07
Jan
2003
• State Representative Cindy Winckler (D-Davenport) was recently selected as a fellow by the Flemming Leadership Institute, a program that trains emerging state legislators from across the country. Winckler joins a bipartisan group of 30 legislators in their first or second terms who have demonstrated superior leadership ability, dedication to public service, and a commitment to use government to implement practical policy solutions. The Flemming Leadership Institute was established in 1994 by the Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), a progressive policy institute based in Washington, D.C. More than 300 state legislators from all 50 states have graduated from the Flemming program. The 2003 class of Flemming fellows will participate in two retreats over the course of the year. The program focuses on "values-based leadership" and how legislators can use shared values to build a consensus across party lines for practical solutions to the problems facing America today. If you'd like to find out more about CPA, look at its Web site at (http://www.stateaction.org).
• A quarter of a century ago, when the Iowa Machine Shed served its first pork chop, the restaurant was honored to serve Roy and Myrtle Keppy, highly esteemed pork producers. Today, the Iowa Machine Shed is proud to honor Roy by naming him the first recipient of the Iowa Machine Shed Farmer of the Month Award. This monthly award is designed to recognize area farmers who have made significant contributions to agriculture. Roy and his wife Myrtle began farming in 1946 with hogs, corn, and soybeans. Roy helped organize the Scott County Pork Producers and served as its first president. He also served as president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
• If you have a few minutes of free time, send your Web browser to (http://65.101.95.10/). The site has a Web cam pointed toward the Figge Arts Center construction site and has features that allow you to pan, zoom, look at different views, and even take pictures.
• Millions of Americans might pay more for their home loans and insurance, and might be denied other opportunities, because of errors or inconsistencies in credit scores, according to a new report written by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and the National Credit Reporting Association (NCRA). Credit scores are used by many businesses to evaluate risk, set interest rates, and even make hiring decisions. The scores range from a low of 400 points to a high of 800. The CFA and NCRA analyzed 500,000 credit scores and more than 1,700 credit reports from the three major credit bureaus. The groups found that credit scores varied an average of 41 points. Individuals on the edge of the "sub-prime" lending market would be affected by this variance greatly. A home-loan applicant improperly classified in the sub-prime market could receive a 9.8-percent interest rate rather than a 6.5-percent one, resulting in an enormous increase in interest payments over the life of a mortgage. The groups also found that certain items on the credit reports, such as entries regarding medical collections, could indicate that the consumer has a specific medical condition. You can find a copy of the report at NCRA's Web site at (http://www.ncrainc.org). You can also find out more at Electronic Privacy Information Center Fair Credit Reporting Act page at (http://www.epic.org/privacy/fcra/).
• Ten free flowering trees will be given to each person who joins The National Arbor Day Foundation during January. The free trees are part of the not-for-profit foundation's Trees for America campaign. The trees will be shipped post-paid at the right time for planting between February 1 and May 31 with enclosed planting instructions. The six- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow, or they will be replaced free of charge. To become a member of the foundation and receive the free trees, send $10 to Ten Free Flowering Trees; National Arbor Day Foundation; 100 Arbor Ave.; Nebraska City, NE 68410 by January 31.
• Mel Foster Company, headquartered in the Quad Cities, and ERA Sterling Reality of Sterling, Illinois, announced the merger of their real-estate firms. ERA Sterling Realty serves the Sterling/Rock Falls area and Whiteside, Lee, Carroll, Ogle, and Bureau counties. The company has enjoyed a market share up to 30 percent in 2001 and 2002. Mel Foster Company currently maintains more than 49 percent of the Quad Cities real-estate-sales market and serves eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
• A veteran employee of Augustana Public Radio station WVIK has been named the station's next general manager. Lowell Dorman is taking over the top position at WVIK this month following the retirement of Don Wooten, the station's founder and current general manager. WVIK can be heard at 90.3FM and is located on the Augustan campus in Rock Island.
• A war with Iraq could have a negative effect on the U.S. economy, according to a quarterly survey of commercial lenders conducted by Philadelphia-based Phoenix Management. Nearly 60 percent of lenders indicated that war with Iraq would hurt the economy, and more than two-thirds said consumer spending would drop if the U.S. enters an armed conflict with Iraq. But in spite of that, only 20 percent of respondents felt that war would send the U.S. economy back into recession. To see the results of the survey, visit (http://www.phoenixmanagement.com).
• A quarter of a century ago, when the Iowa Machine Shed served its first pork chop, the restaurant was honored to serve Roy and Myrtle Keppy, highly esteemed pork producers. Today, the Iowa Machine Shed is proud to honor Roy by naming him the first recipient of the Iowa Machine Shed Farmer of the Month Award. This monthly award is designed to recognize area farmers who have made significant contributions to agriculture. Roy and his wife Myrtle began farming in 1946 with hogs, corn, and soybeans. Roy helped organize the Scott County Pork Producers and served as its first president. He also served as president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
• If you have a few minutes of free time, send your Web browser to (http://65.101.95.10/). The site has a Web cam pointed toward the Figge Arts Center construction site and has features that allow you to pan, zoom, look at different views, and even take pictures.
• Millions of Americans might pay more for their home loans and insurance, and might be denied other opportunities, because of errors or inconsistencies in credit scores, according to a new report written by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and the National Credit Reporting Association (NCRA). Credit scores are used by many businesses to evaluate risk, set interest rates, and even make hiring decisions. The scores range from a low of 400 points to a high of 800. The CFA and NCRA analyzed 500,000 credit scores and more than 1,700 credit reports from the three major credit bureaus. The groups found that credit scores varied an average of 41 points. Individuals on the edge of the "sub-prime" lending market would be affected by this variance greatly. A home-loan applicant improperly classified in the sub-prime market could receive a 9.8-percent interest rate rather than a 6.5-percent one, resulting in an enormous increase in interest payments over the life of a mortgage. The groups also found that certain items on the credit reports, such as entries regarding medical collections, could indicate that the consumer has a specific medical condition. You can find a copy of the report at NCRA's Web site at (http://www.ncrainc.org). You can also find out more at Electronic Privacy Information Center Fair Credit Reporting Act page at (http://www.epic.org/privacy/fcra/).
• Ten free flowering trees will be given to each person who joins The National Arbor Day Foundation during January. The free trees are part of the not-for-profit foundation's Trees for America campaign. The trees will be shipped post-paid at the right time for planting between February 1 and May 31 with enclosed planting instructions. The six- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow, or they will be replaced free of charge. To become a member of the foundation and receive the free trees, send $10 to Ten Free Flowering Trees; National Arbor Day Foundation; 100 Arbor Ave.; Nebraska City, NE 68410 by January 31.
• Mel Foster Company, headquartered in the Quad Cities, and ERA Sterling Reality of Sterling, Illinois, announced the merger of their real-estate firms. ERA Sterling Realty serves the Sterling/Rock Falls area and Whiteside, Lee, Carroll, Ogle, and Bureau counties. The company has enjoyed a market share up to 30 percent in 2001 and 2002. Mel Foster Company currently maintains more than 49 percent of the Quad Cities real-estate-sales market and serves eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
• A veteran employee of Augustana Public Radio station WVIK has been named the station's next general manager. Lowell Dorman is taking over the top position at WVIK this month following the retirement of Don Wooten, the station's founder and current general manager. WVIK can be heard at 90.3FM and is located on the Augustan campus in Rock Island.
• A war with Iraq could have a negative effect on the U.S. economy, according to a quarterly survey of commercial lenders conducted by Philadelphia-based Phoenix Management. Nearly 60 percent of lenders indicated that war with Iraq would hurt the economy, and more than two-thirds said consumer spending would drop if the U.S. enters an armed conflict with Iraq. But in spite of that, only 20 percent of respondents felt that war would send the U.S. economy back into recession. To see the results of the survey, visit (http://www.phoenixmanagement.com).
