17 Apr 2012

Governor Quinn Urges Illinoisans to Volunteer Time and Talents during National Volunteer Week

By Leslie Wertheimer

Serve.Illinois.gov Connects Volunteers with Opportunities

Across the State

SPRINGFIELD - Monday, April 16, 2012.  Governor Pat Quinn today joined the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Serve Illinois Commission in encouraging Illinoisans to give back to their communities by volunteering during National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, 2012.  Those who are interested in volunteering can find a resourceful search portal that connects them to over 100,000 volunteer opportunities throughout Illinois by visiting Serve.Illinois.gov.

 

"Service to others is the rent we pay for our place on earth," Governor Quinn said. "National Volunteer Week is the perfect opportunity to give back, set a great example for others and work together to strengthen our communities."

 

According to the Volunteering in America Report, last year nearly 2.8 million Illinoisans gave back through churches, non-profits, businesses, little leagues, scout troops and countless other organizations.  They volunteered 378.5 million hours, or about 34.8 hours per person.  This service equates to over $8.4 billion in economic impact.  Along with time, a majority of Illinoisans gave at least $25 to a local charity.

 

"We believe that service is one of our State's greatest resources," Scott McFarland, deputy director of the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, said. "We envision an Illinois where everyone recognizes their ability and responsibility to help strengthen their communities by volunteering."

 

Research shows that communities with higher rates of volunteering see decreased crime, improved governmental services and higher educational achievement among other things.  In addition, evidence supports the idea that those who engage in their communities on a regular basis live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.

 

The Serve.Illinois.gov website is a project of DHS and the Serve Illinois Commission: "Building Stronger Communities Through Service."  More information and volunteer opportunities can be found at Serve.Illinois.gov.

 

 

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17 Apr 2012

Region 6 Homeland Security Board and Safeguard Iowa Partnership Announce Week 11 of "20 Weeks to Preparedness Program"

By Ross E. Bergen
Release Date: April 23, 2012
Release Number: 12

Welcome to Week 11 of the 20 Weeks to Preparedness Program brought to you by the Region 6 Homeland
Security Board and Safeguard Iowa Partnership. This program will help to better prepare you and your family,
a little at a time, over a 20 week period. Each week new preparedness information will be shared including a
list of items to gather or purchase for your disaster supply kit. Sign up at www.safeguardiowa.org/subscribe-to-
be-prepared to receive weekly reminders and announcements related to the 20 Weeks to Preparedness program.

Use this program to gather items for your kit in small steps over a five month period. Remember to change
and replace perishable items by the expiration date. Purchasing the food suggested by this program would last
approximately 3-5 days.

Place in storage bin:

One gallon of water per person per day
Paper, pen, pencil, and scissors
Sunscreen
Protein bars

Personalized Item (if applicable):

Litter pan

To do:

Determine signal with family and friends to be used to communicate safety.

Additional assistance is available by contacting your local Emergency Management Coordinator at
563-484-3050 or visiting their website at www.iascema.com. Visit Safeguard Iowa Partnership at
www.safeguardiowa.org, on twitter @safeguardiowa or Facebook at www.facebook.com/safeguardiowa.

The Region 6 Homeland Security Board is comprised of fourteen counties in eastern Iowa that coordinate homeland security planning,
training, exercise, response, and recovery. The counties included are Benton, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Cedar, Clayton, Clinton,
Delaware, Dubuque, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Scott.

The Safeguard Iowa Partnership is a voluntary coalition of the state's business and government leaders, who share a commitment to
working together to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters in Iowa.
13 Apr 2012

Lt. Gov. Simon to release tax returns

By Kara Beach

CARBONDALE - In advance of Tax Day, Lt. Governor Simon will fulfill her promise to release her annual tax returns and financial statements from her senior staff. Simon says making the information public empowers taxpayers to learn if she or her staff hold any conflicts of interest. This is the second consecutive year the Lt. Governor and her staff will make the disclosures.

 

TIME: 10 a.m. media availability

DATE: Friday, April 13

PLACE: Lt. Governor's office, IDOT District 9 headquarters, 2801 Murphysboro Road, Carbondale

 

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13 Apr 2012

Braley Touts Effort to Renew and Expand Adoption Tax Credit

By Jeff Giertz

Braley visits Davenport and Dubuque to discuss benefits of tax credit for families and kids

 

Waterloo, IA - At events in Davenport and Dubuque today, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) discussed an effort he's launching to renew and expand a tax credit for families that choose to adopt children.

When Congress returns to session next week, Braley will introduce the Making Adoption Affordable Act, a bill that will permanently expand the adoption tax credit to $13,360 and make it refundable -- allowing more families to take full advantage of it.  Unless Congress acts, the current adoption tax credit of $12,360 will expire at the end of the year.

"Deciding to adopt a child is one of the most caring decisions a couple can make," Braley said.  "Unfortunately, it's a decision also carries significant financial costs with it.  This can be a barrier for many couples.

 

"The adoption tax credit is a small investment that provides a huge return: getting more children into loving homes and out of the costly foster care system.

 

"When a policy puts more kids in good families and also saves taxpayers millions of dollars in the process, renewing it should be a no-brainer.  Expanding the adoption tax credit makes even more sense and will help even more parents and children."

 

Braley discussed the renewal and expansion of the tax credits at events today at Bethany for Children and Families in Davenport and Hillcrest Family Services in Dubuque.

The federal government partners with states to care for orphaned children.  Adoption is preferable to foster care not only because it results in better outcomes for children, but because it is far less costly for taxpayers.  As of 2010, foster care costs to taxpayers averaged $47,000 per child, per year.

The adoption tax credit is a proven incentive to promote adoptions.  Before its last expansion in 1998, the tax credit was claimed after only 50,400 adoptions.  After expansion, in 2004, the tax credit was claimed in nearly 87,000 adoptions, representing a nearly 50 percent increase.

 

# # #

13 Apr 2012

Gander Mountain Partners With Soles4Souls Effort to Supply 500k Pairs of Shoes

By Jess Myers

Outdoors retailer offering shoppers a free download of new Billy Gilman single The Choice

with footwear sales proceeds in 114 stores nationwide going to fund shoe charity initiative

 

ST. PAUL, MN, April 12, 2012 -- Gander Mountain is proud to announce a unique arrangement with Soles4Souls which aims to supply 500,000 pairs of shoes to those in need. The nation's premiere outdoors retailer and the Nashville-based charity have joined forces once again, helping promote multi-platinum selling country artist Billy Gilman's new charity single The Choice while working toward the goal of supplying shoes to needy children.

 

Starting on April 16, Gander Mountain customers who purchase a pair of shoes in stores will receive a free download of Gilman's new single. In addition to Gilman, the song features 18 of country music's top artists, including Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Josh Turner, and Keith Urban. Gander Mountain will donate $1 from every pair of shoes purchased to Soles4Souls, which is able to supply a pair of shoes to someone in need for every dollar that is donated.

 

"We are proud to be able to partner with Soles4Souls once again to help reach the goal of 500,000 pairs of shoes for those in need," said Steve Uline, Gander Mountain's executive vice president of marketing. "It is a great opportunity for Gander Mountain customers to help those less fortunate while getting a free download of some great music from Billy Gilman and other popular country artists."

 

Gilman, who has sold more than six million albums worldwide and garnered a wide range of awards, was in the process of writing material for his upcoming music project with two of his co-writers, Dan Murph and Philip Douglas, when the idea for The Choice was born. In a YouTube video, Soles4Souls challenged people from all across the country to start their own shoe drives in their communities and do something to benefit those living in adverse poverty and in need of footwear. Instead of setting up a collection bin on a crowded street, Gilman, Murph and Douglas got the idea to do what they do best--write a song. They agreed that every penny generated from the song, including the songwriters' and publishers' shares, would go to Soles4Souls. Within one week, the trio penned The Choice and pitched the idea to the charity organization.

 

"Great success and countless pairs of shoes donated have been the results of our past collaborative efforts with Gander Mountain, so it made perfect sense to work together once again, giving shoppers the opportunity to provide great footwear for themselves and for those less fortunate, while getting great music for free," said Kevin Goughary, CEO of Soles4Souls, which has donated more than 17 million pairs of shoes across 129 countries since its inception in 2004. "For every pair of shoes purchased at a Gander Mountain store, a life somewhere around the world will be changed with the gift of shoes. It doesn't get any sweeter than that."

 

The Choice was co-written by Gilman to bring attention to the world wide plight of children in desperate need of shoes. All of the proceeds from digital download of The Choice go directly to Soles4Souls. The song came to life through the contribution of the voices of Gilman and fellow country artists Rodney Atkins, Montgomery Gentry, Amy Grant, Steve Holy, Alan Jackson, Wynonna Judd, Richie McDonald, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Ronnie Milsap, Craig Morgan, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Diamond Rio, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Josh Turner, and Keith Urban. The song is scheduled to be released on April 16, and every download will provide a pair of shoes to some child in need.

 

The Gander Mountain special offer runs through May 14.

 

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13 Apr 2012

Morthland Recycles "e-waste" delivering for both a local non- profit and the environment

By Rick Martin
Moline, IL...State Representative Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) will be delivering a truckload of electronics to recycle at Self-Help Enterprises in Sterling, IL. Recently, Self-Help opened its recycling center to handle electronic waste and electronic devices.

"As a generational farmer, I take a conservative approach to our environment. On the farm little is wasted, much is re-used. My hope today is to set example in our communities by recycling 'e-waste' that might otherwise be thrown away," Morthland stated. "We have a long-term commitment to leaving our world a cleaner place for our children and their children."

Rep. Morthland will be dropping off a truckload of "e-waste" at Self-Help Enterprises, 2300 West LeFevre Road, Sterling, IL 61081 on Monday, April 16 at 11AM. Rep. Morthland will be available for press inquiries.

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13 Apr 2012

Pathologists Conclude Niabi Zoo Tiger Died of Heart Problem

By Marc Heinzman
Coal Valley, IL - April 11, 2012 - Pathologists at the University of Illinois have reached a conclusion about what caused the March 29th death of Niabi Zoo's 12 year old tiger, Asia.

A necropsy was performed at Niabi Zoo by one of the zoo's veterinarians, but further examination took place at the University of Illinois' College of Veterinary Medicine to better determine the cause of death.

After extensively studying internal organs and bacterial cultures, pathologists have concluded that the cause of death was "acute cardiac arrhythmia," which is more commonly known as an irregular heartbeat.

Asia had lived at Niabi Zoo for nearly her entire life, arriving in the year 2000 as a young cub. She was hand-raised by zoo staff members and was beloved, in part, due to her strongly charismatic personality. "We're sad to have lost Asia," said Interim Zoo Director Marc Heinzman, "but the entire zoo staff welcomes the feeling of closure that comes with learning why she is gone."

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13 Apr 2012

Region 6 Homeland Security Board and Safeguard Iowa Partnership Announce Week 10 of "20 Weeks to Preparedness Program"

By Ross E. Bergen
Welcome to Week 10 of the 20 Weeks to Preparedness Program brought to you by the Region 6 Homeland
Security Board and Safeguard Iowa Partnership. This program will help to better prepare you and your family,
a little at a time, over a 20 week period. Each week new preparedness information will be shared including a
list of items to gather or purchase for your disaster supply kit. Sign up at www.safeguardiowa.org/subscribe-to-
be-prepared to receive weekly reminders and announcements related to the 20 Weeks to Preparedness program.

Use this program to gather items for your kit in small steps over a five month period. Remember to change
and replace perishable items by the expiration date. Purchasing the food suggested by this program would last
approximately 3-5 days.

Place in storage bin:

One gallon of water per person per day
Dishwashing liquid
Thermometer and tweezers
Cereal (one box for every four people)
Collapsible shovel

Personalized Item (if applicable):

Water for pet

To do:

Establish out-of-town contacts.
Establishing out-of-town contacts can be essential during a disaster if you are separated from family members.
It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than a call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in
a better position to communicate among separated family members. Make sure everyone has correct and up-to-
date numbers for those contacts stored in their phones and in their wallets.

Additional assistance is available by contacting your local Emergency Management Coordinator at
563-484-3050 or visiting their website at www.iascema.com. Visit Safeguard Iowa Partnership at
www.safeguardiowa.org, on twitter @safeguardiowa or Facebook at www.facebook.com/safeguardiowa.

The Region 6 Homeland Security Board is comprised of fourteen counties in eastern Iowa that coordinate homeland security planning,
training, exercise, response, and recovery. The counties included are Benton, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Cedar, Clayton, Clinton,
Delaware, Dubuque, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Scott.

The Safeguard Iowa Partnership is a voluntary coalition of the state's business and government leaders, who share a commitment to
working together to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters in Iowa.
11 Apr 2012

New Novel Draws Heavily from Author's Survival Story

By Nicholas Depew

Author Judith Rose shares her account of overcoming domestic abuse

OMAHA, Neb. - Looking back on her life, Judith Rose wonders how she was able to survive. So many people she loved over the years had died, and she had experienced as much - if not more - pain than all of them. Crediting her strength to escape abuse and hoping to help other women find the strength to do the same, Rose pens Blonde Rose and the Men Who Wandered Through Her Life (published by AuthorHouse), her new novel based on her life.

 

Blonde Rose and the Men Who Wandered Through Her Life is a fictional novel based on Rose's life. She has changed the names to protect the innocent - and the guilty. It tells a story of abuse, sex, love, betrayal, secrets and survival. "I collected men as some would collect rare stamps," says Rose. "Some men are like rare stamps to be held in our hearts, but others should be stuck to an envelope and sent to the ends of the Earth with no return address."

 

Rose suggests that many women who are hurt by an abuser will turn to drugs and alcohol, or even the streets. Rose says she turned to the thing that hurt her the most - the men who wandered through her life. This story describes a woman with a powerful sex drive who brings men in and out of her life, and - despite being abused by them - maintained a level of control and power that allowed her to eventually escape abuse.

 

"I felt that writing this book of my violent and abusive marriages and how I was able to survive would be a way to help other women know there is a way out," explains Rose. "Women have a strength within them that men do not posses, use this strength for you, not for him. If I could do it, so can you."

 

About the Author

Judith Rose, who writes under the pen name Jewelya, is a native Iowan. She grew up in a small town called Council Bluffs. Rose earned her GED, going on to business school and eventually to Bellevue College where she studied personnel management and psychology. She has two daughters, five sons, and she has 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She has been an avid reader and book collector for many years. Rose is a domestic abuse survivor, and she hopes her survival story helps other women find the strength to survive and to escape domestic abuse situations.

 

. For the latest, follow @authorhouse on Twitter.

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10 Apr 2012

Governor Quinn Encourages Working Families to Apply for Tax Relief

By Leslie Wertheimer

Tax Preparation Assistance Program Helps Working Families File on Time

CHICAGO - April 10, 2012. One week away from the April 17 tax filing deadline, Governor Pat Quinn today urged working families to learn about tax relief available to them in Illinois and get the assistance they need to file their taxes. The governor continued his drive to get the word out about Illinois' EITC at Harold Washington College, which serves as a tax assistance center organized by the Center for Economic Progress (CEP). CEP President and CEO David Marzahl joined the governor and representatives from Walmart, who also announced a major donation to CEP to provide free financial services to working families.

""Too many families do not receive the tax relief they deserve simply because they don't have the information and means to access it," Governor Quinn said. "We want our working families to know about the Center for Economic Progress and Illinois' Earned Income Tax Credit, which will support economic growth and help them keep more of what they earn."

Earlier this year, Governor Quinn championed and signed a tax relief law to help working families across the state and grow the Illinois economy. The Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit law doubles the state's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) over two years, saving low-income workers an extra $105 million per year and helping almost a million families who filed it. The new law also benefits all Illinois taxpayers by raising the value of the personal exemption and indexing it to inflation.

To benefit from Illinois' EITC, also known as the Earned Income Credit (EIC), taxpayers must include it on their tax returns. While more than 2.5 million state residents benefited from the Illinois EITC in 2010, many people who are eligible for the state's EITC don't file for it. The not-for-profit CEP estimates that between 10 and 20 percent of eligible taxpayers did not file for EITC last year. At the event, representatives from Walmart announced a $50,000 donation to CEP to provide more free tax preparation and other financial services to low-income working families.

"At the Center for Economic Progress, it's our mission to continue providing important tax and financial services to hard-working, low-income families in Illinois," said Dan Nielsen, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the CEP. "That's a mission made possible because of the investments of companies like Walmart and the ongoing support of Governor Quinn."

"Giving back to the communities where our Illinois associates live and work is part of our commitment at Walmart. We know we can make the greatest impact on our communities through the support of causes right here in our own backyard," said Walmart Vice President and Regional General Manager Karisa Sprague. "We are pleased to support the Center for Economic Progress and the work they do in assisting low income working families. The free financial assistance they provide to families is an invaluable service."

 

The CEP Tax Counseling Project provides free tax preparation assistance at tax assistance centers across the state. Their services are provided free of charge to families making less than $50,000 annually and to individuals with yearly incomes under $25,000. More than 28,000 Illinois taxpayers filed returns through the program in the 2010 tax season, with more than $50 million in state and federal tax refunds returned to clients.

For more information on the Tax Counseling Project, contact the Center for Economic Progress in Chicago at 312-630-0273, or its toll-free statewide number 888-827-8511 or visit its website www.economicprogress.org. For information on the Tax Assistance Program call 312-409-1555 or 312-409-4318 (Spanish). Details are also available on the IDHS website at www.dhs.state.il.us and the Department of Revenue website at www.revenue.state.il.us. Information about filing federal taxes online can be found at www.irs.gov.

About the new Illinois EITC Law:

The new law marked the largest increase in Illinois' EITC since its inception in 2000, by phasing in a 5 percent increase over two years. The law boosts the state's EITC from its current level at 5 percent of federal EITC, to 7.5 percent in tax year 2012 and 10 percent of federal EITC in tax year 2013. More than 2.5 million state residents benefited from the Illinois EITC in 2010.

Under the new law, a single mother with one child, earning minimum wage ($12,800 a year), will save $154 on her taxes. A married couple with three children earning $30,000 a year will save $199 on their taxes this year.

Uniquely pro-growth and pro-family, the EITC is available only to those with earned income and provides incentive to work as well as much-needed tax relief to the lowest-income families. EITC also boosts local economies through increased consumer demand. A 2006 Brookings Institution study found that every dollar a family saves through this tax credit translates into $1.58 of activity in local economies.

 

The law also improves the value of the standard personal exemption for all taxpayers in Illinois and ties its continued growth to the rate of inflation. The personal exemption will increase by $50 (to $2,050) in tax year 2012, and the value of the exemption will be indexed to the cost of living adjustment each tax year thereafter. The personal exemption change benefits all taxpayers, regardless of income.

 

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