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

The Third Place QC asking for donations after 140 came in amid extreme heat

Third Place officials said 45 people grabbed donated items during the extreme heat conditions.

Iowa raises speed limit, effective July 1

A new law raising Iowa’s speed limit from 55 to 60 mph takes effect on July 1, even though speed limit signs in the state still need to be updated. Steven McElmeel, Assistant District Engineer for District Five for the Iowa DOT, spoke with Our Quad Cities News via Zoom to talk about the change [...]

Birdies for Charity: assisting non-profits beyond the metro

Birdies for Charity transforms golf into a do-good powerhouse, benefiting around 500 non-profits with millions of dollars year in and year out.

Diluted pesticide spill in Lee County creek leads to fish kill

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a spill of pesticide rinsate that caused a fish kill in an unnamed creek near Houghton.

North Scott Press — July 1, 2026

Talks between Eldridge Fire Department and city go up in flames

Eldridge city officials and volunteer firefighters have spent over a year trying to figure out the future of the town’s small and overworked department. Would the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company hire a full-time chief? Would it remain an independent nonprofit? How much city money would it need to operate? City officials say an agreement was close in April. But after two months of internal discussions, the department voted last month to remain independent, and request a $766,516 contribution from city taxpayers. A string of posts on the department’s Facebook page have argued that city officials will jeopardize the future of fire service in Eldridge if they don’t approve the budget request by July 15. The $766K sum is more than double the allottment in this year’s city budget —already the highest sum on record. Fire Chief Keith Schneckloth says the sum is needed to hire full-time staff and maintain and replace capital equipment. City officials say a crisis once attributed to volunteer “burnout” has turned into a demand for cash the city simply doesn't have. They have also pointed out that Schneckloth was fired from his role as city mechanic last year for alleged misuse of city funds, which a state judge ruled “substantial” misconduct. Schneckloth has denied wrongdoing.  City officials said Monday they would continue to negotiate “in good faith,” but the department said negotiations were exhausted, and their ask firm. Read more throughout this week’s North Scott Press.

Extreme Heat Warning until THU 10:00 PM CDT

Extreme Heat Warning: High Heat and Humidity Until Thursday Evening

Celebrate July 4 Saturday

Communities across the Quad Cities are gearing up to celebrate the nation’s 250th year of life, liberty and happiness July 4. Here’s how to join in on the fun. Davenport The Red White and Boom fireworks show will kick off at 9:30 p.m. on July 3, with a large display shot from two barges on the Mississippi River. A musical broadcast on 97X will accompany the show. The event’s webpage lists the best viewing locations as Modern Woodmen and LeClaire Park in Davenport. Bettendorf Greg Adamson, recently retired after 50 years of city service, will lead Bettendorf’s annual July 4 parade on a loop from State Street to Grant Street at 10 a.m., concluding near the starting line again on State Street. From noon to 10 p.m. in Cumberland Square, the city’s annual festival will feature inflatables, water slides, a petting zoo and a small train. A line of food and craft vendors will attend.  The Bettendorf City Council will hand out free popsicles during the event. At dusk, the city’s annual fireworks display will begin above Middle Park. LeClaire LeClaire begins its celebrations on July 3, with the band Black Velvet performing at Green Tree Brewery from 6-9 p.m. The band promises to bring classic hits, rock anthems, 80’s pop and more. Mississippi River Distilling Company will host live music from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Kaiden Leezer will perform while the distillery serves up handcrafted patio cocktails. A food truck will offer dinner. Freedomfest begins at 6 p.m. on July 4 at Green Gables II marina in LeClaire, featuring music from Shooter Midwest Touring Band. Food will be provided by food truck vendor Doggy Fresh. Park View Park View’s annual fireworks show will begin at dusk on July 4 at Meadowbrook Park. Happy Hippie Creations will sell food and energy drinks. The park will sell glowsticks and have a bounce house set up. DeWitt Lineup will begin at 8 a.m. inside of Clinton County Fairgrounds for the city’s annual Independence Day parade. Participants of the parade will have the opportunity to win prizes in several categories, such as best theme, most patriotic, best representation of DeWitt and more. The parade will depart the Clinton County Fairgrounds at 10 a.m. on a loop through the heart of the town: down 10th Street, 6th Avenue, 7th Street, 4th Avenue and 8th Street before concluding back at the fairgrounds. Grand Mound Grand Mound’s annual Water Parade will begin at 2 p.m. on July 4. Unlike a traditional parade, this one has an emphasis on soaking your friends and family with water balloons, hoses, and super soakers. At dusk, the fireworks show will begin, organized by the Clinton County Fireworks Association. Families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and coolers to Grand Mound Ball Park, though they are not required. Durant In Durant, the Tri-County Community Club will host an ice cream social at the Durant High School football field from 7-9 p.m. The Tri-County Band will give a performance during the event. At dusk, Durant’s community fireworks show, hosted by the Durant Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the businesses and residents begins. There is a rain date of July 5. West Liberty The West Liberty Heritage Foundation will hold a West Liberty 250 event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 4. The foundation will organize performances by historical reenactors and hands-on historical activities such as making your own jump rope. Letters will be collected for a community time capsule. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Residents are encouraged to bring lawn chairs with them, though not required. Muscatine Muscatine will have several events spanning the Fourth of July, starting at 8 a.m. with Red White & Ball, a three-versus-three youth basketball tournament. The tournament will be held on the Muscatine Riverfront courts, and is open to boys and girls in third through eighth grade. Registration is available online at Red White & Ball’s website. The annual community parade begins in downtown Muscatine at 4 p.m. The parade will line up on Iowa Avenue from Iowa Field to 4th Street, then travel along Iowa Avenue to 2nd Street, up 2nd to Walnut, continue on 5th Street, and conclude at Cedar Street. Residents are advised to expect increased traffic in the area starting at 2 p.m. The annual Almost Fireworks Fest will be held at the Muscatine Riverfront, starting at 5 p.m. Guests can enjoy live music, food vendors, a beverage tent, bounce houses and more in the hours before the later fireworks show. A reading of the Declaration of Independence will commence at 8 p.m. at Pearl City Station on the Muscatine Riverfront. A message from Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark will follow. The Muscatine Symphony Orchestra’s annual Independence Day performance begins at 8:20 p.m. At 9:30 p.m, a spectacular fireworks and bridge light show begins. Guests are invited to tune into MC 93 FM to hear a special music compilation synced up to the fireworks and lights. Speakers will be set up around the Riverfront. Buffalo Buffalo Days will be held July 3-5. From 5-11 p.m. on July 3 and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4, an assortment of rides, games, food vendors and craft vendors will occupy Marietta Park. From 5-7 p.m. on July 3 and 3-6 p.m. on July 4, Double H Entertainment will provide a live DJ set. At 6 p.m. July 3, a beer mile will begin, where contestants drink a beer in between each quarter-mile lap. Following the DJ set, The Night Wranglers will take to the stage for a live music performance at 8 p.m. From 8-10 a.m. on July 4, both a car show and kids fishing tournament will take place. The car show is open to any competitor for $10, while spectating is free. Judging to pick the top 50 applicants will begin at noon. The kids tournament will take place on the riverfront near the corner of Front and Jefferson streets. At 1 p.m., 3 Door Coupe will provide live music entertainment while signups for the 3rd Annual Poker run, an event where you assemble a poker hand while riding on golf carts, lawn mowers and more, will begin. Open Swim will take to the stage at 7 p.m., rounding out the event’s live music performances. The Buffalo Fire Department will host the annual fireworks show at dusk. Sunday, July 5, will see the Buffalo Days parade line up at 11 a.m. and step off at noon.  

Independents run for board of supervisors

Two independents hope to prevail over partisanship in the race for open seats on the Scott County Board of Supervisors. Brendan O’Brien and Wendy Walljasper, both of Davenport, filed to run for the board June 2. They will face three Democrats, two incumbent Republicans, and one Republican newcomer in the November contest for three open seats. “Brendan and I are doing a nontraditional campaign,” Walljasper explained. “We’re working as a team.” O’Brien, a county conservationist, and Walljasper, a therapist, have begun hosting a series of potluck “people’s assemblies” to hear directly from voters about the issues they would like to see the board of supervisors address. They held their most recent assembly at the Bettendorf Public Library Monday evening. “One of the biggest issues I see affecting our communities is lack of engagement from the public,” O’Brien said. “And we think that’s designed, because the political process freezes people out, and the two-party system especially puts people into their corners, and you only have half the population engaged in that conversation.” “At the end of the day, a representative is a representative,” Walljasper said. “Finding out what the community thinks about its issues would be my focus… I don’t want to be beholden to a party or party donor.” “When someone is paying your bills, that’s who you’re beholden to,” she added. “And I want to be obligated to only serve the residents and taxpayers of Scott County.” Walljasper said her experience working for nonprofits had taught her to think creatively within the constraints of a small budget. “I’m used to having to think creatively about how we help the most people with the money we have,” she said. O’Brien said the pair would like to see the board of supervisors lead intergovernmental efforts to address some of the region’s most pressing issues, like affordable housing and responsible development. “We really want to see more community-driven solutions,” he said. “I’ve lived in the Quad Cities almost 20 years,” Walljasper said. “I have kids here in the public schools. And I’ve worked in nonprofits on both sides of the river. I am tired of feeling like there’s nothing I can do about the problems I can see in my community.” A June 24 article in The NSP reported only six candidates in the race for the board of supervisors. O'Brien and Walljasper had filed by that date. The NSP regrets the error.        

The cost of summer parade candy

How much money do fire departments spend on summer parades? “It’s around $100 or better per parade,” Donahue mayor and assistant fire chief Ken Schoenthaler said. “We try and get as much as we can for the kids. It’s just, you got to do it.” Everyone from fire departments to local businesses are stocking up for this year’s parade season. While the average cost of candy per parade is roughly constant, the number of parades served depends on how much money can be spared for candy, as well as the vehicles available to participate. Schoenthaler said that they try to get to as many communities as they can, typically visiting Eldridge and Long Grove, occasionally going to Walcott. Political organizations often spend considerably more than fire departments. The living room of State Senator Mike Zimmer is piled with crates of candy. He said the Clinton Labor Congress spent $2,000 this year to purchase candy to give out to the community. “Their people hand it out, we just deliver it,” Zimmer said. Jean Dickson, Vice-Chair of the Scott County Board of Supervisors, is currently stocking up on candy for her reelection campaign. “It's $229.90 at Costco, and then $21.40 at Dollar Tree,” Dickson said. “This won’t come out of my campaign funds. It’ll be my own contribution.” Zimmer and Dickson said that acquisition of candy for political campaigns is usually done out-of-pocket or received as a donation, so donors don’t feel they are paying for candy. Kevin Randle, another candidate for the Board of Supervisors, has also distributed candy. “At the last parade I went to, I threw out two buckets of candy provided by the Democratic Party,” Randle said. “Democrats spent around $2,000 for this season. It is really great that [the Democratic Party] provides this to us. It helps free up campaign resources.” Branded items, however, do typically come out of campaign funds. “We spent $1,245 on scratchpads and around $500 on flags,” Zimmer said. “I go over that every year, like, should I do it? But I really like just doing candy,” Dickson said. “It’s just more fun to give out candy.” How do groups decide what to give out? “For candy, one thing is nothing that melts. Hard candy, gummies and chewy things are what we get,” Zimmer said. “For name recognition, we talk about how many points of contact you need for someone to remember your name, so we look for items that people interact with. Flags are popular with both adults and kids, so we try to respond to what people want.” Dickson shared Zimmer’s statement about melting candy. “I don’t think the specific type of candy matters too much,” Dickson said. “Nobody is going to argue about who hands out Skittles versus something else.” Do the candidates believe that the candy has results for their campaigns? “I have no idea,” Dickson said. “I think it’s good to be out and about, it’s that whole name recognition thing. Parades do not give you time to stop and talk about the issues.” “I think so,” Randall said. “It’s really great to get out in the community and connect with people in a positive way.” Politicians and public servants aren’t the only groups participating in giveaways. Several banks, telephone and internet companies also take part. Central Broadband is one example. While the company wasn’t able to provide a dollar amount for how much is spent during parade season, they were able to provide a list of items given out each year. The company distributes candy along with promotional items including koozies, notepads, pens, frisbees, magnets and other merchandise.

Walcott woman arrested for child abuse

A Walcott woman faces felony charges in Scott County for a pattern of child abuse that deputy sheriffs say include filming a naked 15 year old she forced outdoors. County attorneys have charged Melissa Ware with: • Two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor • Two counts of neglect of a dependent • Nine counts of child endangerment • One count of harassment According to arrest affidavits, Ware forced a 15 year old outside without clothes on and filmed them. She also hit the child with a broom and belt and forced a 12 year old to sleep outdoors in the cold, affidavits report. At one point, Ware encouraged the 12 year old to hold the older child down so she could run them over with her car, according to affidavits. Ware subjected several children to repeated and severe verbal abuse, and forced them to the ground and ripped off clothing and jewelry, affidavits report. Deputies arrested Ware Sunday, June 21.      

Feed Our Children adds Long Grove lunch spot

The North Scott Feed Our Children Ministry has added an additional pick-up location for free summer lunches. The Long Grove Christian Church, 202 S. 1st St. in Long Grove, will have sack lunches available for pick-up from 11:30 a.m. – noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting June 25. Feed Our Children Ministry will provide a free sack lunch opportunity in the North Scott Community during summer break. The goal is to provide a free nutritious lunch to children in the community through this twice a week ministry, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 9-Aug. 20. Distribution will take place from 11:30-12:30 in the following locations: • Faith Lutheran Church, 500 W LeClaire Rd., Eldridge (11:30-12:30) • Eldridge United Methodist Church, 604 S. 2nd St., Eldridge (11:30-12:30) • Donahue Maintenance Bldg lot; 104 N Main St.  Donahue (11:45-Noon) • American Legion, 604 Davenport St., Dixon (12:15) • Park View, Deer Creek/Park View Lutheran Church back parking lot (11:30-12:30) • Park View, corner of Manor Drive and Lincoln (11:40) • Park View, Neil Armstrong Elementary (11:50) • Park View, Double Diamonds parking lot (12:00) • Princeton, Princeton Branch Library (3:00) Tuesdays only • McCausland, Corner Market, 102 W. 1st St. (11:40) You do not have to live in one of the listed areas to receive a lunch. Please continue to check the Facebook page (North Scott Feed Our Children Ministry or @nsfeedourchildren) for updates on locations and times. Sponsors include:  Moonlight Chase, ELCA World Hunger, Eldridge Lions Club, North Scott Hy-Vee, and North Scott Rotary.

Civil War presentation at Scott County Library

The Scott County Library, in partnership with Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War – RM Camp No. 206, are proud to present “Discovering Quad Cities Civil War History: Rock Island Arsenal Confederate POW Camp.” This presentation will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at the Eldridge branch of the Scott County Library, 200 N. 6th Ave. The program is free and open to the public, with no registration required. The Rock Island Arsenal played an important role in the American Civil War. One of 21 Union prisoner of war camps, it became known among the Confederates as the “Andersonville of the North.” From 1863-1865, the Arsenal held more than 12,000 Confederate prisoners. Join us to explore its origins, learn notable facts and discover how the Quad Cities area contributed to the Civil War. For more information, contact the Scott County Library at 563-285-4794 or SUVCW-RM Camp Secretary Jared Barber at jbarber9.jb@gmail.com.

Worker killed in New Liberty quarry accident

A worker was killed in an accident at Riverstone Quarry in New Liberty Friday morning. Emergency personnel were notified of the accident at approximately 6:56 a.m. Friday. Upon arrival, first responders located the individual pinned under a large piece of equipment that workers attempted to load onto a trailer. The initial investigation revealed the weight of the equipment suddenly shifted, causing it to come down on a worker that was undeneath. Emergency personnel determined the worked suffered traumatic injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The name of the individual is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The investigation is ongoing between the Scott County Sheriff's Office and the Mine Health & Safety Administration. The Scott County Sheriff's Office, Scott Emergency Communications Center, Scott County Medic EMS, New Liberty Fire and Scott County Medical Examiner's Office all assisted with the incident.

What's the money for?

The members of the Eldridge Fire Department say they need $766,516 from the city to cover their expenses for 2026. That’s a number $400,000 higher than the one included in the current city budget, and more than double any past city contribution. So what are the new expenses? Fire Chief Keith Schneckloth and department business manager Bryan Yanke told The North Scott Press that the funds will pay for a full-time chief and capital improvements they say are essential to the department’s function. The department delivered a three-year budget proposal to the city June 12. It asks $271,586 for salaries and benefits and $200,000 for capital improvements next year. Schneckloth called the fire department a “standalone business” and described the request as “what it costs to provide the service” that the city needs. Volunteers voted to remain an independent nonprofit rather than become a city department earlier this month. “Volunteerism is struggling,” Yanke said. “We’re looking at… how do we get somebody in here who can help cover the tasks that all the volunteers are being asked to do, that are taking a bunch of time from the department.” The answer is a paid chief, whom the fire department would hope to hire this year at a $108,000 salary. Yanke said that figure matched the salary of the Eldridge police chief. The fire chief would audit fire reports, oversee station and vehicle maintenance, apply for grants—“all of those tasks that take daily time during normal business hours,” Yanke said. In 2024—the most recent year for which financial reports are available—the fire department spent just $95,690 on pay for its chief and other staff, much of which was covered by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Yanke said that capital improvement funds would be used to furnish the second floor of the fire department building with bunkrooms and other spaces for volunteers. “Right now, we don't have a place for volunteers to stay if they're at the station. In order to recruit volunteers from outside the city limits of Eldridge, we have to provide them a place to stay while they're on shift,” Yanke said. Capital funds would also support the fire department’s fleet. Several expensive equipment purchases were upcoming, Schneckloth said, including a tanker truck that dates to the early 2000s. Equipment costs have doubled over the last decade, he said. Fire department financial returns filed as a 501(c)3 nonprofit show that the department had depreciated 75% of its assets by 2024—indicating that a large portion of its assets are near the end of their expected lives. The budget proposal asks for contributions to grow in the coming years. Salary expenses rise to $500,846 in two years’ time. Yanke said the department planned to hire multiple full-time employees, “based on the trends that we're seeing for volunteerism and increase in call volume.” “We believe we need additional paid personnel to help and field calls during the day,” he added. City council members balked at the budget request at a meeting June 15. “The doubling of the budget is outlandish,” councilman Jeff Ashcraft said. “How can we negotiate on anything?... How can you negotiate when our budget has already been approved and set, and it’s been certified?” Schneckloth and Yanke said their $766,561 ask was firm. “If the city comes back with a number that's less than this, or someway, somewhere halfway between—I don't see that as being a sustainable solution,” Yanke said. “This is our attempt at saying what we need as is to be a sustainable department.” The city’s new fiscal year begins today, July 1. Yanke and Schneckloth said the city council would have to pass a budget amendment—reallocating city spending through a series of public meetings—to fund fire service through the fiscal year. “I don't know whether that would be pulling from other departments or whether that would be pulling from their cash reserve, but it would be a budget amendment,” Schneckloth said. Breaking down the budget Here is how the budget proposal breaks down. The fire department requests $271,586 for salary and benefits. Yanke said that sum would cover salary and benefits for a full-time fire chief and to continue to provide volunteers with a $20 per-call stipend. It would also pay staff and volunteers’ workman’s compensation premium, he said. Ten years ago, the department paid less than $20,000 in wages, employee benefits and compensation, according to financial reports filed with the IRS. That number rose to $95,000 in 2024. The salary and benefits figure also includes $50,000 paid to a member of the department to administer a grant from FEMA, which the grant would in turn reimburse, Yanke said. The budget proposal sees salary expenses jump to $428,331 in 2027 and $500,846 in 2028, to pay for additional full-time staff at the department. The proposal requests $20,000 for facility and vehicle insurance this year. That figure increases by $2,000 in 2027 and 2028.  Fire department insurance cost have varied drastically in recent years, according to financial reports. In 2024, insurance costs—apparently including workmen’s compensation—totaled $63,581. But they totaled just $14,565 the preceding year. The department asks for an annual $200,000 capital improvements sum, which includes new equipment and construction at the fire station on 2nd Street in downtown Eldridge. The department’s tanker truck dates to 2001, Schneckloth said, and its second fire engine dates to 2007. Those are two million-dollar replacements that the department will have to make in the near future. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that departments fully retire vehicles after 25 years of service. The department also hopes to furnish living quarters on the second floor of its fire station. “We’ve seen people reaching out from Davenport, Bettendorf… They're looking to volunteer, and they want to get experience in fire and EMS services, but we can't accommodate them right now because their travel time to get here is too high,” Yanke said. “Finishing upstairs gives them a place to stay while they're here, and then they can volunteer and obviously make the calls in a reasonable amount of time.” “That's a big chunk of the capital request,” he said. The budget lists operational expenses at $148,500 in 2026, $141,600 in 2027, and $98,700 in 2028. Those funds would cover “consumables that we use on calls, hoses that fail certification on an annual basis, diesel fuel for the trucks, all those sort of things,” Yanke said. The budget also requests $19,100 for building maintenance in 2026. That figure rises to $29,400 in 2027 and $87,900 in 2028. Financial reports do not give a clear picture of how much the department has historically spent on operations and maintenance. The fire department appears to have spent between $30,000 and $70,000 annually on occupancy, truck maintenance, fuel, fire gear and equipment since 2013. The budget requests $12,000 for public relations and fire prevention outreach in 2026. That number increases by $300 in 2027 by a further $300 in 2028. In 2024, the department spent $17,692 on advertising and promotion, though a portion of that sum was reimbursed by a FEMA grant. The department spent $3,877 on promotion in 2023. It did not list any promotional expenses the three previous years. Schneckloth said the public relations and outreach budget would fund in-school programs as well as site visits to businesses in Eldridge. The fire department has not historically separated those expenses from its operational costs in financial reports. The new budget asks for $29,000 for legal and administrative expenses in 2026. That figure drops to $26,200 in 2027 and $22,500 in 2028.  Schneckloth said that would cover contracts with counsel, accountants, human resources and other professional services. The department listed just $950 in professional service fees in financial reports from 2024, and $850 in 2023. It did not list any professional expenses the previous three years. The department requests $12,000 for training and professional certifications in 2026. That figure rises to $12,400 in 2027 and $12,900 in 2028. Financial reports do not offer a clear picture of department spending on training and certifications, but do indicate that the department has spent between $1,000–7,000 to attend conferences and conventions. Other revenue for the department? The current budget proposal lists just two sources of funding: the city of Eldridge and Rural Benefitted Fire District No. 3, the group of county taxpayers who subsidize Eldridge’s fire department. The budget does not indicate what expenses—if any—would be covered by grant funds. Yanke said the department often waited months to receive grant reimbursements and was worried about the instability of federal grant dollars. So they have listed all expenses as if they will not be reimbursed. “And if it gets reimbursed later, that money can come out of other expenses, or can be saved for capital expenses, or things like that,” Yanke said. The proposal does not request any funds from neighboring municipalities. City council members have questioned what portion of Eldridge fire calls go to neighboring communities and whether they should share a burden of the cost. “Every department in Scott County, and even some on the Illinois side, have a mutual aid agreement,” Schneckloth said. “We would not expect to be billed from them for coming down here.” He said that the number of calls Eldridge answer for Long Grove or Donahue fire departments is roughly reciprocal with the number of calls they answer in Eldridge.  The Benefitted Fire District will provide just $62,000 annually to the department, the proposal forecasts. The district is currently at its maximum levy rate. Its contribution can only rise if property valuations increase. Independent of the city Fire department volunteers voted in June to remain an independent nonprofit, rather than join the city. City officials and some members of the department had previously seemed to agree that a merger could help facilitate hiring a full-time chief. Yanke said that the fire department ought to function like any other city contractor. Republic Services, for instance, which provides garbage hauling. “Republic comes to the table and says, ‘Here's how many tons of garbage we expect to haul out of here, here’s what it's going to cost. You want to pay us or not?’ So it's similar in that regard… We're being asked to provide fire protection services, EMS services for the city, and we're saying we're happy to do that as an independent agency. Here's what it costs,” he said. The vote to remain independent followed Schneckloth’s return to the role of fire chief in April. He had stepped down in December, after he was fired from his role as city mechanic for alleged misconduct. Would the fire department accept an increased contribution from the city on the condition that Schneckloth not assume the role of chief? Yanke said that “legally, they cannot do that.” “They cannot coerce us into hiring or not hiring somebody based on withholding funds, they legally have no say in who is hired by this department,” he said.  

Schneckloth denies wrongdoing as city mechanic

Eldridge fired Keith Schneckloth from his role as city mechanic last year when officials found receipts they said showed he had misspent city funds and avoided sales tax on $1,000 in personal purchases. The extent of misconduct is at the heart of the current controversy between City Hall and the Eldridge Fire Department, where Schneckloth resumed his post as fire chief in April. Schneckloth has emerged as a leading voice in the fire department’s push to remain independent of city government while receiving more than $760,000 from city coffers. That sum includes a $108,000 salary for the fire chief. A state judge held in April that Schneckloth had used city accounts to dodge sales tax on $1,042.44 in personal purchases at NAPA Auto Parts. He also falsified at least one timecard and used $86.68 in city public works funds to purchase an item for the fire department, the judge ruled. The decision denied Schneckloth unemployment benefits. In a recent letter sent to every Eldridge household, Schneckloth writes that he was fired for what “could have been handled as a routine accounting adjustment.” In an interview with The North Scott Press, Schneckloth further denied falsifying timecards or intentionally avoiding sales tax. “I have consistently put the interests of our community, our fire fighters, and public safety first. I remain proud of that record,” he writes. “Residents and business leaders are entitled to reach their own conclusions regarding my termination. However, I encourage you to look beyond the headlines, ask questions, and examine the facts yourself.” In a statement, the city of Eldridge said that the letter “omits important facts.” His explanation for purchases at NAPA changed during the course of their investigation, which ultimately concluded that he had “failed to properly manage City purchasing and public funds.” Schneckloth briefly stepped down as fire chief after he was fired from the city, but he resumed the post in April. Facts of the firing Eldridge City Administrator Nevada Lemke first raised concerns about Schneckloth after she reviewed NAPA receipts he kept as city mechanic. On Sept. 19, 2025, Schneckloth had spent $86.68 on parts for a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe owned by the fire department, not the city. He had billed the parts to a city account for the Ford F350 owned by the city public works department. Additional receipts reviewed by Lemke revealed that Schneckloth had made $1,042.44 purchases with his personal credit card through the city account, on which no sales tax had been charged. The spending pattern began in 2014, State Judge Brooke Axiotis determined. Schneckloth told the city that he had accidentally selected city accounts from a drop-down menu and had retroactively requested that NAPA apply sales tax to personal purchases. An investigation by the city concluded that explanations Schneckloth gave for the purchases had “no validity.” The city also alleged that Schneckloth clocked into work on Oct. 1 while he was at his personal residence. Schneckloth was fired from his position as city mechanic Dec. 10. Axiotis denied Schneckloth unemployment benefits for misconduct, which she called “substantial and disqualifying.” “Employer had clear policies for credit card and purchasing and also has a Code of Conduct policy. He was aware of these policies and he repeatedly violated these policies,” Axiotis concluded. Schneckloth’s account Schneckloth’s own account of his termination will arrive in a letter set to hit every Eldridge mailbox this week. “For many months, I have remained largely silent regarding my termination from the City of Eldridge. I chose that path as I believed the truth would eventually become clear on its own,” a copy of the letter obtained by The NSP reads. “However, given my long-standing commitment to both our community and our fire department, I believe residents and business leaders deserve to hear directly from me.” Schneckloth writes that the $86.68 purchase was for tire pressure sensors for a fire department vehicle, “mistakenly billed to a city account instead of being charged to our fire department.” “Once the error was identified and brought to my attention, it was acknowledged and intended to be corrected,” he writes. “What could have been handled as a routine accounting adjustment instead became the subject of a formal investigation by city administration and legal counsel.” Schneckloth writes that he “personally paid for” other purchases scrutinized by the investigation. Several misattributions were the result of “coding errors that had no impact on city funds.” He told The NSP that he had never committed “an intentional act to dodge sales tax.” “Despite the absence of any allegation that I personally profited from or intentionally misused city funds, the process ultimately resulted in my placement on administrative leave and my termination,” Schneckloth writes. His letter does not address whether he used city accounts to avoid paying sales tax or whether he falsified time cards, though he does acknowledge that there “are additional details surrounding the City's decision to terminate my employment.” Schneckloth told The NSP that what the city characterized as falsifying timecards had been an accident. “As soon as it was brought to my attention… I went back, looked through, figured it out, and acknowledged it,” he said. “They decided to hold that, I guess, and used that when they decided to bring me in for investigation,” he added. Schneckloth’s letter argues that the “larger issue” facing Eldridge residents is “not my employment status,” but “the future of fire and emergency medical services in Eldridge.” A recent request sent from the fire department to Eldridge city officials doubled the department’s annual financial ask, to $766,516, including $270,000 to be put towards a salary for the fire chief and per-call stipends for volunteers. Schneckloth’s letter argues that if additional funds are not approved, the losses “will be felt by the residents and businesses who depend on firefighters and EMS personnel to arrive when seconds matter.” “Public safety should never become secondary to politics, personalities, or disagreements,” Schneckloth writes. “…I am not asking you to support me personally. I am asking you to support your firefighters, the men and women who have made an extraordinary commitment to serve this community when you need them most.” Further concerns? Eldridge officials had additional concerns about Schneckloth in December, a recent city statement reveals. Members of the fire department told the city that Schneckloth “did not work full-time for the EVFC” but told the Federal Emergency Management Agency that he did, in order to collect a $50,000 grant administrator salary. Schneckloth “received and accepted the full $50,000 grant amount. The City found this concerning but had no ability to address it with the EVFC being a separate, private entity,” the Eldridge statement reads. Schneckloth could not be reached for additional comment before this story went to press.    

A timeline of fire negotiations

On Feb. 18, 2025, after a recent house fire on St. Andrews Circle, Eldridge city council members begin openly discussing the need for professional fire department staffing. The fire department mentioned the need for a paid fire chief for several years, though discussions never progressed. Councilman Brian Dockery suggests using gas franchise fee revenue, a charge levied against MidAmerican Energy and Alliant that allows them to operate in Eldridge, to help fund a paid position. City officials begin preliminary discussions with the fire department. Spring 2025 As city officials examine insurance and liability questions during March 3 and March 17 meetings, they conclude a paid fire chief or staff would likely require the fire department to become a city department. The conversation turns from the hiring of paid staff or a paid fire chief position into full absorption into the city. Councilman Dan Collins suggests the city look into allocating an additional $40,000 to go towards the salary of a full-time firefighter. Collins indicates to the council that discussions with the fire department are primarily focused on developing a timeline for establishing paid positions. On April 8, fire chief Keith Schneckloth tells city officials that a paid administrator is no longer a wish-list item. “This is not really a want anymore. This is a need today,” Schneckloth said. The department cites increasing call volume, declining membership, and growing administrative burdens on volunteers as major problems. While the setting aside of funds for a paid position is discussed, no mentions of a funding increase are made. The fire department indicates that it is willing to become a city agency if that is what is required to solve the problem On May 8, city officials and fire department representatives agree to begin developing a roadmap for the department to become fully city-controlled and the hiring of a full-time chief. The department repeatedly voices its concerns over burnout, staffing shortages, and administrative burden, though no funding increases are mentioned. The city says that the fire department was slow to provide documentation. New state legislation requires the study of formalizing a county-wide fire service, adding new concerns to the discussion. Summer 2025 The fire department provides financial records, bylaws, call statistics and 28E agreement information for legal review by June 16. Scott Campbell, a councilman at the time, and council members Dan Collins and Ryan Iossi push for additional information before making long-term commitments. Councilman Dockery argues the issue cannot wait. “We do have some concerns and there’s going to be questions down the road,” said Campbell, “I just think we need to be clear on that. I think that we’re sending mixed signals.” In July, Benefitted Fire District No. 3 is pulled into the discussion by the city. The district may ultimately have authority over certain fire department operations and personnel decisions, city officials believe. The responsibility of fire protection, control of personnel decisions, District No. 3’s involvement and whether the city can legally proceed without county involvement are continuously called into question. Fall 2025 Negotiations continue, but city officials increasingly question whether additional funding would solve the department’s concerns. City attorney Allison Wright reports that during discussions, department representatives suggested additional money might help, though she disagrees in a later statement. “Money was not the answer,” Wright said. City officials continue to disagree over whether the proposed solution addresses the actual problem. While Dockery argues the city must step in to support exhausted volunteers, Collins and Iossi continue to question whether city ownership or a paid position will solve the department’s underlying staffing challenges. Late 2025 - Early 2026 Processes gradually began to lose momentum as months of discussions fail to produce a consensus on who has authority over the department, whether city control would solve volunteer burnout, how staffing shortages should be addressed and whether additional funding would change operational challenges. During this period, Schneckloth is fired from his city mechanic position. An administrative law judge later upholds a denial of unemployment benefits after findings that he misused city resources and falsified time records. Schneckloth resigns as fire chief in December, though he later resumes the position. Summer 2026 to Present On June 2, fire department members unanimously vote to remain an independent organization rather than become a city department. Department members cite concerns that major organizational changes could lead to the loss of volunteers at a time when recruiting firefighters is already difficult. They also voice that they do not want the city to replace their fire chief, Keith Schneckloth. Having been terminated by the city, Schneckloth would be ineligible for hire in the paid fire chief position if the department were to come under the city's control, city officials say. The vote effectively ends the path that had been under discussion since early 2025. Following the vote, the fire department requests a substantial increase in funding. The department now asks  the city for $766,516 for FY27, $785,954 in FY28 and $805,393 in FY29. Previously, the department had asked for $476,670, $531,500 and $679,839. The city expresses frustration, arguing negotiations originally centered on volunteer burnout and administrative workload rather than increased funding demands. Public statements from both sides become more pointed. The dispute expands beyond governance questions and into a broader public dispute over responsibility, funding and the future of fire protection in Eldridge.

Eldridge rebuts Fire Dept. narrative

The city of Eldridge has denied threatening to withhold funding from the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company if Keith Schneckloth remained fire chief. In a statement sent to The North Scott Press Monday afternoon, the city wrote  that it wanted to “address the various inaccuracies that have been disseminated to our residents.” City officials called recent public comments regarding negotiations with the EVFC, including those posted to the fire department’s Facebook page, “inaccurate.” It denied leveraging city funding for the department against Schneckloth’s appointment as chief. “The City has made it clear to the EVFC that the City would continue to provide the same funding that has been provided regardless of their Fire Chief selection,” the statement reads. At the June 15 city council meeting, mayor Scott Campbell said that the city had “expressed concerns to the EVFC that if they hired Schneckloth as fire chief, that the working relationship with the city would be strained and could negatively imact the success of an ongoing relationship with the fire department as an independent agency funded primarily by the city.” The city’s Monday statement recaps the history of negotiations with the fire department. Last May, members of the EVFC asked the city to hire  a full-time chief as a city employee to assist with administrative burdens placed on the department, the city states. “Both sides dedicated resources into evaluating this option and, ultimately, it was determined that having a City employee supervise employees of a private, nonprofit organization was not possible, for a variety of legal and insurance reasons,” the statement reads. “As an alternative, the City offered to provide funding so the EVFC could hire its own chief. The EVFC rejected that offer, clarified that they were not looking for money and instead asked the City to take over the EVFC as a City Department. This would include owning all assets, including their building, trucks and other equipment.” Schneckloth was fired by the city in December 2025 and resigned as fire chief shortly afterwards. Negotiations between the city and the EVFC continued, and the statement claims these conversations were “productive for several months and both parties were seriously considering the transition to a City department. “These conversations persisted and ultimately reached a point where the EVFC and the City were only $50,000 apart in their respective proposed budgets,” the statement reports. According to the city, by April 8, 2026, the EVFC had provided a “minimum budget” they felt they needed to remain independent, $476,670. At that time, the city invited representatives from the department to come to a city council meeting and present their request for the additional $50,000. But by that point, Schneckloth had returned as fire chief and was once again part of the conversations. According to the city statement, officials told Schneckloth that a conversation would be necessary regarding additional funding given the misconduct allegations surrounding his termination by the city. At the end of the April 8 meeting, representatives from the fire department said they would be taking the matter of remaining independent or transitioning to a city entity to a vote of the membership. The statement said the city had no further communication with the EVFC until June 12, when the fire department sent an email stating they had voted to remain independent, and they now needed a $828,516 annual budget to remain independent. The fire department gave the city until July 15 to respond to its financial request. The $828,516 amount the department says it needs includes $62,000 from the county and Benefitted Fire District No. 3, which covers the rural portion of Eldridge, as well as $766,516 from the city of Eldridge. “The increased budget came without any conversation, despite productive meetings occurring between the parties for several months,” the city statement reports. The city’s statement criticized the department’s decision to hire a public relations firm to assist with its communications. The department has retained Cedar Rapids-based Plaid Swan Inc. The statement said the city does not believe “responding to individual social media posts is a sound use of taxpayer dollars.” The city reported that it is willing to continue working in cooperation with the fire department to ensure uninterrupted, high-quality fire and emergency medical services for Eldridge, “guided by accountability, transparency, responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources and the rule of law. “The City remained at the table willing to continue these discussions and find a positive path forward. That willingness remains unchanged by the recent social media campaign directed by the EVFC,” the statement reads. Friday, representatives from the fire department told The North Scott Press their request for $766,516 from the city this year is a firm number, and they would not view a contribution of less than that to be sustainable for the department. On Monday, in response to follow-up questions from The North Scott Press, mayor Scott Campbell said, “It is disheartening that the fire department is unwilling to negotiate further, and while I can’t speak on behalf of the entire council,  it’s unfortunate that on April 8 we were only $50,000 apart and had a path forward to solve that shortfall. Again, in April, they said they could operate on a budget of $476,670, and we were at $364,406 — which was an increase of $135,406 from FY26 — with the county contributing an additional $62,000. Then, two months later they were asking for $766,616 without providing any additional context. “If EVFC takes the position they are unwilling to negotiate, then it would be my recommendation that the council would review and determine the most cost effective and responsible solution to providing fire and EMS services,” Campbell continued. “City staff has researched other communities with similar populations and call volume, that have transitioned from volunteer to city departments and appear to be able to operate on budgets more aligned to what we were negotiating.” The city statement concludes by saying, “The City values the dedicated service of the many volunteer firefighters who protect our community. We will not allow their dedicated service and the health or safety of our community to be jeopardized by individual actions not motivated for the collective good of our community.  No matter which direction this goes, both sides agree that providing fire protection services is of the utmost importance. In fact, many of our elected officials have walked in their shoes. We will find a long-term sustainable solution for our City and owe our citizens nothing less.” In the short-term, Campbell said, “The city has mutual aid agreements in place to make sure that service is provided for any emergency. The city remains willing to negotiate in good faith toward a successful solution for both the volunteers and city residents.”  

Three compete for Walcott Day Princess title

Three young ladies are vying for Walcott royalty. This year’s Walcott Day events will be held July 17-18, with the coronation at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, at Victory Park. The theme of Walcott Day is “Celebrating 250 Years of America.” Candidates include: Kynleigh Mae Jaeger, daughter of Gabi Jaeger. She attends Walcott School and will be in fourth grade this fall. She says she does not know what her favorite thing about Walcott Day is because she has not done it before. Her hobbies include singing, and she participates in volleyball and cheer. When she grows up, she would like to be a vet sitter. Kynleigh’s sponsor is Walcott Commons. Gracelynn Lacher is the daughter of Felisha and Bret Lacher. She is a third grader at Walcott School. She said her favorite thing about Walcott Day is the fireworks and parade. Her hobbies include soccer, softball and cheer, and she is also involved in her church. When she grows up, she would like to be a soccer player. Gracelynn’s sponsor is Calvary Church. Madeline Kay Rigg is the daughter of Dan and Maggie Rigg. She is a fifth grader at Walcott School. She said her favorite thing about Walcott Day is the Fun Run. Her hobbies include art, Legos and acting, and she is involved in orchestra, acting class and Battle of the Books. When she grows up, she would like to be a zoologist. Madeline’s sponsor is First Trust & Savings Bank.

Reflecting on the Declaration, on its 250th anniversary

My first summer as a reporter, the editor of my hometown newspaper had me spend the morning of July 4 on a street corner asking random passersby, “What does Independence Day mean to you?” I was 19 and hungover. The assignment was designed to humble collegiate interns rather than yield a worthwhile story. The only reply I remember came from a quick-witted fisherman. “Independence Day? I love that movie.” So do I. In the small, coastal town where I grew up, July 4 opens the high summer season. It draws a flood of tourists and treats them to a technicolor parade down tree-lined streets, past clapboard homes and oyster bars and sunglass merchants. Children grind the candy they forget to eat into brick sidewalks and hot pavement. Parents drink iced tea or Sam Adams. In three days the nation passes the quarter-millennium mark. Another Fourth of July. I have known for months that I would like to write a column. What better occasion to deploy my college education in American history against unwilling readers? Oh, the delights of pedantry. It may surprise you to learn that the Declaration of Independence was not actually signed on July 4, nor was it unanimously approved on that date; it wasn’t promulgated until July 8, and it was only on July 15 that New York’s delegates to the Continental Congress received word from Albany that the Declaration had been approved, and could be signed. The famous manuscript that most of us actually picture as the Declaration of Independence was not drafted until July 19, and not signed until August 2. Perhaps I can write a whole month’s worth of columns. Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, but it was edited by four of his peers, including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Jefferson had written that certain truths were “sacred and undeniable.” An editor, probably Franklin, struck out those words in favor of “self-evident.” As an old man, Adams called the Declaration a “Theatrical Show” staged by Jefferson, which had distracted from the colonies’ unanimous vote in favor of independence. But votes do not yield memorable phrases. No one can name each of the Declaration’s signatories, but we all know the truths they deemed self-evident: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” While it is of course important that the Declaration established the United States as an independent nation, it is equally important that it established the promise of that nation. Abraham Lincoln believed the words of the Declaration should be “constantly looked to, constantly labored for, and even though never perfectly attained, constantly approximated.” They gave the nation its moral direction. One hundred years after Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr. called the Declaration a “promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.” There is an irony beneath the sacred place that American life has reserved for the Declaration, which is that while we often look to history to guide our actions and set our principles, the architects of the republic did no such thing. The Declaration of Independence begins by announcing a radical break in history: When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.   The Declaration of Independence interrupts the unjust course of history, and there is a sense in which that break from the past is self-undermining. The Declaration establishes a new kind of nation with a new kind of purpose. What will stop another would-be nation, with its own would-be purpose, from growing out of it? That was indeed the crisis facing Lincoln: and his attempt to hallow the Declaration was an attempt to steady Americans with a history of their own. The signatories of the Declaration did not need history because the equality and natural rights of men were “self-evident” to them. Look at your neighbor and you will see that he you are no better than him; that he deserves life, liberty and happiness as much as you. Here is how the humorist H. L. Mencken put it in his “translation” of the Declaration of Independence: First, you and me is as good as anybody and maybe a damn sight better; second, nobody ain’t got no right to take away none of our rights; third, every man has got a right to live, to come and go as he pleases, and to have a good time however he likes, so long as he don’t interfere with nobody else. They may be satirical, but Mencken’s words show how simple and reasonable the promise of the nation actually is. Put in words anyone can understand, the truths of the Declaration do feel self-evident. We often hear that an education in American history is an education in American values, and at a certain level, that is true. Eleventh-grade U.S. History explains that the Founders believed in the right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” and to divided government, equality before the law, freedom of speech and worship, etc. But it does not teach us why they believed in these rights, or why we should believe in them. Love of American history and insistence on its importance will always come up against its own limits: because the Declaration is, among other things, a warning against conformity to history and to circumstance. A true education in American values reveals why they are self-evident. But the best guide, unquestionably, is ordinary experience, which returns me to those Fourth of July afternoons spent dodging parents and snatching candy out of the air.  By the time I was 13, July 4 had become the premier summer occasion for seeing as many of my friends as possible, in as many places as possible, over the course of a long afternoon and evening that everyone bargained to take off work. We roamed from the beach to the ice cream shop to the banks of the parade—sticky, sweaty, still children, but delighting in the freedom we had been given over a few dozen blocks of our suddenly metropolitan hometown. Love of freedom develops naturally. It cannot possibly be taught! If we are to take inspiration from the Founders, it should be from their ability to see the natural rights of all men as self-evident: to see in every one of our neighbors a life that should be happy and free. 

1976: Iowa City Development Board takes up Cat issue

July 1, 1976 • The Iowa City Development Board accepted Eldridge’s petition for the annexation of the land containing the Caterpillar plant in Mount Joy as an “exercise in procedure.” City attorney John Stonebraker met with representatives of the board to discuss the circumstances of the 10-year annexation moratorium between Eldridge and Davenport. Stonebraker said it was the first time in the board’s history that two cities have filed competing petitions, and the board was looking to the state Attorney General’s office for an opinion. • Rev. Raymond G. Hampton was named the new pastor at Eldridge United Methodist Church. He was set to succeed Rev. Robert S. Crandall. Rev. Hampton had been serving congregations in Woodbury County in western Iowa for the past eight years. He and his wife had two young daughters. • Norman Frye, a rural Davenport farmer and operator of Seven Cities Sod, created an invention he said would revolutionize volleyball. Capitalizing on the growing popularity of the sport, Frye invented the “Instant Vol-E-Ball,” a corkscrew anchor to support net poles. This would allow a volleyball net to be assembled in about two minutes, and it could be moved from place to place without wearing out the lawn. The “Instant Vol-E-Ball” was being manufactured by Olsen Engineering in Eldridge. • Peggy Geary pitched a no-hitter in the North Scott’s softball team’s 8-4 win over Western Dubuque. Geary fanned seven and walked five. The Lancer defense was plagued by errors throughout the game, but the offense made up for the mental mistakes. Koreen Knutson hit her third home run of the season. • Candidates for Miss Walcott included Lori Anderson, Kathy Curtis, Gail Dunt, Debbie Geurink, Julie Johnson, Kris Levetzow, Dawn Moeller, Julie Saling, Debbie Schiffke and Kelley Weisrock. July 2, 1986 • Lisa Danforth was crowned Queen of the Eldridge Summer Festival. Cathleen Collins and Tami Puls were named Summer Festival Princesses. • Eldridge city officials were reviewing the findings of a community survey conducted by the Bi-State Metropolitan Commission. The surveys were randomly sent to 213 Eldridge utility customers, representing approximately 22% of all Eldridge households, and the return rate was 79%. Preliminary results indicated Eldridge residents wanted a swimming pool, with 70% of those surveyed saying there was a need for such a facility. Other findings included a desire for a fast-food restaurant in town, and a better working relationship and communications between the city, Chamber of Commerce, civic groups and individuals. • North Scott’s assistant superintendent Dr. Arnold Lindaman was taking on a decidedly different role as he prepared to take the stage as Capt. Von Trapp in Countryside Community Theatre’s production of “The Sound of Music.” While he had performed in choirs in high school and at the University of Dubuque, this was Lindaman’s stage debut. His wife, Lois, was on the board of directors for CCT, and had encouraged him to audition. His stepson, Kevin Lindaman Dutcher, who was a professional actor and well-known on the North Scott stage, was also offering some tips to the budding thespian, although Lindaman still expressed some nerves. “I’m very concerned that I’ll goof it up and I’ll somehow spoil the whole production. But I must say that I am truly enjoying working with all the young children in the cast. They’re making it very worthwhile.” • Approximately 140 descendants of Philip Suiter met for a reunion in LeClaire and Hampton, Ill. This marked the 150th anniversary of Suiter settling in the LeClaire area, and the reunion was hosted by the Suiter Family Association. Suiter was the first licensed rapids pilot in the area. He was married three times and had 12 children, nine of whom lived to adulthood. Jim Suiter and his wife, Colleen, of Winston, Ore., travelled the furthest to attend the reunion. • Members of the Ed White Jogging Club included Steven Elvert, Andy Straley, Daryl Gerardy, Jill Hyer, Rachel Hedquist, Tracy Payton, Blake Hammon, Jenny Dammon, Jeremy Kohler, Tom Lund, Mark Pischke, Thane Lenig, Dorthy Armstrong, Danny Myers, Cory Radcliff and Andi Sharp. July 4, 2001 • Three men with North Scott connections experienced a miracle at sea. They were rescued after 12 hours adrift in the Atlantic Ocean on a disabled jet ski. Rob Hovey, son of Judy Hovey of Eldridge, Andy Claeys of rural Long Grove, and Mark Claeys of Sewell, N.J., all grandsons of Bob and Berniece Claeys of Eldridge, met up for a summer vacation in New Jersey. They went out on Mark’s three-man jet ski, which shorted out and became disabled. As they waited to be rescued, the jet ski took on water when thunderstorms rolled in. After hours of no contact, family on shore started the search effort, eventually getting local police and the Coast Guard involved. The three men were rescued shortly after 2:30 a.m. and were briefly hospitalized. I don’t believe in luck. I believe that God was with us the whole time, and our faith is what got us through this,” said Rob.  • The buffalo herd at the Buffalo Bill Cody Homestead expanded, as a baby was born to Belle, one of six adult bison at the homestead. The gender was yet to be determined, so the baby had not received a name so far, but it was estimated to be between 45-50 lbs. at birth. Sandy Reed, manager of the homestead, said a June birth was quite late, as most buffalo are born in early May, including the last two born at the McCausland historical site. • The Eldridge Utility Board was expected to discuss the city’s name and logo, which had been painted on the new water tower on South 16th Avenue. Some residents felt the logo was much too small for the size of the tower. According to city administrator John Dowd, the painting had been made to the dimensions originally specified. “It’s not a mistake,” he said. • Dick and Shirley Cole of Eldridge lived out a dream as they visited India. This was part of the couple’s continuing quest to learn more about the developing world. In addition to learning more about the culture, the Coles took in the sights, including a visit to the Taj Mahal. • The North Scott softball team was sitting atop the MAC with a 14-0 league record and a 34-3 overall mark. But Coach Dennis Johnson wasn’t getting too far ahead of himself. “At this point in the season, every game is big … All we’re doing is focusing on the next team on the schedule. We’ll just take them as they come.” The Lancers swept a tough Burlington squad, 1-0 and 3-0. That series was nearly delayed when the home plate umpire passed out from the pain of a broken collarbone. Another umpire was able to come and finish the series, and Johnson thanked the fans for their patience. July 6, 2011 • Officials from Eldridge and Long Grove were encouraged after bids came in well below an engineer’s estimate for a bike path to link the two communities. Hawkeye Paving of Bettendorf was awarded the project with a low bid of $621,671, much lower than the estimated $922,000. A grant from the Iowa Quad Cites Transportation Enhancement Program would pick up 80% of the total, with Eldridge and Long Grove contributing roughly $56,000 and the county paying $12,437. Eldridge city administrator John Dowd said this was great news, and meant Eldridge could now use some of the funds it planned to designate for the bike path on other projects. • The board of directors of the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau voted to close the Mississippi Valley Welcome Center in LeClaire. Joe Taylor, president and CEO of the QCCVB, said most travelers weren’t looking to stop at a welcome center to pick up paper brochures about local attractions and travel information, because cell phones and other mobile devices had made these methods obsolete. Taylor said his organization hoped to have a new information delivery service in place by early 2012. • An investigation by the Iowa State Auditor’s Office identified more than $65,000 in “improper and unsupported disbursements and estimated undeposited collections” in Stockton. This included nearly $25,000 in personal purchases made on the city credit card by the former city clerk, including cable TV from Mediacom and Dish Network, and whisky. Questions about city spending had been present in Stockton for quite some time, with the state auditor’s office receiving a petition from city residents in April of 2010, requesting an official audit. The clerk was placed on leave in August of 2010, and a new clerk was hired in late September of that year. • President Barack Obama paid a visit to the Alcoa plant in Riverdale, arguing the economy was taking a turn for the better. Obama said he made the trip to Alcoa because the company recently re-hired 240 laid-off employees and would soon hire another 60. “Here at this plant, the workers that were laid off during the darkest days of the recession have all been hired back,” he said. “And in fact, you guys are telling me that you’re thinking about hiring some more folks in the near future. That’s worth applauding.” • North Scott students visited the nation’s capital during the National History Day competition, with some getting the chance to meet with international diplomats. Sophomore Gretchen Mohr met the Belgian ambassador to discuss her project on the diplomacy of the Commission on Relief in Belgium, established by Herbert Hoover. Eighth graders Alex Bare and Allie Stutting also met with a public information officer from Finland. Meanwhile, sophomores Taylor Gehrls, Cydnie Carmody, Emma Hubner and Emily Bainter had the opportunity to meet Mary Beth Tinker, one of the plaintiffs in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Tinker vs. Des Moines, which redefined self-expression rights for students. This meeting took place at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of American History.  June 30, 2021 • As Scott County prepared to accept $32 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, four residents urged the Board of Supervisors to reconsider. These residents said the funds came with concessions and regulations they argued were vague or misguided or could be spent on projects they felt had nothing to do with the pandemic. “I’m concerned that some of this money is spent on things that really are nothing we should be spending money on, even our own money in the county,” said Mark VanDeWalle of Dixon. Former supervisor Diane Holst also expressed concerns about the impact of ARPA on the national debt. • Approximately 100 dairy farmers gathered at Cinnamon Ridge Farm in Donahue for a conference. Dairy experts admitted the industry was being out marketed by almond, oat and other alternative milks. Panelists also encouraged farmers to consider more accountability and traceability for their products. • Callie Joyce of Davenport and Cody Bockenstedt of Eldridge won the quarter-mile Strawberry Stampede, while Presley Moeller of Davenport and Jack McCarthy of Eldridge were the one-mile winners. Race director Scott Hoag said there were 333 registered participants, including 127 first-time runners. • The Eldridge City Council approved paying city administrator Lisa Kotter $3,000 in back pay before going into a fourth closed session to discuss her job performance. The closed session lasted about three hours, and the council set a fifth closed session as part of the July 6 city council meeting.  • The North Scott baseball team was on a heater, having won 18 of the last 21 games. The team was looking for a favorable substate draw and was expected to be the No. 2 seed. If things held, the team would likely face Clinton in the opening round. “We just have to keep doing what we’re doing and keep grinding it out,” said co-coach Travis Ralfs.

Eldridge council on 'witch hunt' over Schneckloth

I have been following this dispute between the City and Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department for the last several months. Through the Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau, I had the pleasure of teaching a FF2 class in Eldridge this past winter. There were eight members from Eldridge in this class along with several others from neighboring departments. This certification is not required by the department, nor the state, they took it to enhance their knowledge to better serve the citizens. This class was 60 hours and met twice a week, with state testing to come later. I do live in the North Scott area and volunteer for a neighboring department, so I am in tune with the demands placed on the members. There is a volunteer shortage nationwide. The city of Eldridge has reached a tipping point that it really needs to consider hiring paid personnel at least during normal Monday through Friday business hours. I was employed by the City of Davenport for 26 years and I know conversations were had with the Fire Chief about providing coverage for Eldridge. It would be substantially higher than what the Eldridge Fire Department proposed. In parting, I have known Keith Schneckloth both personally and  through the fire service brotherhood for years. He has given countless hours to the community and is a huge asset. It appears the council is on a witch hunt to have him removed. City council, wake up, you have a good thing.   Kelly Johnson Walcott  

Iowa Medicaid should cover GLP-1 medication

As the summer kicks off, many Iowans will be spending time at the pool, outdoors, and BBQing. This time of year, is a natural reminder of how much we value health and community. Which brings us to an issue worth closer examination: should Iowa Medicaid cover GLP-1 medications? Some will say, “No, the state shouldn’t pay for someone’s weight loss.” But that framing misses the point. Obesity is a chronic disease, and GLP-1s are the evidence-based treatment. Iowa Medicaid already covers statins for heart disease, antihypertensives for high blood pressure, and insulin for diabetes. These are the diseases most caused by obesity in the first place. It is difficult to justify covering the complications of a condition while refusing to cover treatment for the condition itself. In Iowa, 72% of adults are overweight or obese. The state is already paying for hospital stays, disability claims, and long-term treatment. GLP-1 coverage addresses the root cause before those costs compound. Research shows that Medicaid investment in obesity treatment returns an estimated $8.57 for every dollar spent at the state level. This matters especially in rural Iowa, where hospitals are strained, specialists are scarce, and preventing a single serious health event can mean the difference between a community keeping its local hospital or losing it. Covering GLP-1s through Medicaid is not about paying for weight loss. Iowa already foots the bill for the results of obesity. It’s time to cover the drug that can prevent and treat it.   Jeanita McNulty Blue Grass

Respect to Vargas for putting family first

I want to express my sincere respect for Rita Vargas and her decision to withdraw from the race for Scott County Recorder. Caring for loved ones facing Parkinson’s disease and dementia is an enormous responsibility that places significant emotional, physical, and personal demands on a family. I understand the difficult choices that come with putting family first during such challenging times. This situation is especially meaningful to me because my own father suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. I witnessed firsthand the toll that these illnesses can take on both those affected and the family members who care for them. My thoughts are with Rita, her brother, her husband, and their entire family as they navigate these challenges together. Public service is important, but family comes first. I thank Rita for her years of service to Scott County and pray for her strength and comfort in the days ahead.   Michael E. Wulf Republican Candidate for Scott County Recorder Walcott

FDA scientists flag concerns with peptides, the trendy molecules RFK Jr. supports

Documents reviewing the research on peptides note lack of good evidence of efficacy or safety. Yet an FDA panel will consider easing access to them later this month.

'Guys and Dolls' begins at Countryside this week

Countryside Community Theatre opens its summer season with the classic musical comedy, “Guys and Dolls.” There will be two performances this week, Friday, July 3, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 5, at 2 p.m., followed by four performances next week, Thursday, July 9, Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 12, at 2 p.m. All performances will be in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. Set in a mythical version of New York City, “Guys and Dolls” follows two love stories. As gambler Nathan Detroit tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town, his girlfriend, Miss Adelaide has some complaints – namely that they’ve been engaged for 14 years with no wedding in sight. Nathan turns to his fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for help with the game and ends up making a bet with Sky. He challenges Sky to take a woman of Nathan’s choosing on a date to Havana, Cuba. Sky accepts and ends up attempting to woo strait-laced missionary Sarah Brown. The show features music by Frank Loesser, including many well-known classics like “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Adelaide’s Lament,” “Luck be a Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat.” Director Eric Field calls the show “a colorful gem serving as a love letter to urban America 80 years ago.” Field is no stranger to the show, having played Nathan Detroit in a production of “Guys and Dolls” in 2009. He said he appreciates the complexities of the show’s dual romances. “Both Sky and his colleague Nathan Detroit are in positions where they stand to lose everything. It's not about the money they lose; that can always be won back. Both of them realize it's the ‘dolls’ in their lives that give them a purpose.” And, despite the show premiering in the 1950s, he said it’s still surprisingly modern. “The depiction of gender was still very progressive for its time, with Adelaide and Sarah as strong characters often having the upper hand on Nathan and Sky. The gender depiction is also present in the dynamics of the ensemble as well, with several of our females assuming the roles of male crapshooters.” The cast includes: Tim Dominicus (Nicely-Nicely Johnson); Joseph Nguyen (Benny Southwest); Nate Gahagen (Rusty Charlie/Harry the Horse/Hot Box Waiter); Emily Martyka (Sarah Brown); Anthony Dexter (Arvide Abernathy); Janeen Mack (Agatha); Mike Mack (Calvin/Master of Ceremonies/Drunk); Erin Field (Martha/Havana Dancer); Wayne Hess (Lt. Brannigan/Joey Biltmore); Chase Crull (Nathan Detroit); Veronika Lang (Angie the Ox/Adult Ensemble); Courtney Cooper (Miss Adelaide); Tommy Ratkiewicz (Sky Masterson); Andria Pic (Mimi/Hot Box Dancer/Havana Dancer); Yvonne Siddique (General Martha B. Cartwright); Chip Witt (Big Jule/Havana Waiter); Jamie Montoto (Adult Ensemble); Jai Schnaufer (Adult Ensemble); Maya Gibson (Hot Box Dancer); Dawn Lang (Hot Box Dancer/Adult Ensemble); Mikael Gibson (Adult Ensemble); Kate Holson (Adult Ensemble); Ellen Field (Children’s Ensemble); Lisee Field (Children’s Ensemble); Oakly Mack (Children’s Ensemble); Onale Mack (Children's Ensemble); Osmin Mack (Children's Ensemble); Eli Seneli (Children's Ensemble); Emma Miller (Hot Box Dancer) “Guys and Dolls” is directed by Eric Field. The music director is Laura Engels. The technical director is Dylan Rutledge. Choreography is by Caroline Sieren. The show is produced by Jen Lineback and Anthony Dexter. The costume designer is Emma Miller. Stage manager is Binx Hilton. The sound designer is Hannah Griffin. Props master is Kari Thoren. Binx Hilton is scenic designer and projection operator. The pit orchestra is directed by George Behnke. The pit orchestra includes Tabitha Tschirhart (piano); Collin Meinert (strings); Stella Lundh (bass); Pete Philhower (drums); Joseph Boyd (percussion); Addie Shirkey (Reed 1 – piccolo/flute/clarinet/alto sax); Evan James (Reed 2 – clarinet/flute/alto sax); Russell Firsching (Reed 3 – oboe/English horn/tenor sax); Alissa Skinner (Reed 4 – bass clarinet/clarinet/tenor sax); Dale Faber (Reed 5 – bass clarinet/clarinet/baritone sax); Jackson Windus (Trumpet 1); Katie Kanzaki (Trumpet 2); Brenden Hinspeter (Trumpet 3); AJ Skinner (trombone); Linnea Arnell (horn). Tickets are $20 at the door or in advance at countryside.booktix.com. For more information, visit countrysideqc.org.

Musser Public Library, Muscatine, updating hours and services beginning July 1

Musser Public Library responds to funding reductions with operational changes.

Iowans consider the Declaration 250 years on

As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Iowans are gathering in libraries and community spaces to consider what the document meant in 1776 and what its ideals ask of citizens today. The gatherings are part of "What Do We Stand For?: The Declaration of Independence on Its 250th Anniversary," a statewide series led by Scott Samuelson, a professor of practice with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development and the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. The Iowa series is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a national initiative developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage to support community-driven programs across the country. Iowans participating in the series have repeatedly returned to a common idea: Responding to polarization and strengthening civic life begin with talking to neighbors, participating in local government and gathering face to face. At each gathering, Samuelson begins by asking participants what they believe America stands for. After hearing a range of answers, he turns to the Declaration and asks what it says the country stands for. "This country was founded by farmers who studied philosophy," Samuelson said. “I'm happy bringing philosophy and farmers, and all other Iowans, together again.” Samuelson discusses the Declaration's history and philosophical background before inviting participants to consider whether its principles remain worth standing for, what it means to uphold them and how people might approach current disagreements in their spirit. "I don't want us to get into a political battle about a certain issue, but I do want us to think a little bit about what it would mean to approach those issues in the spirit of these things, if we still indeed believe in these things," Samuelson said. Participants often lament the country's polarization, Samuelson said. At the same time, their conversations reveal how much they share and how strongly the Declaration's central principles continue to resonate when people take time to examine what those values mean. "I've been struck by how, even though I don't push this, people's conversation tends to go to the idea that the best way to fix this stuff is at the local level," Samuelson said. “We can't wait around for the macro stuff to just change on its own.” Iowans have discussed learning more about history and civics, becoming involved in local government and politics, talking with neighbors, and creating opportunities for people to gather around shared interests. Since the series began in March, Samuelson has led discussions in public libraries and community spaces around the state, including events in Jesup, Johnston, Clarinda and Des Moines. Libraries have proved to be particularly fitting settings for the conversations. "They have been a really wonderful meeting place for people," Samuelson said. “You really see how important they are for the life of a community.” Samuelson has also worked with the Lyceum Movement, a Des Moines nonprofit inspired by the historic American lyceum tradition, to offer discussions in Des Moines. Samuelson developed "What Do We Stand For?" in partnership with Humanities Iowa with support from a By the People grant. For Samuelson, the discussions are successful when the ideas considered in the room continue into community life. "I see it as a big success when participants leave with that kind of renewed sense of civic engagement," he said.

USDA rule could boost adoption of regenerative farming practices

Farmers growing corn and soybeans for biofuels can now quantify the carbon intensity of crops grown with certain regenerative agriculture practices, due to a recently finalized federal rule. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regenerative Feedstock Rule will allow farmers to “capture new value” from agricultural practices like cover crops and reduced tillage, according to a news release from the department. According to the finalized rule, the production of corn accounts for more than 50% of the direct greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing corn ethanol, and nearly 50% of soybean biodiesel emissions are attributable to the feedstock crop production. The greenhouse gas emissions associated with growing corn and soybeans can be reduced with the “low-carbon practices” outlined in the final rule. These tools include reduced tillage, cover crops and nitrification inhibitors. Farmers can also lower the carbon intensity score of a feedstock by following nutrient management guidelines that specify nutrient budgets based on current soil testing and are verified by a third party. According to the final rule, these practices, which in earlier iterations of proposed rules were called “climate-smart agriculture” practices, generally reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase soil-carbon sequestration. The adoption of these practices can lower the greenhouse gas emissions of biofuel production and “provide other environmental benefits” like improved water quality and soil health, according to the final rule. Along with the finalized rule, USDA released an updated carbon intensity calculator to help farmers “quantify regenerative practices” and market their feedstocks accordingly. The carbon intensity score of a feedstock is important to low-carbon biofuel producers, as these fuels must be produced within certain total greenhouse gas emissions limits – from the field to distillation. Low-carbon intensity feedstocks can help biofuel producers fit within these limits. The finalized rule was celebrated by crop and biofuel groups in Iowa, who also called for the adoption of the rule into a U.S. Department of Energy model essential to receiving low-carbon fuel tax credits known as 45Z tax credits. The renewable fuels industry has also looked to carbon sequestration pipelines as a way to lower the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels, but such projects have faced pushback in Iowa. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw called the finalization of the USDA rule a “great step forward” and said farmers can benefit from adopting regenerative practices, while biofuels producers will be able to source low-carbon intensity feedstocks and access “massive new markets.” “And maybe most importantly, biofuels production will now be the single biggest driver of regenerative ag practices that improve water quality throughout rural America,” Shaw said in a news release. Shaw said the DOE needs to “expeditiously” incorporate the USDA tool into the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies, or GREET, model that stipulates the life cycle emissions levels a biofuel must be produced within to qualify for the 45Z tax credit. “The Treasury Department must immediately recognize that updated model in time for farmers to make decisions this fall,” Shaw said. “It may seem a little early when this year’s harvest isn’t even out of the ground yet, but many farmers will already be making decisions by August that will impact the (carbon intensity) of next year’s crop.” Mark Mueller, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, said the new rule will “jumpstart” opportunities for growers in Iowa who “are committed to doing what’s right for the land and the environment.” “For years, Iowa corn farmers have led the nation in adoption and implementation of conservation practices, and today’s USDA rule provides a framework to reward conservation-minded farmers who are stewards of the land,” Mueller said in a news release. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order Friday calling for the advancement of regenerative agriculture practices. The order connects the practices to the administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative. “It is the policy of the United States to promote continued advances in precision agriculture technologies; significantly increase Federal investment in regenerative agriculture practices, research, and education; and spur private-sector innovation in farm modernization by reducing red tape and strengthening public-private partnerships,” the order said. In addition to regenerative agriculture practices, the order also urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to prioritize the registration of substances that can be used as alternatives to “older active ingredients.” It also encouraged EPA to support research into the impacts of chemical exposures on human health. A news release from USDA said the executive order and finalized rule represent the “most significant market-driven effort ever undertaken to reward America’s farmers for voluntarily implementing regenerative practices.” Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the initiatives were examples of Trump’s “America First agenda.” “(The rule) put farmers, not Washington bureaucrats, in the driver’s seat,” Rollins said in the release. “Instead of mandates, we’re creating market opportunities. Farmers who choose to implement regenerative practices will have new opportunities to earn premium prices, lower their input costs, improve soil health, and strengthen the long-term profitability of their operations.”

Community Matters Live webinars to cover wind energy, data centers and city budgeting

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development has announced three upcoming sessions of Community Matters Live, a monthly webinar series for people involved in housing, planning, local government and community development work across Iowa. Community Matters Live spotlights timely topics affecting Iowa communities and brings together Extension specialists, researchers and other experts who work with local decision-makers. Each session features practical information and examples that participants can apply in their own communities. "From energy costs to data center development to city budgeting, these topics are already part of conversations in communities across Iowa," said Jen Hargrove, community development specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “Community Matters Live gives local officials and partners a way to explore those issues with experts and think through what they may mean locally.” The series is intended for local elected officials, city and county staff, planners, zoning officials, economic development professionals, community partners, nonprofit staff, board and commission members, and others involved in community decision-making. Upcoming Sessions July 22, noon to 1 p.m. - Utilizing Distributed Wind for Energy Cost Reduction in Private and Public Sectors Learn how distributed wind technology may help lower energy costs and build energy resiliency for agricultural operations, small businesses and homes. The session will also address local government considerations related to permitting, zoning, and site selection. Aug. 26, noon to 1 p.m. - Understanding the Development of Data Centers with the Penn State University Research and Extension Network for Data Centers Learn how communities can navigate the potential development of a data center locally, including site selection, utility usage, permitting, zoning, environmental impact and related topics. Sept. 23, noon to 1 p.m. - Doing More with Less: Changing Realities in City Budgeting Join a panel discussion on how communities are navigating challenging budget decisions while planning for the next fiscal year. The session will explore how cities are managing growth limits, stretching local dollars and considering creative solutions to complex budget issues. For more information or questions about the series, email cedcml@iastate.edu.

'Lunch and learn' webinars for food business owners

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Food Innovation and Business Hub, a resource that helps Iowa entrepreneurs develop successful food businesses, will continue its monthly Lunch and Learn webinar series in 2026. The webinars are offered at no cost and open to all. The series is specifically designed for food business owners, farmers exploring value-added products and individuals in the early stages of developing a food-based enterprise. Christa Hartsook, program manager for Farm, Food and Enterprise Development at ISU Extension and Outreach, said the series will help participants move closer to regulatory compliance and profitability. “These bite‑sized lunch and learn webinars are designed specifically for small food business owners," said Hartsook. “We’ll offer real-world experiences and practical tips on everything from food safety to marketing to using AI efficiently in your business. Bring your lunch and leave with ideas you can use.” Each session will begin at noon on its respective date and feature a presentation from Iowa State food business and food safety experts, followed by an open question-and-answer session. Webinar schedule and registration July 7: Food Innovation and Business Hub Analytical Services Aug. 4: Shelf-Stable Frostings Sept. 1: An Intro to AI in Your Small Food Business Oct. 6: Food Marketing Tactics That Work Nov. 3: All About the Sauce Dec. 1: Shelf-Stable Frostings For more information about the Food Innovation and Business Hub and the webinar series, contact Hartsook at hartc@iastate.edu.

Dairy goat field day July 29

Current and prospective dairy goat producers are invited to attend the Dairy Economics and Facility Tour in eastern Iowa on July 29, led by Larry Tranel, extension dairy specialist with Iowa State University.  Participants will hear from Tranel, as well as regional goat producers, on efficient goat facility design, maintenance and management. The 2025 Iowa dairy goat financial study will also be shared. “This tour aims to assist the dairy goat industry in understanding the importance of management and facility techniques and tools to develop more profitable dairy goat operations,” said Tranel. The tour will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Paul Borntrager Farm, located at 5292 Cosgrove Road SW, Kalona. At 11 a.m., the tour will continue at the Mervin Ropp Farm, located at 5181 Cosgrove Road SW, Kalona.  Following a lunch break, the tour will reconvene at 1:30 p.m., where participants will visit two facilities at the Truman Bontrager Farm, located at 2655 480th Street SW, Iowa City. The tour will conclude around 3:15 p.m. Registration is not required for the tour. Participants are responsible for bringing their own lunch and for transportation between farms. For more information, contact Larry Tranel at 563-580-6635 or tranel@iastate.edu. This work is supported by the Sustainable Agricultural Systems project award number 2024-68012-41749, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Civility advocates look for ways to restore ‘Iowa Nice’ to campaigns, public discourse

As the 2026 general election nears, Iowa’s airwaves have been consumed by political attack advertisements, while concerns of physical attacks have come up in campaigns and the Iowa Statehouse. A bipartisan group of former and current officeholders is encouraging civility in order to change the mood of politics statewide, advocating for civic participation and civil interactions with people who think differently. Scott Raecker, executive director of the Robert D. and Billy Ray Center at Drake University, said the rise of social media has led to incivility in everyday life, especially in political conversations. “I think civility has certainly declined over the last several decades, including on social media and the anonymity of being able to make comments,” Raecker said. “The conversations are not just political, but political manifestations are clearly there.” Raecker said there has been a rise in political violence in the U.S., citing the assassination of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman at her home in June 2025 and the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. “The height of incivility is violence, and there have certainly been instances of heightened incivility recently,” Raecker said. Former gubernatorial candidate Adam Steen said he received a death threat in May during a campaign event in Oskaloosa, as a man repeatedly called the Smokey Row coffee shop, threatening to “shoot and stab” anyone who attended, including Steen. Steen, a Republican, lost his bid for his party’s nomination in the June 2 primary. Senate President Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, addressed rising political violence in the U.S. at the beginning of the 2026 legislative session, citing the shooting of Hortman and another Democratic Minnesota lawmaker, and the September 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Sinclair encouraged members of both the Republican and Democratic parties to tone down rhetoric during her speech, advocating for civil discourse. “I watched in horror this past year as two of our neighboring colleagues were targeted and shot in their own homes. Melissa Hortman and her husband did not deserve to die. John Hoffman and his wife did not deserve to be critically injured for serving the citizens of Minnesota,” Sinclair said in January. “My heart grieved when a young man was callously murdered for speaking the truth. Charlie Kirk’s life was more valuable and his call to civil discourse more powerful than the bullet that took him from us in a time where our nation and our state, even our neighborhoods, have become divided along party lines, left and right, right and wrong, good and evil.” Raecker, who served in the Iowa House of Representatives as a Republican for nearly 14 years, said that during his time in office, he had received two threatening emails he thought were serious enough to turn over to law enforcement, which he said was common protocol. Raecker added that he never believed he was in danger of being shot and killed in his own home while serving, and heightened incivility has become more prevalent in recent years. In addition to social media, social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and misinformation are contributing factors to the rise of polarization and incivility, Raecker said. “There are multiple contributing factors. I think social media and the lack of intentionality of building relationships is clearly there, and COVID-19 had an impact on that,” Raecker said. “Sometimes, opinions are being driven by false facts in some cases, and people are deeply rooted in ‘I’m right, you’re wrong’ without seeking to understand what experiences other people have had that would shape a different worldview for them.” Kelly Shaw, co-director of the Center for Cyclone Civics and professor at Iowa State University, said social media and partisan news networks have negatively shaped how young Iowans encounter politics, with facts and debates being replaced by personal attacks and culture wars. “We’ve seen students become a little less engaged in terms of their understanding of civic literacy, but not only the understanding, but their ability to engage in conversations about politics from a perspective of knowledge, as opposed to from a perspective of the culture wars that we’ve been seeing, particularly for the last 15 or 20 years in our politics,” Shaw said. Shaw added that people will criticize different worldviews and political opinions as “bad faith” arguments, citing an increase in name-calling and hostility, “Increasingly, we see that we no longer just disagree on policy issues, but we also now kind of characterize our opponents in these policy issues as acting in bad faith,” Shaw said. “It’s really difficult to build policy coalitions and get things done pragmatically when our disagreements move from political disagreements to ‘I can’t work with you because you’re an idiot.’”  Nationalization of politics Shaw, who is also the former mayor of Indianola, said political incivility prevalent on the federal level has bled into state and local politics. Incivility among city officials with different viewpoints increased over the duration of his two four-year terms, he said. While campaigning for mayor, Shaw said he would knock on the doors of Indianola residents, and they would ask him about his opinions on the Second Amendment and reproductive healthcare, policy issues the mayor has no control over. “Those are issues that mayors have absolutely no control over, but often, people who answered the door oftentimes wouldn’t know my position on that, so I would tell them, because you know, there’s no point in lying about those types of things,” Shaw said. “You could even see then the nationalization of politics trickling down to the state and the local levels then.” Shaw said that during the 2026 primary elections in Iowa, federal issues like the U.S. war in Iran and immigration were some of the top issues, and those will have a major impact on campaigns and the general election in November. Raecker said one of his biggest concerns heading into the general election is the abundance of attack advertisements that have infiltrated Iowans’ screens, specifically, in the 2026 gubernatorial race. Consistent negativity adds to the perception that others with different worldviews are vilified as people, he said. “I think it’s a constant concern that when people see things that they perceive as negative and uncivil, there can be legitimate disagreement on that position, but to turn someone’s position on that on either side to vilify them personally as a person, those things concern me,” Raecker said. “What concerns me most in the long term is the continuation of negative personalized ads. It shapes other parts of our culture, it shapes how we talk to people or don’t talk to people in our own workplaces.” Lawmaker cites decline of bipartisan legislative work Democratic state Sen. Art Staed of Cedar Rapids has served in both the Iowa House and Senate for a combined 16 years. Staed said collaboration between Democrats and Republicans has decreased in the Iowa Legislature over several years, citing that Republicans have gained more power, maintaining partisan control over the governor’s office, Senate and House of Representatives since 2017. Staed added that Iowa’s reputation of being “Iowa Nice” when it comes to its politics is “superficial,” and depends on the individuals. “I’m not sure it was ever the case of looking at things and portraying them as being nice, and superficially, on the surface they are between people with courtesy and for some, it doesn’t mean that they accept their beliefs, or that they don’t discriminate against them.” Staed said despite Republicans holding a trifecta, there is still camaraderie between different members of parties, but when it comes to more controversial legislative issues that bleed into national politics, Democrats in the Legislature get “shut out.” Staed emphasized the importance of civic participation and education in Iowa in order to maintain not only civility, but also democracy. “In the past, people thought their only responsibility was to vote. They didn’t have to be involved, go to the forums, ask questions, and make politicians accountable,” Staed said. “Participation is an important part of democracy. We need accountability and checks and balances, and we don’t really have those right now. Voters get to decide that in November.” Universities look to encourage civility Raecker said one of the Robert D. and Billy Ray Center’s outreach efforts is to educate public officials on civility, saying that the conferences have led to increased bipartisan collaboration in Iowa. “We are very intentional about culture‑shaping and civility in the public arena, specifically at the state legislative level,” Raecker said. “At Drake University, we’ve hosted the National Summit on Civility for Municipal Leadership and Governance, bringing together elected and nonelected officials from across the country to dig into what they can do to be better and how they address challenging issues in that environment.” Raecker said his experience as a state legislator has helped with the Robert D. and Billy Ray Center’s efforts, and some rules he helped implement in the Iowa Appropriations Committee are still active today, despite leaving the House in 2012. “Several years ago, I chaired the Appropriations Committee in the state of Iowa House,” Raecker said. “I sat down with the ranking member at the time, Tyler Olson. We had a 90‑minute lunch, and we asked ourselves and had a discussion about what it would take for us to do our best work and treat each other with care and respect in the Appropriations Committee process.” Shaw said the Center for Cyclone Civics is looking to encourage civility by registering students to vote and bringing in guest speakers with different ideological beliefs from different political parties. “At the end of the day, we want to give students a toolbox for civic engagement, the skills and disposition to go out and participate in politics, education or local government with an understanding of how it’s supposed to work and an appreciation for our institutions,” Shaw said.

Police use of artificial intelligence grows as rules lag behind

Hundreds of people fill a downtown street for a protest, waving signs and chanting as they march past businesses and government buildings. Overhead, a police drone records video of the crowd. Nearby traffic cameras and license plate readers capture faces, vehicles and movements along the route. With artificial intelligence, experts say, hours of footage can be analyzed in minutes, making it easier for police to track or target a participant long after the demonstration ends. As law enforcement agencies increasingly embrace AI, some civil liberties advocates, legal scholars and policing experts warn that the technology could amplify surveillance, introduce hidden biases into investigations and make it harder to challenge evidence in court. They also worry about a future in which AI takes on a more active role in policing and criminal investigations. “It’s especially concerning sort of the ways that these tools could supercharge that kind of surveillance and enforcement,” said Rachel Levinson-Waldman, the director of the liberty and national security program at the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy organization at the New York University School of Law. Levinson-Waldman has written extensively about the risks of police surveillance and the unregulated use of AI in policing. Artificial intelligence in policing is not new. For decades, law enforcement agencies have used data-driven and automated tools, including facial recognition systems, automated license plate readers, predictive policing models and video analytics that can flag objects or activity in recorded footage. What is changing is the speed, scope and complexity of those tools. As police departments accumulate growing volumes of digital evidence — from body camera footage and surveillance video to jail calls, social media records and case files — AI is increasingly being used to help sort, search and analyze that information. “AI is going to basically be able to sort through otherwise overwhelming amounts of data in ways that we just haven’t seen yet, and give police and prosecutors and the government a lot more power over us in ways that I think will be deeply uncomfortable for many of us,” said Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, a law professor at George Washington University and the author of “Your Data Will Be Used Against You: Policing in the Age of Self-Surveillance,” a book published this year. Cris Moore, a computer scientist and professor at the Santa Fe Institute, a research and education center, said the technology is advancing faster than agencies, regulators and courts are able to fully assess its implications, raising questions about transparency, accountability and the role automated systems should play in policing decisions. “It’s fair to say that the speed at which technologically created evidence has been adopted, and the aggression with which it’s being pushed makes it hard for the legal community to keep up,” Moore said. State legislatures and police departments are still developing rules to govern how AI can be used in public safety settings. While some agencies have adopted internal policies or vendor-specific guidance, there is no consistent national framework, and state-level approaches remain limited and uneven. At least two states, California and Utah, have recently enacted laws regulating the use of generative AI in police report writing, requiring disclosure when AI is used and adding safeguards around accuracy and oversight. More broadly, more than a dozen states have passed laws regulating related technologies such as facial recognition, drone surveillance and automated license plate readers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Emerging tech Some of the major companies offering AI-powered tools for law enforcement include Axon, Motorola Solutions, TRULEO, Flock Safety, Clearview AI and others. Their products can search body-worn camera footage, analyze large datasets, review digital evidence and case files and identify potential suspects through facial recognition. Some of these systems are built into centralized platforms that are able to pull and search for data from sensitive databases and police records. Mark43, a cloud-based software company serving more than 300 public safety agencies, offers two AI-powered tools. ReportAI helps officers draft reports using information from dispatch records and body camera footage, while BriefAI summarizes case information for investigators and supervisors. Police agencies can choose which AI features to enable and who can access them, and the system maintains audit logs of AI-assisted activity. Mark43 told Stateline that dozens of agencies are using, testing out  or evaluating the AI features. “Our core mission is to help responders spend less time on administrative work, so that they can spend more time serving in their communities,” said Wendy Gilbert, Mark43’s senior vice president of product. Some experts are wary of AI being used for decisions that could affect a person’s rights or freedom, such as identifying suspects, recommending enforcement actions or influencing arrests. Critics warn that AI-generated outputs can make mistakes, reflect biases in underlying data and create a risk that officers or investigators place too much weight on the technology’s recommendations. They also argue that many AI systems operate in ways that are difficult for the public — and sometimes even officers — to fully understand. One source of concern is the possible advent of “agentic policing.” Future technologies could integrate body-camera footage, camera networks and other data sources into a single system capable of generating investigative leads, identifying potential suspects or suggesting connections between cases. Even if humans remain responsible for final decisions, critics say, such systems could shape investigative judgments in ways that make it more difficult to understand how conclusions were reached. “All that data is going to be dumped into an AI model, and they’re going to query it to say who’s the most likely suspect,” said Ferguson of George Washington University. “The AI is going to be running the agentic analysis of it and come up with the answer, and then police and prosecutors have to kind of work backwards to see if it’s accurate.” Ferguson warned that this flips the traditional investigative process on its head. “We’ve never started with an answer and made people work backwards,” he said. “There are very real constitutional, statutory and practical risks with this new model of agentic policing.” AI companies and some law enforcement agencies argue the technology is designed to assist officers, not replace them. They emphasize that officers are responsible for reviewing, verifying and approving AI-generated information, and that the tools are intended to reduce administrative work and help people navigate large volumes of data more efficiently. “AI should increase accountability, not reduce it, and so we’re doing everything in our will to provide transparency, governance and human control,” said Zach Barden, the lead product manager for AI at Mark43. In recent years, a growing number of police officers across the country have been accused of misusing AI-powered tools, including automated license plate reader systems, available through their departments to track people for personal reasons. In April, a former Costa Mesa, California, police officer pleaded guilty to using law enforcement databases and Flock Safety cameras to monitor his wife, a mistress and several romantic rivals. Similar allegations have surfaced in Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Flock Safety, one of the nation’s largest providers of automated license plate readers, uses roadside cameras to capture images and video of passing vehicles, including license plates and basic vehicle details, and store them in searchable law enforcement databases. Some communities have reconsidered their use of automated license plate reader systems, with at least 30 cities ending or canceling contracts since early 2025 amid growing concerns about surveillance and data sharing, NPR reported in February. A Flock Safety representative was not available for an interview with Stateline before publication. In a May blog post, the company said misuse of its system is rare and noted that permanent audit logs help identify and investigate improper access. The company said the camera network has helped agencies recover missing people, connect cases across jurisdictions and identify suspects more quickly. Reshaping public safety operations While some law enforcement agencies have moved forward with early deployments, others are taking a more cautious approach as they assess potential benefits and risks. In Maryland, the Montgomery County Police Department, one of the state’s largest law enforcement agencies, is in the early stages of exploring potential uses of AI, including tools to support non-emergency call handling, translation and transcription services, and report writing to reduce administrative workload and improve efficiency. “We want to bring technology to policing, but we need to make sure that we do it safe(ly), we do it efficiently, and that when we do do it, we’re setting the community and ourselves up for success,” said Capt. Cody Fields, the director of the police department’s media and public information division. In Arkansas, officials are developing the Arkansas Criminal Intelligence Network, a centralized cloud platform designed to connect data across police agencies in the state and support the use of advanced AI-powered analytical tools. In Hawaii, the Maui County Council earlier this month approved a $1.7 million expansion of high-tech policing tools, including cameras and drones supported by AI to assist with real-time monitoring and emergency response. Last year, the Honolulu Police Department announced a pilot program with Axon, which offers a generative AI feature that helps draft police reports using video and audio transcriptions from body-worn cameras. Legal and evidentiary concerns Police reports often play a critical role in investigations and court proceedings, and some experts warn that errors introduced by AI systems could have significant legal consequences if they go undetected. Errors introduced by AI systems, including inaccuracies, omissions or misinterpretations of context and language, could influence how evidence is understood by investigators, prosecutors and judges. Experts and industry leaders generally point to a few safeguards: clear disclosure when AI is used in reports, mandatory human verification of all AI-generated text, regular independent auditing of tools, and training for law enforcement and legal stakeholders on how the systems function and how to trace outputs back to raw audio, video and other source evidence. Those recommendations align with a framework released earlier this year by the nonpartisan think tank Council on Criminal Justice, which calls for rigorous independent validation of AI systems, enforceable procurement standards, ongoing performance monitoring, and clear human oversight to ensure operators can override AI-generated outputs. “The pace of change is really pretty dramatic, and there’s a lot of energy and churn and attention to these issues,” said Jesse Rothman, the director of the Council on Criminal Justice’s task force on artificial intelligence. “The opportunities and the risks are really serious.”

Hot weather should ‘boost’ behind-schedule corn and soybeans

Iowa corn and soybean crops are behind last year’s pace by several percentage points, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Crop Progress and Condition Report. One percent of corn in Iowa was reported as silking for the June 22-28 reporting period, which is 2 percentage points behind the same week in 2025, but only 1 percentage point behind the five-year average. The report shows 18% of soybean acres across the state are blooming. That’s 3 percentage points behind last year’s soybean crop, but ahead of the five-year average which shows 16% of soybean acres have typically bloomed in the last full week of June. Despite being behind schedule, corn and soybeans continue to rate well in Iowa. Corn rated 78% good to excellent and soybeans rated 75% good to excellent for the period. Oats, on the other hand, are ahead of last year’s crop and the five-year average. According to the report, 94% of the crop had headed as of June 28, which is 5 percentage points ahead of 2025 reports and the five-year average. Oats rated 81% good to excellent. Around 20% of subsoil and topsoil in Iowa was soggy in the previous reporting period, but soil moisture conditions dried up after a week of below-average precipitation. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship reported 69% of topsoil moisture conditions and 67% of subsoil moisture conditions were adequate during the reporting period. Only around 10% of subsoil and topsoil were rated as having surplus moisture for the week. State Climatologist Justin Glisan’s weekly weather summary found the statewide average precipitation during the reporting period was just over seven-tenths of an inch. The normal for the period is 1.20 inches. Temperatures across Iowa, at an average of 68.2 degrees Fahrenheit were nearly 4 degrees below the climatological normal for the reporting period, according Glisan. A heat wave settled across Iowa on Sunday and the National Weather Service anticipates the extreme temperatures will persist through the July 4 holiday weekend. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the hot temperatures this week should “give the crops a boost.” Naig said the nation’s 250th anniversary on Saturday should serve as a reminder that “agriculture has always been central to our nation’s story.” “Our farmers have helped feed, fuel and sustain America since its founding, and they will continue to play a vital role in our nation’s strength, security and prosperity for the next 250 years,” Naig said in a news release.

Taylor Ingram promoted to head volleyball coach

North Scott’s next varsity volleyball head coach comes with state championship pedigree. On June 15, the North Scott School Board approved Taylor Ingram as the next Lady Lancers leader, succeeding Brian Schubert who took the head volleyball coaching position at Black Hawk College in April. Ingram was a varsity assistant last season under Schubert and helped lead North Scott to the Class 4A championship. Ingram, who is already out at Lancer volleyball open gyms and preparing for youth camp this week, is thrilled to have this new opportunity. “It is exciting to be part of a program like this,” Ingram said. “I want a program that can grow, especially with the youth program. With the seniors coming in, and the freshmen and sophomores coming up, I’m excited.” From the eyes of North Scott athletic director Jason Schroeder, her hire was a hit with the program. “When the girls found out, they were excited. They are excited and ready to go,” Schroeder said. “(Ingram’s) persona and how well she relates to the kids is what stood out to me. She’ll be a great person with that. And she makes it more than just volleyball. The relationship building will be there too. “We talk once or twice a week, and they are not short conversations. She is always positive, asking questions, you know, what can we do differently? We have youth camps and summer camps, and she is excited about that. Nervous, yes, but she wants to train the kids and have them enjoy the sport of volleyball.” After ruminating on the decision to become a head coach, Ingram decided to dive in headfirst. “It took a long time to decide whether to pursue (the head coach position),” Ingram said. “I have a young son. He plays sports. This would be a huge time commitment. I want to give my best and my all to a program. If I wasn’t in the best head space or availability, it wasn’t worth it.” Ingram has been around volleyball since she was six years old. She is a Davenport North graduate, where she played volleyball under Wildcat Hall of Fame coach Amy Baker. Ingram played college volleyball and basketball at Black Hawk College in Moline, IL. Her coaching career began while helping out with United Township’s freshman program. After taking a few years away from the sport, she made the jump straight to the club ranks with Iowa Select in 2022. There, as the coach of the 18U boys, the team made its first Nationals appearance. Iowa Select is where she connected with Schubert. In 2023, he asked Ingram to join his staff at Davenport Assumption High School. There, the Knights made two state tournament appearances. In 2025, Ingram followed Schubert to North Scott. The duo joined forces with longtime Lancer assistant coach Grayson Juel, and they created great working relationships. “Every day was different. Brian and I and Grayson worked hand-in-hand,” Ingram said. “(Schubert) was the head coach, but he didn’t run things every day. Me or Grayson would run things. He gave confidence to everyone on the coaching staff. “I think that’s why we worked so well together. Our coaching styles and our voices are different. But the goal is the same and the output is the same.” As a coach, Ingram says two pillars of her ideology are pride and progress. “Wear your program with pride. Be a part of it and be excited about it,” she said. “I was a part of (Davenport) North, which is a well-established volleyball community. North Scott is its own realm when it comes to boosters, fans, players and parents. It’s unlike any of the programs I’ve been a part of. I’m grateful to be a part of it, and I hope other people are too. “Progress is not something you can track laterally. You shouldn’t compare yourself to others because nobody is you. Growth looks different. Try to be better than the day before. And just have fun. Volleyball is a hard sport to keep that fire and passion for the game when you’re so focused on not making mistakes. “And lastly, being a good human in general. Be the person you want someone to look up to, on or off the court.” Ingram and Schroeder confirmed Juel is returning to the coaching staff. It will be his eighth year with the program, between his time as a student-manager and assistant coach. Additionally, Ingram is bringing on Mark Lau as an assistant coach. Lau worked with Ingram and Schubert at Davenport Assumption. Lau played Division I volleyball at Ball State, and he has coached at multiple college stops. This includes time as head coach at Augustana College. He also works at Iowa Select, where he is a Master Coach. Ingram will be North Scott’s third head coach in three seasons after Schubert (2025) and Taryn VanEarwage (2019-2024) all left their marks on the program. North Scott has withstood the recent turnover, winning two state titles in 2023 and 2025 and making the semifinals in 2024. The program faces its biggest hurdles yet this upcoming fall. Of the 15 players on last year’s varsity roster, 10 have graduated. Of the remaining five, all rising seniors, three played in the Class 4A championship game. “There will be challenges. We lost a lot of senior starters. There will be trials and tribulations, but I’m excited to see how the girls handle that,” Ingram said. “I’ve already seen a lot of the underclassmen at the open gyms. It will be a rebuild year, but don’t count them out. The team we have will be a state tournament contender.”

'We shook off the beginning of the season'

Allow these Lancers to reintroduce themselves. Gone are the days down in the doldrums over a 1-8 start. North Scott has found its form. Since June 6, Lancer softball has won 15 of 19 games, including seven consecutive last week. North Scott capped it with its best weekend in years, beating four ranked teams to claim the Linn-Mar/Alburnett Softball Tournament championship. “It doesn’t matter what you do in May or June. July is when you need to play your best softball, and it’s good that we’re playing our best softball now,” Lancer senior Cadey Bredar said after the tournament. “We shook off the beginning of the season. Playing our best softball right now is the best thing we can do.” In Friday’s group stage, North Scott pulled away late from 2A No. 7 Durant (11-3) and run-ruled 4A No. 9 Cedar Rapids Xavier (11-0) in four innings to book its spot in Saturday’s championship bracket. The semifinal showdown saw a Mississippi Athletic Conference rematch with 5A No. 9 Pleasant Valley. North Scott scored just its third win over the Spartans since 2020, holding on for a 9-8 victory. North Scott scored four runs in the top of the first, but Pleasant Valley tied the game with four of its own in the bottom of the second. The score did not change until the top of the sixth when the Lancers put five runs on the board. The first six batters of the inning all reached base. The first four hit singles: senior Aubrey Toohey, senior Mayah Vogt, sophomore Dana Webb and junior Kamilah Eller. Eller turned the lineup card over for sophomore Brinley Schroeder, who smoked a three-RBI triple into the right-center field gap. Bredar scored Schroeder in the next at-bat, to cement the crooked number on the scoreboard. “We really talk about ‘prime time,’” Schroeder said. “When we have runners on, that’s our time to get them home. It’s such a good feeling when you do. “I just go into attack mode. I want to do it for my team; it’s not about me in that moment. We really rally off of each other’s hits. Stringing them together, finding those big moments, and cheering each other on.” Revenge was the theme of the day. In the championship, North Scott met the host Lions from Linn-Mar. The red and black defeated the scarlet and silver 5-3 at the Iowa City West Softball Classic on June 5. “We knew that we lost to them by two when we played them in Iowa City. They scored the final runs in the last inning. We were hungry for this game,” Bredar said. “We knew how hot our bats were, so that was going to be momentum for us. Beating PV, we already had a lot of momentum going into it.” The second meeting with Linn-Mar started exactly how the first one ended: three runs for the Lions. North Scott was in an early hole after the first inning, but quickly dug itself out of it. In the top of the second inning, after the first two hitters recorded outs, five consecutive Lancers reached base. Four of them scored, and North Scott took the lead. Senior Adalynn Johnson had the big blow in the frame with a bases-clearing double to put her team in front. “Them scoring three runs right in the beginning of the game, we had to do something,” Bredar said, who herself had a single and scored a run during the rally. “We have a great top, middle and bottom of our lineup. Nobody is in a bad spot; everyone can produce when we need them to produce. Getting those four runs in the top of the second was huge.” Two more Lancers scored in the top of the third. Schroeder recorded her second two-out run-scoring double in as many innings. In the circle, Bredar settled into a groove. From the second inning through the fifth, no Lion got past second base safely. She finished with a six-inning complete game, allowed seven hits and no walks with three strikeouts. North Scott put the game to bed in the top of the sixth inning. North Scott batted around. Johnson, Vogt and senior Anna Campbell all had RBIs. Then Eller, the No. 9 hitter, smoked a three-run home run over the center field fence to put a six-spot on the scoreboard. Eller finished the game with three RBIs, three runs scored, two hits and two stolen bases. In the group stage games, North Scott experienced a power surge. Against Xavier, Johnson hit two home runs and had five RBIs. Sophomore Laney Welge added a home run and three RBIs as well. Sophomore Dana Webb was firing on all cylinders in the circle. She threw four shutout innings with three strikeouts. Against Durant, eighth grader Payton LeDoux hit her first varsity home run, a two-run bomb. Welge hit two home runs and drove in four RBIs, adding to her gaudy offensive season. Welge leads North Scott in just about every offensive category: hits (37), doubles (10), home runs (9), RBIs (31), batting average (.407), slugging percentage (.813) and on-base plus slugging (1.255). Earlier in the week, North Scott easily swept Clinton (10-0 and 17-1) and split its homestand with 5A No. 15 Muscatine (3-4 and 10-2). By the end of the week, North Scott put its record well above .500 at 16-12. North Scott had also done enough positive work before the weekend to earn itself home-field advantage in regionals — and what a dream draw the Lancers got. The Lancers are the only ranked team in Class 4A Region 5. The other top seed in the region is Burlington. In the semifinals, North Scott will host the winner of Fort Madison and winless Keokuk on Saturday, July 11. The regional final is set for the following Tuesday. Should it be the Grayhounds, it would be a rematch of the 2024 regional final game, also played in Eldridge, which North Scott won 5-0. With 4A No. 5 Western Dubuque losing three games last week, the Lancers look primed to jump the Bobcats in this week’s rankings as state tournament seeding comes into focus for top teams. There are still many games to play between now and ones at the Harlan & Hazel Rogers Sports Complex, but there’s no doubt where the Lancers have their sights set. “We played all ranked teams (this weekend). We started off pretty rough at the beginning of the season, so it’s nice to get those games back now,” Schroeder said. “It’s really nice going into the postseason. This is a huge confidence booster, getting wins against ranked teams. We’re going to play pretty good teams in the postseason, so having that upper hand is really nice.”

JDC brings big bucks to Quad Cities

The tournament helps create a weeklong lift for restaurants, hotels, shops and other businesses across the Quad Cities.

MercyOne Genesis to pay $4.6 million for overuse and overbilling for heart pump

“We have taken steps to address the issue and continue to strengthen our oversight and compliance practices to ensure accuracy and consistency moving forward," the company said in a statement.

Obituary: William Burns

William “Bill” C. Burns of Davenport, passed away at 91 years old on June 23, 2026, doing what he loved, participating in the Tuesday Walking Group. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, June 29, at 10:30 a.m., St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Davenport.  Visitation was one hour before the funeral at church.  Burial was at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Davenport.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 916 E. Rusholme, Davenport, Iowa.   William Carl Burns was born Aug. 23, 1934, to Clarence and Helen Kautzman Burns in Burlington.  He attended and graduated from St. John’s Catholic School and Burlington High School.  He graduated from University of Iowa with a major in general studies and speech with emphasis in motion picture.   At the time, the job opportunities were limited, so he enlisted in the army.  His first assignment was working on motion picture and script writing with intensive training in communications.  Eventually he was sent to Germany as a post war photographer, taking pictures from bodies to damaged infrastructures. Eventually becoming a photographer for the Stars & Stripes in Germany.  It is while there he met and married Bihildis Maria Bieg.  They were married at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Neckarhausen, Germany, on Oct. 25, 1959.  When Bill’s military contract was finished, they moved back to the United States.  The family lived in Cedar Rapids for two years and he worked as an industrial photographer for Collins Radio.  Eventually moving to Ames, raising their family.  He worked in public relations for the Department of Transportation as an industrial photographer.   In 2001, they moved to Davenport to be near family.  He was an active member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Davenport.  He was active in many organizations such as Black Hawk Hiking Group, Tuesday Walking Club, Christian Family Movement, Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis, Catholic Food Pantry, Milestone Area Agency on Aging/ Meals on Wheels, VFW, and Quad Cities In-Fisherman Club Bill will be mourned by his family and friends.  His son Christopher (Toni) Burns and his children Amanda (Sean) Starr, Amber (Kevin) Darling, and Nicholas (Remington) Burns.  His son Daniel (Melissa) Burns and their children Alexander and Jack.  And his daughter Nicol (Chuck) Henning and their children Gavin, Carter, and Natalie; a foster child Thy Penh; and six great-grandchildren. His brother Robin (Mary Ann) Burns, his sister Barbara (Jim) Morrison, and his loving friend Sondra Bulazo.   He was preceded in death by his wife Bihildis Bieg Burns, his twin children Steffen and Mary Ann, his great-grandchild Hendrick Darling and his parents Clarence and Helen Burns.  May Dad and all our beloved deceased relatives rest in peace.   Online tributes may be expressed at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Norma Zurborg

Norma Roberta (Kennedy) Zurborg passed away on June 23, 2026, at the age of 97 and 3/4. Norma was born in Primrose, Iowa, to James and Blossom Kennedy in their home while James was working in the field and her older four siblings were at school. Blossom’s strength was eventually passed down to Norma, who raised six children later in life. Norma met Carl Zurborg (the love of her life and her partner for life) at a roller rink. He caught her eye because he was skating backward, hoping to impress her. They were married on Aug. 20, 1950, at West Point Presbyterian Church and were happily married for 75 years. Norma was a homemaker and raised six children with Carl while also supporting Carl as CEO of Swiss Valley Farms. Norma was active in volunteering with St. Luke’s Hospital (now Genesis East Hospital) for over 31 years and was active with her church helping in the kitchen for special events, assisting in the nursery, and participated with prayer groups and Bible studies. Norma was also a Befriender, delivered for Meals on Wheels, and was active in Questers. Norma is survived by her husband Carl and her children: Julie Brown (Ken), Sue Uhlman (Mark), Jill Zurborg (Barb Walsh), Jenny Sak (Bart), Amy Zurborg (Brian Dick), nine grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Norma was preceded in death by her son, James Albert Zurborg, and her siblings: Maxine Roth, Frank Kennedy, Lois Kelly, and Gerald Kennedy. In 2013, Norma wrote a book about her life and was thankful for her parents, her health, a wonderful husband and a good helper, a great family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, The Bible, the blessing of being a saved Christian, wonderful friends, and travel. She ended her book wanting to, “give special thanks to my husband Carl, for his many years of help through sickness and with raising our family thru thick and thin. We have a family, of which we are proud and dearly love. We want to thank the Lord for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon us. AMEN!” A visitation was held at Weerts Funeral home on Monday, June 29, from 5-7 p.m. A funeral service took place the following morning at New Life Baptist Church at 7780 West Locust Street in Davenport on Tuesday, June 30, beginning at 11 a.m. Burial followed at Maysville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Life Baptist Church.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Jack Darland

Jack D. Darland, 79, passed away May 21, 2026, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. Jack will be celebrated and remembered on Thursday, July 2, at Rolling Meadows Event Center, 657 S. 16th Ave. Eldridge. Visitation will be held 2-5 p.m. At 5 p.m., remembrances will be shared. Full obituary and online condolences may be expressed at www.rungemortuary.com.

‘A real farm crisis’: Illinois farm bankruptcies rise for 3rd straight year

In 2025, family farm bankruptcies surged 46% nationwide — reaching 315 filings and marking the third consecutive year of increases. The Midwest recorded 121 filings in 2025 — up 70% from the prior year.

Water main break closes part of Mound Street in Davenport's East Village

A water main break closed part of Mound Street in Davenport's East Village Tuesday morning. Repairs are expected to be completed by about 3 p.m.

Obituary: Toni Robertson

Toni L. Robertson, 76, of LeClaire, passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the Vistas in Bettendorf. A memorial gathering to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, July 11, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at MRDC Celebration Center in LeClaire. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Rock Island National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Toni was born Oct. 22, 1949, in Davenport, the daughter of Dale and Delpha “Duff” (Thornton) Gillam. After graduating from Bettendorf High School in 1967, she graduated from Stewart School of Hairstyling. On April 19, 1969, Toni was united in marriage to the love of her life, William L. Robertson, at the First Baptist Church in Bettendorf. They created a beautiful, fulfilling life and shared 57 years together. After graduating from hairstyling school, she was a beautician for 25 years with her cousin and lifelong friend, Colleen Parrick. Together they owned Creative Hair Designers. After various other jobs, including Von Maur and Wells Fargo, she became a bank teller for First Central State Bank in LeClaire for many years until she and Bill retired together in 2015. Toni’s favorite job ever was being a grandma. Her greatest joy in life was watching her grandchildren grow and supporting them in all that they loved. While she was able, she never missed a game, race, show, or concert. She was always there to provide support, guidance and love and was so proud of every one of her grandchildren. She enjoyed spending time with family, camping, Disney World, shopping, traveling and music. She was full of energy and life and was known for her sense of humor and how she always had a good time wherever she went. Family was the center of Toni’s world. To know her was to love her. There are many to whom she extended her love to as if they were her own family. She had many “extra” children and grandchildren. Toni was a devoted Iowa Hawkeyes fan. In honor of Toni, the family invites you to wear Hawkeye attire at her celebration. Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Bill; her daughters, Missy (Paul) Bateman, Beth Jackson (Andy Slonneger) and Lori (Matt) Olderog, all of LeClaire; her grandchildren, Joshua (Megan), Noah and Lily Bateman, Katelyn (Jake) Moore, Braeden Jackson and Dani Slonneger and Cooper, Allyson and Luke Olderog. She is also remembered by her siblings, Dayle Hall of LeClaire, Dan (Collett) Gillam of Bettendorf, Jim (Lois) Taber of Indianola, Tammy (Jeff) Allen of LeClaire, close friend and sister-in-law Karen Woomert of Princeton, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews, in-laws and cousins. Toni was preceded in death by her parents, Dale and Delpha; and her stepfather, George Taber. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Toni’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.   Custom obituary

Central College to offer data science major

Central College will begin offering a new degree program this fall aimed at preparing students for data-focused professions across a number of industries. The Pella private college announced in a news release the launch of a new data science major, described as an interdisciplinary major that will allow students to apply their own passions to their learning and instill skills spanning STEM, social sciences and humanities. Emphases will be placed on “written and oral communication and ethical responsibility” within the program, the release stated, and all enrolled students are required to complete a senior capstone project to complete their degree. Examples provided in the release included analyzing data on movement and athletic performance from wearable technology; tracking digital behavior by studying social media data; informing public health responses from disease, mortality rate and vaccinations data, and interpreting and presenting data results in written and oral forms. “Data is everywhere in today’s society,” said Wendy Weber, Central College mathematics professor and a leader in developing the major, in the release. “This program is designed to give students marketable abilities to visualize, interpret and communicate data analysis across many different contexts.”

Weed Identification Contest returns to Iowa State Fair Aug. 14

The annual Iowa State Fair Weed Identification Contest will return to the Iowa State Fair on Friday, Aug. 14, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in front of the Agriculture Building. The contest is supported by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the ISU Department of Agronomy. Participants of all ages can test their knowledge of common weeds found in Iowa by attempting to identify real weed samples, potted and on a tabletop display. The contest requires contestants to know commonly accepted names of weeds, but they do not need to know scientific names. The contest is open to all ages, with three distinct age divisions: future agronomists (youth under age 19), general and professional. Future agronomists will identify 20 common Iowa weeds; those in the general division will identify 30 weeds; and professionals will identify all 30, as well as five extra-challenging Iowa weeds. Following the contest, winners from each division will be announced during the awards ceremony, held inside the Agriculture Building at 3 p.m. on Aug. 14. The top five winners in each division will receive a cash prize and a coveted Iowa State Fair ribbon. Weeds from the contest — including their common names and interesting facts — will remain on display for the duration of the fair in the lower level of the Agriculture Building. “This summer is off to a great start with many weeds growing in the greenhouse in preparation for the contest. We invite all plant identification enthusiasts to see how their ID skills stack up against the best,” said Meaghan Anderson, extension field agronomist at Iowa State and contest organizer. “The contest will have a variety of easy and common to very rare weedy species – start studying now!”

Iowa Suicide Prevention Coalition Summit set for Aug. 27

The Iowa Suicide Prevention Coalition Summit will be held on Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center in Ames. This summit is sponsored by the Iowa Suicide Prevention Planning Committee, Iowa Primary Care Association, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center. The summit will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions and interactive workshops designed to provide coalition members and other attendees with the latest information on suicide risk factors and resources to assist their communities. Registration is highly recommended for members of county and community suicide prevention coalitions or those interested in preventing suicide in their communities. For more information, the agenda, lodging options and to register, go to the Iowa Suicide Prevention Coalition Summit website. “The program will include useful information that local suicide prevention coalitions can take home and use right away to benefit their communities," said David Brown, behavioral health specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We believe that your presence at this event will be invaluable. We hope that you will be able to join us for what promises to be a truly inspiring and informative gathering.” The registration cost is $40 per person or $50 for those who are requesting CE hours. The program will include lunch and a morning and afternoon break. NBCC CE hours will be applied for.

View the Scott County Sheriff's report from the July 1 NSP!

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 2:33 a.m. — Anthony Wayne Stewart, 38, Davenport, was arrested on an outstanding warrant, following a traffic stop near West High Street and North Lincoln Avenue. 3:03 a.m. — Dangilo David, 25, Rock Island, was cited for possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense, following a traffic stop in the 1400 block of North Division Street, Davenport. FRIDAY, JUNE 19 2:22 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 2000 block of Brown Street. 3:50 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 600 block of North 6th Street Court. 4:37 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 5300 block of 306th Street. 5:02 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 6100 block of 14th Street. 7:42 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 11200 block of 140th Street. 9:01 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 11000 block of 140th Street Place. 9:58 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem near 250th Street and 240th Avenue. 10:11 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 3600 block of East 53rd Street. 10:24 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 30300 block of 210th Avenue. 11:51 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near East 4th Street and Pershing Avenue. SATURDAY, JUNE 20 12:50 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 2900 block of East Kimberly Road. 1:23 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 100 block of Manor Drive. 1:24 a.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 400 block of West 4th Street. 2:26 a.m. — Joshua P. Johnson, 26, Park View, was charged with public intoxication – 1st offense, following a report of a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of Manor Drive, Park View. 10:01 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 6200 block of Buena Vista Drive. 10:14 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint on Chestnut Drive. 11:29 a.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint in the 26300 block of 210th Avenue. 2:18 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 11300 block of 140th Street. 4:05 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 5:16 p.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint. 5:44 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 10:06 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint. 11:00 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check. 11:54 p.m. — Zackary David Lumbus, 25, Davenport, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, following a traffic stop in the 5500 block of Welcome Way, Davenport. SUNDAY, JUNE 21 3:38 a.m. — Deputies responded to a shots fired call in the 3200 block of Schuetzen Lane. 3:51 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near Interstate 80 East and Northwest Boulevard, Davenport, where a vehicle driven by Angel Taffoya, 32, Melrose Park, Ill., struck a deer that entered the roadway. 3:55 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near mile marker 281.5 on Interstate 80 West, where a vehicle driven by Abwe Ekumange, 47, Des Moines, struck a deer that entered the roadway. 4:32 p.m. — Michael Dewayne Jones, 33, Bettendorf, was charged with a controlled substance violation and a drug tax stamp violation and cited for failure to have a valid license or permit while operating a motor vehicle; and Yesenia Jones, 40, Davenport, was charged with a controlled substance violation and a drug tax stamp violation, following a traffic stop near West 10th and Washington streets, Davenport. 4:48 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 200 block of East Telegraph Road. 6:06 a.m. — Pierre Elonzo Howard-Florence, 49, Davenport, was charged with 1st degree theft and cited for driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, following an incident near East 48th and Brady streets, Davenport. 7:21 a.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 200 block of West Front Street. 9:55 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 1100 block of Hacker Street. 9:59 a.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 3200 block of South 16th Avenue. 12:45 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near mile marker 283 on Interstate 80 East, Walcott. A vehicle driven by Colton Charles Dean, 20, Milan, Ill., was eastbound on Interstate 80. Dean reportedly lost control due to wet road conditions, and the vehicle hydroplaned. The vehicle went into the median, where it struck a cable barrier. 1:37 p.m. — Deputies responded to an indecency/lewdness complaint in the 3800 block of Brady Street. 3:17 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 5800 block of 200th Street. A vehicle driven by Luis Enrrique Marquez, 22, Clinton, was westbound on 200th Street. Marquez reportedly lost control due to wet road conditions. The vehicle hydroplaned before leaving the roadway. The vehicle struck a road sign before coming to rest in a ditch. 7:00 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near mile marker 133 on Highway 61 North, where a vehicle driven by Keona Kay Leroux, 23, Clinton, struck a deer that entered the roadway. 10:35 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 11300 block of 140th Street. MONDAY, JUNE 22 8:59 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 11300 block of 140th Street. 10:32 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a juvenile problem on Park Court Lane. 11:14 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint in the 25500 block of Valley Drive. 11:30 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint in the 500 block of Park View Drive. 9:03 p.m. — Deziree Renee Bekkum, 28, Davenport, was cited for possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense and speeding, following a traffic stop in the 6000 block of State Street, Bettendorf. 9:39 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of East Franklin Street. TUESDAY, JUNE 23 2:08 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 7200 block of Hillandale Road. 2:12 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 3500 block of North Plainview Road. 8:12 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 400 block of East LeClaire Road. 8:22 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 17800 block of Spencer Road. 1:30 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 9300 block of 160th Street. 4:24 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road. 5:22 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near 240th Avenue and Territorial Road. 6:53 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 700 block of West Walcott Road. 7:25 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 13800 block of 118th Avenue. 11:00 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near mile marker 299 on Interstate 80 East, Davenport, where a vehicle driven by Greisy D. Escalona, 39, Kansas City, Mo., struck a deer that entered the roadway. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 1:14 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem near Spencer Road and Valley Drive. 1:14 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of Main Street. 1:24 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 2300 block of West Locust Street. 1:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem near Sherry Ann Court and 275th Street. 3:08 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 11300 block of 140th Street. 4:27 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 11300 block of 140th Street. 5:05 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near 200th Avenue and 270th Street. A vehicle driven by Daniel Eugene Yarolem, 49, Eldridge, was northbound on 200th Street. He reportedly failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection with 270th Street and struck a vehicle driven by Polly Elise Brownson, 75, Eldridge. Yarolem reportedly told deputies he had dropped his cell phone and was reaching to get it at the time of the accident. Yarolem and Brownsen were both transported by Medic to MercyOne Genesis Medical Center. Yarolem was cited for failure to obey a stop sign and yield the right of way and use of an electronic communications device. 5:11 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 1400 block of West Locust Street. 6:08 p.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint on Hillside Court. 7:39 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 300 block of 2nd Street. 8:03 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 24800 block of 179th Street Place. 8:21 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 30000 block of 115th Avenue, where a vehicle driven by Darlene Rhea Strohbehn, 69, Calamus, struck a deer that entered the roadway. 8:49 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem on Park Avenue. 9:25 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage. THURSDAY, JUNE 25 2:15 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of Paul Revere Place. 2:55 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 1100 block of Utica Ridge Court. 9:24 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 5500 block of Joshua Street. 2:09 p.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 3200 block of South 16th Avenue. 3:50 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 17900 block of Spencer Road. 4:27 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage. 8:14 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 200 block of Jefferson Street. 10:19 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint in the 1600 block of West 38th Street. FRIDAY, JUNE 26 12:11 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 300 block of Jason Way. 12:33 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 2700 block of New Liberty Road. 12:39 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 200 block of 2nd Avenue. 1:07 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage. 1:14 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 1:17 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance near Gaines and West 3rd streets. 9:24 a.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint.

View the Eldridge Police report from the July 1 NSP!

MONDAY, JUNE 22 10:32 a.m. — Assisted another agency with a report of a juvenile problem on Park Lane Court. Handled by officer. 12:11 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 400 block of South 14th Avenue. 6:38 p.m. — Darricco Hopson, 21, of East Moline, was cited for no driver’s license, following a traffic stop in the 700 block of West Slopertown Road. 8:01 p.m. — Assisted another agency with a report of a reckless driver on Highway 61. 9:39 p.m. — Report taken for a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of East Franklin Street. 10:26 p.m. — Sierra McDonald, 35, of Davenport, was cited for operation without registration, following a traffic stop in the 8900 block of North Division Street. 10:33 p.m. — Amber Pillard, 43, of Princeton, was arrested for driving under suspension, following a traffic stop near South 1st Street and East Blackhawk Trail. TUESDAY, JUNE 23 8:12 a.m. — Performed a welfare check in the 400 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 10:55 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 800 block of West Iowa Street. 1:14 p.m. — Report of a parking complaint in the 400 block of North 6th Street.  Handled by officer. 4:48 p.m. — Complaint of a dog running loose in the 300 block of West Donahue Street. The owner retrieved the animal. Handled by officer. 7:50 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle near North Division Street and Slopertown Road. Handled by officer. 10:24 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 200 block of East Iowa Street. Handled by officer. 10:26 p.m. — Ava Thomas, 19, of Silvis, Ill., was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle and no insurance, following a traffic stop in the 100 block of South 14th Avenue. 11:02 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious subject near East Blackhawk Trail and South 11th Avenue. Handled by officer. 11:19 p.m. — Stefanie Mucha, 43, of Blue Grass, was arrested for OWI – 3rd offense, driving while revoked and an open container violation, following an incident near East Blackhawk Trail and South 11th Avenue. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 5:05 p.m. — Assisted another agency with a report of a two-vehicles accident near 200th Avenue and 270th Street. 10:13 p.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 1100 block of East Iowa Street. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. THURSDAY, JUNE 25 2:08 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 400 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 8:47 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 300 block of East Franklin Street. 12:47 p.m. — Complaint of a subject in the 100 block of West Spring Street being harassed. Handled by officer. 1:05 p.m. — Assisted a citizen in the 100 block of South 14th Avenue. Handled by officer. 4:47 p.m. — Report of a juvenile found in the 300 block of West Spring Street. The juvenile was returned to a parent. Handled by officer. 6:00 p.m. — Complaint of suspicious activity in the 2200 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 6:24 p.m. — Complaint of a fire alarm sounding in the 500 block of South 5th Street. The call was turned over to the fire department. Handled by officer. 9:34 p.m. — Report taken for a vehicle vs. deer accident on Highway 61. 10:36 p.m. — Complaint of juveniles ding-dong-ditching in the 800 block of West Pinehurst Drive. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. FRIDAY, JUNE 26 10:48 a.m. — Assisted a resident in the 2000 block of East LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 12:46 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver on Highway 61. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 12:56 p.m. — Complaint of a dog running loose in the 100 block of West Price Street. Handled by officer. 1:48 p.m. — Report of a parking complaint in the 400 block of North 6th Street. Handled by officer. 5:52 p.m. — Complaint of a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of West Spring Street. Handled by officer. SATURDAY, JUNE 27 1:14 a.m. — Complaint of vandalism to a vehicle in the 600 block of West Donahue Street. Handled by officer. 1:56 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 200 block of North 9th Avenue. Handled by officer. 3:04 a.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 200 block of South 16th Avenue. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 7:57 a.m. — Assisted a resident in the 700 block of North 1st Street. Handled by officer. 12:34 p.m. — Complaint of solicitors going door to door without a permit. Handled by officer. 1:38 p.m. — Complaint of a subject trespassing in the 200 block of South 9th Avenue. Handled by officer. 4:01 p.m. — Robert Pearson, 80, of Davenport, was cited for no insurance and no driver’s license, following a traffic stop near East LeClaire Road and North 9th Avenue. 5:13 p.m. — Robert Blunk, 59, of Bettendorf, was arrested for OWI, following an incident at Scott County Park. 7:43 p.m. — Cory Honeycutt, 37, of Eldridge, was arrested for driving while barred and defective windshield, following a traffic stop near West Spring and South 1st streets. 8:02 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 24600 block of Scott Park Road. 10:33 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 11:13 p.m. — Complaint of a dog running loose in the 700 block of North 1st Street. The owner retrieved the animal. Handled by officer. 11:59 p.m.  — Complaint of a reckless driver on Highway 61. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. SUNDAY, JUNE 28 12:27 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle near East LeClaire Road and North 1st Street. Handled by officer. 2:34 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 3:21 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle near South 1st Street and Slopertown Road. Handled by officer. 7:10 p.m. — Removed debris from the roadway on Highway 61.  Handled by officer. 7:23 p.m. — Report taken for a civil issue in the 1700 block of South 9th Avenue. 10:11 p.m. — Complaint of a disturbance in the 500 block of West Prairie Vista Drive. Handled by officer. 10:57 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 1700 block of East Blackhawk Trail. Handled by officer.

Iowa won’t have to match portion of federal SNAP benefits

The majority of U.S. states will soon have to pay 5% to 15% of federal nutrition assistance benefits in their state, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s release Wednesday of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payment error rates. House Resolution 1, commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was enacted in 2025, stipulated that states with SNAP payment error rates greater than 6% would be required to foot 5%, 10% or 15% of SNAP benefits costs in their state. Iowa, with a payment error rate of 5.34% in 2025, is just one of nine states with an error rate below 6% and that won’t have to match a portion of the SNAP benefits it pays out, starting in October 2027. According to USDA, SNAP payment error rates measure the accuracy of states in determining who is eligible for SNAP and how much they receive. The rate is calculated via a series of reviews from state and federal agencies where instances of overpayments and underpayments are identified. USDA’s SNAP quality control page says errors are “largely unintentional” and might be the fault of a state agency or a SNAP household. Eighteen states had payment error rates above the national average of 10.62%. Per the quality control process, these states will have to either pay USDA a determined amount, or invest 50% of that amount into activities that will fix the root causes of the payment errors. USDA said that while the 2025 average payment error rate is a “modest” decrease from the 2024 average error rate of 10.93%, it represents $10.1 billion in improper payments. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the latest payment error rates show that “state accountability is severely lacking” in SNAP. “USDA has taken historic action to help interested states curb SNAP waste, and I hope other states, regardless of political leadership, prioritize needy families and the American taxpayer over politics,” Rollins said in a news release. An analysis of H.R. 1 from the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the law, which included several changes to SNAP benefits in addition to the error rate cost share, would reduce federal spending on the SNAP benefits by $255 billion between 2025 and 2034. CBO also estimated that state spending on SNAP benefits would increase during the same period by $85 billion. Critics of the bill said the cost shift to states would endanger the SNAP program and stress state budgets. According to the 2025 error rates from USDA, 41 states had payment error rates above the 6% threshold set by the 2025 law. South Dakota had the lowest error rate at 2.47%. Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming were the other states with rates below 6%. Alaska had the highest error rate of 23.15%. The higher the error rate, the greater the share, up to 15%, the state will have to pay of its SNAP benefits, which are otherwise 100% footed by the federal government. In addition to the cost share, states with a payment error rate in excess of 6% are required to submit a corrective action plan to the Food and Nutrition Administration, formerly known as the Food and Nutrition Service, to explain the root cause of the payment errors and how the state plans to correct the errors.

Lancers battle through eight games in five days

Major League Baseball’s 26-man rosters are hardly equipped to play eight games in one week. North Scott’s 24-man varsity roster was pushed to its limit doing just that. The Lancers went 2-6 during this stretch, which included six games in three days on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. North Scott lost series against Clinton (7-1, 4-1) and Davenport Assumption (11-5, 22-11) and split series with Western Dubuque (2-13, 5-3) and Maquoketa (8-10, 11-6). “It was a big week. It was a long week,” Lancer co-coach Brad Ward said. “We just wanted to get the guys playing. Keep playing; try to build confidence; try to get into a groove. That was the meaning behind playing eight games in a week. We hardly ever do that because it’s so hard pitching-wise. It becomes a puzzle trying to put that together.” The highlight of the week, by far, was the 5-3 win in the nightcap against Western Dubuque. Now dubbed the ‘Landon Praught’ game, the Lancer senior hit a home run and threw a complete game to lead his team to victory. “We had seen the game before they were going to hit the ball. Just go out there, throw strikes, and the defense was able to make a bunch of plays,” Praught said, noting only two of his 21 outs were via strikeout. “There in the last inning, getting the first out, Gavin (Welch) made a great play in center field. They were just making plays all night. It built throughout the game.” Welch had a great night offensively, too, with three singles and two RBIs. Senior Caleb Willis had two RBIs as well. All three seniors had RBIs in the decisive three-run bottom of the fifth. Praught started it by clubbing his first career varsity home run. “Middle-middle fastball. I got on it. I didn’t think it was getting out right away. As I was rounding first, Coach Pete got pretty excited,” Praught said. Praught leads North Scott in at-bats this season and is one of two players to start all 31 games. In a season where North Scott lacks significant varsity experience, he’s turned into an example for his teammates to follow. “What Landon did for us was huge. He’s been a kid all year who’s been very consistent,” Ward said. “We know what we’re getting with Landon. He’s had some success and a lot of heartbreak. If you look at his batting average, it’s not very good. But if you watch his at-bats, he’s hitting the ball really well. That’s why he’s been in the lineup every game. “Pitching-wise, he competes, he throws strikes, and he gives you a chance to win. He had a lot of success Wednesday night, and I was happy for him.” North Scott was in game one with the Bobcats with the score set at 3-1 entering the fifth inning. Western Dubuque scored 10 runs in the final three innings to put itself over the top. Davenport Assumption beat North Scott twice with a similar trend of big innings. The Knights went from trailing 4-2 to leading 9-4 after a seven-run third inning in game one. In game two, 17 of Assumption’s 22 runs came in two innings. Seven of the 14 innings North Scott pitched on Thursday were scoreless innings, but the crooked numbers turned the proceedings into two blowouts. “We’re battling to put a complete game together consistently. We’re missing that consistency,” Ward said. “One inning of every game we lose kills us. We haven’t been able to find a way to get out of those innings. It keeps piling on. “With Assumption, we dug holes in both games. They had a really good pitcher starting game one, and we jumped on him. We were up 4-2, and then it fell apart. Then, we’re battling for the rest of the game. In game two, North Scott trailed 11-1 after two innings. “We cut it to 14-11 after six. That says a lot about the character of the kids,” Ward said. “Just keep playing, keep fighting, and you never know what can happen in this game. They gave themselves an opportunity to win. Things went south in the seventh, but we were there. “We’re still working. The kids are still loose. They’re still positive. They’re still playing hard. Sometimes, we come up on the short end. Sometimes, it’s mistakes we make… Assumption and Western Dubuque are two top teams in their class. We knew they would be a challenge, but we were confident coming into it.” As it sits entering the last full week of regular season games, North Scott has a 10-21 record and 5-9 mark in Mississippi Athletic Conference play. With the substate bracket reveal coming this week, the Lancers are preparing to hit the road. “I look at the (Mississippi) Valley (Conference) and I look at the MAC, because we’re usually all mixed together. I would say no worse than a five seed,” Ward said. “I was hoping to get a couple of more wins this last week to solidify that. I don’t know if a four (seed) is within reach. I like our chances against anybody if we play the way we’re supposed to. We’ve shown that against some very top teams. “I’ve been here a while. We’ve lost as a No. 1 seed. We’ve gone to state as a No. 6 seed. You just never know. Anyone can beat anyone in this game. That’s why you have to come ready to play every night for seven innings.” Lancers host Military Appreciation Night on Friday North Scott and its guests from Central DeWitt will host military veterans and their families before Friday’s varsity game. Veterans get free admission to the game and will be introduced on the field prior to first pitch. All veterans will receive a free drink and sandwich courtesy of the North Scott boosters. “It’s always an exciting night. We are still looking to honor as many veterans as we can,” Ward said. “It’s a special night for the coaches, for the players, for the fans, and for the veterans. It’s a special way to give back to people who have done so much for us.” Veterans and their families can RSVP and get more information by contacting Ward by email (bward93@hotmail.com) or by phone (563-320-2647).

Midwest Sluggers win state

As North Scott’s varsity softball team looks ahead to state, one area youth team already brought home the gold this summer. The Midwest Sluggers, based out of Long Grove, won the 12U ‘A’ Division State Championship last month, going 5-0 in Des Moines to claim first place. Midwest outlasted 14 other top teams from across the state in a three-day tournament, emerging as the lone unbeaten team by the end of the week. Team members included Ashlynn Demuth, Maci Dreckmeier, Brooke Ion, Gracyn Kibler, Madelyn Lohse, Mae Martin, Kallie McLaughlin, Mia Mier, Taryn Osterberg and Emery Tobin. Many of these girls were on the Midwest team which won the 10U ‘B’ division state championship in 2024. Rising into the top classification this summer brought extra challenges, but the girls met the moment this season. “Moving up to ‘A’ division this year meant a lot of sacrifices, extra travel and endless hard work. But they proved exactly why they belong,” said coach Linsey Moffit-Tobin. “They play against teams that pull from multiple states, while our girls are mostly from Alan Shepard Elementary School. “What makes this team so special is that they are truly one unit… They’ve grown up together, genuinely love each other, and always have each other’s backs. They play for each other, their coaches, their families, and they have developed a fan base. “The best part about them is wherever we go, they get compliments for their kindness, sportsmanship and genuinely loving this game. They are humble and kind. They earned every single bit of this moment.” In the opening round of the tournament, Midwest defeated the Black Lions (Marion, IA) 7-2, bolstered by a three-run bottom of the third inning. The second round posed a challenge against the Polk City Comets, but Midwest dismissed it with a clean 10-4 victory. All 10 Midwest runs were scored in the first inning. In the third game against Southeast Polk, the Rams drew first blood with two runs in the first inning. Midwest responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame, taking a lead which it would keep to the end. By going 3-0, Midwest earned a spot in the semifinals. There, they faced Monsters 12U (Fruitland, IA). Midwest shut out this Muscatine-area team 4-0 to advance to the championship. The Monsters won the consolation game to try their luck again against Midwest in the title bout. Midwest shut the door on revenge, scoring four runs early and holding on at the end for a 5-4 victory.  Mae Martin led the team with a .667 batting average. “Mae’s ability to soft slap, power slap, and hit away makes her a complete weapon for this team,” Moffit-Tobin said. Emery Tobin led the team with a .700 on-base percentage, and Maci Dreckmeier was second on the team in on-base plus slugging with a 1.667 mark. During the team’s run, Emery Tobin, Madelyn Lohse and Brooke Ion all earned ‘Most Valuable Player’ honors for their on-field performances, as chosen by their opponents’ coaches after each game.

It's going to be a hot July Fourth for much of the country

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China resumes U.S. soybean purchases under trade deal with Trump, but future for farmers remains ‘daunting’

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Chicago woman arrested after driving wrong way on I-88, pointing handgun at officers

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded after a report of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 88, according to a news release from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. The office was alerted to a wrong-way driver traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate 88 on June 28 at about 1:06 p.m. The suspect vehicle sideswiped another [...]

Extreme Heat Warning until THU 10:00 PM CDT

Extreme Heat Warning in Effect Until 10 PM CDT Thursday

Rep. Tom Kean returns to Congress, says depression is why he went missing for months

The New Jersey Republican was missing for months with no explanation for his constituents. He explained in a House floor speech that after his diagnosis, there was no timeline for recovery.

No one injured in Monday crash on Interstate 74

The crash occurred around 3:44 p.m. Monday on Interstate 74 in Moline. No one was injured.

Wrong-way driver accused of pointing gun at officers in Lee County

A woman faces multiple felony charges after deputies say she drove the wrong way on I-88, fled police and pointed a handgun at officers.

Genesis, Mercy, Trinity fined in heart pump overbilling investigation as part of international health care fraud takedown

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa announced a civil settlement in the state in a news release, as part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The Takedown is a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors [...]

AI is inventing new jobs. We've seen this before.

AI is inventing new jobs. We've seen this before.It seems like every day, another job lands on the chopping block, ripe for AI disruption. The sense of fear building across the tech industry is not unfounded, as its impact extends from the marketing function to sales and beyond. But elimination is only half of the historical pattern.Every major technology wave that kills jobs also invents new ones, usually roles so novel that they didn't have standardized titles or career paths for years after they first appeared. "Search engine optimization" (SEO) as a practice was named in the mid-1990s, for instance, and "social media manager" as a job title was essentially nonexistent before 2008-2009. You could even go back to the 1840s, when the first commercial telegraph line opened and telegraph operator became one of the hottest jobs around—until the telephone and automation slowly made it obsolete.This isn't about nostalgia, but about pattern recognition with new technology. Early adopters of a new surface area and new expertise became valuable quickly. The companies that hire them early get an advantage.AI is doing this right now, and Pave's data shows it.Three Roles That Barely Existed a Year AgoPave analyzes hiring momentum and role prevalence in the Hot Job Index, scoring and ranking jobs from −100 (cooling fast) to +100 (heating fast). For these new roles that are still emerging, Pave tracks them differently from established job families. Rather than a Hot Jobs Score, Pave measures company adoption: the share of companies in the dataset that have hired at least one person in each role.The charts show adoption over time, with a generally consistent pattern: near-zero through 2023 and 2024, then a sharp inflection. Mid-to-late 2025 is when enterprise AI moved from pilot to production at scale. That's not a coincidence.The AI Transformation LeadThe launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 created curiosity about AI inside every company. What it didn't immediately create was organizational capability. Someone had to figure out where AI actually generates value inside a specific company, build the internal case for investment, and manage the change that comes with deploying it. That job didn't have a name yet.By early 2023, the AI transformation lead role started to appear in job postings. It plateaued through 2024 as initial AI enthusiasm gave way to more measured adoption. Then in mid-2025, as companies moved from experimentation to scaling, hiring accelerated sharply. By January 2026, 2.0% of companies in Pave's dataset had at least one AI transformation lead—up from effectively zero three years earlier. Pave The compensation premium data tells the scarcity story: AI transformation leads earn 30.2% more than strategic business operations professionals at equivalent levels. The combination of technical fluency, strategic vision, and change management experience this role requires is rare, and the market is pricing that in.This could be considered the 2025 equivalent of the chief digital officer role that emerged in the early 2010s when companies realized digital transformation required dedicated executive ownership, not just IT department upgrades.The AEO/GEO SpecialistSEO as a discipline emerged because Google changed how people find information. AEO/GEO is emerging because AI is changing it again.As large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity become primary discovery surfaces, companies need people who understand how to ensure they show up meaningfully in AI-generated responses. It’s a different skill set from traditional SEO, which optimizes for crawlers and keyword ranking. AEO/GEO requires an understanding of how language models synthesize and cite information, which is closer to editorial strategy than link building.The data shows this role emerging in almost real time: essentially nonexistent before 2025, crossing 0.1% company adoption by October 2025, reaching 0.2% by early 2026. It's the fastest climb from zero of any role that Pave tracks in this category. Pave The compensation currently lags slightly behind comparable digital roles—AEO/GEO specialists earn about 6% less than digital marketing professionals at equivalent levels. That's consistent with the early-stage pattern: Pay follows proven value, and this role is still proving it. For professionals with SEO, content strategy, or digital marketing backgrounds, this is the clearest "get in early" opportunity visible in the data right now.The AI Product ManagerThe AI product manager (PM) story is the most nuanced of the three. Unlike AEO/GEO (which emerged from scratch with no predecessor) or AI transformation lead (which filled a clearly defined organizational gap), the AI PM sits at an ambiguous intersection of part real, new specialty, and part old title with “AI” attached.The adoption data doesn't look like the other two roles. AI PM was already showing up as early as 2023, peaking at 1.1% company adoption before slipping back to 0.8% at the inflection point in early 2024. That early experimentation and retreat suggests companies were trying to define the role before AI product building was widespread. The sustained climb to 2.4% by early 2026 reflects a market finding its footing. Pave But Pave's data raises a harder question. When the company analyzed 6,200 employees with "AI" appended to their title versus the same title without it, AI product managers commanded a 25.6% base salary premium—the highest of any function studied. That number could reflect genuine scarcity of people who can build native-AI products: understanding model behavior, evaluation frameworks, and the specific UX challenges of probabilistic systems. It could also reflect, at least in part, title inflation—PMs who added "AI" to their scope during a reorg and benchmarked up accordingly.And that leads to the more interesting question: Won't all product managers eventually be AI product managers? If so, the AI PM title may be less a permanent new job family and more the leading edge of a wholesale transformation of an existing one—the moment before "AI" becomes so assumed it disappears from the title entirely.That makes AI PM the most mature and most complicated of the three emerging roles—further along the adoption curve, commanding real compensation premiums, but with its long-term identity still being negotiated in real time.What Comes NextThe pattern across all three is largely the same. Near-zero adoption, a turn somewhere in 2024 or 2025, then fast growth. They're at different points on the curve, but all three are climbing.Viewed through a historical lens, roles like these tend to follow a consistent arc. Early adopters build the expertise and prove the value. Then the tech matures, the ROI gets obvious, and demand outruns supply. That's usually when pay premiums show up and the market gets competitive. For these three roles, the growth path is still ahead of us.Broadly speaking, the "AI is taking jobs" narrative is incomplete. The fuller version is that AI is restructuring which jobs exist. It’s eliminating some, growing others, and inventing a handful of entirely new ones. The new ones are the hardest to see coming, which is exactly why they're worth watching.This story was produced by Pave and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

50% of peptide users are taking compounds not approved for human use. Most don't know it

50% of peptide users are taking compounds not approved for human use. Most don't know itAhead of a July FDA meeting that could influence how several popular peptides are regulated, a new survey suggests many current peptide-users may not realize the compounds they’re taking are experimental.Half of people taking research-grade peptides mistakenly believe the compounds they're using are FDA-approved, according to a new survey of peptide-aware U.S. adults by Hone Health, a personalized medical platform focused on longevity.Based on the May 2026 survey of 2,491 U.S. adults with at least some familiarity with peptides as a health and wellness tool, the findings highlight a challenge as peptides become more mainstream: understanding what level of evidence exists for a given peptide and how it's being sourced, prescribed, and monitored.“Peptides can help you reach your health goals if they’re medical-grade and taken under professional supervision,” says Abid Husain, M.D., a triple-board-certified physician specializing in peptide therapy. “If not, you’re playing roulette with your health.”How the FDA Classifies PeptidesNot all peptides are subject to the same level of evidence, oversight, or regulation.Some peptides, including insulin and GLP-1 medications, are FDA-approved drugs that have cleared clinical trials and are manufactured under current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards. Every batch is tested for potency and purity, and each one carries a lot number that makes it traceable back to the raw material. FDA-approved peptides are dispensed only through licensed pharmacies with a prescription, which guarantees you’re getting the right compound at the right dose with proper handling, meeting the same standard as any prescription drug from your pharmacy.Other peptides, such as sermorelin, are included on the FDA's 503A Bulks List, also called Category 1. These compounds can be prescribed through compounding pharmacies under physician supervision, with purity and labeling oversight.A third category includes compounds currently classified as research-grade. These peptides cannot legally be compounded into prescription medications and typically have less clinical evidence and regulatory oversight than FDA-approved drugs. They’re also sold outside traditional medical channels. Research-only peptides are typically produced in bulk overseas with no FDA oversight, which means there's no guarantee of what's actually in the vial. Some 3 in 10 research-grade peptide products fail basic quality checks — they’re mislabeled, below purity thresholds, or dosed incorrectly, according to a January 2026 analysis. There's also no lot tracking, no requirement to report adverse events, and no one collecting safety data, so if users have reactions, you may not hear about it. Hone Health At the July meeting, an FDA advisory committee will review several high-profile research-grade peptides — including BPC-157, TB-500, KPV, and MOTs-C — for possible inclusion on the 503A Bulks List, which would create a pathway for compounding under medical supervision.A peptide's regulatory status is not a simple measure of whether it does or doesn't work, Husain says. Rather, it reflects the evidence available, how the compound is manufactured and distributed, and whether regulators believe it should be available through established medical channels.“Getting popular peptides reclassified as category one would be a big deal,” Husain says. “It wouldn't mean the peptides are FDA-approved, but it would mean they could be manufactured at compounding pharmacies, which would automatically make them safer.”Considering Peptides?Injecting yourself with substances that are unapproved and unregulated is inherently risky, says Husain. “They can be unsafe for humans, unsafe in the amounts you’re taking, or unsafe for you even if your friend got great results,” he says.Peptide effects can vary significantly from person to person, Husain says. For example, growth hormone-releasing peptides increase levels of IGF-1, a hormone involved in tissue growth and repair. That may be beneficial for people with low levels of IGF-1, but taking a peptide for muscle growth comes with some risk. For example, if your levels are already elevated — from an undiagnosed pituitary issue or just natural variation in biology — growth hormone peptides could raise your risk for certain cancers and metabolic conditions. “It’s impossible to know whether a peptide will be safe for you without consulting a physician who can consider your medical history,” Husain adds. Hone Health If you’re considering peptides, Husain recommends looking on the FDA’s website to understand the classification of every compound in your stack — as well as learning where it comes from. You can find the manufacturer’s location on the product packaging or on the supplier’s cGMP/FDA registration details on their site. If you request the product’s Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from the seller, it should list the name of the manufacturing facility as well as the batch number and date. Ideally you want a vendor that operates through a licensed pharmacy, requires a prescription, and is transparent about sourcing, testing, and medical oversight.You’ll also want to work with a doctor who can monitor your health, explain the research, and help you make decisions based on medical evidence, not just glowing testimonials on TikTok.MethodologyResults come from a May 2026 online survey of 2,491 U.S. adults with at least some familiarity with peptides as a health and wellness tool, fielded May 8-11, 2026. Participants were ages 18-60+, 61% female and 39% male, representing all major U.S. regions and a broad distribution of household incomes, with the largest share of respondents in the $75,000-$99,999 bracket.This story was produced by Hone Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Babies born during John Deere Classic will receive onesies

The John Deere Classic is showing that the “Magic Happens Here” with a gift for the youngest members of the Quad Cities community. Every baby born at participating hospitals during tournament week, June 28 – July 5th, will receive an exclusive, limited-edition onesie. Participating hospitals include Unity Point Health, MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center and [...]

6 of America’s best and worst airport hubs in 2026

6 of America’s best and worst airport hubs in 2026Airport hubs are the main layover crossroads that airlines funnel people through before sending them off in all directions. In the U.S., there is no formally defined, nationwide list. But combining airline-designated connection points with the Federal Aviation Administration traffic tiers puts the total somewhere around 70 to 90 airports.Airport hubs sit at the center of nearly every major trip, and the broader world of travel is full of uneven experiences where the gap between expectation and reality can be wide. There are some where you almost catch yourself hoping for a slight delay, just to stretch out the lounge time a bit longer, or finally slow down enough to take in those art and nature exhibits you never quite have time to properly look through. In others, you can't get out of there fast enough.This article from Bodog examines publicly available data from Skytrax, J.D. Power, OAG Aviation, Airports Council International and Global Traveler alongside crowdsourced input and consumer reviews from platforms including Yelp, TripAdvisor and FlightRadar24 to put together a list of some of the best and worst U.S. airport hubs to pass through in 2026.What makes a “good” airport hub?How good an airport hub feels really comes down to what you value in the experience. Independent industry bodies like Skytrax base their work on large-scale passenger surveys targeting specific areas, then roll those results up into a yearly list that ranks airports overall.What you will see below is based on hundreds of consumer reviews and industry data. Some of the key factors considered:Connection flow and timing: How easy it is to make a transfer without rushing or cutting things too fine between gates.Terminal layout: Whether getting from one point to another is simple or ends up being long walks, buses, or confusing detours.Queue time at key touchpoints: Time spent standing in line at check-in, security, and passport control.On-time reliability: How often flights stick to schedule rather than slipping into delays that mess up connections.Disruption handling: What it feels like when things go wrong, from rebooking to how clearly staff share information.Crowding: Whether terminals feel manageable or packed, especially during peak hours.Food, seating, and lounge access: How easy it is to find a decent place to sit and eat, plus lounge availability, crowd levels, food quality, and extras like showers or smoking areas.Signage and wayfinding: How quickly you can figure out where to go without second-guessing every turn.Security and border control: The best U.S. airports uphold safety to the highest standards while keeping the queue moving through checks efficiently.Baggage handling and transport links: Whether bags reliably make tight connections or show up late, alongside how straightforward it is to get from the airport to the city and back. Bodog 3 of the best US airport hubs1. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport — MSPThe J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study had Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport coming out on top for passenger satisfaction in both 2024 and 2025, ahead of other major hubs like those in Detroit, Phoenix, and Dallas. This year, it also recorded a 1.76 out of 10 stress score, with on-time departures sitting at 81.5%.Strengths: There’s loads of space, proper local eateries instead of the usual fast-food chains, quiet spots to switch off, and a hotel on site that accepts day stays.Things to do: You grab something from Black Sheep or Shoyu, walk the 1.4-mile path to kill time, maybe sit somewhere quiet, and if the layover drags, the Mall of America is one stop away.User reviews:“I passed through MSP on a layover and was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable and well-designed it is. The airport is very walkable, with plenty of moving walkways, lots of seating, and ample charging stations, which made the layover easy and relaxed.” — Chekaya G., Yelp“Nice large airport offering plenty of dining, both sit-down and local options. Wide corridors, so even walking from Concourse F to C was a breeze.” — Richard S., Yelp2. Seattle-Tacoma International — SEASeattle-Tacoma International Airport has gone through a wave of upgrades that pushed it into 4-star territory with Skytrax. The revamped N Concourse and new International Arrivals Facility are the main upgrades, with quieter spots and smoother security helping round things out.Strengths: Power outlets under seats across A, B, D, and S gates, with more being added. The free “SEATAC-FREE-WIFI” has no time limits, and top lounges like Centurion and Club SEA are available, both with showers.Things to do: Walk the marked half-mile Art Walk in the Central Terminal or catch live music performances near the main hub. You can also take the shuttle train out to N Gates for a quieter change of scene.User reviews:“I loved that there was free WiFi here. The TSA Staff are very smoothly flowing here. It is easy to navigate through this airport.” — Varshitindrayarakala, FlightRadar24“Took a late-night flight from EWR to SEA. The ground staff was friendly. Smile faces everywhere when we landed around midnight.” — Wei H., Yelp3. Chicago O’Hare International Airport — ORDThe OAG Megahubs Index 2025 ranking puts Chicago O'Hare International Airport at 65,141 viable onward itineraries in a single day, spanning 297 travel destinations. Industry recognition has never really let up, with repeated “Best Airport in North America” titles and regular awards across dining, design, and passenger experience from groups like Airports Council International and Global Traveler.Strengths: What stands out most is the immense route depth. You get loads of easy airline connections and solid backup during disruption. The weather-resilient runway design then helps keep the latter to a minimum.Things to do: Grab a deep-dish slice at Reggio’s, walk the neon “The Sky’s the Limit” tunnel between Concourses B and C, stretch in the Terminal 3 Rotunda yoga room, then kill time with free WiFi or a paid lounge if you need quiet.User reviews: “ORD is a big airport and was decked out nicely for Christmas. They have plenty of restaurants, shops, and a few lounges. We had to transit to T5, and it was easy to transfer on the shuttle bus.” — Blackbeauty75., TripAdvisor“Easy airport for the CTA train that's directly connected to the airport from Terminal 5. Ride share apps are available at Terminal 3. And there's lots of food in all terminals and Garretts Popcorn and Nuts on Clark stands. Many areas of the airport at ORD are renovated or getting a facelift.” — Karina K., Yelp3 of the worst airport hubs in the USNext are the three airports that ranked lowest in the research, along with the main reasons why:Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): Approximately 6.83 complaints per 100,000 passengers, well above the approximately 3.9 average. It also ranked as the most stressful airport.Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT): The layout centers on a main atrium with concourses radiating outward, so during connection banks, large volumes of passengers route back through shared corridors and intersections, which leads to repeated congestion spikes.Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): Despite generally reliable flight timings, the airport ranks at the bottom for overall passenger satisfaction. Recent J.D. Power findings show consistently low scores tied to dated terminals and cleanliness.Comparing US airport hubsThe following table lines up the six airport hubs featured above and shows what each one does well and where it struggles. Bodog Trends, outliers and final thoughtsWhile going through all the data and reviews, a few patterns started to show up, along with some airports that behaved very differently than you would expect. Shifting passenger expectations and post-pandemic infrastructure investment are among the travel trends that have quietly reshuffled airport satisfaction rankings over the past two years. Just to name a few:Smaller mega hubs keep topping satisfaction: Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport regularly outrank larger hubs.The busiest airport is not the best rated: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport moves the most passengers globally, yet does not rank at the top for passenger experience.Legacy hubs cluster at the bottom: Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport scored consistently low satisfaction ratings across multiple years.Recent upgrades do not shift rankings quickly: New York LaGuardia Airport improved its facilities but still trails top-tier hubs in overall scores.Layout design appears repeatedly in rankings: Centralized designs like Charlotte Douglas International Airport correlate with lower satisfaction due to recurring congestion patterns.Airports across the U.S. have come a long way, and with ongoing upgrades and expansion, the pecking order has a habit of reshuffling itself. At the same time, how it all feels depends heavily on what you are actually there to do. A quick connection, a long layover, switching terminals, clearing security again, or having lounge access can change things completely.This story was produced by Bodog and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How the cost of laser hair removal and waxing compare

How the cost of laser hair removal and waxing compareWhen exploring options for hair removal, you'll likely have to decide between traditional waxing or embracing newer innovative methods, such as laser hair removal. But is one option more cost-effective than the other? The answer may be more nuanced than you think.This guide by SkinSpirit covers everything you need to know about the differences in cost and how to determine true long-term value. After reading these comprehensive breakdowns of wax and laser hair removal costs, and what external factors contribute to value for money, you'll be able to make the right choice for your cosmetic needs. Ultimately, you can confidently invest in what matters most — your well-being and overall sense of self.Key TakeawaysThe initial cost of waxing is generally lower than that of laser hair removal, but the need for regular appointments to maintain results every four to six weeks can quickly add up.The first appointments for laser hair removal will typically be more expensive, but this procedure only requires a few appointments per year to maintain results.In the long term, laser hair removal is generally more cost-effective than waxing when estimated over a five-year period.Laser hair removal costs will vary depending on the area being treated, including its size and sensitivity.Time, convenience and comfort levels are all indirect factors that should be considered in a cost comparison.Waxing can potentially lead to folliculitis, which can be treated through laser hair removal.Choosing the right clinic should include research on customer reviews, equipment quality and the experience of staff.A professional consultation is essential, and you should feel confident about asking questions and ensuring you're getting the right treatment.Understanding Each MethodKnowing what to expect and what the process involves can reduce any concerns you may have. It can also play an important role in determining which options work best for your budget and other considerations.How Professional Waxing WorksProfessional waxing is a hair removal process with several steps. It involves applying a specifically formulated wax to your hair and skin. The wax then sticks to the hair, which is removed by quickly pulling it out from the root. The procedure also exfoliates the skin by removing dead cells, leading to a smoother appearance.After removal, the affected area will typically be treated with a soothing lotion because the skin may be red and sore. Waxing can be done on several areas of your body, such as:Eyebrow, chin and upper lip areas of the face.Feet, toes, fingers and hands.Stomach, chest, shoulders and back.Shins, thighs or entire areas of the leg.Arms, forearms and armpits.Intimate areas, including Brazilian waxes.While waxing can make your skin feel soft and refreshed, it's a temporary solution that requires regular appointments to maintain results.How Laser Hair Removal WorksLaser hair removal is a procedure that removes unwanted body hair. It's a process commonly used on several areas of the body, including underarms, legs, face and intimate areas where pubic hair grows. Laser hair removal uses medical-grade lasers to emit concentrated light that transforms into heat.This heat is applied to hair follicles and impairs their ability to grow back. Using this method creates a semipermanent reduction in hair growth after multiple sessions.A Comprehensive Cost ComparisonWeighing up the cost of each treatment is an important part of informing your choice. However, it's also a good idea to consider the difference between immediate and long-term costs. There are also several factors that may impact your decision regarding those costs.Here are some ballpark cost comparisons and long-term considerations that may go into making a decision. SkinSpirit ‍Comparing the Initial CostsWhen it comes to up-front spending for a waxing or laser hair removal appointment, specific costs will vary depending on the type of treatment center or spa you choose. However, here is a realistic price example to help establish some initial cost expectations.Imagine the initial hair-waxing cost for a bikini wax is $85, including tip. Compared to a general one-off laser hair removal cost of $200, the ballpark comparison shows short-term savings for people who choose wax removal. But the cost comparison doesn't end there.Considering the Annual CostsThere are a few more calculations to make before determining the overall value. While waxing costs less per session, it typically requires a new appointment every four to six weeks. Over the course of a year, this could mean an average of 10 appointments. To maintain smoothness, you now have a general annual cost calculation of 85 x 10, totaling $850.Laser hair removal's higher initial cost will include a similar appointment schedule at first. However, after the first six to eight sessions, you'll only need to maintain your appointments one to two times a year, which can reduce long-term costs.What Are the Long-Term Costs of Laser Hair Removal vs. Waxing?If the annual cost of waxing is $850, the long-term cost over five years would be $4,250. The annual cost of laser hair removal is generally higher. However, at an estimated $1,200 (for six initial sessions at $200) for the first year, it decreases significantly in the second year.Having just a few annual laser hair removal appointments after year one means spending an estimated $400 per year on touch-up sessions. This gives us a long-term cost of $2,800 ($1,200 for year one and $1,600 for the next four years).The results give us a total of $4,250 for wax removal and $2,800 for laser hair removal over five years.Does the Cost of Laser Hair Removal Vary by Body Area?Yes. It's one of the main reasons why cost comparisons should be stated as general estimates. With so many different clinics, treatments and areas of the body to consider, prices can vary significantly. Many factors go into determining a final cost, including:The area being treated: Smaller areas can be treated safely, promptly and with precision. But larger areas of the body, like the entire back or legs, may need more time, increasing the cost of the session.The sensitivity of the area: You may be looking to remove hair in sensitive areas of the body. This can slow the process or require more appointments due to the skin's sensitivity.The type of hair being treated: Everyone's hair varies in thickness, color and density, which impacts how it will be treated. Your hair type will also vary depending on where it's grown on your body.The practitioner's opinion: Your treatments may be spaced further apart if your practitioner feels it's the best choice. Their expertise will be an important part of ensuring you achieve the desired goals.Laser hair removal isn't a black-and-white process. Each area of your body is different, and achieving a significant reduction in hair growth requires care and attention. A one-size-fits-all approach won't cut it.Critical Factors Related to CostThere are other things to consider when comparing the long-term costs of laser hair removal and waxing. While they're not strictly limited to how much you'll spend, these are often overlooked factors when comparing prices.Time and ConvenienceMonthly waxing appointments will require booking, parking and putting aside time to get them done. This additional time and travel costs can add up considerably. Laser hair removal treatments are typically frequent at first, then maintained with semiannual appointments.These differences can be crucial for busy professionals or people with hectic social calendars.Comfort LevelsYour comfort should always be a priority. Waxing involves a sharp, tugging sensation, which is caused by the hair being quickly pulled out at the root. Laser hair removal isn't often described as painful. It usually causes mild to moderate discomfort — closer to the sensation of a rubber band hitting your skin.Advancements in cooling technology and numbing creams also help minimize discomfort during laser hair removal treatment.Skin Health and Potential IrritationSkin health is a personal matter that depends on your individual sensitivities. Waxing is a common cause of folliculitis, an ingrown hair condition caused by damage to hair follicles. Symptoms include tender, red and itchy spots on the face, pus-filled bumps or acne.Laser hair removal is a recognized treatment for this condition for people who experience symptoms. This means people who choose waxing may end up spending extra on laser hair removal to fix the issue.Value for Money in Terms of ResultsTrue value is often determined by the effectiveness of your hair removal choice. Waxing offers a temporary fix, with hair typically growing back in two to four weeks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists laser hair treatment as a permanent hair reduction solution, based on results measured after treatment completion.While this definition is based on significant hair reduction and not complete elimination, it's still an important contributor to choosing the best value.Considerations Before Seeking TreatmentMaking the right choice for your cosmetic goals should always involve professional advice. No matter which option you choose, it's crucial to ensure that you're visiting a reputable, safe specialist for your consultations.Consider the following factors before you decide where you get your treatment:Equipment quality: Look into the kind of equipment the clinic uses. Do a quick visual check, in person or online, for overall cleanliness. Don't be afraid to openly ask about specialized equipment, including the reason why it's being used for your specific skin and hair tones.Customer reviews: Any clinic can claim to be reputable and customer-focused. Check websites for positive reviews, happy clients and updates on treatment outcomes. Value for money will usually be something clients comment on immediately, giving you extra peace of mind.Qualifications and experience: Verify that the practitioners performing the treatments are certified, highly trained and experienced. Search online for options, focusing on the “about us” sections where clinical experience and expertise are commonly demonstrated.While many of these considerations are geared toward laser hair removal, they're best practice for any potential hair removal appointment.How Skin Tone and Hair Color Influence EffectivenessSkin tone and hair color may help determine your treatment type, as the lasers used for hair removal target pigment. In the past, effective hair removal was typically associated with lighter skin tones and dark hair. However, innovations have ensured safe and effective results for darker skin tones, too.Many modern clinical experts have debunked the myth that laser hair removal is ineffective for darker skin tones. Successful treatment requires using a laser specifically suited to each person's skin tone.The Importance of a Professional ConsultationBefore you undergo laser hair removal, getting a consultation from a qualified medical professional is essential. They can help you determine the best type of laser treatment based on your skin type, hair type and other important criteria.A good professional consultation experience will typically include:A comprehensive review of your full medical history.A run-through of any current medications you're taking.Some simple explanations about the hair removal process.Tips and insights on aftercare for your specific skin type.Clear and realistic timelines for the expected results.An open discussion about any potential side effects.Finally, a professional consultation should feel like a pressure-free talk. You should be able to vocalize your concerns and get any questions answered clearly.Making the Right Hair Removal Choice for Your GoalsCost and value can extend beyond the amount listed on your bill. Taking the time to understand the long-term costs of waxing or laser hair removal treatment is important. Additionally, by considering other external factors that contribute to your cosmetic appointments, you can make the best choice for your needs.This story was produced by SkinSpirit and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, retires

Although not well known outside the court, Alito played a key role in leading the conservative charge, not just on abortion, but on a host of other issues.

Editor's note: NPR retracts story

Editor's note: NPR retracts Justice Samuel Alito story

Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds

The decision firmly rejected the executive order that Trump issued on the first day of his second term.

How to deliver a winning sales pitch

How to deliver a winning sales pitchGeneric messaging, awkward over-familiarities, convoluted messaging — aggressive sales pitches never seem to end.But, despite their bad reputation, a good sales pitch can actually make a buyer’s life better.An effective sales pitch can connect buyers with solutions that directly address their most pressing issues, while also helping them build solid business relationships.If you’re a sales professional, you want to be able to deliver these kinds of sales pitches. These are the ones that close deals.So, how can you maximize the potential of your sales pitch? This Apollo guide explains.The sales pitch 101A sales pitch is a concise, personalized message delivered by a sales rep to potential buyers in an attempt to persuade them to agree to a deal and/or purchase a product.A salesperson typically gets just a few minutes to explain how their business will benefit a prospect. This is also why it is sometimes known as an “elevator pitch.”The goal of a sales pitch is to get the audience interested in a product or service and convince them that they need it. Great sales pitches focus on value and how that value solves a client’s problem.Preparing for the PitchTip #1: Research your pitch targetsSuccessful pitching always starts with knowing exactly who you are pitching to.Creating a complete profile on your pitch target requires some research. Find out answers to the following:Who are they? How long have they worked in the industry?What does their company do?What problems are they facing?What are their motivations? What is their end goal?Who are their competitors?What are their purchase habits?The goal is to determine their challenges, their goals, and how your product can solve them.For deeper insights, tap into your CRM database and/or your conversation intelligence platform. These sales tools will offer you a better picture of your pitch targets.Tip #2: Anticipate sales objectionsLearning how to overcome the sales objections that you are likely to face will make your sales pitch that much more successful.In preparing your sales pitch, think about its weak spots. Ask yourself: What objection might my prospective client bring to my offer? What issues might they have with my product or service?Remember: The most common sales objections surround budget, authority, need, and time (BANT).Rehearse the rebuttals you have for likely objections so that you enter your sales pitch ready to effectively and confidently address their concerns.Tip #3: Dealing with nervesChest tightening, breaths quickening, stomach-churning; most people know this feeling of anxiety before speaking publicly, and giving in-person sales pitches can make someone feel especially vulnerable.The trick is to learn how to manage it. Here are some practical tips for controlling your nerves before a big sales pitch:Develop an altruistic mindset. Remember that this sales pitch is bigger than yourself. It is about meeting the buyers’ needs and delivering solutions.Practice controlled, mindful breathing.Avoid drinking too much caffeine beforehand. It can make you feel hyperanxious and jittery.Listen to calming music or your favorite podcast on your way to the sales pitchIf you have time, exercise beforehand. Moving your body can release endorphins and lower your stress levels.Recognize that it is unlikely anyone knows you are nervous or fearful. You don’t look as anxious as you feel.Beginning the PitchTip #4: Open the pitch with energy and confidenceFirst impressions are important. They can have a huge impact on whether or not a potential customer is open and receptive to what you have to say.Open your pitch with enthusiasm, making sure you are communicating confidence and professionalism. It’s important to remember that you are communicating just as much (if not more) through your body language and tonality.Stand tall and straight. Make eye contact with who you are speaking to. Keep your body in an inviting and open position. And, if you are not delivering the pitch in person, pay close attention to when and how you are speaking, giving the potential client plenty of room to feel heard and understood.All of these things communicate a level of confidence in what you are saying and what you are selling.Tip #5: Develop an interesting visualMany people engage more with visual information than with written or verbal. A successful sales pitch responds to this demand and utilizes clear images, diagrams, data displays, and other visual materials. Consider opening your sales pitch with a vibrant cover slide, an attention-grabbing graph, or, if you have access to one, a product video.During the PitchTip #6: Offer a solution to their problemsEmphasizing the prospects’ needs and offering your product as the solution is the fundamental purpose of any effective pitch. Everything hinges on your ability to present your product as an answer to all of their troubles.When you are delivering your sales pitch, remember that your potential clients don’t care about your product; they care about what your product will do for them. Translate all of your product’s amazing features into your client’s benefits.Focus on communicating your unique selling proposition: What makes your product the best and how does it make their lives easier?Tip #7: Back yourself up with dataCustomers need to be able to rationalize their decision to purchase from you.When a salesperson includes data and statistics in their sales pitch, it not only gives them credibility, it also lets prospective customers know that their product works.For example, instead of saying “Our product will save you time,” you can say, “Our product cuts the average number of days for project approval from seven to four, and our customers have reported a boost in productivity by as much as 150%!”This is a simple way to incorporate hard data about your product into your sales pitch to position yourself better against competitors and help customers mentally justify the cost of buying from you.Ending the PitchTip #8: End with a clear call-to-actionTo successfully close your sales pitch, you need to end on a clear call-to-action (CTA) in order to continue to move them through the sales pipeline. Tell the client what needs to happen in order for them to receive the results you just talked to them about.Don’t wait for the prospect to create the call to action. This can often result in meetings ending early or losing them as clients entirely.What do you want them to do? Read more information? Review a proposed contract? Subscribe to a newsletter? Sign the dotted line?This is the time to let them know, clearly and definitively.Tip #9: Be prepared to negotiateChances are you’ll have to use some of your negotiation skills once you’ve concluded your sales pitch.Many sales reps falter at this stage. In their desperation to close the deal, they give too much away. But you’ve worked far too hard on your sales pitch to settle for an unprofitable deal.Know your price. Before you enter into negotiations, you need to have an idea of when you’ll walk away from a deal. If a client can’t afford to pay what your product is worth, then they may not be an ideal fit to begin with.On the same note, it’s also important to know when to accept a “no.” The best salespeople know how to accept rejection with grace.Tip #10: Review and improveThe 10th and final piece of advice: Always be optimizing.Take some time after your sales conversation to think about what went well, what didn’t, and what you can learn from it. There’s always room for improvement.Sales Pitch ExamplesAlong with the above tips, here are a few notable examples of great sales pitches to help you create your own.The Ryan Robinson Email PitchContent marketing consultant Ryan Robinson often contacts businesses to offer his services. He recently shared his go-to email sales pitch that has brought him enormous success:This is an example of a sales pitch that provides great value upfront. Before ever making a pitch, he finds something of value to give to his prospect, such as a share on Twitter.He includes what he did for them in his pitch and doesn’t give them information about himself and his services until the third paragraph.This example isn’t something you can copy and paste because it is highly specific, but think about how you can emulate some of Robinson’s strategies into your own, unique sales pitch.Brightwheel's Shark Tank Pain-Point PitchThe next sales pitch example is a “Shark Tank” success story.Brightwheel founder and CEO Dave Vasen did research and found out that all of his potential investors are parents. He highlighted a personal pain point for parents of toddlers: not knowing what or how their kid is doing in daycare every day. He also used himself and his daughter as a case study and provided his audience with some statistics and visuals on the success of his product.Brightwheel ended up raising $600,000 from this sales pitch.What can salespeople learn from this? Well, this pitch example does a great job of highlighting personalized pain points. Instead of going deep into the technical aspects of his product, Vasen focuses on the emotional, real-life benefits that come with his product.Consider using some of Vasen’s strategies in your own sales pitch.This story was produced by Apollo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How to tell if a wellness trend is actually backed by science

How to tell if a wellness trend is actually backed by scienceThe wellness industry now generates more than $6.8 trillion globally, according to the Global Wellness Institute, and much of its influence moves through social feeds before it ever reaches a doctor's office.A Pew Research Center survey conducted in October 2025 found that half of U.S. adults under 50 get health and wellness information from influencers or podcasters, while fewer than 1 in 5 of those creators are conventional medical professionals.With so much advice coming from people outside traditional health care, science-led companies have become part of a larger effort to keep wellness claims connected to evidence, Fatty15 reports.Without that connection, consumers are left sorting through health advice that sounds convincing before it has been proven true.Key TakeawaysPersonal stories can be compelling, but peer-reviewed research provides a stronger foundation for evaluating health claims.Wellness trends that promise miracle cures, rely on buzzwords, or use fear and urgency should be approached with caution.Asking who made a claim and what evidence supports it is one of the most effective ways to make informed health decisions.Why Wellness Misinformation Spreads So EasilyMisinformation often spreads for reasons that have little to do with bad intentions. The human brain responds to stories and certainty faster than it processes doubt, and social media platforms are built to reward whatever keeps people watching.Back in 2018, MIT researchers found that false news was roughly 70% more likely to be shared on Twitter than verified reporting, giving misleading health claims an advantage before science has time to catch up. The danger grows when those claims promise relief to people who feel dismissed by traditional care or are tired of waiting for answers.In an interview with the American Medical Journal, Jennifer Cain Birkmose, senior director of research development at Schain Research, pointed to that exact vulnerability when she warned about influencers “touting miracle solutions that prey on the hope of patients.” And that hope becomes easier to exploit when most people were never taught how to separate a scientific claim from language that only sounds scientific.The Difference Between Anecdote and EvidenceMost wellness claims start with a real person who says something worked for them, but a true story is still not the same as proof. Personal testimony is persuasive precisely because it feels honest, and in most cases it is.The problem, as Rachel Moran, a health misinformation researcher at the University of Washington, noted in a New York Times article, is that a personal experience "can't be generalized." One person's results are shaped by their genetics and personal habits in ways that have nothing to do with whatever product is being credited.Controlled research exists to sort that out, testing an intervention across hundreds or thousands of people to find whether the result holds across different bodies and circumstances. And when a study has been repeated and reviewed by outside experts, it carries a level of proof that a personal story cannot provide.A Practical Framework for Evaluating Health ClaimsEvaluating a health claim often comes down to a few questions that most people were never taught to ask.The first is who is making the claim, because expertise only helps when it matches the subject being discussed. In an interview with The Guardian, Danielle Shine, a registered dietitian and Ph.D. candidate studying nutrition misinformation, warned that “just because someone lists letters after their name doesn't automatically make them credible.”The next question is what kind of evidence supports it, since peer-reviewed research has been tested in a way personal testimony has not.A serious claim should also explain its limits, because honest science leaves room for what it does not yet know. It should hold up beyond one study, with other researchers finding similar results.And when money is attached to the advice, readers deserve to know whether the evidence is strong enough to support the claim or whether the claim is being shaped to support the sale.Common Red Flags to Watch ForMisleading wellness claims are rarely obvious, which is what makes them effective. Dr. Michelle Wong, a chemistry Ph.D. and misinformation researcher, told The Guardian that "it's really rare for [health misinformation] not to contain a grain of truth." Certain patterns, though, give them away.A claim that promises a miracle cure or guaranteed result is asking readers to trust certainty before evidence. The same is true when a wellness trend leans too hard on buzzwords like detox or biohack without explaining what is being measured.Cherry-picked studies create another warning sign, especially when a single finding is treated like settled science. And when fear or urgency pushes people to act before they can think, the claim deserves even more scrutiny.Where Science and Wellness Do OverlapThe problem with wellness is not that every idea lacks substance. Some of the most familiar advice has earned its place through years of research.Regular physical activity has one of the strongest records, with a British Journal of Sports Medicine analysis finding that exercise improved symptoms of mild to moderate depression and anxiety. The review covered more than 1,000 trials across a broad range of adults.Sleep belongs in the same conversation, since quality rest helps the brain clear metabolic waste and supports the hormones tied to hunger and energy. Nutrition science has followed a similar path, with whole-food diets and adequate protein sitting at the center of decades of clinical study.The point is not to dismiss wellness as a whole, but to separate the ideas grounded in evidence from the claims trying to borrow its authority.The Role of Experts and Professional GuidanceEvery person carries a different medical history, and even well-sourced research cannot account for that. Primary care doctors read a person’s symptoms through lab results and medical history, while registered dietitians bring that same level of training to food and nutrition.Registered dietitian Amber Sommer noted to Cleveland Clinic that “being a dietitian means you’ve completed the requirements set by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to provide nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy.”Licensed therapists bring the same depth to mental health, where social media can turn complex symptoms into labels that feel easier to name than they are to diagnose. Self-treating based on a viral post can delay the kind of evaluation that helps people understand what is actually going on.Becoming a More Informed Wellness ConsumerKeeping pace with wellness claims takes less effort than most people assume, and the habits that support it are built more on curiosity than anxiety. The real work starts with pausing before a claim becomes a routine, then asking what evidence exists and who benefits if people believe it. Health habits worth building are the ones that still make sense after the attention fades.They usually depend on consistency and a person’s actual biology, not whatever voice happens to be loudest online. The goal is to make health decisions with more confidence, guided by research and personal history, so curiosity about wellness remains useful instead of becoming something that can be used against people.Skepticism as a Healthy HabitKnowing which health claims to trust has become one of the most valuable skills a person can build. People who develop that skill are better prepared to protect themselves from advice that sounds convincing before it has been properly tested.The wellness industry keeps growing, and so does the volume of claims moving through it without serious review. But strong research is growing too, giving consumers more ways to separate useful guidance from claims that were built to travel faster than they were built to hold up.The habit of asking who made a claim and what evidence supports it may be one of the most reliable forms of protection a person carries into the wellness market ahead.This story was produced by Fatty15 and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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The 5 numbers every business owner should know before an exit conversation starts

The 5 numbers every business owner should know before an exit conversation startsMost business owners are well-equipped to run their companies, but far less prepared when it comes to exit conversations. It’s easy to overvalue your personal connection to the company or your decades of sacrifice, but a potential buyer isn’t looking at those factors.In reality, buyers are evaluating a set of financial metrics that determine whether it’s worth buying and for how much, and that valuation is shaped years before you sell. The good news is that with proactive planning, you can improve your negotiating power, tax efficiency, and financial outcomes later on.What numbers matter most before selling a business?The five metrics that matter most for business valuation and exit readiness are EBITDA, cash flow, customer concentration, owner dependency percentage, and estimated after-tax exit proceeds. Wealth Enhancement breaks these five numbers down further to help you understand why they’re important and how to optimize them.Why Exit Planning Should Start Earlier Than Most Owners ThinkMost business owners know they should have a successful exit plan, but delay it longer than they should, whether because of an emotional attachment to the company, a burnout-driven sale, or a simple lack of succession planning. Unfortunately, this can result in lower valuation potential.The Risks of Waiting Too LongThe consequences of putting off your exit planning can be major. A shortened valuation and sale timeline takes away some of your negotiating leverage, and operational instability in the company can hurt buyer confidence.Another risk of not planning ahead is that you’re making rushed tax decisions. With proper planning, you can sit down with a financial professional and perfectly plan out your tax decisions. Poor planning could result in a far higher tax bill.Finally, without planning ahead, you could find yourself selling at exactly the wrong time, when there’s a market downturn that harms your business valuation. That, combined with the other consequences of delayed planning, can compound to a much lower payoff.How Buyers Evaluate Business ReadinessWhen buyers are evaluating a business’s readiness, revenue is clearly an important factor, but not the only one. Prospective buyers also look at other important factors that will affect the business’s ability to operate and grow after the founder exits.Some other factors they evaluate include:Recurring revenue and profitabilityDeveloped systems and processesStability and strength in the leadership structureCustomer diversification and long-term durabilityOperational scalabilityRemember that when considering a purchase, prospective buyers are evaluating a business’s transferability, not just its revenue. Even a very successful business has little value to them if its success can’t transfer easily to a new owner.Why Financial Clarity Increases ValuationClean, organized reporting and financial statements can positively impact a business’s valuation. They increase transparency and predictability, which buyers are willing to pay a premium for.On the other hand, when you have inconsistent reporting, commingled business and personal expenses, or unexplained volatility, there’s much room for doubt on the part of buyers.Number 1: EBITDAOf all the financial metrics that buyers care about, EBITDA is likely the most critical. It’s the foundation of business valuation and the number that most directly communicates the business’s profitability.What EBITDA MeasuresEBITDA stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.To calculate EBITDA, use this formula:Net income + Interest + Taxes + Depreciation + AmortizationEBITDA makes for a useful basis of comparison across businesses because it isolates a business’s earning power and strips away differences in tax strategies and accounting conventions that can vary from firm to firm. It shows a company’s pure operational profitability.Why Buyers Focus on EBITDAEBITDA answers the question of how much money a business actually produces from its operations before it’s allocated to debt service, taxes, and depreciation. It’s basically a proxy for a business’s ability to generate cash and a foundation for acquisition modeling. It shows a business’s debt-service capability and its scalability. A growing EBITDA shows efficiency and scalability, while an inconsistent or declining EBITDA raises red flags about long-term sustainability.How EBITDA Impacts Valuation MultiplesThe EBITDA Multiple Method is one of the most common business valuation methods. It’s calculated using the formula:Business Value = EBITDA x MultipleThe multiple you use might vary depending on your industry, company size, and growth profile. They might range from three to five times for a smaller company with customer concentration risk, but reach six to nine times for a larger firm with many long-term client contracts and predictable revenue.This calculation is exactly why predictable earnings and income diversification are so important. The same EBITDA can result in drastically different valuations depending on the multiplier you use.Common EBITDA Mistakes Owners MakeSeveral common mistakes can negatively affect a business’s EBITDA or make buyers question it:Mixing personal and business expenses: Mixing your personal expenses into your business ones raises serious red flags for your business’s financial metrics and may result in unfavorable adjustments to your EBITDA.Inconsistent accounting practices: Switching between accounting practices or inconsistent reporting can undermine the credibility of your financial statements.Ignoring add-backs: Legitimate add-backs show the company’s true cash flow. Not properly documenting these can leave money on the table.Poor reporting hygiene: Inconsistent reporting that lacks transparency and accuracy lowers buyer confidence and, therefore, your potential valuation.Number 2: Cash FlowCash flow, even more than revenue, is the metric that buyers look at when evaluating a business’s finances. Buyers want to see cash flow that’s predictable and sustainable.Why Predictable Cash Flow MattersCash flow shows that a business can both generate income and use it efficiently. For example, a business that has $10 million in revenue but struggles with its cash flow has a very different risk profile than one with $6 million in revenue and solid cash flow.Potential buyers are looking ahead to their operations after the acquisition. Consistent cash flow helps with forecasting. It also shows that the business can repay its debts, operate efficiently, and weather any market volatility.How Buyers Assess Financial StabilityDuring the due diligence phase of a sale, buyers will look at historical cash flow to look for consistency in operating margins, seasonal patterns, and working capital efficiency. A business with stable or growing cash flow over several years is a safer investment than one with a year of exponential cash flow, followed by another year or two of declining or inconsistent cash flow.Cash Flow Red Flags That Lower ValuationA few red flags in your cash flow that could hurt your valuation or cause a potential buyer to second-guess the sale include:Declining margins over consecutive periodsRevenue volatility without a clear explanationCustomer payment delays or slow collectionsExcessive or fluctuating owner drawsNumber 3: Customer ConcentrationA business with strong revenue and margins but an overreliance on just a few customers carries some real risk for a potential buyer. The stability of the entire business relies on those few relationships. And especially when the current owner is planning their exit, there’s a risk of the customers exiting as well.What Customer Concentration Risk MeansCustomer concentration risk refers to the degree to which a company’s revenue depends on just a few customers. The higher the concentration in one or a few customers, the greater the revenue drop with each customer who leaves. For example, if you have five customers who each account for 20% of the business’s revenue, a single customer leaving (or worse, more than one leaving) will have a real impact on revenue.Contrast that with a business that has 100 customers, each accounting for 1% of revenue. One or two customers leaving won’t significantly impact your bottom line.Why Heavy Reliance on One Client Can Hurt ValuationWhen a single client or a handful of clients make up the majority of a business’s revenue, buyers may apply a discount to the valuation to reflect the stability risk.It’s not just a matter of one or two clients having an outsize impact on revenue. It’s also that those clients understand their importance to the business and can use it in contract negotiations. That can have just as large an impact in the long run on the business’s finances as the client leaving would.How to Reduce Concentration Risk Before Exit ConversationsIf you’re planning your exit, start diversifying your client base well in advance, ideally, years before the sale. You can do this by developing new relationships, pursuing recurring contract structures, or expanding your service and product offerings.Number 4: Owner Dependency PercentageWhen someone is buying a business (especially a small business) from the founder, they’re naturally going to be concerned about operational transferability. Can the business be just as successful with a different owner? How reliant is the business’s cash flow on the founder? After all, a business that can’t operate independently of its founder isn’t really an asset to anyone else.What Happens When the Business Depends Too Heavily on the FounderWhen a business depends too heavily on its founder, key relationships often exist only because of that one person, whether with clients, vendors, or employees.Another common problem is having decision-making authority concentrated at the top of the company. If you, as the founder, make all of the decisions, your management team likely won’t be prepared for your exit.The last thing a buyer wants is for the business to run into potential decision-making bottlenecks or lose key customers when the founder leaves.Why Buyers Discount Founder-Dependent CompaniesJust as with customer concentration, a buyer may apply a discount to a business that appears too founder-dependent. This discount can help offset the transition risk and any customer retention concerns. Some other options may include earnout arrangements, extended seller employment or consulting arrangements, or simply reducing the purchase price.How to Build Transferable Operational SystemsStart reducing your business’s reliance on you as the founder years before your planned exit. Some ways you can do this include:Documenting your standard operating procedures across all major business functionsDeveloping your leadership team to make decisions independentlyImplementing proactive management successionAutomating repeat processes to reduce dependence on any one personNumber 5: Estimated After-Tax Exit ProceedsThe sale of a business is a major financial event. Even if you know how much your business is worth, you may be underestimating just how much you’ll pay in taxes on that value.Why Gross Sale Price Is Not the Same as Net WealthA $10 million business valuation doesn’t turn into $10 million of personal wealth when you sell. Taxes and transaction costs will reduce the amount that makes it into your bank account.When you’re creating your financial exit plan, make sure to build it around your expected windfall after taxes and other obligations, not before.Capital Gains and Tax Planning ConsiderationsWhen you sell your business, you could pay both income and capital gains taxes. First, you’ll pay federal capital gains taxes on your share of ownership in the business. You could also pay state income tax on the same amount.Installment sales spread your proceeds out over several years and can help manage the tax burden by making sure your marginal tax rate doesn’t get too high in any one year. Other tax management strategies to consider include capital gains exclusions under Section 1202 and charitable planning strategies.It’s important to involve a tax professional from the early stages of the exit process so you can plan ahead for this major financial event.How Owners Can Prepare for Post-Sale Financial LifeIf you’ve had the majority of your net worth tied up in your business, then selling it is likely going to change many aspects of your life, both financially and personally. You’ll now have some major decisions to make, including where to invest your liquid assets, how to generate retirement income, and how to structure your estate.There’s also a significant identity transition. Your identity is no longer that of a business owner, and that can take a psychological toll, or, in some cases, have a positive psychological impact.The Hidden Numbers Buyers Also EvaluateIn addition to the five primary metrics just discussed, there are other indicators business owners should pay attention to that could signal to buyers whether your business is a solid investment.Revenue Growth TrendsBuyers want to see consistent revenue growth over time. They want to see that the business is scalable and that there’s even more future growth potential.Recurring Revenue PercentageRecurring revenue is a valuable metric, as it creates predictability for owners. Buyers might place a premium on revenue they can count on.Employee Retention MetricsHigh employee turnover is a red flag for buyers, especially at the leadership level. The new buyer is buying a team as much as a company, and they want to see a positive, stable workplace culture, employee retention, and continuity of operations when the previous owner is gone.Operational ScalabilityOperational scalability shows buyers how the business can continue to grow. A business with fixed-cost infrastructure that’s been leveraged efficiently is a valuable asset and may be preferable to one that requires significant investment to grow.How Business Owners Can Improve These Numbers Before an ExitUnderstanding your important business metrics is the first step. It’s even more important to know how to improve them in the years before your exit.Strengthening Financial ReportingYou have clean bookkeeping with reliable financial statements.You’ve built a multi-year financial model to help the new owner forecast growth.You’re using consistent accounting practices.Diversifying Revenue StreamsYou’ve set internal goals for customer expansion.You’ve developed sources of recurring revenue in your contracts.You’ve diversified your service or product base to attract new customers.Reducing Operational BottlenecksYou’ve identified processes that currently depend on your direct involvement.You’ve delegated decision-making to your leadership team.You’ve automated parts of your business that can be automated.You’ve documented your systems and created standard operating procedures.Building a Transition TeamYou’ve built a personal transition team that includes professionals such as:A financial advisorAn M&A attorneyA CPA or tax professionalA succession specialistCommon Exit Planning Mistakes Business Owners MakeAn owner exit is a sensitive time in a business, and there are some mistakes that come up again and again, which you can avoid with proper planning.Waiting Until BurnoutMany owners exit without proper planning because they wait until they’re burnt out. They haven’t planned ahead for the sale and instead make an emotional decision in the moment. This shortens the timeline you have to prepare and can reduce your negotiating power.Ignoring Tax PlanningDon’t save your tax planning until the sale is final. Ideally, it should be a multi-year strategy that you start planning for long before the sale actually happens. The less you plan, the more you’re likely to pay in preventable taxes right off the bat.Overestimating ValuationBusiness owners often believe their companies are worth more than they are, partly because of how close they are to the business. Rather than making assumptions, have a professional assess your business to get an idea of how much it’s actually worth in a sale.Failing to Prepare for Life After ExitMany owners plan diligently for the exit, but then don’t think about what comes next. It’s important to make a plan, both financially and personally, for life after the exit.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat financial numbers matter most before selling a business?The most important numbers that matter when you’re selling a business are EBITDA, cash flow, customer concentration, owner dependency, and estimated after-tax proceeds.What is EBITDA and why does it matter?EBITDA stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. It measures your company’s profitability independent of its capital structure and accounting decisions.How is a business valued?Businesses are often valued using the EBITDA multiple methodology, where your EBITDA is multiplied by an adjusted factor.What reduces a business valuation?An inconsistent or declining EBITDA, high customer concentration, strong owner dependency, weak recurring revenue, high employee turnover, and poor financial reporting can all reduce your business’s valuation. Each of these factors creates risk for a potential buyer.When should exit planning begin?Exit planning should begin three to five years from the intended sale. This timeline allows you to put the proper planning measures in place as it relates to both your business and your own financial situation.How can owners improve business value before selling?Some ways to improve your business valuation include increasing and stabilizing your EBITDA, diversifying your customer base, building a team that can operate without you, and implementing strong and consistent financial reporting practices.What taxes apply when selling a business?When you sell your business, you’ll usually pay federal capital gains taxes on the difference between your cost basis and the sale price. You may also pay state income taxes.Why does owner dependency matter?Owner dependency creates a transition risk because it often means too much of the company’s value is tied up in the founder. If the founder has all of the client relationships and operational knowledge, it can be difficult to change hands without sacrificing revenue.Should owners work with a financial advisor before an exit?A financial advisor who understands your situation before you exit your business can help with tax planning, retirement planning, investment management, and estate planning, among other things.Final ThoughtsBusiness exit planning isn’t just a transaction. It’s a multi-year process of building business value, organizing your financials, reducing risk for all parties, and preparing for your own wealth transition. EBITDA, cash flow, customer concentration, owner dependency, and after-tax proceeds are some of the most important metrics to pay attention to, as they drive buyer decisions and metrics.This story was produced by Wealth Enhancement and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Why families are choosing private villas for milestone birthday trips

Why families are choosing private villas for milestone birthday tripsAs travelers increasingly prioritize meaningful experiences over traditional vacations, private luxury villas are emerging as a popular choice for milestone celebrations. From landmark birthdays and family reunions to multigenerational gatherings, more groups are opting for exclusive-use estates that combine privacy, personalized service, and the freedom to celebrate on their own terms. This growing shift reflects a broader demand for accommodations that offer both connection and exclusivity.In this article, Villa Punto de Vista explores why private villas have become a preferred setting for many travelers’ milestone birthday trips, highlighting the unique advantages that are redefining the way families and friends gather to mark life’s most important moments. Villa Punto de Vista Why Private Villas Instead of Typical Birthday Trips?Research reveals that the luxury vacation rental market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.3% from 2025 to 2034. One contributing factor to this growth is that more people are spending life’s special moments, such as milestone birthdays, in private villas.Today’s affluent travelers are increasingly focused on creating meaningful shared experiences rather than collecting destinations. Whether it’s parents, children, grandparents, lifelong friends, or multiple generations gathering under one roof, the goal is to create memories that will be talked about for years to come. Private villas provide an ideal setting for these once-in-a-lifetime moments, allowing guests to celebrate together in complete privacy while enjoying experiences tailored specifically to their group.Here’s why more large family gatherings are choosing private villas over resorts:Simpler planning for multigenerational travel with groups of 10-50 people with the help of a concierge at the private villa.Affluent travelers are looking to create meaningful shared experiences rather than solo trips.People enjoy the privacy and exclusivity of a dedicated villa rental just for their group.Provides families with an opportunity to come together in one shared space while also having private suites for personal time.Private villas often have staff who help provide a more personalized experience with custom dishes, drinks and activities.Simpler Multigenerational TravelOne study found that multigenerational trips are contributing to the travel market growth, with 57% of parents planning to travel with children and their grandparents. Private villas make sense for multigenerational travel.Private villas offer distinct sleeping areas, exclusive dining and serene natural surroundings, all within a secluded space perfect for family bonding. This unique combination significantly simplifies multigenerational travel, transforming what could be a stressful logistical challenge into a seamless and enjoyable experience — especially in comparison to the complexities of coordinating multiple hotel accommodations.The logistical effortlessness of private villas means families can enjoy a more relaxed vacation, and elements like travel and excursions are easier to navigate.Private villas also offer togetherness without sacrificing comfort and personal preferences. Parents can enjoy a romantic night with dinner under the stars, and grandparents can visit while the children nap. Everyone has their own space and can come together as a family or split into groups to explore different activities. Villa Punto de Vista Unmatched Luxury and PrivacyOne of the top reasons more people are choosing luxe villas for birthday celebrations is the privacy these spaces offer. When you celebrate your birthday with close family members, the privacy of villas makes the moment feel more intimate and special. In hotels, other guests are checking in, walking through hallways and hanging out in communal spaces. In private villas, it’s just you and your guests.Ultra-high-net-worth travelers tend to seek villas because privacy has become a highly valued commodity. The privacy those villas offer is a key driver of the luxury vacation market’s growth. The spacious and comfortable atmosphere of a private villa brings a more personalized feel while still providing high-end amenities, views and accommodation. Private villas also offer exclusive amenities such as service staff and private chefs, making for a memorable, hassle-free birthday celebration.Research shows that younger travelers tend to seek accommodation that reflects local culture and features distinctive design elements, which private villas often do. The rising demand for unique and themed properties is one of the key reasons why more people want to celebrate their special occasions in private villas.Top Theme Ideas for Private Villa Birthday PartiesOne of the coolest parts about having a private villa party is that you get to immerse yourself in different cultures and experiences. Whether you want a peaceful beach party or a glamorous night, the staff at a private villa can usually coordinate tablescapes, special cocktail drinks, music, private entertainment and more to fit your theme.Here are some of the top themes that people choose for their private villa birthday celebrations:Relaxed Boho TropicalBlend the relaxed vibes of the pura vida life with the earthy style of Costa Rica. Vibrant tropical elements tucked within natural textures. This theme is all about the ocean’s laid-back, zen appeal. The guests can enjoy activities like spa treatments and relax on the beach with their very own tiki bar. Live Costa Rican music plays while you enjoy a BBQ lunch with your toes in the sand.The beach setting can also bring opportunities for bonfire gatherings while everyone takes in the sunset over the ocean.Glitz and GlamourThose who are all about the elegance and extravagance will enjoy villas with a Hollywood feel. Here are some birthday theme ideas that fit this vibe:Hollywood glamour: Guests can dress up in their finest outfits and enjoy photo opportunities, classic cocktails and even a live jazz band for that true Hollywood glam feel.Casino Royale: Create the appeal of a high-stakes casino while maintaining the privacy of a villa, with elegant decor, themed cocktails and even professional dealers, if allowed. This theme also offers the opportunity for a sophisticated dress code.Masquerade ball: Nothing says glitz and glamour like a masquerade ball. Some villas have dedicated dance floors, ballrooms or conference rooms where you can set up the opulent decor. Private chefs at the villa can prepare French-inspired cuisine and signature cocktails to tie the night together.Adventure SeekersPrivate villas set the stage for adventure lovers, creating a truly immersive experience. Look for spaces set in or near jungles for an adventurous feel and incorporate elements like themed dinners to tie everything together.Villas with fully staffed chefs and servers also create the perfect opportunity for a culinary journey.Another common adventure theme for private villas is a murder mystery. Guests can enjoy an interactive whodunit, savoring a delicious dinner and specialty cocktails while unraveling a thrilling mystery. The villa’s privacy allows guests to dress up and feel free to act out their characters while being immersed in the theatrics.Party BigElevate the birthday into a vibrant celebration packed with high-energy activities. Luxury private villas provide an exquisite backdrop for an unforgettable vacation experience. Here are some theme ideas if you want to have a big birthday bash:Pool party: Nothing says celebration like a pool party, and in a private villa, you can enjoy luxurious pools, jacuzzis and other elements that will make your celebration one to remember. Some private villas may also offer services like private chefs and service staff so that guests can enjoy gourmet BBQ stations or poolside massages and cocktails.Glow party: Perfect for party animals who like to dance, a glow party in a private villa takes fun to the max. With a private villa, you can enjoy the ambience of a club or outdoor party, without having to share the special day with strangers. You can transform the villa with neon decorations and music, or with a DJ.Tropical fiesta: Private villas in tropical places set the perfect backdrop for a tropical fiesta birthday party. Think floral decorations, fresh seafood, vibrant colors and piña coladas. Guests can celebrate while watching the waves crash and dance till the sun rises.How to Find the Perfect Private Villa for Your Milestone Birthday CelebrationPrivate villas can set the perfect backdrop for a milestone birthday trip, but it’s important to find the right one for your celebration needs. Here are some points to consider when looking for private villas:Guest RequirementsCheck that the property has the features to accommodate your group’s dynamics. For example, if young children are coming along, look for specialized amenities like cribs and play areas. Elderly guests and people with disabilities may require accessibility features such as elevators or wheelchair ramps. Ensure you get clarity on whether the villa is equipped with these features before booking, so guests can be comfortable while celebrating.Birthday Theme or DesiresPrivate villas can create the backdrop that brings the theme or the birthday person’s desires to life. For example, if it’s been a lifelong dream to surf or hike through a rainforest, villas can help make those dreams come true.Also consider how the villa’s aesthetic and amenities will align with your theme, culinary preferences and party activities.Property Management and StaffOne of the major benefits of hosting a birthday party in a private villa is the intimacy of a private venue, with perks reminiscent of a luxury hotel, such as cleaning services and other staff.Look for venues that offer management options for sourcing entertainment or arranging local trips to simplify planning. Many luxury villas include staff services, but look for private chefs or concierge services to reduce logistical burdens and ensure guests receive a personalized experience at the party.Inclusions and CustomizationsUnderstand what comes with the villa and the available customizations to suit your party theme and activities. For example, if you want to tour the local scenery or visit nearby spots, check if transportation is accessible at the villa. Look for concierge services so you don’t have to worry about things like errands.If you want customizations like live music, tour guides and decor, find out in advance how to arrange them at the venue.How to Take Your Private Villa Birthday Celebration to the Next LevelYou can further elevate your private villa birthday stay through thoughtful planning and personalized experiences. Here are some tips to implement:Try experiential activities: One of the significant perks of celebrating a birthday at a private villa is the chance to try unique events. Plan local activities like guided treks, snorkeling trips, or cultural events that can make birthday celebrations all the more special.Personalize the experience: Talk to the villa staff about adding a personal touch, such as custom birthday decor or a special meal and birthday cake. Find out about personalized welcome gifts for each guest or offering a signature cocktail in honor of the birthday person. Small, thoughtful touches can boost the emotional and sentimental impact of the celebration.Make food special: Look for a private villa with private chefs for a truly personalized birthday experience. With a private chef, you can arrange a special dinner to bring the theme to life or dishes that give guests a taste of local cuisine. Having a skilled mixologist on-site can also help keep spirits up and add a touch of luxury to the party.Integrate wellness and relaxation: Staying at a private villa for a milestone birthday means you can party hard and rejuvenate even harder. Leave gaps in the itinerary for guests to relax in the beautiful space and attend to their well-being amid the festivities.Frequently Asked QuestionsHere are some frequently asked questions and answers about choosing a private luxury villa for a family birthday trip.Why Are Private Villas Ideal for Milestone Birthdays Compared to Traditional Venues?Private villas can be ideal for milestone birthdays because they offer personalization, exclusivity and a range of environments for guests to enjoy. Birthday celebrations can include intimate moments with luxurious views, service staff and unmatched comfort.What Kind of Services Can I Expect When Renting a Luxury Private Villa for a Celebration?Some of the services you can expect when renting a luxury private villa for a celebration include:Private chefsConciergePre-arrival planningBartendersSpa and wellness servicesLocal guidesHousekeepingEntertainmentCan Private Villas Accommodate Specific Dietary Requirements or Special Requests?Private villas can accommodate specific dietary requirements or special requests as they tend to offer a high degree of customization. With dedicated staff, such as private chefs and bartenders, they can curate dishes and drinks according to your guests’ preferences and restrictions.Unlike in a restaurant, chefs at private villas are dedicated to serving you and your guests only, so they have the time to cater to your specific requirements, like food allergies or personal preferences. Private villas can also accommodate Kosher travelers.Make Priceless Birthday Memories at a Private VillaPrivate villas can set the ideal backdrop for your milestone birthday celebration, making it one to remember. With so many different themes to choose from and types of villas to match, you’ll have diverse options. Compared to typical birthday venues like restaurants and banquet halls, private villas offer a more intimate, immersive and luxurious experience.This story was produced by Villa Punto de Vista and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How to design QR Code placement based on the traveler's journey

How to design QR Code placement based on the traveler's journeyThere's always that moment in every trip when you're holding your phone up, desperately searching for a WiFi signal, while standing next to a sign that probably has all the information you need—if only you could read it.QR Codes were supposed to solve these frustrations. One quick scan should connect travelers to WiFi passwords, local maps, menu translations, or boarding updates. The technology works perfectly when travelers actually notice and scan the codes.That's where placement becomes everything. Put a QR Code where travelers are rushing past, and it gets overlooked. Place it where they naturally pause while waiting for elevators, standing in queues, or sitting at gates, and scan rates soar.This article from Uniqode breaks down the eight phases of the traveler's journey, showing travel and hospitality teams exactly how to use QR Code placement to influence behavior, reduce operational friction, and increase conversions.You'll find practical examples and placement strategies you can implement immediately.Strategic QR Code placement across the travel journeyEvery traveler's journey unfolds in predictable stages, and each stage offers specific moments where QR Codes can create value.From the initial booking to the flight home, travelers move through distinct phases with different needs, attention levels, and decision-making patterns. Understanding these phases and where QR Codes fit naturally within them transforms random placements into strategic touchpoints that deliver measurable ROI.Phase 1: Planning the tripPhase 1 offers airlines, hotels, and online travel agencies (OTAs) high-conversion opportunities with minimal implementation costs. The travel journey usually begins long before anyone arrives at the airport. This is where travel and travel-adjacent brands can nudge upgrade, pre-arrival, and app-download decisions with almost zero extra cost.A few examples of how brands can integrate QR Codes into the existing materials travelers interact with during this stage stand out:Airlines placing a QR Code inside booking confirmations for seat upgrades: This works because travelers usually revisit their confirmation at least once to check times, verify details, or share the itinerary. A scan placed here removes the extra steps of reopening the airline app or navigating through menus. It converts upgrade intent into immediate revenue with zero additional marketing spend.Hotels using pre-arrival emails to let guests select room preferences: Pre-arrival messages are already part of most hotel workflows, so adding a QR Code here keeps the experience clean. Travelers can choose pillows, amenities, or early check-in while they’re still planning, which reduces lobby delays and helps the hotel prepare ahead. This drives ancillary revenue while reducing front desk workload.Travel agencies embedding QR Codes in booking summaries to surface updated itineraries: Booking summaries are often referenced multiple times before a trip. A QR Code that opens the most current version of the itinerary avoids confusion, especially when plans change. This reduces support requests and keeps the traveler up to date with the latest schedule.The QR Codes that perform best in this phase make the next step obvious and remove any friction slowing the traveler down.Pro Tip: Include QR Codes as the first element in booking confirmations. Travelers often skim these emails quickly, so front-load the scan opportunity before they scroll away.Phase 2: The journey to the airportPhase 2 gives mobility, retail, and transit partners multiple high-intent touchpoints with predictable dwell time. Travelers have their phones out, with some idle time, and specific needs such as navigation, payments, and last-minute planning checks.Because of this, QR Codes placed in transit environments tend to work best when they’re tied to something immediate, such as payments, playlists, app downloads, or simple information that helps the traveler move with more confidence.Cab and ride-share operators can place QR Codes on headrests or dashboards for tipping, providing feedback, or downloading their app. It’s a natural scan point because travelers typically have a few idle minutes during the ride and are already using their phones. A scan here becomes an easy, low-effort interaction that can drive app adoption rates better than traditional methods.Retail brands around airports can also capitalize on this pre-arrival window. Some can place QR Codes on ride receipts or door panels to surface time-sensitive promotions. Because travelers often arrive early or wait around before check-in, offering something relevant before they even step inside the terminal increases the chance of discovery.Public transit operators have predictable engagement windows. QR Codes placed at station entrances, inside buses, or on platform signage make real-time schedules or navigation tools accessible and can reduce customer service inquiries.This phase is more about momentum, because travelers are moving, but they still have a few seconds to scan when something feels within reach. QR Code placements that respect that flow perform well here. They give clarity, speed up small tasks, and keep operations running smoothly.Phase 3: Check-in and screeningCheck-in and screening provide airlines and airports with some of their highest-volume QR Code opportunities, including boarding education, loyalty sign-ups, and queue management.Airlines use this phase to surface practical information. A QR Code placed at a self-service kiosk or check-in counter can link to baggage policies, boarding instructions, or a quick walkthrough of how to tag a bag. Because travelers often pause here anyway, a scan replaces costly staff interactions while improving customer satisfaction scores.Airports maximize operational efficiency through strategic placement. QR Codes can be placed near queue entrances, barriers, or digital boards to help travelers check real-time wait times, find multilingual support, or access routes. The QR Code placement here reduces bottlenecks and improves passenger flow.Other areas include:Frequent flyer enrollment: Some airlines can place QR Codes at boarding zones or ticketing counters to make loyalty sign-ups a quick action instead of a long form. It works because travelers often wait here with their phones in hand.Security and accessibility information: Airports can use QR Codes around security checkpoints to surface queue times or mobility assistance options. This provides travelers with a sense of orientation, eliminating the need for staff intervention.Pro Tip: Place QR Codes on surfaces that already carry instructions, such as baggage drop zones or counter signage. Travelers instinctively check these spots when they need help, and they catch the eye without breaking the flow.Phase 4: Waiting to boardPhase 4 is the moment where the rushing stops and people finally have time to look around, send updates to their friends or family through their phones, or simply wait for the flight announcement.This is where QR Codes become easy to use and notice, especially when they surface something relevant: flight updates, entertainment, airport maps, or nearby retail offers. Travelers aren’t trying to complete complicated tasks here; they’re mostly trying to fill the time, confirm details, or explore what’s around them.Airlines can place QR Codes on gate display screens to provide real-time updates, entertainment options, or quick access to their app.Retailers around gate areas can use QR Codes on storefronts or counter displays to offer time-sensitive promotions or tax calculators. Airports can use them near seating zones and digital boards to help travelers navigate the terminal or check amenities before boarding begins.‍Pro Tip: To make the most of this phase, QR Codes should stay as close as possible to where travelers naturally face, i.e., gate screens, seating clusters, and storefronts. Anything placed behind or far away from where travelers are seated tends to be ignored because people rarely get up once they’ve found a spot.Phase 5: In-flightThe in-flight environment is one of the most predictable phases of the journey. Travelers are seated, mostly stationary, and interacting almost entirely with what’s directly in front of them.In this phase, QR Codes work well when they connect travelers to something they can use during the flight or right after landing, such as a network connection, content, meal information, and quick access to destination details.For example:1. Wi-Fi access from seatback trays or display panelsPlacement: Beside the cup holder, on the tray table, or on the seat displayWhy it works: It’s the first surface travelers see and interact with after sitting down, and the action (connecting to Wi-Fi) is immediate.2. Destination content through in-flight magazines or menu cardsPlacement: Inside the menu, in-flight magazine, or on the seatback pocket insertWhy it works: Travelers browse these materials to pass the time, so linking to guides, shopping, or local tips fits naturally into the browsing moment.3. Meal and product details from packaging or snack catalogsPlacement: On meal trays, snack packaging, or duty-free catalogsWhy it works: Passengers already check labels or flip through catalogs; a QR Code reduces questions about ingredients or product information and makes browsing easier.Phase 6: Arrival and stayPhase 6 shifts the traveler into another round of important decisions, including navigating immigration, locating baggage, arranging transportation, and checking into the hotel.These are moments where travelers are actively searching for direction, and that makes QR Codes especially useful when they’re placed where they naturally stop or ask questions.QR Codes can be placed in arrival halls for customs, baggage claims, or onward travel details. Because most travelers walk into this area looking for instructions anyway, the scan becomes the shortest path to the information they need.Hotels can use this same pattern in phase 6. Place QR Codes at the front desk or on room doors to enable digital check-in, Wi-Fi access, or room keys. Guests often arrive tired or in a hurry, so giving them a way to complete these steps instantly helps them avoid waiting in line.In pickup zones, QR Codes can be placed near taxi stands or curbside waiting areas to help travelers book rides or understand local regulations. This is relevant because travelers arriving in a new city often need quick guidance on how to get started, and a scan here removes uncertainty before they step into a vehicle.Arrival and stay moments are full of micro-stops where travelers lean on signage or staff for direction. QR Codes placed in those exact touchpoints give them a faster route, reduce the questions staff have to answer repeatedly, and keep the arrival experience smooth for everyone.Phase 7: Sightseeing and explorationOnce travelers settle in, the journey shifts from logistics to discovery. This is the phase where people explore museums, neighborhoods, parks, restaurants, and cultural sites.Since travelers are looking around, taking photos, or trying to understand their surroundings, it naturally increases the moments when a scan feels useful.A few examples from the report show how this plays out:Immersive cultural experiences: Museums and cultural centers can place QR Codes beside exhibits so visitors can open audio guides, AR layers, or artist notes that add depth to what they’re viewing.Retail and food and beverage discovery: Restaurants and shops can include QR Codes on menus or storefront displays to help travelers browse items, check ingredients, or redeem small offers while deciding where to eat or what to buy.Emergencies and health support: Pharmacies and clinics can add QR Codes to prescription labels or checkout counters, giving travelers access to instructions, translations, or quick links to telehealth when they need clarity.Sightseeing is full of optional interactions, and QR Codes fit naturally into these moments because they give travelers more context at the exact places they pause.Pro Tip: Use dynamic QR Codes in sightseeing areas to update content seasonally without reprinting. You can switch from summer events to winter activities, update hours, or change featured exhibits while keeping the same physical code in place.Phase 8: Returning homeThe final phase offers high-leverage post-trip conversion moments. Brands can use QR Codes to collect reviews, deliver invoices, promote loyalty offers, and keep travelers engaged even after their trip ends.Here’s how the report shows airlines, hotels, and retailers can use QR Codes at this point in the journey:Airlines: QR Codes in post-trip emails make it easy for travelers to leave reviews, access invoices, or unlock loyalty offers.Hotels: QR Codes on room doors or checkout counters simplify digital checkout and give travelers quick access to invoices.Retailers and tour operators: QR Codes on receipts or thank-you notes let travelers track deliveries, view trip photo albums, or claim post-trip rewards.Pro Tip: Time post-trip QR Code communications for when travelers are most likely to engage. This could be typically two to three days after return when they're settling back into routines and processing their experience.Placement as the lever for better QR Code performanceAcross every phase, the strongest results come from QR Codes placed inside moments travelers pay attention to.For travel and hospitality brands, these placement recommendations for each stage of the journey can help make incoming marketing campaigns yield better results. Start by placing your QR Code correctly, and the rest of your QR Code strategy becomes easier to execute and measure.This story was produced by Uniqode and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

How to support a loved one with PTSD

How to support a loved one with PTSDWhen a family member or friend has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it can be hard to know what to do to help. You probably wish nothing more than to see them healthy and at peace. But your loved one’s diagnosis might be taking a toll on your well-being too.Providing the support your loved one needs throughout their journey starts with a deeper understanding of this condition. Rula explored how PTSD affects those living with the condition and how their loved ones can create space to support them.Key TakeawaysCommon symptoms of PTSD, like irritability, flashbacks, mood swings, and social isolation, can take a toll on relationships. However, it’s important to remember these symptoms aren’t a choice.You can support a loved one with PTSD by initiating a conversation about their mental health. If they’re not ready to talk, respect their boundaries and ask if you can follow up with them at another time.Supporting a loved one with PTSD or another mental health condition can be challenging. So be sure to look after your own well-being by setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care.Understand how PTSD affects your loved onePTSD is a complex trauma disorder. It can arise out of chronic or acute traumatic events and affect people in different ways.If a loved one has been diagnosed with PTSD, you might witness them behaving in ways you don’t understand. They might push you away despite your efforts to help. This can be a confusing experience, but remember their behavior might not be intentional. Trauma can change a person’s brain and take a lasting toll on their mental health.You can deepen your understanding of your loved one’s experience by familiarizing yourself with common PTSD symptoms, which include:Flashbacks or nightmares of the traumatic eventSocial isolationJumpinessFrequent irritabilityDifficulty sleepingFrequent, sudden mood swingsTrouble with focus and concentrationIf your loved one is exhibiting any of these symptoms, you could feel scared, confused, frustrated, or any number of other challenging emotions at the same time. Just remember that your feelings are valid and you deserve support too. And while PTSD symptoms can be hard for everyone involved, know they can be managed with the right support.Creating space for deeper understanding and supportIf you’re struggling to initiate a conversation about PTSD with your loved one, you’re not alone. Most people aren’t taught how to have tough discussions about mental health, so it can be hard to know where to begin. You might worry you’ll say the wrong thing or even make things worse.The truth is that there’s no perfect way to have this conversation, and it’s OK to make mistakes. By taking a little time to prepare, using some of the tips below, you can show your loved one that you care and help them feel less alone.Consider the time and placeTalking about PTSD can be a delicate matter — especially when bringing it up for the first time. So, be intentional when you choose a time and place for this conversation. Look for a quiet, private space where you won’t be interrupted. Choose a time that works for you and your loved one, when neither of you will feel rushed.Respect their boundariesIf your loved one seems resistant to talk about PTSD, don’t force the issue. Simply let them know that you care and you’ll be there when they’re ready to talk. You can also ask if it would be OK to check in with them in a week or so, and then follow up at that time. However, if your loved one is showing any signs that they might be unsafe, don’t hesitate to seek outside help.**A note on safety: If you or a loved one is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, don’t hesitate to call or text 988. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, confidential support with trained crisis counselors.Listen activelyWhen a loved one is struggling, it’s natural to want to find an immediate solution. But sometimes, the best thing you can do is listen. Show your loved one you want to understand what they’re experiencing, even if it’s difficult to hear. Reflect what you’ve heard, avoid judgement, and offer empathy.For example, you could say something like, “It sounds like you’ve been having nightmares lately and it’s really affecting your sleep. It makes sense why you’re exhausted. I’m sorry you’re going through this.”Offer logistical helpPTSD can take a toll on executive functioning skills like organization and time management. So if your loved one is having difficulty making appointments or taking other steps to care for their mental health, offer a helping hand. This might include driving them to therapy, watching their children while they’re at their appointment, or offering to make dinner during a busy week.Know their triggersWhile you can’t prevent your loved one from being triggered or having a flashback, knowing what might elicit a strong reaction is helpful — especially during early recovery. Use your own observations but don’t make assumptions. Ask your loved one about their triggers and make a plan for navigating them together.Encourage them to ask for helpMost people with PTSD require professional help to manage their mental health. So if your loved one isn’t already accessing care, encourage them to do so. You can also offer to help them find a trauma-focused provider who takes their insurance.Nurturing yourself while caring for othersWhen a loved one is living with a mental health condition like PTSD, it can affect everyone in their support network. But to be there for your friend or family member, you need to nurture your own well-being too.No one can be in a caregiving role 24/7 without a break, and it’s OK to set some boundaries. By taking time for yourself and doing activities that reduce your stress level and lift your spirits, you’ll be better able to help your loved one.Clinician’s take“Having a supportive loved one is one of the key ingredients for those who learn to manage their PTSD and live more fulfilled lives,” clinical reviewer Elise Miller, MA, LPC, explained. “Loved ones can have such a powerful effect.”Find careIt can be hard to watch a loved one navigate PTSD, and it can be hard to know what to do — especially if their diagnosis is affecting you as well. But rest assured that with the right support, your loved one can learn to manage their PTSD symptoms and maintain their mental health.Clinically reviewed by Elise Miller, MA, LPCThis story was produced by Rula and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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Robinhood wants to be the Costco of finance

Robinhood wants to be the Costco of financeWhen Robinhood thinks about how it positions its Gold membership program, it doesn’t just look at other brokerages or financial services apps for inspiration. It looks at companies like Costco.“We want it to be the best deal in financial services,” Abhishek Fatehpuria, Robinhood’s vice president of product management for brokerage, told Finder in a wide-ranging interview about how the company builds products. Finder “There are a lot of analogs we look at that are not in the financial services industry that we respect a lot when we think about Gold. We think about Costco as a model for what we want to do with Gold. You buy the Costco membership and you just know the moment you walk into a Costco, you’re getting the best deal and the best products, no matter what you’re buying.”Amazon Prime, he added, is another reference point — a successful membership business alongside Netflix and Spotify. “When we think about what we aspire for Robinhood Gold to be, it’s kind of the best deal in financial services.”It’s an unusual framing for a brokerage, and it helps explain not only why Robinhood looks the way it does today but also where it’s headed.A different way of buildingFatehpuria joined Robinhood as an intern in 2016, three years after the company launched. At the time, Robinhood had about 40 people working out of a small office in Palo Alto. Nearly a decade later, he’s overseeing a product surface that now spans commission-free stock trading, options, futures, retirement accounts, a credit card, and an AI assistant called Cortex. Most recently, the team launched agentic trading, which allows customers to authorize a third-party AI agent to execute trades in a dedicated, customer-funded Robinhood account.For a company shipping that much, that fast, the natural question is how it all fits together. Open the Robinhood app today and the surface area is genuinely large — but the products feel intentional rather than bolted on. To Finder, which has reviewed Robinhood’s app and products extensively over the years, the coherence is unusual for a fintech expanding this fast.Fatehpuria said it’s intentional. The team’s first criterion for any new product is whether it would succeed on its own, independent of Robinhood’s existing customer base.“Each product we have independently should be successful,” he explained. “If it has to ride the coattails of one of our existing products, it probably means that product in and of itself isn’t the best version of that product.” Finder He pointed to the 3% IRA match and the Robinhood Gold credit card as examples — products he believes would attract customers regardless of whether the rest of Robinhood existed. Only after a product passes that bar does the team start thinking about how it fits into the larger ecosystem.“A lot of products jump to the second step very early,” he said. “They’re like, ‘Okay, I’ve already got this huge base of users, I have a very successful product, now let me just add things onto it.’ One thing we’re very intentional about is: ‘Will these products be independently amazing?’”A lesson learnedFor all of Robinhood’s product velocity, not everything has landed. Asked about a lesson the team learned the hard way, Fatehpuria pointed to a recent example.“A couple years ago, we had this bigger redesign of the Robinhood app that we had tried. It was modular — you could move little widgets around on the screen. We didn’t roll it out very widely, but it was a big overhaul, a big change from how it’s worked for 10 years. Customers didn’t love it. The numbers showed that it wasn’t really working.”Robinhood took a different direction. Since then, the team’s approach to evolving the core app has shifted to something more incremental — tweaks to navigation, search improvements, performance upgrades — rather than sweeping redesigns.“That was a big lesson for a lot of us,” Fatehpuria said.The discipline of saying noOne of the more striking things about how Fatehpuria talks about product is his framing of restraint. Customers constantly ask Robinhood for new products, but not every request becomes a roadmap item.“There’s a lot of things every year that we say no to,” he said. “For me, when we’re talking about the roadmap, there’s a distinction between someone saying they want something and it being the reason they would leave the platform. I would much rather be in a position where a customer is like, ‘I love what Robinhood has to offer, but they don’t quite offer the exact thing I need yet, but when they offer it, I’ll come to Robinhood,’ than be in the position where they’re saying Robinhood offers everything, but it’s not great.”That approach can frustrate vocal customers. Fatehpuria acknowledged he sees the complaints — particularly from active traders. “I’ll look on Twitter and I’ll see the complaint. Someone’s a super active trader, and they’re like, ‘Why is Robinhood spending all this time building this other thing that doesn’t really matter to me?’ And the answer is because that matters to a lot of people. Maybe it doesn’t matter to that specific person.”A feature most customers don’t know aboutAsked what feature he thinks is underused, something Robinhood customers would get more value from if they knew it existed, Fatehpuria said the multiple brokerage accounts feature the company launched last year.“It really helps you separate your strategies, which is a big thing for investors. I might have my actively traded portfolio on one side, and then my dividend, long-term investing portfolio. That feature really helps me separate the two, watch their PL [profit and loss] differently, see how each is independently doing.”He said it’s underused partly because of discovery, partly because of education and partly because it requires some setup. “It takes a little bit of work because you have to open a new account. We try to make it as seamless as possible. But it’s really, really powerful. The customers who use it end up loving Robinhood a lot more.”What’s next: AI as the interfaceThe conversation eventually turned to where Robinhood is headed, and Fatehpuria was direct about one thing: AI is core to the product’s future.Cortex, Robinhood’s family of AI products, is approaching one million users, he said. The current lineup includes stock-level digests, portfolio-level digests and a conversational assistant that’s still being iterated on.The hardest part of building AI in a financial-services context, Fatehpuria said, is correctness.“Because we operate in financial services, the bar for correctness is very high. We’re not going to random websites and pulling information to answer questions. We’re carefully vetting the data vendors, carefully vetting what data is being used. The tolerance for errors is much lower, especially when it’s right in your brokerage account.”And looking out a year? “You’re going to have to stay tuned for that for the most part,” he said. “But at a high level, we think about AI from how can it best assist active traders? Active traders are the ones consuming lots of data to come up with unique edge and unique insights that they can trade on. So that’s one angle. And the second, more medium-to-long-term angle we’ve been thinking about with AI is how do we meaningfully give you financial guidance?”Why he’s still at RobinhoodAlmost ten years at one company is rare in tech. Asked what keeps him excited, Fatehpuria pointed to the roadmap and his team.“We have infinite ambition. The roadmap is packed. We always have things we’re saying no to. We’re not searching for things to say yes to, which is a sign that the roadmap is full. We have lots of products to build.”He pointed to AI, private markets through Robinhood Ventures and other technology trends as areas the company is investing in. “There’s just so many interesting things that we can do and are doing. In addition to that, the talent density at the company is very high. So I get a lot of enjoyment working with everyone here.”To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Richard Laycock as part of our fact-checking process.This story was produced by Finder and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

The security challenge behind America's biggest party

The security challenges behind America’s biggest partyIndependence Day is one of America’s biggest celebrations, with thousands of temporary events happening across the country, all at the same time. For security staff, this can create problems, including overcrowding, heavy traffic, unfamiliar layouts, and lots of people trying to leave at the same time.The Fourth of July is huge, as AAA projected that 72.2 million people would travel at least 50 miles from home during the 2025 Independence Day celebrations. With this year marking 250 years since American independence, the scale of public gatherings is likely to receive even more attention.Large numbers of people gathering in one place have always created security challenges, but it’s not just crowd size or camera coverage that matters. It’s also crucial that security teams can see what is happening and respond quickly, and that they can prove the occurrence of a reported incident after the fact.Videoloft explored the biggest challenges security staff face during Fourth of July celebrations and the best strategies for maintaining public safety during these events.Temporary events create blind spotsLarge public gatherings, like those on Fourth of July weekend, can create problems because crowds and pressure points change throughout the day. For instance, when people arrive, pressure is created at roads and entrances. During the main event, the attention needs to shift to viewing areas and stages. Finally, when people are leaving, another set of risks is created, especially when people are exiting in the dark.These are often the moments when incidents occur, and they don’t have to be dramatic to be significant. Examples include a queue blocking an exit, a visitor falling on a walkway, or an unauthorized person entering a restricted area.The security team's job isn’t just to turn security cameras on, but to identify pressure points early, before situations become difficult to manage. Before the gates open, staff should be checking if entrances, exits, and restricted zones are covered, who can access footage if something happens, for how long the video is kept after the event, and if footage can be shared quickly with the right people.Fireworks get the headlines, but they’re only part of the storyFireworks receive most of the public attention around Independence Day, and it’s not hard to see why — the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that fireworks caused a significant 14,700 injuries and 11 deaths in 2024.Ensuring that fireworks are being safely operated requires professionally trained operators and designated safety zones, and cameras can’t prevent these injuries from happening.Venue security often focuses on areas outside of the main fireworks display area. Teams need to keep restricted areas secure, make sure emergency teams have access, and keep an eye on the rest of the site while the public's attention is focused on the display.Security teams are keeping an eye out for pressureVisible security measures such as bag checks, police, barriers, and safety signs are what the public sees when they attend an event. However, most security depends on the details visitors don’t see. Measures such as CCTV cameras and radios help security staff monitor the site so they can identify where attention is needed.At a busy public event, teams may be checking whether an exit route is still passable, whether a medical team has a clear path, and whether there are enough staff where the pressure is building.Video surveillance is becoming more and more important when it comes to event security. At busy, crowded events, video footage provides context such as crowd movement, blocked routes, staff response times, and whether incidents are isolated or part of a broader pattern.For security teams, context is often the difference between a useful record and a useless one.The footage before the fall may matter more than the fall itselfSecurity is often associated with terms like “crime,” “violence,” and “terrorism,” but in reality most of the time-consuming issues that arise after an event ends are routine, such as slips and falls or complaints.Slips and falls illustrate the importance of evidence. At public events, the most useful footage may be from the minutes before and after the fall or trip, not just the incident itself. CCTV can reveal important contextual information. For example, it can show if the surface was visibly wet, if the area was overcrowded, and how quickly someone responded.These points may be difficult to recall from memory, especially in crowded, fast-moving environments. Clear video records help establish facts.Having cameras isn’t the same as having usable evidenceIt is easy to assume CCTV issues are about the number of cameras monitoring an event. Sometimes this is true, but more often the issue is whether the video system aligns with how the site actually operates during events.For example, a stadium might have great coverage inside the building but weaker visibility in overflow areas like car parks or temporary pedestrian routes.There are also practical details to consider, like footage retention time. Video may be kept for only a short period before it’s overwritten. Different parts of a site may use separate systems. The person who knows how to retrieve video may not be available when a request comes in. A recording may exist but be difficult to locate, export, or share with authorized parties.It’s important these operational issues are taken into account because many incident reviews take place long after the event has ended and relevant CCTV footage has been overwritten.Independence Day will test the detailsIndependence Day already brings large numbers of people together in public spaces, but with the 250th anniversary coming up, those numbers are likely to be larger than ever.This year also brings the FIFA World Cup to North America, which is one reason the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency published resources around large-scale event safety and security.For event organizers, the lesson is not that every public celebration needs to feel more heavily controlled. This can damage the experience and create unnecessary friction for visitors.The best approach is to understand the site and plan for potential pressure points like what might occur in parking lots or at concession stands, and make sure incident evidence can be accessed later if it's needed.The public will remember the fireworks, the music, and the atmosphere but security teams will remember the things that worked and the things that need improvement before the next event. The real test lies not in making public celebrations feel more controlled, but in making sure the operational details are strong enough to keep them safe.This story was produced by Videoloft and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Musser Public Library, Muscatine, cuts hours after funding reductions

As Muscatine prepares for Independence Day weekend with open parks, pools, and recreation amenities, the city is sharing important updates about upcoming service adjustments at Musser Public Library. These changes, driven by reduced government funding, will take effect Wednesday, July 1, a news release says. This summer, Musser Public Library will implement several service modifications [...]

KENT WORLDWIDE celebrated grand opening of the World’s Best Cat Litter manufacturing facility

Sitting on 70 acres, the 174,000-square-foot facility is equipped with research and development spaces and is designed for future growth opportunities to meet growing consumer demand.

Hy-Vee hosting entrepreneurs for Business Summit this fall

Small business applications now being accepted for Opportunity Supplier Impact Summit on Sept. 9-10 at Hy-Vee corporate headquarters in West Des Moines.

Family Credit Union, Davenport, appoints Hoepfner as senior vice president of lending

The Family Credit Union, a member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Davenport, has announced the addition of Bob Hoepfner to its leadership team. He brings more than 30 years of lending experience to The Family Credit Union. He began his career in consumer finance in 1992, with early experience in Iowa, before moving into private banking [...]

Several more days of dangerous heat

An "Excessive Heat Warning" lasts until Wednesday night for the Quad Cities (Thursday night for Knox County). Shower and storm chances increase starting Thursday and some of the storms could be strong to severe. Here's your full 7-day forecast.

Bishop Hill Heritage Association to present free Dancing Queen concert

The Bishop Hill Heritage Association has announced that Dancing Queen, an ABBA tribute band, will present a free concert at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 12, in the village park in Bishop Hill. This live, all-ages, two-hour show is full of musical precision, flair and fashion. They perform more than 30 ABBA hits, from "Waterloo" to [...]

Band from Australia, "The Voice" contestant, will perform in two Cambridge concerts

A band from Australia and a contestant on "The Voice" will star in two Ca d’Zan House Concertss presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections in Cambridge, according to a news release. Singer-songwriter Abigayle Oakley will bring her compelling blend of folk, wit and lyrical honesty to Ca d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge on Friday, July 10. [...]

Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf, offers free math acceleration camp

Rivermont Collegiate, 1821 Sunset Drive, Bettendorf, will host a free Personalized Learning Math Acceleration Camp from July 6–10, offering area students the opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence and personalized instruction can work together to enhance mathematical learning, a news release says. The camp is designed for students entering grades 5 through 8 and combines [...]

Iowa Quad-Cities invite input on public transit, Illinois study coming soon

Davenport, Bettendorf, Eldridge and LeClaire residents are being asked to fill out a survey about what they want to see from public transit in the Iowa Quad-Cities.

John Deere Classic livestream to offer rare, behind-the-scenes look at tournament’s impact

KWQC+ will air a June 30 livestream offering a behind‑the‑scenes look at the John Deere Classic’s history, volunteers and major community impact ahead of tournament week.

Retiring Superintendent Brian Strusz on what it was like serving Pleasant Valley for 30 years

Brian Strusz will retire this week after three decades with Pleasant Valley, including seven years as superintendent. Read what he had to say as he heads into retirement.

The Grand Tour

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.To cooperate or to compete is one of those dilemmas at the heart of the American experience. Is that classroom best…

After Trump's re-election, these U.S. scientists found jobs in the U.K.

More U.S. scientists are heading abroad. Three researchers explain why they decided to shift their research to universities in the U.K.

Inside the coordinated strategy to radically reshape U.S. immigration

As the Supreme Court today weighs the Trump administration's effort to revoke birthright citizenship, NPR looks at what else the White House has done to curb illegal and legal migration.

Venezuelans deported from the U.S. were killed hours later in powerful quakes

146 Venezuelans were deported from Texas to Caracas on June 24. Hours later, while the deportees were in a guarded hotel, powerful twin earthquakes struck.

Explosion in Monaco injures 3, including Ukrainian tycoon

A blast from an explosive device has seriously injured three people at a residential building in Monaco, and the attacker fled to France, local authorities said.

Happy Joe's holds America 250 block parties

Restaurants in Davenport and Bettendorf joined in the festivities.