23
Nov
2004
• Quad Cities PBS station WQPT has announced that Chad Pregracke: The River Rescuer - a film produced by WQPT staff members Lora Adams and Brad Mosier - won a prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award. The CINE Gold Eagle recognizes excellence in professional and amateur works. In addition to the CINE award, Chad Pregracke: The River Rescuer has been honored with a First Place Public Affairs award from the Iowa Broadcast News Association and was a finalist in the 25th Annual Telly Awards.
• More than 400 Iowans have not received their 2003 federal tax refunds, according to the Internal Revenue Service. An annual review shows 445 federal tax refunds totaling more than $313,000 belonging to Iowa taxpayers were returned to the IRS as "undeliverable." Most refunds are from tax returns filed for the 2003 tax year, but some taxpayers are due refunds for more than one year. The checks range from as little as $1 to more than $30,000. Taxpayers can find out if they have an undelivered tax refund by visiting the IRS Web site at (http://www.irs.gov) and clicking on "Where's My Refund?" Taxpayers without access to the Internet who think they might be missing a refund check should call the IRS toll-free assistance line at (800)829-1040 to update their address. People who have moved since filing their last tax return can ensure the IRS has their correct address by filing Form 8822 ("Change of Address") with the agency.
• The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) reports that the Transportation Security Administration demanded that 72 airlines turn over a month's worth of passenger data to test the Secure Flight passenger pre-screening program. The airlines were told to give the agency all Passenger Name Records (PNRs) from June 2004 domestic flights by November 23. The order affects PNRs of about 50 million passengers. Data that will be disclosed to the government may include credit-card numbers, travel itineraries, addresses, telephone numbers, and meal requests, which could reveal a passenger's religion or ethnicity. TSA's order to airlines can be seen at (http://www.epic.org/redirect/sf_final_order.html). For more information about passenger pre-screening, see EPIC's passenger profiling page at (http://www.epic.org/privacy/airtravel/profiling.html).
• Bethany for Children & Families presented the 2004 Quad City Family Advocacy Award to 14th Judicial Circuit Associate Judge John R. McClean of the juvenile court in Rock Island County. The award was presented at a November 23 ceremony as part of National Family Week. McClean received the honor for his work on behalf of the well-being of children in the Rock Island County legal system. Additional information about National Family Week is available at (http://www.nationalfamilyweek.org).
• The National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (H.R. 3015) has been passed by the House but is still awaiting a vote in the Senate. In short, the legislation would create databases to monitor prescriptions. This bipartisan effort calls upon Congress to create unique patient identifiers, which include your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. While promoted as a law-enforcement tool to help control the illegal use of painkillers, the bill is not limited to prescriptions for painkillers and would create a central database affecting tens of millions of people who are not even suspected of a crime. The information would be shared with state and local law enforcement.
• In anticipation of surpassing the 2003 enplanements total of 407,769, the Quad City International Airport has launched a "guess the record" contest. Log on to (http://www.qcairport.com) and click on the "guess the record" icon on the home page. In the subject line, type "guess the record." Enter your guess for the total number of passengers you think will have boarded in 2004, as well as your full name, address, and telephone number. Winners will be contacted in January 2005 after the airport authority has tallied the final passenger-enplanement results. Tickets for two to any domestic destination on AirTran Airways (from the Quad City International Airport) have been added to the contest as a grand prize. A second-prize winner will receive free parking in 2005, and both winners will receive an airport gift basket. The contest will close on December 30, 2004.
• The Jack Seales "Celebration of Life & Music" event held at River Music Experience on November 13 raised more than $2,400 in donations and raffle proceeds. The funds were given to the family of Jack Seales, a well-known Quad Cities musician who passed away on October 20, to help with funeral expenses. The event featured many area musicians and friends of Jack Seales, and the live performances ran from 1 until 9 p.m. Jim Seales, older brother of Jack and founding member of the country group Shenandoah, was the featured performer. More than 200 supporters attended. Jack Seales has also been added to the "earport" database at River Music Experience, where visitors will be able to read more about him and sample his original music for years to come.
• Habitat for Humanity celebrated Thanksgiving early with a double home dedication. Home 30 is located at 312 East 12th Street in Davenport and will be the home for partner family Tamera Stewart and her children. House 31 is located at 316 East 12th Street and will be home for Vernon and Caroline Lumpkin and their children. For more information, look at (http://www.habitatqc.org).
• More than 400 Iowans have not received their 2003 federal tax refunds, according to the Internal Revenue Service. An annual review shows 445 federal tax refunds totaling more than $313,000 belonging to Iowa taxpayers were returned to the IRS as "undeliverable." Most refunds are from tax returns filed for the 2003 tax year, but some taxpayers are due refunds for more than one year. The checks range from as little as $1 to more than $30,000. Taxpayers can find out if they have an undelivered tax refund by visiting the IRS Web site at (http://www.irs.gov) and clicking on "Where's My Refund?" Taxpayers without access to the Internet who think they might be missing a refund check should call the IRS toll-free assistance line at (800)829-1040 to update their address. People who have moved since filing their last tax return can ensure the IRS has their correct address by filing Form 8822 ("Change of Address") with the agency.
• The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) reports that the Transportation Security Administration demanded that 72 airlines turn over a month's worth of passenger data to test the Secure Flight passenger pre-screening program. The airlines were told to give the agency all Passenger Name Records (PNRs) from June 2004 domestic flights by November 23. The order affects PNRs of about 50 million passengers. Data that will be disclosed to the government may include credit-card numbers, travel itineraries, addresses, telephone numbers, and meal requests, which could reveal a passenger's religion or ethnicity. TSA's order to airlines can be seen at (http://www.epic.org/redirect/sf_final_order.html). For more information about passenger pre-screening, see EPIC's passenger profiling page at (http://www.epic.org/privacy/airtravel/profiling.html).
• Bethany for Children & Families presented the 2004 Quad City Family Advocacy Award to 14th Judicial Circuit Associate Judge John R. McClean of the juvenile court in Rock Island County. The award was presented at a November 23 ceremony as part of National Family Week. McClean received the honor for his work on behalf of the well-being of children in the Rock Island County legal system. Additional information about National Family Week is available at (http://www.nationalfamilyweek.org).
• The National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (H.R. 3015) has been passed by the House but is still awaiting a vote in the Senate. In short, the legislation would create databases to monitor prescriptions. This bipartisan effort calls upon Congress to create unique patient identifiers, which include your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. While promoted as a law-enforcement tool to help control the illegal use of painkillers, the bill is not limited to prescriptions for painkillers and would create a central database affecting tens of millions of people who are not even suspected of a crime. The information would be shared with state and local law enforcement.
• In anticipation of surpassing the 2003 enplanements total of 407,769, the Quad City International Airport has launched a "guess the record" contest. Log on to (http://www.qcairport.com) and click on the "guess the record" icon on the home page. In the subject line, type "guess the record." Enter your guess for the total number of passengers you think will have boarded in 2004, as well as your full name, address, and telephone number. Winners will be contacted in January 2005 after the airport authority has tallied the final passenger-enplanement results. Tickets for two to any domestic destination on AirTran Airways (from the Quad City International Airport) have been added to the contest as a grand prize. A second-prize winner will receive free parking in 2005, and both winners will receive an airport gift basket. The contest will close on December 30, 2004.
• The Jack Seales "Celebration of Life & Music" event held at River Music Experience on November 13 raised more than $2,400 in donations and raffle proceeds. The funds were given to the family of Jack Seales, a well-known Quad Cities musician who passed away on October 20, to help with funeral expenses. The event featured many area musicians and friends of Jack Seales, and the live performances ran from 1 until 9 p.m. Jim Seales, older brother of Jack and founding member of the country group Shenandoah, was the featured performer. More than 200 supporters attended. Jack Seales has also been added to the "earport" database at River Music Experience, where visitors will be able to read more about him and sample his original music for years to come.
• Habitat for Humanity celebrated Thanksgiving early with a double home dedication. Home 30 is located at 312 East 12th Street in Davenport and will be the home for partner family Tamera Stewart and her children. House 31 is located at 316 East 12th Street and will be home for Vernon and Caroline Lumpkin and their children. For more information, look at (http://www.habitatqc.org).
