DES MOINES, IA (01/13/2011)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald wants every second and third grade teacher in the state to take advantage of the free pencils being offered through Prepare for the Basics. This no-cost program, which provides pencils for students to use during the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, supplied almost 13,500 students with pencils during the 2008-09 school year. "Any teacher interested in participating in the program has until April 1st to submit their requests," stated Fitzgerald. "I really hope all teachers take advantage of this program. It is a small gesture of appreciation for all that they do."

The Prepare for the Basics program also provides information to families about College Savings Iowa, the state's 529 plan that is designed to give them an affordable way to save money for college. "Families who begin saving early are better prepared to meet the educational needs of their children. Any little bit that can be saved now will offset what has to be borrowed in the future," stated Fitzgerald.

College Savings Iowa lets anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - invest for college on behalf of a child. Iowa taxpayers can deduct up to $2,865 in contributions per beneficiary account from their adjusted gross income in 2011.* Investors do not need to be a state resident and can withdraw their investment tax-free to pay for qualified higher education expenses including tuition, books, supplies and room and board at any eligible college, university, community college or accredited technical training school in the United States or abroad.** For more information about College Savings Iowa, go to www.collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116.

Teachers who would like to take part in the Prepare for the Basics program can register online by visiting www.treasurer.state.ia.us and clicking on the financial literacy tab. Materials should be requested at least two weeks prior to testing to ensure timely arrival and will be delivered directly to the participating schools. Supplies are limited, so early registration is advised.

*Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income.

** Earnings on non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax on the earnings, as well as state income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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A worship service for The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be held Sunday afternoon, January 23, 2011 at 4:00pm hosted by St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church at 916 E. Rusholme Street, Davenport, IA.

The theme for the 2011 celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is "One in the Apostle' Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread and Prayer". It comes from the Book of Acts chapter 2 verse 42.

It is generally held that the 1910 World Mission Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland marked the beginnings of the modern ecumenical movement.  Now 101 years later we continue to celebrate that the message of unity is still central to the Christian calling.  This worldwide celebration is sponsored and developed each year by the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute based in Garrison, NY.

The Quad City area planning committee is composed of both area Catholic and Protestant churches, including from Moline: First Congregational United Church of Christ and Hope United Church of Christ, from Rock Island: St. Pius X Catholic Church, St. James Lutheran Church ELCA, and 15th Avenue Christian Disciples of Christ; and from Davenport St. Paul the Apostle Catholic and Faith United Church of Christ; along with Churches United of the Quad City Area.

FEATURED SPEAKER

The speaker for this unity service will be the Rev. David Geenen, Pastor of 15th Avenue Christian Church, Rock Island.  Rev. Geenen is one of the younger members of the clergy in the Quad Cities and will bring that perspective as he looks at ecumenical involvement both that which has gone before since the 1910 World Mission Conference and looking ahead to what may be the future involvement of congregations and church bodies working as one to bring the message of justice and love to the world.  David is a 2007 graduate from Fuller Theological Seminary with an emphasis in Peace and Justice.  David is currently the Vice President of Quad Cities Interfaith and he serves on the National Board of Disciples Home Missions in Indianapolis.  He is also the Co-leader and founder of theplace2be - a faith-based as well as community services effort to create a safe haven for our communities' displaced/homeless youth.

January 12, 2011

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today responded to comments from two senators that a tariff on ethanol imports likely violates international trade rules, as Brazil argues in opposition to U.S. ethanol policy.  Grassley comment:

"This isn't a question for debate.  The highest authority on U.S. trade policy said more than two years ago that the U.S. ethanol tariff is clearly permitted under World Trade Organization rules.  Besides, the United States already provides generous duty-free access to ethanol from Brazil and other countries imported under the Caribbean Basin Initiative, but the CBI cap has never once been filled.  In fact, as of December 20, Brazil and other countries filled the cap for 2010 less than 1 percent."

A letter from then-United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab to Grassley concluding that the U.S. ethanol tariff is WTO-compliant is available here.  A letter from Grassley to Schwab is available here.

Moline, IL; January 11, 2011 - The Black Hawk College men's basketball team will host an Alumni Celebration at their game versus Carl Sandburg College on Saturday, January 29, 2011.

All former BHC men's basketball players will receive free admission to the 3:00 p.m. game.  Alumni are also invited to a post-game reception at 5:00 p.m. at the River House Bar & Grill, 1510 River Drive, Moline.

For more information on the Alumni Celebration, please contact Assistant Men's Basketball Coach David Burke at burked@bhc.edu.

All BHC men's home basketball games are played at 6600 34th Ave., Building 3, Moline.  Their complete schedule can be found online at www.bhc.edu.

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