(Augustana College, Rock Island, IL) -Take Davenport-born Susan Glaspell, her turn-of-the-century play Trifles, a bunch of talented Augustana College students, and you have a lively River Readings event on January 20.

Departing from its usual fare of contemporary poets, novelists, and nonfiction writers, River Readings focuses this January on a staged reading of a play. Five students in Augustana College's theatre program, under the direction of senior Bart Curtin, will read Susan Glaspell's short play Trifles. Curtin is studying the play as part of his senior research project in the departments of English and theatre. He selected Trifles because it was written in 1916, soon after the birth of modernism. Following the reading, Curtin, the actors, and theatre program director Jeff Coussens will answer questions about the reading and the play.

Born in Davenport in 1876, Susan Glaspell worked as a reporter in Des Moines before moving to the east coast where with George Cook and others, she founded the Provincetown Players. Trifles, presented in 1916, is based on a murder case Glaspell covered while working for the Des Moines Daily News. Going on to write many plays, novels, and short stories, Glaspell won the Pulitzer Prize in 1931 for her play Alison's House.

Trifles tells the story of a murder through the eyes of two ordinary women of the early 1900's who despite their traditional roles as housewives might just be more astutely observant than the male professional investigators.

"What will make the reading worth attending, "Curtin says, "is a communal appreciation for the role literature played about 100 years ago during a time of change for many types of people. Even to this day the themes expressed in this piece are inherent in our nation's politics."

The reading is free and open to the public and takes place Thursday, January 20, at 7:00 p.m. in Wallenberg Hall (3703 7^th Ave.) on the Augustana College campus. A reception follows the reading.

The River Readings at Augustana is sponsored by the Institute for Leadership and Service, the Thomas Tredway Library, and the English Department at Augustana College.

The River Readings at Augustana calendar:

March 24, Molly McNett, short fiction

April 14, Dora Malech, poetry

ROCK ISLAND, IL (12/15/2010)(readMedia)-- 903 students have been named to the Dean's List at Augustana College for the 2010-11 fall term. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a four-point scale for courses taken during the term.

Martha Ade from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Ade is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in music and English.

Sheila Ahuja from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Ahuja is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Katie Alms from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Alms is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in English and music.

Amber Anderson from Port Byron, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Anderson is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in accounting and math.

Samuel Anderson from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Anderson is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in math and computer science.

Anthony Ash from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Ash is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in accounting and business advising.

Erica Aten from Coal Valley, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Aten is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in psychology.

Angela Bahls from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Bahls is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in communication science & disorders and psychology.

Hannah Boyce from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Boyce is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in psychology and history.

Austin Boyle from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Boyle is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in business advising.

Jasmine Brooks from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Brooks is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in political science.

Allison Brown from Milan, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Brown is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Courtney Brown from Port Byron, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Brown is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Ryan Brummet from Port Byron, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Brummet is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in math.

Anthony Chesser from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Chesser is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in biology.

Tyler Cowherd from Bettendorf, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Cowherd is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Adelle DeVolder from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. DeVolder is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in business finance.

Grace Drenth from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Drenth is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in psychology.

Brianna Dyer from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Dyer is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in teaching English.

Owen Engstrom from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Engstrom is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in political science and multimedia journalism mass communication.

Trevor Fennelly from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Fennelly is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Kayla Ferguson from Orion, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Ferguson is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Alyssa Harmon from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Harmon is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in political science.

Thomas Harris from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Harris is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in biochemistry.

Taelar Hillyer from Bettendorf, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Hillyer is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Darshan Hullon from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Hullon is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Mohammed Hussain from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Hussain is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in biology, pre-medicine and religion.

Gaetano Iaccarino from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Iaccarino is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in music and anthropology.

Michael Kautz from East Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Kautz is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in accounting.

Clare Kilbride from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Kilbride is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in communication science & disorders.

Lauren Kirik from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Kirik is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Kylie Koger from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Koger is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Manisha Kumar from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Kumar is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in pre-medicine and biology.

Matthew Kustes from East Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Kustes is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in business administration management information systems.

Mary Lambrecht from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Lambrecht is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in sociology and psychology.

Anna Letendre from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Letendre is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in business advising.

Madison Logan from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Logan is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Kelsey Lovaas from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Lovaas is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Eryn Maccabee from East Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Maccabee is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Amy Malmstead from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Malmstead is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in business marketing.

Crystina Mayfield from Coal Valley, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Mayfield is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in French.

Courtney Mitten from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Mitten is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in psychology.

Rayna Narvaez from Bettendorf, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Narvaez is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in psychology and Spanish.

Jenna Nelson from Orion, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Nelson is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Leart Neziroski from East Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Neziroski is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in pre-medicine and biology.

Justine Nuguid from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Nuguid is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in pre-medicine and biology.

Jacob O'Rourke from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. O'Rourke is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in pre-medicine, business advising and accounting.

Kayla Papish from East Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Papish is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in teaching math and math.

Aubree Payne from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Payne is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in psychology.

Douglas Peters from Port Byron, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Peters is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in neuroscience.

Owen Pomije from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Pomije is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Sarah Potter from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Potter is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in psychology.

Anna Press from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Press is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Katherine Rea from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Rea is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Michael Reeves from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Reeves is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in accounting.

Lauren Reid from Sherrard, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Reid is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in business marketing.

Alan Sabat from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Sabat is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

James Sales from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Sales is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in biology.

Michael Seevers from Cordova, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Seevers is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in geography.

Britta Shold from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Shold is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in communication science & disorders.

Kalin Showers from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Showers is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in political science.

Meghan Showers from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Showers is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in Asian studies and political science.

Moselle Singh from Le Claire, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Singh is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in anthropology.

Anna Smith from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Smith is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in biology and psychology.

Jonathan Smith from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Smith is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Amber Soike from East Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Soike is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in elementary education.

Cristina Stan from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Stan is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

James Stratton from Sherrard, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Stratton is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Mark Stumphy from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Stumphy is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in biology.

Audrey Taylor from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Taylor is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in teaching biology and biology.

Astrid Tello-Rodriguez from Milan, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Tello-Rodriguez is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in biology and psychology.

Theodore Teros from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Teros is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in philosophy.

Emma Thompson from Port Byron, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Thompson is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Anna Tunnicliff from Bettendorf, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Tunnicliff is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in history.

Anne VanSpeybroeck from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. VanSpeybroeck is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Janelle VanWatermeulen from Silvis, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. VanWatermeulen is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in business marketing.

Courtney Vandewiele from Rock Island, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Vandewiele is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in political science and accounting.

Chelsea Vickerman from Silvis, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Vickerman is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in business advising.

Emily Voigt from Bettendorf, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Voigt is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in business marketing.

Katherine Voigt from Bettendorf, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Voigt is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in biology.

Audrey Waner from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Waner is a senior at Augustana and is majoring in art.

Peter Wessels from Bettendorf, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Wessels is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in business advising and accounting.

James Wiebler from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Wiebler is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Peter Wiese from Davenport, IA was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Wiese is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in neuroscience and math.

Ian Williams from Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Williams is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Laurel Williams from Milan, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Williams is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in communication science & disorders and English.

Kelsey Winter from East Moline, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Winter is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

Jennifer Youngs from Taylor Ridge, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Youngs is a junior at Augustana and is majoring in psychology and political science.

Alyssa Zwicker from Orion, IL was among the students named to the fall term Dean's List. Zwicker is a first year at Augustana and is majoring in liberal studies.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty members and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

Statement by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance

Senate Vote on the Tax Agreement

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

"Preventing a tax increase is the best thing we can do for the economy right now.  It's common sense that you don't raise taxes in a recession, including on employers in small business where 70 percent of new jobs are created.

"The only thing better than passing this legislation would be to make tax relief permanent.  Uncertainty about tax rates works against America's economic recovery.  We've seen nearly 23,000 jobs in biodiesel disappear because its tax incentive was allowed to lapse at the end of last year.  Every small business owner who pays taxes on the individual level faces higher taxes if a tax increase isn't prevented across the board with this legislation.  There's a rule that if you want more of something, don't tax it.  We want more employment, so Congress should not allow higher taxes on employment.

"This legislation extends 51 tax incentives for different sectors of America's economy, including ethanol.  These tax policies have been extended previously because they've been proven to help create economic activity.  This legislative agreement also makes sure the government can't take more than half the estates of farmers and small business owners who have scrimped, sacrificed and saved their entire lives to build up a family business by imposing a 55-percent estate tax even after those business owners spent a lifetime paying income, investment and property taxes.

"Since World War II, the tax burden has averaged 18.2 percent of the gross domestic product.  Even if Congress were to extend all of the current-law tax levels permanently, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office indicates that taxes as a percentage of gross domestic product will still be much higher than they have been over the last 70 years.  So, even if we were to permanently keep the tax rates at current levels, Americans will be overtaxed when compared with what they've paid in recent history.

"We don't have a deficit problem because people are taxed too little.  We have a deficit problem because Washington spends too much. The deficit needs to be taken on through economic growth and reduced spending.  Revenue to the federal Treasury will continue to increase with the level of taxes as they are today, which this bill will secure for two more years.

"Congress needs to listen to the people and support less spending.  In 2010, I voted for $278 billion in spending reductions.  All of those reductions were rejected by the majority party's leaders."

(Moline/Quad Cities)  A small private Cessna aircraft which originated from Chicago-Midway, landed today at the Quad City International Airport at approximately 11:00 a.m. with two passengers aboard.  Upon landing, their aircraft exited the runway and flipped into the snow, causing only minor injuries.  The pilot from Missouri and one passenger from Kansas were taken to a local hospital.  Our first priority was tending to the passengers.  Our second priority then became removing the aircraft from its location, in order to re-open our main runway to commercial traffic (arrivals and departures.) This caused a handful of delays for commercial airline arrivals and departures late this morning and into the noon hour.

The main runway at the QCIA re-opened for commercial arrivals and departures shortly after 1:00 p.m.  There were four commercial aircraft diversions to other regional airports while the runway was closed.  Three of the four inbound aircraft relocated back to the QCIA once the main airport runway re-opened.  One inbound flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul diverted to Cedar Rapids, but did not relocate to the Quad Cities.  However, there was out-bound aircraft for those Minneapolis-St. Paul passengers who were waiting to depart here in the Quad Cities.

Officials at the Quad City International Airport would like to thank all affected travelers for their patience today.  Officials and public safety personnel attended to this matter as quickly as possible, with safety for all in mind during this process.

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