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Thursday, May 21st, 2026
	Weekend Rundown with WLLR \| May 21, 2026 There are many family-friendly events going on this weekend, and we've brought in Dani Howe from WLLR to break it down.
	Olympic athlete speaking at John Deere Classic's Executive Women's Day The John Deere Classic and Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois present this year’s Executive Women’s Day on Tuesday, June 30 at 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at TPC at Deere Run, 3100 Heather Knoll in Silvis. This event offers an inspiring and energizing experience for all professionals across all industries. Click here [...]
	After the sirens: Lebanon's first responders swing between duty and grief Nearly 3,000 people have been killed and nearly 1 million have been displaced the war in southern Lebanon began in March. Nearly 400 have been killed since a ceasefire began in April.
	An unlikely opera for America's birthday summons dissonance and harmony When John Cage composed an opera commemorating the American bicentennial audiences walked out. Now, it's being reinterpreted by new artists in a Detroit Opera production, as the nation turns 250.
	Park Ambassadors help keep Davenport parks fun and safe Davenport Parks and Recreation has a new program that will help residents enjoy the city’s parks. The department is introducing its new Park Ambassadors program. They are visiting parks, trails and public spaces throughout Davenport as a friendly, visible presence. Park Ambassadors will help answer programming questions, engage park visitors with activities and games and [...]
	12 tips to actually get sleep on an airplane, even in economy 12 tips to actually get sleep on an airplane, even in economySleeping on a plane can feel like a battle against limited space, constant noise, and zero privacy. But with the right strategies and a little preparation (like an organic travel pillow), you can turn even a cramped seat into a decent sleep setup for the duration of your flight. Let Naturepedic take you through the details on how to sleep on a plane.Step 1: Choose Your Seat StrategicallyNot all airplane seats are created equal, especially when sleep is your goal. But with a little preplanning, you can choose the optimal seat for creating a dreamy space for yourself.Window Seat versus Aisle SeatFirst off, the window seat is your best bet if your mission is to sleep. You’ll have a place to lean your head and won’t be as affected by interruptions like seatmates climbing over you or jostling from people walking up and down the aisle. Plus, you control the window shade, which can help manage light exposure.Front of Plane versus Back of the PlaneThe front of the plane tends to be quieter, with less engine noise and an overall smoother ride. This way, there’s less noise and movement to potentially disturb your in-flight nap. Plus, you’re also more likely to get quicker service, so you can settle in and fall asleep sooner.Avoiding the Restroom RowSeats near the restrooms can mean constant foot traffic, door slamming, bright lights, flushing sounds, and fellow passengers bumping into you. To avoid sleep disruption, check the seat map before booking and steer clear of these high-traffic zones. It might be tempting for convenience, but choose peace and sit somewhere with less potential for disturbances.Step 2: Create a Sleep-Friendly EnvironmentNext up, be sure that you’re packing your carry-on with smart travel essentials for sleep success. Even the best seat won’t help if you can’t create a suitable environment.Block Out Light and NoiseAn eye mask and noise-canceling headphones or earplugs are nonnegotiables. Together, you can create a little cocoon to remain blissfully unaware of what’s happening three rows behind you. Sure, choosing the right seat can help lessen the impact, but there’s no avoiding light and noise entirely on a plane. Blocking light helps to let your body know it’s time for sleep, while minimizing noise drowns out distractions from passengers and crew.Dress for Sleep, Not StyleComfort is the priority on the plane. Worry about fashion after you land. Opt for breathable layers made of natural fibers to regulate temperature, and wear compression socks to help circulation. You’ll stay cozy without overheating — and yes, you can still look put-together and chic if you style it right.Use a Travel Pillow (the Right Way)The best way to sleep on a plane involves supporting your head and neck properly. That means not just slumping sideways. If you’ve been left wondering how to use a travel pillow effectively, try wearing it backward for better chin support or tucking it under one shoulder while leaning against the window. These alternate positionings allow for better alignment and improved neck support.Step 3: Set the Stage Before TakeoffWhat you do before boarding matters just as much as your in-flight setup. Here are a few tips to take care of before boarding.Adjust Your Schedule Ahead of TimeIf you’re crossing time zones, try shifting your sleep schedule by an hour or two in the days leading up to your flight. This can help ease the transition, and while it won’t completely avoid the effect of jet lag, it can certainly soften the blow.Skip the Caffeine and AlcoholCaffeine and alcohol can mess with your ability to fall and stay asleep, even if they initially seem helpful. Caffeine may keep you alert, but it can delay sleep onset and mess with your circadian rhythm. And while alcohol may sedate you at first, it will disrupt your sleep cycle, especially your REM (rapid eye movement) stage. Consider caffeine alternatives like herbal teas and avoid alcohol entirely if you wish to sleep on the flight.Eat Light, Hydrate OftenHeavy meals and salty snacks can leave you feeling bloated or uncomfortable midflight. Opt for light, nutrient-rich snacks and keep a bottle of water handy. Airplane cabins are dehydrating, and water is your best defense against dehydration, fatigue, and grogginess.Step 4: Try Mindful Techniques or Sleep AidsStill struggling to drift off in the air? Consider natural ways to nudge your body toward rest.Breathing Exercises or MeditationLet yourself have a meditative moment. Deep breathing can signal your nervous system to slow down. Even a few minutes spent on a simple 4-7-8 breathing pattern, guided meditation, or even just focusing on your breath can shift your body into sleep mode.Natural SupplementsSome travelers turn to herbal remedies like valerian root, magnesium, or maca root to unwind naturally. While results vary, many people find gentle support in nature-based options — just make sure to test anything before your trip. And check with your doctor to ensure the natural supplements won’t interfere with any of your prescriptions or medical conditions.Should You Take a Sleep Aid?Over-the-counter and prescription sleep aids can help in a pinch, but they also come with side effects like grogginess when you wake up. Use them cautiously, and always talk to a healthcare provider if you’re unsure. Sometimes, more organic and holistic options — like a better pillow and a bit of planning — are all you need.Set Expectations, But Don't Expect PerfectionLet’s be honest: Even the best way to sleep on a plane won’t compare to your bed at home. And that’s okay. Your goal should be rest, not the best sleep of your life. It won’t be the luxurious sleep you’re accustomed to at home, but it doesn’t have to be miserable either. Even a few short naps in-flight can help you feel more alert and adjusted upon arrival.This story was produced by Naturepedic and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Walmart plans price cuts using tariff refunds as shoppers get skittish Now that the U.S. government must refund most tariffs, Walmart says it might put its refund money toward lowering store prices. Executives say the cost of gas has shoppers increasingly under stress.
	How to stop putting off your estate plan, and why it matters more than you think How to stop putting off your estate plan, and why it matters more than you thinkRecent data from financial planners reveals that most people are hesitant to commit to any sort of estate planning, instead opting to defer when possible — a trend which could have negative impacts down the line if not addressed early.The 2026 Financial Advisor Insights report by Jump shows that when advisors bring up estate planning, 72% of clients express interest but defer concrete action, citing reasons such as wanting to consult an attorney (26%), needing more information (25%), and having other priorities take precedence (17%).“Most people don’t start because they don’t know where to begin, not because they don’t care,” says Matthew Koppelman, the co-founder of Precision Wealth Planners, a financial planning firm based in California.Indeed, most American adults have done no estate planning whatsoever, with Gen X being the worst offenders, with what experts are labeling “The Sandwich Gap” between Boomers (over half of whom have done some estate planning) and Millennials (who have more estate planning documents than Gen Xers).Some may be taking the research into their own hands. Pew research conducted in June 2025 showed that the majority of Americans use AI multiple times a week. Though OpenAI doesn’t make search volume data publicly available, it’s not much of a leap to think that people are turning the questions they once brought to Google to ChatGPT for quick answers, reassurance, and even legal advice — a move that lawyers are advising strongly against.The best time to start estate planningGetting ahead of estate planning will solve a number of problems for you and your family down the line. Problems like unexpected costs, long probate periods, and tax horror stories. If you don’t know where to begin, a financial planner is a good place to start.“My role is to educate clients on what an estate plan actually does,” says Koppelman. “Using real stories of successes and failures, reframing the outcome from ‘documents’ to peace of mind for them and their families.”The way advisors deal with estate planning conversations is equally important. Advisors often avoid the topic, fearing it will be uncomfortable, but the data says the opposite is true. Conversations that involve estate planning often result in a lift in client sentiment by nearly 5% and reduced neutral to negative outcomes.The timing is equally important. Estate planning topics are shorter and less interactive than tax or retirement planning, reflecting their placement towards the end of calls. Surfacing estate planning topics earlier gives more time for the subject to breathe. Clients can ask questions and engage more thoroughly with their options, with less likelihood of deferral.“Leading with empathy and support rather than lecturing is important,” Koppelman says. The report shows that advisor emotional intelligence has a direct correlation to improving client outcomes, especially with heavy topics like estate planning.Advisor emotional intelligence is one of the strongest differentiators of client outcomes, measured by talk-time discipline, open-ended questions, empathetic statements, and emotional check-ins.The mechanics of a good estate planning conversation are learnable: Ask more than you tell, check in on how the client is feeling, and leave room for the conversation to go somewhere.The cost of waitingEstate planning is one of the few financial decisions where procrastination has consequences that fall entirely on the people you leave behind. Probate is expensive. Assets without designated beneficiaries can end up in the wrong hands or tied up in court for years.The data makes clear that the barrier is rarely money or complexity, but inertia. The conversation is not the hard part. Starting it is.This story was produced by Jump and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Davenport man arrested, charged with possession of child sex abuse material A man from Davenport accused in a shots-fired incident at St. Ambrose earlier this month has been arrested again, this time in connection with possessing CSAM (child sex abuse material) on an iPhone. The criminal complaints filed in Scott County Court said Davenport Police officers were investigating a shots-fired incident in a parking lot at [...]
	Your employees’ hidden AI habits that put your business at risk Your employees’ hidden AI habits that put your business at riskToday's employees are stretched thin. They're juggling multiple Slack channels, hundreds of unread emails, back-to-back meetings, and hair-pulling deadlines. When they discover that AI can summarize reports, draft emails, and generate campaign ideas in seconds, their feelings of relief are palpable.The problem is, they’re often using these AI tools without company approval or oversight. According to an Upwork survey of 2,400 U.S.-based workers that was conducted in March and April of 2026, 55% of full-time employees admit to using unapproved AI tools at work.In this article, Upwork explores this often under-reported use of AI, also known as shadow AI, and the serious risks it can create for your business.How everyday work pressures lead to unsafe habitsEmployees who turn to unapproved use of AI tools aren’t being rebellious. They’re drowning in their workloads and they see AI tools as a life raft. What many don’t realize is their life raft might have a hole that’s quietly leaking your business’s most sensitive data.How is this possible? When a user gives an AI tool a prompt, the AI often stores any data the prompt contains. Later, this data can be used to train future AI models. When users then ask these new models the right questions, your private info can unintentionally become public.Here's how easily that could happen:Your marketing manager pastes your unreleased product roadmap into ChatGPT with a prompt to make the language more exciting.Your finance lead uses an AI code assistant to automate error checks in their weekly report.Your service agent feeds customer emails into a writing assistant to draft faster responses.Even a single seemingly harmless prompt can spark serious consequences, including compliance violations, leaked client data, and reputational damage.Shadow AI is becoming such a problem that, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025, it has been the cause of a security breach for 1 in 5 companies, and the average cost per breach is $4.4 million. Moreover, Gartner estimates that shadow AI will cause security and compliance incidents for over 40% of global organizations by 2030. The cost per incident and the scope of the issue should make any company take note, and be a particular concern for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Upwork Why bans can backfireFor leadership, a natural reaction may be to ban AI tools. However, that 55% of employees admit to already using shadow AI tools suggests that an outright ban might simply be ignored. And according to IBM, 28% of employees explicitly stated they’d keep using AI even if it were forbidden.In sum, banning AI use may create more secrecy rather than more security. Upwork Keep in mind that your employees’ intentions are good; it’s their execution that’s risky. And that’s not entirely their fault.The same IBM report shows most businesses lack proper AI oversight and guidance:97% of organizations that experienced AI-related security incidents lacked proper access controls.63% had no governance policies in place to manage AI use or detect unauthorized tools.Moreover, the research found that 68% of full-time employees want more support from their organization to experiment with AI tools.These are people looking for solutions and finding, on the one hand, a lack of organizational guidance, and, on the other, an abundance of AI tools on the market.You can fix thisThe employees testing AI tools on their own are innovative and curious. Upwork research shows that this is a majority of employees; 78% of full-time employees surveyed educate themselves about AI outside of their organization when they aren’t getting enough through work.Innovation, curiosity, and the drive for self-improvement are all valuable traits. Instead of shutting them down, consider channeling them safely.Start with the right approachBefore you write a single policy, shift how you think about the use of artificial intelligence at work. Don’t treat AI use as though it’s rule breaking. Your employees aren't being sneaky; they're being creative. So work with them to set boundaries.Tap into their curiosityIf someone discovers a helpful AI tool, create a culture that encourages them to tell you about it, not hide it. Set up approved ways for people to test new tools and share what they learn. That's how innovation happens.Find out what's really happeningSend a quick, anonymous survey to your team. Ask:What AI tools are you using right now?What do you use them for?What tools do you wish you had?Tell them up front that you’re not policing them; you’re trying to better support them. You might be surprised by what you learn. Some employees might already be AI power users. Others might have creative productivity hacks you can safely scale across the business.Create a simple AI guideBalance experimentation with safety through guardrails. Create a one-page AI quick guide that covers:Tools you've approved and why they're safe.Information they should never put in AI (e.g., client data, financials, passwords, unreleased products).How to request and test a new tool.Who to contact with questions.Post the guide where everyone can easily find it, and update it as you learn.Bring in people who've solved this beforeIf you don't have the time or in-house expertise to tackle this, consider bringing in freelance AI specialists to help. The Upwork research shows that freelancers are more likely than their full-time employee counterparts to cite having extensive experience in some key areas of AI use and development. These include building and training AI models, data science, and chatbot development.By accessing this skilled talent on demand, you can better support your employees in their search for AI tools, without compromising your organization’s security.Keep the conversation goingSet up a Slack or Microsoft Teams channel where people can share what's working, ask questions, and trade tips. You could also have a power user host short monthly gatherings where anyone can join and explore new tools and use cases together.Make AI your advantage, not your riskYour employees are going to use AI tools. The real choice is whether they use them in the shadows or out in the open.When you encourage responsible use and put simple guardrails in place, AI shifts from a potential risk to a shared engine for business growth. That’s when teams start to see real benefits.Research note: This article includes findings from the Upwork Research Institute’s 2026 Future Workforce Index survey of 2,400 U.S.-based workers (March-April 2026).This story was produced by Upwork and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Mortgage or marriage? Create a savings plan for both Mortgage or marriage? Create a savings plan for bothAs you and your partner decide to start a life together, you may be faced with a decision: Throw a dream wedding to celebrate your love, or save for a down payment?Good news: You might not have to choose. With smart saving and plenty of planning, you can kick off your marriage and homeowning journeys at the same time. Ally Financial shows you how.Wedding spending considerationsFrom venues to outfits, food, and decor, the cost of a wedding can add up quickly. But with enough time to plan ahead and save, you’ll be prepared for the expenses that come your way.Decide your wedding prioritiesIs it important to you to have a big wedding? Do you want to book a special venue? Are you a foodie who cares most about your wedding menu? As you plan, keep in mind where you might want to splurge and where you could cut back. Agree on your priorities with your partner so you can set a corresponding budget and start saving for any big-ticket items.Set a realistic budgetEstablishing a wedding budget is essential to avoid overspending. Based on your priorities, come up with a realistic estimate of all expenses. With a budget set in advance, you can start saving for your wedding costs.Think about how much you’ve budgeted and your timeframe — this will help you figure out how much you’ll need to save each month. Smart savings tools can help you reach your savings goals faster.Explore cost-saving strategiesReady to get creative? Consider cost-saving strategies like DIYing some of your decor, picking a nontraditional dessert, or serving a signature cocktail with wine and beer instead of a full open bar. Finding ways to lower your wedding spending could help you save more for your future home.Set up multiple savings buckets to work toward your wedding and down payment at the same time.Planning to save for a houseSaving for a home at the same time as your wedding isn’t impossible. It just takes some careful planning. Start with these strategies.Decide your home must-havesJust as you set your wedding priorities, start your homebuying journey by hashing out must-haves with your partner. Think location, size, or amenities. By picking your essentials, you make the search easier, and it can help you and your partner figure out where you might be able to compromise.Set a realistic budget and start saving for a down paymentLike with your wedding, use these priorities to determine your homebuying budget. It’s important to take into account your current financial situation, including income, expenses, and any current debts. Not only will these factors help determine your budget, but they can also affect your interest rate and loan terms.Combining wedding and homebuying goalsWith savings buckets, you can track your progress by setting up multiple buckets to work toward your wedding and down payment at the same time. To calculate how much to contribute to each bucket, consider your savings timeline. Say you want a wedding in two years and a new home in three. If you plan to set aside $800 in savings a month, you can distribute $500 in your wedding bucket and $300 to your down payment.‘I do’ meets ‘I’m a homeowner’By setting timelines, determining budgets, and using tools that help you plan ahead and stay on track, you can save for multiple goals at once. By balancing both, you don’t have to choose between a mortgage and marriage — you can walk down the aisle and into a home of your own.This story was produced by Ally Financial and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	This fashion-forward new footwear brand is trending Content by Kelley Kouture. This Richmond, Virginia–based brand introduces a refined new perspective in luxury footwear.
	Man charged in St. Ambrose shooting faces child sex abuse material charges The man accused of shooting at a driver in a St. Ambrose University parking lot is now facing child sexual abuse material charges.
	2 injured in Muscatine County crash One person was airlifted and another taken to a Muscatine hospital after two cars crashed Wednesday night.
	How to convince your boss to invest in generative engine optimization (GEO) How to convince your boss to invest in generative engine optimization (GEO)A recent WebFX study found that generative AI traffic grew 796% from January 2024 to December 2025. If your customers are now using AI tools during their research, does your brand — or one of your competitors — appear in those answers?One effective way to convince leadership to invest in generative engine optimization (GEO) is to turn that visibility question into a business case. Start by auditing the AI answers your prospects might see, including “best provider” or “best product” prompts.Then, use those findings to frame the risk by showing how those gaps could affect your revenue and market share. From there, recommend a small-scale GEO test project to see whether GEO can improve your AI visibility and support revenue growth before you ask for a larger budget.Use this guide from WebFX to build a GEO pitch for your boss and learn how to handle common objections.How to pitch GEO to leadershipWhen you’re justifying AI SEO investment, use language that your leaders use, like revenue, risk, pipeline, efficiency, and competitive pressure. Your goal is to show how buyers now discover, compare, and shortlist vendors across search engines and AI answer platforms.A GEO pitch should answer three questions for your boss:What business risk does GEO address?What opportunity is being missed today?How can we test this without committing to a full program too soon?Here’s how to pitch GEO to leadership in a way that’s practical, measurable, and tied to your company’s bottom line.1. Start with the business problem, not the channelAvoid opening your pitch with a cliché like “AI search is the future.” Leadership has likely heard that before, and it may sound like another trend competing for budget.Instead, start with the business problem: Your buyers may use AI tools to compare vendors before they visit your website, but you may not know whether your brand appears in those answers. You also may not know which competitors show up or which sources AI platforms cite.That framing makes GEO easier to evaluate because it focuses on visibility, competitive risk, and missed demand. It also helps leadership see GEO as part of your search and revenue strategy, rather than a disconnected AI experiment.For example, if you market a heavy equipment rental company, a buyer might ask an AI tool, “What is the best equipment rental company for commercial construction projects near me?” If your competitors appear in that answer and your company doesn’t, the buyer may build their shortlist before reaching your website.Highlight this business problem to management, then present GEO as a way to measure and improve that visibility.2. Show how buyer behavior is changingThe next step is showing that AI-driven discovery has started to influence search behavior.The generative AI traffic study found that traffic from AI sources accounted for only 0.18% of total sessions in 2025. That number keeps your pitch grounded: AI traffic is growing, but it still represents a small share of total traffic compared to organic search.That balance matters. Your pitch should not claim that AI traffic will replace organic search overnight. A stronger case is that AI visibility is becoming a new layer of search behavior, especially for buyers who use AI tools to compare options, validate vendors, or ask decision-stage questions.Competitors that appear in AI answers can influence buyers before those buyers ever reach your website.Use this point to show why GEO deserves attention now. Search behavior is changing, and brands that start tracking AI visibility earlier will have more time to understand where they appear, where they get cited, and where competitors have the advantage.3. Audit your current AI visibilityA GEO pitch becomes more persuasive when you can show real examples from your market. Before asking for a GEO budget, run a simple AI visibility audit.Start with prompts that typical buyers use for researching your products or services. Include prompts like:“Best (product or service) companies for (industry)”“Top (product or service) providers near me”“(Your brand) vs. (competitor)”“How much does (product or service) cost?”“What should I look for in a (product or service) provider?”Then document what happens. Does your brand appear? Do competitors appear? Does the AI tool cite your website, third-party review sites, industry publications, Reddit threads, or comparison pages?For example, if you market an industrial parts supplier, you might test prompts about “best industrial parts suppliers for manufacturers” or “where to buy replacement parts for production equipment.” If AI tools cite competitor category pages, distributor profiles, or third-party directories, you now have a concrete visibility gap to show leadership.This audit turns GEO from an abstract idea into a business case. It gives your boss evidence of an opportunity you may be missing.4. Differentiate GEO from SEO without making it an either/or choiceOne of the most common objections is, “We already invest in SEO. Why do we need GEO?”That question is fair. SEO helps your pages rank in traditional search results, earn organic traffic, and attract buyers through Google and other search engines. GEO adds to that work by helping your brand, content, and proof points appear in AI-generated answers.The two strategies overlap because AI systems often depend on content, authority, technical accessibility, and third-party credibility. Strong SEO gives GEO a better foundation.When you explain the difference to your boss, keep it simple:SEO helps buyers find your pages in search results.GEO helps AI tools understand, mention, and cite your brand in generated answers.GEO adds another layer to your SEO strategy by focusing on how your brand appears in AI answers, not just where your pages rank in search results.5. Connect GEO to revenue outcomesLeadership will likely ask one question in different ways: “How does GEO make money?”To answer it, connect GEO to revenue outcomes in stages. AI visibility may first influence brand discovery.Then, it can attract qualified prospects to visit your website. On your site, they might fill out a lead form, request a quote, book a demo, or make a purchase.For example, a facilities manager researching commercial HVAC providers for an office building may ask an AI tool for the best HVAC companies for multi-location businesses.If your company appears in the answer with a strong explanation and a cited source, that mention can influence whether the buyer visits your site, searches your brand, or includes you in an internal comparison.You may not always attribute that journey perfectly. That being said, you can still measure useful signals, including AI-referred visits, conversion rates from AI traffic, branded search lift, assisted conversions, and sales-team feedback.6. Recommend a small-scale GEO test project before asking for a full budgetA test project helps your boss say yes without feeling locked into a large, unproven investment.Instead of getting approval for a full GEO program immediately, recommend a small-scale GEO test project for priority products, services, or industries.This project includes:AI visibility tracking for a defined prompt setCompetitor visibility monitoringUpdates to priority SEO pagesNew content for high-intent buyer questionsStructured data and technical improvementsThird-party profile updatesMonthly reporting on AI visibility, citations, traffic, and conversionsMake sure the test project has enough budget and time to produce useful data. A tiny test may feel safer, but it can also set the strategy up to fail.If the pilot only covers a handful of prompts and no meaningful content or technical updates, leadership may conclude that GEO doesn’t work when the real reason was just underinvestment.A better test gives your team enough room to measure current visibility, make strategic updates, and compare performance over time.Key metrics and benchmarks to include in your GEO pitchYou don’t need to drown your boss with all the AI SEO KPIs. Focus on the metrics that connect AI visibility to business decisions.Show the metrics as the measurement slide in your pitch deck. Use it to show what you will track, why it matters, and how it connects to revenue. Courtesy of WebFX 1. AI visibility rateAI visibility rate measures how often your brand appears across a tracked set of AI prompts.For example, if you track 50 prompts and your brand appears in 10 answers, your AI visibility rate is 20%. You can also segment this metric by prompt type:Branded promptsUnbranded promptsComparison promptsPricing prompts“Best provider” or “best company” promptsIndustry-specific promptsThis metric helps leadership see whether your brand appears in relevant questions that your prospects ask AI tools.2. AI citations and mentionsAI mentions and AI citations are related, but they are not the same.An AI mention means the platform names your brand in an answer. An AI citation means the platform links to or references a source, such as your website, an industry article, a review profile, or a comparison page.Citations give you a stronger signal because they show which sources may influence the answer. For example, if an AI platform mentions your competitor and cites a third-party review site, you may need to improve your presence on that source or build stronger content that answers the same buyer question.Track both metrics, but explain the difference in your pitch. Leadership should understand whether AI tools simply know your brand or use your content and proof points to support answers.3. AI-referred trafficAI-referred traffic shows how many visitors come to your site from AI platforms.Track traffic from tools like:ChatGPT (which accounted for 82.6% of all generative AI traffic in the WebFX study)PerplexityGeminiCopilotOther AI referrers where your analytics setup can capture themThis metric may start small, especially because AI referral traffic still accounts for a small share of total sessions in many datasets.That doesn’t make the metric useless, though. Pair traffic volume with engagement and conversion quality.A small number of high-intent visitors can still matter if they request quotes, call your team, or view bottom-of-funnel pages like your pricing pages.4. Engagement and conversion qualityEngagement and conversion metrics show whether AI visitors behave like qualified prospects. Track metrics like:Engagement rateTime on pagePages per sessionForm fillsPhone callsDemo requestsQuote requestsAssisted conversionsLead quality notes from salesFor example, if AI-referred visitors view pricing pages, service pages, and case studies at a higher rate than average organic visitors, that behavior can support your case for continued GEO investment.5. Competitor visibilityCompetitor visibility shows which of your competitors AI tools mention when buyers ask high-intent questions.This metric often gets leadership’s attention because it makes the cost of inaction easier to see. If your boss sees that competitors appear across comparison and recommendation prompts while your brand doesn’t, GEO becomes a competitive visibility issue.To measure competitor visibility, track:Which competitors appear most oftenWhich prompts trigger competitor mentionsWhich sources AI tools cite for competitor answersWhether competitors appear with stronger descriptions, proof points, or positioningCommon objections to GEO and how to address themGEO can trigger understandable objections because it feels newer, harder to attribute, and less controlled than traditional search. Your pitch will be stronger if you prepare for those objections before the meeting.Use this table as a starting point. Courtesy of WebFX One effective response to these objections is usually a small-scale GEO test project. It gives leadership a way to test GEO with defined expectations, scope, and metrics.Best practices for getting leadership’s approval for GEOA strong GEO pitch needs more than the right data. It also needs the right framing, timing, and internal plan.Use these best practices to make your pitch easier for your boss to approve.1. Speak in business outcomesYour boss may not care about prompt engineering, schema markup, or AI citations at first. They care about how those activities help the business grow.Translate GEO work into outcomes like:More visibility during buyer researchBetter representation in AI answersStronger competitor coverageMore qualified trafficMore sales conversationsMore revenue opportunitiesBetter reporting on emerging search behaviorFor example, instead of saying, “We need to optimize for AI answer engines,” say, “We need to know whether AI tools recommend us, recommend competitors, or use outdated sources when buyers ask about our category.”That version gives your boss a business reason to listen.2. Show what you will start, stop, and continueLeadership often worries that a new initiative will pull resources away from existing priorities. A start-stop-continue framework can reduce that concern.You can frame it this way:Start: Tracking AI visibility, AI citations, competitor mentions, and AI-referred traffic.Stop: Treating AI search as a vague trend with no reporting plan.Continue: Investing in SEO foundations, high-quality content, technical improvements, and authority-building work.This framework shows that GEO fits into your current strategy. It also helps your boss see where the work overlaps with existing marketing investments.3. Negotiate the GEO test project scopeIf your company has budget concerns, don’t push for a large GEO program before proving the opportunity. Negotiate a smaller but meaningful test project.A meaningful test project should include enough work to produce useful data. That might mean tracking a defined prompt set, updating a group of priority pages, improving structured information, and reporting on results for at least a few months.Avoid a pilot that only tracks five prompts or updates one page. That type of test may feel affordable, but it will not give you enough evidence to make a budget decision.A better pitch sounds like this: “Let’s test GEO for one priority service line over 90 days. We’ll track AI visibility, compare competitor mentions, update key pages, and report on AI-referred traffic and conversions. Then, we’ll decide whether to scale, adjust, or pause.”That approach respects budget constraints while still giving the test a fair chance.4. Set expectations before the work beginsSet expectations early. Explain that the test project will measure both leading indicators and business outcomes.Leading indicators may include:More AI mentionsMore AI citationsBetter prompt visibilityMore cited owned assetsImproved competitor comparison resultsMeanwhile, business outcomes to track are:AI-referred trafficAssisted conversionsForm fillsCallsDemo requestsSales feedbackInfluenced pipelineThis expectation-setting helps prevent your boss from judging GEO only by immediate direct conversions or one-off prompt successes. It also gives your team a more realistic way to evaluate progress.Is now the right time to invest in GEO?The right time to invest in GEO depends on your market, buyers, competition, and current search performance.GEO may deserve a place in your marketing budget if any of these signs apply:Your organic traffic has declined while impressions remain high.Competitors appear in AI answers for high-intent prompts.Your sales team hears prospects mention ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, or other AI tools.Your content answers your prospects’ questions, but doesn’t appear in AI summaries.Your company sells high-value products or services that buyers research carefully.Your team already invests in SEO, content, analytics, and digital PR.This last point matters. GEO works best when you already have a strong search foundation. If your website has thin content, weak technical performance, and poor tracking, invest in SEO first.If your SEO program already produces qualified traffic and leads, GEO can help extend that strategy into AI-driven discovery.How to prove the ROI of GEO over timeMeasure both leading indicators and business outcomes. AI visibility and citations show whether your brand is becoming more discoverable.AI-referred conversions, assisted conversions, lead quality, and sales feedback show whether that visibility supports revenue. Think of GEO return on investment (ROI) in stages:Visibility: Does your brand appear in AI answers?Authority: Do AI tools cite your website or trusted third-party proof points?Traffic quality: Do AI-referred visitors engage with meaningful pages?Conversions: Do those visitors submit forms, call, request quotes, or book demos?Revenue influence: Do AI-assisted journeys contribute to pipeline or closed deals?This framework helps your boss evaluate progress before every metric becomes perfectly attributable.Use a simple before-and-after view:Prompt visibility before and after optimizationAI citations before and after content updatesCompetitor mentions before and after credibility improvementsAI-referred traffic month over monthConversion quality compared to other channelsMake sure you connect these metrics to business goals. If leadership cares about quote requests, report on quote requests. If they care about qualified calls, report on qualified calls. If they care about pipeline, work with sales to understand whether prospects mention AI tools during research.This story was produced by WebFX and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Will a HELOC affect my ability to refinance later? Will a HELOC affect my ability to refinance later?Life has a way of presenting opportunities, sometimes when we least expect them. Maybe you’ve decided that the time is right to refinance, but you’re wondering if your home equity line of credit (HELOC) might complicate things. Or you’re considering borrowing against your equity for a major expense, but you don’t want to box yourself out of a refinance in the near future.Having multiple financial tools working for you doesn’t necessarily mean you have to choose between them. Many homeowners with a HELOC have successfully refinanced their mortgage.Achieve explains what you need to know.Can you refinance your mortgage if you have a HELOC?Yes, it's possible to refinance your mortgage even if you also have a HELOC. A refinance loan is one type of mortgage. A HELOC is another.Refinancing replaces your existing mortgage loan with a new one. You might choose to refinance if you want to:Change your mortgage repayment termLower your interest rateMove from an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed-rate loanGet a different monthly paymentSwitch to a new lenderA possible drawback of refinancing when you have a HELOC is that you may need to meet additional requirements to get final approval for a new loan.What is a HELOC? It's a flexible line of credit that's secured by your home, just like your mortgage. Your HELOC credit limit is determined by your credit standing, how much home equity you have, and other factors. Home equity is the difference between what you owe on the home and its value.If you qualify for a HELOC, you could use it for just about any purpose:Consolidate credit card debtMake much-needed home improvementsCover a large expense, like a wedding or college tuitionWhen you get a HELOC, the first few years are called the draw period. That’s when you can borrow, repay, and borrow more as often as you like, up to your credit limit. When the draw period ends, you enter the repayment period and can’t borrow more. You’ll pay back what you borrow with interest, typically over five to 30 years.What does ‘subordination’ mean on a mortgage, and why does it matter?You can refinance your mortgage when you have a HELOC, but you may need to jump through some extra hoops to do so. Specifically, you may need to get your HELOC lender to agree to subordination.Subordination is the order in which mortgages are paid off when there's more than one loan against the home. Here's a quick primer:The mortgage you used to buy the home is a first mortgage or senior lien.HELOCs and home equity loans are second mortgages or junior liens.If you sell your home, the lender who holds the primary mortgage gets paid first. Second mortgages are paid next. You get what’s left.If you lose your home to foreclosure, the order is the same, but you don’t get to keep the profit because at that point, the bank owns the home.When you refinance a first mortgage, you pay off your old mortgage. That makes the HELOC automatically move into the first lien spot. But your refinance mortgage lender will insist on being in the first lien position. This is normal for mortgage lenders. You won’t be able to finalize your refinance loan unless the HELOC lender agrees to stay in the second lien position.Subordination is insurance for the refinance lender. If you can't pay your mortgage or you sell your home, the refinance lender knows they'll get paid first because your HELOC is still considered a second lien.Will a HELOC make it harder to qualify for a mortgage refinance?A HELOC could make it harder to qualify for refinancing if the lender requires subordination to complete the loan process. The HELOC lender has to agree, which you might assume would be a given, but that's not always the case.If the HELOC lender turns down a subordination request, that will narrow your options a little. You might need to repay your line of credit in full to move ahead with a refinance loan. If you don't have enough cash to clear the balance, you might not be able to refinance.Even if the HELOC lender agrees, you still need to meet the refinance lender's other requirements. Generally, that means you have:Good creditSufficient equitySteady incomeA debt-to-income (DTI) ratio low enough to afford your debt payments, including the new loanYour DTI ratio shows how much of your gross income goes to debt repayment and housing each month. If your DTI is high because of your monthly HELOC payments, that could affect your ability to qualify for a refinance loan.Expert tip: Use a debt-to-income ratio calculator to find your DTI.Another option: refinance the HELOCRather than ask your HELOC lender to subordinate, you could apply for a cash-out refinance mortgage that replaces your mortgage and your HELOC. If you qualify, you could get a new mortgage big enough to pay off both loans, making the issue of subordination a moot point. You'd have one payment going forward.Refinance plans aren't a reason to back away from a HELOC. You'll just need to consider how your HELOC lender will approach the situation when you're ready to refinance.If you've picked out a lender but have yet to apply for a home equity line of credit, ask about the subordination policy. Clarify what requirements you may need to meet, if any, before you can refinance a mortgage while your line of credit is open.And if you don't have a HELOC lender yet, consider a fixed-rate home equity line of credit from Achieve Loans. We offer flexible funds and terms, low monthly payments, and fast funding once approved.What’s next?Use a home equity calculator to estimate how much equity you have in your home and what you may be able to borrow with a HELOC.Compare refinance rates to find out which lenders offer the best terms on a new home loan.Talk to a HELOC expert about subordination and how that could affect your ability to refinance your current mortgage.This story was produced by Achieve and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Summer camp opportunities opening up at Nahant Marsh Activities participants can expect range from basic survival skills to environmental studies, and are open to children of all ages.
	Preview of the first Quad Cities Comic Con Comic fans can start planning their costumes. Quad Cities Comic Con 2026 is coming to the Bend XPO isn East Moline. Joey Mills joined us in the studio to tell us what we can expect.
	Susan Collins brings federal dollars to Maine. She's hoping that's worth it to voters As Maine's Senate matchup is all but set, incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins urges voters to pick her over Democrat Graham Platner because she can fund state priorities due to her seniority.
	Rock Falls plans Memorial Day services Rock Falls American Legion Post #902, invites the community to Memorial Day Services on Monday, May 25, as the community comes together to honor and remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country, a news release says. The day’s schedule is: For more information, contact: Commander John Roush of [...]
	Muscatine, Louisa counties foundations award over $684,000 in scholarships The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine and its affiliate, the Community Foundation of Louisa County, awarded over $684,000 in scholarships to graduates of Columbus Community, Louisa-Muscatine, Muscatine, Wapello, West Liberty, and Wilton High Schools, a news release says. Over 210 scholarships were awarded through funds established by Community Foundation donors to support students pursuing post-secondary [...]
	Sandburg, Galesburg, announces poetry competition winners Sandburg, Galesburg, has announced the winners of the 37th annual Sandburg Poetry Competition. First through third place and honorable mentions were selected in four categories: elementary (grades K-5), junior (grades 6-8), intermediate (grades 9-12) and adult. Award winners were invited to attend a banquet April 30 in the Student Center on Sandburg’s Galesburg campus. Elementary [...]
	Limited rain chances for the Quad Cities While we may see a few sprinkles or light showers today, our best chance over the next few days is on Friday. It'll be cooler than average today and tomorrow, but warmer days are ahead. Here's your complete 7-day forecast.
	Riverside Riverslide, Moline, prepares to open for season The City of Moline Parks and Recreation Department has announced the official of Riverside Riverslide for the 2026 season starting at noon Saturday, May 23, a news release says. Features include: zero-depth entry to the 5' pool that includes a basketball hoop, spray features, ADA chair lift and lap pool.; three slides: Tube, drop and [...]
	Geneseo High School dedicates new career center to long-time leader Here’s what Ted McAvoy and others said at the dedication of the new career center named in his honor at Geneseo High School.
	Brews Energy in Sherrard opens in brick and mortar Brews Energy was operating out of their mobile trailer in Sherrard and upgraded into a permanent dine-in storefront location across the street from their new storefront.
	Kindergarten This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.For twenty years, Marian Lardner taught kindergarten at Earl Hansen School in the city of Rock Island.Mrs. Lardner's…
	Explore emergency vehicles and meet first responders in Muscatine EMS Week is May 17-23, and families can explore emergency vehicles and meet first responders in Muscatine. According to a release from the City of Muscatine, the Muscatine County EMS Day is May 23 at Blain’s Farm & Fleet. Local emergency responders and partner agencies will offer demonstrations, activities and safety education for all ages: [...]
	Amid allegations of abuse on Epstein's 'Zorro Ranch,' New Mexico opens new probes Epstein owned a 10,000-acre property with a mansion. After calls by the public, the state attorney general searched the property and the state House created a "Truth Commission."
	Researchers say the Trump administration is finding new ways to punish science Even with federal grants largely restored, scientists say the Trump administration is still preventing those funds from reaching them. The consequences, they say, are already becoming clear.
	Sisters reunite in Ali Smith's 'Glyph,' bringing light after the darkness of 'Gliff' The author restores balance in the homophones with her latest novel; both stories are thought-provoking, although somewhat less beguiling than her usual fare.
	TSA's new 'Gold+' program looks to increase private security screening at airports The agency calls the program an update to the Screening Partnership Program, in which 20 U.S. airports currently use private security screeners rather than federal workers.
	Even as anxieties grow under Trump, these swing voters aren't ready to back Democrats Swing voters in North Carolina say they are frustrated with President Trump and the state of the economy, but aren't ready to abandon him or his party as the midterms inch closer.
	Spencer Pratt is 'winning the internet,' but can he become mayor of Los Angeles? Pratt, a former reality TV star, is flooding social media with edgy humor, AI slop and combative rhetoric as a way of grabbing attention and winning the vote of the very online. It's a strategy some political experts see as the future of online campaigning.
	A guide to converting your lawn into a wildlife friendly garden Turning your grass into a garden isn't as complicated as you think, but it will take time and effort. This step-by-step guide breaks down the process, from killing your lawn to picking plants to grow.
	Illinois in top 10 of highest gas prices Gas is over $4 in every U.S. state for the first time since the war in Iran began.
	Officers who defended Capitol from rioters sue to block payouts from fund Two police officers who helped defend the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot are suing to block anyone from receiving payouts from a new settlement fund.
	Ex-prosecutor charged with sending to herself report on Trump classified probe The former prosecutor faces federal charges over allegations that she sent a report on Jack Smith's investigation into President Trump's hoarding of classified documents to her personal email account.
	Ebola fears surge on the ground in Congo over rapid spread of a rare type Healthcare workers in eastern Congo said Wednesday they are underprotected and undertrained in a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak of a rare type of the virus in one of the world's most vulnerable places.
Wednesday, May 20th, 2026
	Liberal U.S. mayors team up with European counterparts to fight authoritarianism Ten U.S. mayors from cities such as Chicago and Cincinnati have joined a pact with European mayors to defend democracy and progressive values and fight right-wing populists and authoritarianism.
	Davenport man charged in shooting arrested for alleged possession of child sex abuse materials Officers found the images while investigating a shots-fired incident that occurred earlier this month.
	Public gives input after officials narrow alternatives for Centennial Bridge The options for what will happen with the Centennial Bridge have been narrowed down. Read about what they are and what members of the public are saying.
	Community members sound off on future of Centennial Bridge Rehabbing, rebuilding, or adding a span are all but a no-go. The more likely option is that the Mississippi River would get an entirely new bridge.
	‘That final achievement’: Project SEARCH honors 7 interns at graduation Project SEARCH celebrated seven interns as they finished their internship program at a graduation ceremony Wednesday.
	Community members sound off on future of Centennial Bridge Rehabbing, rebuilding, or adding a span are all but a no-go. The more likely option is that the Mississippi River would get an entirely new bridge.
	Senate panel hears testimony on online sports betting, prediction markets Senate lawmakers grilled sports betting industry officials during a hearing focused on recent cheating scandals, companies' marketing tactics and regulatory battles.
	HVAC classes at QCA college supplement aging workforce Students at Eastern Iowa Community College are in their first week of a program focused on a labor shortage for heating and air conditioning companies. They're taking a nine-week program to learn the skills needed for the trade. Wednesday marked three days into the program. Students meet four hours a day, four days a week. [...]
	Open house gives opportunity for public input on the Centennial Bridge project Plans for the future of the Centennial Bridges got more attention on Wednesday. The Iowa and Illinois Department of Transportation held an open house for the public to give their input. It's part of the long process to determine whether to rehabilitate the 85-year-old bridge or replace it. The final three options are to rehab [...]
	Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, Rock Island, will present 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon' A joyous family musical and off-Broadway hit will make its debut at Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse when the Rock Island theater premiers Ogden Nash's "The Tale of Custard the Dragon." Hailed by Kennedy Center Vice-President of Education Derek Gordon as a show that “will delight both the young and the young at heart," this hour-long [...]
	When the school year ends, their paychecks do too. Lawmakers could change that The Illinois General Assembly is considering helping educational support staff workers like Taylor whose incomes dry up each summer by allowing them to collect unemployment benefits between academic terms beginning on June 1.
	Field of Dreams press box to be named in honor of Voice of the Hawkeyes Gary Dolphin The press box at the Field of Dreams ballpark under construction will honor the name of Gary Dolphin, the “Voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes.”
	Project opponent files federal lawsuit; uranium drilling permit hearing paused A view of Craven Canyon in South Dakota's southern Black Hills, where a company has proposed an exploratory drilling project. (Photo by Meghan O'Brien/South Dakota Searchlight)The status of a hearing on an exploratory uranium drilling permit was left uncertain Wednesday after a state board adjourned until further notice, following a private session to discuss legal matters. The permit application is from Clean Nuclear Energy Corporation, which is seeking to drill dozens of holes up to 700 feet deep on state land. The proposed site is near the rim of Craven Canyon in South Dakota’s southern Black Hills. Dozens of people and some organizations have raised formal complaints about the project to the Board of Minerals and Environment, which will decide on the permit. Opponents have said the drilling could disturb ancient Native American petroglyphs on the canyon’s walls, disrupt Lakota ceremonies and potentially contaminate groundwater, among other concerns. On Monday, the board started a hearing in Hot Springs on the permit application. The hearing was scheduled to continue through Friday. Tension grows between state board and project opponents at hearing on uranium drilling permit On Wednesday, the third day of the hearing, project opponent Elizabeth Lone Eagle filed a federal lawsuit against the board, the state’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Clean Nuclear Energy and state employees involved in evaluating the permit application, alleging violations of due process. Lone Eagle filed the lawsuit herself, without representation by an attorney. Lone Eagle, along with six other people, including five described as Lakota first-language speakers, are listed as plaintiffs in the suit. The suit alleges “systematic, ongoing, and deliberate denial of meaningful participation to Lakota first-language speaking” project opponents. Lakota is spoken by western South Dakota tribes, which once controlled the Black Hills as part of the Great Sioux Reservation. The board agreed prior to the hearing that the state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources would provide a Lakota interpreter for the proceedings. The department failed to provide an interpreter on Monday, but provided interpreters Tuesday. At times on Tuesday, project opponents objected from seats in the audience when parts of the hearing proceeded without interpretation. The lawsuit also alleges that a “significant multi-jurisdictional law enforcement presence” creates an “atmosphere of intimidation” at the hearing. The board did not provide a date to resume the hearing, which was being held at the Mueller Civic Center in Hot Springs, a little more than 20 miles from the proposed drill site. Several project opponents who’d been attending the hearing told South Dakota Searchlight on Wednesday evening that they were going home to await a further announcement. Neither the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources nor Clean Nuclear Energy immediately responded to Searchlight’s requests for further information. For broadcasters Host script. Courtesy of South Dakota Searchlight
	Scott County using opioid settlement funds to expand addiction recovery resources Opioid care coordinators are paid entirely through settlement funds. They help connect those dealing with opioid use disorder to resources and treatment.
	Future of Centennial Bridge sparks debate as DOT narrows options A major decision about the future of the Centennial Bridge could reshape the Quad Cities skyline for generations as transportation officials narrow down alternatives for the aging structure.
	Sewer replacement, resurfacing projects continue in Bettendorf This week, crews will begin replacing the sewer from 14th Street to 18th Street in Bettendorf, according to a news release. To complete their work safely, 15th Street to 17th Street will be closed to through traffic with the rest of the section open to local traffic only. A detour will be in place using [...]
	Local researcher uses eDNA testing to search for endangered turtles in Milan Bottoms Are there Blanding's Turtles in the Bottoms? Elizabeth VanCamp thinks so. Here's how she's using new technology to try and prove it.
	Northeast Iowa sees continued black bear activity as populations grow nearby The Iowa DNR said an average of 2-3 black bears visit the state each year, especially the end of May. Iowa doesn't have any documented breeding populations just yet.
	Davenport schools launch QR code system to track students boarding, exiting buses Davenport Community School District is introducing PathWise Student Tracking, a new QR code system to monitor bus routes and enhance student safety.
	Arizona nurses say Prop. 139 should give them the right to perform abortions Photo by iStock / Getty Images PlusNearly twenty years ago, Republicans in Arizona passed laws barring nurses from providing abortions. That could change under the state’s newly adopted right to abortion, but it will be almost a year before a judge will get a chance to render a verdict. In February, the Arizona branch of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court on behalf of two nurses and two midwives claiming that multiple laws which hinder the ability of advanced practice clinicians like them to provide abortion care or outright ban them from doing so are unconstitutional. The organization’s argument relies on Proposition 139, a voter-approved initiative that won overwhelming support two years ago, to call for the restrictions to be struck down. The initiative added the right to abortion to the Arizona Constitution, and it forbids the state from adopting or enforcing any law that denies or interferes with that fundamental right. While reproductive rights advocates are hopeful the case could dramatically increase access to the procedure, a resolution may be years away: A hearing to determine when a trial can be held has been scheduled for April 2, 2027. Amanda Mollindo, a spokeswoman for the Arizona chapter of the ACLU, said the prolonged wait time is likely because of how much evidence needs to be collected first. The lawsuit is challenging nearly four dozen laws limiting the ability of nurses and physician assistants to help perform abortions. Arizona law prohibits anyone but a qualified doctor from providing medication or surgical abortions. And a bevy of other laws require a doctor’s presence during routine interactions with patients, like conducting physical exams before a procedure, estimating a fetus’s gestational age or performing ultrasounds. In their lawsuit, reproductive rights attorneys argue that mandating a doctor’s involvement in tasks that nurses and physician’s assistants are trained to handle unnecessarily prolongs the procedure and is intended to narrow access to it. In addition, state law bars nurses from performing abortions that are intended to terminate a pregnancy, but are allowed to perform near identical procedures during ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages. The treatment for miscarriages often includes uterine aspiration, which is commonly used during first trimester abortions. Lindsey Huang, an attorney for the group of nurses and midwives, urged the court to block the state’s prohibitions that prevent them from providing abortion care. She called the restrictions, known as the “APC Ban,” “unjustifiable” under the fundamental right to abortion adopted by voters in 2024. APC stands for advanced practice clinicians, which includes advanced nurse practitioners or physicians assistants. “Because the APC Ban restricts and interferes with Arizonans’ ability to obtain pre-viability abortion, and because it does not protect patients, is inconsistent with evidence-based medicine and clinical standards, infringes on patient autonomy, and penalizes Plaintiffs for assisting Arizonans seeking an abortion, it plainly violates the (constitution),” Huang wrote. “Indeed, such a restriction has no place in a state whose citizens voted to enshrine fundamental reproductive rights in their constitution.” Huang pointed out that, before the laws were passed, abortion was accessible in clinics operating across five counties. Today, that access has largely shrunk to just two counties, Maricopa and Pima, with the majority of clinics centered in Phoenix and Tucson. In Northern Arizona, only one clinic in Flagstaff offers the procedure. The state’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood Arizona, runs four women’s health clinics that provide abortions, including the one in Flagstaff. A spokesperson for the organization noted that it employs just eight doctors but 15 nurses, signaling the extent to which abortion services could expand if the state’s restrictions are eliminated. Abortion rights attorneys face opposition from Republican lawmakers in the effort to ease access to the procedure. Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Steve Montenegro have joined the case to convince the court that the laws should be kept in place. The Republican duo have unsuccessfully sought to defend anti-abortion laws amid a wave of litigation from reproductive rights groups filed after voters agreed to make the procedure a fundamental right. In a response to the lawsuit, attorneys for the pair argued that the restrictions were passed with the goal of keeping women safe and posited that, because the laws might, in some cases, serve as protections for patients, they are compatible with Arizona’s abortion rights amendment and should be preserved. “Plaintiffs cannot establish that no set of circumstances exists under which the challenged laws would be valid, and thus Plaintiffs cannot prevail,” wrote attorney Katlyn J. Divis. Petersen and Montenegro have made similar arguments before, saying that restrictive laws may sometimes be necessary or helpful to maintain a patient’s health to undermine the arguments from reproductive rights groups. But so far, that view hasn’t been convincing in court. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat who ran on a campaign to protect abortion access, largely sided with the ACLU, filing a statement that said her office agreed that the majority of the laws violate the state’s constitution. But Mayes will be defending the state laws that require a doctor to obtain written parental permission before a minor can receive an abortion and require seeking a doctor’s advice if a pregnancy is suspected, even after an abortion was performed. The law mandating parental permission before a minor can get an abortion includes exceptions allowing a judicial order to serve as permission, or letting a doctor perform an abortion without permission if the minor says the pregnancy was the result of incest or their medical record shows one is necessary to prevent death or major bodily harm. Richie Taylor, a spokesman for the AG’s office, said that Mayes believes those laws do not violate the constitutional right to abortion. While the state is currently siding with reproductive rights attorneys, that could change if Mayes loses her re-election bid in November. Petersen, a Republican who represents Gilbert and has long pushed to further narrow access to abortion care, is aiming to unseat her. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Arizona Mirror
	City of Bettendorf schedules Memorial Day observance The City of Bettendorf will honor and remember those who have served our country with a ceremony on Memorial Day, Monday, May 2, a news release says. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. at Bettendorf’s Veterans Memorial, in Veterans Memorial Park, 1645 23rd St. Guest speaker will be Col. William J. “Joe” Parker, of [...]
	Dip into pools around the Quad Cities area Summer is just around the corner, and pools are opening around the Quad Cities! Find out where you can go to beat the heat.
	Central Avenue resurfacing begins The resurfacing is expected to take five to six weeks.
	Over 500 college aviators take to skies at Quad Cities International Airport Visit Quad Cities and the Quad Cities International Airport are hosting the conference, known as SAFECON, which runs through Saturday.
	Muscatine proclaims May as Affordable Housing Month The City of Muscatine has declared May 2026 is Affordable Housing Month. The proclamation was made during the May 19 Muscatine City Council meeting. According to a release: Why Affordable Housing Matters in Muscatine - Community Stability — Safe, attainable housing helps families build long term roots and contributes to neighborhood resilience. - Workforce Support [...]
	Black Hawk College selects new VP for student services The new Black Hawk College VP for student services will join the school from Oklahoma.
	Sunsets getting later and later this month in the Quad Cities Have you noticed how long the days are this time of year? The sun comes up around 5:30 and doesn't set until almost 8:30! This gaining daylight trend keeps up for another month, until we hit the summer solstice on June 21st. Here's a look at the sunset specifically, it's heading toward the latest ones [...]
	GOP races for lieutenant governor, ag commissioner headed to runoffs Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey delivers her inaugural address during inauguration ceremonies at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. Voters on Tuesday chose party nominees, and narrowed their choices for two offices, for the 2026 midterm elections. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector)Alabama primary voters chose their Republican and Democratic nominees for the state’s constitutional offices, and set up two Republican primary runoffs. John Wahl, former Alabama Republican Party Chair, and Secretary of State Wes Allen advanced to a runoff for the party nomination for lieutenant governor. There were seven candidates running in the primary for an office that has little power. Wahl got the most votes at 192,432, about 40.6%, and Allen got 180,292, about 38%, according to unofficial results. Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate, Nicole Jones Wadsworth, Patrick Bishop, Dr. Stewart Tankersley and George Childress split the remaining 101,762 votes cast. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Wahl, who entered the race after getting an endorsement by President Donald Trump, thanked voters in a post on Facebook Wednesday. “Coming in first place in the primary is the honor of a lifetime. I am ready to get back out in the runoff and continue fighting for freedom, liberty, and the American Dream,” he wrote. Republican voters, and those who did not vote in the primary, can choose between Wahl and Allen on June 16. The winner will face Democratic nominee Rep. Phillip Ensler of Montgomery. Ensler won the Democratic primary over Darryl Perryman with 57.6% of votes. In an acceptance speech Tuesday night, Ensler vowed unity if he is elected to the office. “People are tired of the divisiveness, they’re tired of backwards policies, they’re tired of Alabama ranking last in so many categories,” Ensler said. “So we are running to fight the bad stuff, but stand up for good to make sure that we’re proposing things that are going to put more money in people’s pockets, that are going to keep hospitals open, that are going to have safer neighborhoods, and reduce gun violence, and that are going to make sure that we strengthen our public schools.” Secretary of State Caroleen Dobson, Republican nominee for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District in 2024, won the party’s nomination for Secretary of State, and will face Democratic nominee Wayne Rogers in November. Dobson received 286,914 votes, about 65.5%, Christopher Horn received 99,108 votes, about 22.6% and Glenda Jackson got 52,177 votes, about 11.9%, according to unofficial results. State Treasurer Young Boozer, the current State Treasurer, won the Republican nomination with 396,295 votes, about 68%, over banker Steve Lolley, who got 143,864 votes, about 32%. Boozer will face Democratic nominee Rosilyn Houston, a bank executive in Birmingham, in the general election in November. State Auditor Republican voters chose incumbent Andrew Sorrell for the party’s nominee for State Auditor over attorney Derek Chen by 35.8 percentage points. Sorrell will face Democratic nominee and Madison County Commissioner Violet Edwards in the general election. Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries In a race with three candidates, all got about 30% of votes cast. Corey Hill, mayor of Douglas in Marshall County, got 150,598 votes, about 35.2%, sending him to a runoff with Christina McInnis, a fifth-generation farmer in Baldwin County, who got 149,179, about 34.9%. Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, came in third place with 129,112, about 29.9%. The winner of the June runoff will face Democratic nominee Ron Sparks in the general election. Sparks served as the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries from 2003 to 2011 and was the Democratic party’s gubernatorial nominee in 2010. Courtesy of Alabama Reflector
	Stephen Pearcy of RATT, May 29 Credited as a pioneer of the early '80s, Sunset Strip rock scene, and with his band's multi-platinum-selling smashes including Out of the Cellar and Invasion of Your Privacy, RATT founder and frontman Stephen Pearcy headlines a May 29 concert event at Davenport's Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center, RATT's hit singles including “Lay It Down,” “Way Cool Jr.,” “Wanted Man,” and top-five Billboard smash “Round and Round.”
	Chad Gray, May 29 Performing at the East Moline venue on his “30 Years of Mayhem” tour, Chad Gray headlines a May 30 engagement at the Rust Belt, this powerhouse vocalist behind Mudvayne and Hellyeah lauded for decades for the intensity and grit that helped define modern heavy metal.
	RFK Jr. delivers youth screen time advisory while in Iowa for MAHA bill signing U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered remarks at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines May 20, 2026 in support of Gov. Kim Reynolds signing into law a "Make America Healthy Again" measure. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)GILBERT — U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in Iowa Wednesday, announced a surgeon general’s advisory on the harms of screen time for children. He said states like Iowa that have implemented restrictions on cellphone use in schools helped chart the path on national guidelines around screen time for youth. He also joined Gov. Kim Reynolds as she signed legislation including a limit on digital instruction in schools. The advisory, released alongside a “toolkit” providing tips and guidance for families, schools, healthcare providers and policymakers, specifically lays out guidance on creating a school cellphone policy. It is similar to the measure signed into law in 2025 by Reynolds requiring public K-12 school districts in Iowa set policies that at minimum ban the use of cellphones during class time. Kennedy said during a news conference held at Gilbert Elementary School that “Iowa is leading the nation by taking decisive action to protect children’s health, including limiting excessive classroom screen time,” and the advisory is aimed at having more states and local communities take similar steps. He called excessive screen use “among the most urgent public health challenges facing American children,” saying high use of cellphones and similar devices are correlated with children developing problems with their physical health, mental health, academic performance and social development. “Our message to children is simple: life exists beyond the screen,” Kennedy said. “Children build confidence, imagination, resilience, and joy with nature, with books, through creativity and friendship, through conversations, and being full of human connections. Screens do often displace these experiences instead of supporting. Today’s advisory is not just a warning, it’s a call to reclaim childhood, lead our children to spend less time scrolling and more time living, less time isolated online and more time connected with family, or their community, to nature, or to real life.” The advisory is a call to action, but does not set any specific policy mandates or restrictions on screen use in schools. However, Kennedy’s visit also came in conjunction with Reynolds signing House File 2676 into law — a measure that incorporates a number of health-related proposals into one package. The bill is referred to as the state’s “Make America Health Again,” or “MAHA” bill — referring to the national health-centered movement led by Kennedy. One of the provisions in the law limits screen time through digital learning for students in kindergarten through grade 5 to one hour per day, with certain exemptions. Reynolds said the state departments of Education and Health and Human Services will work to develop these policies for school districts to implement, as well as looking at the impacts of screen time for digital education on students in grades 6-12. “Not only are we limiting the digital instruction … we’re encouraging kids to get healthy, and we’re really refocusing our systems and the benefits on nutrition,” Reynolds said. “So it’s really an all-of-the-above policy that was included in the ‘MAHA’ bill, and its intent is to really help these kids get out there and experience life, communicate, enjoy each other.” New law restricts food dyes, SNAP choices The Iowa “MAHA” law includes measures requiring the state to continuously request waivers to the federal government to keep in place approved restrictions on purchasing unhealthy foods through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as through the federal Summer EBT program. It also requires Iowa medical school students to complete at least 40 hours of coursework on nutrition and metabolic health prior to graduation alongside continuing nutrition coursework to remain certified as a physician. Reynolds thanked Kennedy at the bill signing as someone who “inspired the MAHA movement.” “He has never wavered in his commitment to reform what’s broken across food, health, and scientific systems, and restore better health for Americans,” Reynolds said. “And, as you know, the time for action is now. … Iowa isn’t immune to the chronic disease epidemic that’s plaguing our nation. More than 37% of adult Iowans are obese, and sadly, so are 17% of our youth aged 16 to 17. Obesity significantly increases the risk of developing and worsening many chronic illnesses.” There are also several policy pieces related to nutrition and exercise at Iowa’s K-12 schools. The law will ban certain food dyes and additives from school meal programs and vending machines, implement the Presidential Fitness Test in schools, and have K-5 students to have two hours of physical activity a week. It also requires the state Department of Education to apply for a waiver to the Federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to exempt sodium limits, whole grain requirements and fruit and vegetable variety stipulations, which Republicans said during floor debate in March is aimed at prioritizing regional food sources. Additionally, the proposal allows the ivermectin, a drug used to treat parasitic infections that some sources claim can be used to prevent or treat symptoms of COVID-19, to be distributed over the counter by pharmacists. Kennedy said the measure shows Iowa’s leadership on making changes to address an “existential crisis” in public health. “Iowa is showing the country what bold public health leadership looks like by focusing on prevention, nutrition, physical fitness, and healthier lifestyles for the next generation,” Kennedy said. “… Decades of failed policy and perverse incentives transform one of the world’s greatest healthcare systems into a sick-care system that profits from illness instead of protecting health. But under President Trump’s leadership, HHS has delivered the most sweeping public health reforms in modern history in just 15 short months.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	MercyOne announces new president/CEO After a nationwide search, Robert Baxter, FACHE, has been named the new president and CEO of MercyOne beginning Monday, June 22, according to a news release. He will succeed Michael Taylor, who has served in an interim capacity since the beginning of January. Baxter brings more than 30 years of health care experience, most recently [...]
	Brandon Santini, May 31 Revered for delivering high-energy performances, driven by searing harmonica and passionate vocals, Brandon Santini returns to Davenport's Gypsy Highway Bar & Grill in a concert co-presented by the Mississippi Valley Blues Society, his May 31 headlining engagement treating audiences to the artist whom Blues Blast magazine called "one of the best harp players in the blues scene today."
	Matt Barber & Friends, May 30 Fresh off his two-month tour of Southern California, Matt Barber returns to Davenport's Grape Life Wine Store & Cellar on May 30, the gifted crooner and Rock Island High School graduate performing a thrilling repertoire of jazz, pop, and '50s-'70s classics alongside Quad Cities musicians and brothers Kellen Meyers on keyboard and Logan Meyers on drums.
	Researchers looking for endangered Blanding's turtles in the Milan Bottoms Elizabeth VanCamp joined The Current to discuss the difficulties with finding the turtles and why people should care about their shelled friends.
	Mirah, June 1 Touring in support of her February release Dedication, an album in which, according to The Spill Magazine, "all the experience she has gathered so far as an artist is coming to full bloom," alternative-folk singer/songwriter Mirah headlines a June 1 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, her latest recording hailed by Pitchfork as a "wistful account of motherhood, gratitude, and grief" where "unabashed earnestness is its greatest strength."
	Water Is the Sun, May 30 Traveling the country in support of their acclaimed springtime release Ritual Fever, the experimental musicians of Water Is the Headline headline a May 30 concert at Rock Island's Rozz-Tox, Psychotropic Wonderland describing the group's recording as "an endlessly evolving balancing act between timeless, rustic, and haunted-sounding samples and alternately understated and epic-sounding synthesizer motifs.”
	Choral Dynamics: “Raising Spirits with Song,” May 29 through 31 Celebrating both the organization's 50th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of the United States this May, the revered vocal ensemble Choral Dynamics presents its annual pre-summer show at the Orhpeum Theatre May 29 through 31, with Raising Spirits with Song boasting favorite choral tunes, patriotic numbers, and memories of the past 50 years in Galesburg.
	The Quire of Eastern Iowa: “Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray,” May 30 Debuting their new cantata for the first time in Iowa, the vocal talents of the Quire of Eastern Iowa brings Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray to the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts on May 30, celebrating the pioneering Civil Rights activist, lawyer, poet, and Episcopal priest whose work helped shape modern movements for racial and gender equality.
	State: Patients’ narcotic painkillers were replaced with vitamins, antihistamines (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)An Iowa nursing home where hundreds of narcotic painkillers for residents were secretly replaced with vitamins or over-the-counter medications is facing a $500 fine. State inspectors allege that in March, the staff at the Oakland Manor nursing home in Pottawattamie County noticed that its supply of narcotic painkillers appeared to have been tampered with. According to the inspectors, a registered nurse at the home contacted the director of nursing on March 4, 2026, to report that during a shift change that day, a discrepancy in the inventory of narcotics was noticed. One of the other nurses had questioned the appearance of one resident’s oxycodone medications while counting controlled substances in the home’s medication cart. Inspectors allege that during the count, it was noticed that a blister card in which several oxycodone tablets were packaged appeared to have been secured with medical tape. On further examination, a nurse noticed the back of the blister pack appeared to have been tampered with and some of the tablets looked different from the typical oxycodone tablets. According to the inspectors, it was then discovered that each area where the tablets rested in the card had been opened and then covered with a small piece of tape. The staff then discovered that additional cards of oxycodone, in both 5-milligram 10-milligram doses, appeared to have been tampered with, and the narcotic was replaced with an over-the-counter antihistamine. The inspectors allege that an internal investigation at Oakland Manor revealed that one resident’s 10-milligram oxycodone tablets had been replaced with over-the-counter tablets of vitamin B-12, and two other residents had their 5-milligram oxycodone tablets replaced with an antihistamine. The investigation eventually concluded that oxycodone painkillers for at least five residents were either missing or had been surreptitiously replaced with over-the-counter vitamins or medications, the inspectors allege. In one instance, 84 oxycodone tablets prescribed for a single resident were either missing or had been replaced with over-the-counter tablets, the internal investigation concluded. “A total of 279 narcotic tablets were missing,” state inspectors reported. The $500 fine imposed by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing is tied not to the theft of residents’ medications, but to the facility’s alleged failure to report the matter to the state in a timely fashion. The state inspection reports give no indication as to who was behind the apparent theft or whether a criminal investigation has been launched. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	‘Santa’ facing extradition after being accused of money laundering, police say A 73-year-old man who is known locally for portraying Santa Claus is facing extradition after being charged with several fraud and money laundering charges.
	MercyOne names Robert Baxter as new president and CEO MercyOne names Robert Baxter as new president and CEO, effective June 22. Baxter, a University of Iowa alum, joins from Bon Secours Mercy Health.
	Boston appeals court rejects RI child advocate’s emergency relief petition The First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Rhode Island Office of Child Advocate’s petition for emergency relief, clearing the way for the release of medical records for transgender youth treated at Rhode Island Hospital. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit refused Tuesday night to block the initial transfer of transgender youth-related records from Rhode Island Hospital to a Texas federal court. The records will be held in the custody of the court and unavailable to the public, according to an order from U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Chief Judge Reed O’Connor. The records were subpoenaed by the U.S. Department of Justice last July as part of an ongoing, nationwide investigation into potentially fraudulent labelling and billing practices involving hormone therapy and other pharmaceutical treatments for gender dysphoria. Rhode Island Hospital intends to release records to comply with Texas judge’s midnight deadline “While we are disappointed in this result, this decision is not the end of our fight to protect Rhode Island children’s medical privacy,” Kevin Love Hubbard, an attorney with the Lawyers’ Committee of RI and the Rhode Island’s Office of the Child Advocate’s representative in the case, said in a text message to Rhode Island Current Wednesday. “We know that even if the DOJ is not receiving these records now, the uncertainty generated by this ongoing legal battle has been harmful.” Child Advocate Katelyn Medeiros, whose office represents youth in state care plus kids who receive behavioral health services through the state’s child welfare agency, filed an emergency motion in an appeal in the First Circuit in Boston Tuesday, hoping to avert the transfer before the midnight deadline set by O’Connor. The petition came after Medeiros’s legal team successfully acquired a ruling that would strike down the subpoena last week in Rhode Island U.S. District Court. But after that ruling, on May 18, O’Connor ordered that even with the subpoena quashed, the records would need to be sent to his district, and held in the court’s custody, or in camera, and inaccessible to the government or anyone outside the court for the time being. The Child Advocate’s legal team argued that even an abbreviated sharing of these records would constitute harm to the youths’ privacy. The three judges on the appellate court were unconvinced. “The Child Advocate contends that providing the records to anyone, even to a court, represents an irreparable harm given ‘the psychological and institutional costs of compelled production of sensitive medical records even when redacted,” the opinion by Circuit Judges Gustavo A. Gelpí, Lara E. Montecalvo, and Joshua Dunlap read. “The Child Advocate cites no authority for the proposition that providing anonymized records to a court — particularly one that has assured the parties that the records will not be disseminated unless and until the parties’ appeals are resolved — could constitute irreparable harm.” Circuit Judge Dunlap backed up the main opinion with a separate, concurring one. The May 18 Texas order, the appellate judges noted, “does not require…production to, and review by, an adverse party.” That was one sticking point and part of why Rhode Island Hospital moved sluggishly to release the records when it feared violation of privacy rights should the DOJ receive unrestricted and direct access to select information in the requested caches. The DOJ’s subpoena requested five categories of especially sensitive patient information, like diagnostic, treatment and family histories. A spokesperson for Brown University Health, the parent healthcare organization of Rhode Island Hospital, said in an unsigned email Wednesday that there was no patient identifying information in the information it shared with the court. “With the DOJ, for the first time with respect to the subpoena issued to Rhode Island Hospital, unequivocally agreeing on the record that it would accept records from the hospital that do not contain sensitive personal health information, no production to the court — not yesterday’s and none in the future — will include patient identifying information,” the spokesperson wrote. Rhode Island Hospital first shared with Rhode Island Current shortly before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday that it was sending an initial batch of documents to the Texas court. A filing Tuesday in the Texas court from Rhode Island Hospital noted that the “production of records, and necessarily compliance with the Court’s May 18 Order requiring in camera production, will take a period of months,” due to “the volume of the data to be collected, and the time-consuming and costly nature of the review process, which will divert RIH personnel from their daily responsibilities.” The hospital expects that the next batch of records will be shared on May 29. Hubbard agreed that “the anonymization and de-identification does reduce the risk” involved with the hospital sharing the documents, although he noted that the government’s intentions — especially its willingness to accept anonymized data — were unclear when the Child Advocate first moved to act. “It only became clear that the government was accepting that after we filed our emergency motion, when they represented to the First Circuit there was less harm because of the anonymization,” Hubbard said. “The First Circuit relied on that, and the fact that DOJ will not be able to access the records pending the appeal, for its finding that there was no irreparable injury for the patients.” Hubbard said that, to his understanding, the documents the hospital shared Tuesday night were “not medical records” and were “non-privileged documents responsive to other parts of the subpoena.” They were not in the five contended categories of medical records central to the litigation, Hubbard said. More to come But, as Hubbard suggested, the fight does not appear to be over, and on several levels at that. Rhode Island Hospital’s acceptance of the anonymity condition is similar to compromises the DOJ offered other subpoenaed hospitals in its nationwide efforts. Karen Loewy, senior counsel and director of constitutional law practice at Lambda Legal, said in an emailed statement Wednesday that the records are part of a larger grab by the DOJ. “DOJ’s goal here is to end the provision of gender affirming medical care to adolescents — full stop — whether through intimidation of the hospitals, threatening their funding, going after their providers, or scaring patients into not seeking care in the first place,” Loewy wrote. “Sowing distrust between providers and the transgender young people who need their care is all part of the plan.” Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, agreed in a phone interview Wednesday. “This is this administration weaponizing the criminal subpoena system to just grossly invade the most sensitive private confidential information,” Minter said. “The harm here is so grave. The betrayal of patient confidentiality is so extreme that they should have taken every possible measure to fight it.” An unsigned comment from DOJ Wednesday read: “This Department of Justice will use every legal and law enforcement tool available to protect innocent children from being mutilated under the guise of ‘care.’” The harm here is so grave. The betrayal of patient confidentiality is so extreme that they should have taken every possible measure to fight it. – Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights For the appellate court judges, meanwhile, they had to “set aside a host of procedural problems,” in their ruling’s words, to even arrive at a decision. Was it right to grant an injunction “that would order the Hospital not to turn responsive records over to anyone,” or could the Child Advocate even “obtain an injunction against the Hospital that would subject the Hospital to mutually irreconcilable orders”? The appeals court did not determine those answers, and relied on what it saw as a lack of irreparable harm to settle the score. In his separate, concurring opinion, Circuit Judge Dunlap — an appointee of President Donald Trump who took his seat on the First Circuit in November 2025 — identified deeper problems he saw with the child advocate’s argument. “The Child Advocate claims that she is not asking us to ‘review, vacate, or direct any action by the Texas court,’ and instead is only requesting that we enjoin the Hospital from turning over materials to the Northern District of Texas,” Dunlap wrote. “But that argument is little more than sophistry.” The judge was also concerned with Rhode Island’s U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy’s May 14 order that squished the DOJ’s administrative subpoena, partly because it failed to engage with “the government’s theory that the Hospital caused the distribution of drugs that are misbranded for off-label uses or conspired with manufacturers or distributors to misbrand such drugs.” “Assuming these theories are valid, the district court’s improper purpose reasoning would fall away,” Dunlap wrote. “There are therefore serious questions about the merits of the district court’s decision.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	“Riverdance 30: The New Generation,” June 3 Hailed by DC Metro Arts as “an exhilarating ride of pride and precision” and by the Chicago Tribune as “superbly and joyously performed,” the touring spectacle Riverdance 30: The New Generation comes to Davenport's Adler Theatre on June 3, this astoundingly choreographed sensation a show that, according to Broadway World, “will appeal to long-time fans and captivate a new audience.”
	State: Nursing home resident called 911 after being left ‘gasping for air’ The Good Samaritan nursing home in Red Oak, Iowa. (Photo via Google Earth)An Iowa nursing home where a resident called 911 to receive medical attention while struggling to breathe could be facing fines of more than $27,000. According to state inspectors, the Good Samaritan care facility in Red Oak failed to provide quality nursing care when it neglected to intervene when one of the home’s 34 residents showed signs of critically low oxygen levels and another resident was coughing up blood. Inspectors allege that on April 15, 2026, a female resident of the home whose oxygen levels had been dropping called 911 for medical assistance. When paramedics arrived at the home, they inquired about the resident’s condition and one staff member allegedly responded, “She’s been like this all day.” According to the inspectors’ written report, as the paramedics “approached the patient’s room, audible screams for help were heard.” The woman was lying in bed and exhibited signs of an altered mental status, with possible hallucinations. Inspectors alleged the woman’s oxygen levels, when first measured by paramedics, was in ranged from the “high 60s to low 70s” — with anything below 80 generally considered to be life-threatening. The woman was taken by ambulance to a hospital emergency room to be assessed for possible pneumonia, was placed on high-flow oxygen, and then transferred to a larger hospital that was better equipped to handle her medical condition. Inspectors allege the woman later reported that she had been “gasping for air” so much that she was hallucinating and seeing things, while adding that she had called 911 because the Good Samaritan staff had not been answering her call light. The woman’s primary care physician allegedly told inspectors that oxygen levels in the 60s were “a very big concern” and under those circumstances, the nursing staff should have had the woman transferred to the emergency room. Home cited for failure to adequately respond to resident with lung condition Inspectors also faulted the Good Samaritan home for its alleged failure to adequately respond to a male resident who was coughing up blood on March 30 and March 31, 2026. The inspectors reported that caregivers in the home had noticed two paper cups on the man’s windowsill that appeared to be partially filled with blood the man was coughing up. On April 2, 2026, the resident was admitted to an acute care hospital and diagnosed with hemoptysis – a potentially serious condition caused by bleeding in the lungs or the respiratory tract. According to the inspectors, doctors then discovered a blood clot that obstructed the man’s airway and caused active bleeding. The man reportedly told inspectors he was never asked if he wanted to go to the hospital’s emergency room, and that he would have gone if that was presented as an option. As a result of the state inspection, the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing has cited the Good Samaritan home for violations related to medications and treatment; overall quality of care; unsafe or unsanitary food storage and preparation; the failure to maintain a safe, clean, homelike environment; the improper use of chemical restraints; inadequate respiratory care, and other issues. State: No COVID-19 vaccines in 2025 According to the inspectors, none of the home’s 34 residents had been offered, or had received, the COVID-19 vaccine during 2025 – although the staff reportedly provided conflicting reasons for the situation. The home’s infection preventionist, who is also a registered nurse, reportedly told the inspectors “COVID-19 vaccines were not given to residents at the facility at all unless the residents specifically requested the vaccine.” The home’s director of nursing allegedly told inspectors the home’s pharmacy “could not get the new vaccine” for COVID-19, while the home’s pharmacist allegedly told inspectors the vaccine was available to give residents once it was ordered. Inspectors noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that it is “especially important to get the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine for ages 65 and older” since that population is more at risk for “severe” forms of COVID-19. The state inspections department has proposed a state fine of $27,750, but has held that fine in suspension while the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services decides whether a federal fine is warranted. Currently, the Red Oak Good Samaritan home has a one-star rating for inspection results and overall quality on CMS’ five-star quality scale. CMS reports that in August 2025, it imposed a federal fine of $29,894 against the facility. The administrator of the Red Oak home, Mike Early, who also serves as the administrator of the Good Samaritan home in Villisca, could not be reached at either of two facilities Wednesday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Black bears becoming regular visitors in northeast Iowa Vince Evelsizer with the Iowa DNR joined The Current to discuss where the bears are being spotted and what you need to know to keep safe around them.
	“Called to Reckon: Replacing History & Reclaiming Mission at a Midwestern College” Discussion, June 2 Presenting a panel discussion on the new Jane E. Simonsen book about Rock Island's Augustana College, the Davenport Public Library's Eastern Avenue Branch, on June 2, hosts a talk on the fascinating nonfiction Called to Reckon: Replacing History & Reclaiming Mission at a Midwestern College.
	“PIEOWA: A Piece of America,” May 30 With her documentary hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "a soulful slice of Americana" that has been covered by national outlets including CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 and the Hallmark Channel's Home & Family, former Quad Citizen Beth Howard brings her film PIEOWA: A Piece of America to the Bettendorf Public Library, the May 30 screening featuring an appearance by the filmmaker and, fittingly, a bit of dessert, to boot.
	“Waking Life,” June 4 With Stephen Holden of The New York Times calling the film "so verbally dexterous and visually innovative that you can't absorb it unless you have all your wits about you,” Waking Life enjoys a June 4 screening at Rozz-Tox, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Richard Linklater's animated 2001 classic the latest presentation in the Rock Island venue's popular Filmosofia series.
	Advice for 2026 commencement speakers: Don't bring up AI Commencement speakers who bring up the sweeping changes that artificial intelligence is driving are facing boos from the Class of 2026.
	A sneak peek into the Memorial Day Weekend Just a couple of days now until the Memorial Day weekend here in the US, and for us here in the Quad Cities, it couldn't be any better. While temperatures have been a bit on the cooler side so far this week and will continue to remain that way through Friday, things are warming up [...]
	2026 Quad Cities Chalk Art Fest, May 30 and 21 With the eagerly anticipated weekend event hosted by Rock Island's Quad City Arts and taking place for the 10th time, glorious colors and imaginative designs will be gracing the pavement of Rock Island's Schwiebert Riverfront Park in the Quad Cities Chalk Art Fest, a May 30 and 31 pre-summertime fixture boasting free admission, beautiful artistic creations, live music, children's activities, food and drink vendors, and more than $2,000 in cash prizes.
	Elon Musk's SpaceX files paperwork for what's likely to be the biggest IPO in history The company is on track to pull off the largest IPO in history — making CEO Elon Musk even wealthier.
	Elon Musk's SpaceX IPO plans reveal blockbuster spending on rockets and AI The company is on track to pull off the largest IPO in history — making CEO Elon Musk even wealthier.
	Final major group of Iowa National Guard soldiers to return home soon Nearly 200 soldiers are now back in America.
	Former Dubuque Teacher facing federal child exploitation charges A former Dubuque high school teacher is charged with six federal charges connected with child exploitation allegations.
	ORA Orthopedics introduces first-in-the-nation weight-bearing CT scanner The Planmed XFI Cone-beam CT Scanner can take scans while patients are standing or seated, instead of only while laying down.
	Channel Cat Water Taxi to open for 2026 season with expanded experiences, live music series The Channel Cat Water Taxi, a Quad Cities summertime staple is opening for the 2026 season, just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
	MercyOne announces new president and CEO An interim president and CEO has been leading the company since January.
	“The Rainmaker,” June 4 through 14 Hailed by the New York Daily Mirror as “a hit you must see” and by the Los Angeles Times as “a handsomely staged case for miracles,” playwright N. Richard Nash's 1953 classic The Rainmaker enjoys a June 4 through 14 run at Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, this optimistic charmer famed for its beloved 1956 movie adaptation starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn.
	Quad City Arts' Chalk Art Fest needs volunteers Quad City Arts needs volunteers for the 2026 Chalk Art Fest, taking place on May 30 – 31 in Schwiebert Park in Rock Island. Chalk Art Fest is a free, live outdoor arts festival that brings hundreds of artists together who spend hours transforming the cement pavement at Schwiebert Park into a museum of chalk [...]

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