30
Jan
2001
The Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science recently started construction of its IMAX 3-D theatre. Over the next several months, the construction schedule will focus on earthwork and pouring foundations. Once the critical winter months are through, the construction team will have more information on the remainder of the construction schedule, including an opening date for the theatre. Funding for the project was assisted by $2.07 million from the City of Davenport. Further funding has been provided by $11.6 million in cash and in-kind contributions, bringing the total pledged funding to $14 million to date. A major kickoff event has been planned for March 27, 2001, to celebrate the project and announce a grand-opening date. During the event, donors will be identified and recognized for the contributions to the IMAX project.
Each year, more than 480,000 American adults die from cardiac arrest or its complications. If more people knew cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), some of these lives could be saved. The American Heart Association is using American Heart Month in February to kick off an ongoing campaign to increase the number of people trained in CPR. The campaign includes American Heartsaver Day to recognize those who have identified a cardiac-arrest victim, called 911, and performed CPR to save a life. American Heartsaver Day is scheduled for February 6. The American Heart Association will also host hundreds of free CPR training sessions throughout the nation at the end of April to increase the number of lay people trained in CPR. To find the location of a free-training site near you, call the American Heart Association at (888)532-7627.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has officially announced that it intends to ban most now-legal hemp products in the United States - including all hemp foods, hemp ingredients, and hemp nutritional supplements made from sterile (nonpsychoactive) hemp seeds. The DEA is attempting to achieve this change in U.S. policy quietly by creating an "interim rule" establishing the ban. An interim rule has the force of law once it is published in the Federal Register, and that can be done without vote or public comment. The Coalition To Save Hemp has created a Web site with more information on the proposed regulations: (http://www.SaveHemp.org).
In a panic about the area-code change? You've gotten a small reprieve from the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB), which has delayed implementation of the new 563 area code in Scott County and Muscatine until March 25. The new mandatory dialing deadline is December 2, 2001. IUB officials delayed the implementation so phone directories can include the most current information, customers can report problems, and cellular and business users can reprogram their phone systems to utilize the new area code.
The Free Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., is offering a new booklet, "The 100 Most Popular Government Giveaway Programs," containing information on how citizens can access federal grants. You can find out for yourself by looking at (http://www.freeenterpriseinstitute.org/feiorg/) or by calling (202)595-1031.
Genesis Medical Center has announced that Dr. Conway Chin, D.O., is the new medical director of its physical medicine and rehabilitation services. Dr. Chin is board-certified as a physical-medicine and rehabilitation physician. He most recently served as Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services for Bay Medical Center in Bay City, Michigan. He received his Doctor of Osteopathy from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines and completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation from Rusk Institute at New York University Medical Center. Dr. Chin fills a position vacated by Maurice D. Schnell, M.D., who retired last February.
A bill has been introduced in the Iowa House to expand the state's bottle law to include a nickel deposit on containers holding wine coolers, fruit drinks, water, and other noncarbonated beverages. The anti-litter bottle bill, on the books since 1979, has covered almost all other beverage containers. Backers, including many environmental groups, say the change would help fight litter and improve recycling. Grocery concerns are favoring better curbside recycling and a higher increase than the proposed 1-cent-per-container handling fee paid to those who accept cans and bottles.
The Quad City International Airport will receive $1.45 million in federal funds to continue expansion of its terminal building. The funding will come from the Federal Aviation Administration's airport-improvement program, which will give $53 million in grants to Illinois airports. In 2000, Congress doubled annual federal entitlements from an FAA trust fund, paid into from a ticket tax, so the Quad City International Airport will now receive $2.4 million for capital improvements. The airport's $17 million terminal expansion and renovation, which should be completed by this spring, is being paid for from $6 million in annual entitlements, $6.5 million from a passenger facility charge, and airport reserves. An application to the FAA is being prepared to increase the passenger facility charge from $3 to $4.50 per ticket, which would allow the airport to pay off its bonds about seven years earlier.
Here's a news bit to make you consider that Iowa's legislators have too much time on their hands. Representative Robert Osterhaus (D-Maquoketa) has proposed that the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly be designated as the official state insect for Iowa. Other legislators have proposed more state symbols, including designating "Iowa," a poem by Don Whatoff of Ames, the official state poem. Another forward-thinking legislator has proposed naming the channel catfish as Iowa's official fish.
Each year, more than 480,000 American adults die from cardiac arrest or its complications. If more people knew cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), some of these lives could be saved. The American Heart Association is using American Heart Month in February to kick off an ongoing campaign to increase the number of people trained in CPR. The campaign includes American Heartsaver Day to recognize those who have identified a cardiac-arrest victim, called 911, and performed CPR to save a life. American Heartsaver Day is scheduled for February 6. The American Heart Association will also host hundreds of free CPR training sessions throughout the nation at the end of April to increase the number of lay people trained in CPR. To find the location of a free-training site near you, call the American Heart Association at (888)532-7627.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has officially announced that it intends to ban most now-legal hemp products in the United States - including all hemp foods, hemp ingredients, and hemp nutritional supplements made from sterile (nonpsychoactive) hemp seeds. The DEA is attempting to achieve this change in U.S. policy quietly by creating an "interim rule" establishing the ban. An interim rule has the force of law once it is published in the Federal Register, and that can be done without vote or public comment. The Coalition To Save Hemp has created a Web site with more information on the proposed regulations: (http://www.SaveHemp.org).
In a panic about the area-code change? You've gotten a small reprieve from the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB), which has delayed implementation of the new 563 area code in Scott County and Muscatine until March 25. The new mandatory dialing deadline is December 2, 2001. IUB officials delayed the implementation so phone directories can include the most current information, customers can report problems, and cellular and business users can reprogram their phone systems to utilize the new area code.
The Free Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., is offering a new booklet, "The 100 Most Popular Government Giveaway Programs," containing information on how citizens can access federal grants. You can find out for yourself by looking at (http://www.freeenterpriseinstitute.org/feiorg/) or by calling (202)595-1031.
Genesis Medical Center has announced that Dr. Conway Chin, D.O., is the new medical director of its physical medicine and rehabilitation services. Dr. Chin is board-certified as a physical-medicine and rehabilitation physician. He most recently served as Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services for Bay Medical Center in Bay City, Michigan. He received his Doctor of Osteopathy from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines and completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation from Rusk Institute at New York University Medical Center. Dr. Chin fills a position vacated by Maurice D. Schnell, M.D., who retired last February.
A bill has been introduced in the Iowa House to expand the state's bottle law to include a nickel deposit on containers holding wine coolers, fruit drinks, water, and other noncarbonated beverages. The anti-litter bottle bill, on the books since 1979, has covered almost all other beverage containers. Backers, including many environmental groups, say the change would help fight litter and improve recycling. Grocery concerns are favoring better curbside recycling and a higher increase than the proposed 1-cent-per-container handling fee paid to those who accept cans and bottles.
The Quad City International Airport will receive $1.45 million in federal funds to continue expansion of its terminal building. The funding will come from the Federal Aviation Administration's airport-improvement program, which will give $53 million in grants to Illinois airports. In 2000, Congress doubled annual federal entitlements from an FAA trust fund, paid into from a ticket tax, so the Quad City International Airport will now receive $2.4 million for capital improvements. The airport's $17 million terminal expansion and renovation, which should be completed by this spring, is being paid for from $6 million in annual entitlements, $6.5 million from a passenger facility charge, and airport reserves. An application to the FAA is being prepared to increase the passenger facility charge from $3 to $4.50 per ticket, which would allow the airport to pay off its bonds about seven years earlier.
Here's a news bit to make you consider that Iowa's legislators have too much time on their hands. Representative Robert Osterhaus (D-Maquoketa) has proposed that the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly be designated as the official state insect for Iowa. Other legislators have proposed more state symbols, including designating "Iowa," a poem by Don Whatoff of Ames, the official state poem. Another forward-thinking legislator has proposed naming the channel catfish as Iowa's official fish.
