01
Feb
2005
• The Iowa Department of Transportation reports that Iowans have achieved a major milestone in highway safety, with preliminary data indicating 380 fatalities occurring in 2004. This is the lowest number of fatalities since 1945. Through December 31, 2004, there were 380 fatalities reported by either official agencies or the media. This compares to 440 fatalities reported in 2003 - or 60 more deaths than last year. The five-year average annual fatality rate is nearly 418. For a copy of the complete online report, visit (http://www.iamvd.com/ods/weekly.pdf). This final report is accompanied by three fact sheets that address several key issues that have contributed to the declining fatality numbers: ensuring drivers are fully licensed, competent, and insured; enforcement; and at-risk driver populations. The complete four-part "Safer Roads" series is available on the DOT's Web site at: (http://www.dot.state.ia.us/saferroads.htm).
• John Lewis Community Services will receive nearly $1.3 million for service coordination for the chronically homeless, transitional and permanent supportive housing, and youth transitional housing as part of the $6.8 million Iowa will receive in homeless-assistance funds from the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance. The competitive grant program provides funding for a range of assistance to homeless persons, including transitional housing, permanent housing, and a variety of supportive services.
• Iowans serving in the National Guard or military reserves could soon receive state assistance when purchasing a home under a bill advanced in the state Senate. Under the legislation, the housing assistance program would receive nearly $1 million to help citizen-soldiers purchase homes. To qualify for assistance, members of the National Guard or reserves must have at least 90 days of active-duty service between September 11, 2001, and June 30, 2006. In addition to military housing assistance, the legislation would also provide $10,000 for mental-health services for active-duty members and $650,000 for the National Guard Educational Assistance Program, which helps National Guard members cover the cost of tuition at Iowa colleges and universities. Lawmakers already appropriated $2.9 million to the program for fiscal year 2005. However, the program is experiencing a shortfall this year due to increased enrollment. The money for these programs would come from excess funds in the state's military-pay differential and health-insurance retention program for state employees. In 2003, legislators appropriated $1.8 million for the program. The funds help pay the difference between the salaries and benefits state workers receive on the job and those they receive when on active military duty. A surplus of funds exists because there has been little difference in salaries and benefits between the two areas.
• The St. Ambrose chapter of Phi Eta Sigma, the national honor society into which top students are inducted after their freshman years, is "adopting" a refugee family from Rwanda. Phi Eta Sigma hopes to serve as a network to help the family acclimate itself to American life. Right now, the organization is stocking the family's apartment with necessities (including major items such as beds, a couch, and car seats) to create a nice place for the family to live when it arrives. This is the first year that Phi Eta Sigma has "adopted" a refugee family. The group is working with World Relief in Moline, which is taking care of the family's legal issues. The family of six was scheduled to arrive at the Quad City International Airport on Friday, January 28.
• The Web site (http://www.flexyourrights.org) reports that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in Illinois Versus Caballes that police do not need reasonable suspicion to use drug dogs to sniff a vehicle during a legitimate traffic stop. This decision stems from the case of Roy Caballes, who was pulled over for speeding and subsequently charged with marijuana trafficking after a drug dog was brought to the scene and found drugs in his vehicle. The Illinois Supreme Court reversed his conviction, finding that a drug sniff was unreasonable without evidence of a crime other than speeding. In a 6-2 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Fourth Amendment is not implicated when police use a dog sniff during the course of a legal traffic stop. Justice John Paul Stevens wrote the opinion of the court, finding that because dog sniffs only identify the presence of illegal items - in which citizens have no legitimate privacy interest - the Fourth Amendment does not apply to their use. Justices David Souter and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented, pointing to studies showing that drug dogs frequently return false positives - 12.5 to 60 percent of the time, according to one study. For more information on the ruling, look at (http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/04slipopinion.html) and (http://www.flexyourrights.org).
• Volunteers for the Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure are currently contacting local businesses and organizations to garner in-kind and monetary support for the Quad Cities affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. This year's goal is to raise an additional $10,000 in sponsorships for the annual fundraising race, which is held in June. A partnership brochure detailing needed items and services and the benefits of involvement with the Quad Cities race is available at the organization's Web site: (http://www.qcraceforthecure.org). Interested businesses and organizations can call the race office at (563)421-2873 for more information.
• The Geneseo Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Black Hawk College Foundation, will award one $500 scholarship to Black Hawk College. The recipient must be a Geneseo Chamber of Commerce member or member employee. The scholarship is to be used for continuing education or training opportunities related to current employment. Applications can be picked up at the chamber office, 100 West Main Street, between 9 a.m. and noon and 1 and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Applications can also be found on the organization's Web site: (http://www.geneseo.org). Applications must be returned to the Geneseo Chamber office by March 3. For more information, call the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce at (309)944-2686.
• John Lewis Community Services will receive nearly $1.3 million for service coordination for the chronically homeless, transitional and permanent supportive housing, and youth transitional housing as part of the $6.8 million Iowa will receive in homeless-assistance funds from the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance. The competitive grant program provides funding for a range of assistance to homeless persons, including transitional housing, permanent housing, and a variety of supportive services.
• Iowans serving in the National Guard or military reserves could soon receive state assistance when purchasing a home under a bill advanced in the state Senate. Under the legislation, the housing assistance program would receive nearly $1 million to help citizen-soldiers purchase homes. To qualify for assistance, members of the National Guard or reserves must have at least 90 days of active-duty service between September 11, 2001, and June 30, 2006. In addition to military housing assistance, the legislation would also provide $10,000 for mental-health services for active-duty members and $650,000 for the National Guard Educational Assistance Program, which helps National Guard members cover the cost of tuition at Iowa colleges and universities. Lawmakers already appropriated $2.9 million to the program for fiscal year 2005. However, the program is experiencing a shortfall this year due to increased enrollment. The money for these programs would come from excess funds in the state's military-pay differential and health-insurance retention program for state employees. In 2003, legislators appropriated $1.8 million for the program. The funds help pay the difference between the salaries and benefits state workers receive on the job and those they receive when on active military duty. A surplus of funds exists because there has been little difference in salaries and benefits between the two areas.
• The St. Ambrose chapter of Phi Eta Sigma, the national honor society into which top students are inducted after their freshman years, is "adopting" a refugee family from Rwanda. Phi Eta Sigma hopes to serve as a network to help the family acclimate itself to American life. Right now, the organization is stocking the family's apartment with necessities (including major items such as beds, a couch, and car seats) to create a nice place for the family to live when it arrives. This is the first year that Phi Eta Sigma has "adopted" a refugee family. The group is working with World Relief in Moline, which is taking care of the family's legal issues. The family of six was scheduled to arrive at the Quad City International Airport on Friday, January 28.
• The Web site (http://www.flexyourrights.org) reports that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in Illinois Versus Caballes that police do not need reasonable suspicion to use drug dogs to sniff a vehicle during a legitimate traffic stop. This decision stems from the case of Roy Caballes, who was pulled over for speeding and subsequently charged with marijuana trafficking after a drug dog was brought to the scene and found drugs in his vehicle. The Illinois Supreme Court reversed his conviction, finding that a drug sniff was unreasonable without evidence of a crime other than speeding. In a 6-2 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Fourth Amendment is not implicated when police use a dog sniff during the course of a legal traffic stop. Justice John Paul Stevens wrote the opinion of the court, finding that because dog sniffs only identify the presence of illegal items - in which citizens have no legitimate privacy interest - the Fourth Amendment does not apply to their use. Justices David Souter and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented, pointing to studies showing that drug dogs frequently return false positives - 12.5 to 60 percent of the time, according to one study. For more information on the ruling, look at (http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/04slipopinion.html) and (http://www.flexyourrights.org).
• Volunteers for the Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure are currently contacting local businesses and organizations to garner in-kind and monetary support for the Quad Cities affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. This year's goal is to raise an additional $10,000 in sponsorships for the annual fundraising race, which is held in June. A partnership brochure detailing needed items and services and the benefits of involvement with the Quad Cities race is available at the organization's Web site: (http://www.qcraceforthecure.org). Interested businesses and organizations can call the race office at (563)421-2873 for more information.
• The Geneseo Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Black Hawk College Foundation, will award one $500 scholarship to Black Hawk College. The recipient must be a Geneseo Chamber of Commerce member or member employee. The scholarship is to be used for continuing education or training opportunities related to current employment. Applications can be picked up at the chamber office, 100 West Main Street, between 9 a.m. and noon and 1 and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Applications can also be found on the organization's Web site: (http://www.geneseo.org). Applications must be returned to the Geneseo Chamber office by March 3. For more information, call the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce at (309)944-2686.
