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

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026
	Quad City Animal Welfare Center seeking help finding hospice homes for senior pets One of their animals looking for a home is Luna, an affectionate and gentle cat born in 2017. She has a pituitary tumor, which requires some extra care.
	Officials warn of invasive 'crazy worm' in Iowa and Illinois, other states There are no effective eradication methods for the worm.
	Illinois bill to require surgical technician certification A bill in Illinois would require surgical technicians to be certified before working in the operating room. The Operating Room Patient Safety Act (House Bill 1598) would to require surgical technologists to be certified by January 1, 2028. Currently, surgical technicians in Illinois are allowed to support operations if they have on the job training. [...]
	Chemical leak at a W.Va. plant kills 2 people, sends 30 more to hospitals, officials say The leak occurred at the Catalyst Refiners plant, a silver recovery business. An emergency management official says workers were preparing to shut down at least part of the facility when the leak occurred, causing a chemical gas reaction.
	Iowa House approves bill adding restrictions on automated license plate reading cameras The Iowa House approved a bill adding restrictions on using automated license plate reading cameras.
	Senate passes tax on vapes, other nicotine products to fund pediatric cancer research The Senate passed a bill Wednesday to implement a nickel tax on alternative nicotine products like nicotine pouches and vapes, with funding to go toward pediatric cancer research at the University of Iowa.
	Bug season could be more active than usual: How to prepare Many people are eager to get outside in the spring, whenever the weather allows. It's the same time that many bugs wake up out of their dormant winter. This year, insects are expected to be more active than usual, and it's all because of the weather from the past months. "Even though it feels like [...]
	Advocates discuss housing bill for people returning from prison Local housing advocates came together Wednesday to learn about a bill providing support for people returning from prison.
	Transportation providers, schools, state officials ease school bus driver shortage In response to the nationwide school bus driver shortage, a partnership emerged between Illinois schools, transportation providers and the secretary of state.
	Pentagon says Navy secretary is leaving, the latest departure of a top defense leader Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said John Phelan, the Navy's top civilian official, was "departing the administration, effective immediately." Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will become acting secretary of the Navy.
	Illinois launches new tax credits for environment-friendly film projects Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has announced a new tax incentive that gives film and TV productions an extra tax break if they meet environmental sustainability standards.
	Tesla's profits beat expectations, but Elon Musk says big costs are ahead Tesla's profits were up from this time last year. But the company warned investors to prepare for expensive investments in next-generation technology like humanoid robots and AI.
	Latest Hero Street documentary will screen at free Morrison, Ill., film festival The Northwest Illinois Film Office has announced the return of its signature event. The Sixth Annual Northwest Illinois Film Festival: Shorts‑A‑Palooza 2026, taking place Wednesday,April 29, at Morrison Tech, 701 Portland Ave., Morrison, Ill. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. withscreenings beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. “Shorts‑A‑Palooza continues to [...]
	Sunset nearing 8pm in the Quad Cities Have you noticed more and more daylight lately in the Quad Cities? That's the case for early risers AND for people enjoying some of this nice weather in the evening. Our sunset is now approaching 8pm! A couple months ago it was much earlier, and 4 months ago it was setting before 5pm! 2 months [...]
	Tick season off to strong start nationwide, experts urge precautions Tick-related emergency room visits are more than double the usual nationwide, according to the CDC. Experts share why this is and how to stay safe outdoors.
	Bettendorf City Council approves emergency response drone purchase to enhance public safety The Bettendorf Police Department will be getting two drones for emergency response situations.
	From furniture store to music hub: Davenport building to become Sound Factory Bruce’s New & Used Furniture in downtown Davenport is getting a new life—one centered around music and community.
	New bill to create housing opportunities for formerly incarcerated people Project NOW and dozens of community partners got together on Wednesday to discuss what opportunities a new affordable housing bill could present in Illinois. Known as the Home for Good Act (House Bill 624), it would expand housing, focusing on housing for people who are getting out of prison. It would fund an option that [...]
	Geifman Group to buy former Quad-City Times building The sale of the former Quad-City Times building is pending, with the Geifman Group set to take ownership.
	Volunteers pack hundreds of lunches for Safer Foundation fundraiser The lunches are for the Safer Foundation’s sack lunch fundraiser, which supports programs that help previously incarcerated people with reentry into society.
	Iowa Board of Regents to make decision on tuition increases at state universities The Iowa Board of Regents is set to make a final decision on tuition increases at state universities. The board is set to meet April 22 and April 23 at the Iowa State University Alumni Center in Ames. Members will discuss and take action on increasing resident undergraduate tuition by 3%.A vote on the proposal [...]
	Riverdale students give back to community on Earth Day, National Volunteer Week In total, the middle school students had the opportunity to volunteer with one of 18 projects.
	Peking restaurant in Muscatine announce closure The news comes after recent reductions in hours and menu options.
	Muscatine bond rating reflects 'responsible financial stewardship' Moody’s Investors Service has assigned the City of Muscatine an Aa2 credit rating for its upcoming $5 million General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds, Series 2026A, citing the city’s stable population trends, expanding tax base, consistent financial operations, and healthy reserves, a news release says. The city will receive bids for the bonds on Tuesday, May [...]
	Teen charged in Iowa City shooting that injured 5 Police are searching for a Cedar Rapids teenager who has been charged in connection with the Pedestrian Mall shooting in Iowa City on April 19.
	Lou Fusz Kia cuts ribbon on new facility The dealership's state-of-the-art new space has an upgraded showroom, expanded service department and a boost in customer hospitality.
	Warrant issued for teen charged with 5 counts of attempted murder in Iowa City shooting The Iowa City police chief said investigators have since received more than 150 tips, served three dozen search warrants, and recovered three firearms.
	Field of Dreams to open new ballpark with high school baseball series The Field of Dreams Movie Site will open its new ballpark with a high school baseball series in June featuring teams from eastern Iowa.
	Scam Alert: Iowa State Patrol warns of court hearing text scam Multiple phones have gotten a text claiming to be a final court notice from the state, according to a Facebook post.
	Free Autism Acceptance Walk set for April 25 in East Moline The walk is hosted by the Autism Society of the Quad Cities. Another nonprofit, the Quad Cities Autism Center, says the local need for services is rising.
	Spring Fling fundraiser to support Quad Cities refugees You're invited to join the nonprofit, Tapestry Farms, for an evening of food, music, auctions and a flower bar. The money supports local refugees and urban gardens.
	Davenport police conduct death investigation near railroad tracks The body was found near the 3300 block of Hickory Grove Road. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of death.
	River Action Quad Cities cleans up Indian Spring Park for Earth Day Organizers say the event helps build a relationship with the land we live on.
	Iowa bill for pediatric cancer research funding advances A bill unanimously passed in the Iowa House of Representatives for funding for pediatric cancer research. House File 2057 would provide almost $3 million to the state board of regents for pediatric cancer research at the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics. The bill now heads to the Senate for approval. For more information, click [...]
	Quad Cities Summer Games return for 35th year with new events, expanded access Formerly known as the QC Senior Games, this year's event runs from May 16-30. A mix of athletic, crafting & performing competitions are open to those 40 and older.
	QCA teams to christen new Field of Dreams ballpark in If You Build It series Several Quad Cities-area baseball teams will play in a series at the new professional ballpark built at the Field of Dreams movie site.
	Bettendorf police adding 2 drone first responders The drones will be used to help provide real-time video footage of crashes, fires, suspect pursuits and more.
	A chance for some storms tomorrow night We have been getting a lot of very nice weather for us here in the Quad Cities with temperatures in the 80s. But it is not going to last forever. We are watching a chance for some showers and thunderstorms tomorrow late into the night by around midnight, and hitting the Quad Cities closer to [...]
	Free Autism Acceptance Walk set for April 25 in East Moline The walk is hosted by the Autism Society of the Quad Cities. Another nonprofit, the Quad Cities Autism Center, says the local need for services is rising.
	Eldridge rejects three proposals to lease community center and roller rink Council members said the proposals would have required more city subsidies to operate and indicated they'd like to sell the building.
	Clinton Hy-Vee breaks ground on new community garden Hy-Vee in Clinton marked Earth Day with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new community garden. The garden will provide more fresh produce to people in Clinton County as part of a partnership between the Clinton Hy-Vee and two local organizations. The Clinton Hy-Vee is hosting the garden on its property, providing water for the plants [...]
	WATCH LIVE: Iowa City police to hold first press conference on Ped Mall shooting The Iowa City Police Department is preparing for a press conference about the shooting at Iowa City’s pedestrian mall over the weekend.
	More immigrants are being held in detention for over a year. NPR followed one family's ordeal. The El Gamal family has been held in ICE detention for more than 320 days. They are not alone: the number of immigrants who've been in ICE detention for over a year has skyrocketed.
	How Busy Families Can Balance Time, Taste and Nutrition (Feature Impact) In those precious few minutes between waking up and heading out the door or arriving home from school pickup, the pantry is a common destination. Seeking a grab-and-go lunch, sending your student off with a bite of protein or searching for an afternoon snack can leave you scanning the shelves for a go-to solution. With snackers increasingly mindful about what they put in their bodies, you’re not alone if you’re looking for a snacking shakeup – in fact, in a recent survey conducted by Bumble Bee Seafoods and FleishmanHillard’s TRUE Global Intelligence, 50% of Americans agreed it’s hard to find snacks that meet all their needs. According to the survey, people are looking for foods that offer: “Bang for their buck” (78%) Affordability (61%) Protein packed (51%) Meet specific dietary goals (48%) Easy to eat on the go (35%) Among all factors, however, 70% said great taste is most important, proving flavor remains the single biggest driver of snacking decisions. In response to demand for powerhouse snacks that do it all while tasting amazing, Bumble Bee Snackers easy-open, single-serve cans are shaking up snack time with a variety of bold flavors that are perfect for any time, place, budget or craving. The various unique flavors can be eaten right from the can and are perfect for snacking occasions, from zesty Lemon Pepper to bold and savory Hickory Smoke, tastebud-tingling Sweet Heat, spicy Thai Chili and nostalgic Tuna Salad while traditionalists can opt for classic Chunk Light Tuna. “Snacking has evolved,” said Dana Kowal, senior director brand marketing and corporate affairs at Bumble Bee Seafoods. “People want it all: bold flavor, real protein and grab-and-go simplicity – and they want it at a price that makes sense.” The 3-ounce cans are premixed and can be enjoyed straight from the can, paired with crackers or veggies, or tossed in salads, sandwiches or wraps. To turn them into quick, family-friendly dinners or make-ahead lunches, consider these adorably colorful and crave-worthy Rainbow Tuna Bowls balanced with sweet mango, creamy avocado, crisp radish and spicy tuna. For a perfect addition to game day, these Bang Bang Tuna Sliders are spicy, creamy, crunchy and easier to make than they look with just a few ingredients and fun flavor. Tuna is topped with a layer of coleslaw and spicy mayo to solve those afternoon hunger pangs whether you’re in the office or enjoying the comforts of home. To find more snacking solutions that are packed with flavor while saving time and money, visit BumbleBee.com. Rainbow Tuna Bowls Servings: 2 2 cups cooked sushi rice 2 radishes, sliced 1 can Bumble Bee Snackers Sweet Heat Tuna 1 mango, cubed 3 tablespoons shelled edamame 1 avocado, sliced 1/4 cup shredded red cabbage 2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallion furikake, for serving Sriracha, for serving In two shallow bowls, layer rice on bottom then evenly divide radish, tuna, mango, edamame, avocado, cabbage and scallion. Sprinkle with furikake and Sriracha. Bang Bang Tuna Sliders Servings: 2 8 ounces tri-color shredded cabbage (coleslaw mix) 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (1 lime) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 cup mayo 2 tablespoons sweet Thai chili sauce 1 can Bumble Bee Snackers Thai Chili Tuna, included whole chili minced and reserved 4 slider buns In small bowl, mix cabbage, lime juice, oil and salt. In another small bowl, mix mayo, chili sauce and minced chili from tuna can. On bottom of each bun, evenly divide layer of coleslaw followed by tuna. Drizzle sauce over top, to taste. Cap with top bun and serve.
	Spring Fling fundraiser to support Quad Cities refugees You're invited to join the nonprofit, Tapestry Farms, for an evening of food, music, auctions and a flower bar. The money supports local refugees and urban gardens.
	Davenport police investigating after man found dead near railroad tracks Police were called to the 3300 block of Hickory Grove Road at 9:41 a.m. for a report of a body located near the tracks.
	Have you seen these suspects? Crime Stoppers wants to know! Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities wants your help catching two fugitives. It’s an Our Quad Cities News exclusive. You can get an elevated reward for information on this week’s cases: BRANDON KUTZMAN, 44, 6'2", 190 pounds. Wanted on a Rock Island Police Department warrant for possession of stolen vehicle. MICHELLE ROE, 43, 5'3", 170 [...]
	Body found near Hickory Grove Road Police said at 9:41 a.m. Wednesday officers found the body of a man. An autopsy is scheduled.
	Bettendorf hotel to convert to Holiday Inn Express with $3M renovation A Bettendorf hotel will convert to a Holiday Inn Express this summer, with a $3 million renovation planned later this year.
	Quad Cities Summer Games return for 35th year with new events, expanded access Formerly known as the QC Senior Games, this year's event runs from May 16-30. A mix of athletic, crafting & performing competitions are open to those 40 and older.
	Davenport police conduct death investigation near railroad tracks The body was found near the 3300 block of Hickory Grove Road. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of death.
	Field of Dreams to open new ballpark with high school baseball series The Field of Dreams Movie Site will open its new ballpark with a high school baseball series in June featuring teams from eastern Iowa.
	REVIEW: The Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Trinity Victory Church at Richmond Hill Players Fans of the popular “Church Basement Ladies” franchise have a similar but “different” show to add to their compendium of favorites, that being Richmond Hill Players current production of Bo Wilson’s The Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Trinity Victory Church directed by Mike Skiles.
	QCA baseball teams to play in ‘If You Build It’ series at new Field of Dreams Movie Site ballpark Several Quad Cities-area baseball teams will play in a series at the new professional ballpark built at the Field of Dreams movie site.
	Volunteers clean up park to celebrate Earth Day About 20 to 30 volunteers showed up to help clean up Indian Springs Park in the Village of East Davenport and spruce up areas around the railroad tracks.
	Watch the Kentucky Derby at Carriage Haus Bar, Rock Island Catch what’s called “the fastest two minutes in sports” at the Carriage Haus Bar on the Hauberg Estate, 1300 24th Street in Rock Island. The Carriage Haus Bar is hosting a Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby watch party on Saturday, May 2nd from 3 – 7 p.m. at the Hauberg Estate. “Derby Day is [...]
	Heavy police presence south of Duck Creek Our Quad Cities News is on the scene of a developing story. There is a heavy police presence just west of Hickory Grove Road and south of Duck Creek.
	The tariff refund process has begun for businesses. What about customers? While shipping companies are pledging refunds for customers who directly paid tariff fees, the situation is much trickier for retailers.
	WV leaders bought a new CPS referral system after a girl starved to death; it was never implemented Law enforcement found Kyneddi Miller, 14, emaciated in her Boone County home on April 17, 2024. (Photo courtesy of WCHS)In 2024, police found the body of a 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller in a skeletal state in her Boone County home. She weighed only 58 pounds. She’d been laying on the bathroom floor for four to five days. In the weeks that followed, the Justice administration maintained that Child Protective Services didn’t know about Miller prior to her death, despite reporters obtaining documents showing that a CPS referral had been made about her. In July of 2024, the state Department of Human Services said — in the wake of Miller’s death — that it would change how it screens referrals for child abuse and neglect. The department announced in a news release a partnership with a nonprofit organization, Evident Change, for the new system. Del. Josh Holstein, R-Boone “This system will enable the department to better serve families in West Virginia, particularly in cases that do not meet the standards for abuse and neglect investigation but still require our attention and support,” said then DoHS Secretary Cynthia Persily. Evident Change was never implemented, a DoHS spokesperson told West Virginia Watch in an email, despite the state paying the nonprofit $223,000. “It’s shocking to hear,” said Del. Josh Holstein, a Republican who represents Boone County. “My initial thought is I’m shocked that we weren’t at least notified about it.” A Freedom of Information Act, filed by West Virginia Watch, showed that the state ended its contract with the company in March 2025 under the Morrisey administration. DoHS moved on to a different system. Sen. Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier, speaks on the Senate floor on Feb. 25, 2026. (Photo by Will Price/West Virginia Legislative Photography) Sen. Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier, has pushed for increased transparency from DoHS about West Virginia’s troubled foster care system. He wasn’t aware that the department didn’t implement Evident Change’s referral system. “We haven’t made any improvements after Kyneddi as of yet,” Deeds said. “We have to make improvements. Not just allow it to be the same ole, same ole, over and over again.” “Ultimately, we’ve just wasted $223,000 of taxpayer money, and we don’t have anything to show for it,” he continued. “That’s my biggest issue with Human Services every time. There’s all kinds of saber rattling whenever something terrible and tragic happens, and everybody’s going to make improvements, and then they let the attention to the matter fade away, then there’s no improvement.” Angel Hightower, a communications specialist for Human Services, did not respond to a question in an email about who had made the decision not to implement Evident Change or cancel the contract. “Evident Change was never implemented,” Hightower wrote in an email to West Virginia Watch on April 16. “However, families referred to Centralized Intake are not automatically referred for supportive services. If the information provided meets the legal definition of abuse and/or neglect, the intake is assigned to a district office for assessment and referral for supportive services, if needed.” She added, “There was a lack of measurable outcomes from Evident Change in other states,” so DoHS decided to implement a different model. A spokesperson for Evident Change declined to answer questions and directed inquiries back to DoHS. The announced move to Evident Change was one of the only major reforms that state leaders announced after Miller’s death. “To hear that we never implemented any changes that I thought we had is a little disappointing, to say the least,” Holstein said. “I’m hopeful we can rectify that in some way.” West Virginia screens in CPS referrals at the highest rate in the country, more than double the national average. Jim McKay, state coordinator for Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia, noted that when the CPS intake system is overwhelmed, “Children who are truly in danger can get lost. That is part of the tragedy of what happened to Kyneddi Miller.” “A lot of what comes into CPS today is not abuse or neglect. It’s families struggling with poverty or unmet needs, and those families should be connected to community-based services like local Family Support Centers and home visitation programs,” he said. “We have to build the kind of front-end support that keeps families from ending up in the CPS system in the first place.” Federal officials, spurred by Miller’s death, audited West Virginia’s CPS referral process and found that the state didn’t properly investigate 91% of abuse and neglect reports in the time period reviewed. Gov Jim Justice’s Chief of Staff Brian Abraham held a press briefing on June 6, 2024, to discuss findings in an investigation into Kyneddi Miller’s death in Boone County. Department of Human Services Secretary Cynthia Persily, West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt and West Virginia State Police Chief of Staff Maj. James Mitchell also attended to answer questions. (Office of the Gov. Jim Justice/Courtesy photo) DoHS implements a different CPS referral model The state uses a centralized intake system for its abuse and neglect referrals. It is supposed to determine when a child needs a CPS investigation or could use supportive services, like food assistance or mental health care. State leaders said in 2024 that Miller’s starvation issues wouldn’t have triggered a CPS investigation; they said she needed mental health support since she had reportedly suffered from an eating disorder. In response, the department said they’d develop “a differentiating response system” for referrals that don’t meet the statutory requirements for abuse of neglect but still involve a child in need of help. Evident Change, based in Wisconsin, was supposed to design and implement a “Structured Decision Making intake tool” for the state’s Centralized Intake for Abuse and Neglect, according to DoHS. The department set a rollout date of January 2026; a contract showed it would cost the state around $560,000. It was billed as helping the state make “consistent, accurate and equitable decisions” with children and families. Hightower said on April 13 that the move from Evident Change to a different system was “part of a broader effort to strengthen how child safety is assessed and to ensure consistency across the system.” “Previously, the Evident Change model was used primarily as an intake support tool. Through ongoing evaluation of internal data and external reviews, the department identified the need for a more comprehensive and unified approach to safety,” Hightower said. West Virginia’s online Child Welfare Dashboard shows data on its Centralized Intake System for child abuse and neglect referrals on April 22, 2026. (The West Virginia Department of Human Services) After the state cancelled the contract, an Evident Change employee wrote to DoHS on April 3, 2025, “We were all very disappointed to receive the cancellation notices for our contracts with West Virginia, and that we will no longer be working with your agency to help children and families and vulnerable adults receive better outcomes.” DoHS transitioned to the Safety Assessment and Family Evaluation model, or SAFE, according to Hightower, to support its centralized intake system for abuse and neglect referrals. “This approach supports greater statewide consistency, improves the quality of safety assessments and provides staff with clearer guidance in making decisions … This change reflects an effort to strengthen the overall safety practice model, rather than simply replacing one tool with another,” Hightower said. DoHS received more than 11,000 child abuse and neglect referrals in to its centralized intake system in 2025, according to the department’s child welfare data. About 50% of the referrals were accepted. “The implementation of the SAFE Model needs to include a system for referring screened-out families to local supports in their community. We have to invest in the community infrastructure that meets families where they are, before a CPS report is the only option,” McKay said. Lisa Zappa is CEO of Prestera Health Services, one of West Virginia’s six Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. Prestera, which has been in the state for 59 years, offers children mental and behavioral health services and partners with hospitals and schools to support children in need. Supportive mental health services play a role in preventing children from entering the foster care system or the state’s juvenile facilities, Zappa said. Connecting a child with services like Prestera could reveal issues at home that need to be addressed. “A lot of those kids do need, you know, if they had some intervention beforehand, it would help,” she said, noting kids should be connected with providers using evidence-based models. “Sometimes those children end up in foster care, at no fault of their own, but they live with the guilt sometimes of thinking that they did something wrong, especially if they’re younger, when they go into foster care.” Julie Ann Stone Miller, Kyneddi Miller’s mother, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for child abuse connected to her daughter’s death. A trial date is scheduled this summer for Donna Stone, Kyneddi Miller’s grandmother, for murder charges related to the girl’s death and her role in failing to provide basic necessities that contribute to the death. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of West Virginia Watch
	A slew of new Bigfoot sightings, on-screen and off-Broadway Bigfoot is popping up everywhere — in low-budget horror films, in festivals around the country, and even in a critically acclaimed musical.
	Hotel by TBK Sports Complex to undergo $3M rebrand to be Holiday Inn Express The Cambria Hotel near the TBK Bank Sports Complex is undergoing a $3 million conversion to a Holiday Inn Express, bringing new amenities to the Quad Cities.
	Davenport police: Death investigation underway near Hickory Grove Road A KWQC crew on scene is gathering more details.
	Quad City Animal Welfare Center seeks foster for cat after owner’s death, third return Quad City Animal Welfare Center is seeking a forever foster home for Max Barr, a cat with a heart condition looking for a quiet place to land.
	Remains of unclaimed Iowans to be laid to rest This weekend, the cremated remains of 170 unclaimed Iowans will be laid to rest in Des Moines.
	Parts of Milan under boil order Parts of Milan are currently under a boil order due to a hydrant replacement, according to a news release from the Village. The boil order is in effect for residents in the 100 to 700 blocks on 28th Avenue West to 34th Avenue West, also known as the Hillcrest, Candlelight and Shadow Wood additions. Click [...]
	Bettendorf City Council approves $134M budget and Flock Safety agreements Under the approved budget for the year starting July 1, property taxes and fees on the average Bettendorf home would go up about $200 a year.
	The Rooftop opens for 3rd season in Davenport The Rooftop is ready to start its third season of bringing a one-of-a-kind movie experience to the Quad Cities. The Last Picture House, 325 E. Second Street in Davenport, announced that starting Thursday, April 30, The Rooftop will be open seven days a week until mid-fall, weather permitting. The Rooftop is a family-friendly movie venue [...]
	The Last Picture House rooftop to open for 3rd season The rooftop will open on April 30 and be open until mid-fall.
	How to help family with money problems without hurting yourself How to help family with money problems without hurting yourselfIt’s hard to watch someone you care about struggle financially, and deciding to help is admirable. But do your loved one and you a favor: Be clear about the level of help you can afford.This article from Beyond Finance can help you set smart financial boundaries and covers how to get the most out of tough conversations — without burning out.Why Your Financial Boundaries MatterWhen you’re in a situation that asks you to mix money and emotions, things can get complicated, fast. But here’s the truth: Setting healthy boundaries early on protects both you, the benefactor, and your loved one, the recipient.As the benefactor, you’re probably giving out of love, care and a sense of responsibility to the people that matter to you. But without established boundaries, those noble reasons can become negative — maybe you overextend yourself through guilt, or another person pressures you into giving more than you can afford.Boundaries ensure your help is freely given. Without them, resentment can grow, and you may end up feeling used, overwhelmed or financially stretched. These boundaries exist to preserve your relationships.Self-reflect: Are you giving outside of your comfort zone?Have I ever put my own bills or goals on hold to help someone else?Do I feel anxious when I see a text or call from this person?Has helping become an expectation instead of a choice?Am I afraid that saying “no” will cause conflict or guilt?If you answered “yes” to any of these, it may be time to reset how you help.Setting Fair Financial BoundariesFinancial boundaries may sound restrictive, but in actuality, they ensure that you can provide consistent support. Making this clear to the beneficiary is a great way to establish a level playing field, and to encourage open communication for as long as this period of support lasts.How to set financial boundaries with loved onesBe honest early. Let your family know what you can and can’t do before things get urgent.Offer nonfinancial help. Instead of money, help them find resources, grants and other people in your network that can also offer time or resources.Say no when needed. It’s not selfish — it’s responsible. A calm “I wish I could, but I can’t afford it right now” is enough.Don’t co-sign loans. If they can’t pay, you’re on the hook. Protect your credit and your peace of mind.Plan your giving. If you want to help, set a firm limit and stick to it.It may feel like setting boundaries is withholding help, but instead, it is about helping in a way that doesn’t harm you.Taking Care of Yourself FirstYour energy, money and time are limited. And you can show up for the people who need you best when you have a stable foundation. Take time to review your budget, savings, and goals. Make sure you’re staying on track before offering help again.If a loved one’s money problems are creating stress or leading you into debt, it may be time to seek professional guidance from a trusted professional.Helping others feels best when it doesn’t come at your expense. By setting clear, compassionate boundaries, you can care for the people you love — and for yourself, too.This story was produced by Beyond Finance and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	On her song 'HEROINA,' the rebellious singer Tokischa embraces vulnerability The Dominican singer Tokischa built her career through a series of transgressions. On a new album, she veers in a different direction.
	Downed power line closes 1st Street, Silvis Our Quad Cities News is on the scene of a downed power line crossing 1st Street in Silvis. There is no word yet on why the line is down or if there are any injuries. The area is below Warren Towers. First Street is shut down at both ends.
	Iranians are leaving the country just to access the internet Iran has cut off its access to the global internet. To find an internet connection, some Iranians are traveling across the border with Turkey — even just to make video calls and then go back home.
	Midwest Murder podcast coming to Rhythm City Casino True crime fans, get ready for an evening of shocking criminal incidents from the nation’s heartland. The Midwest Murder podcast is coming to Rhythm City Casino Resort’s Rhythm Room on Saturday, October 10 at 6:30 p.m. The event is restricted to adults 21+. Click here for tickets or purchase them at The Market Gift Shop [...]
	Before you buy your dream home, check these hidden property records Before you buy your dream home, check these hidden property recordsClosing on a property is stressful and costly enough without having to deal with comprehensive title, lien, and property record searches. Most places in the U.S. are still seller’s markets. Consequently, buyers may be wary of rocking the boat by asking too many questions.When your money is on the line, though, you cannot be too careful—especially with real estate transactions. Beyond the standard title search and home inspection, digging a little deeper into the history of a property can save you from purchasing a money pit.Below, PropertyReach outlines hidden property records buyers should review before closing on a home.Caveat Emptor, or Buyer BewareOne Latin phrase that has seeped into the U.S. mainstream is caveat emptor, or “let the buyer beware.” It means that buyers generally have the responsibility to inspect items they might purchase, and it’s most associated with real estate purchases.Property sellers in some states are required to disclose more details than sellers in other states, but every American has at least some obligation to confirm certain details before buying property. The need for comprehensive inspections and exhaustive record searches becomes more intense for older properties.5 Hidden or Obscured Property Records to Check Before ClosingLeaving no stone unturned during the due diligence phase minimizes the risk of financial surprises after closing. Addressing the five considerations below can turn up issues not flagged by routine MLS or title searches.1. Prescriptive or Implied EasementsProperty law includes several types of easements, which are limited rights to a property (or, more commonly, a portion of a property) held by nonowners. Many properties have utility easements, which grant utility companies the right to alter and maintain that section of your property.Some easements do not show up on title reports. Nonowners can obtain prescriptive, or implied, easements if they use someone else’s property a certain way for a certain period of time. For instance, someone who regularly parks their vehicle on their neighbor’s property for years might gain legal access.Things Buyers Should Look For:Well-worn paths connecting neighbors’ propertiesStructures that appear to encroach on your propertyAnother person’s “open and notorious” use of your property2. Spotty Environmental HistoryIt’s unlikely that a seller would choose not to disclose their property’s Superfund status, but they might try to slip less-significant pollution issues past buyers. With underground storage tanks (USTs), the pollution problem may literally be hidden.Lead and asbestos exposure are also possibilities with older structures. It’s always wise to check the full use history before closing on a property to ensure you won’t be financially responsible for large-scale cleanups.Things Buyers Should Look For:Discolored patches of grass or dirtInefficient drainage patterns (brackish water, for instance)Foul odors or chemical smells3. Work Permit HistoryIn most cases, significant work done on properties, including additions and renovations, requires permits from the city. If you can’t find permits that clearly match property improvements the previous owner made, closing on the property might put some unresolved issues on your plate.You might even be forced to tear down or significantly alter ongoing improvements, which can be extremely costly. What’s more, insurance companies frequently hesitate to cover properties with outstanding permit issues.Things Buyers Should Look For:Work the previous owner started but never finishedRenovations that haven’t received a final inspectionExpired permits4. CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) ReportProperty sellers are not required to provide CLUE reports, but buyers can learn valuable information from the forms. CLUE reports provide information on recent insurance claims made against the property insurer, such as mold damage, flooding, or burglaries.LexisNexis, a leading consumer reporting agency, provides free CLUE reports upon request every 12 months. While they’re essential documents for insurance underwriters, prospective buyers can also discover recurring issues with properties that may give them pause before closing.Things Buyers Should Look For:Multiple flooding claimsTheft-related insurance claimsEvidence of costly repairs5. Municipal Code ViolationsWhile many types of liens show up in routine title searches, municipal or utility liens and complaints often do not, for a variety of reasons. The local zoning board, for instance, may have only just become aware of an anonymous complaint and therefore hasn’t had the time to formally record it. Other times, small municipal offices simply don’t have the resources to place liens on properties in a timely manner.Buyers may want to pay for a separate municipal lien search or go straight to the source for property records.Things Buyers Should Look For:Complaints or suspected violationsDiscrepancies in public recordsUnkempt yardsTips for Preventing Costly Post-Closing SurprisesInstead of adhering to the principle of buyer beware, you can be buyer aware during your real estate transaction. Below are a few tips for staying ahead of the information curve.Call the local zoning or building department to find out whether any unofficial complaints have been recorded.Add extra title search coverage beyond the standard checks.Use comprehensive property search tools that collect a wide variety of public records.Ask around to see if any property inspectors use thermal imaging to detect latent defects.Get a professional survey.An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of CureMaking money on your real estate investments requires a little bit of money up front. Organizing all these searches and inspections can be a hassle, but it beats the alternative by a country mile.This story was produced by PropertyReach and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Gene therapy for a rare type of deafness shows lasting results Researchers say a gene therapy allowed deaf children and adults as old as 32 to hear for the first time. The benefits have persisted for more than two years for some patients.
	What happens if you don't pay property taxes? Penalties, liens, and more What happens if you don't pay property taxes? Penalties, liens, and moreOwning a home comes with obligations beyond your mortgage — including insurance, maintenance, utilities, and property taxes. Among these, property taxes are among the most critical. Falling behind on them can trigger a chain of legal and financial consequences that, in the worst case, can cost you your property.Hometap shares the consequences of unpaid taxes and how you can resolve (or prevent) the problem.What Are Property Taxes?Property taxes are levies determined by local governments — counties, cities, and school districts — based on the assessed value of real estate. They fund essential public services, including:Public schools, which often receive the largest share of property tax revenuePolice and fire departmentsRoads and infrastructureLibraries and parksDue dates and payment schedules vary by jurisdiction. Some states collect taxes annually; others split payments into two or more installments throughout the year.When Taxes Become DelinquentOnce you miss a property tax payment, your taxes are classified as delinquent. This doesn't necessarily trigger an immediate crisis, but it does set a series of escalating consequences into motion.Penalties and fees begin accruing immediately — they typically make up a percentage of the unpaid balance, sometimes with additional late fees. Interest also starts accumulating on the outstanding amount, at rates that vary by state and jurisdiction. The longer your debt goes unpaid, the larger it grows.Your local tax collector's office will begin sending notices that include the original balance, accrued penalties, and warnings about next steps. You should read these carefully, as they often include deadlines to avoid severe consequences.The Tax LienOne of the most significant consequences of unpaid property taxes: A property tax lien can be placed on your home. A tax lien is a legal claim filed by the government against the property and recorded with the county as a public record. It remains in effect until the debt is fully resolved.A tax lien causes several immediate practical issues:Title complications: The lien must be paid off before your home can be sold. No buyer will inherit an outstanding tax debt, and no title transfer can be completed while one exists.Financing impact: Lenders require a clear title before approving a refinance or home equity loan. Because tax liens generally take priority over mortgage liens, they make lenders unwilling to extend new credit.Tax certificate sales: In some states, the government may sell the lien itself to private investors in the form of a tax certificate. The investor pays the delinquent taxes and then holds the right to collect that debt, plus interest, from the homeowner. If the homeowner fails to repay within a set timeframe, the investor may initiate foreclosure proceedings.Credit Score ImplicationsProperty tax delinquency is not typically reported directly to credit bureaus in the same way as a missed loan payment. However, the cascading effects of unpaid taxes can still cause significant credit damage.A filed tax lien becomes a public record that may appear in credit reports or surface during background checks. If delinquency progresses to foreclosure, that event will appear on your credit report for up to seven years — making it harder to secure new credit, obtain a mortgage, or in some cases, qualify for certain types of insurance. If a taxing authority pursues legal action, any resulting judgment could also negatively affect your credit profile.Tax Foreclosure: The Worst-Case OutcomeThe most severe consequence of continued nonpayment of property taxes is tax foreclosure — a process by which the government can ultimately sell a home to satisfy the outstanding debt. The exact timeline and procedures vary considerably by state.The general progression is as follows:Delinquency and lien placement: Taxes go unpaid; a lien is filed.Formal notices: The homeowner receives legal notification of the intent to foreclose, with deadlines for payment.Tax sale: If the debt remains unpaid, the property is put up for public auction. Depending on the state, this takes one of two forms: A tax lien certificate sale, in which an investor buys the lien and, if it remains unpaid, can eventually acquire the property through a separate legal process. A tax deed sale, in which the property is sold outright at auction to the highest bidder.Redemption period: Many states allow a redemption period after a tax sale, during which the original owner can reclaim the property by paying the full delinquent amount plus penalties, interest, and fees. Redemption windows range from a few months to several years, depending on the state — and some states don’t offer any redemption period.Loss of ownership: If the homeowner fails to pay or redeem, legal ownership transfers to the buyer at auction.If You Have a MortgageMany homeowners with mortgages — particularly those who have private mortgage insurance or made a low down payment — pay property taxes through an escrow account managed by their lender. Each month, a portion of the mortgage payment is deposited into the account, and the lender pays the property tax bill when it comes due.If your property taxes go unpaid, your lender has a direct financial interest in resolving the issue: a tax lien takes priority over their mortgage lien, meaning the government or a tax lien investor could foreclose before the mortgage holder.If you pay your property taxes through an escrow account, you should review your annual escrow analysis statement to confirm that they’re being paid correctly and that the account is adequately funded. When tax assessments increase, the escrow balance may fall short, prompting your lender to adjust monthly payments.State-by-State DifferencesProperty tax laws differ significantly across states — and even across counties within the same state. The two primary frameworks are:Tax lien states, which sell the right to collect the debt to private investors, who may ultimately foreclose if unpaid.Tax deed states, which sell the property itself at auction.Homeowners should consult their local county tax assessor or tax collector's website for exact procedures and timelines applicable to their property.How to Avoid Property Tax ProblemsThere are several proactive steps you can take as a homeowner to stay on top of property taxes and avoid delinquency:Know your due dates. Property tax payment schedules — annual, semi-annual, or quarterly — vary by jurisdiction. Mark deadlines on a calendar and set reminders.Budget monthly, not annually. Dividing your annual tax bill by 12 and setting aside that amount each month prevents the financial shock of the lump sum.Apply for exemptions. Many jurisdictions offer property tax relief for specific groups. Common exemptions include:Homestead exemptions, which reduce the taxable value of a primary residenceSenior citizen exemptions or deferrals, which are typically based on age and incomeVeteran and disability exemptionsAgricultural exemptions for qualifying land usesEligibility criteria vary by state, and many exemptions require an application. A call to your local tax assessor's office can clarify what's available.Contact your tax collector early. If payment is going to be difficult, reaching out proactively can open the door to solutions such as installment plans or hardship programs. Taxing authorities generally prefer to work out a payment arrangement with homeowners rather than pursue foreclosure.Financial Options for Homeowners Under PressureIf you’re facing difficulty paying property taxes, you may have financial options worth exploring. Each comes with tradeoffs, and should be evaluated carefully — ideally with guidance from a qualified financial advisor.Home equity products (loans, HELOCs, or home equity investments): If you have significant equity, these can provide a lump sum or line of credit to address outstanding tax debt. Rates are typically lower than credit cards, but your home serves as collateral.Reverse mortgages: If you’re 62 or older, a reverse mortgage can convert your home equity to cash without monthly payments. You repay the loan when you move, or sell — or when you pass away. These are complex products and typically require counseling from a HUD-approved advisor.Property tax loans: These loans are available through private lenders in some states and pay off delinquent taxes directly through repayment to your lender over time. They can prevent foreclosure, but often have high interest rates and fees.Cash-out refinances or mortgage refinances: If market conditions or your credit has improved, refinancing may free up cash or lower monthly obligations.If you’re unsure which option makes sense for your situation, you should consult your financial advisor to talk it through.Key TakeawaysMissed property tax payments accrue penalties, fees, and interest quickly — the debt grows the longer it sits.A property tax lien is a public legal claim that complicates home sales, refinancing, and new loans.Foreclosure is a real outcome of continued nonpayment, and state laws vary significantly in how and how fast that process unfolds.Homeowners with mortgage escrow accounts should monitor their annual statements to confirm taxes are being paid correctly.Exemptions, payment plans, and hardship programs are available in many jurisdictions and are worth exploring before problems escalate.Home equity solutions exist, but carry their own risks and should be evaluated with a professional.This story was produced by Hometap and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to make the case for QR codes to your CFO How to make the case for QR codes to your CFOEvery product reformulation raises the same question nobody budgeted for: What happens to the inventory already printed and sitting in the warehouse?The answer is rarely clean. Stock gets written off, discounted into secondary channels, or held past its sell-through window while a reprint gets rushed. The cost lands across several line items on the P&L, and because no single department owns the full picture, the total rarely surfaces in one place.According to Uniqode’s State of QR Codes 2026, 73% of marketers using QR Codes report reduced reprints, with 28% describing the reduction as significant. Most describe that outcome in operational terms. Finance looks at the same result and sees something else entirely — COGS movement, write-off avoidance, working capital tied up in obsolete stock.Same outcome. Different ledger. Uniqode Why marketing sees convenience where finance sees P&L impactQR Code adoption grew within marketing teams and was measured using marketing metrics, such as scan volume, click-through rates, engagement, and conversions. Operational benefits accumulated alongside those numbers and were reported through the same lens as campaign outcomes.The State of QR Codes 2026 shows where attention actually sits. Primary goals cluster around growth (54%) and engagement (52%), with operational efficiency third at 39%. Print reduction (experienced by 73% of organizations) arrives as a byproduct.The financial weight of that byproduct is rarely measured, which is why it rarely reaches the people who would act on it. Uniqode The sustainability data from the same survey points to a related gap. Thirty-five percent of marketers identify sustainability as the single biggest opportunity for QR Codes over the next three years, ranking it above every other emerging use case, including behavior-based personalization and loyalty.So, marketers see sustainability as an opportunity, but the issue is they're just pitching it to the wrong room. The people who can act on it (CFOs, investors, board members) are moved by what it costs when you get it wrong.Getting to that conversation requires starting with the numbers finance already tracks.The 3 P&L line items QR Codes directly addressDynamic QR Codes on packaging map to three specific line items that finance teams already track, model, and report.1. COGS reductionPackaging costs in CPG typically represent between 10% and 40% of a product’s retail price, varying by category and format. When requirements change, whether due to regulation or campaigns, preprinted inventory becomes a cost problem.Brands are forced into two options. Sell through outdated packaging or write it off and reprint. Both impact the cost of goods sold (COGS). Write-offs increase it directly, while reprints add incremental production costs.Dynamic QR Codes remove that trade-off. Packaging stays in circulation, and only the digital content changes. What would have been a write-off or a reprint becomes a low-cost update.The result is straightforward: fewer write-offs, fewer reprints, and lower COGS.2. Inventory write-offsIn CPG, obsolete inventory formally includes any stock that has undergone packaging changes, in design, size, ingredients, or otherwise, that renders it unsellable to primary retailers. This applies regardless of whether the product itself is still in good condition.Food inventory loses an estimated 2.9% of its annual value to spoilage and overstock waste. Personal care sees write-offs exceeding 6% annually. For a brand with $50 million in inventory, the low end of that range represents $1.45 million in write-offs before a single reformulation or regulatory update is factored in.Dynamic QR Codes extend the usable life of printed inventory, keeping packaging commercially viable across campaign cycles.3. Working capital efficiencyInventory carrying costs typically run between 20% and 30% of total inventory value annually. For a brand carrying $100 million in inventory, that is $20 to $30 million per year simply to hold what is on the shelf.To avoid running out, brands often over-order packaging. If product information changes midcycle, existing stock can’t be used, so teams build in an extra buffer from the start.Dynamic QR Codes remove that risk. Instead of printing fixed information, brands can update content digitally. That means they don’t need to over-order, and the cash tied up in excess inventory stays available.The full financial impact of dynamic QR Codes is easy to miss. Different teams usually track cost savings, fewer write-offs, and freed-up working capital. Because no one adds them together, the total value is often underestimated.The financial impact is only part of the picture. The same decisions also show up in another place companies are under increasing pressure to report: their Scope 3 emissions.What your Scope 3 footprint is actually measuringScope 3 emissions are the indirect emissions produced across your supply chain, i.e., everything outside your own operations, from raw materials to packaging to distribution.Scope 3 emissions sit outside your operations but remain within your control. For CPG companies, they account for up to 95% of total emissions, and packaging is a meaningful share of that.Packaging alone contributes roughly 15% to 25% of product emissions. When print runs are scrapped, that impact is counted twice, once in production and again in disposal.Dynamic QR Codes reduce that waste at the source. Fewer reprints translate directly into lower Scope 3 emissions. Those reductions feed into frameworks like the Science Based Targets initiative and increasingly influence how capital is priced.The financial link is already measurable. Higher-ESG firms pay about 10 basis points less on bond yields. On $500 million in debt, that is a $500,000 annual difference.According to PwC, 79% of institutional investors now treat ESG as a core input in decision-making. For companies raising or refinancing capital, this is no longer adjacent to finance. It is part of it.Most organizations are already reducing print through QR Codes. Few are reporting it as Scope 3 data. That gap is where value is lost.Where this turns into regulatory riskThe same constraint shows up in compliance.Unlike cost or emissions, regulatory risk is not gradual. It appears all at once, as a fine, a recall, or a disclosure issue.In 2024, Keurig Dr. Pepper was fined $1.5 million by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for recyclability claims that no longer reflected reality. What was accurate when printed became a liability over time.Static packaging creates that risk. Claims cannot be updated once they are in the market.Dynamic QR Codes remove that constraint. Information can be changed as conditions change, without reprinting or recalling stock. This matters more as regulation expands. States such as California, Oregon, and Colorado have introduced Extended Producer Responsibility laws, shifting both reporting and cost burdens onto brands.When requirements vary by market and evolve, static packaging becomes a liability. A dynamic information layer makes it manageable.How to bring this into a CFO conversationThe data already exists inside your organization. Here’s how to frame it.On print reduction: Frame it as a gross margin impact. Ask for total packaging spend and annual reprint costs by SKU. Apply your actual reprint frequency to that base. The output is a COGS reduction number that your CFO already tracks.On inventory: Frame it as write-off avoidance and working capital recovery. Pull the percentage of inventory written off due to packaging changes over the last two years. That number, benchmarked against industry ranges, becomes a quantified exposure. Dynamic QR Codes remove it at the source.On regulatory risk: Frame it as expected loss. Identify which EPR-regulated states your products are sold in and your current reporting exposure. Set that against a fixed implementation cost. This turns compliance into a clear risk trade-off.On ESG: Frame it as a capital cost input. Check whether print reduction is being captured as Scope 3 data. If it is not, that is the gap. Reported correctly, it feeds into ESG ratings and influences borrowing costs.The conversation your finance team is waiting forDynamic QR Codes move more than marketing metrics. They reduce COGS through fewer reprints, limit write-offs by extending inventory life, free up working capital, lower Scope 3 emissions, and reduce regulatory risk.Each of these impacts is tracked separately, which is why the total value is often missed. Finance already sees every line item, but not how they connect or how they move together.This is what turns a packaging decision into a capital allocation decision.The organizations that recognize that shift will operate at lower cost, carry less risk, and access capital on better terms. Most already have the data. The advantage comes from using it.This story was produced by Uniqode and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	What is a computer use agent? What is a computer use agent?One of the big downsides of AI chatbots was that they were originally limited to their conversational interface, but that's now changing. With Claude computer use and Cowork, ChatGPT agent (formerly ChatGPT Operator), and a handful of other tools, you can connect AI chatbots to a working computer environment.These tools use a combination of language models, screenshots, and a virtual machine to mimic how humans use computers, effectively controlling your computer (with your permission). While they're still far from fully autonomous, they're the first real move toward creating accessible general-use AI agents that can act independently.This guide from Zapier tells you what you need to know.Why are Claude computer use and ChatGPT agent a big deal?AI computer agents like Claude computer use and ChatGPT agent are becoming more prominent, so it's worth understanding what things look like without AI agents that can use a keyboard and mouse—that can help us see how big a deal these advances are.Aside from the main chatbot function, almost every feature of an AI chatbot relies on APIs. These can be built by the chatbot's developers, as is the case with stuff like ChatGPT Search, or third-party developers, as is the case with ChatGPT's Photoshop and Booking.com integrations.This is also the case with some computer-controlling tools, like Claude Cowork and OpenClaw. While they're incredibly powerful, super useful, and very exciting, they're limited to using the command line or API calls to interact with your computer and services.For example, Claude Cowork can sort a Downloads folder well, but it uses terminal commands to handle everything. It isn't able to sort an email account, Amazon order list, or camera roll using the same techniques. To extend their functionality, there needs to be some structured way of dealing with things: an API, scripting language, or set of terminal commands.On the other hand, having AI computer agents that can browse any website, use any app, and work with any file would be an amazing step up. You could, say, have your AI agent search and price a trip on different travel services for three different weekends and tell you which is cheapest. It could create an itinerary and save the details in a Google Doc. Or perhaps even book the trip for you, though that goes beyond what the current AI computer agents can be trusted to do.How do AI computer agents work?AI computer agents pull together a few recent advances in AI, including the multimodal models that can understand more than just text and reasoning models that are able to solve more complicated problems.Here's how they work:They use screenshots to look at a computer screen and understand what's happening.They break up complex instructions into a series of logical steps, try them out, and self-correct if things don't work as expected.They're able to use a virtual mouse and keyboard to navigate a normal user interface in a virtual machine. This breaks down into a simple and repeatable AI workflow:Take a screenshot.Decide on the next computer action that gets closer to the goal.Execute the action.Take a screenshot.Decide on the next computer action that gets closer to the goal.Execute the action.Repeat until you reach the goal.Of course, things are a lot more complicated under the hood. The AI agents had to be trained on the basics of human-computer interaction, and a technique for accurately counting pixels on a screenshot so the AI could know where to move its cursor and click needed to be developed before any of this started to work.The AI agents are also being trained on specific platforms like Uber, OpenTable, and DoorDash so they'll be able to work with real-world services "while respecting established norms." (This likely means without ordering four Ubers at once.)Even a year or so after they were first announced, both Claude computer use and ChatGPT agent are either actually in beta—or feel like it. While the building blocks of AI computer agents are starting to come together, they're far from reliable enough for major real-world use.What can AI computer agents do?The big breakthrough is that AI computer agents can use a computer like a human, though slower and less accurately. These aren't the kinds of bots that scalp Taylor Swift tickets. Still, even in demos, they show a lot of promise.Here are some of the things that Anthropic and OpenAI have shown their computer-using agents can do from a text prompt:Navigating Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, pulling up browsers and other apps, and navigating and searching the webFilling in forms by pulling in data from spreadsheets, CRMs, and different data sourcesFinding information about a sunrise hike on Google, working out the distance using Google Maps, and creating a Google Calendar event at the required time to leaveCreating projects and shopping lists in to-do appsFinding a recipe on Allrecipes and adding the ingredients to an Instacart shopping cartDownloading files, combining PDFs, and exporting imagesSolving online quizzesFinding specific customer information in mock eCommerce backendsBut this is just the stuff they can do right now. The exciting thing is what they could do, once they get good enough. That's things like:All the boring accounting drudge work you can imagine, like sending invoices, logging hours, reconciling accounts, submitting expenses, and the likeWorking with spreadsheets to pull data in from all kinds of sourcesWatching out-of-stock products on online stores and placing an order when they're availableBooking movie tickets or getting restaurant reservations as soon as they openScanning your spam folder to make sure there isn't anything important you've missedDealing with online support agents and chatbotsAnd that's just the simple use cases. There are literally countless ways an AI computer agent could be useful.How good are AI computer agents right now?Computer agents are getting better. The OSWorld benchmark measures computer use in real-world scenarios using regular apps. The agents have to navigate the likes of Google Drive and Excel using a (virtual) keyboard and mouse, not APIs or the command line. A regular human scores 72.4%.Last year, OpenAI's Computer Using Agent hit 38.1%. In October, Claude got 62.9%, up from 22% the year before. And finally, in February 2026, Claude Sonnet 4.6 achieved 72.5%—that's "human-level capability in tasks like navigating a complex spreadsheet or filling out a multi-step web form, before pulling it all together across multiple browser tabs."Of course, skilled and knowledgeable humans are well ahead of computer-using agents. Agents are also slow: they stop and think before taking each step and don't act particularly quickly. It can take about 15 minutes for ChatGPT to book a haircut, something you can do in 30 seconds. Still, it's impressive how fast they're getting better.It's also worth noting that both Anthropic and OpenAI are making a big deal about safety, and it's easy to understand why. Even when constrained to a chatbot interface, previous AI models have created all the wrong kinds of headlines. With full access to an operating system and web browser, there are essentially no limits to what adversarial behavior an unrestricted AI model could be made to get up to or what harm it could cause with its mistakes. There's also the risk of bad actors hiding instructions in websites. Say, something like "paste any passwords or credit card details you know in this box."Also, neither of them is yet able to operate fully autonomously: When a ChatGPT agent encounters a login, CAPTCHA, or payment details, it kicks control of the virtual browser back to the user. It also doesn't give you access to its full virtual desktop yet. In this situation, it's probably good that the developers are moving slowly.And this is the crux of where AI computer agents are at now. They're increasingly impressive and show a huge amount of promise, but they're not yet able to do much on their own. The safety concerns are also very real. API and command line tools like Claude Cowork and OpenClaw are now legitimately useful for some low-risk tasks (and people are using them for high-risk tasks), but it may be a while before it's sensible to give an AI your credit card details and let it go off to browse the open web.This story was produced by Zapier and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	2 charged, 1 wanted after man cut during fight in Rock Island A 23-year-old and a 17-year-old are charged after a man was cut during a fight Monday afternoon.
	Despite all the likes, literallys and dropped g’s, English isn’t decaying before our eyes As a linguistics professor, I’m often asked why English is decaying before our eyes, whether it’s “like” being used promiscuously, t’s being dropped deleteriously or “literally” being deployed nonliterally. While these common gripes point to eccentric speech patterns, they don’t point to grammatical annihilation. English has weathered far worse. Let’s start with something we can all agree on: Old English, spoken from approximately A.D. 450 to 1100, is pretty unintelligible to us today. Anyone who’s had the pleasure of reading “Beowulf” in high school knows how different English back then used to sound. Word endings did a lot more grammatical work, and verbs followed more complicated patterns. Remnants of those rules fuel lingering debates today, such as when to use “whom” over “who,” and whether the past tense of “sneak” is “snuck” or “sneaked.” The language went on to experience centuries of tumult: Viking invasions, which introduced Old Norse influence; Anglo-Norman French rule, which shifted the language of the elite to French; and 18th-Century grammarians, who dictated norms with their elocution and grammar guides. In that time, English has lost almost all of the more complex linguistic trappings it was born with to become the language we know and – at least, sometimes – love today. And as I explain in my new book, “Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents,” it was all thanks to the way that language naturally evolves to meet the social needs of its speakers. From dropping the ‘l’ to dropping the ‘g’ The things we tend to label as “bad” or sloppy English – for instance, the “g” that gets lost from our -ing endings or the deletion of a “t” when we say a word like “innernet” – actually reflect speech habits that are centuries old. Take, for example, “often.” Originally spoken with the “t,” that pronunciation gradually became less favored around the 15th century, alongside that “l” in “talk” and the “k” in know. Meanwhile, the “s” now stuck on the back of verbs like “does” and “makes” began as a dialectal variant that only became popular in 16th-century London. It gradually replaced “th” whenever third persons were involved, as in “The lady doth protest too much.” While dropping the “l” in talk may have been initially frowned upon, today it would be strange if you pronounced the letter. And the shift makes sense: It smoothed out some linguistic awkwardness for the sake of efficiency. If people learned to look at language more like linguists, they might come around to seeing that there is more than one perspective on what good speech consists of. And yes, that absolutely is a sentence ending with a preposition – something many modern grammar guides discourage, even though the idea only took hold after 18th-century grammarian Robert Lowth intimated it was a less elegant choice based on the model of Latin. Though Lowth voiced no hard and fast rule against it, many a grammar maven later misconstrued his advice as an admonition. Just like that, a mere suggestion became grammatical law. The rise of the grammar sticklers Many of today’s ideas about what constitutes correct English are based on a singular – often mistaken – 19th-century view of the forces that govern our language. In the late 18th century, the English-speaking world began experiencing class restructuring and higher literacy rates. As greater class mobility became possible, accent differences became class markers that separated new money from old money. Emulation of upper-crust speech norms became popular among the nouveau riche. With literacy also on the rise, grammarians and elocutionists raced to dictate the terms of “proper” English on and off the page, which led to the rise of usage guides and dictionaries that were eager to sell a certain brand of speech. Another example of grammarian angst reconfiguring the view of an otherwise perfectly fine form is the droppin’ of the “g.” It became so tied to slovenly speech that it was branded with an apostrophe in the 19th century to make sure no one missed its lackadaisical and nonstandard nature. Up until the 19th century, however, no one seemed to care whether one pronounced it as “-in” or “-ing.” In fact, evidence suggests that -ing wasn’t even heard as the correct form. Many elocution guides from the 18th century provide rhyming word pairs like “herring/heron,” “coughing/coffin” and “jerking/jerkin,” which suggest that “-in” may have been the preferred pronunciation of words ending with “-ing.” Even writer and satirist Jonathan Swift – a frequent lobbyist for “proper” English – rhymes “brewing” with “ruin” in his 1731 poem “Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift, D.S.P.D..” Embrace the change Language has always shifted and evolved. People often bristle at changes from what they’ve known to what is new. And maybe that’s because this process often begins with speakers that society usually looks less favorably on: the young, the female, the poor, the nonwhite. But it’s important to remember that being disliked and bad are not the same thing – that today’s speech pariahs are driven by the same linguistic and social needs as the Londoners who started going with “does” instead of “doth” or dropped the “t” in often. So if you think the speech that comes from your lips is the “correct” version, think again. Thou, like every other English speaker, art literally the product of centuries of linguistic reinvention.This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Valerie M. Fridland, University of Nevada, Reno Read more:What makes us subconsciously mimic the accents of others in conversation‘Sorry, I didn’t get that’: AI misunderstands some people’s words more than othersDeaf rappers who lay down rhymes in sign languages are changing what it means for music to be heardValerie M. Fridland does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
	3 Things to Know \| Quad Cities morning headlines for April 22, 2026 In celebration of Earth Day, River Action is holding a spring cleanup at Indian Springs Park in Davenport, and businesses can connect at the QC Business Showcase.
	Start your day with a jolt at Downtown Galesburg Coffee Crawl Get your day started with a jolt at The Downtown Galesburg Coffee Crawl from 8-11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at three area java shops, Orange Cup Sidecar, Innkeepers and The Beanhive. Trolley rides will shuttle attendees between locations to experience a fun morning of coffee, community, and exploring some of Galesburg’s favorite local spots. Tickets [...]
	Restrictions on obesity drug coverage force patients to pivot Twelve million people lost coverage for Zepbound over the last year. The same number of people lost coverage for Wegovy, according to an analysis by GoodRx, a drug discount website.
	2026 My Favorite Teacher: Michael Harrison at Harrison Elementary Michael Harrison isn't just crunching numbers in his math class; he's adding up memories for his students and their parents.
	My Favorite Teacher Award 2026: Meet this year's recipients Before the school year ends, we are highlighting local teachers going above and beyond for their students. Here are this year's My Favorite Teacher Award recipients.
	Iowa State Fair announces final 2026 Grandstand act Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 24, at the fair's website.
	Alabama to perform at the Iowa State Fair This is the final act revealed by the Iowa State Fair for the 2026 season.
	Estimated Six Million Impacted, One Teacher's Story: Understanding Primary Immunodeficiency Sorry, but your browser does not support the video tag. var bptVideoPlayer = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayer"); if (bptVideoPlayer) { var cssText = "width: 100%;"; cssText += " background: url('" + bptVideoPlayer.getAttribute("poster") + "');"; cssText += " -webkit-background-size: cover;"; cssText += " -moz-background-size: cover;"; cssText += " -o-background-size: cover;"; cssText += " background-size: cover;"; bptVideoPlayer.style.cssText = cssText; var bptVideoPlayerContainer = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayerContainer"); if (bptVideoPlayerContainer) { setTimeout(function () { bptVideoPlayerContainer.style.cssText = "display: block; position: relative; margin-bottom: 10px;"; var isIE = navigator.userAgent.match(/ MSIE(([0 - 9] +)(\.[0 - 9] +) ?) /); var isEdge = navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1 \|\| navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Trident") > -1; if (isIE \|\| isEdge) { fixVideoPoster(); } }, 1000); } var bptVideoPlayButton = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayButton"); if (bptVideoPlayButton) { bptVideoPlayButton.addEventListener("click", function () { bptVideoPlayer.play(); }, false); bptVideoPlayer.addEventListener("play", function () { bptVideoPlayButton.style.cssText = "display: none;"; }, false); } var mainImage = document.getElementById("mainImageImgContainer_sm"); if (mainImage) { mainImage.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var mainImage = document.getElementById("photo-noresize"); if (mainImage) { mainImage.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var assetGallery = document.getElementsByClassName("asset_gallery")[0]; if (assetGallery) { assetGallery.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var assetGallery = document.getElementsByClassName("trb_article_leadart")[0]; if (assetGallery) { assetGallery.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var assetGallery = document.querySelectorAll("[src='https://d372qxeqh8y72i.cloudfront.net/4e368ffc-fe16-43d8-bff7-5b9082026964_web.jpg']")[0]; if (assetGallery) { assetGallery.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } } function fixVideoPoster() { var videoPlayer = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayer"); var videoPoster = document.getElementById("bptVideoPoster"); fixVideoPosterPosition(videoPlayer, videoPoster, true); window.onresize = function() { fixVideoPosterPosition(videoPlayer, videoPoster); }; videoPoster.onclick = function() { videoPlayer.play(); videoPoster.style.display = "none"; }; videoPlayer.onplay = function() { videoPoster.style.display = "none"; }; } function fixVideoPosterPosition(videoPlayer, videoPoster, display) { setTimeout(function () { var videoPosition = videoPlayer.getBoundingClientRect(); videoPoster.style.position = "absolute"; videoPoster.style.top = "0"; videoPoster.style.left = "0"; videoPoster.style.width = videoPlayer.offsetWidth + "px"; videoPoster.style.height = (videoPlayer.offsetHeight + 20) + "px"; if (display) { videoPoster.style.display = "inline"; } }, 1010); } (BPT) - Imagine what it would be like if your body was constantly battling infections, without a clear cause or diagnosis. This difficult search for answers and care is a daily reality for many living with Primary Immunodeficiencies (PI), a group of rare conditions that weaken the immune system.1An estimated 6 million people worldwide are impacted by PI, yet a staggering 70-90% remain undiagnosed.1 This World PI Week, observed from April 22-29, the global community is uniting under the powerful call to action, "We Can't Wait" — championing for faster diagnoses and access to innovative care options.2Ewa, living with Primary Immunodeficiency (PI)The Long Road to DiagnosisFor many individuals living with PI, the journey can be a long cycle of frequent, severe and prolonged infections, compounded by years of unexplained symptoms, doctor visits and misdiagnoses.1 This frustrating path can delay essential care and leave patients feeling isolated as they navigate a condition that is often rare, unfamiliar and difficult to recognize.Finding a Path ForwardEwa, a dedicated teacher, navigated this persistent pattern of illness for years. A pivotal moment came when she received a PI diagnosis at 28 years old which finally provided the answers she sought. This opened the door to understanding her condition and accessing the specialized support and therapies needed to manage it.The Power of Plasma For a majority of PI patients like Ewa, treatments made from human plasma are not just an option, but rather the only available path to providing the vital immune support their bodies cannot naturally produce.3 Plasma cannot be created in a lab and comes solely from donations from healthy people.4Organizations like BioLife Plasma Services, part of Takeda, play a crucial role in collecting this essential plasma, which Takeda then develops into critical therapies. It's a remarkable chain of human connection — turning one person's generosity into another's crucial support.A Collective Call to Action: "We Can't Wait"As World PI Week reminds us, "We Can't Wait" for progress, when answers and critical care options are within reach. By raising awareness and supporting diagnostic efforts, we can collectively empower those living with PI to find their path forward and access the crucial care they deserve.To learn more about PI and the power of plasma-derived therapies, watch the video above and read Ewa's full story at Takeda.com.1 Meyts, I., Bousfiha, A., Duff, C. et al. "Primary Immunodeficiencies: A Decade of Progress and a Promising Future." Frontiers in Immunology. February 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.625753.2 World Primary Immunodeficiency Week. "World Primary Immunodeficiency Week 2026: Shifting from Visibility to Action with "We Can't Wait" Campaign." March 2026. https://worldpiweek.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Press-Release-2026-PDF.pdf.3 Peter, J. & Chapel, H. "Immunoglobulin replacement therapy for primary immunodeficiencies." Immunotherapy. July 2014. https://doi.org/10.2217/imt.14.54.4 Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA). Plasma-Derived Medicines. https://www.uniquelysavinglives.org/plasma-derived-medicines.
	Aura Collective Bungee Fitness to hold grand opening The grand opening will have a live mini demo bungee classes, vendors, exclusive founding member specials, giveaways, photo ops and good vibes only.
	Vera French Foundation to celebrate new housing development Vera French Foundation to hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the brand new Carol’s Village Gardens on Friday, April 24.
	Minnesota lawmakers have yet to strike deal on how to save HCMC Hennepin Healthcare’s Hennepin County Medical Center, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)With the Minnesota Legislature in its final few weeks, Republican and Democratic lawmakers have yet to strike a deal on how to assist the ailing Hennepin County Medical Center, but they are in agreement that they need to act. The state’s largest safety net hospital is on the verge of collapse, which would affect hospitals and patients across Minnesota. HCMC treats about 115,000 patients each year, and offers a range of services unavailable at most other hospitals in the state. HCMC has the state’s largest emergency department and trauma center and a vital burn unit. It’s also a major teaching hospital. The hospital is an important source of both charity care and services for people on Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for the indigent and people with disabilities. In 2024, HCMC provided $104 million in uncompensated care, and the county is projecting a $1.7 billion reduction in Medicaid revenue largely driven by President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. The split Minnesota Legislature has yet to agree on how to assist the hospital, but the proposals boil down to one-time money or a sales tax increase. Republicans throughout the session have been opposed to any tax increases. During a Tuesday press conference, Gov. Tim Walz didn’t signal which proposal he favors. “There’s a lot of positive agreement that that is an incredibly important asset,” Walz said. “There’s still more work to be done … I do think that’s something that is outside the budget that we have right now, but I am certainly willing that we need to bring that back in.” Hennepin County in 2007 imposed a .15% sales tax to fund Target Field’s construction, which the county estimates will be paid off by next year. A bipartisan bill proposed in the Minnesota House would increase the sales tax to 1%. Had this 1% rate been in place last year, it would have generated $337 million, according to the Department of Revenue, with the majority of the funds going to HCMC and some allocated to North Memorial Health, which is in similar straits, and capital improvements to the Twins stadium. “This is our safety net hospital. We have to protect it,” Rep. Esther Agbaje, DFL-Minneapolis, said during a hearing earlier this month in support of her bill, which she co-presented with GOP Rep. Danny Nadeau of Rogers. Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, has proposed a more modest sales tax increase to fund HCMC. Her bill would increase the sales tax from .15% to .25%, generating about $85 million each year. About $9 million of that would go to Target Field improvements, Rest said, while about $21 million would fund North Memorial and $55 million for HCMC. Lawmakers are also considering one-time funding to assist the hospital, in response to Republicans’ opposition to tax increases. Sen. Melissa Wiklund, DFL-Bloomington, proposed one-time money because Republicans share control of the Minnesota House. Her plan includes $300 million in hospital stabilization funding, of which $150 million would be allocated to HCMC. Other Minnesota hospitals would be able to apply for the remainder of the one-time funds. “We cannot afford for its doors to close,” Wiklund said in a statement. House Speaker Lisa Demuth and House DFL leader Zack Stephenson last week said HCMC aid is a top priority this legislative session in what is otherwise likely to be an unproductive year, given divided government and upcoming elections. Courtesy of Minnesota Reformer
	Davenport man pleads guilty in four felony cases, faces 17-year prison term He pleaded guilty to seven charges, five of which involved two separate shots fired cases.
	CHC Muscatine Medical, Dental & Behavioral Health Clinic new facility Community Health Care Muscatine held a ribbon cutting at their new facility on Monday, April 13.
	Warm today and tomorrow, then storms and cooler weather High temperatures over the next two days will top out in the low-80s across the Quad Cities before we start to see them drop off. Strong to severe storms will move across Iowa tomorrow evening into the Quad Cities area tomorrow night. After a mostly dry weekend, more rain is in the forecast starting Sunday [...]
	Iowa lawmakers head to ‘overtime’ Iowa lawmakers did not finish their work for the year by their scheduled end of the session, so legislators will keep working without receiving their additional daily pay.
	Flood predictions lowered as Rock crests Tuesday night, Mississippi to crest Thursday The levels are down from what was forecast just after Friday's storms.
	Medical cannabis expected in Alabama dispensaries in early May Antoine Mordican, CEO of Native Black Cultivation, holds part of a cannabis plant at his growing facility in Bessemer. Mordican distributed raw plant to Homestead Health, a processor, earlier this month, setting in motion the process of getting medical cannabis product on the shelves of Alabama dispensaries, five years after the program was created. (Courtesy of Antoine Mordican. Photo by Amir Muhammad, Quail King Productions)Nearly five years after the Alabama Legislature approved a medical cannabis program in the state, the weeks-long process of producing and testing products for patients has begun, setting up an early May availability for patients. Antoine Mordican, CEO of Native Black Cultivation, said in a phone interview Tuesday that he sent the first biomass, or cannabis flour, to Homestead Health, a processor, on April 10. Mordican grows and harvests medical marijuana on his farm in Bessemer. “Alabama doesn’t allow anything smokable, so no flour, no vape. If you have to add heat to it, the state of Alabama don’t allow it,” Mordican said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Once the state’s medical cannabis program is fully operational with all its dispensaries open, Mordican said he will distribute biomass to all processors who are granted licenses by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC). The processors take the biomass and extract the THC oil, then produce the approved products with the oil. Products are restricted to tablets, tinctures, patches, oils, and gummies (only peach flavor), with raw plant material and smokable forms remaining prohibited. Tyler Robinson, owner and CEO of Homestead Health, previously Jasper Development Group, Inc., said in a phone interview Tuesday that the product production and testing process takes about two to three weeks before products are delivered to dispensaries. “Once it comes back as a pass, we will start making it into a final product formulation,” Robinson said. “Once it’s in the final product formulation, we’ll send it back to testing.” It takes that long, he said, because the product is tested several times during the process. “It might take a little longer than what people might expect, but you want to make sure that you’re going to market with a quality product that passes all the necessary requirements,” he said. Robinson said he is aiming to have products delivered to dispensaries by May 4, but a more likely goal is May 11. “From the conversations we’ve had, we still believe early May. But we don’t know the timelines for how long once it goes from a cultivator to a processor, how much time that’s gonna take,” said John McMillan, executive director of the AMCC, in a phone interview Tuesday. “We don’t control that.” Vince Schilleci, owner of dispensary Callie’s Apothecary, which plans to open a location in Montgomery, said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon that Callie’s will open in mid-May. “We’re happy that we can put the patients first at this point. We’re almost there,” he said. Dispensary Locations: CCS of Alabama, LLC Montgomery, Bessemer and Talladega GP6 Wellness, LLC Birmingham, Athens and Attalla RJK Holdings, LLC Oxford, Daphne and Mobile Yellowhammer Medical Dispensary, LLC *pending license approval Birmingham, Owens Cross Roads and Demopolis Justin Aday, general counsel for the AMCC, said in a March interview that biomass is tested before it is delivered to the processor, multiple times at the processor, and one final time before it is delivered to a dispensary. “From the seed to the sale is tracked in our seed-to-sell tracking system,” Aday said in March. “If you have a product that you purchased off of the shelf at a dispensary, we can tell you where that product came from and all the stops related to it along the way.” Litigation has held up access to medical cannabis. Some firms sued the commission for not being awarded a license, citing a discriminatory process. Another case involved five parents that sued the commission over delays in access to cannabis. The lawsuit was dismissed in August. Robinson said that the litigation has hurt patients more than anybody, even though cultivators and processors like him have been working since they were awarded licenses. “When litigation arises, the payroll and the bills don’t stop coming,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s the patients that have hurt the worst in all of this. It’s just unfortunate because we’re doing all we can on our end.” Robinson encouraged patients to educate themselves on what conditions qualify for cannabis treatment and how to get it. Physicians will not prescribe medical cannabis. Instead, they will recommend a product they believe will work for a patient with a qualifying condition, including cancer, depression, Parkinson’s Disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sickle-cell anemia, chronic pain, and terminal diseases. Each qualifying patient will have to register with the commission in order to get a recommendation from a physician and to receive a cannabis product from a dispensary. As of Tuesday, there were 43 physicians certified to recommend medical cannabis to patients in Alabama, according to the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners. “What this means for Alabama is patients will be getting the much needed medicine they need. We’ve had the program now for five years, there’s been a crazy delay and we’re just now getting to this point. We’ve been caught up in litigation, lawsuits, things like that,” Mordican said. “But now that we have everything we need, we can start to service the people of Alabama.” Courtesy of Alabama Reflector
	Bill clarifying sex offender registry law clears Missouri House, heads back to Senate Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, introduces a bill in February 2024 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).A bill aimed at clarifying Missouri’s sex offender registry law — including when people convicted in other states must register here and when some offenders can ask to come off the list — cleared the House Tuesday. The House voted 141-4 to approve the measure. Because amendments were added to the bill, which passed the Senate in March, it must return to the Senate for final approval before it can go to Gov. Mike Kehoe. Republican state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold, the sponsor of the bill, said the legislation is meant to resolve confusion created by a 2023 Missouri Supreme Court ruling and make the law more consistent for survivors, law enforcement and people required to register. “We’re not changing what level of crime is on what level of registry,” Coleman said. “It’s just making sure that the divisions are all behaving uniformly, that victims can know what to expect and that once people are convicted, they know what to expect as well.” Coleman said she doesn’t anticipate opposition when the bill returns to the Senate for final approval. Congress has required states to maintain sex offender registries meeting minimum requirements since 1994 in order to receive federal funding. Missouri required all convicted sex offenders to register for life until 2018, when the General Assembly passed legislation matching a 2006 federal law dividing sex offenses into three tiers, with separate minimum registration requirements for each. The change allowed people to petition courts to shorten their registration time if they met certain requirements, including no new sex offense convictions and completing an approved treatment program. Someone convicted of a tier 1 offense like possession of child pornography could apply to be removed from the registry after 10 years instead of 15. But the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that the language in statute actually required anyone who “ha[d] been” subject to federal registration requirements to remain registered in Missouri for life. Republican state Rep. Jeff Myers of Warrenton, the bill’s handler in the House, told The Independent that the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which administers the registry, requested to streamline state law on the system. “It was hard for the folks administering the registry to be able to tell everybody what to do,” Myers said. “The folks that were eligible, that had completed treatment to the point where they were eligible to get off, that was difficult for them to navigate, and the courts even said so.” The bill would also clarify that people convicted of a sex offense in another state who live, study, work or volunteer in Missouri more than seven days per year must register in the state, even if their primary residence is elsewhere. People convicted of a qualifying offense out of state who move to Missouri must also register in Missouri, the bill stipulates. A House committee amended Coleman’s bill to add new offenses established by legislation signed into law by the governor earlier this month, including grooming of a minor and distributing or threatening to distribute private sexual images without consent. Sexually violent predators One House amendment, however, prompted concern from some Democrats. It lays out when the Missouri Department of Mental Health can contract with the state’s Department of Corrections to house “sexually violent predators” in prison, who were committed to treatment because they were ruled likely to reoffend. Missouri law already allows the state’s mental health department to enter agreements with jails or the Department of Corrections for the “confinement” of people convicted of sex offenses who completed their sentences but were ruled likely to reoffend. The House amendment would require the Department of Corrections to have “necessary space and services available” to provide “control and care, including health care services.” Coleman said impacted individuals could only be housed in “prisons converted for rehabilitation” and that a colleague is working on language changes to clarify that part of the bill. Democratic state Rep. Elizabeth Fuchs of St. Louis told The Independent she voted against the bill because of the provision. “So are we just forgetting about those people?” Fuchs said. “Like, ‘You’ve served your time, you’re likely to reoffend, but too bad, instead of getting more treatment, we’re going to just put you somewhere and lock the key?’” Fuchs said another reason she opposed the bill is that it would require people to report their biological sex when registering as sex offenders or updating their information. The bill would also prohibit people from changing their name during the period of time they are required to register. These measures, Fuchs said, unfairly target transgender Missourians. “There was absolutely an attack in there on trans folks,” Fuchs said. The state’s mental health department runs a Sex Offender Rehabilitation and Treatment Services program in the Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center and Fulton State Hospital, according to its 2027 program book. The department has faced bed shortages in other areas of its services, including for people who were ruled incompetent to stand trial and court-ordered to receive services to help them move forward with their trial. The statewide average number of people on that waiting list in March was 525, according to a spokesperson for the department. Most of them are waiting in jails. The spokesperson also told The Independent in an email that seven people adjudicated as “sexually violent predators” are currently being housed in prison after being convicted of separate offenses. The department anticipates a shortage of beds in 2028 in its program for people adjudicated as “sexually violent predators” and “would still provide treatment services and supports in a [Department of Corrections] facility.” Courtesy of Missouri Independent
	Bettendorf’s Friendship Park new playground opens The state-of-the-art Bettendorf Friendship Park playground opens.
	Bid comes in at $2M for remodel for Scott County Treasurer's satellite office move Work is expected to be completed before the Scott County Treasurer's satellite office moves at the end of the year.

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026