WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley said today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded grants totaling $95,893 to the Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency and the Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority through the Family Self Sufficiency Program.

"These funds will give families the opportunity to work with housing agencies to help reach their employment goals and objectives, as well as become and remain independent from public assistance," Grassley said.

This funding will be used by the housing agencies to help link residents with training opportunities, job placement organizations, and local employers.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded funds as described below.

• Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency - $31,091

• Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority - $64,802

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WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Jan. 12, 2010 - Farm Bureau members across Iowa believe that sound budgeting practices protect Iowa's resources, families, and taxpayers.  "Iowa's success over the next few years depends on responsible budget reform this year," said Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) President Craig Lang, on the heels of Governor Culver's Condition of the State Address.  "We look forward to sharing our plan for budget reform with the Governor and state lawmakers."

"The state's budgeting process is broken, and that's increasing pressure to raise property taxes during a very uncertain time for farmers and all Iowans," said Lang.  "During the 2009 legislative session, the Governor signed the state's largest budget ever, despite the economic downturn."  The revenue shortfall prompted Governor Culver to impose across-the-board budget cuts, which are forcing Iowans to deal with more than $250 million in potential property tax increases as school districts and local governments make up for lost state funds.  "That's a heavy burden for rural schools already financially strapped," said Lang. "And, if the Governor uses $100 million in cash reserves to backfill education as he proposed today, then we need to be assured that those dollars will be used to reduce the impact to property taxpayers."

To improve the state's budgeting process, Farm Bureau members will work with decision makers to establish an affordable state budget that will: 1) fund Iowa priorities and lessen the potential shifts in property taxes; 2) ensure that the state's emergency funds are at a level sufficient to protect priorities when revenues are declining; 3) create fiscal responsibility by not using one-time resources to fund on-going expenditures; and 4) protect property taxpayers when across-the-board cuts are enacted.

As they push to enact budget reform, Farm Bureau members will also work to prevent changes to the state's income or property tax system that would increase taxes on Iowans.  They will oppose the elimination of federal deductibility on Iowa income taxes and changes to the property tax system, including changes to the agriculture productivity formula and assessment of farm buildings.  Lang noted that property taxes are a major issue because in the past decade they have soared by $1.59 billion, or 60 percent.

Increased property taxes are just one of the effects of flawed budgeting.  "Today, Governor Culver proposed to take dollars out of the state's road use tax fund to pay for the Iowa State Patrol and the Department of Public Safety. Farm Bureau members believe that officers who protect the public are essential to the well-being of our state, but they also feel that diverting money from a fund that keeps our roads and bridges functioning and safe for Iowa families is not the way to do it," Lang said.  "Unfortunately, the damage Iowa's roads and bridges sustained from major flooding in 2008 have worsened with severe weather elements in 2009.  We need to properly fund both the Iowa State Patrol and roads and bridges to ensure public safety. Iowans have been told that the $1 billion in the road use tax fund - which comes from the fuel tax, license fees, etc. - will be used to keep their roads and bridges maintained, and lawmakers need to keep that promise."

Another priority for Farm Bureau members in the 2010 legislative session is to ask the legislature to declare farm buildings exempt from required electrical inspections. "The law was not intended to cover agricultural buildings," said Lang. "The ruling imposed by Iowa's Electrical Examining Board to add farm buildings and structures to the list that require an inspection creates more red tape and expense for farmers at a time when they are struggling to make a profit."

In addition to its cost-saving efforts, Farm Bureau will continue to work toward initiatives that benefit the environment, including a push to increase renewable fuel use and protect current funding for soil and water conservation cost-share programs. "Responsible budgeting will allow us to fund our state's critical conservation needs," said Lang.  "Real reform is needed, and Farm Bureau members are ready to work with lawmakers to make that happen."

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One of the largest indoor wine tasting events in Illinois

GALENA, Ill. - Now in its fifth year running, Galena Wine Lovers' Weekend on March 26-28, 2010, is a community-wide celebration of good wine, good food and good friends. Wine lovers of all sorts are invited to enjoy three event-filled days of fine wine, culinary delight, celebrity chefs, wine makers, pampering packages and all of the stops Galena can possibly pull out.

Galena Wine Lovers' Weekend is a spirited way to warm the winter and add romance - whether it is for vino, gourmet cuisine or the love for a town with history and charm all on its own. Wine-inspired dinners, spirit tastings, spa experiences, history tours, cooking demonstrations and shopping welcome and enchant visitors.

Kicking off the weekend on Friday evening is the Grand Tasting and Wine Auction - which has grown to be one of the largest indoor wine tasting events in the state of Illinois. This year at the Grand Tasting, choose to sample from 300 varieties of hand-picked wines and spirits. Cost is $30 in advance (purchase online at wineloversweekend.com) or $35 at the door, while supplies last. Admission also provides you with a keepsake wine glass and an opportunity to win a wine-themed trip to San Francisco. Additional trip chances may be purchased for $15 each. Auction items include vintage wines, artwork, large format wine bottles and related items of interest.

Lodging specials and package deals fuel the passion. From dining packages to pampering in luxurious accommodations and the warmest of hospitality, Galena's finest provide a variety of options to cater to every taste and budget.

Visit wineloversweekend.com for a detailed listing of weekend activities, links to lodging and an opportunity to purchase tickets online. Additional area offerings may be found at the Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau at galena.org.

(DAVENPORT) - Although 'American Pickers,' a new reality series debuting on the History Channel on Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. local time, follows its stars Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz across the country as they scour for hidden antique gems, it has a longstanding history in the Quad Cities.

The show started in Le Claire, Iowa, with nothing but Wolfe's handheld video camera documenting his and Fritz's unique finds, quirky characters met along the way and amazing stories never-before captured. Numerous junkyards, basements, garages and barns later, the pair had accumulated hours of amateur footage that would later be used to create the 'American Pickers' pilot by local film production company,  
Crazy Eyes Productions.

Wolfe and Fritz crossed paths with Crazy Eyes Productions' owner Justin Anderson in a chance-happening meeting at a Bettendorf coffee shop. Of their first meeting, Anderson recalls, "I thought their back-story was really interesting, and knew it had potential to become something even bigger."

Crazy Eyes Productions quickly got to work thereafter, producing more than a dozen shorts and a full 22-minute pilot for the show. Wolfe's box of 20-something unlabeled tapes quickly became a unique look into the business of finding, selling and buying antiques in America.

"When we met Justin, the project starting coming together," remembers Wolfe. "He created the stories and gave it a professional look with interesting graphics to make it ready for T.V."

Anderson is thrilled that Wolfe, Fritz and their company, Antique Archaeology, will now be nationally recognized for their hard work and creativity.

"It was my first big project when I started Crazy Eyes Productions and has definitely been a favorite to work on. I'm very excited to watch the premiere with Mike and Frank," he details.

Crazy Eyes Productions invites all of the Quad Cities to watch the series premiere of American Pickers with its staff and the show's stars Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz on Jan. 18 at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Davenport. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with the show airing at 7 p.m.

For more information on American Pickers, visit  
www.history.com/content/american-pickers.

About Crazy Eyes Productions

Crazy Eyes Productions is a video production and creative media company based in downtown Davenport, Iowa.  Owner Justin Anderson and T.V. Producer Frank Otero specialize in creative marketing, animation, and video production. Other related credits include graphic titles for a show that premiered on the History Channel in September 2008.  Currently, the company is working on the development of two new scripted comedy pilots for T.V., among other area ventures. For additional information, visit www.CrazyEyesProductions.com.

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