• A recently released report by the Washington, D.C.-based group American Rivers warns that the Mississippi River could face "ecological collapse" unless Congress directs the Army Corps of Engineers to fix problems afflicting the river in the next Water Resources Development Act.
After 10 years of study, the Corps will release a draft report within the next month likely to recommend measures to improve efficiency of the navigation system and to improve the health of the ecosystem. You can see the report, "America's Most Endangered Rivers of 2004," for yourself at (http://www.americanrivers.org/2004report.html).
• The Quad-City Labyrinth Project has launched its new Web site: (http://www.qclabyrinth.org). The Web site is a clearinghouse for all labyrinth-related information and activities in the Quad Cities region. The Quad-City Labyrinth Project is a not-for-profit community-service organization dedicated to educating the public about the benefits of walking labyrinths to enhance community and individual well-being. A labyrinth walkway consists of a single, winding path that spirals to a central point and back out again. Thought by many cultures to represent the journey of life, the labyrinth is now seen as a universal symbol of an internal pathway. As the stresses and distractions of daily life have increased, the labyrinth has re-emerged as a meditative tool to help quiet the mind, relax the body, and refresh the spirit.
• A bill creating a tax credit for private-school tuition vouchers has passed the Iowa Senate and is expected to soon go before the Iowa House of Representatives. Senate File 2295 would allow individual tax credits for donations to not-for-profit organizations, which would then be responsible for directing the funds. There is no cap on the amount of money that can be diverted from state coffers to subsidize private schools. Unlike public schools, private schools will not be subject to any academic or fiscal accountability. This means private schools will not be required to test their voucher students, nor will their teachers have to be accredited. The proposed Iowa law is similar to a tax-credit voucher program in Arizona. The People for the American Way Foundation report "A Model to Avoid" found that the Arizona program lacked accountability and was re-directing dollars to middle- and upper-income families. The report is available at (http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=1398).
• A group of Luther College students met with college President Richard L. Torgerson to present a petition supported by 10 percent of the student body. The petition urges the president to revoke the Distinguished Service Award given this past fall to U.S. Representative Jim Nussle (R-Iowa), a 1983 Luther graduate and chair of the House Budget Committee, until he uses his leadership to restore funding to the International Affairs Account (IAA) for fiscal year 2005 at levels requested by President Bush. Students who signed the petition are unhappy with Nussle's decision to authorize $4.6 billion less than President Bush's request for the IAA. The petition, signed by 250 Luther College students, organizations, and faculty and staff members, argues that Nussle's actions are not reflective of Luther's mission statement and therefore not worthy of earning an honor that rewards loyalty to the school. Torgerson has denied the students support for their cause, claiming that rescinding the Distinguished Service Award based on political disagreement would be contrary to the meaning of such an award. Articles concerning the controversy can be found at (http://chips.luther.edu/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3400) and (http://chips.luther.edu/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3404).
• The Northwest Airlines station at the Quad City International Airport logged an all-time record month for passenger enplanements. Northwest boarded 9,169 passengers in March on multiple daily flights to Minneapolis/St. Paul and Detroit. Northwest will begin nonstop jet service to Memphis on May 1, and a second jet in June for a total of 11 daily flights out of the Quad Cites. The service is operated by Northwest Airlink partners. Also, the AirTran Airways station at the Quad City International Airport had its best month for passenger enplanements. AirTran Airways boarded 7,711 passengers. The last record was set in July 2003, when 7,600 passengers boarded AirTran Airways flights out of the Quad Cities.
• After a month of drafting questions, distributing surveys, and gathering opinions, Iowa Senator Maggie Tinsman has released the results of her annual survey asking what citizens of Bettendorf and Davenport think about Iowa legislation. This year, the survey focused mainly on education and gambling. Of particular interest is social promotion in schools. Of the 811 responses, 70 percent said they believe that children should be required to read at grade level before being promoted to the next grade, with only 21 percent saying that they would not end social promotion in schools. Also, 75 percent of surveyed citizens in Bettendorf and Davenport support charging in-state tuition at Regents universities and community colleges for legal immigrants who graduate from Iowa's high schools. On the other side, 80 percent are opposed to expanding the number of licenses for riverboat casinos, and 64 percent are against allowing racetrack casinos to have gambling table games. Forty-one percent of respondents are in favor of evaluating day-care services on the basis of quality and cost. And 53 percent of those surveyed favor paying for a personal assessment of long-term care needs for senior citizens.
• On March 26, the East Davenport Development Corporation (EDDC) announced the availability of rebate grants to assist property owners and even potential property owners with rehabilitation projects. Rebates are available for properties located in the area bounded by Locust Street on the north, Duggleby Street and Jersey Ridge Road on the east; Fourth and Federal streets and River Drive on the south, and Main Street on the west. The grants will reimburse the cost of rehabilitation work satisfactorily completed by the homeowner. Rebates may be 25, 15, or 10 percent of the estimated project costs, with a maximum rebate of $10,000. Those interested in getting more information about the program or getting an application can contact Rick Scholemer with the Scott County Housing Council at (563)323-0420.
• The Quad-City Labyrinth Project has launched its new Web site: (http://www.qclabyrinth.org). The Web site is a clearinghouse for all labyrinth-related information and activities in the Quad Cities region. The Quad-City Labyrinth Project is a not-for-profit community-service organization dedicated to educating the public about the benefits of walking labyrinths to enhance community and individual well-being. A labyrinth walkway consists of a single, winding path that spirals to a central point and back out again. Thought by many cultures to represent the journey of life, the labyrinth is now seen as a universal symbol of an internal pathway. As the stresses and distractions of daily life have increased, the labyrinth has re-emerged as a meditative tool to help quiet the mind, relax the body, and refresh the spirit.
• A bill creating a tax credit for private-school tuition vouchers has passed the Iowa Senate and is expected to soon go before the Iowa House of Representatives. Senate File 2295 would allow individual tax credits for donations to not-for-profit organizations, which would then be responsible for directing the funds. There is no cap on the amount of money that can be diverted from state coffers to subsidize private schools. Unlike public schools, private schools will not be subject to any academic or fiscal accountability. This means private schools will not be required to test their voucher students, nor will their teachers have to be accredited. The proposed Iowa law is similar to a tax-credit voucher program in Arizona. The People for the American Way Foundation report "A Model to Avoid" found that the Arizona program lacked accountability and was re-directing dollars to middle- and upper-income families. The report is available at (http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=1398).
• A group of Luther College students met with college President Richard L. Torgerson to present a petition supported by 10 percent of the student body. The petition urges the president to revoke the Distinguished Service Award given this past fall to U.S. Representative Jim Nussle (R-Iowa), a 1983 Luther graduate and chair of the House Budget Committee, until he uses his leadership to restore funding to the International Affairs Account (IAA) for fiscal year 2005 at levels requested by President Bush. Students who signed the petition are unhappy with Nussle's decision to authorize $4.6 billion less than President Bush's request for the IAA. The petition, signed by 250 Luther College students, organizations, and faculty and staff members, argues that Nussle's actions are not reflective of Luther's mission statement and therefore not worthy of earning an honor that rewards loyalty to the school. Torgerson has denied the students support for their cause, claiming that rescinding the Distinguished Service Award based on political disagreement would be contrary to the meaning of such an award. Articles concerning the controversy can be found at (http://chips.luther.edu/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3400) and (http://chips.luther.edu/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3404).
• The Northwest Airlines station at the Quad City International Airport logged an all-time record month for passenger enplanements. Northwest boarded 9,169 passengers in March on multiple daily flights to Minneapolis/St. Paul and Detroit. Northwest will begin nonstop jet service to Memphis on May 1, and a second jet in June for a total of 11 daily flights out of the Quad Cites. The service is operated by Northwest Airlink partners. Also, the AirTran Airways station at the Quad City International Airport had its best month for passenger enplanements. AirTran Airways boarded 7,711 passengers. The last record was set in July 2003, when 7,600 passengers boarded AirTran Airways flights out of the Quad Cities.
• After a month of drafting questions, distributing surveys, and gathering opinions, Iowa Senator Maggie Tinsman has released the results of her annual survey asking what citizens of Bettendorf and Davenport think about Iowa legislation. This year, the survey focused mainly on education and gambling. Of particular interest is social promotion in schools. Of the 811 responses, 70 percent said they believe that children should be required to read at grade level before being promoted to the next grade, with only 21 percent saying that they would not end social promotion in schools. Also, 75 percent of surveyed citizens in Bettendorf and Davenport support charging in-state tuition at Regents universities and community colleges for legal immigrants who graduate from Iowa's high schools. On the other side, 80 percent are opposed to expanding the number of licenses for riverboat casinos, and 64 percent are against allowing racetrack casinos to have gambling table games. Forty-one percent of respondents are in favor of evaluating day-care services on the basis of quality and cost. And 53 percent of those surveyed favor paying for a personal assessment of long-term care needs for senior citizens.
• On March 26, the East Davenport Development Corporation (EDDC) announced the availability of rebate grants to assist property owners and even potential property owners with rehabilitation projects. Rebates are available for properties located in the area bounded by Locust Street on the north, Duggleby Street and Jersey Ridge Road on the east; Fourth and Federal streets and River Drive on the south, and Main Street on the west. The grants will reimburse the cost of rehabilitation work satisfactorily completed by the homeowner. Rebates may be 25, 15, or 10 percent of the estimated project costs, with a maximum rebate of $10,000. Those interested in getting more information about the program or getting an application can contact Rick Scholemer with the Scott County Housing Council at (563)323-0420.
