03
Dec
2002
· The Scott County Regional Authority (SCRA) awarded 91 grant recipients a total of more than $2 million during its 2002 fall grant-awards cycle. Grants to education totaled $665,138, not-for-profit organizations were awarded $652,242, and government entities received $684,328 for a total of $2,001,708, making this the eighth consecutive cycle in which the authority has been able to award more than $2 million. (The authority distributes proceeds from the Isle of Capri riverboat casino in Bettendorf.) Highlights include the Scott County Fire Chiefs' Association award of $55,000 to be used to update radio communications for volunteer fire departments. The City of Davenport received $15,000 for water-taxi dock relocation in south Lindsay Park, $50,000 for the John O'Donnell Stadium renovation project, and $20,000 for well-pump installation at the Red Hawk Golf Course irrigation pond. The complete list of recipients, and applications for the next grant cycle (which will be available starting March 1 and are due by April 1), can be found at the SCRA Web site at (http://www.scottcountyregionalauthority.com).
· Trinity Regional Health System has confirmed plans to begin construction on a $10-million expansion of its obstetrical unit at its facility located at 500 John Deere Road in Moline. On November 21, the State of Illinois approved Trinity's certificate-of-need filing that enables it to begin construction on the 35,000-square-foot expansion in early 2003. The new wing will include 18 private obstetrical patient rooms, eight labor and delivery rooms, two cesarean-section rooms, a newborn nursery, a neonatal special-care unit, and an education area. Trinity has been working with architects Albert Kahn Associates of Detroit to plan the expansion, which it hopes to finish in early 2004. The new addition will allow obstetrical patients an increased opportunity for a private room. By transferring the obstetrical unit from the campus at 2701 17th Street in Rock Island, the hospital will increase by 44 the number of private rooms used for medical/surgical patients as well.
· Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson recently announced plans to re-appoint 12 state-department directors for their second terms. Vilsack and Pederson also announced that a search is underway to replace six directors whose resignations were accepted. Shortly after the November 5 election, Vilsack and Pederson asked for the resignations of all state-department heads. Vilsack and Pederson also announced that one interim head, Mark Haverland, has been selected as the permanent director of the Department of Elder Affairs.
· The Quad Cities Graduate Study Center (GradCenter) has announced a newly updated Web site at (http://www.gradcenter.org). Based on feedback from the GradCenter's Student Advisory Council, the Web site has been made easier to navigate. Drop-down menus provide ready access to information on member institutions, more than 70 graduate degree and certificate programs, and the courses to be offered during the spring 2003 term.
· Thanks to another round of funding, Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation (RIEGC) will be offering approximately 12 prospective homebuyers the opportunity to become homeowners with assistance toward down payment, closing costs, and rehabilitation of homes. This is the second such announcement in recent weeks, bringing the total funding for homebuyers by the Illinois Housing Development Authority to $837,000 and a total of 30 homes. The program is now available for homes purchased within the City of Rock Island. Interested participants should contact RIEGC at (309)788-6311 for information concerning program qualifications.
· Iowa State Senator Maggie Tinsman (R-Bettendorf) has been named chairperson of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Services. This committee provides funding for programs such as Medicaid and prevention programs. The legislative session starts January 13, and Tinsman will be serving her fifth term in the Iowa Senate. In addition to serving as chair of the Human Services budget subcommittee, Tinsman is also a member of the Appropriations, Human Resources, Judiciary, and State Government committees.
· Each winter, hundreds of American Bald Eagles visit our area. Because eagles attract a large number of eagle-watchers and are easily frightened by people, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have been working together to provide safe roosting areas for the wintering birds. The Iowa side of Lock & Dam 13, a popular fishing area during the summer, will be closed to foot traffic during the bald-eagle season (November 15 to February 25) to protect the birds in this prime roosting area. Other portions of Lock & Dam 13 have been closed for "national security" reasons, including a portion of the roadway leading to the lock building and the visitor outlook building. All other recreation areas at Lock & Dam 13 are open to eagle viewing. The lock building and visitor outlook will be open to the public for one day for the Annual Bald Eagle Watch on Saturday, January 4. For more information about the eagle-roosting areas or eagle viewing, contact the Thomson Park Rangers at (815)259-3628 or the Fish and Wildlife Service at (815)273-2732.
· Much of your life is recorded in databases of various sorts. You leave records every time you buy groceries with a discount card, shop online, or go to the doctor. Total Information Awareness (TIA) proposes that the government collect all of this data, creating a body of information that refers to virtually every single person in the United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has said that it plans to "create privacy filters, 'aliasing' methods, and automated data-expunging agents to protect the privacy of U.S. citizens, and those not involved with foreign terrorists." However, it is not certain that there can be any meaningful privacy protection if a system like this is deployed. Wander through the TIA project page at (http://www.darpa.mil/iao/TIASystems.htm) and the program page at the Information Awareness Office at (http://www.darpa.mil/iao/programs.htm). Keep yourself informed by looking at Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org), and the American Civil Liberties Union at (http://www.aclu.org).
· Trinity Regional Health System has confirmed plans to begin construction on a $10-million expansion of its obstetrical unit at its facility located at 500 John Deere Road in Moline. On November 21, the State of Illinois approved Trinity's certificate-of-need filing that enables it to begin construction on the 35,000-square-foot expansion in early 2003. The new wing will include 18 private obstetrical patient rooms, eight labor and delivery rooms, two cesarean-section rooms, a newborn nursery, a neonatal special-care unit, and an education area. Trinity has been working with architects Albert Kahn Associates of Detroit to plan the expansion, which it hopes to finish in early 2004. The new addition will allow obstetrical patients an increased opportunity for a private room. By transferring the obstetrical unit from the campus at 2701 17th Street in Rock Island, the hospital will increase by 44 the number of private rooms used for medical/surgical patients as well.
· Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson recently announced plans to re-appoint 12 state-department directors for their second terms. Vilsack and Pederson also announced that a search is underway to replace six directors whose resignations were accepted. Shortly after the November 5 election, Vilsack and Pederson asked for the resignations of all state-department heads. Vilsack and Pederson also announced that one interim head, Mark Haverland, has been selected as the permanent director of the Department of Elder Affairs.
· The Quad Cities Graduate Study Center (GradCenter) has announced a newly updated Web site at (http://www.gradcenter.org). Based on feedback from the GradCenter's Student Advisory Council, the Web site has been made easier to navigate. Drop-down menus provide ready access to information on member institutions, more than 70 graduate degree and certificate programs, and the courses to be offered during the spring 2003 term.
· Thanks to another round of funding, Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation (RIEGC) will be offering approximately 12 prospective homebuyers the opportunity to become homeowners with assistance toward down payment, closing costs, and rehabilitation of homes. This is the second such announcement in recent weeks, bringing the total funding for homebuyers by the Illinois Housing Development Authority to $837,000 and a total of 30 homes. The program is now available for homes purchased within the City of Rock Island. Interested participants should contact RIEGC at (309)788-6311 for information concerning program qualifications.
· Iowa State Senator Maggie Tinsman (R-Bettendorf) has been named chairperson of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Services. This committee provides funding for programs such as Medicaid and prevention programs. The legislative session starts January 13, and Tinsman will be serving her fifth term in the Iowa Senate. In addition to serving as chair of the Human Services budget subcommittee, Tinsman is also a member of the Appropriations, Human Resources, Judiciary, and State Government committees.
· Each winter, hundreds of American Bald Eagles visit our area. Because eagles attract a large number of eagle-watchers and are easily frightened by people, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have been working together to provide safe roosting areas for the wintering birds. The Iowa side of Lock & Dam 13, a popular fishing area during the summer, will be closed to foot traffic during the bald-eagle season (November 15 to February 25) to protect the birds in this prime roosting area. Other portions of Lock & Dam 13 have been closed for "national security" reasons, including a portion of the roadway leading to the lock building and the visitor outlook building. All other recreation areas at Lock & Dam 13 are open to eagle viewing. The lock building and visitor outlook will be open to the public for one day for the Annual Bald Eagle Watch on Saturday, January 4. For more information about the eagle-roosting areas or eagle viewing, contact the Thomson Park Rangers at (815)259-3628 or the Fish and Wildlife Service at (815)273-2732.
· Much of your life is recorded in databases of various sorts. You leave records every time you buy groceries with a discount card, shop online, or go to the doctor. Total Information Awareness (TIA) proposes that the government collect all of this data, creating a body of information that refers to virtually every single person in the United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has said that it plans to "create privacy filters, 'aliasing' methods, and automated data-expunging agents to protect the privacy of U.S. citizens, and those not involved with foreign terrorists." However, it is not certain that there can be any meaningful privacy protection if a system like this is deployed. Wander through the TIA project page at (http://www.darpa.mil/iao/TIASystems.htm) and the program page at the Information Awareness Office at (http://www.darpa.mil/iao/programs.htm). Keep yourself informed by looking at Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org), and the American Civil Liberties Union at (http://www.aclu.org).
