05
Mar
2002
• Recently retired veteran of the Davenport Police Department and lifelong Davenport resident Jim Van Fossen has announced that he is seeking the Republican nomination for Iowa House District 84. Van Fossen said his priorities will be education and balancing the state budget, and he will draw on his background as a police officer to ensure proper security measures are in place to keep Americans safe. The newly created House District 84 includes Buffalo, Blue Grass, Walcott, Durant, Dixon, Eldridge, Long Grove, Lincoln Township, and west Davenport.
• Grant applications for the Scott County Regional Authority (SCRA) spring 2002 grant cycle can be picked up local libraries, city halls, the Scott County Courthouse, and the Bettendorf and Davenport chambers of commerce. The deadline for submitting applications is April 1, and outdated forms will not be accepted. Awards will be announced in late May. Completed applications can be mailed to SCRA; P.O. Box 474; Bettendorf, IA 52722. You can get more information by calling (563)344-2626.
• The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and four major law-school legal clinics announced the launch of a project and Web site to empower Internet users with detailed information about their legal rights in response to cease-and-desist letters designed to restrict their online activities. Titled "Chilling Effects," the project provides basic legal information on issues such as fan fiction, copyright and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, trademark and domain names, anonymous speech, and defamation. New topics will be added as new issues arise. The Chilling Effects team will also offer periodic "weather reports" assessing the legal climate for Internet activity. See for yourself at The Chilling Effects project webs site at (http://www.chillingeffects.org/).
• Starting in July, Davenport's parking rates will be increased to help finance two new downtown parking ramps. The rates for parking permits have not increased in five years, and meter rates haven't increased in 15 years. City leaders say the new rates save taxpayers from footing the bill for the new ramps. Parking rates will increase every three years for the next 20 years to pay for the ramps.
• President Bush's Fiscal Year 2003 budget proposal requests a $1.8 billion increase in funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ), including substantial spending on surveillance, profiling, and information-sharing. To increase public understanding and foster debate on the proposed budget, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has released a report entitled "Paying for Big Brother: A Review of the Proposed FY2003 Budget for the Department of Justice." The report draws attention to the levels of funding that DOJ seeks for surveillance, the nature of the mechanisms proposed, and the unanswered questions regarding the impact of DOJ's proposal on privacy and civil liberties. It analyzes the general programs under DOJ's jurisdiction, as well as programs implemented by the Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS), the proposed new National Security Coordination Council, the Detention Trustee, the Counterterrorism Fund, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Attorneys. EPIC's report is available online at (http://www.epic.org/reports/paying_for_bb.pdf).
• The Scott County Soil & Water Conservation District has announced its annual tree, native-wildflower, and prairie-grass sale. All orders must be pre-paid by April 1, with trees distributed April 26 and the wildflower and prairie grass to be distributed in late May to early June. Proceeds from the sale will go to a local poster contest, scholarships, educational programs, conservation awards, and other community projects. For more information or to request an order form, call (563)391-1403, extension 3.
• The City of Davenport has announced the availability of Council Action Items, commonly referred to as "green sheets," at its Web site (http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/). Click on "Latest News," and then on the left side of the page, click on "City Council Action Items." You will need Adobe Acrobat to read the files.
• State Senator Maggie Tinsman has announced that she has led legislation on the floor of the Iowa Senate that would help crack down on day-care centers that are caught sending bills to the state for children who are no longer under their care. The bill would make the centers subject to administrative sanctions from the Department of Human Services. The Iowa Senate approved the measure 48-0, and Senate File 2232 now goes to the House for more debate.
• The Rummage Closet at 311 East 2nd Street in Davenport is one of many Vera French community mental-health consumer programs. Its purpose is to provide transitional employment and volunteer opportunities for those with mental illness. The Rummage Closet also provides household items and clothing at a reduced cost. Items needed for donation at this time include furniture, sheets, towels, pans, and silverware, as well as clothing and hangers. Pick-up times are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1 and 4 p.m. or as otherwise arranged. All donations are tax-deductible.
• Business owners that get a call from the office of U.S. Representative Tom Davis saying that they have won a national award should be aware that the call is part of a fundraising campaign for the Republican National Committee. Davis represents the 11th District in Virginia, which is why you probably haven't ever heard of him.
• Grant applications for the Scott County Regional Authority (SCRA) spring 2002 grant cycle can be picked up local libraries, city halls, the Scott County Courthouse, and the Bettendorf and Davenport chambers of commerce. The deadline for submitting applications is April 1, and outdated forms will not be accepted. Awards will be announced in late May. Completed applications can be mailed to SCRA; P.O. Box 474; Bettendorf, IA 52722. You can get more information by calling (563)344-2626.
• The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and four major law-school legal clinics announced the launch of a project and Web site to empower Internet users with detailed information about their legal rights in response to cease-and-desist letters designed to restrict their online activities. Titled "Chilling Effects," the project provides basic legal information on issues such as fan fiction, copyright and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, trademark and domain names, anonymous speech, and defamation. New topics will be added as new issues arise. The Chilling Effects team will also offer periodic "weather reports" assessing the legal climate for Internet activity. See for yourself at The Chilling Effects project webs site at (http://www.chillingeffects.org/).
• Starting in July, Davenport's parking rates will be increased to help finance two new downtown parking ramps. The rates for parking permits have not increased in five years, and meter rates haven't increased in 15 years. City leaders say the new rates save taxpayers from footing the bill for the new ramps. Parking rates will increase every three years for the next 20 years to pay for the ramps.
• President Bush's Fiscal Year 2003 budget proposal requests a $1.8 billion increase in funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ), including substantial spending on surveillance, profiling, and information-sharing. To increase public understanding and foster debate on the proposed budget, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has released a report entitled "Paying for Big Brother: A Review of the Proposed FY2003 Budget for the Department of Justice." The report draws attention to the levels of funding that DOJ seeks for surveillance, the nature of the mechanisms proposed, and the unanswered questions regarding the impact of DOJ's proposal on privacy and civil liberties. It analyzes the general programs under DOJ's jurisdiction, as well as programs implemented by the Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS), the proposed new National Security Coordination Council, the Detention Trustee, the Counterterrorism Fund, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Attorneys. EPIC's report is available online at (http://www.epic.org/reports/paying_for_bb.pdf).
• The Scott County Soil & Water Conservation District has announced its annual tree, native-wildflower, and prairie-grass sale. All orders must be pre-paid by April 1, with trees distributed April 26 and the wildflower and prairie grass to be distributed in late May to early June. Proceeds from the sale will go to a local poster contest, scholarships, educational programs, conservation awards, and other community projects. For more information or to request an order form, call (563)391-1403, extension 3.
• The City of Davenport has announced the availability of Council Action Items, commonly referred to as "green sheets," at its Web site (http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/). Click on "Latest News," and then on the left side of the page, click on "City Council Action Items." You will need Adobe Acrobat to read the files.
• State Senator Maggie Tinsman has announced that she has led legislation on the floor of the Iowa Senate that would help crack down on day-care centers that are caught sending bills to the state for children who are no longer under their care. The bill would make the centers subject to administrative sanctions from the Department of Human Services. The Iowa Senate approved the measure 48-0, and Senate File 2232 now goes to the House for more debate.
• The Rummage Closet at 311 East 2nd Street in Davenport is one of many Vera French community mental-health consumer programs. Its purpose is to provide transitional employment and volunteer opportunities for those with mental illness. The Rummage Closet also provides household items and clothing at a reduced cost. Items needed for donation at this time include furniture, sheets, towels, pans, and silverware, as well as clothing and hangers. Pick-up times are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1 and 4 p.m. or as otherwise arranged. All donations are tax-deductible.
• Business owners that get a call from the office of U.S. Representative Tom Davis saying that they have won a national award should be aware that the call is part of a fundraising campaign for the Republican National Committee. Davis represents the 11th District in Virginia, which is why you probably haven't ever heard of him.
