19
Mar
2002
• The Bettendorf Park Board has decided to keep all of Splash Landing closed until 2003, resulting in a savings of $73,500. Water-clarity issues and structural problems forced the closing of the aquatic center following a $1.8 million renovation of Middle Park pool. Last year, the park board decided to build a new pool and filtration system at the site that is expected to cost $2 million. Earlier this year, the park board had discussed keeping the zero-depth toddler pool open from June to mid-August, but it was decided to close that also to allow construction of the new main pool.
• The new federal farm bill was recently passed into the House-Senate conference committee, which will reconcile the bills. The Congressional Budget Office recently disclosed that it made a mistake in totaling up the cost of the commodity portion of the bill with a difference of $6.1 billion between the bills passed by each chamber. Increasing the amount spent on the bill would violate budget rules. Senator Tom Harkin (IA-D) called this amount "pencil dust" when compared with overall federal spending and suggested that additional money could be found in the budget for the farm bill.
• A great resource on the validity of e-mail virus warnings can be found at (http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/). Information on special coupons, offers of free trips, tickets, money, charity solicitations, offers to transfer money from African bank accounts to yours, and more can be found at (http://www.scambusters.com). Frequently information on the worst and most prevalent of these will also be posted to (http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/).
• If an anti-tobacco group has its way, you'll see an "S" after your movie ratings when there is smoking in a movie. A report published in the international health journal Tobacco Control exposes the relationship between Hollywood and the tobacco industry. The report, "How the Tobacco Industry Built Its Relationship with Hollywood," uses previously secret tobacco-industry documents to describe how product placement in films and TV has extended even to addicting stars themselves through offers of free cigarettes and cigars. With the release of the report, there is growing support within the health community to initiate a nationwide lobbying effort aimed at the Motion Picture Association of America, incorporating tobacco as a factor in determining movie ratings. You can see the report for yourself at (http://www.saclung.org/tobacco%20control%20article.pdf). Other information, including a press release about the report and resources, can be found at (http://lungusa.org/press/tobacco/tobacco_031202b.html)
• Two bills regarding child restraints in vehicles have made it out of committee. Iowa Senate File 2265 and House File 2499 have made it to their respective floors. The bills would require that children under one year old and at least 20 pounds ride rear-facing; children ride in an approved child-safety seat until age eight, and wear a seat belt until age 16.
• Nearly 30 miles of recreational paths in the Quad Cities are being kept neat and clean by volunteers in the Adopt a Path Program, sponsored by River Action and The Quad Cities Bicycle Club. This means that there are only a few miles to go before every section of the trail has been adopted. The program is simple: Volunteers adopt a half-mile section of the trail and agree to pick up trash four or five times a year. If you are interested in participating in the program, contact River Action at (563)322-2969, or via e-mail at (riveraction@netexpress.net).
• A recent ruling by the Federal Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Court in the case of United States v. Charles Thomas Sell affirms that defendants can be forcibly drugged even though they haven't been convicted on any charges and pose no danger to themselves or others. Sell, the defendant and a St. Louis dentist, has been imprisoned for more than four years, including a year and a half in solitary confinement, after being charged with Medicaid fraud. He has never been brought to trial. While acknowledging that "the evidence does not support a finding that Sell posed a danger to himself or others," the majority opinion still found that "charges of fraud" alone are "serious" enough to justify forced medication of antipsychotic medications. (Doctors argue that the drugs will make Sell, who has a history of mental illness, fit to stand trial.) Further, the court held that there are no limits on the quantity or type of drugs. The dissenting judge pointed out that even if Dr. Sell were found guilty, his sentence would be no more than 41 months, one year less than he's already served. A similar case is pending before the same court questioning whether the state has the right to forcibly medicate a convicted murderer prior to execution. See for yourself at (http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/02/03/011862P.pdf).
• Habitat for Humanity-Quad Cities has broken ground for its 25th home at 1651 19th Avenue in Moline. The home is for partner family Elizabeth Thompson and her children. This home is being built in partnership with Quad City homebuilder Beaver Builders.
• The Illinois Department of Transportation has started work on the Interstate 74 re-construction project in Rock Island County. This project involves removing and replacing four bridges carrying Interstate 74 over the Rock River and Interstate 280 between Illinois Route 5 (John Deere Road) and Airport Road. The project also involves removing and replacing the concrete pavement approaching these bridges and improving ramps at the I-74/I-280 and John Deere Road/I-74 interchanges. A new high-tech traffic-monitoring system and series of message boards placed around the Quad Cities will advise and guide motorists during construction. Work began on March 11 and will be completed in June of 2004, with no work or lane closures during the winter months. On the Web, look at (http://www.dot.state.il.us/i74/default.htm) for information ranging from the work schedule to images showing current traffic status.
• The new federal farm bill was recently passed into the House-Senate conference committee, which will reconcile the bills. The Congressional Budget Office recently disclosed that it made a mistake in totaling up the cost of the commodity portion of the bill with a difference of $6.1 billion between the bills passed by each chamber. Increasing the amount spent on the bill would violate budget rules. Senator Tom Harkin (IA-D) called this amount "pencil dust" when compared with overall federal spending and suggested that additional money could be found in the budget for the farm bill.
• A great resource on the validity of e-mail virus warnings can be found at (http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/). Information on special coupons, offers of free trips, tickets, money, charity solicitations, offers to transfer money from African bank accounts to yours, and more can be found at (http://www.scambusters.com). Frequently information on the worst and most prevalent of these will also be posted to (http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/).
• If an anti-tobacco group has its way, you'll see an "S" after your movie ratings when there is smoking in a movie. A report published in the international health journal Tobacco Control exposes the relationship between Hollywood and the tobacco industry. The report, "How the Tobacco Industry Built Its Relationship with Hollywood," uses previously secret tobacco-industry documents to describe how product placement in films and TV has extended even to addicting stars themselves through offers of free cigarettes and cigars. With the release of the report, there is growing support within the health community to initiate a nationwide lobbying effort aimed at the Motion Picture Association of America, incorporating tobacco as a factor in determining movie ratings. You can see the report for yourself at (http://www.saclung.org/tobacco%20control%20article.pdf). Other information, including a press release about the report and resources, can be found at (http://lungusa.org/press/tobacco/tobacco_031202b.html)
• Two bills regarding child restraints in vehicles have made it out of committee. Iowa Senate File 2265 and House File 2499 have made it to their respective floors. The bills would require that children under one year old and at least 20 pounds ride rear-facing; children ride in an approved child-safety seat until age eight, and wear a seat belt until age 16.
• Nearly 30 miles of recreational paths in the Quad Cities are being kept neat and clean by volunteers in the Adopt a Path Program, sponsored by River Action and The Quad Cities Bicycle Club. This means that there are only a few miles to go before every section of the trail has been adopted. The program is simple: Volunteers adopt a half-mile section of the trail and agree to pick up trash four or five times a year. If you are interested in participating in the program, contact River Action at (563)322-2969, or via e-mail at (riveraction@netexpress.net).
• A recent ruling by the Federal Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Court in the case of United States v. Charles Thomas Sell affirms that defendants can be forcibly drugged even though they haven't been convicted on any charges and pose no danger to themselves or others. Sell, the defendant and a St. Louis dentist, has been imprisoned for more than four years, including a year and a half in solitary confinement, after being charged with Medicaid fraud. He has never been brought to trial. While acknowledging that "the evidence does not support a finding that Sell posed a danger to himself or others," the majority opinion still found that "charges of fraud" alone are "serious" enough to justify forced medication of antipsychotic medications. (Doctors argue that the drugs will make Sell, who has a history of mental illness, fit to stand trial.) Further, the court held that there are no limits on the quantity or type of drugs. The dissenting judge pointed out that even if Dr. Sell were found guilty, his sentence would be no more than 41 months, one year less than he's already served. A similar case is pending before the same court questioning whether the state has the right to forcibly medicate a convicted murderer prior to execution. See for yourself at (http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/02/03/011862P.pdf).
• Habitat for Humanity-Quad Cities has broken ground for its 25th home at 1651 19th Avenue in Moline. The home is for partner family Elizabeth Thompson and her children. This home is being built in partnership with Quad City homebuilder Beaver Builders.
• The Illinois Department of Transportation has started work on the Interstate 74 re-construction project in Rock Island County. This project involves removing and replacing four bridges carrying Interstate 74 over the Rock River and Interstate 280 between Illinois Route 5 (John Deere Road) and Airport Road. The project also involves removing and replacing the concrete pavement approaching these bridges and improving ramps at the I-74/I-280 and John Deere Road/I-74 interchanges. A new high-tech traffic-monitoring system and series of message boards placed around the Quad Cities will advise and guide motorists during construction. Work began on March 11 and will be completed in June of 2004, with no work or lane closures during the winter months. On the Web, look at (http://www.dot.state.il.us/i74/default.htm) for information ranging from the work schedule to images showing current traffic status.
