05
Aug
2003
• Iowa Republican legislative leaders have filed a lawsuit against Governor Tom Vilsack, challenging his use of a line-item veto on economic-development legislation approved earlier this year. The lawsuit in Polk County District Court, which names House Majority Leader Christopher Rants and Senate Majority Leader Stewart Iverson as plaintiffs, stems from Vilsack's June 19 selective veto of income-tax cuts, changes in the worker's compensation system, and limits on some jury awards. Vilsack has insisted that his authority is broad, including measures that might affect his handling of the budget. He claimed the tax cut, for example, could hinder his ability to carry out other budgetary duties, such as education. A 1968 amendment to the Iowa Constitution allows line-item vetoes only on spending bills, not policy bills. If lawmakers win the case, portions of the bill that were vetoed will become law. The lawsuit does not seek an injunction to block Vilsack's actions. A hearing in the case is expected within 90 days. A decision is expected by November - 30 days after the hearing and two months before the legislature convenes in January. Appeals could drag the case out much longer.
• The 4th Annual Illini Hospital Foundation Pro-Am golf tournament will be held Wednesday, August 27 at 1 p.m. at TPC Deere Run in Silvis. New to this year's tournament is the Dimple Drop. In this fundraiser, purchased golf balls will be taken by MedForce helicopter 200 feet in the air and dropped onto the practice green at TPC. The closest to the pin will win $1,000, and farthest from the pin will win $250. For information on the Illini Hospital Foundation Pro-Am golf tournament or Dimple Drop, call the foundation office at (309)792-6395.
• Judy Guenseth of Galesburg signed the mural depicting the new Galesburg slogan and logo she designed during a ceremony held Wednesday, July 30. On April 7, the Galesburg City Council accepted the volunteer logo subcommittee's recommendation to declare Guenseth the winner of the Galesburg City Logo contest. Guenseth's design incorporated Galesburg's "Proud Past, Strong Future" slogan. The Galesburg City Council approved the winning slogan, developed by Rick Lundeen of Galesburg, on December 16, 2002. The result of the slogan and logo contests is the creation of the mural on the side of the property at 10 West Main Street, which faces Galesburg's Public Square.
• The Illinois Summer Savings Coupon Book offers visitors coupons for more than 100 attractions, accommodations, and dining and shopping destinations across the state, from the Hancock Observatory in Chicago to the Stoney Creek Inn in Quincy. You can get your copy by calling (800)226-6632 or by visiting the Illinois Bureau of Tourism's Web site at (http://www.enjoyillinois.com).
• Genesis Health System and the Edgerton Women's Health Center (formerly known as the Maternal Health Center) celebrated the grand opening of a new facility located on Genesis Medical Center's east campus. The new building is 13,400 square feet and has 25 percent more space than the former center in Duck Creek Mall. The new facility features larger, state-of-the-art exam rooms and equipment and is in close proximity to the hospital for patients needing radiology and lab tests or who deliver their babies at Genesis' BirthCenter. The program provides family-preparation, gynecological, pre-natal, and nutritional services to women, infants, and children in Scott County. Edgerton Women's Health Center is now located at 1510 East Rusholme Street in Davenport. The center is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment, call (563)344-1371 or visit the center's Web site (http://www.qcwomenshealth.org).
• Justice Department statistics show that the number of people behind bars in America has skyrocketed to yet another record high - despite a slight drop in overall crime. The chief reason: the War on Drugs. The U.S. imprisons more of its citizens than any other country in the world, both in absolute numbers and per capita, according to The Sentencing Project, a not-for-profit organization that promotes alternatives to prison. The U.S. rate of incarceration is five to eight times that of most industrialized nations. The U.S. inmate population in 2002 hit 2,033,331 - a 2.6 percent increase from 2001. This means that about one of every 143 U.S. residents was in federal, state, or local custody by the end of 2002. About one in 110 U.S. men is in prison. More than 10 percent of African-American males between the ages of 24 and 29 were imprisoned last year. On any given day, black males of all ages were incarcerated at a rate of 5.4 percent - that's one out of 19. Black men make up about 45 percent of all inmates serving sentences longer than a year. For more information, look at The Sentencing Project's Web site at (http://www.sentencingproject.org).
• Trinity Regional Health System recently held a ground-blessing ceremony for the $10-million expansion of its obstetrical unit at 500 John Deere Road in Moline. Pastor Joe Robb of Trinity's Pastoral Care department led nurses, physicians, staff, and other guests during the blessing that took place on ground where the new unit is being constructed. Trinity announced the project in November 2002, after the State of Illinois approved Trinity's certificate-of-need filing for the 35,000-square-foot expansion. Work has already begun on the project, which will feature 18 private obstetrical-patient rooms, eight labor and delivery rooms, two cesarean-section rooms, a newborn nursery, neo-natal special-care unit, ante-partum testing facility, recovery area, family lounges, and a pre-natal education area. The new addition will allow obstetrical patients an increased opportunity for a private room. By transferring the obstetrical unit from the West Campus located at 2701 17th Street in Rock Island, the hospital will increase by 44 the number of private rooms used for medical/surgical patients at that location as well. The unit is expected to open by spring 2004.
• Partners of Scott Watersheds, in conjunction with Chad Pegracke's Quad Cites Mississippi River cleanup, will be removing debris and litter along Duck Creek from Emeis Park in Davenport to State Street in Bettendorf on Saturday, August 9, from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information or to sign up, call Roy at (563)468-4218.
• The 4th Annual Illini Hospital Foundation Pro-Am golf tournament will be held Wednesday, August 27 at 1 p.m. at TPC Deere Run in Silvis. New to this year's tournament is the Dimple Drop. In this fundraiser, purchased golf balls will be taken by MedForce helicopter 200 feet in the air and dropped onto the practice green at TPC. The closest to the pin will win $1,000, and farthest from the pin will win $250. For information on the Illini Hospital Foundation Pro-Am golf tournament or Dimple Drop, call the foundation office at (309)792-6395.
• Judy Guenseth of Galesburg signed the mural depicting the new Galesburg slogan and logo she designed during a ceremony held Wednesday, July 30. On April 7, the Galesburg City Council accepted the volunteer logo subcommittee's recommendation to declare Guenseth the winner of the Galesburg City Logo contest. Guenseth's design incorporated Galesburg's "Proud Past, Strong Future" slogan. The Galesburg City Council approved the winning slogan, developed by Rick Lundeen of Galesburg, on December 16, 2002. The result of the slogan and logo contests is the creation of the mural on the side of the property at 10 West Main Street, which faces Galesburg's Public Square.
• The Illinois Summer Savings Coupon Book offers visitors coupons for more than 100 attractions, accommodations, and dining and shopping destinations across the state, from the Hancock Observatory in Chicago to the Stoney Creek Inn in Quincy. You can get your copy by calling (800)226-6632 or by visiting the Illinois Bureau of Tourism's Web site at (http://www.enjoyillinois.com).
• Genesis Health System and the Edgerton Women's Health Center (formerly known as the Maternal Health Center) celebrated the grand opening of a new facility located on Genesis Medical Center's east campus. The new building is 13,400 square feet and has 25 percent more space than the former center in Duck Creek Mall. The new facility features larger, state-of-the-art exam rooms and equipment and is in close proximity to the hospital for patients needing radiology and lab tests or who deliver their babies at Genesis' BirthCenter. The program provides family-preparation, gynecological, pre-natal, and nutritional services to women, infants, and children in Scott County. Edgerton Women's Health Center is now located at 1510 East Rusholme Street in Davenport. The center is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment, call (563)344-1371 or visit the center's Web site (http://www.qcwomenshealth.org).
• Justice Department statistics show that the number of people behind bars in America has skyrocketed to yet another record high - despite a slight drop in overall crime. The chief reason: the War on Drugs. The U.S. imprisons more of its citizens than any other country in the world, both in absolute numbers and per capita, according to The Sentencing Project, a not-for-profit organization that promotes alternatives to prison. The U.S. rate of incarceration is five to eight times that of most industrialized nations. The U.S. inmate population in 2002 hit 2,033,331 - a 2.6 percent increase from 2001. This means that about one of every 143 U.S. residents was in federal, state, or local custody by the end of 2002. About one in 110 U.S. men is in prison. More than 10 percent of African-American males between the ages of 24 and 29 were imprisoned last year. On any given day, black males of all ages were incarcerated at a rate of 5.4 percent - that's one out of 19. Black men make up about 45 percent of all inmates serving sentences longer than a year. For more information, look at The Sentencing Project's Web site at (http://www.sentencingproject.org).
• Trinity Regional Health System recently held a ground-blessing ceremony for the $10-million expansion of its obstetrical unit at 500 John Deere Road in Moline. Pastor Joe Robb of Trinity's Pastoral Care department led nurses, physicians, staff, and other guests during the blessing that took place on ground where the new unit is being constructed. Trinity announced the project in November 2002, after the State of Illinois approved Trinity's certificate-of-need filing for the 35,000-square-foot expansion. Work has already begun on the project, which will feature 18 private obstetrical-patient rooms, eight labor and delivery rooms, two cesarean-section rooms, a newborn nursery, neo-natal special-care unit, ante-partum testing facility, recovery area, family lounges, and a pre-natal education area. The new addition will allow obstetrical patients an increased opportunity for a private room. By transferring the obstetrical unit from the West Campus located at 2701 17th Street in Rock Island, the hospital will increase by 44 the number of private rooms used for medical/surgical patients at that location as well. The unit is expected to open by spring 2004.
• Partners of Scott Watersheds, in conjunction with Chad Pegracke's Quad Cites Mississippi River cleanup, will be removing debris and litter along Duck Creek from Emeis Park in Davenport to State Street in Bettendorf on Saturday, August 9, from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information or to sign up, call Roy at (563)468-4218.
