.  The current funding proposal expires on March 4, 2011.  Analysis released today shows that the budget proposal will have a detrimental impact on job training and assistance to workers who are trying to lift up their families in the fragile economy.

Harkin's full statement on the budget proposals before Congress can be found here.

"Imagine the struggle of a worker facing a layoff who then learns the job training or assistance he needs to recover is not available.  The same can be said of at-risk youths who are looking to improve their opportunities.  Under the House budget proposal, the door is closed to both of them," said Harkin.  "There is no question that the time has come for tough budget decisions, but the smart way to bring down the deficit is for Congress to pursue a balanced approach of major spending cuts and necessary revenue increases, while continuing to take steps to strengthen the Iowa economy."

Below are some specific cuts Iowa will face in job training if the House budget is enacted.


Job Training Programs.
The House plan would eliminate Federal funding - currently totaling $3 billion - for Adult Training, Dislocated Worker Assistance and Youth Training programs.  These programs provide job training and reemployment services to about 8 million Americans every year, including workers who have lost their jobs as a result of plant closings or mass layoffs, and disadvantaged youth, particularly those who have dropped out of school.   

•   Estimated Impact on Iowa:
Under current funding levels:
Funding Available in 2010: $13,967,648
Participants: 35,985
One-Stop Centers: 50

Under the House Proposal:
Funding Available: $0
Participants: 0
One-Stop Centers: 0


Dislocated Worker National Emergency Grants (NEGs).
The House plan provides $29 million for NEGs - a cut of $200 million (87 percent) below the current level of funding.  NEGs are used to respond to significant dislocation events such as industry wide layoffs and disasters by offering targeted training, affordable health insurance and income supports to displaced workers.  For example, when the John Morrell plant closed in Sioux City, an NEG assisted the 1400 workers and their families impacted by the closure.

•    Estimated Impact on Iowa:
Under current funding levels:
Funding Available in 2010: $16,367,015*
Estimated Participants: 4,685

Under the House Proposal:
Estimated Funding Available: $1,318,360
Estimated Participants: 377

*This includes $6 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act


Job Corps.
The House plan provides $1.02 billion for Job Corps - a cut of $691 million (41 percent) below current levels.  These cuts would mean the closure of more than half the 125 existing Job Corps centers and the loss of about 27,000 training slots nationwide.  Iowa has one Job Corps center currently and is slated to have a second open in Ottumwa in 2011.  The cuts proposed in the House bill make the continuation of either center uncertain.


Youthbuild.
The House's proposal would eliminate Youthbuild - terminating the education and job training opportunities the program offers to about 6,500 disadvantaged students nationally each year.  Youthbuild is currently funded at $103 million.

•    Estimated Impact on Iowa:
Under current funding levels:
Funding Available in 2009-2010: $1,388,669*

Under the House Proposal:
Funding Available: $0

*This includes funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act


For more information, please call Kate Cyrul or Bergen Kenny in Senator Harkin's press office at (202) 224-3254.

18 Feb 2011

Targeting Websites Dedicated to Stealing American Intellectual Property

By Sen Chuck Grassley

Prepared Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley

Senate Committee on the Judiciary

"Targeting Websites Dedicated to Stealing American Intellectual Property"

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate your holding this hearing on this very important subject.  I agree that increased online theft of intellectual property has really become a rampant problem.  There's a lot of interest in going after criminals who engage in pervasive piracy and counterfeiting online.  That's because the impact of copyright piracy and sale of counterfeit goods imposes a huge cost on the American economy - lost jobs, lost sales, and lost income.  In fact, these detrimental impacts go far beyond the American economy.  One recent report estimated that counterfeiting and piracy have resulted in 2.5 million jobs lost in G20 economies, and that the global value of counterfeited and pirated goods exceeds $650 billion dollars.  Those are staggering numbers.

Piracy and counterfeiting also can present serious health and safety problems.  Counterfeit products such as ineffective pharmaceuticals, defective electrical products, tainted toothpaste, malfunctioning equipment, and sub-par materials, all pose a danger to the American public.  Addressing this problem would help protect consumers against harmful counterfeit and pirated products.

A large chunk of this piracy and counterfeiting is done online.  That's because the internet reaches across the globe and is mostly anonymous.  Moreover, part of the problem is that many internet websites that engage in offering infringing content and counterfeit goods are actually foreign owned and operated.  These websites appeal to American consumers because they reside at familiar top level domains, such as .com or .net.  These websites also appear to be legitimate because they have corporate advertising and credit card acceptance.

Today we'll hear testimony on the scope of intellectual property theft over the internet and what efforts have been undertaken to combat this scourge.  I'm interested in hearing whether the witnesses support or have concerns with the legislation that the Senate has proposed to address the problem.  I'm certain that everyone supports the underlying goals of S. 3804, the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeiting Act, a bill that was introduced in the last Congress.

That said, a number of concerns have been raised about that bill, and it is appropriate for the Committee to look into those concerns to determine whether they are legitimate and should be addressed.  Certainly, we should act responsibly so that we do not harm consumers, innovation, or economic growth.

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18 Feb 2011

Girls explore forms of popular media in program

By Chuck Gysi
DUBUQUE, Iowa - gIRLs In Real Life, a program that allows girls to explore various forms of popular media, will be held March 5.

The event is sponsored by Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois and is funded through a grant by Mediacom.

The Women in the Arts program is open to girls in grades 3-5 and will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 5 at Washington Middle School, 51 N. Grandview Ave., Dubuque. Cost of the program is $8 for Girl Scouts and $15 for other girls, which includes a Girl Scout membership fee for the 2011 membership year. Adults may attend for $3. All fees include lunch.

During the session, girls will participate in hands-on activities using various forms of popular media, including photography and video, to learn positive self-esteem using activities from the Dove Real Beauty Workshop for Girls. Girls also will have the chance to discuss how media images of girls may not be like girls in real life.

Girls attending gIRLs In Real Life also will have the opportunity to express themselves through different media to create positive images and videos of girls that will be shared with others.

Register online at GirlScoutsToday.com, call Angela Grunder at 563-583-9169 or send e-mail to AngelaG@GSEIWI.org. The deadline for registration is Feb. 25, or once 100 girls have registered for the event.

 

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18 Feb 2011

Governor Quinn Announces Creation of Illinois Innovation Council

By Laurel White

Council will Focus on Increasing Innovation and Economic Growth

SPRINGFIELD - February 16, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn announced today during his budget address the creation of the Illinois Innovation Council, which will help ensure the state remains on the cutting-edge in the global economy.  The council, which is chaired by Groupon Co-Founder Brad Keywell, is made up of key business executives across a variety of critical sectors, along with science, technology and university leaders.

"By harnessing our resources and coordinating our efforts, by putting scientists and inventors in touch with businesses and investors, and by placing significant private-sector investment behind the best ideas in our state, we will create the jobs of today and tomorrow right here in Illinois," Governor Quinn said.

The council will promote the role and importance of innovation in economic development and quality of life; convene and partner with academic, business and governments to evaluate and recommend initiatives to improve support for innovation, and align public and private resources. The council will also develop methods to identify, promote and attract innovation-driven enterprises and individuals to Illinois, in order to grow existing industry clusters and contribute to the development of new clusters. It will also develop policies to cultivate and retain entrepreneurs, innovative researchers and other enterprises.

"There is nothing more important for Illinois' economic future than creating an environment throughout the state that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship on a daily basis.  Governor Quinn and I both believe that Illinois has all of the assets and attributes to continue thriving on the world stage, but we must keep pushing the envelope in both the public and private sector to make this a reality," Keywell said.

The council, which was a recommendation of the Governor's Economic Recovery Commission, will meet at least four times over the next year, starting in March.  The Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, an independent, not-for-profit organization, will also assist the council.  A complete list of members is attached.

For more information and copies of Governor Quinn's operating and capital budget proposals for fiscal year 2012, please visit Budget.Illinois.gov.

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