• The U.S. House and U.S. Senate are working to reach agreement on conflicting provisions of two anti-terrorism bills: The USA Act, passed by the Senate on Thursday (by a 96-1 vote), and The PATRIOT Act, passed by the House on Friday (337-79). A conference committee is working to resolve the differences between the two bills, and President Bush is expected to sign the final version. The USA Act or the PATRIOT Act would allow "sneak-and-peak" searches by allowing police to break into your home while you are away, take photos or copy your computer files, and not tell you about the search until later; authorize "Know Your Customer"-style bank spying, and expand the Carnivore e-mail surveillance system.
• The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has published administrative rules that effectively ban the consumption of food products containing hemp oil, hemp seed, or any other product containing any quantity of THC - no matter how miniscule. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, but is found in only low concentrations in cannabis plants bred to produce hemp. In its press release, the agency said, "While most of the THC in cannabis plants is concentrated in the marijuana, all parts of the plant, including hemp, have been found to contain THC." According to an alert sent out by David Bronner, president of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps and chair of the Hemp Industries Association (http://www.thehia.org) Food & Oil Committee, representatives of the association are meeting with their lawyers in Washington this week seeking a temporary restraining order to stop the regulations from taking effect. You can find the DEA press release, as well as links to the rules as published in the Federal Register on October 9, at (http://www.dea.gov/advisories.html).
• According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Iowa has been among 14 states surpassing the national average in seat-belt usage. In 1999 and 2000, Iowa had a seat-belt usage rate of 78 percent, compared to the national average of 71 percent. This means Iowa ranks ninth in the nation and first in the Midwest. The statistics were cited as the federal government announced a $571,000 grant to Iowa. Even more important, it's estimated by the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau that about 300 Iowans are saved from death or serious injury each year because of seat-belt use.
• AIDS Project Quad Cities (APQC) is accepting donations for The Great Art Auction through January 7, 2002. Donated work will be on display at the Quad City Arts Gallery on the Mall in downtown Rock Island from December 15 through January 18. Silent-auction bids will be taken at the gallery. On January 20, all works will be featured as silent-auction items at the Ninth Red Ribbon Dinner & Great Art Auction being held at the Isle of Capri Center in Bettendorf. For more information on how you can become part of the Great Art Auction, call event coordinators Jim Kling or Dave Fletcher at (309)786-0127 or the APQC office at (309)788-5698.
• IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union will be collecting funds to help keep a Quad City Thanksgiving tradition going. During the month of October, donations for Bob Vogelbaugh's Thanksgiving Dinner will be accepted at all IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union offices. Employees of the credit union will be donating money to dress casual every Friday in October, with the credit union matching the amount employees donate. To donate to the Thanksgiving Dinner, stop by a branch of IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union.
• While everyone knows that puppies are cute, the Quad City Animal Welfare Center (QCAWC) suggests you consider adopting an adult dog instead. Most adult dogs are past the chewing stage and are usually housebroken and have better bladder control than a puppy. And it's simpler to determine if an adult dog is a "couch potato" or very active, and whether the dog is shy, aggressive, dominant, or submissive. Having an adult dog is sometimes easier for people who work, because they can be left alone for longer periods of time during the day. For more information about adopting an adult dog, consult your local animal shelter or call QCAWC at (309)787-6830 during business hours. You can also visit the shelter's Web site at (http://www.qcawc.org).
• Concerned about bio-terror weapons? Don't get your information secondhand; go right to the people in charge of public health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The final word on disease, public health, bio-terror weapons, and even health-related Internet hoaxes and urban legends can be found on the centers' very informative Web site at (http://www.cdc.gov).
• One of the side effects of Iowa's state budget woes might be increased property taxes. Plans by Governor Tom Vilsack to cut the budget will affect the $270 million that Iowa has set aside for local property-tax-replacement programs. This includes $113 million in tax credits for homeowners. Local governments that count on state reimbursement money might be forced to cut their budgets or increase property taxes. However, annual property taxes have already been computed, and most local governments probably won't reissue new tax statements.
• As the nation and world deal with the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on America, students, faculty, and staff at St. Ambrose University in Davenport have opened a special Web-site discussion forum concerning the events of September 11. The site contains a diary of a 1982 St. Ambrose graduate who saw the attack on the World Trade Center from her Manhattan office, along with reflections, reactions, and memoirs. The Web site also has information on upcoming events at the university related to the terrorist attacks, including prayer meetings. You can see for yourself at (http://web.sau.edu/sauresponds/).
• The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has published administrative rules that effectively ban the consumption of food products containing hemp oil, hemp seed, or any other product containing any quantity of THC - no matter how miniscule. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, but is found in only low concentrations in cannabis plants bred to produce hemp. In its press release, the agency said, "While most of the THC in cannabis plants is concentrated in the marijuana, all parts of the plant, including hemp, have been found to contain THC." According to an alert sent out by David Bronner, president of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps and chair of the Hemp Industries Association (http://www.thehia.org) Food & Oil Committee, representatives of the association are meeting with their lawyers in Washington this week seeking a temporary restraining order to stop the regulations from taking effect. You can find the DEA press release, as well as links to the rules as published in the Federal Register on October 9, at (http://www.dea.gov/advisories.html).
• According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Iowa has been among 14 states surpassing the national average in seat-belt usage. In 1999 and 2000, Iowa had a seat-belt usage rate of 78 percent, compared to the national average of 71 percent. This means Iowa ranks ninth in the nation and first in the Midwest. The statistics were cited as the federal government announced a $571,000 grant to Iowa. Even more important, it's estimated by the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau that about 300 Iowans are saved from death or serious injury each year because of seat-belt use.
• AIDS Project Quad Cities (APQC) is accepting donations for The Great Art Auction through January 7, 2002. Donated work will be on display at the Quad City Arts Gallery on the Mall in downtown Rock Island from December 15 through January 18. Silent-auction bids will be taken at the gallery. On January 20, all works will be featured as silent-auction items at the Ninth Red Ribbon Dinner & Great Art Auction being held at the Isle of Capri Center in Bettendorf. For more information on how you can become part of the Great Art Auction, call event coordinators Jim Kling or Dave Fletcher at (309)786-0127 or the APQC office at (309)788-5698.
• IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union will be collecting funds to help keep a Quad City Thanksgiving tradition going. During the month of October, donations for Bob Vogelbaugh's Thanksgiving Dinner will be accepted at all IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union offices. Employees of the credit union will be donating money to dress casual every Friday in October, with the credit union matching the amount employees donate. To donate to the Thanksgiving Dinner, stop by a branch of IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union.
• While everyone knows that puppies are cute, the Quad City Animal Welfare Center (QCAWC) suggests you consider adopting an adult dog instead. Most adult dogs are past the chewing stage and are usually housebroken and have better bladder control than a puppy. And it's simpler to determine if an adult dog is a "couch potato" or very active, and whether the dog is shy, aggressive, dominant, or submissive. Having an adult dog is sometimes easier for people who work, because they can be left alone for longer periods of time during the day. For more information about adopting an adult dog, consult your local animal shelter or call QCAWC at (309)787-6830 during business hours. You can also visit the shelter's Web site at (http://www.qcawc.org).
• Concerned about bio-terror weapons? Don't get your information secondhand; go right to the people in charge of public health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The final word on disease, public health, bio-terror weapons, and even health-related Internet hoaxes and urban legends can be found on the centers' very informative Web site at (http://www.cdc.gov).
• One of the side effects of Iowa's state budget woes might be increased property taxes. Plans by Governor Tom Vilsack to cut the budget will affect the $270 million that Iowa has set aside for local property-tax-replacement programs. This includes $113 million in tax credits for homeowners. Local governments that count on state reimbursement money might be forced to cut their budgets or increase property taxes. However, annual property taxes have already been computed, and most local governments probably won't reissue new tax statements.
• As the nation and world deal with the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on America, students, faculty, and staff at St. Ambrose University in Davenport have opened a special Web-site discussion forum concerning the events of September 11. The site contains a diary of a 1982 St. Ambrose graduate who saw the attack on the World Trade Center from her Manhattan office, along with reflections, reactions, and memoirs. The Web site also has information on upcoming events at the university related to the terrorist attacks, including prayer meetings. You can see for yourself at (http://web.sau.edu/sauresponds/).
