28
Sep
2004
• Applications are currently being accepted for the legislative page program, which is an opportunity for ambitious high-school juniors and seniors to be employed by the Iowa House of Representatives, Iowa Senate, or Legislative Services Agency. The deadline for the applications is October 8, and they can be downloaded at (http://www.legis.state.ia.us). Work as a page begins on January 10, 2005, and will be completed by the end of April. Pages in the House and Senate are responsible for responding to requests from legislators and staff, which includes assisting them with the handling of materials and supplies, distributing bills and amendments, and notifying legislators of pending meetings or appointments. In the Legislative Services Agency (LSA), a page will provide confidential materials to legislators and LSA staff and assist in the agency's day-to-day errands and activities.
• A $495,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to Iowa's Urban Dreams program has been announced to implement its Urban Children Are Really Essential (UCARE) initiatives. The programs, which focus on the needs of families and children of ex-offenders returning to society, will target Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Iowa City, Sioux City, and Waterloo. The goal of the program is to close the minority achievement gap, reduce minority incarceration rates, help ex-offenders re-integrate successfully, and improve overall quality of life in Iowa communities.
• United HealthCare has designated Trinity Medical Center's West Campus, 2701 17th Street in Rock Island, as a UnitedHealth Premium cardiac specialty center, reflecting national recognition of the cardiac care it provides. It is one of only six cardiac centers to earn this designation in Illinois, and the only one outside the Chicago area. It is also the only Quad Cities-area facility recognized. The UnitedHealth Premium cardiac-specialty-centers program identifies hospitals nationwide that are leaders in providing cardiac care.
• Approximately 1,600 people attended the Fifth Annual WQPT Brew Ha Ha fundraising event in Le Claire Park. Winners of the People's Choice Award for 2004 were: Blue Cat Brew Pub, "Tuck's Tenacious Trippel," brewer Dan Cleveland, first place; Bent River Brewing Company, "Jalapeno Pepper," brewer Dave Loete, second place; Elmwood Brewing Company, "Elmwood Strawberry Blonde," brewer Matthew Potts, third place. Winner of the Best Home Brew Competition was the Galesburg Home Brewers Association's "Trailer Trash Black & Tan." Winner of the Best Decorated Booth Contest was Vanguard Distributing Company, David Gustman and Chad Rauch. Major sponsors for Brew Ha Ha were Old Chicago, Rhythm City Casino, and the Riverboat Development Authority.
• People can now visit the Family Museum of Arts & Science until 7 p.m. during the week. New regular hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. For more information on Family Museum exhibits, events, and educational programming, visit (http://www.familymuseum.org). Admission is $5 for ages two to 59, $2 ages 60 and up.
• U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) is a 2004 recipient of the Food Distribution Industry's Thomas Jefferson Award, honoring his commitment to free enterprise. The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) presented the award at a ceremony on September 22 on Capitol Hill. At the end of each session of Congress, FMI and IFDA give the award to senators and representatives who demonstrate their commitment to free enterprise through their votes on issues such as taxes, free trade, and labor policy. Recipients of the award supported FMI's and IFDA's positions on at least 70 percent of 14 votes deemed critical to the ideals of free enterprise. The votes are listed on the Web sites of FMI (http://www.fmi.org) and IFDA (http://www.ifdaonline.org).
• More people are using the Quad City International Airport (QCIA) than ever, and according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the regional airport has an exemplary record for screening efficiencies, as well. Federal Security Director Patrick Broderick, Assistant Director for Screening Jeffery Hardacre, and TSA spokesperson Amy Von Walter announced the summer's screening statistics at a news conference last Thursday in Moline. With an average of 1,569 customers passing through screening checkpoints each day, the TSA maintained an average wait time per passenger of 1.4 minutes, well below the TSA's internal goal of 10 minutes. During peak travel times - 6 to 6:30 a.m. - the average wait time was only 4.7 minutes. The TSA employs 50 screeners at the QCIA. During the months of June, July, and August, screeners detected 2,486 prohibited items in carry-on luggage, including one firearm, eight box cutters, and nine blades longer than three inches. Fifteen percent of travelers are selected randomly for a "pad down," officials stated. The TSA also announced the launch of a newly enhanced ability to detect explosives in carry-on bags at checkpoints. More info on passenger wait time and screening policies can be found at (http://www.tsa.gov).
• A $495,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to Iowa's Urban Dreams program has been announced to implement its Urban Children Are Really Essential (UCARE) initiatives. The programs, which focus on the needs of families and children of ex-offenders returning to society, will target Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Iowa City, Sioux City, and Waterloo. The goal of the program is to close the minority achievement gap, reduce minority incarceration rates, help ex-offenders re-integrate successfully, and improve overall quality of life in Iowa communities.
• United HealthCare has designated Trinity Medical Center's West Campus, 2701 17th Street in Rock Island, as a UnitedHealth Premium cardiac specialty center, reflecting national recognition of the cardiac care it provides. It is one of only six cardiac centers to earn this designation in Illinois, and the only one outside the Chicago area. It is also the only Quad Cities-area facility recognized. The UnitedHealth Premium cardiac-specialty-centers program identifies hospitals nationwide that are leaders in providing cardiac care.
• Approximately 1,600 people attended the Fifth Annual WQPT Brew Ha Ha fundraising event in Le Claire Park. Winners of the People's Choice Award for 2004 were: Blue Cat Brew Pub, "Tuck's Tenacious Trippel," brewer Dan Cleveland, first place; Bent River Brewing Company, "Jalapeno Pepper," brewer Dave Loete, second place; Elmwood Brewing Company, "Elmwood Strawberry Blonde," brewer Matthew Potts, third place. Winner of the Best Home Brew Competition was the Galesburg Home Brewers Association's "Trailer Trash Black & Tan." Winner of the Best Decorated Booth Contest was Vanguard Distributing Company, David Gustman and Chad Rauch. Major sponsors for Brew Ha Ha were Old Chicago, Rhythm City Casino, and the Riverboat Development Authority.
• People can now visit the Family Museum of Arts & Science until 7 p.m. during the week. New regular hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. For more information on Family Museum exhibits, events, and educational programming, visit (http://www.familymuseum.org). Admission is $5 for ages two to 59, $2 ages 60 and up.
• U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) is a 2004 recipient of the Food Distribution Industry's Thomas Jefferson Award, honoring his commitment to free enterprise. The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) presented the award at a ceremony on September 22 on Capitol Hill. At the end of each session of Congress, FMI and IFDA give the award to senators and representatives who demonstrate their commitment to free enterprise through their votes on issues such as taxes, free trade, and labor policy. Recipients of the award supported FMI's and IFDA's positions on at least 70 percent of 14 votes deemed critical to the ideals of free enterprise. The votes are listed on the Web sites of FMI (http://www.fmi.org) and IFDA (http://www.ifdaonline.org).
• More people are using the Quad City International Airport (QCIA) than ever, and according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the regional airport has an exemplary record for screening efficiencies, as well. Federal Security Director Patrick Broderick, Assistant Director for Screening Jeffery Hardacre, and TSA spokesperson Amy Von Walter announced the summer's screening statistics at a news conference last Thursday in Moline. With an average of 1,569 customers passing through screening checkpoints each day, the TSA maintained an average wait time per passenger of 1.4 minutes, well below the TSA's internal goal of 10 minutes. During peak travel times - 6 to 6:30 a.m. - the average wait time was only 4.7 minutes. The TSA employs 50 screeners at the QCIA. During the months of June, July, and August, screeners detected 2,486 prohibited items in carry-on luggage, including one firearm, eight box cutters, and nine blades longer than three inches. Fifteen percent of travelers are selected randomly for a "pad down," officials stated. The TSA also announced the launch of a newly enhanced ability to detect explosives in carry-on bags at checkpoints. More info on passenger wait time and screening policies can be found at (http://www.tsa.gov).
