QCA.news - Quad Cities news and view from both sides of the river

Sunday, June 7th, 2026
	Gov. JB Pritzker to suspend tax breaks for data centers, urging more discussion The governor has directed the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to pause all new agreements starting July 1, fulfilling a proposal he made during his budget address earlier this year.
	3 killed, 3 injured in Warren County crash Saturday night The crash happened around 10:30 p.m. on June 6 on U.S. Route 34 north of East Walnut Street/160th Avenue near Kirkwood.
	Bettendorf Police asks for help finding missing man Bettendorf Police are asking the community for help finding a missing and endangered man.
	Bettendorf Police: Help find missing man The Bettendorf Police are asking for your help to find a missing 21-year-old man. The department received a report Sunday of a missing and endangered man, Jamarius Johnson Johnson lives with family near 18th Street and Central Avenue, is 5-foot-5 and weighs around 140 pounds. He was last seen Saturday around 8 p.m. Police say [...]
	1 dead, at least 1 injured in Henry County crash A person is dead and at least one person is hurt after a crash in Henry County, Illinois, Sunday.
	River Bandits home game against South Bend Cubs cancelled due to rain The River Bandits game scheduled for this afternoon against the South Bend Cubs was cancelled due to rain.
	Israel says Iran launched a missile at it, in a first during fragile ceasefire The attack would be the first since a fragile ceasefire took effect in early April, complicating mediation efforts for a deal to end the war.
	3 dead in Warren County crash A deadly crash Saturday night near Kirkwood, Illinois. The Warren County Sheriff's Department says it happened on U.S. Highway 34 a little after 10 p.m. They say three people died at the scene, while three others were airlifted to a hospital. No one has been identified yet as Illinois State Police investigate the crash.
	Flash Flood Warning until SUN 7:45 PM CDT Flash Flood Warning in Effect Until 7:45 PM CDT for South Central Scott and Rock Island Counties
	Flash Flood Warning from SUN 1:47 PM CDT until SUN 7:45 PM CDT Flash Flood Warning: Heavy Rainfall and Flooding Risk Until 7:45 PM CDT
	Traffic Alert: Part of Route 40 closed due to flooding, significant flooding on I-80 A section of Route 40 is closed in Bureau County due to flooding Sunday.
	Alexander Zverev wins the French Open to finally earn a 1st Grand Slam title After Italian Flavio Cobolli missed an overhead on the second championship point of the five-set encounter, Zverev dropped on his back and began sobbing.
	Crews respond to fire at Flip's Pancake House in Rock Island The Rock Island Fire Department responded to a fire at Flip's Pancake House on Saturday.
	3 dead, 3 injured after crash in Warren County, Illinois State Police say Three people are dead and three people were left injured after a crash Saturday night in Warren County.
	Moline woman sentenced to nine years in prison for meth trafficking A Moline woman arrested for trafficking in meth has been sentenced to nine years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
	U.K. deputy prime minister: JD Vance was wrong to blame teen's murder on immigration Britain's deputy prime minister says he told U.S. Vice President JD Vance he was wrong to blame immigration for the death of a university student who was handcuffed as he lay dying from a stab wound.
	Armenians vote in general election watched closely by Russia and the West Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his governing party are looking for a strong mandate for a new geopolitical course for Armenia. The opposition includes some parties that are vocally pro-Russia.
	Clucking egg prices as of 6/5/26 Here’s this week’s egg price update. This is the USDA’s average price per dozen when delivered to the warehouse on Jan. 20, 2026, compared to where prices are now. To see the price, click on the video above. Local 4 News, your local election headquarters, is proud to present 4 The Record, a weekly news and [...]
	Halpin & McCombie don't expect summer session to address Bears stadium issue One issue that sticks out like a sore thumb from the Illinois legislative session is the failure to adopt a measure to help the Chicago Bears build a new stadium. Now the Bears' board of directors approved the stadium plan put forward by Hammond, Indiana. The Illinois House approved the 'megaprojects bill' that would give [...]
	Illinois' new social media tax explained Illinois' new budget includes a variety of new taxes. One of those targets social media companies that operate in the state. Here's how it's supposed to work: Platforms that have 100,000 to almost half a million users will be taxed 10¢ a month for each user. That's the lowest tier. It increases for middle tier [...]
	Illinois state lawmakers from QCA share budget disagreements Illinois state lawmakers went home for the summer this week. They wrapped up four-and-a-half months' worth of work by passing a state budget in the early hours of Monday morning. It's the largest budget in state history that's more than 3,700 pages. Democrats in the majority tout there's enough money for local governments and that [...]
	Rock Island fire crews respond to small fire at Flip’s Pancake House Crews with the Rock Island Fire Department responded to a fire at a popular Quad Cities breakfast restaurant.
	Special Weather Statement until SUN 10:30 AM CDT Slow-Moving Thunderstorm Causing Minor Flooding in Eastern Iowa
	Scott County Historic Preservation Society invites public to annual meeting, picnic The Scott County Historic Preservation Society (SCHPS) will host its annual meeting and picnic at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 11, at Lost Valley Farm (Kreiter Tree Farm), 12010 70th Ave., Blue Grass, a news release says. The evening will celebrate outstanding achievements in historic preservation throughout Scott County while providing members and guests the [...]
	Milan man gets prison sentence for possessing child sex abuse materials A 24-year-old Milan man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing child sex abuse materials.
	It's one of the world's most isolated islands. Here come the bulldozers The Indian government is spending $9 billion to create a megaport, airport and city on this remote island. Critics fear the impact on pristine forests and the lives of indigenous inhabitants.
	DuTrac Community Credit Unions is sharing simple steps to stay safe for elder abuse DuTrac Community Credit Union raises awareness around elder abuse, encourage community to “Pause. Ask. Protect.” for Elder Abuse Month.
	MARK-TO-MARKET: From tools to threats: How AI is reshaping cybercriminal tactics In 2025, the FBI reports that losses from cybercrime activities totaled $20.9 billion. This is up 25.8% from 2024 and up a staggering 1,988% from 2015.
	Sunday Puzzle: NBA Team Names NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with OPB listener Jocelyn Tutak of Portland, OR., along with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.
	1 million people flood Madrid streets to see the pope's flower-carpeted procession The crowd cheered and shouted "This is the youth of the pope!" as Pope Leo arrived for Mass at a central Madrid plaza. It's the first papal visit to Spain in 15 years.
	Craig Schillig: Common factors affecting retirement income Common factors affecting retirement income, do you know of Medicare options June 2026.
	At least 12 people shot at an Ohio festival and a search for suspects is still ongoing, police say Gunfire erupted Saturday near a busy street festival in Ohio, wounding at least 12 people and sending some eventgoers scrambling for cover while others rushed to help the victims.
	Island Stages This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Of the thousand or more island sprinkled on the Upper Mississippi River, only one is fit for that Biblical wise man:…
	4 takeaways from the U.S. men's final tune-up games before the World Cup The U.S. men's national team chose to play a pair of highly-ranked, super competitive teams in the final lead-up to the World Cup: Senegal and Germany. The matches showed the U.S. is ready.
	It's not just T-shirts — how Broadway merchandise is changing Every year, we highlight essential Broadway workers not eligible for Tonys. This year, we look at the world of Broadway merch, which is a lot more than T-shirts, mugs and refrigerator magnets.
	Bumblebees have tiny brains but they can solve problems like chimps and elephants New research suggests the fuzzy insects may be capable of spontaneously solving problems the way animals with much larger brains do.
	Subaru recall: Moonroof glass may detach while driving Subaru is recalling nearly 70,000 of its popular SUVs over a defect that could cause the glass moonroof to detach while the vehicle is moving, according to a filing with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Saturday, June 6th, 2026
	Crews respond to fire at Flip's Pancake House in Rock Island The Rock Island Fire Department responded to a fire at Flip's Pancake House Saturday evening.
	Fulton baseball falls in Sectional championship 11-2 Fulton baseball’s incredible season comes to an end in the Sectional championship to Putnam County 11-2.
	Galena baseball wins their first ever Sectional title Galena baseball defeated Dakota in the Sectional Championship 5-4.
	Steamwheelers beat first place Blizzard 43-37 The Quad City Steamwheelers are back in the win column after defeating first place Green Bay Blizzard 43-37.
	Quad Cities Pride Festival draws hundreds to celebrate community and inclusion Several people gathered at Schwiebert Riverfront Park this weekend for the 2026 Quad Cities Pride Festival, a two-day celebration of community, inclusion, and LGBTQ+ pride.
	Crews respond to small fire at Flip's Pancake House, Rock Island No one was injured in a small fire Saturday afternoon at Flip's Pancake House, 2704 18th Ave., Rock Island, according to a news release. Rock Island firefighters responded to the restaurant shortly after 4:45 p.m. No smoke was visible from the exterior. Crews secured the scene while they waited for the property owners. Firefighters discovered [...]
	Muscatine mental health fundraiser takes on added meaning after week of tragedy A growing mental health fundraiser in Muscatine, offers both a celebration of one man's life and a source of healing for a community grappling with recent loss.
	Downtown Bettendorf Organizations holds Be Downtown event Organizers say the event is designed to showcase downtown Bettendorf while encouraging people to support local businesses.
	Potential heavy rainfall tomorrow After things have been a bit dry over the past couple of weeks in the Quad Cities, we are finally looking to get some much-needed rain just in time for the growing season. Throughout the next 7 days on our rain outlook, we could be seeing anywhere between 1.5 to 2 inches of rain. Within [...]
	Rescue Rocks Music Fest held in Bettendorf Proceeds from the event go towards the Scott County Humane Society.
	Quad Cities Pride Fest draws crowds to Rock Island Hundreds gathered to be a part of the Quad Cities Pride Festival.
	Annual mental health fundraiser held in Muscatine days after shooting Home Base hosts its annual mental health fundraiser in Muscatine days after fatal shootings.
	Davenport pair held on $2 million bond each for child-endangerment charges: Records After a report of child abuse, two Davenport residents were being held Saturday on a $2 million cash-only bond each, according to Scott County Court records. Andrew Warrington, 48; and Kellie Warrington, 47; each face charges of first-degree kidnapping, child endangerment, willful injury, and neglect or abandonment of a dependent person, according to Scott County [...]
	Death Notice: Bridget Johnson Bridget Ann Johnson, 53, of Blue Grass, died Monday, June 1, 2026, at MercyOne Genesis, Davenport. Funeral services and a visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 10, at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Following the service, a luncheon will be held at Duck Creek Lodge, Davenport. Memorials may be made to the family. Online condolences may be made at www.hmdfuneralhome.com. A full obituary will appear in the June 10 edition of The NSP.
	Section of Running River Trail to close Monday in Muscatine A section of the Running River Trail System will close this coming week for repairs.
	Portion of eastbound Rockingham Road in Davenport to close Monday A traffic alert for drivers in Davenport.
	‘Play all day, party all night’ at Bettendorf’s annual Be Downtown event, Saturday An annual event is returning to downtown Bettendorf this weekend.
	‘Quad Cities Construction Hike for Hope’ steps off Saturday in Davenport It’s an event to honor loved ones lost to suicide, and provide resources focused on mental health awareness in the construction industry.
	Muscatine boat lunch to close for arrival of American Melody cruise boat The City of Muscatine will temporarily close the downriver boat launch and adjacent parking lot near the Iowa Avenue entrance to Riverside Park on Monday, June 8, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accommodate the arrival and docking of the American Melody, a river cruise vessel operated by American Cruise Lines, a news release says. [...]
	Opportunity Knocks job fair scheduled for IowaWORKS, Davenport IowaWORKS will host an Opportunity Knocks, job fair from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, June11, in the IowaWORKS office 1801 E. Kimberly Road, Davenport, a news release says. Opportunity Knocks provides a great venue for new job seekers, seasoned professionals oranyone who may be in the growing transitioning job market. In addition to providing access to [...]
	Section of Running River Trail, Muscatine, to close for construction A section of the Running River Trail System will close on Monday, June 8, weather permitting, to allow for construction work related to the dredge spoils relocation project in Muscatine, according to a news release. The closure will extend from the chicanes at the upper end of Riverside Park to just east of the pedestrian [...]
	Despite a competitive market, finding a summer job is highly beneficial for teens Teenagers looking for summer jobs face a tough labor market. But the personal benefits are huge.
	As American elections become more tense, officials are turning to local police Since the 2020 election, local law enforcement has increasingly been playing a bigger role in helping local officials secure elections.
	Bettendorf Community School District selects student services executive director Pending approval by the Bettendorf Community School District Board of Education, Lorry Wilson has been selected as the district’s next executive director of student services, a news release says. Wilson will begin her new role on July 1 as executive director of student services, Wilson will oversee a comprehensive range of programs and services that [...]
	A park famed for rare gorillas gears up to fight Ebola and protect its primates In Virunga National Park, rangers are on the frontlines — playing a critical role to contain the surging virus while coping with an upsurge in conflict-related violence.
	Laufenberg joins Moline Regional Community Foundation Board of Directors Moline Regional Community Foundation welcomes Brian Laufenberg to its board of directors, where he brings more than 40 years of financial services experience and a commitmentto exceptional professional relationships and community service, a news release says. “Brian provides a degree of leadership expertise and personal experiences which will helpguide the foundation’s philanthropic work throughout our [...]
	Memories of Muscatine: Northwestern Bell Telephone Operators This week for Memories of Muscatine: A photo of Northwestern Bell Telephone operators from 1955.
	Israeli airstrikes kill 9 including Lebanese army officers after ceasefire deal The Israeli military confirmed hitting a vehicle and said the incident is being reviewed. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun called the strike "a flagrant violation to Lebanese sovereignty and international law."
	Report: Deaths by suicide increased in Maryland as numbers declined nationally The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched nationwide can help people in crisis connect with resources and support. (Photo by Danielle E. Gaines/Maryland Matters)A new report says states are finally seeing reductions in fatal drug overdoses, alcohol-induced deaths and suicides, after two decades of increases across the nation, leaving some hopeful of a potential “turning point” in those types of deaths. But while the 2026 edition of “Pain in the Nation: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths” released this week said deaths by suicide fell 3% nationwide from 2023 to 2024, Maryland actually saw a 4% increase, one of more than a dozen states to see a rise that year. Why Maryland didn’t see the same progress as the nation is unclear, but advocates and public health experts say the report’s findings can be used to further build on suicide prevention efforts in the state and nation. “There’s so many factors and it’s really hard to have a sort of definitive answer,” said Molly Warren, senior health policy researcher and analyst with Trust for America’s Health, which produced the 2026 report. “All these deaths went up a huge amount during the pandemic … and they weren’t good before,” she said. “So, we have a lot more work to do.” Warren notes Maryland still has a relatively low rate of suicide deaths, even if the percentage grew between two years, with a rate of 9.7 deaths per 100,000, compared to the nation’s 13.7 per 100,000. She even called Maryland “relatively stable,” as previous data shows Maryland’s rate of suicide deaths has fluctuated between around 8 deaths per 100,000 to the pandemic-era peak of 10.3 per 100,000. Follow the money: New dashboard tracks use of opioid settlement funds She still urges Maryland to continue supporting and boosting suicide prevention efforts, especially as federal cuts under the Trump administration could disrupt funding for certain behavioral health services and other efforts at the state level. “National funding is harder to get, and even when you do get it, there’s sometimes disruption and uncertainty that can cause programmatic difficulties,” said Warren. “I think … state officials, should try to continue programs as best you can and find funding to continue this extremely important work.” Overall, the report says the cited fatalities peaked in the early years of COVID-19, with more than 207,800 people dying in both 2021 and 2022 from all three of those causes. It wasn’t until 2023 that deaths started to drop, and the all three metrics fell nationwide in the 2024 report. In 2024, alcohol-related deaths fell 4% nationwide along with a 26% drop in drug overdose mortality and a 3% decline in deaths by suicide. They combined for a total of 173,913 deaths in 2024, a 16% decrease from 2023 data. Maryland largely aligned with those trends. In 2024, about 2,900 Marylanders died from either alcohol, overdose or suicide, a 24% drop from 2023. Alcohol-induced deaths in the state fell 12% and overdose-related deaths dropped 32%, outpacing the national figures. The report notes that Maryland does not currently have a state official or commission required by law to focus on suicide prevention. That said, Maryland does have a group established by a long-running executive order to do just that. The Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention was initially formed in 2009 through an executive order issued by former Gov. Martin O’Malley (D). Former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued another executive order in 2018 to modernize the commission by expanding its membership. It still meets in 2026. Help is at hand If you are in crisis, you can call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.” But Warren said that having the commission codified into Maryland law would be “one way to ensure” that suicide prevention has “long-term” state efforts behind it. “If governors change, this would be a permanent office that would have funding dedicated to it, personnel that could focus on suicide across governorship,” she said. “None of these are going to fix any of it by itself, it really needs to be a variety of these efforts.” Holly Wilcox, who chairs the Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention, says that there are opportunities and challenges in reducing suicide in Maryland. Accessibility of firearms is one of the current main points of interest. “One thing that’s been keeping many of us up at night is this issue of, during the pandemic, there were more people at the beginning of the pandemic buying firearms, so there are more firearms out in circulation. For suicide prevention, that is a major challenge,” said Wilcox, who is director of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Suicide Prevention. In a written statement Friday, the Maryland Department of Health reports that since 2022, firearm suicides have increased by 24%, accounting for almost 53% of firearm-related deaths in 2025. From January through April this year, approximately 55% of the 158 reported firearm deaths have been suicides. A newer point of interest is in workplace suicide-prevention initiatives, which could involve training employees to recognize signs of distress or the use of an anonymous questionnaire that could connect an employee with additional resources if needed. Wilcox noted there can be overlaps between substance use and suicide, which can complicate reduction efforts. “Another challenge is that when people die and it’s an overdose, sometimes it’s really hard to understand the intent and to classify it as an accidental death or a suicide,” she said. Wilcox said that those deaths may be ruled “undetermined,” leading to a lack of data for advocates and state leaders to consider new policies that could have best helped that person and could prevent a similar death in the future. Medical examiner audit reclassifies dozens of police-restraint deaths as homicides Wilcox said that state officials are working to reduce the number of “undetermined” deaths, which could be impacting the Maryland’s data in the TFAH report. According to 2023 data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, so-called “undetermined” deaths made up 19% of autopsies evaluated by the state medical examiner. In 2024, that figure decreased to 14% of fatalities ruled as undetermined. In 2025, a state audit reported that Office of the Chief Medical Examiner had reevaluated and reclassified dozens of previously “undetermined” deaths. Meanwhile, the reduction in national death by suicide figures coincides with an increased awareness of the national 988 Lifeline, which people in crisis or people who are concerned for another’s wellbeing can call for specialized crisis supports and resources. Wilcox said it’s too early to determine if the introduction of the 988 Lifeline correlates with the national reduction in suicide deaths, but it’s still helpful to have those resources available. The Trust for America’s Health is not taking any victory laps on downward trend of nationwide fatal drug overdoses, alcohol-induced deaths or suicides just yet. It says the progress outlined in the 2026 report is fragile, as funding disruption under the Trump administration threatens to weaken the programs and resources available to keep deaths trending down. “Over the past year, the federal behavioral health and injury prevention systems that support prevention, surveillance, and crisis response have experienced leadership upheaval, funding disruptions, and workforce reductions,” the report says. “Whether recent gains continue will depend on sustained investment in the public health infrastructure that makes prevention possible.” Warren urges states like Maryland to bolster state-level efforts to further prevent suicides along with the other trends in reducing overdose and alcohol-induced deaths. “This is the first year we’ve seen significant declines for each off the three causes nationwide, and that’s really important — it’s also not guaranteed to continue,” Warren said. “This is the best data I’ve seen since working on this and I want to keep going.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Maryland Matters
	Filipino sailors say they were falsely accused of possessing child porn and deported NPR has tracked deported Filipino sailors who say they were accused without evidence of possessing child sexual exploitation material. Almost none have been charged or prosecuted.
	Joan of Arc, Rock Island Style This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island. As with most rough river towns along the Upper Mississippi, Rock Islanders have had their share of sin. In 1903,…
	Bishop Hill Heritage Association presents Doodle Folk Music Festival Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with folk music in an 1840’s historic village! The Bishop Hill Heritage Association presents the Doodle Folk Music Festival June 13 in Bishop Hill. Concerts will take place at the main stage, located next to the park gazebo in the center of Village Park: Located in the village park in Bishop [...]
	The Forest Service says it's closing offices to cut costs. But the math doesn't add up The Forest Service is trying to shut down research hubs because it says it needs to live within its means. But the agency plans to close facilities that cost less than $1 to rent while keeping open one that costs $1 million.
	In Ohio, the Sikh community passes traditions to the next generation Photographer Akash Pamarthy has documented the Sikh religious community in Ohio over several years. His photos tell a story.
	U.S. mortgage rates are staying high — and the Fed can do very little about it Even though the Fed cut interest rates in 2024 and 2025, mortgage rates have stayed high, frustrating many would-be homebuyers. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)U.S. homebuyers can’t get a break. The 30-year mortgage rate has been stuck at recent highs well above 6% and now averages 6.48%, according to the data released on June 4, 2026, by Freddie Mac, which bundles and sells home loans. That marks another blow for Americans hoping to buy a home or refinance their current mortgage that had been locked in at similarly steep rates. It’s also a sharp jump since February 2026, when the financing cost of a 30-year mortgage had dropped as low as 6%. Pricey mortgages have been weighing on the housing market more broadly, which has not escaped President Donald Trump. He has waged an aggressive campaign to pressure the Federal Reserve, which sets the short-term benchmark rate, to make deeper cuts to the cost of borrowing. The new Fed chief, Kevin Warsh, has also been touting rate cuts since he was nominated by Trump, a reversal from his earlier anti-inflation stance. As a professor of finance, I have been asked why mortgage rates are rising even though the Fed has been keeping rates steady after a series of cuts in 2024 and 2025. The central bank actually has little control over the cost of home loans — and Americans may be stuck with high rates for a long time. How much can the Fed control mortgage rates? Not that much. The Fed directly influences the federal funds rate, a short-term interest rate that banks charge one another for overnight loans. Many people assume that mortgage rates move in lockstep with the Fed’s decisions, but, in fact, they’re driven primarily by financial markets. Thirty-year mortgages are long-term assets. Investors purchasing those loans, either directly or through mortgage-backed securities, are making decisions based on what they believe inflation, economic growth, government borrowing and interest rates will look like years into the future. So what does affect mortgage rates? Inflation is one of the biggest factors. Although inflation has declined substantially from the peaks experienced in 2022 and 2023, investors remain uncertain about when it will return to the Fed’s official long-term target of 2%, especially with elevated oil prices and the ongoing conflict with Iran. This uncertainty matters because when lenders originate a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, they’re committing capital for decades. If inflation turns out to be higher than expected, the future payments that lenders receive will be worth less in real purchasing-power terms. To compensate for that risk, investors demand higher yields for the higher cost of borrowing. The greater the risk, the higher the yield. Federal government borrowing is another important factor. The long-term budget outlook by the independent scorekeeper Congressional Budget Office projects continuing large federal deficits and rising debt levels in the years ahead. It estimated that Trump’s massive tax and immigration bill, passed by the Republican-controlled Congress in 2025, will add $US3.4 trillion to federal deficits through 2034. Financing the deficit requires the U.S. Treasury to issue large amounts of debt by selling Treasury bonds and other securities. When the supply of government bonds increases, investors may require higher yields to absorb that additional supply. And because Treasury yields serve as a benchmark for many different types of borrowing costs throughout the economy, mortgage rates often move with them. In particular, mortgage rates tend to track the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note much more closely than they track the federal funds rate. What else affects mortgage rates? Adding another layer of complexity are mortgage-backed securities, which are made up of bundled loans that are sold to investors rather than remaining on a lender’s balance sheet. Investors who own these securities face risks that Treasury bond investors do not. Chief among them is the right to refinance: Homeowners can refinance when rates fall, pay the loan down more quickly than required by the mortgage contract, or move unexpectedly and completely repay loans early. So investors generally demand a premium above Treasury yields when buying mortgage-backed securities to compensate for this prepayment risk. Otherwise, they would be stuck with a return lower than they initially expected when they bought that loan. Since mortgage rates are high, the general expectation is that many homeowners will refinance at lower rates once they can. That means the refinance risk is greater than usual — and it has kept the difference, or spread, between 10-year Treasuries and mortgage rates elevated compared to historical norms, according to the Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center. In short, even if Treasury yields remain stable, a larger mortgage spread could keep mortgage rates higher than borrowers might expect. This helps explain why mortgage rates don’t always move in the same direction as Fed policy, and why mortgage rates have stayed high even after the Fed started lowering short-term interest rates in 2024. Why it helps to take the long view Last, there’s an important historical perspective that’s often missing from discussions about today’s mortgage market. Many Americans compare current mortgage rates with the extraordinarily low rates available during 2020 and 2021, when some borrowers secured 30-year mortgages at rates that were below 3%. Those were among the lowest mortgage rates ever recorded in the United States — the exception rather than the rule — and a result of the Fed’s emergency measures to steer the economy out of recession. In fact, throughout much of the 1990s and early 2000s, mortgage rates frequently ranged between 6% and 8%. Viewed through that lens, today’s rates are far less unusual than many Americans would think. Mortgages have been around more than two millenia, surviving empires, kingdoms, depressions, wars, financial crises and technological revolutions. The details have changed dramatically, but the underlying economics have not: Lenders have always demanded compensation for inflation risk, uncertainty and the time value of money. That’s why mortgage rates aren’t determined solely by the Fed but by millions of investors making judgments about the future. And at the moment, those investors remain cautious. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Michael J. Highfield is the provost and executive vice president at Mississippi College and vice president for curriculum at the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. Courtesy of Kansas Reflector
	Security cameras sold by Amazon, Home Depot and others recalled over fire hazard "All consumers who used the long, flat-head screw to install the solar panel on top of the camera should participate in the recall," CPSC said.
	Knicks beat Spurs by one point for 2-0 lead in NBA Finals The red-hot Knicks are going home, two wins away from an NBA championship that the capital of the world has been waiting to see for generations.
Friday, June 5th, 2026
	U.S. military says it shot down Iranian drones launched toward Gulf allies The exchange of strikes comes as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Iran to make a deal to end the conflict.
	River Bandits beat South Bend Cubs 13-8 in game one of double header The Quad Cities River Bandits defeated the South Bend Cubs 13-8 in game one of a double header Friday night.
	Recall: Target baby wipes found to have bacteria that could cause life-threatening sepsis Target is voluntarily recalling two types of baby wipes its generic brand baby wipes after testing found bacteria on the product.
	Pulling Focus African America Film Festival returns to the Quad Cities All screenings and events are free and open to the public.
	Chicago Bears fans weigh possible move to Indiana after stadium vote Chicago Bears fans are reacting after the team's board voted to advance a stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, potentially moving the franchise from Chicago.
	Our QC Crime Watch: Kewanee man faces child-pornography charges - Episode 68 Watch crime reporters Linda Cook and Sharon Wren talk about crime and courts in our area with the latest episode of the Our Quad Cities Crime Watch Podcast. In this episode Linda and Sharon discuss: updates on: To view, click the video above or watch on-the-go on Spotify. The QC Crime Watch Podcast \| Pod
	Davenport Parks and Recreation director resigns The City of Davenport announces that Chad Dyson will step down from his position as director of Davenport Parks and Recreation, effective June 10, a news release says. Dyson has accepted a position with another organization out of state. He joined the City of Davenport in 2018 to oversee park operations, recreational programming, and maintenance [...]
	Iowa American Water continues resurfacing project in Bettendorf Beginning Monday, June 8, work moves eastward on Central Avenue as Iowa American Water continues the first part of the Central Avenue Resurfacing Project by replacing the water main in some spots from 14th Street to Pius Lane, according to a news release. Beginning Monday, June 8, crews will begin work on the fourth of [...]
	It Takes a Village to close rescue and clinic operations The organization had closed its shelter, moving to being a foster-based rescue, in November.
	Democrat Xavier Becerra wins the top spot in November's race for California governor Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has clinched the top spot on California's ballot for governor. With millions of ballots still to be counted, his November challenger is unknown.
	Princeton Iowa's newest water well causes costly problems An $800,000 well in Princeton, Iowa, came with a flow of water and costly problems since it opened in 2022. It's taking water from the same aquafer as its main water source, but this well has produced high nitrate levels. This has forced the well to be closed since the fall of 2024. Exactly what [...]
	Iowa teachers back new classroom discipline law aimed at disruptive behavior A new Iowa law gives teachers more input when handling disruptive students. Educators say the change could improve classroom safety.
	Libertarians, independents file to appear on Nov. 3 Iowa ballot Iowa third-party candidates filed for the Nov. 3 ballot this week.
	Davenport residents rally for immigrant rights, civil liberties Community members gathered in downtown Davenport Sunday to raise their voices on issues ranging from immigration to civil rights and community support.
	House approves $15.2B FY27 budget with marquee acquisition: millionaire’s tax The Rhode Island House of Representatives debates the fiscal year 2027 state budget at the Rhode Island State House in Providence on Friday. June 5, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)A record $15.2 billion fiscal 2027 budget breezed through the Rhode Island House of Representatives in near record time Friday, with the 65-10 vote finalized with an hour to spare before sunset. The approved budget is almost identical to the version given preliminary vetting by the House Committee on Finance one week ago, featuring a phased-in millionaire’s tax, a state inspector general’s office, and additional funds for healthcare, families with children, and the state public transit agency. The $15.2 billion bottom line for fiscal 2027 marks the highest spending in state history — roughly $300 million more than what Gov. Dan McKee proposed in January, and $900 million above the current fiscal year budget approved one year ago. “Sustainability was at the core of what we’re looking at to make sure we’re investing not just today, but for our families for the future,” House Speaker Christopher Blazejewski, a Providence Democrat, told reporters after the vote on Friday. All 10 Republican lawmakers voted against the budget, blasting the unsustainable growth in state spending and the controversial millionaire’s tax, which dominated debate throughout the legislative session. Friday afternoon proved no exception, with lawmakers reprising familiar talking points about business interests and household affordability during an hourlong back-and-forth periodically marked by raised voices. The phased-in millionaire’s tax seeks to strike a balance, stretching out the 3% tax increase income over $1 million over three years, rather than all at once as McKee’s budget proposal contemplated. The tax hike supplies another $22 million in tax revenue in the upcoming fiscal year based on a 6.99% tax on income over $1 million — the highest tax bracket now pays 5.99% — starting Jan. 1. Revenue from the millionaire’s tax is expected to rise to $142 million by the end of the decade when the incremental tax hike reaches the peak rate of 8.99%. Backers of the tax increase, including Blazejewski, insisted the extra revenue would be needed to offset anticipated federal funding cuts tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “This is us ensuring we will still be able to provide the bare minimum for individuals who need it the most in our state,” said Rep. Teresa Tanzi, a South Kingstown Democrat, listing off examples of the affordability crisis gripping the nation and state. “People aren’t even going to Applebee’s anymore, they’re going to McDonald’s,” she said. “I urge my colleagues to support the 80%. Not the 1%, not the millionaires.” Rep. Teresa Tanzi speaks on the House floor during consideration of the fiscal year 2027 state budget on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale warned that the Ocean State will lose its top earners and employers, costing the state’s economy in the long term. In Massachusetts, which began taxing income over $1 million in 2024, more people are leaving the state according to federal tax filings, a trend opponents link to the tax on top earners though the correlation is not explicit. “We are making our territory infertile for businesses,” Chippendale, a Foster Republican, said. Quotation People aren’t even going to Applebee’s anymore, they’re going to McDonald’s. I urge my colleagues to support the 80%. Not the 1%, not the millionaires. – Rep. Teresa Tanzi, a South Kingstown Democrat Losing a major employer like CVS Health would make its host city, Woonsocket, “look like Monaco in Detroit,” independent Rep. Jon Brien said, referencing the Michigan used car dealer. The budget article including the tax increase prevailed by a 54-17 vote, with the chamber Republicans, Brien, and seven Democrats opposed. Three representatives did not vote. Inspector general, at last Far less controversial was the newly minted speaker’s pitch for a state inspector general, cemented with a $1.3 million earmark in the state budget. The funding, unanimously backed by lawmakers Friday, pays for a 12-person independent watchdog agency to improve government efficiency and investigate waste, fraud and abuse. “I’m frankly exuberant that it’s in this budget,” said Chippendale in what he admitted was a rare note of praise on the Democrat-crafted spending plan. Blazejewski’s decision not to subject the state legislature or judiciary to the inspector general’s purview, citing separation of powers, created initial reservations among Republicans and a handful of Democrats. “The public is surmising and I can understand why they are, that we have something really sinister going on here, we’re trying to hide what we’re doing,” Rep. Charlene Lima, a Cranston Democrat said. She acknowledged nothing devious was behind the legislation, but suggested that including the legislature and judiciary under the inspector general’s purview would put people at ease. Lima favored letting the courts decide whether it was unconstitutional. Quotation We are making our territory infertile for businesses. – House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale, a Foster Republican The state auditor general, funded with $8.3 million in fiscal 2027, already serves as oversight for the legislative branch. Rep. George Nardone, a Coventry Republican, pitched a different workaround that would expand the auditor general’s power over the legislature, adding express subpoena and investigatory powers. Both Lima and Nardone’s amendments failed, shot down by an overwhelming majority of chamber Democrats. Budget documents sit in a box on the floor of the Rhode Island House of Representatives on Friday, June 5, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Help for hospitals, RIPTA Anticipated fallout from new, federal restrictions on Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) spurred lawmakers to focus the state budget on programs that could cushion the blow for service providers and recipients. “This plan recognizes where we are and meets that moment, with an eye towards tomorrow,” Rep. Marvin Abney, a Newport Democrat and chair of the House Committee on Finance, said of the spending plan overall. “This budget does not solve all problems. But once again, it addresses the most pressing needs of the day.” The budget includes the full $116 million cost to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral and home health care providers, as recommended by the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner. There’s nearly $39 million more for hospitals and healthcare providers to offset the costs associated with an expected rise in uncompensated care, and $22 million to help offset higher premiums for people who purchase health insurance through the state exchange. A new, refundable child tax credit will help middle and low-income families with an average of $330 per child per year, while an extra $11.5 million extends the runway for a state pilot program that incentivizes SNAP recipients to spend their food assistance on fruits and vegetables. The Eat Well, Be Well pilot would have otherwise run out of money at the end of the month. Other spending allotments are more targeted: $4.6 million to close the deficit at the Department of Children, Youth and Families, preventing the staffing cuts that spurred protests by agency employees; $1.6 million for the Newport Hospital birthing center, which remains under threat of closure without more money from donors, according to operator Brown University Health; $3 million for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, and returning the cash-strapped Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) into the black after years of deficits. Lawmakers added an extra $13.4 million for the state public transit agency, compared with McKee’s proposal, relying on revenue from a 2-cent increase in the gas tax enacted last year, and extra money from a separate, state highway account maintained by the Department of Transportation. Newport’s cruise ship landing and docking fees will remain at current levels, despite McKee’s proposal to increase them as a way to fund RIPTA. Rep. George Nardone, a Coventry Republican, speaks as the House takes up the fiscal year 2027 state budget on Friday, June 5, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Little love for RIDOT The embattled state transportation department, which has been widely blamed for a lack of oversight that led to the sudden closure and subsequent rebuild of the westbound Washington Bridge, is less fortunate. The agency loses funding for 35 of its 60 vacant positions, while subject to a state audit for efficiency and performance, due in March. And, the transportation director loses the chair position on RIPTA’s board of directors, although they continue to have a seat on the appointed panel. Also coming out with less than they hoped for: high-income retirees who pay state income taxes on their Social Security benefits. McKee’s initial budget proposed a three-year phaseout of the tax, which affects retirees with income above $107,000, or $133,750 for joint filers. Lawmakers preserved the first year of the plan, which eliminates the age minimum required to bypass taxes, but held the line on the policy and rate. McKee’s contested energy affordability plan was also largely gutted by lawmakers — despite a last-ditch effort led by Republicans to reinstate a piece of it — in favor of preserving the existing renewable energy and energy efficiency mandates meant to tackle climate change and rising energy costs. “If it were as simple as changing the date, we would have done that,” said Rep. Lauren Carson, a Newport Democrat, referring to the stricken proposal to push out the state deadline to offset 100% of its electricity needs through renewable sources or energy credits. “There are other variables out there that affect the cost of utilities. This is not one quick fix to get ratepayer bills down.” But, legislators agreed with McKee’s proposal to let hydropower and nuclear energy count toward fulfilling the state’s renewable energy requirements, and to control costs for large-scale solar developments through a voluntary fixed-price program. McKee’s attempt to empower the executive with a line-item veto through budget language was also stricken by lawmakers, as were proposed increases in cigar and cigarette taxes. But the governor’s signature afterschool education program, Learn365, got the $2 million he wanted. A $250,000 security request for World Cup events was also incorporated. Charter schools still TBD The spending plan does not address one of the biggest unsettled debates still hanging over Smith Hill: charter schools. The Rhode Island Senate approved legislation Thursday that would ban new charter schools for the next three academic years, which proponents say gives time to better understand how the nontraditional public schools affect resources and outcomes for students in standard public schools. But opponents, including some progressive lawmakers, say the legislation is a bandage that fails to address the deep-rooted problems in the state education system. The spending plan devotes additional state aid to school districts with higher percentages of low-income students, as well as extra money for student transportation costs and career and technical education. It also returns the Central Falls School District to city control after more than three decades under state authority. And, an amendment incorporated Friday sets aside more than $700,000 to train educators to work with students whose first language is not English. However, lawmakers did not offer the extra $590 million in annual state education aid recommended in January by a Rhode Island Foundation-led panel charged with overhauling the opaque education funding formula. But they charged the Rhode Island Department of Education with submitting a report analyzing and comparing the Blue Ribbon Commission’s recommendations to the existing funding structure. The budget also advances a $600 million, five-question series of bonds to voters in November, although allocations are slightly different than what McKee proposed in January, with extra money directed toward an integrated health sciences building at University of Rhode Island, and a $50 million career and technical secondary education program scrapped. There is more money for farm and forestland preservation in the “green bond,” while there is $40 million — $5 million less than what McKee proposed — for Secretary of State Gregg Amore’s requested state history center. The budget provides another $4.5 million from the state’s long-term capital projects budget for the dedicated history building. Sharon Reynolds Ferland, fiscal adviser to the Rhode Island House of Representatives, reviews documents during the floor session to approve the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget at the Rhode Island State House in Providence on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Etc. The long-awaited return of truck tolls is baked into the new spending plan, which assumes $20 million in revenue from the still-unspecified date when gantries reactivate. An extra $18 million will go back into the state rainy day fund, replenishing the amount lawmakers agreed to put up as a separate backstop for the sale of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in February A $5 million earmark will pay for an initial year of planning for a new University of Rhode Island medical school A $600,000 allocation of state funds will pay for three employees, including a magistrate, to oversee a dedicated domestic violence court An extra $200,000 boost will expand the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship to let in-state high school graduates defer college enrollment by one semester while still qualifying for free tuition at the Community College of Rhode Island. The chamber’s vote now sends the budget to the Rhode Island Senate, where the Committee on Finance is scheduled to take up the spending plan Monday night, with a floor vote on Tuesday. Former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat who stepped down from the leadership position but not his seat in May after applying for a seat on the state Supreme Court, missed most of the budget debate, arriving just in time to cast his vote in support of the final fiscal 2027 spending plan. Rhode Island House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale and Rep. Megan Cotter, an Exeter Democrat, confer on the House floor on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Rep. Charlene Lima, a Cranston Democrat, speaks on the House floor on Friday, June 5, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	Muscatine's It Takes a Village to close animal rescue and clinic The shelter shifted to a foster-only model in late 2025 as it struggled with funding issues.
	Rock Island to switch utility billing, new accounts will be needed for autopay The change to the new system is expected to happen in August.
	‘East Chicago Bears’ jokes fly as fans and taxpayers react to potential Indiana move Quad Cities and Illinois residents are strongly divided after the Chicago Bears voted to advance stadium talks with Hammond, Indiana.
	The Arc of the Quad Cities Area's Heritage Homes development receives state funding The Arc of the Quad Cities Area announced its Heritage Homes development has been awarded state funding.
	HEAT WAVE coming to the Quad Cities We haven't hit 90° yet this year, but we're about to several times next week. Highs this weekend will be in the 80s but then hit the middle 90s several days next week. Average highs right now are in the lower 80s. That means we'll be well above normal...but will likely fall just short of [...]
	Davenport Channel Cat dock reopens after renovations The project includes a fresh pedestrian bridge, landside improvements and the dock itself.
	Trump appears with Van Orden, Tiffany at Chippewa Falls farm roundtable President Trump listens to U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden as he praises Trump administration ag policy at a forum Friday June 5, 2026 in Chippewa Falls (Screenshot via the Official White House Rapid Response account on X)President Donald Trump held a roundtable discussion Friday at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls to tout his administration’s efforts to help farmers. Trump’s visit is his first to Wisconsin during this year’s election season. First to take the stage on Friday were U.S. Reps. Derrick Van Orden and Tom Tiffany, signaling the importance of the 3rd Congressional District and the Wisconsin gubernatorial contest for Republicans this year. Despite Trump’s waning approval ratings, Van Orden and Tiffany tied themselves to the president, effusively praising him. Trump appeared on stage for the roundtable with both congressmen as well as U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, farm owner Ken Custer, Jake Leinenkugel, Olympic speed skater Jordan Stolz and Joe Thomas, a Hall of Fame former NFL player who played for UW-Madison and now owns a western Wisconsin beef farm. Despite its billing as a roundtable discussion of agriculture policy, Trump spoke for more than 40 minutes straight, at times appearing to read from a script and at others riffing on a number of favorite topics including former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, “Dumbocrats in Congress,” the allegedly “rigged” 2020 presidential election, transgender people, his multi-million dollar D.C. renovation projects and the southern border. “These are some very sick puppies that I’m looking at that are running for office and on the other side,” Trump said. “I call them the Dumocrats, D-U-M, you take out the B, a lot of people don’t know, dumb has a b, a lot of people don’t know. You take out the b and change the E, you put the you and you have a Dumocrat, but they are, their policy is just outstandingly bad, and it’s really bad for the farmer, because we were having record stuff, and then we had to put out a fire, we had to extinguish a nuclear weapon.” With six months until November’s midterm elections, many of Trump’s signature policies have directly affected the bottom line of Wisconsin farmers. Trump’s tariffs and war in Iran have greatly increased the cost of essentials such as fertilizer and gas while limiting access to foreign markets for corn and soybeans. In western Wisconsin communities close to where he appeared on Friday, Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota’s Twin Cities extended into the Dairy State, directly striking the undocumented migrant labor the region’s farmers rely on. “If anybody you hear says that Donald Trump doesn’t care about the farmers, you can look him straight in the eye and tell him that’s a pile of manure, because the man is right back there,” Van Orden said. “We’re going to make sure our farmers don’t have to wring their hands at night because they’re worried about paying bills.” Trump and other speakers promised that the administration and congressional Republicans are working to ease the burden on American farmers, but offered little in the way of concrete proposals for how fertilizer, seed, gas and equipment will get cheaper or how milk, corn and soybeans will get easier to sell. “Your fertilizer prices are going to go way down, just like they were four months ago,” Trump said. “Your fertilizer is down, your energy’s down, your oil, your gas is all coming way down. And frankly, I thought it would go much higher than it did.” In the days leading up to Friday’s event Democratic politicians and Democratic-aligned groups rolled out a series of tours, roundtables and online events to highlight complaints about administration policies on all manner of things. “Wisconsin farmers do backbreaking work to produce world-class products that feed the world and drive our rural economies. President Trump came into office promising to support our farmers, but instead has taken every opportunity to jack up their costs, limit their customers, and cut into their margins,” U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) said in a statement. “Between Donald Trump’s trade war, unnecessary war in Iran, and attacks on our health care system, Wisconsin farmers are paying more for everything, and Donald Trump has no solutions to the problems he’s caused. As President Trump visits Wisconsin, he owes our farmers more than lip service – they need real relief from the high costs they are paying.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Wisconsin Examiner
	Pride Festival, Rhubarb Festival and free Figge tours among weekend activities in the Quad Cities Find out what's going on in your neighborhood this weekend!
	Princeton well contamination highlights water challenges for small Iowa towns A drinking water problem in Princeton may be highlighting a larger challenge for small communities across Iowa.
	Morrison Fire Department celebrates 150 years with community event The Morrison Fire Department is celebrating its 150th anniversary this Saturday with a car show, parade, and open house at the county fairgrounds.
	MetroLINK, Davenport unveil refurbished Channel Cat landing Enabled by a $1.8 million federal grant, Quad-Cities stakeholders gathered in the Village of East Davenport to show support for the improvements to public transit in the bi-state area.

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