• St. Ambrose University has formally launched a $12.4-million capital campaign to build a state-of-the-art center for health-sciences education at the Genesis Medical Center West Central Park campus in Davenport. Supported by a lead gift of land and support services from Genesis Health System, along with a major donation from Bechtel Trusts & Foundation, the university will raise the balance of funds necessary to construct the center, which will bring under one roof its nursing, occupational-therapy, and physical-therapy programs. Expected to be housed within the approximately 50,000-square-foot center are shared functional labs and "smart" classrooms that will provide students and faculty with leading-edge learning technology, a research library containing the latest publications and access to databases within the health-sciences professions, and post-professional educational space that would augment St. Ambrose's current continuing-education offerings in health sciences. The building, which will be just blocks from St. Ambrose, will be sited on the southeast corner of the Genesis campus, near the intersection of Marquette and Lombard streets. Construction of the facility is expected to begin spring 2007, with the building completed by fall 2008.
• Eastern Iowa Community College District (EICCD) received its second Iowa Recognition for Performance Excellence, the first educational institution to win back-to-back state quality awards. The district, which includes Clinton, Muscatine, and Scott community colleges, won the award for the first time last year. Iowa Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson presented the award to EICCD Chancellor Patricia Keir and a delegation of EICCD board members and employees at the annual Governor's Recognition of Performance Excellence Celebration in Des Moines on March 1.
• It would be harder for Iowans to avoid paying their parking fines under a bill approved this week by the Iowa Senate. The legislation would allow county treasurers to help cities collect delinquent parking fines when drivers renew their motor-vehicle registration. Under the bill, the country treasurer could refuse to renew the vehicle registration of a person owing overdue parking fines to the county or city. Cities would enter into agreements with the county treasurers to collect the fines and pay the treasurer a fee for the service, or allow the treasurer to retain a portion of the fines collected on behalf of the city. The legislation does not allow county treasurers to block new-vehicle registrations or transfers of registrations. The bill now moves to the House for more debate.
• The Quad Cities branch of the Greater Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is offering a free registration in the National Safe Return program for people who might wander due to confusion from Alzheimer's or other related dementias. Safe Return is a nationwide identification and support program that provides assistance whether a person becomes lost locally or far from home. Assistance is available 24 hours, seven days a week. Call the Quad Cities branch of the Greater Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association at (563)324-1022 for times and locations for this free registration.
• Consumers in 12 Midwestern states including Iowa can now request a free annual copy of their credit report. The Fair Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 requires that the three nationwide credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union - provide consumers, at their request, a free copy of their credit report once every 12 months. Over the past four months, free credit reports have been phased in across the country, from the west coast to the east coast. After September 1, 2005, free credit reports will be accessible to all Americans regardless of where they live. You may request a report by going to (http://www.annualcreditreport.com). Consumers may also request a copy of their credit report by phone or mail. To request a copy of your credit report by phone, call (877)322-8228. For more information on ordering your free report, visit (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/freereports.htm).
• Folks with a need for speed can test-drive a racing simulator at a fundraiser for Sean Berger, which will be held noon to midnight on Saturday, April 16, at the Main Event, 3819 State Street in Bettendorf. Funds raised will help Berger, a 36-year-old who has been battling esophageal cancer for several years, with medical and living expenses. The event will include food and refreshments, live music, a silent auction with donated prizes, and a raffle, with a $3 cover charge at the door. Race-car enthusiasts can also take part in a simulator tournament, with prizes, being held during the event. In addition, Wiebler's Harley-Davidson, 5320 Corporate Park Drive, Davenport, will host a Sean Berger Benefit Poker Run. Sign-up begins at Wiebler's at 9 a.m. on April 16, with the last bike out at 11 a.m. The $10 cover charge for the Poker Run includes admission to the Main Event fundraiser. For more information on the Poker Run, call Wiebler's at (563)355-1037. To find out more about the fundraiser, call Sean Nehlsen at (563)529-2852.
• The 2005 Hope Ride that benefits AIDS Project Quad Cities, Canticle Ministries, AIDS Care Network, and Camp Heartland will be held from July 20 to 24, with cyclists leaving the Quad Cities and traveling through Rockford to Wheaton, Illinois. Event leaders need financial and volunteer assistance as well as riders and sponsors. For updates and how you can help, look at (http://www.hope-ride.org).
• Eastern Iowa Community College District (EICCD) received its second Iowa Recognition for Performance Excellence, the first educational institution to win back-to-back state quality awards. The district, which includes Clinton, Muscatine, and Scott community colleges, won the award for the first time last year. Iowa Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson presented the award to EICCD Chancellor Patricia Keir and a delegation of EICCD board members and employees at the annual Governor's Recognition of Performance Excellence Celebration in Des Moines on March 1.
• It would be harder for Iowans to avoid paying their parking fines under a bill approved this week by the Iowa Senate. The legislation would allow county treasurers to help cities collect delinquent parking fines when drivers renew their motor-vehicle registration. Under the bill, the country treasurer could refuse to renew the vehicle registration of a person owing overdue parking fines to the county or city. Cities would enter into agreements with the county treasurers to collect the fines and pay the treasurer a fee for the service, or allow the treasurer to retain a portion of the fines collected on behalf of the city. The legislation does not allow county treasurers to block new-vehicle registrations or transfers of registrations. The bill now moves to the House for more debate.
• The Quad Cities branch of the Greater Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is offering a free registration in the National Safe Return program for people who might wander due to confusion from Alzheimer's or other related dementias. Safe Return is a nationwide identification and support program that provides assistance whether a person becomes lost locally or far from home. Assistance is available 24 hours, seven days a week. Call the Quad Cities branch of the Greater Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association at (563)324-1022 for times and locations for this free registration.
• Consumers in 12 Midwestern states including Iowa can now request a free annual copy of their credit report. The Fair Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 requires that the three nationwide credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union - provide consumers, at their request, a free copy of their credit report once every 12 months. Over the past four months, free credit reports have been phased in across the country, from the west coast to the east coast. After September 1, 2005, free credit reports will be accessible to all Americans regardless of where they live. You may request a report by going to (http://www.annualcreditreport.com). Consumers may also request a copy of their credit report by phone or mail. To request a copy of your credit report by phone, call (877)322-8228. For more information on ordering your free report, visit (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/freereports.htm).
• Folks with a need for speed can test-drive a racing simulator at a fundraiser for Sean Berger, which will be held noon to midnight on Saturday, April 16, at the Main Event, 3819 State Street in Bettendorf. Funds raised will help Berger, a 36-year-old who has been battling esophageal cancer for several years, with medical and living expenses. The event will include food and refreshments, live music, a silent auction with donated prizes, and a raffle, with a $3 cover charge at the door. Race-car enthusiasts can also take part in a simulator tournament, with prizes, being held during the event. In addition, Wiebler's Harley-Davidson, 5320 Corporate Park Drive, Davenport, will host a Sean Berger Benefit Poker Run. Sign-up begins at Wiebler's at 9 a.m. on April 16, with the last bike out at 11 a.m. The $10 cover charge for the Poker Run includes admission to the Main Event fundraiser. For more information on the Poker Run, call Wiebler's at (563)355-1037. To find out more about the fundraiser, call Sean Nehlsen at (563)529-2852.
• The 2005 Hope Ride that benefits AIDS Project Quad Cities, Canticle Ministries, AIDS Care Network, and Camp Heartland will be held from July 20 to 24, with cyclists leaving the Quad Cities and traveling through Rockford to Wheaton, Illinois. Event leaders need financial and volunteer assistance as well as riders and sponsors. For updates and how you can help, look at (http://www.hope-ride.org).
