29
Jan
2002
• The one-cent local-option sales tax in Scott and Muscatine counties that helps fund education might be implemented all across Iowa. The additional statewide sales tax would give those districts that haven't been able to pass a local-option sales tax access to more funding, without having to raise property taxes or relying on a vote. Taxes would not change for those counties that already have the extra one-cent tax. Governor Tom Vilsack said he has concerns about the proposal, although he did not say he would veto such a bill if it made it to his desk. Critics say it's unfair that only some students in Iowa are getting the benefits of the local-option tax. Many school boards and superintendents are pressuring lawmakers to approve a statewide tax and are warning that they're ready to file a lawsuit if nothing is done in the legislature.
• Qualified first-time home-buyers in Rock Island might be eligible to receive 4½ percent of the purchase price as a gift to help cover down payment and origination-fee expenses. HELP (Home Equity Loan Program) makes it possible for buyers to purchase a home with no down payment and receive an interest rate below market rate for up to 30 years. The emphasis will be on designated neighborhoods with funding made possible through a partnership between the City of Rock Island, the Illinois Development Authority, and Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation. For more information, contact Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation at (309)788-6311.
• The continuing financial problems of Amtrak and the nation's quest for air-travel alternatives have meant that a plan for high-speed rail in the Midwest is gaining momentum. The plan calls for locomotives traveling 100 miles per hour that would pull double-decker coach and business cars outfitted with large windows, wide seats, ample leg room, computer hook-ups, and topnotch food in the dining cars. Under the ambitious plan, you would be able to travel from the Quad Cities to all over the Midwest, including Minneapolis, St. Louis, Detroit, Chicago, and Omaha, Nebraska. The system will cost more than $4 billion and would initially use existing tracks that would have to be modified to handle faster trains. The network would be based in Chicago and would involve combining the resources of eight states, an operating company that might be privately owned, and the Federal Railroad Administration. The plan might also need the liquidation of Amtrak along with a great deal of funding from Congress.
• The increased security at the Iowa Statehouse includes a dozen state troopers, who have been made into legislative employees at a cost of $233,000 over the next six months. They will be used to supervise teams of guards who have also been hired. Security measures have included closing most of the entrances to the building and the addition of metal detectors and X-ray machines at the remaining entrances. The total cost of the new security is expected to be well over $1 million.
• If Qwest is your local telephone company, expect another notice in your February bill that will attempt to clarify who can receive your personal calling information. The second notice is the result of concern about a December notice that said the company could share information with affiliated companies such as Qwest Dex and Qwest Wireless, or with other companies when required by law, to improve service, or for commercial reasons. The notice not only attracted the attention of consumers but the Iowa Attorney General's Office. The new notices, with exact wording to be determined after the company consults with customer focus groups, will remind customers that they have until March 29 to notify Qwest that they don't want their information shared. If you don't want your personal information shared, you can call Qwest at (877)628-3732 or log on to (http://www.qwest.com/cpni).
• The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program is looking for volunteers to be trained in speaking up for neglected and abused children in the court system. For more information or to volunteer, contact CASA at (563)322-0956 or (888)826-2272.
• Generations Area Agency on Aging has announced the recent establishment of a partnership with "Happy Joe" Whitty of Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream Parlors. Whitty will be the new spokesperson for The Second Wind Employment Program, a grant-funded initiative helping place job-seekers 50 years old and up into stable employment. Generations will match employers with dependable workers and help pay for any necessary training. Local businesses are encouraged to participate in The Second Wind Employment Program by calling Catherine Pratscher-Woods at (563)324-9085. In addition, job seekers who are at least 50 years old are encouraged to call and sign up for job placement. The program will run from now until June 30.
• The Iowa Farm Bureau has launched a Web site that features environmental news and information with a pro-farm bent. The most interesting features are the links to other Web sites and the links in the "What you can do" section. You can see it for yourself by pointing your Web browser to (http://www.agandenvironment.com).
• According to a recent press release by Pharmos Pharmaceutical Corporation, Phase III human trials on the effectiveness of the synthetic marijuana derivative Dexanabinol for the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury are pending for the first time in the U.S. A previous Phase II trial of 67 Israeli patients by Pharmos demonstrated that Dexanabinol reduced mortality and eased intracranial pressure in patients suffering from severe head injuries. A 1998 U.S. Army rat study also reported that the administration of Dexanabinol five minutes after the onset of nerve-gas-induced seizures significantly reduced brain damage. Similar research conducted by scientists at the National Institutes for Mental Health found that naturally occurring cannabinoids THC and cannabidiol are neuroprotective in animals. You can go right to Pharmos Pharmaceutical's Web site for information on the study at (http://www.pharmoscorp.com/development/dexanabinol.html).
• Qualified first-time home-buyers in Rock Island might be eligible to receive 4½ percent of the purchase price as a gift to help cover down payment and origination-fee expenses. HELP (Home Equity Loan Program) makes it possible for buyers to purchase a home with no down payment and receive an interest rate below market rate for up to 30 years. The emphasis will be on designated neighborhoods with funding made possible through a partnership between the City of Rock Island, the Illinois Development Authority, and Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation. For more information, contact Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation at (309)788-6311.
• The continuing financial problems of Amtrak and the nation's quest for air-travel alternatives have meant that a plan for high-speed rail in the Midwest is gaining momentum. The plan calls for locomotives traveling 100 miles per hour that would pull double-decker coach and business cars outfitted with large windows, wide seats, ample leg room, computer hook-ups, and topnotch food in the dining cars. Under the ambitious plan, you would be able to travel from the Quad Cities to all over the Midwest, including Minneapolis, St. Louis, Detroit, Chicago, and Omaha, Nebraska. The system will cost more than $4 billion and would initially use existing tracks that would have to be modified to handle faster trains. The network would be based in Chicago and would involve combining the resources of eight states, an operating company that might be privately owned, and the Federal Railroad Administration. The plan might also need the liquidation of Amtrak along with a great deal of funding from Congress.
• The increased security at the Iowa Statehouse includes a dozen state troopers, who have been made into legislative employees at a cost of $233,000 over the next six months. They will be used to supervise teams of guards who have also been hired. Security measures have included closing most of the entrances to the building and the addition of metal detectors and X-ray machines at the remaining entrances. The total cost of the new security is expected to be well over $1 million.
• If Qwest is your local telephone company, expect another notice in your February bill that will attempt to clarify who can receive your personal calling information. The second notice is the result of concern about a December notice that said the company could share information with affiliated companies such as Qwest Dex and Qwest Wireless, or with other companies when required by law, to improve service, or for commercial reasons. The notice not only attracted the attention of consumers but the Iowa Attorney General's Office. The new notices, with exact wording to be determined after the company consults with customer focus groups, will remind customers that they have until March 29 to notify Qwest that they don't want their information shared. If you don't want your personal information shared, you can call Qwest at (877)628-3732 or log on to (http://www.qwest.com/cpni).
• The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program is looking for volunteers to be trained in speaking up for neglected and abused children in the court system. For more information or to volunteer, contact CASA at (563)322-0956 or (888)826-2272.
• Generations Area Agency on Aging has announced the recent establishment of a partnership with "Happy Joe" Whitty of Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream Parlors. Whitty will be the new spokesperson for The Second Wind Employment Program, a grant-funded initiative helping place job-seekers 50 years old and up into stable employment. Generations will match employers with dependable workers and help pay for any necessary training. Local businesses are encouraged to participate in The Second Wind Employment Program by calling Catherine Pratscher-Woods at (563)324-9085. In addition, job seekers who are at least 50 years old are encouraged to call and sign up for job placement. The program will run from now until June 30.
• The Iowa Farm Bureau has launched a Web site that features environmental news and information with a pro-farm bent. The most interesting features are the links to other Web sites and the links in the "What you can do" section. You can see it for yourself by pointing your Web browser to (http://www.agandenvironment.com).
• According to a recent press release by Pharmos Pharmaceutical Corporation, Phase III human trials on the effectiveness of the synthetic marijuana derivative Dexanabinol for the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury are pending for the first time in the U.S. A previous Phase II trial of 67 Israeli patients by Pharmos demonstrated that Dexanabinol reduced mortality and eased intracranial pressure in patients suffering from severe head injuries. A 1998 U.S. Army rat study also reported that the administration of Dexanabinol five minutes after the onset of nerve-gas-induced seizures significantly reduced brain damage. Similar research conducted by scientists at the National Institutes for Mental Health found that naturally occurring cannabinoids THC and cannabidiol are neuroprotective in animals. You can go right to Pharmos Pharmaceutical's Web site for information on the study at (http://www.pharmoscorp.com/development/dexanabinol.html).
