07 Oct 2010

HUD ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO HELP IOWA HOMEOWNERS STRUGGLING WITH UNEMPLOYMENT

By Dale Gray

DES MOINES - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that HUD will provide over $17.3 million to help struggling homeowners in Iowa through its Emergency Homeowners Loan Program (EHLP).  The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law by President Obama in July, authorizes HUD to administer a $1 billion Emergency Homeowners Loan Program, to provide assistance - for up to 24 months -- to homeowners who have experienced a substantial reduction in income due to involuntary unemployment, underemployment, or a medical condition and are at-risk of foreclosure.  HUD will assist borrowers in 32 states and Puerto Rico not otherwise funded by Treasury's Hardest Hit Housing Fund program, based on the state's relative share of unemployed homeowners.  It is HUD's intention for the program to begin taking applications from eligible homeowners by the end of the year.

"The Emergency Homeowner Loan Program will provide limited and targeted assistance to help working families get back on their feet and keep their home while they look for work," said Donovan.  "In crafting this new loan program, HUD built on the lessons learned from Treasury's Hardest Hit initiative to design and implement a program to assist struggling unemployed homeowners avoid preventable foreclosures.  Together these two initiatives represent a combined $8.6 billion investment to help struggling borrowers and in doing so further contribute to the Obama Administration's efforts to stabilize housing markets and communities across the country."

Who Will Be Helped

The program will complement existing Administration efforts to assist struggling homeowners - including the Home Affordable Modification and Hardest Hit Fund initiative administered by the U.S. Treasury Department.  Under the EHLP:

1)      the borrower must be at least three months delinquent in their payments and have a reasonable likelihood of being able to resume repayment of their mortgage payments and related housing expenses within two years;

2)      the property must be the principle residence of the borrower, and eligible borrowers may not own a second home;

3)      the borrower must have suffered at least a 15 percent reduction in income and have been able to afford their mortgage payments prior to the event that triggered the loss income.

How They Will Be Helped

The HUD Emergency Homeowners Loan Program will offer a forgivable, deferred payment "bridge loan" (zero percent interest, non-recourse, subordinate loans) for up to $50,000 to assist eligible borrowers with their mortgage arrearages and payments on their mortgage principal, interest, mortgage insurance premiums, taxes and hazard insurance for up to 24 months.

There will be a dual delivery approach for program administration.  The first approach will delegate some of the program's administrative functions to a designated third party.  The second approach will enable state housing finance agencies (HFAs) that operate substantially similar programs to engage in relief efforts on behalf of residents of their state:

o   Delegated approach:  HUD will delegate key program administration functions to NeighborWorks® America - an experienced and highly regarded national network of affiliated housing counseling agencies.  Under the program, nonprofit housing counselors who are part of the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program administered by NeighborWorks® America will coordinate intake counseling, document preparation and outreach functions.  HUD will also use its delegation authority to contract with an experienced entity to provide loan servicing and fiscal control functions such as collecting payments from homeowners, distributing payments to servicers, and managing loan balances.

o   Substantially similar state law approach:  State HFAs that operate loan assistance programs that are determined by HUD to be substantially similar to the EHLP will receive allocations to fund emergency loans for borrowers in their states as well as payments to cover the administrative costs of performing the intake and housing counseling and fiscal agent functions (described above) directly or indirectly through subcontracts with third parties.

HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and  transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.

###

07 Oct 2010

Shop for a cure" At YOUNKERS AND HERBERGER'S to support breast cancer research

By Rick Martin

~The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Charge Against Breast Cancer™~

MILWAUKEE, WI. (October 4, 2010) Younkers and Herberger's announced today the official kick-off to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with special promotions to support breast cancer research at The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Now until October 30, Younkers and Herberger's will have a "Pink Shop" set-up in every store with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each item in the shop being donated to fund breast cancer research. A special collection of over 20 items will be sold in the Pink Shop for men, women and children, many of which are exclusive items to the stores such as a photo key chain, $5; a Bath and Body tote, $19.99; Studio Works embroidered fleece sweatshirts, $16.98; Breckenridge fleece cardigan, vests, and tee's, $22.99; and an Aromatique pink candle for $18.50 plus items from top vendors such as Colombia, Champion, Karen Neuburger and Clinique. All items are available for purchase in-store and several items are available online at www.younkers.com or www.herbergers.com during the month of October.

"For more than 10 years, the contributions from our "Charge Against Breast Cancer" programs have funded important research, which is critical to find a cure for this disease," said Bud Bergren, President and CEO of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. "During October, our goal is to raise $150,000, and we believe our customers share our commitment to this cause."

All of Younkers and Herberger's donations from their Iowa stores will go to The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, which is Iowa's only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center. NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers are recognized as the leaders in developing new approaches to cancer prevention and cancer care, conducting leading research and educating the public about cancer. Visit the center online at www.uihealthcare.com/cancer.

In addition to offering customers a great shopping experience, Younkers, Herberger's and the entire family of Bon-Ton Stores support its communities by promoting and raising money and awareness for non-profit organizations, like its Goodwill Sale and Community Day event. Through its partnerships with non-profit organizations, Bon-Ton touches its customers in all of its communities as well as their friends and family members who benefit from these organizations.

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 277 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, in the Detroit, Michigan area, under the Parisian nameplate. 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.

# # # 

07 Oct 2010

Illinois National Guard Soldiers Battle It out at All-Army Combatives

By readMedia

Team Places Fifth out of 54

FORT BENNING, GA., (10/04/2010)(readMedia)-- Twelve Soldiers with the Illinois Army National Guard travelled to Fort Benning, Ga. with the goal of winning a title in their weight class at the All-Army Combatives Tournament Oct. 1 to 3.

There were 462 Active Duty, Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers and 54 teams competing to prove they are the Army's best at hand-to-hand combat. Overall, the Illinois Army National Guard team placed fifth out of 57 teams nationwide. The three-day competition tested Soldier's skills in close-quarters combat.

On Oct. 3, Sgt. Aoutneil Magny of Dalton, with the 708th Medical Company based in North Riverside won third place in the middleweight class title after a three-day battle on the mats.

Magny won his final fight in the third round by bringing his opponent into submission. The North Riverside Soldier has been training since he was 13 years old when he started wrestling. When Magny was 18, he expanded his fighting skills by adding kick boxing. Now, Magny trains under Torres Martial Arts Academy in Hammond, Ind.

"I was really excited walking into the ring," said Magny before his final fight. "I was even more excited once I won. I really can't wait to teach other Soldiers combatives and show them it does work."

Second Lt. Ivan Iotchkolovsky of River Grove with A Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, took fourth place in the heavyweight division. Three other Soldiers also placed in their weight class; Sgt. Adam Therriault of Aurora, with A Company, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Marseilles Training Center, placed eighth in Welter weight class, Staff Sgt. Nicolas Grant of Caseyville, with the 129th Regional Training Institute in Springfield, finished 12th in middleweight class and Maj. Jeffary Jiannoni of Petersburg, with the Joint Force Headquarters in Springfield placed 12th for cruiserweight class.

Fighters competed individually in brackets based on weight class while team points were awarded based on individual placement. The tournament was a modified double elimination and consisted of three rounds. The first round was standard rules, strictly ground fighting. The second round was intermediate rules which allowed open hand strikes to the head, punches to the body, knee strikes and kicks. The finals were advanced rules that allowed full contact; ground fighting, punches, kicks and knee strikes.

04 Oct 2010

Braley to Meet with Employers and Workers to Discuss the Back to Work Extension Act

By Caitlin Legacki

Washington, DC - Congressman Braley will meet with employers and workers in Davenport, Clinton and Dubuque to discuss employees who have been called back to work or found new jobs because of the Back to Work Act. Braley's Back to Work tax credit was signed into law in March. Between February and June 2010, Iowa businesses hired more than 53,733 workers who qualified for the tax credit.

Due to facility restrictions, media are not allowed on the tour in Clinton, but are invited to attend a media availability following the tour.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5

WHAT: Rep. Braley to meet with workers and representatives from the United Auto Workers Local #94 and Dubuque Area Building Trades. They will discuss the Back to Work Extension Act.

WHEN: 10:00 AM CDT

WHERE: UAW Local #94 Office

3450 Central Ave

Dubuque, Iowa

 

WHAT: Rep. Braley to tour TMK-IPSCO plant in Camanche and will discuss the Back to Work Extension Act.

WHEN: Media availability at 12:45 PM CDT

WHERE: TMK-IPSCO

2011 7th Ave

Camanche, Iowa

Please enter plant through the main office entrance

 

WHAT: Rep. Braley to meet with workers and representatives from the Carpenters Union Local #4 and the Tri-City Building Trades to discuss the Back to Work Extension Act

WHEN: 2:00 PM CDT

WHERE: Carpenters Local #4 Hall

6623 West Kimberly Road

Davenport, Iowa

###

04 Oct 2010

Harkin Announces $500,000 Coming to Iowa for Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program

By Sen. Tom Harkin
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that Iowa will receive $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP).  The program incentivizes owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch and forest land to voluntarily give hunters, anglers, hikers, bird watchers and other recreational outdoor enthusiasts access to land for their enjoyment.  VPA-HIP provides funding for existing public access programs, to create new public access programs, or to provide incentives to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled lands.  VPA-HIP funds may be used to provide rental payments and other incentives, such as technical or conservation services to landowners who, in return, provide the public access to their land.

"As a sportsman I have always appreciated Iowa's beautiful outdoor spaces for hunting and fishing," said Harkin.  "I am pleased that today's funding not only promotes conservation of lands, but gives other Iowans the opportunity to enjoy all our natural treasures."

Harkin is a senior member of the Senate Agriculture committee and the Appropriations subcommittee that funds USDA.  For more information on VPA-HIP and other FSA programs, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/vpa.
04 Oct 2010

Grassley Works to Stop Abusive Spending for Government Travel

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley said new information about taxpayers having to pay $8,000 for a 160-mile trip by a senior government official underscores the need to limit unnecessary government travel expenses.

"Chartered aircraft may be necessary for emergencies, but there's no need for taxpayers to spend $8,000 for a 160-mile flight, as the Health and Human Services Secretary did when traveling from Topeka, Kansas to Omaha, Nebraska.  That would have been less than a three-hour drive," Grassley said.  "Government officials always should avoid extravagant and unnecessary expenses at taxpayer expense."

A Department of Health and Human Services memo, obtained by Grassley earlier this year, showed that in fiscal 2008 there was a six-percent increase in the number of federal employees traveling internationally and a nearly 14-percent increase in the cost of that travel.  More than 95 percent of the international travel was by employees of agencies that fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Human Services.  In response to questions from Grassley about this travel, a former Health and Human Services official informed Grassley that an Assistant Secretary for the Department had severely reduced oversight of personnel travel expenses.

In addition to conducting oversight to hold federal agencies accountable and bring about reduced travel costs, Grassley voted this year to eliminate non-essential government travel.

Grassley's February 17, 2010 letter to Secretary Sebelius about this issue is available here.

Grassley's May 5, 2010 letter to Secretary Sebelius about this issue is available here.

Grassley's October 4, 2010 letter to Secretary Sebelius about this issue is available here.

-30-

04 Oct 2010

Corps permits may be needed for flood damage repairs

By Susan Yager
ROCK ISLAND, Ill., - As repairs to property damaged by 2010 flooding takes place, the first thing that comes to mind may be obtaining the proper building permits. There is one permit that is often overlooked, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit.

Many damages are on high ground and do not require permits under the Corps' authorities. However, some repairs must be permitted by the Corps.

Repair of Structures

If repairs involve a discharge of dredged or fill material into a stream or wetland for the replacement of a previously authorized, currently serviceable, structure or fill to its pre-disaster condition, the work is authorized by Nationwide Permit Three. Any work related to repairing flood damage should commence, or be under contract to commence, within two years of the flood.

Removal of Flood-Deposited Sediment and Debris

If the removal involves flood-deposited sediment and debris from the navigable waters listed on our website, http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/Regulatory/Documents/navwaters.pdf, you are required to file an application and receive a response from the Corps. This type of work is limited to an area within 200 feet of an existing structure. All excavated material must be deposited and retained in an upland, non-wetland location.

Permits are not needed from the Corps if work does not involve the above rivers or flood-deposited sediment and debris is not returned or placed in any water of the United States, including wetlands.

Restoration of Altered Streams

If stream channels have completely changed course due to this year's flooding, or if a secondary channel has scoured out on the flood plain, the area may be restored to the 2010 pre-flood conditions under Nationwide Permit 27. Restored stream banks should be protected with riprap or water-tolerant vegetation. Written verification should be received from this office prior to starting work.

Restoration of Upland Areas

If discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States are necessary to restore upland areas lost because of the flooding, the work can be conducted with a Nationwide Permit 45. Property lost through gradual erosion over a period of years may not be reconstructed under this nationwide permit. Written verification should be received from this office prior to starting work.

Work on Federal Lands

Individuals proposing any work on federal land should contact the Rock Island District Real Estate Division office at (309) 794-5234 or (309) 794-5201 to determine what permissions are needed before commencing work.

All terms and conditions for the above Nationwide Permits are included in the Fact Sheets available at http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/Regulatory/. Please select the Nationwide Permit section for your state. Application forms and instructions are also available at this website.

Should you have any questions about Corps permits or need an application, please call Donna Jones at 309-794-5371, email donna.m.jones@usace.army.mil, or write to the Rock Island District, ATTN: Regulatory Branch, P. O. Box 2004, Rock Island, IL 61204

- 30 -
04 Oct 2010

QC Animal Welfare Center Schedules Additional Saturday Clinic For October

By Patti Lahn

(Milan, IL = Oct ober 4, 2010) The Quad City Animal Welfare Center has scheduled an additional Low Cost High Quality Wellness/Vaccination Clinic for Saturday, October 9, 2010 from 10am until 12pm, no appointment necessary.

The QCAWC Low Cost High Quality Wellness/Vaccination services and pricing can be seen by visiting the Quad City Animal Welfare Center's website at www.qcawc.org.

The Quad City Animal Welfare Center is the only full service, no kill animal shelter located in the Quad Cities.  Our mission is a shelter for homeless animals, to offer a spay and a neuter program and to provide humane education.  QCAWC Adoption Center is open Monday-Saturday from 12pm until 5pm with extended hours on Wednesday until 6pm.

The QCAWC Low Cost High Quality Wellness/Vaccination Clinic is open every Wednesday at 1pm and the first Saturday of each month at 10am with no appointment necessary.  Low cost, high quality spaying and neutering is offered by calling 309-787-6830, ext 26 or 27 for an appointment.

QCAWC is located at 724 West 2nd Avenue in Milan. For further information, please contact QCAWC at 309-787-6830.

04 Oct 2010

Poetry of Salvatore Marici

By Narveen Aryaputri

Independent Scholar's Evening

Poetry

of

Salvatore Marici

The Midwest Writing Center poet-in-resident will

present a one-timed reading about

Mortals, Nature, and their Spirits.

October 14 2010

2nd Floor of

The Moline Commercial Club

513 16th Street

Moline Il 61265

Wine, beverages and light refreshments are hosted.

Cash bar is available at 6:30 pm.

Salvatore Marici is the 2010 Collins Poetry Residency poet. Sal will serve as poet-in-residence at the Midwest Writing Center (MWC) throughout the month of October. He will encourage community-based poets who are developing their craft outside of a formal academic setting, and to provide a forum to showcase their work through an online poetry journal and in a public reading of their poems at 7 p.m. on October 27 at MWC. He will also conduct 3 readings and 2 workshops. See http://communitybasedpoetry.blogspot.com/ for dates and updated events.

Sal began writing poetry in 2002 and has never looked back. Since then, his poetry has seen print in numerous literary journals and regional and national publications. In 2009 and 2010, he took second place in MWC's Iron Pen contest, and this year was a national finalist in the Mississippi River Valley Poetry contest. He is a member of the Quint City Poets and the LeClaire Writers, and is a regular participant in MWC's Out Loud monthly open reading.

The Independent Scholars' Evenings are sponsored by

The Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, Ltd.

A 501(c)3 organization at state and federal levels incorporated in 1996

www.qcinstitute.org

The event is free and open to the public

04 Oct 2010

Independent Scholars' Evening

By Narveen Aryaputri
" This Sky I Know"
Poet Sheri Grutz.
At

7.00 pm
OCTOBER 7TH. 2010

2nd. Floor
of
The Moline Commercial Club.
513 16th. Street
Moline IL 61265
Sheri Grutz has earned a B.A. in English from The University of Iowa. She lives in DeWitt, Iowa with her two kids and her dog.
During her attendance in college, Sheri Grutz became aware of two things: that she was a targeted individual and that she was developing schizophrenia. This book of poems was written during hard times that atry to get at what it is like to live like this.
From a creative standpoint and with recurring themes of God and Heaven, this book is a miracle work of something tragic.
"The SKy I Know" can be ordered online at
www.xlibrix.com, www.amazon.com , www.barnesandnoble.com


Wine, beverages and light refreshments are hosted..
Cash bar is available at 6.30 pm.

The Independent Scholars' Evenings are sponsored by
The Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, Ltd.
a 501(c)3 organization at state and federal levels incorporated in 1996

www.qcinstitute.org

309-762-9202

The event is free and open to the public.

THE INSTITUTE FOR CULTURAL & HEALING TRADITIONS, Ltd.

.......................................development through innovative scholarship

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