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

Tuesday, June 9th, 2026
	Heat and humidity followed by severe weather It'll be hot and humid today through Thursday for the Quad Cities. While a couple of showers and storms are possible later today and tonight, severe weather is likely Wednesday and Thursday. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Gretchen at Work: DJing a silent disco with DJ Shane Brown It was a warm night for a silent disco, but that couldn't stop DJ Shane Brown.
	Special Weather Statement until TUE 8:00 AM CDT Patchy Dense Fog Affecting Early Morning Commute
	Eagles This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island."No prophet is without honor, save in his own country," says the Good Book. In the past ten years, Rock Islanders have…
	Visit Quad Cities' Dave Herrell receives Destination Organization Leadership Award Visit Quad Cities president and CEO Dave Herrell has been recognized by Destinations International. According to a release, Herrell has been announced as an honoree of the 2026 Destination Organization Leadership Award by Destinations International, a leading membership association for destination organizations. Established in 2017, the Destination Organization Leadership Award recognizes leaders whose vision, service, [...]
	The Supreme Court is in its final stretch this term. Here are the major cases left The Supreme Court is heading into its crunch time, the part of the year when the justices are racing to finish decisions and dissents in the cases that remain undecided. Here's what's left.
	Maine's Senate race and much more. Here are the primary contests to watch today Republican incumbents are facing tough challenges in Maine and Nevada. In South Carolina, a crowded field of MAGA-devoted Republicans are facing off to be the next governor.
	More Americans survive cancer. But the psychological impacts can persist for years Due to advancements in treatment and screening, more Americans are surviving cancer. But many are left with lingering mental health challenges like anxiety and depression.
	GLP-1s appear to protect against cancer. Researchers are trying to figure out how Recent studies suggest GLP-1s, the weight loss and diabetes drugs, may both prevent cancer and slow its progression. While weight loss is known to curb cancer risks, GLP-1s may act on other brain and metabolic pathways to prevent cancer.
	Conflicts on rise globally, highest level since WWII, data shows Global conflicts surged to the highest number tallied by Sweden's Uppsala security research group.
	Sweden set to ban mobile phones in schools Long championed as a leader in adopting digital technology, Sweden is set to ban mobile phones in schools beginning in the fall for the next academic year.
	Trump says pilots are fine after U.S. helicopter crashes near Strait of Hormuz A U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, with President Trump saying the two crew members on board were "fine" after the incident. Trump also expressed optimism over negotiations with Iran.
	Pentagon labels tech giant Alibaba and car maker BYD as aiding Chinese military The Pentagon has added several prominent Chinese businesses to its list of Chinese military companies. The move prevents them from securing U.S. defense contracts.
	Federal judge strikes down Trump's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas A federal judge on Monday struck down the Trump administration's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. The administration announced the fee as a way of preventing foreign workers from taking American jobs.
Monday, June 8th, 2026
	Rock Island considers redeveloping former site of livestock auction house No decision was made by the June 8 meeting. The amendments will advance for another reading.
	Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs executive order creating Office of Outdoor Recreation Iowa becomes the 25th state to have such an office.
	Caitlin Clark’s last-second 3-pointer gives Fever a 78-76 victory over Mystics Caitlin Clark’s 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left gave the Indiana Fever a 78-76 victory over the Washington Mystics on Monday night.
	Proposed data center in Clinton draws concerns, praise from community Some residents plan to pack city council chambers on Tuesday night ahead of a vote on a 120-day moratorium on data center development.
	Clinton Engineering Co. celebrates 100th anniversary Clinton Engineering celebrated a milestone, marking 100 years of service to Clinton and the surrounding communities with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, June 3, according to a news release. The event welcomed community members, partners, and local leaders to honor a century of dedication, craftsmanship, and lasting impact in the region. Speakers and attendees reflected [...]
	Stolen car crashes into Davenport home: Police Police say a car that slammed into a house in Davenport early in the morning June 8 was stolen. The Davenport Police Department got called to home on Central Park Ave. around 3:00 a.m. Officers say the car was heading east when it hit lost control and hit the home. Everyone in the car got [...]
	Proposed data center in Clinton draws concerns, praise from community members Some residents plan to pack city council chambers on Tuesday night ahead of a vote on a 120-day moratorium on data center development.
	Rock Island BBQ raising funds for back-to-school supplies The Granny Grayson Outreach group is hosting a barbecue fundraiser on June 20 in Rock Island to raise money for area students ahead of back-to-school season.
	Iowa Supreme Court issues formal reprimand against former Davenport city attorney The Iowa Supreme Court has issued a formal reprimand against former Davenport City Attorney Thomas Warner for ethical misconduct. That's connected to his activity surrounding the controversial separation agreements with two former city employees three years ago. The court signed the official reprimand June 3. The Iowa Supreme Court's Attorney Disciplinary Board found Warner approved [...]
	Davenport schools approves purchase of 5 additional weapons detection systems The Davenport Community School District is adding more high-tech weapons detection systems to several schools across the district.
	Alaska drops to 47th in the nation in overall child well-being, new report says Children's bicycles are parked outside of the Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living in Fairbanks, Alaska on September 14, 2023. (Photo by Claire Stremple for the Alaska Beacon)Alaska dropped seven places to rank 47th in the nation in overall child well-being, according to a nationally recognized survey by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Advocates say the decline is troubling and reflects years of declining investment in Alaska children and families. The scoring system is part of Kids Count data book, an analysis of all 50 states to gauge how children are faring across 16 indicators in four areas — economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. The latest score reflects outcomes over a five-year period from 2019 to 2024, to compare between states and against the baseline of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Alaska received an overall score of 385 out of 1,000. Alaska’s overall score dropped 41 points since 2019, among the largest decline of any state in the nation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. “Dropping seven spots in a single year is not a data point — it’s a warning,” said Trevor Storrs, president and CEO of Alaska Children’s Trust, in a statement highlighting the survey. The non-profit advocacy group focuses on supporting Alaska children and families and preventing child abuse and neglect. “We have been seeing year after year the overall trend of Alaska’s investment in children and families going down, and that is automatically going to result in less success or less thriving children and families,” Storrs said in an interview Monday. “So us not doing as well as other states is not a surprise, and dropping to 47th is a major step backwards.” Alaska saw the steepest decline in education, where the state ranked 49th in the nation, just above New Mexico. In 2024, 78% of Alaska fourth graders were not proficient in reading, and 78% of eighth graders were not proficient in math, several points worse than 2019 levels. In the five year period, 64% of young children — ages 3 and 4 — were not in school. Among high schoolers, 22% did not graduate on time in 2024. Alaska’s Kids Count index score produced by the Annie E. Casey Foundation from 2015 to 2026. The score includes 16 indicators across four domains: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. (Screenshot of graphic by the Alaska Children’s Trust) In economic well-being, Alaska ranked 48th in the nation. Thirteen percent of children were living in poverty in 2024, with no change since 2019. Roughly one third, or 34% of children’s parents lacked stable employment, up from 29% in 2019. Eleven percent of teens were not working and not in school. In the health and family and community sectors, Alaskans fared slightly better — ranking 38th and 30th respectively. However, 31% of children and teens were overweight or obese, and 9% of children had no health insurance. Teen birth rates improved slightly to 15 per 100,000, but infant mortality rates and child death rates worsened over the five year period. Alaska continues to have among the highest rate of youth suicide in the nation. In 2024, teen deaths by accident, homicide or suicide were nearly double the national average at a rate of 70 per 100,000. Nationwide, challenges and progress were reflected across all states: 29 states saw overall declines, 15 states saw improvements and six states were stable, across the scoring system. Education outcomes remain the most concerning across the board, according to the Kids Count analysis – nearly every state, or 47 in total, saw declines in education since 2019, highlighting the pervasive impacts of the COVID-10 pandemic. Storrs and Alaska education advocates across the state say state funding has failed to keep up with Alaska school districts’ needs, as costs increase and budget deficits have ballooned, resulting in severe budget cuts and the closure of 12 schools statewide this year. “Our education isn’t doing poorly because of not the right teachers or not the right system, it is literally being strangled and deprived of the options that it needs to survive, and that is the funding,” Storrs said. Storrs said that greater investments in Alaska’s schools alone won’t improve educational outcomes, as health and socio-economic factors greatly impact how a child shows up at school. “Children and families live in an ecosystem, and we need to make sure all aspects are well maintained, because if one goes bad, it can and will impact. And we’re definitely seeing that the educational side is not doing so well, that’s definitely impacting so many areas of our state,” he said. Storrs said despite the decline, recent policy investments in child care and broadened access and funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has been beneficial, Storrs said, as well as legislation that passed this year to expand paid parental leave, increase funding for early intervention programs, and establish a mental health curriculum in schools. An analysis by the Alaska Children’s Trust found that the state last year reduced funding levels for services and programs to specifically support Alaska children, youth and families by an estimated 21% compared to average funding levels from FY2014–2017, adjusted for inflation. Storrs said the group is advocating for more funding “upstream” for support services, rather than “downstream” funding for things like corrections. Storrs pointed to the all-time high budget approved for the Alaska Department of Corrections this year. He said the organization is also urging serious consideration and development of new state revenue measures that would provide funding for social services and support for families. “It’s a warning that if we continue to do this, our numbers are only going to get worse,” Storrs said. “Our children and families are going to suffer, and we’re going to continue to see trends, not just in the sense of poor outcomes, but people leaving our state.” As Alaska is headed into a major election year, set to vote on a new governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. House Representative and dozens of Alaska House and Senate members, Storrs said he hopes Alaskans will ask questions and push candidates to consider these complex issues, and investing in children and families. “Kids make up about 25% of our population, but 100% of our future,” Storrs said. Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	After solar flare, could we see the northern lights in the QCA? Geomagnetic storm warnings were issued over the weekend after a massive solar flare was spotted.
	Rock Island public works director resigns After nearly 13 years with the city, Public Works Director Mike Bartels has announced his resignation effective June 19. He will be the engineering project delivery manager at Iowa American Water, a news release says. Bartels began with the city in December 2013 as municipal services superintendent. He was promoted to interim director in 2018 [...]
	Maid-Rite celebrates 100th anniversary Maid-Rite celebrates 100 year anniversary while employees and customers reflect on memories at the restaurant.
	Traffic Alert: Section of Middle Road closed for Spencer Creek culvert project The road is closed so work can start on the Spencer Creek culvert project, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Iowa DOT Davenport construction office.
	QC Animal Welfare, Milan, gives tips on pet care during extremely hot weather The Quad City Animal Welfare Center, Milan, has a list of reminders for pet owners to better care for their pets during extremely hot weather.
	Federal trial starts for Idaho doctor seeking medical exemptions to abortion ban The James A. McClure Federal Building in Boise is the largest of Idaho's federal courthouses. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun)Since Idaho’s abortion bans took effect almost four years ago, an Idaho doctor says he’s had to send patients out of state for medically necessary abortions for a range of pregnancy complications under which he used to be able to provide abortions. Dr. Stacy Seyb, who treats high-risk pregnancies as a maternal fetal medicine specialist, answered questions under oath on the first trial day of his federal lawsuit seeking medical exceptions to Idaho’s near-total abortion ban. The lawsuit is one of several that have challenged Idaho’s abortion ban. Idaho has several abortion ban laws that, if violated, could allow doctors to be prosecuted and lose their medical licenses, as well as allow them to be sued for at least $20,000 by family members of a person who obtained an abortion. Idaho’s law allows abortions that are needed to prevent the death of the mother, but not to protect her health. Seyb’s lawsuit seeks medical exemptions that would allow abortion to prevent permanent health declines, death by suicide and fatal fetal conditions. Despite calls for change, including by the state’s top medical association, Idaho lawmakers have largely refused to modify Idaho’s strict abortion laws. After the state’s abortion bans took effect, Idaho lost more than a third of its obstetrician doctors, a study found last year. A group behind a proposed ballot initiative to end Idaho’s ban is awaiting confirmation from election officials on whether it will qualify for the November ballot. Under questioning from his attorney, Seyb said he and other doctors are unsure about when abortions are allowed under Idaho’s laws — and that he refers patients out of state for conditions under which he used to provide abortions. “It’s been very, very difficult trying to figure out what types of procedures … would not put you in harm’s way,” Seyb said at the trial in federal court. Labrador says U.S. Supreme Court made clear ‘that there is no right to abortion in the U.S. Constitution’ Seyb’s lawsuit is against Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts and the Idaho Board of Medicine, which licenses doctors. Neither side presented opening arguments at the first day of the trial, instead diving directly into questioning doctors who served as witnesses. Last week, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador told the Idaho Capital Sun that the U.S. Supreme Court, in overturning Roe v. Wade, made clear “that there is no right to abortion in the U.S. Constitution, and that states have the right to decide abortion policy.” “This applies to all manner of abortions, including abortions that are done for a claimed medical reason,” he said in a written statement. “In short, abortion, regardless of the reason for the abortion, is not deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition and is therefore not implicit in the concept of ordered liberty. Since there is no fundamental right to abortion, Dr. Seyb is unable to show that Idaho’s laws protecting the lives of unborn children are unconstitutional.” There is no jury in the trial, which is led by federal judge B. Lynn Winmill. It is set to continue until Monday, June 15. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Doctor lists medical conditions that he has to refer for out of state abortions Labrador, the attorney for state officials and agencies, watched as one of his attorneys questioned Seyb and other doctors about their testimony. At several points, Labrador’s attorney, Jim Craig, sought to undermine Seyb’s case. Through Craig’s series of questions, Seyb acknowledged that he has not been criminally charged for providing an unlawful abortion, or been told he’s being investigated by the Idaho Board of Medicine. Craig repeatedly tried to get Seyb to admit he didn’t take time to understand how an Idaho court interpreted Idaho’s abortion ban as not requiring women face an “imminent” death risk to be allowed to lawfully receive abortions in Idaho. But Seyb seemed skeptical of that assurance. “I think there’s still a lot of controversy around those things,” he replied. Under questioning from his attorney, Seyb said he hasn’t seen guidance from Labrador, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office and the Board of Medicine on how the state’s abortion bans work. Labrador’s office attempted to get the lawsuit dismissed before trial, claiming that Seyb didn’t understand how Idaho’s abortion law works. But in a ruling rejecting that request, Winmill wrote that “the contours of the life-of-the mother exception remain ambiguous” even to him. Seyb’s attorney questioned him on a list of medical problems — like preeclampsia, kidney disease and placental abnormalities — that in the past had prompted Seyb to perform medically indicated abortions in Idaho, that he now refers or feels he would need to refer patients to doctors in neighboring states for. Oftentimes, he said he’d send patients to Utah. The state, which borders Idaho, has a less strict abortion ban, because its near-total ban is temporarily blocked in court. Doctors discuss how mental health fits into abortion His lawsuit also seeks to allow abortions in cases where the mother may die by suicide. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Dr. Marcela Smid, a maternal fetal medicine specialist from Utah, said that treatments for some mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, are linked with birth defects. That, she said, pushes some pregnant women on those medications to risk destabilizing their mental health by quitting the medications. In an article she wrote, which was referenced in the hearing, she said suicide is less common during pregnancy than other times in someone’s life, but more common directly after pregnancy in the postpartum period. Seyb discussed one of his patients who had severe bipolar disorder. She did well during pregnancy, he said, but died by suicide during the postpartum period. Smid noted that mental health conditions appear to be the most frequent contributing factor to maternal deaths in Idaho, citing years of reports by the state’s panel that studies maternal deaths. But she also suggested that Idaho is tracking suicide in pregnant women and recent mothers in odd ways. She pointed to a shift by the panel, called the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, in recent years to stop counting mothers’ suicides as related to the pregnancy if they previously had reported thinking about suicide or attempting suicide before they were pregnant. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	New beer TIGERHAWK supports Hawkeye athletics A big assist for Iowa athletics is being unveiled with the release of a new beer created to support the university’s sports teams, a news release says. The University of Iowa Athletics Department and Big Grove Brewery have introduced TIGERHAWK, a new premium lager brewed to boost the future of Iowa athletics. A portion of [...]
	House panel advances charter school moratorium legislation, sending it to House floor A mural inside Segue Institute for Learning, an independent public charter school in Central Falls. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)More than four months after its introduction, the Rhode Island House’s version of a bill to impose a three-year moratorium on new charter schools passed the chamber’s Committee on Education in an 8-3 vote Monday. The education panel passed an amended version of H7415 — sponsored by Rep. Mary Messier, a Pawtucket Democrat — alongside the bill’s Senate companion, S2787 by Sen. Melissa Murray, a Woonsocket Democrat, which passed its originating chamber in a 31-6 floor vote last Thursday, June 4. The identical bills would disallow new charter school approvals in the state for three years, as well as reduce the statewide cap on charters from 35 to 28. The no votes came from Rep. Richard Fascia, a Johnston Republican; Rep. Joshua Giraldo, a Central Falls Democrat; and Rep. Ramon Perez, a Providence Democrat. Reps. Julie Casimiro; Susan Donovan; Thomas Noret; and Sherri Roberts were absent for Monday’s vote. Both bills can now go before the entire House for floor votes. While floor votes were not immediately scheduled as of Monday evening, those floor votes may happen Wednesday, according to House spokesperson Larry Berman. The legislative session is expected to end on Friday. Supporters of the legislation — including House Education Chair Rep. Joseph McNamara, a Warwick Democrat — cite the measure as one which will pause the expansion of charter schools amid strained municipal budgets for public schooling — the outcome of an aging school funding formula which has been increasingly targeted as inadequate for local district’s costs, especially when it comes to high-cost special needs students. “The funding formula for us schools presently is not as dependable or as equitable as it should be for both charter schools and regular public schools,” McNamara said at Monday’s meeting. “We desperately need a more equitable formula. This would give us time, because we cannot continue to develop, nor can we afford, to have two parallel school systems in the state…It’s financially impossible.” Rhode Island Foundation panel urges R.I. to rewrite school funding formula, boost state share Under current state law, when students enroll in a public charter school, the per-pupil allocations from both state and local sources “follow” that student, and the charter gets the funding tied to that student. To compensate for this loss in money, local education districts are permitted “holdbacks” whereby they can reduce the local payment a charter will receive, allowing the public school to recoup fixed costs like maintenance, staffing or other expenses that linger even when a student leaves for a charter. A January Blue Ribbon Commission report led by the Rhode Island Foundation and its current CEO, the former U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, attempts to retool the now-antiquated funding formula for Rhode Island’s public schools. But despite an early push from Cicilline at the State House, the legislation to institute that revised funding scheme has been replaced, via the state budget, by an order for the state education department to study the findings of the study commission. In the meantime, legislators have turned to a charter school moratorium as a stopgap measure before the state’s K-12 funding can be more thoroughly interrogated. McNamara, a longtime member of the education panel, told his colleagues that the charter school system was originally meant to be “a laboratory for public schools,” with “innovative teaching and techniques” developed in these spaces and eventually exported to traditional public schools. That has not happened, McNamara suggested. “What we have seen is…almost a complete system that is cannibalizing financially our public schools,” McNamara said. “I mean, we just can’t continue to do it.” But the moratorium measure has prompted vocal opposition from charter school supporters who have spent tens of thousands of dollars on radio ads, billboards and digital ads. Sen. Jonathon Acosta, a Central Falls Democrat, is shown during a 2024 press conference at the Rhode Island State House. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) But are the kids learning? Monday’s committee vote came after about a spirited half-hour of discussion that seemed tame in contrast to the Senate’s heated and uncommonly raw floor debate on Thursday, June 4, over Murray’s bill. “I rise with venom in my veins on this issue,” Sen. Jonathon Acosta, a Central Falls Democrat and former public school teacher, said during Thursday’s floor debate. “Whenever I talk about schools — public, public charter, private — it’s through one filter: academic achievement. Do they produce learning?” In Rhode Island, they largely do not, the senator argued. Acosta gave the example of Barrington, a relatively affluent town where, he noted, only about 60 to 70% of kids are at the requisite grade level in math or reading. “That’s not a poverty problem, that’s not an MLL [multilingual learner] problem,” Acosta said. “We suck at teaching. When are we going to talk about that?” According to state education department data for fiscal year 2024, there were about 12,887 Rhode Island students attending public charters, around 9% of the school’s 135,689 public school students overall. Senate panel advances charter school moratorium despite vocal opposition campaign “Our schools suck, and this is what we talk about right now,” Acosta continued. “The folks that enroll (9%) of students.” Still, Acosta did not spare charters. “I want to close bad charters. There are charters that suck,” he said at one point. Still, he thought that union organizers’ outsized focus on “how the corporate greedy charters are coming to take your kids” represented “a misuse of our mobilization capacity, of our power.” Murray acknowledged the Blue Ribbon model for school funding’s value on the floor, but she noted that it could not be acted on immediately, hence her bill, which she defended against Acosta’s comments. “I am in no way trying to imply that our charter schools do not care deeply and passionately about their students, but unfortunately, in contrast, the only time that I regularly see charter schools engaged in advocacy is when the issue directly affects charter schools,” Murray said, noting the routine State House presence of teachers’ unions when it comes to various child and education-related bills. ‘Discriminating against the Spanish people’ Already at Monday’s committee hearing, the House was already divided somewhat. Rep. Ramon Perez, a Providence Democrat, said he was “fine with the moratorium.” But he expressed concern that the De La Comunidad Bilingual Charter School, which received preliminary approval to open in 2027 to serve over 600 students from Cranston, Pawtucket and Providence, could not open if the moratorium legislation succeeds. “I think this bill is discriminating against the Spanish people,” Perez said, arguing that the General Assembly should help bilingual students “get the education they need.” Perez later added that state lawmakers profess support for education and bilingual students while simultaneously “chasing away the people” he believes are trying to improve schools in the frequently embattled Providence school district. The state budget the House passed on Friday includes an increase in funding dedicated for multilingual learners, McNamara said “It looks to me like we’re only taking on the weak people,” Perez concluded. “They can’t defend themselves because they don’t speak English.” Rep. Joshua Giraldo, a Central Falls Democrat who noted during the bill’s initial hearing in April that his own child attends a charter school, asked where the three-year benchmark came from. How would the state know if the moratorium produced enough useful data? “After the three years, how are we going to know, ‘Yep, that worked. That was what we were looking for’?” Giraldo asked the committee. McNamara said he didn’t have that information, but could “only hypothesize” that the General Assembly moves slowly when it comes to making major changes. “I think legislatively, if we want to make major changes, three years is kind of realistic, and that’s just my opinion,” McNamara said. Rep. Rebecca Kislak, a Providence Democrat, told her colleagues that until the Blue Ribbon Commission’s suggestions can be acted on, the charter moratorium seems a “solid compromise.” “One thing I think everybody in this room can agree on is we don’t invest enough in our kids,” Kislak said. Stephanie Mandeville, a spokesperson for the National Education Association Rhode Island, which supports the moratorium bill, said Monday in an email that the charter pause will give the state time to devise a new funding formula. NEARI Executive Director Mary Barden “proudly served” on the Blue Ribbon Commission, she added. “Rhode Island is on the verge of undertaking a major overhaul of its education funding formula” based on the commission’s recommendations, Mandeville said. “The Commission’s recommendations and fiscal modeling were developed based on the current educational landscape. Allowing significant changes to enrollment patterns and funding flows during this process could complicate implementation and undermine assumptions that informed the Commission’s work.” Jeremy Sencer, a representative and spokesperson for The Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, agreed in a phone call Monday. “Part of the reason we believe there has to be an immediate moratorium and cap is because if we’re looking at implementing changes to the funding formula, it doesn’t make sense to have variables in the spending,” Sencer said. “We need predictable spending…And there’s still about 2,000 seats that have still been approved for charters, and those seats are still going to be filled, even if the moratorium passes.” Sencer said his union was “surprised by the pushback” from charters this year, as the moratorium bill has been submitted in previous years and has even passed the Senate before. Lynzi DeLuccia, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island League of Charter Public Schools, wrote in an email on behalf of the League Monday that the moratorium bill is an attempt to preclude access for students and families. “Legislators hold a coveted seat with deep responsibility to their constituents — but we continue to feel as though Rhode Islanders asking for more access to high-quality public education are being ignored,” DeLuccia wrote. “Students and families want — and should have — more access to the public school that best meets their needs.” Monday’s committee votes place both chambers’ moratorium bills before the full House. The Senate will still need to pass the House’s bill before the legislation can go to Gov. Dan McKee, whose office did not respond Monday to inquiries about his position on the legislation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	Heart of America Group considers move to Des Moines The group has been headquartered in the Quad Cities for more than 40 years.
	From Brady Street Stadium to Roger Craig Stadium, Davenport schools unanimously approves rename after former football standout, turned NFL superstar Craig is a legendary figure both in the Davenport Schools and in the world of college and professional football.
	‘Only a matter of time’ Alderman, resident raise concerns after land listed for data center Residents in Rock Falls and both Whiteside and Lee County Illinois are familiarizing themselves with data centers after a listing on the Lee County Industrial Development Association website.
	Rob Sand announces Iowa lieutenant governor pick DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowa's Democratic nominee for governor, Rob Sand, has announced his running mate. On Monday morning, Sand revealed Dave Muhlbauer was his pick for lieutenant governor. “A fifth-generation family farmer and cattleman from Crawford County, Dave Muhlbauer represents the best of our state: hard-working, honest, and always willing to help out. I’m [...]
	From Brady Street Stadium to Roger Craig Stadium, Davenport schools unanimously approves re-name after former football standout, turned NFL superstar Craig is a legendary figure both in the Davenport Schools and in the world of college and professional football.
	Davenport parents arrested following child abuse investigation 48-year-old Andrew Warrington and 47-year-old Kellie Warrington have been booked in the Scott County Jail on a $2 million cash-only bond.
	Gov. Sherrill tours Delaney Hall ‘closely controlled and limited’ by federal officials Gov. Mikie Sherrill said federal officials prevented her from speaking directly to Delaney Hall detainees on Monday. (Photos by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Gov. Mikie Sherrill toured Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on Monday, two weeks after she was barred from entering the detention center where detainees are on their third week of a hunger strike. Sherrill, a Democrat who took office in January, said the tour she received from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was “closely controlled and limited,” and called the restrictions during her visit unacceptable. Sherrill’s visit Monday morning included parts of the medical and dining facilities, and some of the housing units where detainees sleep, but she was not able to talk to any of the jailed migrants, she said, which raises “serious questions about the real conditions of the facility and the treatment of those held there.” “I will continue to push to speak with the detainees directly. They deserve to be heard and the public deserves answers,” she said. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Sherill should “focus on her own backyard.” “Governor Sherrill won’t tell you: New Jersey state prisons face systemic health code violations. Over 8,000 grievances are filed annually by inmates. Northern State Prison: untreated flooding, sewage and wastewater sewage, and lack of temperature control. Garden State Youth Correctional Facility: received citations for filthy conditions with standing water and rodent infestations. New Jersey State Prison: contaminated site surrounded by six other toxic sites within half a mile,” Mullin wrote on social media. The governor’s visit came after another volatile weekend outside the Newark jail, which has been open for just over a year but has recently drawn national attention as protesters outside the facility have demonstrated against President Donald Trump’s mass detention and deportation policies. Nightly protests have occasionally turned violent as protesters clash with prison guards and police officers. Police arrested several protesters over the weekend, days after Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said the city’s police would scale back its operations outside the jail. When protests first broke out two weeks ago, federal agents handled crowd control, but Sherrill then asked state troopers to take over. After protesters accused troopers of using excessive force, Newark’s police force stepped in. In a statement Monday, Baraka said that Newark police should not have been called to the facility at all this weekend, and he said that some officers went too far. At least one video from the weekend protests shows Newark officers aggressively detaining some protesters. “It appeared that some of our officers were over aggressive and should be held accountable,” he said. A woman waves an upside-down American flag in front of a row of Newark police officers blocking Doremus Avenue, the road to Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall, on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Newark police officers block protestors from marching on Doremus Avenue, the road to Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall, on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Newark police officers block protestors from marching on Doremus Avenue, the road to Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall, on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Protesters are reflected in a puddle outside Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Two protesters protect themselves from the rain in front of Delaney Hall on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Protesters move a sand barrel to block the entrance to Delaney Hall on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Protesters swarm a car to prevent it from entering Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Protesters move a fence to block the entrance to Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Protesters chant in front of Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Newark police officers block protestors from marching on Doremus Avenue, the road to Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall, on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Two protesters hug in front of a row of Newark police officers blocking Doremus Avenue, the road leading to Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall, on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Newark police officers block protestors from marching on Doremus Avenue, the road to Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall, on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)A detainee is shown in the window of Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)A protester sits in front of Delaney Hall, the Newark detention center on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Concrete barricades block off an area of Doremus Rd. for protesters in front of Delaney Hall, the Newark detention center on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Protesters hold a flag in front of Delaney Hall, the Newark detention center on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor) Newark police were called Sunday night due to protesters blocking the facility’s entrance, he said, but he argued that responsibility for securing access to Delaney Hall lies with the jail’s owner and operator, Geo Group, rather than the city police. Protesters have stood in front of cars driven by jail employees leaving the facility. “Asking Newark police officers to assume that role places an unnecessary burden on our department and further strains our already limited resources and budget,” he said. Baraka, a Democrat, tried to prevent the jail from opening last year, and he was arrested in May 2025 when prosecutors say he trespassed on the property during his attempt to tour the facility (prosecutors quickly dropped the charge). It’s unclear how many people were jailed over the weekend related to the Delaney Hall protests. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said four people were arrested June 5 for assaulting law enforcement officers, obstruction, and theft, and another person accused of breaking a car windshield was arrested by New Jersey authorities. “Assaulting and obstructing ICE law enforcement is a crime and felony. Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the department said in a statement. The New Jersey State Police said it had no presence outside of Delaney Hall and was not involved in any arrests. A spokesman for Geo Group did not respond to a request for comment. Protests have been a regular sight outside Delaney Hall since detainees first said on May 22 that they were launching a hunger strike to protest conditions inside (federal officials dispute that there is a hunger strike). Sherrill initially tried to tour the detention center three days later, on Memorial Day, but she was denied entry. Members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation have made frequent trips inside the jail since then — jail officials are required to let members of Congress inside to conduct oversight visits — including Sen. Andy Kim and Reps. LaMonica McIver and Rob Menendez. On May 28, state Department of Health officials were allowed inside the facility for a limited inspection but barred from inspecting the medical unit, sleeping areas, and toilets. The state sued Geo Group last week to force a full health inspection, arguing state law gives the health commissioner the right to inspect facilities when public health laws may be violated. In an inspection report released Monday, the Department of Health detailed some of the violations found during the inspection: cases of soda stored next to chemicals, staff touching garbage containers during food service without washing their hands, and food subjected to “improper cooling practices, creating a potential food safety risk.” Overall conditions of the production kitchen and warehousing areas were found to be satisfactory. Detainees have said they have been served moldy milk and food with worms. The Department of Health ordered the food service manager to retrain all employees on food safety practices, including temperature monitoring and proper cooking temperatures, according to the report released Monday. Sherrill said she’d continue pressing for full access to the facility alongside the state’s congressional delegation. “I will continue advocating for humane treatment at Delaney Hall for detainees and their families, and ultimately to close the facility for good,” Sherrill said. A medic tends to photojournalist Josh Pacheco outside Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 5, 2026. Pacheco was capturing images of protesters blocking a jail employee from leaving the facility when he says the driver ran over his foot. (Photo by Ben Ackman/New Jersey Monitor)A recently released detainee embraces his child near Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Ben Ackman/New Jersey Monitor)Federal agents make an arrest at Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Ben Ackman/New Jersey Monitor)Federal agents make an arrest at Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Ben Ackman/New Jersey Monitor)A protest sign sits in a pile of sand outside Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Ben Ackman/New Jersey Monitor)Newark police officers stand at a roadblock on Doremus Avenue near Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Ben Ackman/New Jersey Monitor)Newark police officers stand at a roadblock on Doremus Avenue near Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Ben Ackman/New Jersey Monitor)Newark police officers stand at a roadblock on Doremus Avenue near Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Ben Ackman/New Jersey Monitor)A sign warns protesters not to bring gas masks or bags to demonstrate outside Newark migrant jail Delaney Hall on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Ben Ackman/New Jersey Monitor)A Department of Public Safety sign reads "Protest Peacefully" on Doremus Avenue in Newark, N.J., on June 5, 2026. Officers restricted access to Delaney Hall, forbidding entry with bags or face masks, as protests against alleged conditions inside the jail entered their 13th day. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of New Jersey Monitor
	Louisiana puts restrictions on animals entering state after screwworm reaches Texas A pinned specimen of a full-grown New World screwworm fly is shown in this image. Federal and state officials are preparing for a potential invasion from the flesh-eating parasite that could disrupt livestock markets. (Photo courtesy of Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)Louisiana officials have tightened restrictions on animals entering the state, with five cases of the flesh-eating parasite confirmed so far in the United States. The presence of the New World screwworm was confirmed last week in Zavala County, Texas, near the Mexican border. The U.S. Department of Agriculture initially reported a 3-week-old calf was infected, and four additional cases have since been confirmed. Screwworm infections occur when the parasitic fly lays its eggs in open wounds and body openings of warm-blooded animals. Their developing larvae can cause painful lesions, infections and death if left untreated. Livestock are most vulnerable to the screwworm, though wildlife and pets are also susceptible. Medications are available to treat infected animals, and the parasite is not believed to pose a food risk. Human cases have historically been exceedingly rare, though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than 2,100 people in Mexico and Central America have been infected since the parasite was initially reported in 2024. The first two cases in the U.S. were just miles apart in Zevala County. A third infected calf was reported in adjacent LaSalle County, southwest of San Antonio, and the USDA reported Monday a goat in Gillespie County, to the north of San Antonio and west of Austin, was inflected. A screwworm case found in a dog first linked to Texas last week has since been attributed to Lea County, New Mexico, with officials now tracking where the animal has recently traveled. Scientists eradicated the screwworm in 1966 through introducing sterile flies into infected areas. The federal government currently doesn’t have an adequate supply of sterile flies to conduct a similar effort, the San Antonio Express-News reported. Federal and Texas officials have tracked the spread of the parasite through northern Mexico over the past several months. The CDC said more than 185,000 animals have been infected since the initial case was reported in 2024. Dr. Daniel Myrick, Louisiana’s state veterinarian, issued an emergency order Friday that allows animals coming from a screwworm-infected state to enter Louisiana only if they do not originate from or pass through an “infected zone.” The animals also need an official inspection certificate declaring they are free from infection. The certificate is good for only seven days after the inspection. Animals that come from or pass through an infected zone must first pass “movement requirements” from their state of origin, obtain an inspection certificate and receive a permit from the Louisiana’s Office of Food Health and Safety, part of the state agriculture department, according to Myrick’s order. The public is asked to report any suspected screwworm cases to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry at (225) 925-3980 or vetreports@ldaf.state.la.us. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Louisiana Illuminator
	New Mexico reports first New World screwworm case in Lea County dog On June 8, 2026, New Mexico and federal agencies reported the state’s first New World screwworm case, detected in a Lea County dog. (Close-up image courtesy U.S. Department of Agriculture)New Mexico agriculture officials on Monday confirmed the state’s first case of New World screwworm, detected in a Lea County dog, just days after the first incursion of the devastating parasitic fly in a south Texas calf. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The infested dog, who resides in Eunice, was originally mistaken for a Texas case after being diagnosed over the state line by an Andrews County veterinarian this weekend, New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte said in a virtual news conference Monday. The case is the fourth detected in the U.S. so far. The pest, which has advanced rapidly through Mexico after being mainly contained in Central America for several decades, is named for the maggot’s behavior of feeding on live tissue. The infestation of maggots causes severe wounds that can result in injury and deaths of pets, wildlife, livestock and — in rare cases — people. Before U.S. officials declared the fly eradicated in 1966, it cost the agricultural sector tens to hundreds of millions of dollars annually. State and federal officials said they believe the Lea County dog is an “isolated case,” but said they will inspect additional animals in the dog’s home. “This situation is evolving, and we expect new information to emerge as our investigation continues,” U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins said in a statement. USDA “is committed to sharing what we learn quickly, accurately, and transparently so animal owners and local communities have the information they need to stay vigilant.” Hoskins said the federal agency is working with state agencies in both New Mexico and Texas and across the region “to ensure we identify, contain, and respond to any potential cases as swiftly as possible.” The dog, only described as a “small-breed male,” was still receiving treatment in Texas. In addition to the New Mexico dog case, the USDA reported an additional confirmed case Monday in a goat from Gillespie County in central Texas. Witte said the state’s emphasis remains on early detection in order to request federal help to slow fly reproduction or additional supplies to treat the wounds. “The sooner we can determine if we, in fact, do have New World screwworm in any area of the state, the faster we can bring in the resources, the sterile flies and the veterinary stockpile products to help treat the animals,” Witte said. New Mexico Livestock Board State Veterinarian Samantha Holeck said as part of the investigation, officials will put out additional fly traps and determine if New Mexico has a population of breeding flies. If so, the state may establish an “infested zone,” which would require increased inspections of animals to allow them to leave the area “Remember this affects all warm-blooded animals, so it would be a pretty broad reach for us to try to be on the ground,” Holeck said. “But we want to work with folks in the area and have good, clear communication about what is needed to safely and efficiently move animals out of that area if needed.” Suspected screwworm cases Federal and state officials said to be on the lookout for animals with draining or growing wounds with maggots or egg masses; general signs of discomfort or irritability and lesions around the ears, nose and genitals. “Treatment can be very successful if it’s caught early enough. If it’s left untreated, then certainly it can lead to death in these animals,” Holeck said. New Mexico officials launched a one-stop website in mid-May to track potential New World screwworm cases in the state, offer resources for identifying the fly and the best contacts if an infestation is spotted. Courtesy of Source New Mexico
	From kickball to kayaking: Pride in Motion QC creating safe, inclusive spaces What started as a kickball league has grown into a nonprofit with book clubs, walking groups, dance parties, dodgeball and more, with nearly 1,000 local members.
	Who is Rob Sand’s pick for Iowa lt. governor, Dave Muhlbauer? Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand announced that Crawford County farmer Dave Muhlbauer would join his campaign ticket as lieutenant governor.
	What mifepristone fight’s really about: Why Maryland must protect providers, patients The court fight over mifepristone was never about the safety of the abortion drug, which has been used safely for years, write Amy Hagstrom Miller and Christie Pitney. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)On May 1, the ultra-conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did something equal parts unprecedented and outrageous: It overruled the scientific and medical expertise of the Food and Drug Administration, reinstating a nationwide ban on mailing mifepristone, a safe, effective medication used in most U.S. abortions and early miscarriage care. The ruling also banned filling a prescription for mifepristone at a retail pharmacy. While the U.S. Supreme Court blocked this decision from taking effect May 14, the legal whiplash abortion providers in Maryland have experienced in just the past few weeks has been debilitating. During this turbulence, patients are the ones left the most confused. Forward Midwifery fielded questions from patients who did not know if they would still be able to access abortion care via telehealth and some, who already had mifepristone on hand, were wondering if they could be criminalized for taking it. Whole Woman’s Health of Baltimore’s patients heard inaccurate news coverage that claimed “telemedicine was banned,” that “mifepristone was banned,” and that “abortion pills were banned” instead of the real situation: That mifepristone was being restricted to in-person dispensing only. Not only did our Baltimore patients worry about their options, but our telemedicine patients in Maryland were worried they could no longer be seen at all for the abortion care they wanted virtually. And our patients who use insurance or Medicaid to cover their abortion care – Whole Woman’s Health accepts both for in-clinic as well as telemedicine abortions in Maryland – were unsure if their insurance would still cover their care. Your opinion matters Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@marylandmatters.org. We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from public officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. This confusion is by design, and unfortunately the inaccuracies in news reporting only compound the issues for the people in need of care, as well as for those of us providing it. The case that sparked this chaos returns to the 5th Circuit. If Louisiana gets its way, patients in states across the country, including Maryland, will be limited in their ability to use telemedicine to obtain mifepristone. Marylanders, and out-of-state patients, will be forced to travel to a health center just to pick up a pill instead of filling their prescription by mail or at a local pharmacy. This would upend how abortion and miscarriage care is currently delivered across the country – including here. Data shows that 17% of all abortion care was delivered via telehealth in Maryland between January and June 2025. What’s more, two other cases brought by anti-abortion states pending in federal courts threaten to even further disrupt access to mifepristone, including by removing its approval for use in the U.S. altogether. In our practices, we are used to adapting, and this moment is no different. We are prepared to pivot to evidence-based options to continue to provide medication abortion care via telehealth, including a protocol using only misoprostol. This regimen is also evidence-based and has been used for decades internationally where mifepristone is not available. This commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care to our patients makes ensuring Maryland’s laws adequately protect abortion providers – and those we care for – more urgent than ever. While Maryland currently has a robust shield law, lawmakers must enact stronger protections for the safety and confidentiality of providers and patients accessing this care – no matter what happens in the courts. For example, if patients are required to obtain mifepristone in person, we expect states like Maryland to be inundated with traveling patients. These patients could return home with a prescription that could be weaponized against them by an abusive partner or unsympathetic healthcare provider. Make no mistake, when telemedicine is restricted, rural communities, low-income people, communities of color and survivors of intimate partner violence shoulder the biggest burdens. Having a prescription filled by mail or at a local pharmacy means people seeking this care don’t need to miss work, arrange for child care, or travel potentially hundreds of miles just to pick up a pill. Our patients expect and deserve high-quality, evidence-based care from us – not judicially imposed restrictions on access to a medication that has been safely used in this country for a quarter of a century. And let’s be clear about what this fight isn’t about. It isn’t about mifepristone’s safety. Decades of use and over 100 peer-reviewed studies have repeatedly proven that mifepristone is safe and effective. It isn’t about the safety of mailing mifepristone or filling a prescription at a pharmacy, which the FDA deemed safe five years ago. What this fight is about is legislating abortion out of existence by creating fear, confusion, and barriers to care. It was never about protecting patients – it’s about controlling them, and all of us. Courtesy of Maryland Matters
	More heavy rain possible this week in the Quad Cities After a dry May, things have turned wet again in the Quad Cities early in June. And we're looking at more rain chances this week. Here's a look at rain totals Monday: Heavy rain and severe storms are possible Wednesday and Thursday: Additional rain over the next 7 days could easily be over an inch [...]
	Two NIH scientists in Montana charged with ‘smuggling’ virus View of NIH's Rocky Mountain Labs (RML) campus in Hamilton, MT, looking west at Downing Mountain. (NIH/Bryan Kercher via Flickr)Two scientists with a federal infectious disease research institute in Hamilton are accused of smuggling samples of monkeypox, or “Mpox,” into the United States and lying to law enforcement. Vincent Munster, chief of the Virus Ecology unit in the Laboratory of Virology at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton, and his research fellow Claude Kwe face maximum sentences of five years in prison for allegedly failing to properly document samples of the infectious disease brought to the U.S., and for lying to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol about possessing biological samples. According to the criminal complaint, filed in the federal Eastern District of Michigan, Munster, a citizen of the Netherlands, and Kwe, a Cameroonian citizen, arrived in the Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Jan. 25, returning from the Republic of Congo, where there is an ongoing outbreak of Mpox. The pair of scientists had been in the Republic of Congo for nine days to study the strain of Mpox currently causing an outbreak and that is considered a “moderate concern” for outbreak in the U.S. Federal agents selected Kwe for a secondary inspection and “observed nervous behavior” and that he was traveling with a large plastic case “atypical of business travel” that he placed near Munster, so both scientists were detained for further inspection. Munster allegedly told officers that the case contained diagnostics and testing equipment, and that all documentation was on his laptop. “I do this all the time,” Munster said, according to court documents. Customs and Border Patrol officers asked the researchers if they had brought any samples or materials gathered from their research, and were told the contents were only “diagnostics.” Munster provided documentation for the diagnostics, which court documents say consisted of “a list of approximately 40 to 50 items and was written in French.” But federal agents ultimately confiscated 113 vials stored in a styrofoam cooler, which Muster repeatedly described as being diagnostic tools. On Jan. 26 the FBI began an investigation, and subsequently showed that the case contained biological materials, according to charging documents, which would have needed “specific approval and documentation to travel with via commercial flight.” Testing at an FBI laboratory of 20 samples showed 17 had deactivated monkeypox virus DNA, one had contained chickenpox DNA, and two had human DNA, while “a set of samples tested did not propagate and thus are assessed to be inactivated,” according to court documents. The samples were considered “inactivated” and “non-infectious.” The federal charges are that Munster and Kwe conspired to import the viruses contrary to law by not declaring the biological agents, and gave materially false statements to federal officials by claiming the samples were diagnostics. A specific charge states that Mpox Clade 1, of which 13 samples were confirmed, has extensive transport regulations including required U.S. Department of Agriculture permits. Samples must be legibly marked as “scientific research specimens.” “The arrest of these individuals on serious federal charges sends a clear and unmistakable message that no one—including HHS employees who have an obligation to safeguard our federal programs—is above the law,” Special Agent in Charge Marcus L. Sykes of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General said in a statement. “Any deliberate effort to conceal and smuggle biological materials into the United States without proper authorization is a breach of the public’s trust and could have placed the public at risk.” Both scientists made an initial court appearance on June 3 in Missoula District Court before Judge Kathleen DeSoto. The defendants were released on conditions to appear in Michigan for a hearing on June 24, and required to surrender their passports. The National Institute of Health in a statement said the matter is still under investigation, NIH is cooperating with law enforcement, and that agency protocols were activated upon learning of the incident. “These actions included securing relevant laboratory spaces, restricting access to affected areas, and conducting a comprehensive audit and inventory assessment to verify that all materials were appropriately accounted for, documented, and maintained in accordance with all relevant biosafety policies, requirements, and procedures. NIH also took appropriate personnel actions and took all relevant steps to confirm that there was no risk at any time to the staff or public in or around the RML facility,” according to the NIH statement. Rocky Mountain Laboratory is housed within the National Institute of Health’s Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and employs around 450 people on its Hamilton campus. The research facility is a Biosafety Level 4 facility — one of 15 in the U.S. — which implements the highest level of biosafety precautions for research into known and potential human pathogens, such as Ebola and coronaviruses, which led to conspiracy theories following the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. According to the NIH, the Laboratory of Virology where Munster and Kwe work focuses on “vector/reservoir transmission, viral ecology, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and host immune response of these viral pathogens. A significant goal is to develop diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics against these agents.” Rocky Mountain Laboratory has drawn controversy in the past due to its role in studying pathogens including coronaviruses, and in 2023, former U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale tried to strip research funding from the facility, and sought to cut Munster’s salary to $1. Munster has published more than 400 peer-reviewed publications related to his research, including 12 co-authored with Kwe related to Mpox, according to the chagrin documents. According to reporting by Science, Munster’s lab has published articles on using inactivated Mpox viruses as controls in diagnostic tests. Montana U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy called for a federal investigation into RML in May, following a whistleblower complaint that became public alleging misconduct at the lab. In a May 26 letter to Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General T. March Bell, Sheehy cited the whistle blower complaint, which detailed the detention at the Detroit airport by Munster and Kwe, “both foreign-educated scientists.” “These events raise serious questions about the safety and security procedures at RML, including NIH’s hiring and personnel management practices for scientists handling dangerous pathogens,” Sheehy’s letter stated. “It is critical that scientists, especially those with foreign connections, are thoroughly vetted given the potentially catastrophic impacts of their work on our nation’s health and security.” In a post on social media, Sheehy said “We don’t want Montana to be the next Wuhan.” Following the arrest and charging of the two scientists in early June, Sheehy praised the actions by the Department of Justice to “hold them accountable.” Munster-Kwe complaint Courtesy of Daily Montanan
	James Blood Ulmer, avant-garde electric guitarist and singer, has died at 86 The fearless free-funk and jazz artist, a student of Ornette Coleman's Harmolodics concept, followed his unorthodox path to a singular five-decade career.
	Davenport, Bettendorf kick off summer meal programs Davenport and Bettendorf summer meal programs are underway and will run through July 31.
	The Waiting Child: Britt and Mason wait for Big Brothers Big Sisters ‘Bigs’ More than 200 kids in the area are on the waiting list for a ‘Big.’ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley needs volunteers to spend time with them. In this week’s The Waiting Child, Our Quad Cities News' Eric Olsen introduces us to Britt, a lover of art and all kinds of sports, [...]
	Rock Island public works director leaving position after 13 years with city The city plans to appoint an interim director before initiating a nationwide search for a replacement, following Mike Bartel’s resignation, which is effective June 19.
	Hook’s Pub & Grill fire leaves 14 employees without jobs An early morning fire has destroyed Hooks Pub & Grill in Clinton, leaving 14 employees suddenly out of work and the longtime owner looking to rebuild.
	2 arrested in connection with 2023 fatal shooting in Rock Island Dietmar Mouandza and Danejah Vesey are facing charges of first-degree murder in connection with a 2023 fatal shooting in Rock Island.
	Illinois politics latest: Key takeaways from the spring legislative session Peter Hancock with Capitol News Illinois joined The Current to break down the latest headlines from the statehouse.
	Davenport house damaged after stolen car crash Monday morning Police say a stolen vehicle was traveling eastbound on Central Park Avenue when the car left the roadway and struck the home.
	Pride in Motion rec league bringing connection and inclusion to the Quad Cities The nonprofit, supporting LGBTQIA+ folks and allies, has expanded to offer more than just kickball.
	New Mexico rises from last to 49th in child welfare in national KIDS COUNT survey The annual national KIDS COUNT report released June 8, 2026, showed New Mexico improving from last to 49th overall, but advocates cautioned that the state remains vulnerable to federal cuts and education gaps. (Getty Images)New Mexico no longer ranks last in child welfare, according to an annual report published Monday comparing children’s wellbeing in all 50 states, but has risen to 49th.SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT report found that New Mexico policies such as higher state tax credits for families helped decrease child poverty between 2019 and 2024, but the state remained last nationwide in education and family measures. New Mexico and Mississippi have oscillated between the last and second-to-last spaces since 2012, the earliest comparable year to other reports. New Mexico ranked last for the past four years. The KIDS COUNT report analyzes a combination of 16 measures across four topics: economic; family and community; education; and health measures, but has a two-year data collection lag. Advocates with New Mexico Voices for Children, the Albuquerque-based partner organization that helps conduct the study and develops related policy, said that New Mexico’s progress lowering child poverty from 25% to 22% — the lowest rate in 16 years — marked an important step. “We’re happy to be able to say we’re slowly moving forward and chipping away at child poverty,” Emily Wildau, the director of policy for NM Voices for Children, told Source NM. According to the new report, one factor that helped the state’s ranking is its child tax credit, which provides up to $600 per child and affected approximately 292,000 families, helping to provide financial stability for New Mexicans. Wildau said the state has shown some improvement, including lowered children and teen death rates since 2023, and a “stabilization” in the number of children without health insurance. New Mexico’s lower cost of living also means fewer children live in cost-burdened homes, defined as ones in which adults have to spend one-third or more of their expenses on housing: 27% versus the national average of 31%. However, Wildau said the state’s “fragile progress” recorded two years ago may no longer reflect current reality, given federal cuts to federal food and healthcare programs. “We’ve seen a war start that is causing the prices of gas to really skyrocket for families,” Wildau said, “A lot of the inflationary factors are starting to rise again; we know that we are in a very different situation now than we were two years ago.” She cautioned that the ranking itself “does not tell the whole story” about New Mexico’s larger systemic challenges. She also emphasized that state policy is one of the most important areas to shape kids’ lives, and said the organization wants to build on the state’s new universal childcare program with the next administration. “Raising the minimum wage is the number one thing that will improve the rate of children in poverty in our state,” Wildau said. “I think it would be great to bring that forward to whomever our new governor is moving into the next session.” Courtesy of Source New Mexico
	'Plant A Seed, Read' at the Rock Island Public Library You're invited to 'plant a seed' by reading at the library. Lisa Lockhart dropped by Our Quad Cities News to talk about all the ways to grow free fun this summer at the Rock Island Public Library. For more information, click here.
	Preservationists hope SC battlefield’s designation as endangered will boost attention Hanging Rock Battlefield was one of 11 of the nation's most endangered historic places, according to a national preservation nonprofit. (Photo by Brian Keeley Photography/Provided by American Battlefield Trust)COLUMBIA — As South Carolina grows, a battlefield in Lancaster County is among historic places across the country most at risk of being lost forever, according to a national historic preservation group. Hanging Rock Battlefield in Heath Springs is one of America’s 11 most endangered historical places, the National Trust for Historic Preservation said. The designation came with a $25,000 grant to help preserve each site and national attention that can help bolster work in an area, said Catherine Noyes, who oversees the Liberty Trail program for the American Battlefield Trust. This year, in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, the national trust selected places that represented the Constitution’s founding value of equality. While the founders wrote in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal,” the Constitution initially guaranteed rights only to white men. The list highlights the work done to expand their promise to everyone. Of the 11 selections, only Hanging Rock Battlefield had direct ties to the Revolutionary War. Others on the list included Alabama’s Ben Moore Hotel, a gathering place for Civil Rights leaders; New York’s Stonewall National Monument, once a gay bar where LGBTQ people demonstrated following a police raid; and Michigan’s Detroit Association of Women’s Clubs, the longtime headquarters for the influential women’s rights organization. Founding Mothers’ Day recognizes SC women’s contributions to The Revolution Some places end up on the list because of imminent threats to their futures. That’s not the case for Hanging Rock Battlefield, which has no specific development planned for the so-far unprotected acreage. But as the population around Charlotte, North Carolina, grows, leading to more sprawl in surrounding rural areas, the possibility of people buying and building on the approximately 270 privately owned acres becomes more likely, said Molly Fortune, head of the SC250 Commission, which is responsible for organizing the state’s celebration of the country’s birthday. Preservationists want to be proactive instead of waiting for a more direct threat, Fortune said. “Let’s start talking about it now, before it becomes, ‘We should have done something sooner,’” Fortune said. SC250 and the American Battlefield Trust, along with grants from the state-funded Conservation Bank, have helped buy about 330 of the battlefield’s total estimated 600 acres over the past decade. A portion of the land is open to the public, under the state parks department’s operation, including a trail looping three-quarters of a mile with signs describing important parts of the battle. “We’ve been able to make a lot of progress at the site, but there’s still a lot left to do,” Noyes said. Hanging Rock isn’t one of the more famous battles during the Revolutionary War, which makes preservation more difficult, Noyes said. Convincing people to save a place is more challenging when they don’t even realize it exists, she said. On Aug. 6, 1780, troops led by Gen. Thomas Sumter, known as the “Fighting Gamecock,” attacked a British encampment near Hanging Rock, named after a boulder propped over a nearby creek. Although the Americans eventually retreated, they considered the attack a victory, killing 25 British troops, wounding 175 others and pillaging valuable supplies. The battle set the stage for other Patriot victories down the line, including the South Carolina battles of Kings Mountain and Cowpens, which helped build the momentum leading to the British surrender in Yorktown the following year, Fortune said. How a Revolutionary War battle in SC helped name two Navy ships, a festival and a book Also present at the Battle of Hanging Rock was 13-year-old Andrew Jackson, who cared for the soldiers’ horses and would go on to become the nation’s seventh president. Understanding the Battle of Hanging Rock is important to understanding everything that came after, including the eventual British defeat, Fortune said. Losing a significant historical spot like that is like tearing pages out of a favorite novel, she said. “Your 500-page book that tells the full and complete story, if you’re not careful, becomes a 20-page book, and it has no context anymore,” Fortune said. The battlefield’s inclusion on the nonprofit’s annual list can help get the word out, bringing more attention to the battlefield, Fortune and Noyes said. They hope more exposure will lead to more donations, which will in turn allow them to buy more land, build more trails and conduct research to learn more about happened on the site, Fortune said. “It’s one of those pieces that we have to have,” she said. “It’s not just the story of a battle. It’s a story of the people and the unique place that it is.” The $25,000 grant — included for the first time this year in honor of the 250th anniversary — will go toward building more signs showing people where different parts of the battle took place, Noyes said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The American Battlefield Trust has online tours of the battlefield, but people better understand the history when they actually go there, Noyes said. She wants the land to become an outdoor classroom of sorts, where people of all ages can visit and envision how the soldiers felt fighting on that terrain. “There’s no substitute for putting your feet on the ground, walking in the footsteps of the people who were there and experiencing that history in that place,” Noyes said. This is the 11th time a South Carolina location has landed on the list. Charleston’s historic neighborhoods were one of the locations selected in 2023, as a proposed development at Union Pier threatened to tear down historic houses. Mount Pleasant’s Snee Farm, a plantation once owned by Revolutionary War hero and former Gov. Charles Pinckney, appeared on the first iteration of the list in 1988. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of America’s 11 most endangered historic places The Ben Moore Hotel in Montgomery, Alabama Tule Lake Segregation Center in Modoc County, California Angel Island Immigration Station in Tiburon, California Swansea Friends Meeting House in Somerset, Massachusetts Detroit Association of Women’s Clubs in Detroit, Michigan Greater Chaco Cultural Landscape in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah Women’s Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls, New York Stonewall National Monument in New York, New York The President’s House Site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Hanging Rock Revolutionary War Battlefield in Heath Springs, South Carolina El Corazón Sagrado de la Iglesia de Jesús in Ruidosa, Texas Source: National Trust for Historic Preservation Courtesy of South Carolina Daily Gazette
	Support the American Red Cross at A Taste on the River You can enjoy a tasty way to help the American Red Cross with live music and exciting auctions! Trish Burnett joined Our Quad Cities News with all the delicious details on A Taste on the River. For more information, click here.
	Bubba's 33 hiring 200 positions for upcoming Davenport location The Texas Roadhouse affiliate is expected to begin serving diners in late July.
	Arkansas opposing attorneys’ efforts to depose governor in lawsuit challenging abortion ban Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders addresses the press after casting her vote in the primary election in Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Photo by Katie Adkins/Arkansas Advocate)The Arkansas attorney general’s office is fighting efforts to depose Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in the lawsuit challenging the state’s near-total abortion ban. Attorneys for five women and an obstetrician-gynecologist challenging the law asked a Pulaski County judge last week for a deposition with the Republican governor starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The deposition would cover details of communications between Sanders’ office and friends and family of the lawsuit’s lead plaintiff, Emily Waldorf of Fayetteville. The plaintiffs’ amended complaint filed in April seeks to have the law banning most abortions struck down as unconstitutional. Sanders, Attorney General Tim Griffin, three state prosecuting attorneys and the full Arkansas State Medical Board are defendants in the case. In September 2024, according to the lawsuit, Waldorf’s loved ones reached out to Sanders’ office seeking clarity on the state’s abortion law, which bans the procedure with a narrow exception to save the life of a pregnant person in an emergency. Waldorf had discovered her pregnancy was nonviable, and she ultimately received an abortion via induced labor in Kansas after being denied care in Arkansas. The five-day delay in receiving care left Waldorf hemorrhaging and at risk of infection, according to the plaintiffs’ complaint. Waldorf’s experience has brought national attention to the fact that Arkansas’ abortion ban puts decisions about treating miscarriages and nonviable pregnancies in the hands of lawyers rather than doctors. The state has sovereign immunity, meaning it cannot be sued in its own courts, Arkansas Solicitor General Autumn Hamit Patterson wrote in Tuesday’s brief in support of the motion to block the deposition. She made the same argument in a previous motion to dismiss the case. Arkansas judge revives lawsuit challenging state’s near-total abortion ban “Proceeding with discovery effectively deprives Defendants of their immunity from suit and creates undue burden and expense on the parties’ and judiciary’s resources because the case should be resolved on the motion to dismiss,” Assistant Attorney General Laura Purvis wrote in Tuesday’s motion. The motion for the deposition seeks information about communications Sanders’ office received from Waldorf’s sister and close friend about her. It also seeks communications within the governor’s office about the state’s abortion ban. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Cara Connors dismissed the case April 30 because of a 2025 law requiring the Arkansas Court of Appeals to handle certain constitutional legal challenges. In May, Connors granted the plaintiffs’ request to revive the case since the 2025 law had been struck down by the Arkansas Supreme Court earlier on April 30. The plaintiffs argue that the abortion ban violates the Arkansas Constitution’s provision that “enjoying and defending life and liberty [and] pursuing their own happiness” are “inherent and inalienable rights.” Five of the six women traveled to Kansas or Illinois to obtain legal abortions. Three had nonviable pregnancies, one had been sexually assaulted and one did not want children, the complaint states. The sixth woman continued her pregnancy for seven weeks after learning it was nonviable because doctors denied her an abortion. The plaintiffs are represented by Amplify Legal, the litigation arm of Abortion in America, an abortion-rights advocacy group co-founded by former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards. The lawsuit faces an uphill battle if it eventually winds up before Arkansas’ Supreme Court, where five of the seven justices have Republican ties. Courtesy of Arkansas Advocate
	Rock Island public works director resigning from office Mike Bartels started working for the City of Rock Island in 2013. He will take a new job at Iowa American Water, city officials said.
	Clinton opens cooling centers due to dangerous heat With dangerous heat predicted for later this week, Clinton County and Clinton City Officials will activate their Extreme Temperature Plan starting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9th and continuing until 7 a.m. on Thursday, June 11th. During the day, residents needing a place to cool off can visit these cooling centers: The Clinton MTA [...]
	Amid solid job numbers, a North Carolina economist sees troubling headwinds A loss of immigrant labor in construction is leading to higher prices.(Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline) Kenan Institute Research Economist Sarah Dickerson characterizes the latest national jobs report as “solid and steady.” But if you are looking for employment this summer, Dickerson says the job market does not appear to be strengthening, either. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the May jobs report Friday, showing 172,000 jobs added to the U.S. economy. “Hiring is essentially going to be concentrated in a few sectors — healthcare, leisure and hospitality. Government jobs that were added were predominantly local government jobs,” said Dickerson in a briefing with reporters. “In terms of healthcare, one reason why we’ve continued to see jobs concentrated in this sector has to do with our population aging, but also some of that burnout that has held over from the pandemic.” Dickerson says while the nation’s unemployment rate has held steady at 4.3% for the last two months, there’s limited broad-based hiring. North Carolina’s unemployment rate stands at 3.7%. Sarah Dickerson, Research Economist, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise (Photo: UNC.edu) “We’re continuing to see more of this low-hire, low-fire environment,” said Dickerson. For recent college graduates, unemployment is higher than it is for all workers, aged 16 to 65. And the gap between recent college graduates and all workers is widening, according to Dickerson. AI and automation are just part of the reason, she said. Remote employers are also hiring fewer new graduates. “Remote employers may not be as eager to hire, train and mentor recent college graduates, knowing that they’re going to have to go through that entire process remotely,” Dickerson explained. That’s backed up by a new study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York that found unemployment among young people increased by almost one full percentage point between 2017-19 and 2022-24. Young graduates in in-person jobs saw a larger increase in unemployment at the start of the pandemic, but their job prospects returned to normal faster than those of recent graduates looking for remote jobs. As AI gains ground, NC academics and job seekers look for an edge Dickerson says it’s also worth noting the decline in foreign-born labor, disproportionally impacting agriculture and construction. “When we have this loss of immigrant labor for these sectors, it’s going to contribute to gaps in the labor force. What that means in turn is that employers are going to need to raise wages in order to fill roles,” said Dickerson. With employers paying workers more in those industries, consumers can expect to see higher prices for food and for housing. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, hit an annual rate of 3.3% in April. And Dickerson said households are spending more than their income supports, with personal savings down this year. “A lot of Americans are relying on gas in order to get to work, pick their kids up from school, and go to their doctors’ appointments. We can’t just stop going to the pumps filling up our cars,” Dickerson said. “Many of us need to continue to spend that money, even if our incomes aren’t supporting it at this time.” Higher energy prices tied to geopolitical uncertainty will likely continue well into the summer. So as Americans dip into savings or rely more on credit, gross domestic product growth may actually appear stronger. “This isn’t going to necessarily be sustainable for the long run,” said Dickerson. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	Looking ahead to November election, political comics: News 8 This Week - June 7, 2026 This week, News 8's Jon Diaz speaks with Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate. Plus, political comic book creators Stephen and Mark Zinngrabe from Bettendorf.
	Transgender, reproductive healthcare bill heads to final vote in NJ A bill to expand protections for transgender and reproductive healthcare providers and patients in New Jersey could face a final legislative vote Thursday. (Photo by Dana DiFilippo/New Jersey Monitor)A bill designed to protect reproductive and transgender healthcare in New Jersey passed an Assembly panel Monday, clearing it for a final vote in the Legislature that could come later this week. The Assembly Appropriations Committee voted along party lines to pass the Democratic proposal, which would create a new crime of interfering with reproductive and transgender healthcare services. “This bill is needed to strengthen New Jersey’s existing shield protections and respond to the current reality of legal attacks on patients and providers,” testified Sarah Best, legislative and advocacy director for the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, the healthcare system’s political arm. Best said the legislation is modeled on a federal statute designed to protect reproductive care access that is no longer being enforced under the Trump administration, making a state-level law more urgent. The legislation has long been a priority for LGBTQ+ organizations. “Reproductive health and gender-affirming care providers are under unique scrutiny from extremist governments and activists,” Best said. The bill was amended to align with a version that passed the Senate in late May, nearly two years after it was first introduced. A full vote in the Assembly — the last step before it could be signed into law by Gov. Mikie Sherrill — could come when members gather Thursday. Republican lawmakers on Monday echoed concerns raised by opponents of the bill, who say it would interfere with constitutional free speech rights, further erode parental rights, and make New Jersey a “sanctuary state” for clinicians who specialize in services sought by transgender patients. Gregory Quinlan (Photo by Dana DiFilippo/New Jersey Monitor) Gregory Quinlan, the founder and leader of the conservative advocacy organization Center for Garden State Families, said activists who oppose the use of those services and are anti-abortion could be arrested for praying outside facilities or engaging in what he called “sidewalk counseling” sessions. “We could be 100 feet away and just praying” and still be found in violation, Quinlan said. Marie Tasy, executive director of anti-abortion group New Jersey Right to Life, said language in the bill could make people afraid to speak out against abortion. “The threat of prosecution is enough to silence lawful speech. And that happens to be exactly what this bill is designed to accomplish,” she said. “This is the common thread that seems to run through everyone’s testimony,” Assemblyman Robert Auth (R-Bergen) said about the free speech concerns. Lauren Albrecht, senior director of advocacy and organizing at Garden State Equality, an LGBTQ+ organization, noted that many parents had testified in previous hearings about the struggles they face trying to secure healthcare for their transgender children. Multiple parents described being told by doctors that medical care they said has saved their children’s lives would be suspended. “The parents of trans kids have rights too,” Albrecht said. Bill sponsor Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul (D-Monmouth) held back tears as she rebutted testimony from some opponents who had challenged the need for gender-affirming care entirely. “Let’s talk reality. Let’s talk truth,” said Peterpaul, who is gay, adding, “My rights should not be dictated by someone who doesn’t understand who I am.” The proposal builds on existing reproductive care shield laws and expands the definition of these services to include care for transgender patients through a 2017 law that requires insurance coverage for all forms of gender-affirming care, treatments that can include hormone therapy, mental health services, and surgery. The bill would make it a fourth-degree crime to harass, harm, or block patients, healthcare providers, staff, or volunteers from entering a healthcare facility and would protect providers from extradition to states that have criminalized reproductive or transgender treatments. Violators could face as many as ten years in prison and a fine of $150,000 if someone is injured during the interference. Trenton Councilwoman Jennifer Williams is the first transgender person elected to a municipal council in New Jersey. Williams told the panel that the bill would “protect the young, the adults like me, and our senior citizens who are transgender.” “We deserve it and we are worth it,” Williams said. An analysis by nonpartisan staff with the Office of Legislative Services found that if signed into law, the bill would have an “indeterminate” impact on state finances. The only clear cost identified was the expense of prosecuting and imprisoning offenders, calculated at just over $83,000 annually, per person. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of New Jersey Monitor
	See how many players from Wisconsin have played for U.S. in World Cup Nattawit Khomsanit // Shutterstock See how many players from Wisconsin have played for U.S. in World Cup The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world. FIFA estimates that around 5 billion people tuned in during the last tournament in 2022 in Qatar. To put that in perspective, only about 2.5% of that total (125.6 million) watched the 2026 Super Bowl.The 2026 World Cup is expected to bring in even more viewers. It kicks off on June 11, and what you may not know is that it will feature more foreign-born players than ever before in the tournament's nearly 100-year history, according to the University of Oxford's Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (also known as Compas). They report that "nearly one in four of the 1,248 players selected for national teams were born in a different country from the one they will represent." The U.S. team of 26, for example, includes six foreign-born players and one who largely grew up outside of the country. The remaining 19 hail from 11 states, leaving 39 states unrepresented at this year's tournament.But what about when you look further back at the makeup of players since the tournament's inception in 1930? Here, Stacker compiled data from a variety of sources to see how many soccer stars born in Wisconsin have had the honor of playing in the World Cup for the United States men's national soccer team throughout history. Read on to learn more about your local "football" legends.U.S. men's national soccer team players born in WisconsinJimmy Banks- Place of birth: Milwaukee- World Cup: 1990- Club: Milwaukee WaveJay DeMerit- Place of birth: Green Bay- World Cup: 2010- Club: WatfordStates with the most U.S. World Cup players#1. California (25) #2. Pennsylvania (15) #3. Missouri (13) #3. New Jersey (13) #5. New York (10) #6. Massachusetts (9) #7. Illinois (7) #8. Georgia (6) #8. Texas (6) #8. Washington (6) #11. Florida (4) #11. Maryland (4) #13. Michigan (3) #14. Alabama (2) #14. Washington, D.C. (2) #14. Wisconsin (2) #17. Arizona (1) #17. Colorado (1) #17. Hawaii (1) #17. Indiana (1) #17. Kansas (1) #17. Minnesota (1) #17. North Carolina (1) #17. Ohio (1) #17. Oklahoma (1) #17. Rhode Island (1) #17. Virginia (1)
	Hey, Siri: Apple just announced a long-awaited AI update At its annual developers' conference, Apple put the spotlight on new AI features, while highlighting security and child safety — and critiquing the company's AI competitors.
	Report shows small improvement in child wellbeing, but Oklahoma still lags behind other states Students raise their hands in a fourth-grade classroom at Cleveland Elementary in Oklahoma City on March 6, 2026. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma has made slight progress in improving overall child wellbeing, according to a new report, but still ranks as one of the worst states in the country for education and other factors. In its annual Kids Count report, the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks child wellbeing in each state. It uses metrics like economic status , education, health and family and community outcomes to assess each state. This year, Oklahoma tied with Texas at 44th overall, a small improvement from 46th in last year’s report. Nevada, Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico and Mississippi ranked below Oklahoma. This year’s ranking uses data from 2024, the most recent available. “These rankings aren’t inevitable,” said Carly Putnam, the policy director at the Oklahoma Policy Institute. “They reflect decisions about what we choose to prioritize and invest in. And what these rankings show is that we are not investing in children and families, and that’s being borne out in the results.” Oklahoma’s best ranking, and the category it made a 10-state jump in this year, is economic wellbeing. Putnam highlighted lower housing prices as one factor leading to the improvement, but also noted the state’s high eviction rates as a limit to economic wellbeing. She also pointed towards bills the Legislature nixed this session that could have improved economic wellbeing. Measures that failed included a bill to require mediation in eviction cases involving children, a proposal to lengthen the timeline for evictions and bill outlining legal recourse if a landlord does not honor a contract, she said. The state’s worst ranking was education. Oklahoma ranked 48th for the second year in a row. “It is frustrating to see that year after year, and it’s dejecting to know that so many Oklahomans are facing these struggles,” said Joe Dorman, the CEO of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. Dorman said he is optimistic that some laws passed this session can improve the state’s future rankings. He noted increased funding towards reading resources for young students and the state’s new extended foster care program as two positive measures. Oklahoma made a positive jump in its health score. It is now ranked 37th in the country, compared to 43rd last year, and has seen some improvements in the insurance rate for the state’s children. Putnam pointed to long term enrollment on Medicaid following the COVID-19 pandemic and Medicaid expansion as two positive factors. However, she warned that new federal changes to Medicaid and SNAP could result in many Oklahomans losing benefits, which could harm the state’s health score in the future. Both the Oklahoma Department of Health and Healthcare Authority asked for more money to manage these issues, Putnam said, but they did not receive their full request. “We could be doing worse, but I’m afraid that by consistently underfunding and under-resourcing ourselves, we’ve almost made that inevitable,” Putnam said. The foundation this year issued a new comprehensive score for each state based on 16 indicators of wellbeing. Oklahoma received an overall score of 425 out of 1,000, coming in 122 points below the national average. Oklahoma hasn’t ranked better than the bottom fifth in a Kids Count ranking since 2018, Putnam said. Putnam and Dorman emphasized it will take time for policies to impact child wellbeing and improve the state’s scores, but both encouraged lawmakers to invest in Oklahoma’s youth. “If lawmakers are looking at education and healthcare and family stability not as just expenses to be cut, but as investments that create long-term returns, I think we have a whole different ball game,” Putnam said. Dorman said that though it is “daunting” to try to improve all the state’s poorly-ranked categories, groups like OICA and lawmakers need to keep pushing for better outcomes for the state’s children. “It’s going to take a generation of effort to try and see improvement,” Dorman said, “working with families, working with these children, working with policymakers to see what’s best for families in Oklahoma.” Courtesy of Oklahoma Voice
	Iowa Supreme Court disciplinary board reprimands former Davenport city attorney The Court's Attorney Disciplinary Board publicly reprimanded Thomas Warner for violating professional ethics in how he handled two settlement agreements in 2023.
	MetroLINK invites community to celebrate America’s 250th with “Freedom to Go” campaign MetroLINK is rolling out wrapped buses, giveaways, patriotic drinks and more as part of its America 250 celebration. Find out how to join the Freedom to Go campaign.
	Bubba’s 33 restaurant hiring 200 workers in Davenport New restaurant Bubba’s 33 is hiring 200 full- and part-time workers, including cooks, pizza makers, and servers, for its July Davenport opening.
	The Arc of the Quad Cities Area receives a grant from an Illinois agency for Heritage Homes development The project received a $7.5 million grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Permanent Supportive Housing Development Program and a $400,000 grant from the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. They are seeking $1.3 million from donors to cover the remaining costs.
	Pair of Galesburg roads temporarily close due to flooding A traffic alert for drivers in Galesburg as roads have flooded.
	He-Man Nature: “Masters of the Universe,” “Power Ballad,” “Scary Movie,” and “Fallen Angels” Even in a sword-and-sorcery saga with considerable sci-fi elements, just how seriously are we supposed to take a movie whose protagonist goes by the moniker “He-Man”? Perhaps anticipating this question, the team behind the new Masters of the Universe has a locked-and-loaded reply: “Not seriously at all.” And when I say “not at all,” I mean Not. At. All.
	2 people arrested in connection with 2023 Rock Island homicide On Aug. 23, 2023, police found a victim who had died from gunshot wounds in the 500 block of 14th Avenue. He was identified as 25-year-old Quadril T. Lawal.
	Amy Beros discusses the persistent hunger crisis that plagues central and eastern North Carolina Amy Beros, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina Genuine food insecurity in which people don’t know where their next meal is coming from is a subject that merits a lot of attention. By any fair assessment the fact that literally millions of North Carolinians – a large percentage of them children – go to bed hungry in the world’s richest nation is, or at least ought to be, a gigantic scandal. As grim as some of these numbers are, recent actions in Washington – most notably big cuts to federal food assistance and the rising prices caused by the war in Iran – have conspired to make the situation even more dire. Recently, to take stock of just how desperate things have gotten and some of the things average folks can do to help respond, Newsline recently caught up with the President and CEO of the Foodbank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Amy Beros. Click here to listen to the full interview with Amy Beros, President and CEO of the Foodbank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	REVIEW: The Rainmaker at Richmond Hill Players in Geneseo The Rainmaker continues at Richmond Hill Players Barn Theatre in Geneseo, Thursday through Saturday, June11 through June 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 14 at 3:00 p.m.
	Flooding closes part of W. Carl Sandburg Drive, Galesburg A news release from the Galesburg Public Works Department says W. Carl Sandburg Drive between Henderson Street and Home Boulevard is temporarily closed due to flooding.
	8 pickup trucks similar to the Ford F-150 8 pickup trucks similar to the Ford F-150The Ford F-150 has been America's bestselling vehicle for more than 40 years, thanks to its capability and comfort. Many shoppers look to pickup trucks as family vehicles and not simply tools to get a job done. But while the F-150 is the big name in full-size pickup trucks, it's not the only option.CarMax gives you a look at other full-size pickups you should consider, along with some smaller trucks that might better suit your needs.The Full-Size Pickup Truck AlternativesFull-size pickup trucks are quite large and include the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and Toyota Tundra. The list below focuses on light-duty full-size trucks as opposed to heavy-duty, full-size work trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and Ford F-250. Light-duty trucks are popular because they offer great utility, are widely available, and function equally well as either work vehicles or family haulers.Ram 1500First year of generation covered here: 2019Edmunds rating: 8.4/10Pick because: Smooth ride quality for a truckPass because: Most advanced driver aids aren't standardThe Ram 1500 is a great alternative to the F-150. It uses a coil-spring rear suspension (traditionally, full-size pickups use rear leaf springs) that dramatically improves its ride quality, even when you're driving with an empty bed or over a rough road. It doesn't offer a hybrid powertrain like the F-150, but it has a roomy interior and impressive towing ratings. However, it doesn't come with many standard driving aids like blind-spot or lane-departure warning. If you want them, you'll need to make sure the used truck you're interested in has them — most of those features are only available as options on the Laramie, Longhorn, and Limited trims.Toyota TundraFirst year of generation covered here: 2022Edmunds rating: 8.0/10Pick because: Impressive array of technologyPass because: Real-world fuel economy is disappointingThe Toyota Tundra was fully redesigned in 2022 and markedly improved on the previous generation that ran from 2007 to 2021. The Tundra now has a more comfortable ride and a pair of turbocharged engines (one of which is a hybrid) to go with a boxy, modern exterior. Its real-world fuel economy, as tested by Edmunds, was a bit disappointing (15.2 mpg in combined driving), but the Tundra does have plenty of towing and off-road capability to go along with its helpful technology features and smooth-driving nature.GMC Sierra 1500First year of generation covered here: 2019Edmunds rating: 7.7 /10Pick because: Roomy interior and truck bedPass because: Interior isn't as upscale as the price suggestsThe GMC Sierra 1500 is an upscale version of the Chevrolet Silverado. Both of these trucks share many components, and both are made by General Motors. The Sierra’s interior is indeed more comfortable, and if you get a top-tier Denali trim Sierra, you'll be impressed by its ride quality, too. Families will love the power-assisted step option that makes it easier to load kids and cargo into the back. But despite the Sierra 1500’s competence and creature comforts, this pickup with an optional V8 engine comes with a heftier price tag and just isn't as refined as its competitors.Chevrolet SilveradoFirst year of generation covered here: 2019Edmunds rating: 7.5/10Pick because: You want a capable all-around pickupPass because: You're looking for something more luxeThe Chevrolet Silverado is a well-rounded pickup truck. It’s a nice pickup, but it's not fancy. Its maximum tow ratings when properly equipped are comparable to the F-150's, which make pulling a boat or a midsize trailer a breeze. It may not be the quickest or most comfortable truck available, but its competence is what makes it a good choice. And most Silverados (2022 model years and newer) are even equipped with a large and easy-to-use touch screen. If you're looking for a truck with a little more luxury, check out the GMC Sierra 1500 mentioned above, or some high-end trims of the Ram 1500.Nissan TitanFirst year of generation covered here: 2016Edmunds rating: 7.1 /10Pick because: You want full-size capability at a good pricePass because: It's not as capable as other full-size pickupsThe Nissan Titan is capable enough for most truck shoppers, and the cabin is quite roomy, but it just doesn't measure up to the towing performance of its rivals. Many driver aids come standard on 2020 and newer models, but the Titan’s poor touch screen resolution and backup camera aren’t up to par with competitors. The Titan is not as customizable as the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150, either. Much of the truck's interior has stayed the same since it debuted in 2016, while competitors have worked to innovate and modernize their cabins.The Midsize Pickup Truck AlternativesDon't let the name fool you: A midsize pickup truck is still a big vehicle, similar in size to many modern SUVs. The size of a midsize pickup today isn't all that different from what we called a full-size pickup truck 30 years ago. These pickups don't offer the same high towing capacity or impressive payload figures as their larger siblings, but they are more than enough for most families when it comes to seating, towing, and storage.Chevrolet ColoradoFirst year of generation covered here: 2023Edmunds rating: 8.1 /10Pick because: Comfortable ride and impressive towing capacityPass because: The rear seats are uncomfortableThe Chevrolet Colorado was fully redesigned for 2023 and took home the Edmunds Top Rated 2024 Truck award. But don’t disregard the previous generation (2015-2022) — it’s also quite good and worth a look, especially if you're looking for a less expensive option. The Colorado has a comfortable ride by pickup truck standards, at least in the front seat. When properly equipped, it can also tow more than 7,000 pounds. That's a lot of capability for a midsize pickup truck, allowing you to tow a conventional travel trailer or boat. The Colorado's smaller package makes for a vehicle that's easier to maneuver, whether that's navigating suburban parking lots or tackling sweeping highway curves.Honda RidgelineFirst year of generation covered here: 2017Edmunds rating: 8.0 /10Pick because: You want the comfort of an SUV but the utility of a truck bedPass because: It's not as off-road capable as more traditional trucksThe Honda Ridgeline isn't a typical pickup truck. It is, effectively, a midsize SUV that also has a pickup bed attached. If you want some of the utility of a pickup truck, like a place to throw muddy bikes or big hauls from a hardware store, the Ridgeline is worth checking out. Keep in mind that the Ridgeline is available in either all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive. While it's capable on dirt, muddy, and snowy roads, there's no traditional four-wheel drive available, so serious off-roaders might want to check out other options.Toyota TacomaFirst year of generation covered here: 2024Edmunds rating: 7.8 /10Pick because: Capable, many trims and options to choose fromPass because: Its height makes it tough for kids to get in and outThe Toyota Tacoma is a very capable midsize truck. It's available with four-wheel drive, and its high ride height makes it a great choice if you plan on taking your truck onto mud, dirt, and rocks. But if you're interested in a vehicle to haul your kids and their gear to and from soccer practice, the small rear seats and vehicle height may call for considering other options. Otherwise, the Tacoma has few drawbacks. It was fully redesigned for 2024, but the previous generation (2016-2023) is also well built and packed with utility.This story was produced by CarMax and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Two arrested in 2023 homicide of former Knox College athlete Rock Island police say two suspects now face first-degree murder warrants in a 2023 homicide case.
	Rock Island Arsenal firing cannons this week QC residents will hear cannon fire from the Rock Island Arsenal on Tuesday, June 9 and Wednesday, June 10. The cannons will be fired at about 2 p.m. on Tuesday and about 10 a.m. on Wednesday. The ceremony is the Joint Munitions Command colors casing as they become part of Army Sustainment Command. The ceremony [...]
	Health officials share 2026 guidelines to help anglers avoid toxic chemicals in fish MDNR photoThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Monday released its annual Eat Safe Fish Guides offering information to residents across the state on what to look out for when eating locally caught fish. The guides aren’t legal rules or requirements, but they do provide consumption guidelines for fish caught in 696 water bodies, using lab results to determine which fish are safe to consume, and which could have harmful health effects. According to the DHHS, the guidelines are written to protect the health of all residents, keeping in mind children, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding and people with health issues including cancer and diabetes. “There are many health benefits to eating fish and the Eat Safe Fish Guides provide consumption recommendations based on the levels of certain chemicals found in fish in waterbodies across the state,” Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive said in a statement. “Michigan families can use these guidelines to help make healthy choices about the fish they eat.” The guides break the state down into five regions – the northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest and the Upper Peninsula – with a guide for each. The state also produces a Buy Safe Fish Guide to help residents choose seafood with lower levels of mercury when selecting fish at stores, fish markets or restaurants. Residents can visit Michigan.gov/EatSafeFish, or call the DHHS’s Environmental Health Bureau at 800-648-6942, for more information on how to buy, eat and prepare safe fish. Courtesy of Michigan Advance
	2 arrested, charged with murder in 2023 Rock Island shooting death Investigators say the shooting happened on 12th Avenue in 2023; both suspects now face first-degree murder charges.
	Special Weather Statement until MON 5:30 PM CDT Scattered Minor Flooding and Potential Funnel Clouds This Afternoon
	Former Davenport city attorney reprimanded over settlements The Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board has publicly reprimanded former Davenport city attorney Tom Warner. Read more here.
	Police: Davenport couple confined child without food or water Police say a 10-year-old child required emergency medical care after being confined and deprived of basic needs. Two Davenport residents now face felony charges. Read more here.
	The AI wall: How travel companies’ use of bad AI can ruin your travel experience The AI wall: How travel companies’ use of bad AI can ruin your travel experienceBooking a vacation can be the first step of an exciting journey. SmartCustomer has been tracking a disturbing trend that can make it anything but, alongside broader risks travelers already face when booking online. Legitimate travel companies are replacing their human support teams with “AI agents” that not only don’t help but make costly mistakes and leave customers with no way to fix them. This analysis of recent travel reviews identifies three primary ways that flawed AI can ruin the travel experience and what you can do to protect both your trip — and your sanity.1. The Information Crisis: AI ‘Hallucinations’ and MisinformationMany travel platforms now use AI to provide itinerary details and handle customer queries, which might seem like it could streamline support and reduce error. However, these systems often provide incorrect information, which is a huge liability for travelers juggling pressing schedules and impending plans. When an AI agent provides incorrect data, it can be far more than a glitch — it can be a disaster.There’s a noticeable pattern of AI assistants providing “confirmed” statuses when bookings are still pending or providing incorrect flight times that cause travelers stress and confusion. For example, a bot told one reviewer to pay first and apply a promotional code later, only to be subsequently told by a human customer service representative that codes couldn’t be applied retroactively. One reviewer noted how AI customer service not only provided incorrect and contradictory information about flight booking and changes but made offers and false promises that couldn’t be fulfilled.2. The AI Wall: Trapped in a Support LoopNearly half of the negative customer service reviews in the sample describe being trapped behind “AI walls.” AI walls are rigid chatbots or automated scripts designed to deflect human interaction instead of effectively addressing customers’ concerns and issues.Travel companies’ overreliance on poorly executed AI turns simple questions and requests into fruitless back-and-forth conversations with a bot. These bots often refuse to escalate issues to a human representative, even when the situation is urgent. For example, one reviewer noted that despite chatting with over 100 AI bots in an attempt to reschedule a flight, nothing was resolved. Another reviewer was so frustrated by his experiences that he asserted that the ineptitude of AI chatbots stands to ruin travel companies.3. Financial Risk: Charging Customers for AI MistakesPerhaps most alarming is the pattern in which customers end up paying for AI’s mistakes — without authorizing charges first. One reviewer shared that a site’s booking system error cost them significant additional fees. Another reviewer noted how AI canceled a $650 trip without their consent, which was nonrefundable and far from covered by the $50 travel insurance the site provided. A third reviewer was charged $300 to correct an error that AI had made. In some cases, these costs for the site’s errors are charged to the customer’s stored credit card, without their consent.Expert Tips: How to Break Through the AI WallIf you find yourself frustrated or thwarted by inept AI, follow these steps to regain control:Use “Escalation” Keywords: Many bots are programmed to respond to particular words or phrases. Try triggering an escalation protocol by using terms and phrases such as: “agent,” “representative,” “billing error,” or “human support.”Time Your Contact: Live agents are most likely to be available during standard business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Avoid trying to resolve complex issues on nights or weekends, when companies often switch to “bot-only” modes.Check the Reviews First: Before you book, search for the company on trusted review sites. Look specifically for mentions of “chatbots” or “automated support” to determine whether other travelers have been left stranded.AI can sometimes expedite processes, but as travel sites increasingly use faulty and unresponsive automated customer support systems, customers end up paying the price. The best way to protect your trip is to prevent issues by being vigilant and researching the site before booking anything. Reach out to customer service during business hours to increase your chances of reaching a human. And if things do go wrong, always demand help from a human customer support representative.This story was produced by SmartCustomer and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	9 ways to find a long-lost family member (and what to do when you actually find them) 9 ways to find a long-lost family member (and what to do when you actually find them)Some distances can’t be measured in miles. A sibling given up for adoption. A parent who disappeared before you were old enough to form a memory. A cousin from a distant branch of the family who stopped sending annual Christmas cards.The absence of a family member is a unique kind of pain. But thanks in large part to the rise of consumer DNA testing, searching for lost relatives has moved from being a niche curiosity to a pursuit millions embark on every year.Knowing you want to find someone is one thing but knowing how to actually go about it is another. Plus, the search itself is only the beginning. What happens when you find the person you’re searching for?If you’re ready to get started on your search for a long-lost connection, Spokeo has put together a list of nine ways to track down family members and how to approach establishing contact.Before you search: Know your starting pointBefore choosing an approach to tracking down your family member, it’s important to set your expectations by reviewing what you know. The amount of information you already have on them is a good starting point. Having a full name, last known city, birth year, or even a single photograph will help to narrow which methods are most likely to be successful.It’s also worth pausing to consider what you hope to get out of your search. Some people are looking for medical history or answers about identity. Some are looking to establish a relationship again. Regardless of your reasoning, being clear with yourself about your intentions won’t just help you choose a method, but will also help you navigate whatever comes next.Finally, you should also take into account the legal and ethical consequences of the search. Laws around accessing adoption records, for instance, vary from state-to-state. Open records laws that allow adult adoptees to access original birth certificates are in place in some states, but others still restrict access. Knowing the laws in your state can save you significant time and frustration.The nine approaches to finding lost familyThe following nine methods to track down lost family will suit different individuals, but be aware that no search will guarantee success. It can still take years or mixing and matching methods to see success.Approach 1: DNA testing services and shared match treesConsumer DNA testing has become one of the most powerful tools for finding biological records in recent years. Services like AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and MyHeritage DNA compare your genetic markers against a database of other users and unveil matches. This search can find people who share unique DNA segments with you, ranked by the estimated relationship they have.The real detective work typically comes from the shared-match feature most sites offer. By identifying a cluster of people who all match one another, in addition to you, you can typically reconstruct a family tree even if the person you’re looking for hasn’t tested themselves. The main limitation with this method is that the relative you’re searching for, or a close relative of theirs, needs to be in the database. The more popular the testing service and the larger the database, the better your odds. Testing over multiple platforms naturally increases your chance of success as a result, but the cost can add up.Approach 2: Genealogy research through Ancestry and FamilySearchTraditional genealogy research through platforms like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, a free nonprofit, can sometimes fill in branches of a family tree going back generations.FamilySearch is maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and offers free access to billions of digitized records ranging from birth certificates, census data, marriage licenses, and more. Ancestry.com has a subscription fee but adds in additional information such as military records, newspaper archives, and more.For those trying to find a living relative, as opposed to just tracing ancestral history, these platforms work best when combined with DNA evidence. You can use records in these databases to identify and verify the names that a genetic match may have pointed you to.Approach 3: Social media searchesIt may seem too simple at first, but a targeted social media search is often one of the more productive steps you can take. Facebook, Linkedin, and Instagram can all surface a person if you have their full name and a rough idea of their location.Some strategies here will work better than others. For instance, searching Facebook groups organized around specific areas of the world or graduating classes can turn up people who don’t appear in a standard word-based search. LinkedIn is more useful if you have information about the person’s job. Instagram and TikTok will serve you better if you know hashtags they may be associated with or if they are tied to certain communities.Social media searches are best used as a confirmatory or contact tool once another method has pointed you towards a name. They’ll be less useful for you if you have limited information to start. Further, this is where you will want to be thoughtful about your first message, as social media has a personal feel.Approach 4: Public records and people search servicesPublic records such as birth, death, marriage, divorce, and court documents can be a goldmine of significant personal information to aid you in your search. This data is often aggregated by people search services, which compile publicly available information into searchable profiles.These services are most useful if you have a name and general geographic area. They’ll typically return associated addresses, phone numbers, and family members, which can help you confirm you’ve found the correct person or give you new leads if you’ve bumped into a dead end. Something important to keep in mind is that the information in search databases isn’t always up to date. Some people may have also chosen to keep their information private.Approach 5: Reverse phone and address lookupsIf you have a phone number or address for someone, but aren’t sure who it actually belongs to, a reverse lookup tool can help. These allow you to enter a phone number and the tool returns a potential name and location associated with it. Entering an address can provide historical records of the current or past residents.These tools are most beneficial when you’re already deep into your search or when another method has given you a partial lead you need to verify. They’re less useful as a starting point unless you already have a phone number or address in hand. There are limitations with this method, as cell phones are less consistently indexed than landlines, so reverse phone lookups are more reliable for older individuals or businesses.Approach 6: Reaching out through mutual relativesSometimes, the most direct approach to finding a lost family member is already in front of you. Talking to a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or cousin who stayed in touch with that person may yield contact information or, at a minimum, a willingness to pass along a message. This approach works best when you have a warm relationship with the intermediary and when the lost family member is more likely to reply to them.It also maintains the lost relative’s privacy. Be sure to handle these conversations with care. The mutual relative may have complicated feelings about estrangement or getting caught in the middle. Come in without any assumptions and express gratitude for any help they can offer.Approach 7: Alumni networks and religious community directoriesInstitutional records like high school and college alumni databases or church directories can be useful resources when you know where a person went to school or attended religious services.Alumni associations often maintain contact databases specifically meant to help people reconnect and many may be willing to forward a message on your behalf without disclosing contact information. Church and religious community records often go back generations and sometimes include addresses, family relationships, and dates that can fill in genealogical gaps.FamilySearch also maintains a guide to locating U.S. church records by denomination, which can be helpful if you know the person’s affiliation. For school-based searches, try to reach out directly to the alumni association.Approach 8: Adoption registries and state-mandated reunion servicesFor searches involving adoption, a specialized set of resources exists. Adoption registries allow birth parents and adoptees to register their willingness to make contact in the future. When both parties agree, the registry facilitates the connection. The International Soundex Reunion Registry is one of the longest-running mutual consent registries in the world, around since 1975.As a starting point, learn state-by-state access laws and reunion information. The American Adoption Congress maintains this information and is a useful place to begin. Many states now have updated open record laws and, as of recent years, the bulk of states allow adult adoptees to access their original birth certificates. However, rules around intermediaries and consent still vary.Approach 9: Professional search angelsSearch angels are volunteer genealogists and researchers who help individuals like adoptees or those conceived via donor search for their biological family. They do this at no charge in most cases. These volunteers have expertise in genetic genealogy, DNA analysis, and records research that many people searching on their own just don’t have.Search Angels and DNA Angels are two reputable names in this space. Both match searchers with trained volunteers who can help you to interpret DNA results, build family trees, and identify new leads. These services are most helpful when you’ve already gathered DNA results but are having trouble making sense of the results. They can also be useful if you’ve hit a wall and just need a fresh set of eyes to look at the information.What to do when you find a long-lost family memberFinding a lost family member and confirming their identity is a moment people spend years working towards. The prospect of a reunion can bring feelings of excitement, trepidation, and fear, which is why what follows the discovery and how you handle it matters. Here are a few tips that can help you manage the process with care and thoughtfulness.Preparing before first contactBefore you reach out to the person you’ve discovered, give yourself some time to sit on the information. Think through the possible scenarios. Some people may be overjoyed. Some may be confused and cautious. Others may not respond at all. You need to prepare yourself emotionally for a range of outcomes, including the less positive ones, to properly protect yourself.If you’ve been in contact with an adoption counselor, therapist, or some type of support group, now is a good time to check in. The American Adoptions network and other similar organizations offer counseling specific to this phase of the search process.First-contact etiquetteA letter or email is typically better than an unannounced phone call or visit. Written communication gives the contacted party time to process the information privately at their own pace, without being put on the spot. Aim to keep the initial message warm, yet brief. Introduce yourself, explain how you found them, and make it clear what you’re hoping to get out of reaching out. Avoid putting any type of pressure on the recipient or overwhelming them with the first message, opting instead to just give them room to respond.If you’ve reached out through a mutual relative, follow their lead on both timing and approach. They may be aware of the other person’s emotional state or have information that can impact first contact.Preparing for a response that may not comeNot everyone wants to be found, so you need to be prepared for every eventuality. A non-response is a hard outcome to sit with, but it is an answer in and of itself. Searchers are encouraged to send one thoughtful message, then typically wait several weeks to a few months before trying a follow-up. Repeatedly reaching out when there’s no response can be perceived as intrusive and might close a door that would have opened in time.When a relative doesn't want contactIf a family member declines contact, whether directly or through an intermediary, honoring their boundary is always the right thing to do. It may be painful, especially after so much time spent searching, but it’s that person’s right. It’s also the only thing that leaves open the possibility of a different answer someday, now that the other person is aware you want to make contact.Their reasons may have nothing to do with you. It doesn’t mean the search wasn’t worth doing. The other person just may not be ready now. Some state reunion registries allow you to provide a letter or update contact information so that if the relative ever changes their mind they can reach out.Protecting yourself and lost familySearching for a lost family member is an act of both hope and courage. Regardless of the method you use and wherever your search leads, the process itself can be illuminating. You can learn where you came from, get resolutions to questions you’ve long held, and potentially find the beginning of something you didn’t even know was possible. Navigate the process carefully and honestly, while also giving yourself and the person you’re searching for the grace to find your way through it at whatever pace is required.This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Traffic alert: I-80 closed near Jersey Ridge Road Traffic is backup on in both lanes of Interstate 80 after a crash just after noon Monday.
	Bubba's 33 to open in late July, hiring for 200 jobs in Davenport Applications are open now for cooks, servers, bartenders, hosts and more at Davenport’s new Bubba’s 33.
	Senate Ag Committee set to spare this animal welfare law, for now Senate Ag Committee set to spare this animal welfare law, for nowThe Senate is readying to strip the controversial Save Our Bacon provision from a farm bill that would’ve barred states from setting animal housing requirements for farmers to participate in interstate commerce.For now, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., is likely to release a farm bill in June that does not contain language addressing Prop 12, Progressive Farmer reports. Boozman declined a request for comment. But senators have the option to introduce an amendment to reinsert the language during the farm bill markup, and several sources say a number of issues, including the bacon provision, are currently up for negotiation.The pork industry has been divided for almost a decade over a 2018 California law, known as Proposition 12, that set animal welfare standards for sows, veal calves and egg-laying hens. The issue has pit hog farmer against hog farmer.“It’s a dividing issue, for sure,” Brent Hershey tells Sentient. Hershey is a Prop 12-certified farmer and owner of Hershey Ag. He has traveled from Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C., on at least five occasions to speak to lawmakers. “It’s terrible, and it is absolute civil war in the pig industry.”The House farm bill that passed in April contained the Save Our Bacon Act to limit the scope of Prop 12 to California’s borders, but for now the provision appears to be too controversial to overcome the Senate’s filibuster.The Save Our Bacon Act would bar states or subdivisions from establishing conditions for the sale or consumption of any livestock that isn’t physically raised in that state. This would effectively nullify the housing standards established by California’s Prop 12 and similarly, Massachusetts’ Question 3, for producers outside of the state.The California law effectively bans gestational crates for pregnant sows. The crates are metal stalls that are about 7 feet by 2 feet and are barely bigger than an adult pig. Prop 12 requires pork products to come from a pig born to a sow raised with at least 24-square-foot space. This allows for enough room to turn around in the enclosure. It also set standards for veal calves and egg-laying hens.Kara Shannon, director of farm animal welfare policy for the ASPCA, tells Sentient that consumers support humane systems for animals. Both Prop 12 and Question 3 were voter-approved ballot measures.“We know the animals really suffer in those conditions, and we have made so much progress moving them out of those cages and crates into cage- and crate-free environments, so if we pass Save Our Bacon Act, it really is effectively putting many of them back in cages,” Shannon says.A 2022 poll of likely voters by Data for Progress found that 83% of Democrats, 77% of Republicans and 80% of Independents say that preventing animal cruelty is a matter of personal moral concern. A representative for ASPCA pointed Sentient to the poll.Senate Agriculture Committee ranking member Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., writes in an email that Prop 12 is still being negotiated.The move has caused upset among Iowa Republicans.“While liberal activists who’ve never set foot on a farm try to regulate bacon out of business with arbitrary and heavy-handed mandates, I’m fighting to make sure the voices of the farmers and experts who know best are heard,” Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, writes in an email.Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, similarly opposes Prop 12 because it “overstepped constitutional boundaries and effectively hogtied pig farmers across America,” he said in a March press release.The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) tells Sentient they remain hopeful that the Senate will reverse course and include the bacon act provision, and they anticipate Ernst will continue to support their efforts.“Pork producers are understandably disappointed to hear that Senate farm bill language may not address the longstanding issues with California’s arbitrary sow housing law that they have so plainly spelled out to our congressional leaders for years now,” NPPC writes in an email.The NPPC has been a driving force in the battle to include the bacon provision. In one Senate lobbying disclosure report for the first-quarter of 2026, NPPC reportedly spent $260,000 lobbying on various issues including the Save Our Bacon Act and the 2026 farm bill.In an April letter to Congress, NPPC and almost 400 organizations argued that Prop 12 can increase barn costs for farmers by 25% to 40% and operating costs per pig by 15%. A fact sheet by the House Agriculture Committee says producers could face costs upwards of $4,500 per sow to construct Prop 12-compliant facilities, and it will disproportionately harm small- and medium-sized producers.Hershey disputes this claim. He built a new barn that cost about $800 per sow and shrank his herd at another facility from 1400 to 1000 to make space, which cost him about $300 per sow. In all, Hershey says it represented a $2 million investment.“But we took that and spread that out over 10-year payback, and it came out to costing us like $4 a pig to do it for every pig produced, and that represents about 1% increase in operating costs, because what happened then after we transitioned is our pigs started doing better, so that was a big surprise,” Hershey says. He adds that herd health improved and conception rates increased.If the bacon provision is enacted, Prop 12-certified pork producers will lose access to a new market during a time when farm country is financially struggling. Farm bankruptcies increased 46% in 2025 from 2024, the American Farm Bureau Federation reports.Holly Bice, the president of the American Meat Producers Association, tells Sentient that Prop 12 farmers will be “financially devastated” if they lose Prop 12. Approximately 27% of U.S. pork producers are or are working to become compliant with Prop 12, according to the USDA.“American farmers have already adapted to and embraced Prop 12, and to take that away now would just upend over a quarter of the hog industry, and cause a destabilization in the market,” Bice says.Hershey is among those who have embraced Prop 12. “It’s been an opportunity for us, and it’s been a success for us, and this would take it away. It’s awful,” he says, in reference to the small family farmers who have become Prop 12 compliant.The bacon provision could also have implications outside of the pork industry. An analysis by Harvard Law found that if the bacon language is enacted, hundreds of state and local laws and regulations could be nullified. It could impact states’ abilities to control the spread of pests and diseases like New World screwworm and avian influenza.Lawmakers have been trying to insert language similar to the Save Our Bacon Act into the farm bill since 2014, prior to Prop 12’s enactment. Previous attempts have been unsuccessful. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., writes in an email that he will fight to keep the bacon provision out of the farm bill.“Laws like California’s Prop 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3 reflect the widely held belief that farm animals deserve to be treated more humanely,” Booker says. “The House Farm Bill’s attempt to erase these protections would punish the thousands of farmers who have made the financial investment to provide more space for their animals.”Booker is not alone in his support of Prop 12 and Question 3. Nearly a year ago, 32 senators sent a letter to leadership on the Senate Agriculture Committee in opposition to efforts to essentially repeal those laws. Booker was among the signatories.This story was produced by Sentient and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	3 things to know: Monday, June 8 Three things Quad Citizens should know to start their Monday, June 8.
	Rob Sand announces Dave Muhlbauer as running mate Dave Muhlbauer will join Rob Sand on the ballot for the lieutenant governor seat.
	The sleep upgrade trend: Why small bedroom changes can have a big impact on rest The sleep upgrade trend: Why small bedroom changes can have a big impact on restNearly a third of a person's life happens in bed, yet that space tends to receive less deliberate attention than almost any other room they occupy. Sleep has become a serious focus within wellness culture, with health researchers and institutions placing it alongside exercise and nutrition as a core pillar of daily health.Forbes explored the psychology behind bedroom environments, reporting that a person's surroundings actively shape emotional state and the body's ability to transition into rest in ways that most people have never closely examined. As that awareness has spread, consumers have responded by modifying what they already own rather than replacing it, Sleepyhead reports.The Everyday Sleep Problems Driving ChangeMost bad nights trace back to a short list of physical conditions that are far easier to fix than people tend to assume. Overheating ranks among the most persistent, and the body's own biology explains why.The Sleep Foundation notes that core body temperature needs to drop roughly 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit to enter deep sleep, a process that heat-trapping mattress materials regularly block. Poor support creates its own kind of disruption, one that often goes unnoticed until the back and shoulders register it by morning.Cheri D. Mah, a sleep physician at Stanford Lifestyle Medicine, has observed that a mattress surface that is too soft or too firm keeps the spine misaligned and prevents the body from fully releasing tension overnight.Light and noise work the same way, with artificial light from lamps and screens delaying melatonin production and unpredictable sounds fragmenting sleep at any stage of the night. Each problem has a different cause, but they all point toward the same idea that better rest often begins by identifying the exact part of the room working against it.The Rise of the “Modify, Don’t Replace” MindsetMost mattresses are built to last between six and eight years, but people often stop sleeping well on them long before then, and a growing number are treating that as something to fix rather than replace, especially with a new mattress costing hundreds to thousands of dollars.Renters dealing with frequent moves have even less incentive to invest in furniture that may not fit the next space, and the home goods industry has responded to both realities.According to Yahoo Finance, the global modular furniture market reached $89 billion in 2025 and is projected to hit $145.6 billion by 2035, with growth driven largely by urbanization and the rising number of people living in smaller, more frequently changing homes.And that same practical way of thinking has started to shape the bedroom, where layered upgrades give people a way to improve comfort without discarding the mattress or furniture they still need.Real-World Use Cases: Small Changes, Noticeable ResultsSmall bedroom adjustments tend to show results faster than most people expect, even when the sleep problems themselves look completely different.A hot sleeper who has spent months waking up overheated at 2 a.m. does not need to throw out their mattress. They can trade heavy bedding for breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics, which the Sleep Foundation recommends for people who sleep hot.Another sleeper may still have years left in their mattress, but the surface starts feeling uncomfortable after a few hours, making a topper an easier solution than replacing the entire bed. None of these changes looks especially dramatic, yet each one targets the exact part of the night that has been getting in the way of rest.The Most Popular Sleep Micro-UpgradesThe most popular sleep upgrades stay close to the body or close to the disruption. A mattress topper changes the feel of a mattress without replacing the bed, while cooling sheets change the layer a sleeper notices first. Supportive pillows follow that same logic, sized and shaped for the specific sleep position a person favors.Light control has become just as practical, especially for people whose rooms face streetlights or early sun, and white noise offers a similar fix for sound by softening the sudden disruptions that cut into sleep.Mah recommends a bedroom that is "dark, cool, and quiet," and the most popular upgrades address each part of that directly. Each one gives people a more direct way to shape the night around the way they actually sleep.Why Small Adjustments Can Have an Outsized ImpactSleep quality rarely suffers from one problem alone, and the research reflects this.Dr. Abhinav Singh, a sleep physician, told The Sleep Foundation that “a cooler temperature helps with sleep in many ways, mainly by allowing the body to naturally lose heat and allowing the natural rise of melatonin within our bodies,” and light control follows a similar path because darkness helps the brain stay on its natural sleep schedule.Physical comfort works more through the body itself, since a better surface can reduce the tension that keeps sleepers moving through the night. Once one problem is removed, the next one becomes easier to notice and easier to fix.Over time, those small improvements start working together, turning rest from something the body has to fight for into something the bedroom is better prepared to support.Personalization and Control in Sleep EnvironmentsNo two sleepers deal with the same combination of problems, and the same upgrade that transforms one person’s night may leave another’s unchanged. Industry reporting from BedTimes Magazine finds that many people start out thinking they need a single product fix, then realize their actual needs are more specific and personal.Sleep position and body temperature already vary from person to person, while sensitivity to light or sound adds another layer of difference that no single setup can account for. People are testing small combinations against their own bodies, keeping what helps and setting aside what does not.Affordable Wellness as a Daily PracticeApproaching the bedroom as part of a health routine, rather than just a place to crash, is becoming the default for people who have started paying real attention to how they feel.Dr. Marishka Brown, a sleep expert at the National Institutes of Health, described sleep as “a biological necessity” rather than something people can afford to ignore, and the bedroom is where that necessity either gets supported or undermined every night.A room that feels uncomfortable or uninviting keeps the body on alert, and no bedtime routine fully compensates for a space that does not feel restful to begin with. Most of the changes that bring a bedroom into alignment with health are inexpensive, and many cost nothing at all.What This Trend Signals for the Future of SleepThe next phase of sleep products will likely be shaped by how easily they fit into beds people already own. BedTimes Magazine describes the rise of the sleep system as a move beyond the mattress alone, with more attention turning to the layers and tools that change how a bed performs over time.Manufacturers now have a clearer challenge than simply making bigger-ticket products. The better test is whether an add-on solves a specific problem without forcing the shopper to rethink everything around it. Products built this way make sleep improvement feel more practical, with each piece able to change as a person’s needs change.Better Sleep, One Small Change at a TimeBetter sleep does not begin with a brand-new bed or a bigger budget. It begins with recognizing that the bedroom most people already have is closer than they think, and that fixing the one thing working against rest is more practical than rebuilding from scratch.A single adjustment can help people wake with more energy and less discomfort, while giving them a clearer sense of what their body was asking for all along. Overall, better sleep is built slowly, and for most people, the first step is simply making the room they already have feel a little more ready for rest.This story was produced by Sleepyhead and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	UnityPoint Health opens intensive outpatient eating disorder clinic UnityPoint Health– Robert Young Center is offering specialized eating disorder care to the Quad Cities with the launch of the region’s first Intensive Outpatient Program for eating disorders. The new program is for adults dealing with eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. It offers a higher level of support than traditional therapy without [...]
	Traffic Impact Alerts Several traffic impact alerts are in place as construction is underway across the Quad Cities area.
	Davenport house damaged after possible collision News 8 is working to confirm details on a possible collision involving a house and a vehicle.
	Young Americans say parenthood now feels like a choice between family and financial security Young Americans say parenthood now feels like a choice between family and financial securityFor a prominent number of young Americans, the decision of whether to have children is just as much financial as it is personal.New research from Intuit Credit Karma, conducted by The Harris Poll in April 2026, surveyed 629 U.S. adults ages 18-45, who don’t want to have any children or more children, or are unsure if they want to. The research shows that 54% of Gen Z (ages 18-29) and 50% of millennials (ages 30-45) surveyed feel pressure to choose between their own financial security and having any or more children.That pressure is intensified by today’s economic conditions. More than two-thirds (68%) of Gen Z and millennials combined say the cost of raising a child in today’s economy feels financially out of reach for someone in their financial situation. And many don’t expect conditions to improve anytime soon. Nearly three-quarters (71%) say the economy will not be stable enough for them to comfortably start or grow a family within the next five years.As this article from Credit Karma explores, for many young Americans, those concerns translate into delayed or reconsidered family plans. Just over 6 in 10 (61%) Gen Z and millennials combined say finances have influenced their decision to delay, limit, or reconsider having children. Rising everyday expenses appear to be at the center of that decision, with the cost of living (33%) and childcare (26%) emerging as the most commonly cited financial barriers.Childcare, in particular, continues to weigh heavily on family planning decisions. More than a third (36%) of Gen Z and millennials combined say that if childcare were more affordable or subsidized, they’d seriously reconsider having children or expanding their family.The top financial factors influencing decisions on having any children or more children include: Credit Karma It’s not just about moneyAccording to the research, finances dominate, but they are not the only factor also shaping family planning decisions. A quarter (25%) of Gen Z and millennials combined say they value their current lifestyle, and more than 1 in 5 (22%) express concerns about the kind of world their child would grow up in. Other factors include feeling too old (21%), particularly for millennials (31%) compared to 4% of Gen Z, not having a partner or the right partner (17%), health issues (13%), climate change/environmental concerns (10%) and simply not wanting children (10%).When asked to weigh the two, 44% say that financial concerns and the current state of the world are equally responsible for their decision to not have children or not to have more children.“Deciding whether to have children has become closely tied to financial security for many young Americans,” said Courtney Alev, consumer financial advocate at Intuit Credit Karma. “We’re seeing people weigh their long-term financial stability against major life decisions in a way that previous generations may not have had to.”MethodologyThis survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Credit Karma from April 9-13, 2026, among 629 U.S. adults ages 18-45 who don’t want to have any/more children or are unsure if they want to (referred to as Gen Z and millennials). The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 4.9 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.This story was produced by Credit Karma and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Tuesday, June 9th, 2026

Monday, June 8th, 2026