DES MOINES, IOWA (February 11, 2020) — A Polk County judge has ordered a Quad Cities-based telemarketing operation to pay nearly $2.6 million and permanently banned it from doing business after finding the operation had defrauded small businesses across the nation.

Polk County District Judge Heather Lauber granted Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller’s request for summary judgment against owner Alphonso Barnum of Davenport, several of his associates, and 10 companies.

WASHINGTON DC (February 11, 2020) — Representative Dave Loebsack will have a member of his staff in Clinton and Scott Counties for open office hours. Brian Kramer, Loebsack’s District Representative, will be at the following locations. Brian Kramer will be on hand to work with individuals who are having difficulty with a government agency, have suggestions for Rep Loebsack, or would just like to share their concerns. Members of the public are invited to attend.

ATCHISON, KANSAS (February 11, 2020) — Benedictine College has recognized those students who have distinguished themselves academically during the last semester, which ended December 10, 2019. 

GREENCASTLE, INDIANA (February 11, 2020 — Katherine Douglas from Coal Valley, Illinois, has been named to DePauw University's Fall 2019 Dean's List.

The Dean's List recognizes students who achieve a semester grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Congratulations on this well earned achievement!

“We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” — Benjamin Franklin

DES MOINES, IOWA (February 11, 2020) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is encouraging Iowa high schools to conduct voter registration drives on Tuesday, March 3. Every school that registers at least 90 percent of its eligible students to vote receives the Carrie Chapman Catt Award, named after the Iowan who was a national leader in the women’s suffrage movement. Nine schools across the state have already qualified for the Catt Award. The deadline for this school year is April 1, 2020.

OXFORD, OHIO (February 11, 2020) — Benjamin White was named to the Miami University fall 2019 president's list.

Miami University students who are ranked in the top three percent of undergraduate students within each division for first semester 2019-20 have been named to the president's list recognizing academic excellence.

White, from Davenport, IA (52804), is majoring in Biology, Environmental Science, Environmental Science.

On January 15, Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. According to the US Constitution, that makes the ERA part of "the supreme law of the land."

DES MOINES, IOWA (February 11, 2020) — The Iowa chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, applauded the introduction of extreme-risk legislation that would empower law-enforcement officers to ask a court to temporarily block a person’s access to guns if there is evidence that they pose a threat to themself or others.

DES MOINES, IOWA (February 11, 2020) — Employers, non-profit groups, and educational institutions are encouraged to apply for the Future Ready Iowa Summer Youth Intern Program grant, a funding opportunity to place youth at risk of not graduating high school in internships primarily in high-demand career fields. The State of Iowa has appropriated $250,000 of funds to support the Summer Youth Intern program. The application period opens February 11 and closes March 11. 

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