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

Wednesday, August 12th, 2026
	Vibrant Credit Union expands equipment lending with Manitou Group North America Through this partnership, Vibrant will support Manitou and GEHL dealers.
	GQCHCC launches entrepreneurship program for Muscatine and Louisa counties The new bilingual, six-month program will equip entrepreneurs with education, mentorship and access to capital to build lasting businesses.
	Track champions will be crowned Friday at Davenport Speedway Season Championship night at Davenport Speedway will be this Friday, Aug. 14. Track champions will be crowned in six weekly classes, a news release says. Many of the point battles remain close. Three of the six weekly classes have a point difference between first and second place in the single digits. Here is what to look for, [...]
	Rock Island-Milan School Board approves superintendent contract extension through 2030 Her contract from this year to 2030 starts at a base salary of $240,723 annually.
	UnityPoint launches first QC rehab program for blood-vessel condition For many people living with peripheral artery disease (PAD), a common condition affecting the blood vessels, even a short walk can be painful, according to a news release. UnityPoint Health – Trinity Heart Center is helping patients take those first steps withconfidence by becoming the first in the Quad Cities to offer a supervised exercise [...]
	Keystone Academy & Early Learning to hold open house Saturday Keystone Academy & Early Learning, a full-time childcare and preschool, is celebrating its launch with an open house on Saturday.
	Meet John Elkin, Bettendorf’s new interim superintendent The 1990 Bettendorf High School graduate started on July 27.
	Everyday People: A father gives his son a love of Transformers Kevin Brimeyer waits tables at a Rock Island Italian restaurant to help pay his way through college.
	Andrew Tate's extradition fight tests his influence with Trump's America After President Trump took office, Andrew Tate proclaimed, "The Tates will be free." A year later, Tate is being held in federal prison after he was arrested following a U.K. extradition request.
	The Chicago and Rock Island Railroad This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.At five in the afternoon on Washington's Birthday in 1854, a small locomotive gaily decorated in streamers and bunting…
	Feel so busy you don't even realize you're busy? Try doing a time audit The exercise can help you identify what's wasting your time — and make room for what matters, says psychotherapist Niro Feliciano. Take a moment to try it. You might be surprised with what you find.
	AI chatbots are offering financial advice. Should you trust them? Experts say AI can get personal finance fundamentals right but may struggle with nuanced questions.
	Here's how gyms, salons and ice cream are changing America's Main Streets Shoppers' changing habits are fueling a major shift in what types of businesses are occupying storefronts.
	How a road could change West Africa's urban future A 600-mile journey along the shores of Nigeria, Togo, Ghana and Ivory Coast reveals one of the world's most consequential transformations.
	Four takeaways from Tuesday's primaries in six states Voters in half a dozen states went to the polls Tuesday, and results highlight the ongoing conflicts within both parties ahead of the November midterms.
	Nearly 30,000 pounds of beef recalled under highest 'Class 1' risk level The USDA has categorized the recall as Class I, indicating a “high or medium risk” situation.
	Former U.S. Marine held in Russia on disputed charges has been released Russia released an American military veteran, allowing his return to the U.S. after four years of what his family and U.S. officials allege was wrongful incarceration and abusive treatment.
	Earthquake response strains Colombia's new government and rescuers The earthquake killed at least 181 people and left 2,595 injured, according to Colombian authorities. At least 195 remained missing, but civilian-run databases put that number closer to 4,000.
Tuesday, August 11th, 2026
	Neurologist explains vascular dementia following Roger Craig’s diagnosis As Roger Craig was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame he revealed he’s been diagnosed with vascular dementia.
	Social Security expands disability fast-track list, adds 14 conditions Here are the 14 conditions the Social Security Administration just added to a list for fast-tracking disability claims.
	Inside Iowa Politics: What Sen. Ernst wants to do before leaving office Sen. Joni Ernst confirmed what she wants to accomplish before she leaves Congress.
	$1 billion Powerball jackpot: Which payout option is best if you win? A $1 billion Powerball jackpot is up for grabs.
	Trump-backed Mike Lindell loses primary for Minnesota governor to Lisa Demuth Lindell had President Trump's endorsement but he lost to Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the state house. She'll face Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the fall for governor.
	Community members sounds off on proposed battery storage facility in rural Rock Island County Fire officials are worried about challenges responding to potential thermal runaway incidents. Some residents aren't happy, either.
	Tuesday's derecho damaged public safety radio in Cambridge, Illinois A temporary tower is being used while officials work to secure a permanent replacement.
	Derecho hit the Midwest on Tuesday morning, NWS confirms The storm traveled more than 330 miles, with wind speeds nearing 100 mph in several places.
	What parents of teens need to know about meningitis (BPT) - It's back-to-school season. That means your schedule is packed with fall prep like gathering your child's school supplies, scheduling sports physicals, shopping for a new wardrobe and preparing to send your young adults to college. As you write down your to-dos, make sure to add one more item to your list: vaccinating your teen against meningitis.What is meningitis?Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes (called meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. Different viruses, bacteria and fungi can cause meningitis, but cases caused by meningococcal disease are especially urgent because they can progress rapidly and may be life-threatening. Of those who develop meningococcal disease, one in 10 will die.How does meningitis spread?Meningitis spreads quickly through close contact, including coughing, sneezing, kissing, and sharing drinks, utensils and vapes. Anyone can contract meningococcal disease, but certain groups like preteens, teens and college-age students are at a particularly high risk. At these ages, students spend more time in close contact with their peers in classes, locker rooms, dorms, parties and other group settings.What are the signs and symptoms?Meningitis may not seem serious at first. In fact, it can feel like a cold or flu. However, meningococcal disease can become life-threatening within 24-48 hours. Be on the lookout for the following symptoms:Fever/flu-like symptomsSevere headacheStiff neckNausea or vomitingSensitivity to lightConfusionA dark rash (in some cases)Symptoms can escalate quickly. If your child's symptoms appear suddenly, worsen quickly or feel unusually severe, seek medical attention.Those who survive the disease may face lifelong complications, including brain damage, hearing loss and limb loss. Recognizing symptoms quickly is important, but preventing meningococcal disease before exposure is the best decision you can make for your teen this fall.How can I protect my children from meningococcal disease?Vaccination is the best way to reduce your teen's risk of meningococcal disease. There are two meningitis vaccines that protect against the most serious types (A, B, C, W, Y). Together, these vaccines offer your teen protection against meningococcal disease. These vaccinations are recommended for ages 11-23.If you're not sure whether your child has received the recommended meningococcal vaccines, talk with your child's doctor. They may be able to help review your child's health records and identify what vaccines may be missing.Don't wait until school is back in sessionThis fall, add meningococcal disease prevention to your back-to-school routine. Make sure to check your child's vaccination records. If they haven't received their meningococcal vaccines or need a booster, make sure to schedule an appointment before the first bell rings so you can tackle the new school year with confidence. Or, if they are already back at school, have them get vaccinated at their local clinic. To learn more, visit AmericasMeningitisAlliance.org.
	Two Rivers YMCA in Moline breaks ground on phase 2 of $25-million building campaign The Two Rivers YMCA in Moline is not only building to expand its facilities, it’s building a new future to meet community needs, officials said in a groundbreaking Tuesday morning, Aug. 11.
	Public, fire chief, share concerns about RICO proposed battery-storage site People gathered in Milan on Tuesday night to voice their opposition to a proposed lithium-ion battery storage site. Concerns lie in a potential major fire hazard for an unprotected area south of Milan. "How can you in good conscience put this through and endanger the safety of the residents, the firefighters, the livestock, the ground, [...]
	NWS confirms a derecho hit the Midwest on Tuesday morning The storm traveled more than 330 miles, with wind speeds nearing 100 mph in several places.
	Rock Island School Board terminates Thurgood Marshall principal's contract The board said his termination was due to "job abandonment and insubordination."
	New mental health crisis center coming to Galesburg A new walk-in crisis center planned for Galesburg aims to give adults experiencing a mental health crisis another place to get immediate care outside of an emergency room.
	Storm Prediction Center confirms QCA storm as derecho The Storm Predication Center said the derecho moved from Eastern Iowa to Northern Indiana, according to a post on X.
	Proposed battery storage facility in rural Rock Island County raises fire safety concerns Fire officials are concerned about challenges responding to potential thermal runaway incidents.
	Rural Rock Island County proposed battery storage facility raises fire safety concerns Fire officials are concerned about challenges responding to potential thermal runaway incidents.
	Two Rivers YMCA breaks ground on next phase of expansion project People who go to the YMCA in Moline are one step closer to enjoying some new improvements at the facility. Leaders at Two Rivers YMCA broke ground on phase two of a big expansion project. The project includes a new gymnasium, and it's expected to bring more opportunities for youth sports and other community activities. [...]
	Silvis looking to replace century-old water, sewer lines with federal help Just on Monday, the city closed Seventh Street and issued a boil order for some residents due to a break in an aging water main.
	DERECHO hits Quad Cities Tuesday morning 6 years and one day after the worst derecho ever in the Quad Cities, another one hit us early Tuesday morning. The Storm Prediction Center has given the preliminary classification of a derecho to the line of storms that rolled across the Midwest Tuesday. Storm winds were at their worst around Chicago and Gary, Indiana. [...]
	Team Iowa looks to upset at Tug Fest 2026; What's new this year? Saturday morning, when this year's tuggers step into the sand tug pits across the Mississippi River from each other, it will be a matchup similar to David vs Goliath. Last year, the Illinois team swept the competition to make it 15 consecutive victories. Now Iowa is looking to come out on top while leaning on [...]
	Iowa Head Start programs await impact of federal overhaul Iowa Head Start programs serving thousands of low-income children are waiting to learn the full impact of a sweeping federal overhaul proposed by the Trump administration.
	Emergency communications still working after storms damage Cambridge radio tower A severe thunderstorm damaged the tower, located at the Henry County Courthouse in Cambridge, around 9:20 a.m., according to a media release.
	Illinois bill keeps rural ambulance services staffed and on-call Policies to keep rural ambulance services staffed and on-call to help save lives have been signed into law in Illinois. House Bill 5446 provides flexibility to rural ambulance services to meet legally mandated staffing requirements, improve response time, and get patients to the hospital even fasterthe legislation also updates staffing requirements to ensure ambulance crews [...]
	In South Carolina, GOP Voters decide who they want to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham Sen. Darline Graham, who is serving out the remainder of her brother's term, faces a crowded field of candidates to replace him on the ballot as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in November.
	In South Carolina, Sen. Darline Graham advances to a GOP special primary runoff for US Senate Sen. Darline Graham, who is serving out the remainder of her brother's term, didn't secure enough votes to win the primary outright, but she did receive enough of the total to advance to a runoff.
	In South Carolina, Sen. Darline Graham advances to a GOP special primary runoff for U.S. Senate Sen. Darline Graham, who is serving out the remainder of her brother's term, and Rep. Ralph Norman advance to the special primary runoff later this month.
	Davenport man arrested after allegedly driving teens with stolen guns A Davenport man was arrested early Tuesday morning after allegedly transporting teens, including his son, with guns in their possession.
	More storms moving in for tomorrow After already being hit with some storms, some being severe from earlier this morning, the weather has cleared up for the afternoon. However, we are still expecting more showers and storms for the rest of the week, with some more potentially severe storms tomorrow. The National Weather Service has once again issued a marginal risk [...]
	Davenport man faces charges on separate gun, willful injury cases A Davenport man was booked into the Scott County Jail on Sunday for gun charges while out on bond in a separate case involving the July assault of a man.
	Quad City Arts names executive director Quad-City Arts announced Ben Gougeon as executive director, bringing more than 30 years of experience as an artist and arts leader.
	Geneseo Police Department's K9 Kauzi dies K9 Kauzi, who served with the Geneseo Police Department, has died. According to a post on the Geneseo Police Department's Facebook page, K9 Kauzi served the Geneseo Police Department beginning May 2019. He began his career partnered with Officer Dan Davis and was partnered with Sgt. Jamison Weisser in 2021. For more information, click here.
	New executive director of RiverCenter and Adler Theatre announced Jim Wynkoop has been appointed as the RiverCenter and Adler Theatre's executive director.
	Bishop Hill Heritage Association highlights history through upcoming events The Bishop Hill Heritage Association is bringing history to life with a baseball scouting program and a free Chautauqua celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
	Detention hearing held for QC man facing child sexual abuse material charges News 8 Executive Producer Barb Ickes joined The Current to discuss what happened at today's hearing.
	Two Rivers YMCA breaks ground on new gymnasium The Two Rivers YMCA in Moline broke ground on phase two of its expansion project.
	Experience The FAQ!? at Alternating Currents What happens when you combine game show elements, comedy and community competition at Alternating Currents? Andrew King joined Our Quad Cities News with details on The FAQ!? For more information, click here.
	Tug Fest to be held over Mississippi River this weekend The 39th annual Tug Fest will be held in LeClaire, Iowa, and Port Byron, Illinois, this weekend, according to a media release.
	Chronic pain is missing from America’s heat warnings When a heat wave arrives, the public health advice follows a familiar script: drink water, watch for heat stroke, check on people with heart or lung conditions. That list saves lives. But it leaves out something that shapes daily life for millions of older Americans – chronic pain. In a new study, public health professor Kai Zhang and I followed over 35,000 adults over age 50 across two decades, matching each person and their reports of chronic pain to the temperature history of their neighborhood. We wanted to know whether living with extreme heat or cold – not one bad week, but months or years – changes whether pain interferes with people’s lives. The results suggest that chronic pain deserves a place in how the country prepares people for extreme weather. They also show that rural residents may be the least protected. What high-impact pain means Researchers use the term high-impact chronic pain for pain lasting at least three months that limits what a person can do: work, socializing and self-care. It is not occasional aching. It is pain that affects your decisions. For adults over 50, that matters enormously. Pain that makes it hard to stand, carry groceries or sleep through the night is a leading reason people lose the ability to live on their own. Farmers and ranchers have to be out in the heat, and chronic pain can’t slow them down. Mark Makela/Getty Images via The Conversation Temperature affects the body in different ways that can lead to pain: Cold appears to increase pain sensitivity and stiffen joints, which is why people with arthritis often brace for winter. Heat affects the body through dehydration, broken sleep and the way it quietly shrinks the range of things a person is willing to do in a day. On hot days, for example, people may walk less, and less movement can lead to stiffer joints and weaker muscles, which makes the pain worse. What makes heat waves dangerous is often not the afternoon temperature peak but the hot nights that don’t cool off, leaving the body with no opportunity to recover. What we found We tracked when each neighborhood hit temperatures that were extreme for that place. A day topping 84 degrees Fahrenheit (28.9 Celsius) in Maine, for example, would be among the hottest 5% of days there over the past decade. In Houston, meanwhile, it would have to reach 96 F (35.4 C) to be in the top 5% for heat, considered extreme. We compared every community against its own 10-year record rather than a single national cutoff to see how months or years of exposure to extreme cold or heat temperatures in those communities affected their residents. Two things stood out: Among the one-fifth of our sample who lived with many extreme-cold days, reports of high-impact pain went up. However, those facing occasional cold spells didn’t report the same effect. People seemed to adapt to one hard winter, but adapting became harder over years of extreme cold. Extreme heat was split by geography and by wealth: For urban residents, sustained heat showed no link to developing new pain. For rural residents, the connection was stronger. One likely reason is that people in rural areas may spend more time working outside or have older homes that are harder to cool and less access to cool places. Among the poorest older adults, sustained heat was also associated with a higher chance of developing high-impact pain. Among the wealthiest, it was not, likely because of better access to air conditioning, healthcare and being able to stay out of the heat. Those who could get out of the heat were least likely to report feeling new chronic pain. Three key lessons Nearly every tool U.S. communities use to lower heat risk is designed for a city environment: cooling centers, tree canopy programs, urban heat island maps. Rural areas have different challenges. Rural homes are often older and harder to keep cool. Energy costs tend to take a larger share of income. On top of that, rural hospitals have been closing across the country, leaving residents driving farther to reach healthcare. Rural homes are often older and more expensive to cool and heat. Scott Olson/Getty Images via The Conversation Agriculture has the oldest workforce in the country – the average producer with decision-making roles on a farm is now about 58 years old, and nearly 40% of the farmland is owned by farmers who are 65 or older. Retirement does not move people out of the heat in rural areas, either. The findings hold three key lessons for helping older adults: Chronic pain belongs on lists of heat-related health risks, in our view. State and county heat plans flag cardiac and respiratory patients, but not the people whose independence depends on managing pain. With warning, people can plan ahead and get help, knowing chronic pain may worsen. Cooling assistance programs need to be tailored to rural needs – the weatherization, energy assistance and delivery through trusted local channels that those homes need – rather than offering scaled-down versions of urban programs. In the clinic, a patient’s housing and local climate details belong in their documented pain history, next to diagnosis and medication, to help better direct treatment. Rising global temperatures are increasing the risk that people will be exposed to extreme heat for weeks at a time. In one high-risk summer, 2024, Phoenix saw 39 days with temperatures that didn’t drop below 90 F (32.2 C), even at night. So, if you have a parent or grandparent facing a heat wave, particularly in a rural area, consider asking not just whether they’re drinking enough water to stay healthy but also whether their back or knees have been worse than usual. The pain may be connected. 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: Feinuo Sun, University of Texas at Arlington Read more: Why older homes feel warmer than the thermostat suggests – and what to do about it Why rural hospitals in Pennsylvania and across the country are closing in increasing numbers – 5 myths about rural health care The aftermath of floods, hurricanes and other disasters can be hardest on older rural Americans – here’s how families and neighbors can help Feinuo Sun receives funding from the Center for Aging and Policy Studies (headquartered at Syracuse University), which receives funding from the National Institutes of Health (Grant No. P30AG066583).
	Death Notice: Carl Brus A celebration of life for Carl Hubert Brus II, 85, of LeClaire, will be held from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Long Grove. Cremation rites will be accorded, and inurnment will be at a later date. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements. Mr. Brus died Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, at UnityPoint Trinity, Bettendorf. Online condolences may be made at www.hmdfuneralhome.com. A full obituary will appear in the Aug. 19 edition of The NSP.
	Quad City Arts names new executive director Ben Gougeon stepped into the role on Monday, Aug. 10.
	Henderson Co. Board continues to discuss future of ambulance services The future of ambulance services continue to be discussed in Henderson County.
	AI is reshaping GTM careers, especially at entry level AI is reshaping GTM careers, especially at entry levelSignals for hiring and layoffs within sales departments are currently operating at a remarkably high volume, with tens of thousands of company-wide events recorded over the past year across all sectors and professional tiers, according to ZoomInfo data. The data looks at hiring and layoff signals for GTM roles that fell within the past 12 months across all seniority levels.What's actually happeningThe mechanism isn't mass layoffs but attrition. Most of the reduction in junior sales roles is happening through natural turnover rather than cuts: Someone leaves, and the role isn't backfilled because an AI tool is now handling the prospecting and qualification work that used to require a full-time hire, according to Landbase's analysis of AI-driven SDR hiring trends.Teams adopting AI sales tooling have seen significant, gradual contractions in SDR/BDR headcount over recent years, occurring largely through natural attrition rather than headline-grabbing layoffs, a pattern consistent with SaaStr's reporting on an Emergence Capital survey of 560+ B2B software companies, 36% of which cut sales development teams in 2025.The roles most exposed are the more transactional ones — blanket cold outbound, templated sequences, list-building — because those workflows are exactly what current AI tooling handles well. The judgment-heavy parts of a junior sales job are harder to automate and, so far, are surviving the transition better.The pipeline problem this createsThe SDR seat has historically been the on-ramp to an account executive career, the place where someone learns the fundamentals before getting a book of business. That funnel is compressing.Internal promotion rates from SDR to AE-level roles have dropped significantly in recent years, per The Bridge Group's 2025 SDR Models, Motions & Metrics research, meaning the traditional path up is now considerably narrower, even for those who manage to land an entry-level seatThat's the real story underneath the headcount numbers: It's not just that there are fewer junior GTM jobs but that the ones that remain lead somewhere less certain than they used to.Where the entry points still areGTM careers aren’t disappearing, but they are changing shape. The roles gaining ground are the ones that pair judgment with tooling rather than being replaced by it: hybrid positions that blend light account-executive responsibility with AI-assisted prospecting, and roles focused on the accounts and conversations that are too nuanced to hand to an agent fully yet.What this means for hiring managersThe trade-off is real and worth naming directly: cheaper top-of-funnel coverage today, against a thinner bench of trained future account executives three to five years out. Organizations making this trade consciously, deciding how many junior humans to keep in the pipeline on purpose, rather than letting attrition decide for them, will likely be in a stronger position when today's AI-assisted generation is ready to move into closing roles.This story was produced by ZoomInfo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Kennedy Center must pay $250,000 in legal fees to musician who canceled in protest Chuck Redd canceled his annual Christmas Eve performance to protest Trump's name being added to the complex. In June, a superior court judge dismissed the Kennedy Center's lawsuit against Redd.
	5 questions parents may have after Trump's latest vaccine move Parents may be confused about the status of vaccines for their kids after President Trump's new executive order. It's important to know nothing is changing right away.
	Former Quad City Arts interim director denied pretrial release A Rock Island County Circuit Court judge denied the pretrial release Tuesday of Benjamin Morris, who is charged with possessing and distributing child sexual abuse materials.
	Art installation honors legacy of Des Moines water quality advocate through education A new art installation in Des Moines will honor former Des Moines Water Works CEO Bill Stowe, who spent years advocating for better water quality in Iowa. The artwork doubles as an outdoor classroom, where people can learn about the threats to Iowa’s drinking water.
	Maquoketa declares local community disaster period after Tuesday morning storms While the disaster period is in effect, brush and tree limbs may be placed along curbs for Maquoketa Public Works to pick up.
	5 quick and healthy meals with 3 ingredients or less 5 quick and healthy meals with 3 ingredients or lessEating well doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. With a focus on lean protein and fiber from produce and plant sources, there are ways to whip up nutritious and satisfying meals that fit perfectly into a busy schedule.Northwell Health dietitian Emily Case offers five effortless, sensible meal options designed to keep you feeling great.Smoked Salmon Lettuce WrapsEnjoy a fresh twist on a classic with these satisfying lettuce wraps. Simply take a few crisp lettuce leaves (such as butter lettuce, romaine hearts, or even iceberg) and use them as your foundation. Layer three to four ounces of delicious smoked salmon or lox onto each leaf, then add a slice of ripe tomato for a perfect light lunch or snack.Nutritional Insight: This meal is rich in omega-3 fatty acids from salmon, which are excellent for heart health. Lettuce and tomato offer both fiber and hydration.Avocado Egg White ToastFor a quick and satisfying meal, scramble three-quarters of a cup of egg whites until fully cooked. While they're cooking, mash one-quarter of a large avocado and spread it evenly onto a slice of sprouted bread or a high-fiber wrap (ensuring your wrap is 100 calories or less). Layer the cooked egg whites on top for a balanced blend of healthy fats, protein, and fiber.Nutritional Insight: This meal provides high-quality protein from egg whites, healthy unsaturated fats, and fiber from avocado, and recommended complex carbohydrates from the sprouted bread, ensuring a balanced option that provides energy.Rotisserie Chicken and Quinoa BowlWhip up a wholesome dinner in minutes using already-made chicken. Take three to four ounces of skinless rotisserie chicken and pair it with one to two cups of your favorite microwave-steamed vegetables (opt for plain varieties without added sauces). Finish by adding half a cup of pre-cooked or quickly prepared quinoa to create a complete and nutritious meal. Feel free to sprinkle your favorite seasonings for extra flavor.Nutritional Insight: This digestive-supporting meal offers lean protein chicken, vitamins and fiber from the steamed vegetables, and quinoa, which adds another complete protein and a taste of ancient grain.Loaded Greek YogurtFor a refreshing and filling meal, combine six ounces of low-fat, no-sugar Greek yogurt with one cup of fresh or frozen berries. Boost the fiber and healthy fats by stirring in one to two tablespoons of ground flaxseeds or chia seeds. No seeds? Try a handful of high-fiber cereal, which makes a great alternative for added crunch and texture. If you need more flavor, sprinkle cinnamon or a splash of vanilla extract.Nutritional Insight: Greek yogurt delivers significant protein, while berries and seeds provide a reliable source of dietary fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats, making this a superb option for gut health and blood sugar management.Veggie Burger and Sweet PotatoEnjoy a plant-forward meal featuring a store-bought veggie burger by cooking the burger according to package directions. Complement it with half of a steamed sweet potato and a ready-made spinach salad or salad kit (using two tablespoons of light dressing) for a quick, balanced, and delicious plate.Nutritional Insight: This option offers complex carbohydrates and fiber from the sweet potato and veggie burger, and additional vitamins and fiber from the fresh spinach salad, promoting satiety and a Mediterranean-diet approach.These quick and easy meals demonstrate the power of thoughtfully efficient ingredient choices. Building a balanced plate that includes lean protein for muscle repair and satiety, fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains for digestive health and blood sugar control offers nourishment effectively, even when time is limited. This harmonious balance truly fuels the path to better health.Emily Case is a registered dietitian with Northwell Health.This story was produced by Northwell Health and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Why data centers are turning to onsite power Why data centers are turning to onsite powerAs data center construction accelerates to keep pace with AI, communities nationwide are increasingly concerned about how that development impacts them. In the last six months alone, nearly 30% of data center developers report increased community scrutiny on their projects, according to a survey of U.S. data center operators from power solutions provider Bloom Energy conducted in April.That data reflects a broader trend: More than 70% of Americans oppose AI data centers being built near their homes, according to a Gallup survey conducted in March, and $64 billion of data center projects have been blocked or delayed amid local opposition. Communities are concerned about rising local electricity prices, air and noise pollution, and the strains data centers may cause on their water resources and power grid reliability.But there’s a disconnect between data center developers’ community engagement efforts and community priorities. In developers’ community engagement, Bloom Energy’s survey found that just 33% talk about investing in grid support and resiliency, while less than a third address minimizing water consumption. Yet these top the list of communities’ concerns across nearly every region of the country.Solutions that reduce these local impacts are increasingly critical for both communities and data centers to succeed.What is onsite power?Onsite power means physically creating power at the location where it’s used. Examples include fuel cells as well as natural gas engines and turbines. Onsite power sources vary in their emissions outputs, noise levels, and water use. Most legacy ones, including gas turbines and diesel generators, work by burning fuel to create heat. That combustion process produces exhaust, noise, and air pollutants — which are among communities’ top concerns about data centers, according to the Gallup survey. Fuel cells convert natural gas, hydrogen, or biogas into electricity without using combustion.When they power data centers, certain kinds of onsite power can: Stabilize electricity prices and bolster grid reliability: Some data centers use onsite power to generate all of their electricity, meaning they’re not connected to the power grid and don’t impact nearby residents’ electricity bills or grid stability. As Congress considers a bill that would urge data center developers to cover the entirety of their power costs, data centers using onsite power “off grid” are at an advantage because they already do so.Onsite power can also reduce strain on local transmission and distribution infrastructure and serve large loads without relying on the grid. This means these data centers don’t increase the risk of blackouts or grid instability for nearby residents, even during severe weather. That issue is becoming more urgent as extreme heat threatens nearly every region in the country during summer months.Reduce water consumption: Data center developers are making widespread efforts to reduce their water usage, and some onsite power technologies can play a significant role in reducing or eliminating excess water consumption. While fossil fuel- and nuclear-based energy systems do use water, some kinds of fuel cells require no water during normal operations. As a result, they use a tiny fraction of the water that legacy combustion generators do.Decrease carbon emissions: As other energy technologies advance, they can operate alongside onsite power to help data center operators continue addressing communities’ concerns. For example, data centers can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions with carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), a process that captures carbon dioxide emissions and stores or repurposes so that it doesn’t enter the atmosphere. Bloom Energy’s report found that 41% of U.S. data centers that use onsite power expect to incorporate CCUS by 2035.Onsite power can reshape how data center developers plan new projects and engage local communities. The report also found that about a third of all U.S. data centers are expected to run entirely on onsite power by 2030.This story was produced by Bloom Energy and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Worker has medical emergency nearly 300 feet in the air on TV station tower A worker who experienced a medical emergency Monday afternoon while working on a television station tower is expected to be OK, Rockford fire officials say.
	Maquoketa under local community disaster period after storms Officials said the disaster period is being declared so the community can clean-up.
	Resignations, hirings from United Township School District from July 20 school board agenda See the following personnel items from the July 20 agenda of the United Township Board of Education in East Moline.
	Survey: How student loan debt is reshaping the lives of American borrowers in 2026 Survey: How student loan debt is reshaping the lives of American borrowers in 2026Federal student loan debt stands at $1.7 trillion, with roughly 1 in 6 Americans owing money on federal student loans. Now, a new SoFi survey has revealed a hard truth: Student loan debt is having a significant impact on every corner of adulthood, affecting job choices, living arrangements, even whether people marry, have children, and save for their golden years.Conducted in April 2026, the survey caught up with 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 to 64 with federal and/or private student loans. More than two-thirds of borrowers (69.8%) say student loan debt has held them back in life. Well over half of borrowers (59.5%) have missed or been late on a student loan payment at least once. But it’s not just those struggling to make payments who feel debt’s effects: A full 62.8% of borrowers say their debt significantly limits or prevents them from saving for the future. And 43.3% say debt causes them regular stress or anxiety.This report explores the far-reaching effects of student loan debt, covering its influence over borrowers’ health and happiness, and how it impacts their ability to reach life’s major milestones, such as marrying, buying a home, having children, and changing jobs. At a time when the end of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) federal repayment plan is changing the debt trajectory for millions of student loan borrowers, these findings provide a sobering look at the far-reaching consequences that student loans have on society, and at the need for practical guidelines for future borrowers and current debt holders.Key Findings From SoFi’s 2026 Student Debt SurveyStudent loan debt is like an octopus, with tentacles reaching into every corner of American life. Among the survey’s significant findings:69.8% say student loan debt has held them back in life.62.8% say their debt significantly limits or prevents them from saving.60.3% say debt has influenced the career or job they chose.59.5% have missed or been late on a student loan payment at least once.55.5% say debt has affected where they choose to live.43.3% say debt causes them regular stress or anxiety.Only 26.7% feel very confident they can pay off their loans.62.2% have refinanced or considered refinancing their student loans.MethodologySoFi’s online survey was conducted on April 22, 2026. Respondents were 1,000 U.S. adults aged 18 to 64 with student loan debt. Fifty-four percent had federal loans, 28% had both federal and private loans, and 18% had only private loans.The Heavy Weight of the Student Debt BurdenThe average federal student loan debt in 2026 is $39,547, according to the Education Data Initiative. That substantial sum would cover a 20% down payment on a small house or the cost of a nicely loaded new SUV. But the dollar value doesn’t begin to measure the full weight of student loans on Americans’ daily lives.Almost two-thirds of student loan borrowers (62.8%) consider their debt a significant or overwhelming financial burden, SoFi’s survey found. The more types of loans someone has, the greater the likelihood that they are under strain: Borrowers who had both federal and private loans are most likely to feel dragged down by their debt, with 71.3% of dual-loan borrowers feeling a significant or overwhelming burden versus 63.7% of those who had only federal loans and 47.3% of those with only private loans.One might imagine that borrowers earning six figures would be able to make monthly payments without much stress. But among those with incomes of more than $100,000 per year, fully 15.3% find their student loan debt overwhelming. And a third (33.9%) of borrowers earning less than $50,000 per year say they are overwhelmed by the debt.Student Debt’s Disturbing Effect on Borrowers’ Mental HealthWith the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that America is in the midst of a mental health crisis, which is particularly acute among young people, it’s important to consider the role student loan debt may be playing when it comes to the national mood and mental welfare.Monthly loan payments serve as a constant reminder of the financial burden of student loan debt. More than 2 out of 5 debt holders (43.3%) report that their debt causes them regular stress or anxiety. Almost as many (38.7%) say debt affects their overall sense of financial confidence. Thoughts about student loan debt are disrupting sleep for more than 1 in 4 (26.1%) of student loan debt holders. And almost 1 in 5 (18.4%) say debt affects their relationship with a partner or family member. Women are somewhat more likely to see their mental health colored by the money they owe: 46.1% of women borrowers report debt-related stress versus 40.5% of men.More than a third of debt holders (37.7%) say they feel “behind” compared to their peers because of debt. They aren’t imagining this: As shown in the findings below, many student debt holders delay or miss some of life’s major milestones due to their financial burden.Life Milestones Delayed by Student DebtAt every age and stage, student debt has a substantial influence on decision-making. Whether survey respondents were thinking about traveling, having kids, or saving for retirement, their loans are on their minds.Travel is a luxury for many people, but it may be especially out of reach for some student loan borrowers: 39.2% of respondents indicated they have delayed traveling due to their debt. It’s also fairly common to delay saving for retirement, as 35.9% of survey respondents have done. SoFi Almost as many student loan borrowers, 35.8%, have put off buying a home, while 28.2% have stalled on pursuing additional education. Nearly 1 in 5 respondents (19.5%) said they had delayed starting a business.A fun vacation or an extra postgrad degree might count as nice-to-haves. But 16.7% of all student loan borrowers surveyed have delayed having children, while 13.4% have delayed getting married.Take a look at how missed milestones shake out according to student loan borrowers’ age:Pressing “Pause” on Life’s Major Moments SoFi How Student Debt Is Shaping Career and Housing DecisionsThe student loan debt survey suggests that student loan debt is like an invisible hand directing where people work and live. One of the most significant impacts of student loan debt is on career decisions. Three out of 5 people (60.3%) say the debt has influenced their career or job choices, with men being more likely than women to say they were impacted. More than two-thirds of male borrowers (67.4%) say debt influenced their career versus 53.4% of female borrowers. Survey highlights:23.8% of student loan holders avoided a career they wanted because it didn’t pay enough.23.5% took a higher-paying job specifically to manage their debt.30.5% have taken on a second job or side hustle.13% pursued a public-service career with loan-forgiveness benefits, such as working for the U.S. government (including the military), a public school system, or the nonprofit sector.Where you live is as significant a decision as what you do for work, and here again student-loan debt plays a role. More than half of respondents (55.5%) say debt has affected where they make their home. For 23.1% of student debt holders, that meant staying in their hometown or moving back to their hometown to save money. Almost 1 in 5 (19.1%) reported having moved to a lower cost-of-living place because of debt. And 13.4% decided to forgo moving somewhere they wanted to live because of debt.The younger the borrower, the more likely they are to find their housing choices driven by debt. More than two-thirds (67%) of borrowers ages 18 to 29 say debt affected where they chose to live. Sixty percent of those ages 30 to 44 felt similarly, while 44.4% of those over age 45 felt that way. The fact that more than 40% of debt holders over age 45 found the long shadow of debt influencing their location shows the powerful hold this debt maintains over time.What Sacrifices Are Borrowers Making Day to Day?The home and workplace are by no means the only spheres influenced by student loan debt. Borrowers also mentioned other ways that owing on student loans had changed their lives.44.9% have cut back on dining out or entertainment to keep up with payments.37.9% have reduced or eliminated vacation spending.31.4% have reduced retirement contributions.27.8% have avoided or delayed purchasing a car.20.8% have moved in with family or a roommate to reduce costs.Perhaps one of the most disturbing facts is that almost 1 in 4 student loan borrowers (23.4%) have put off medical or dental care because of their debt.Student loan debt holders are not only having less fun — eating out less and skipping vacations — but are also risking their long-term health and financial security by skipping retirement contributions and medical care.How Borrowers Are Managing RepaymentA significant portion of student loan borrowers are not keeping up with payments, and many are struggling to see an end to their debt. Slightly more than half of borrowers (52.2%) are actively making payments. But more than a third of student loan borrowers (34.3%) have loans in default, forbearance, or deferment. About 1 in 5 student loan borrowers (22%) surveyed were managing payments in an income-driven repayment plan and were likely to be impacted by student loan repayment plan changes and the end of the SAVE plan.Missed payments are common for the student loan borrowers surveyed. Just over 59% of all borrowers had missed at least one payment, and 29% — more than 1 in 4 — had missed payments multiple times.Borrowers with both federal and private loans were more likely than those with only federal loans to say they had missed payments (69.1% vs. 57.9%). Among borrowers with only private student loans, 49.7% had missed payments.More than two-thirds of borrowers earning under $50,000 a year (67%) had missed a payment on their student loans, versus 57.3% of borrowers earning $50,001 to $99,999. While it may not be surprising that those earning lower incomes were most likely to have missed payments, it’s eye-opening that fully 51.3% of borrowers earning over $100,000 a year had also missed payments.All this adds up to a disturbing scenario for student loan borrowers in 2026. The survey showed that only 26.7% of borrowers feel very confident they can pay off their loans. Another 29.3% are on shaky ground, feeling “not confident” or “not very confident” that they can pay off their debt. And more than 1 in 5 student loan borrowers (21.7%) say they expect it to take over 10 years to fully pay off their loans — or that they may never pay them off. SoFi What Is SAVE Plan Uncertainty Doing to Borrowers?Respondents were surveyed at a time when student loan repayment plan changes were in motion as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of 2025. The legislation resulted in a consolidation of repayment plans, meaning many borrowers are facing a 2028 phase-out date for income-driven plans, including the popular SAVE plan. Borrower advocates warn that many borrowers would end up in debt for longer and pay more interest overall.The uncertainty was likely creating added stress for borrowers in the student loan debt survey, 27.7% of whom were enrolled in the SAVE Plan. Indeed, 15.2% had been placed in forbearance due to the SAVE plan status, as protests against the ending of the plan wound their way through the court system.In late March 2026, following a court battle, 7.5 million SAVE borrowers began receiving notice that they would need to switch to another repayment plan by July 1, 2026 (with a 90-day grace period) or risk being placed in a repayment plan automatically.In the student loan borrower survey, 30.1% of respondents said that SAVE uncertainty has caused them financial stress or anxiety. Interestingly, this was slightly more than the number of respondents who actually had SAVE loans, indicating that confusion about SAVE may have spilled over into the general population of loan holders. More than a quarter of respondents (25.3%) said SAVE uncertainty affected their ability to plan for other financial goals, and 22.9% said it made them lose trust in federal student loan programs.Was the Debt Worth It? What Borrowers Say in Hindsight.Is having a student loan just a pothole on life’s financial road, or is it more like a giant sinkhole that sucks you in? The survey shows that most borrowers (59.1%) say their education was worth the student-loan-related headaches and sacrifices overall. But only 1 in 5 (21%) say their investment in education has paid off financially.A far larger group, 38.1%, say that the educational experience was worth it “personally but not financially.” For many borrowers, the experience of a college or graduate education — meeting friends, making professional connections, experiencing life in a different place, and entertaining new ideas — was worth the student loan debt even if it didn’t positively impact their earnings.More than 1 in 5 student loan debt holders (21.9%) say taking on the debt was not worth it at all.Most borrowers don’t regret getting an education. They do, however, often regret how they borrowed money to fund it. These feelings differ based on education level, with those achieving the highest levels of education feeling most positive about their loans, as the chart below shows. The most disappointed borrowers were those who did not complete a college degree, an experience that is unfortunately common: Research from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that 39% of first-time, full-time bachelor’s degree students do not complete their degree program within eight years. SoFi If borrowers could pass on some wisdom to their younger siblings, the tips for a more successful degree-funding experience would look like this:Apply for free money. A full 38.4% of student loan holders would have sought out more scholarships and grants.Pick a cheaper place. A third of respondents (33.9%) would have chosen a less expensive school.Just borrow less. Almost a third of those surveyed (32.2%) would have found a way to borrow less money overall.Educate yourself about financing. Of those surveyed, 28.1% would have sought to better understand their loan terms better before borrowing, and 37.7% say their college did not adequately prepare them to manage their loans, indicating it’s on the shoulders of students to seek information about this issue.Could Refinancing Help? What Borrowers Say.For many borrowers, student loan refinancing is a pathway to reduce their interest costs and ensure better compliance with loan payments — not to mention relieve some anxiety about student loan debt. In fact, 62.2% of student loan borrowers in the survey had refinanced or considered refinancing their student loans. Just over a fifth (20.8%) had actually refinanced, and the rest (41.5%) were still considering the idea but had not yet acted.The quest for a better interest rate on student loans was the primary motivator for refinancing. Among those who had refinanced their loans, 32.2% did it for a lower interest rate, 28.2% to lower monthly payments, and 27.5% to consolidate loans. Of note: A lower monthly payment sometimes results from a lower interest rate. But borrowers can also achieve a lower monthly payment by refinancing to extend the number of years they have to repay their loan. This often results in paying more total interest over the life of the loan.Many borrowers had refinanced to consolidate federal and private loans into one new loan with a single payment. More than 1 in 4 refinancing borrowers (27.3%) used that strategy, while 20.7% refinanced only private loans and 17.4% refinanced only federal ones.A significant portion of borrowers in the student loan debt survey, 19.1%, say they don’t know enough about refinancing to consider it. “While refinancing federal student loans is a complex decision right now, it might be helpful to explore if there are ways to pay down your private loans more efficiently,” explained Brian Walsh, CFP, head of advice & planning at SoFi.A substantial portion of borrowers, 41.9%, believed a lower interest rate through refinancing would most help them pay off debt faster. But borrowers have ideas for improving the student loan repayment experience, and everyone — policymakers, employers, and loan program managers — would be wise to heed their asks:What Would Help Borrowers Manage Debt Better?39.3% want clearer information about forgiveness and assistance programs.35% want an income-driven repayment plan.33% want employer student loan repayment assistance.30.4% want better tools to track and manage repayment.What SoFi’s Findings Suggest About the State of Student Debt in AmericaA peek into the psyches of America’s student-loan borrowers reveals the life-altering power of student loan debt. SoFi’s survey, which found more than a third of debt holders saying their debt has left them feeling “behind” compared to their peers, suggests that many of the country’s current trends may have student loan debt as an underpinning. Student loan debt can be a contributing factor in the nation’s drop in domestic partnership and family building rates, the all-time-high age of first-time homebuyers, perhaps even some portion of the nation’s mental health spiral.Student loan debt can be seen as a silent market force, with particularly acute effects for the youngest borrowers who are postponing life milestones in significant numbers. Lower-income borrowers face the greatest challenges.Confusion and decision paralysis surrounding the legal fight over the SAVE plan and its ultimate termination are likely only adding to the stress borrowers feel around student loan debt. Those with private student loans, however, are also experiencing challenges. Refinancing is one possible pathway to more control over student loan debt, but almost 1 in 5 borrowers don’t feel they know enough about this option yet.The Takeaway: Student Debt Is About More Than MoneyReaching new educational heights can be exciting, and during the enrollment process, a student loan may feel like just another box to check on a to-do list. But the far-reaching and lingering effects of student loan debt revealed in this survey suggest that borrowers would be wise to consider repayment plans before borrowing.It’s also a good idea to review your progress toward repayment at regular intervals once you have a student loan. Borrowing isn’t a “set-it-and-forget-it” situation. Understand all your options for repayment, including refinancing if the situation warrants it.If you’re looking to lower your monthly student loan payment, refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.)For the 2026-2027 school year, the federal student loan interest rate is 6.52% for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans for undergraduates, 8.07% for Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate and professional students, and 9.07% for Direct PLUS loans for parents and graduate or professional students.This story was produced by SoFi and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Geneseo Police Department K9 passes at age 9 The Geneseo Police Department announced K9 Kauzi passed away Monday night.
	The Little Convenience That's Making Busy School Mornings Easier (BPT) - As families prepare for a new school year, they're stocking up on everything from notebooks and backpacks to lunchboxes and new shoes. But beyond the traditional back-to-school checklist, many parents are looking for something even more valuable this time of year: small ways to make busy mornings a little less hectic.Between packing lunches, getting kids dressed, finding missing homework and making it to school before the first bell rings, mornings can quickly become a race against the clock. Once the school day ends, the pace doesn't slow down, with sports practices, after-school activities, errands and homework filling the evening.Convenience has become one of the biggest trends shaping the products families choose, including their footwear.That's where Skechers enters the picture.Known as The Comfort Technology Company®, Skechers has continued to innovate with features designed to make everyday life a little easier. One of its most popular innovations, Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins®, eliminates one of the smallest, but surprisingly time-consuming, parts of the daily routine: putting on your shoes.The concept is simple. There's no bending down, no tying laces and no adjusting the back of your shoe. You simply step in and go. Each pair is designed with Skechers' unique Heel Pillow® technology that helps hold the foot securely in place while delivering the comfort consumers have come to expect from the brand.The beauty of Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins is that the technology isn't limited to one style. It's available across a wide variety of footwear for men, women and kids, making it easy for the entire family to enjoy the convenience of hands-free comfort.For parents balancing work, school drop-offs and packed schedules, styles like Skechers Cozy Fit® Slip-ins combine soft quilted materials with Contour Foam™ cushioning that adapts to your foot's unique shape, perfect for tackling busy days without missing a step.For children heading back to the classroom, Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins encourage independence by making it easy to put on their own shoes. That means one less thing for parents to help with during the morning rush — and one more confidence boost for kids learning to do things on their own. Those looking for a sportier option can turn to Skechers Glide-Step® Slip-ins, featuring a unique geometric midsole that promotes natural momentum with every step. Whether it's walking across campus, heading to the gym, coaching after-school sports or cheering from the sidelines, these versatile sneakers are designed to keep pace with busy lifestyles. The convenience doesn't stop there. Skechers also offers Hands Free Slip-ins across its Work collection for teachers, healthcare professionals, restaurant employees and others who spend long days on their feet, as well as performance styles designed for running, golf, pickleball and walking.With styles available across nearly every lifestyle category, Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins prove that sometimes the smallest innovations can have the biggest impact. During one of the busiest seasons of the year, saving a few moments each morning can help families spend less time rushing — and more time enjoying everything the school year has to offer.Learn more about the latest Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins collection at skechers.com.
	After-school outbursts: Why kids fall apart the second they get home After-school outbursts: Why kids fall apart the second they get homeYour child often comes home from school and bursts into tears. Or starts yelling and slamming doors for no reason. As far as you know, nothing bad is happening at school. So where is this explosion of emotion coming from?It could be after-school restraint collapse. Andrea Loewen Nair, a counselor and parenting educator, coined the term “after-school restraint collapse” to describe something parents often told her about: kids falling apart after school because they just couldn’t hold in their emotions anymore.After-school restraint collapse can happen to any child. But it’s especially common in kids with ADHD, autism, or both, who already struggle with self-regulation. (Restraint collapse is different from ADHD medication rebound, which can also happen after school.)Dealing with a child’s intense emotions can be challenging for parents, siblings, and caregivers. Understood shares strategies that can limit the outbursts, anger, and bad moods of restraint collapse to relieve some of the tension for everyone.Key takeawaysA flood of emotion after school, or “restraint collapse,” is common in kids who have ADHD or other kinds of neurodivergence.Signs of restraint collapse include yelling, crying, saying rude or mean things, and running off to a private place.Restraint collapse can’t always be avoided. But there are ways to manage it, like offering physical soothing, providing an after-school snack, and turning away from yelling.What causes restraint collapse?Kids face a lot of demands at school beyond academics. They may be able to keep their stress and emotions in check while they’re at school with their teachers and peers. When kids get home, however, they lose that self-control and experience after-school restraint collapse.Usually, restraint collapse happens where kids feel safest. And that’s often at home, with people who support and understand them.The ability to manage emotions develops over time. With most kids, the older they get, the better able they are to self-regulate. But age and maturity aren’t the only factors in why kids fall apart after school. Neurodivergence can also play a part.ADHD and autism cause difficulty with self-regulation and managing emotions. Kids with these common conditions often get overwhelmed and feel emotions intensely.Language disorders and slow processing speed can make it hard for kids to express their feelings and frustrations in words. And learning disabilities, like dyslexia and dyscalculia, can create extra stress at school.Neurodivergent kids may be able to get through the school day, but it takes constant effort. By the time they get home, they’ve used up their self-control.Restraint collapse doesn’t just happen to young kids. Teens and adults who have been working, socializing, and masking neurodivergent symptoms all day may feel an intense need to decompress once they’re home. Even babies and toddlers who’ve been holding it together at daycare or preschool will often collapse — or fall into an exhausted sleep — once they’re back with the people they feel most comfortable with.What after-school restraint collapse can look likeWhen emotions take over at the end of the school day, it doesn’t always happen the same way. The release may be intense, especially if kids are overwhelmed. Other times, the behavior might be less severe.Here’s what you might see:YellingCryingThrowing thingsSlamming doorsRunning off to their room or another private placeSaying rude or mean thingsYour child may show more than one of these behaviors or release bottled-up emotions in some other way. Observing and taking notes on your child’s behavior can help you identify patterns and ultimately, strategies to support.Tips to manage restraint collapseYou may not always be able to avoid restraint collapse. But unless your child is having a complete sensory meltdown, there are ways to stop or minimize the behavior.“The best way to manage afterschool outbursts is to plan for decompression time right when kids get home,” says Understood clinical psychologist Andy Kahn, Psy.D. “You want to address hunger, tiredness, and the need to share or connect about their day before you make any demands like homework or chores.”Here are some strategies for managing restraint collapse in your child.Offer physical soothing.Provide hugs, blanket wraps, calming music, and quiet space for managing the decompression from school to home, suggests Kahn. “Kids are recovering and may need to feel the relief of safe and calm home settings,” he explains.Provide a snack.Not eating often enough and being hungry can set off a chain reaction. It can lower blood sugar levels, which triggers stress hormones that can make kids grouchy, moody, or overly emotional. A snack can help your child get back on an even keel. (It’s a good idea to make snacks and downtime the first step of the afterschool routine.)Don’t ask about negatives first.If your child is upset or moody, it’s natural to ask about problems at school. But doing that immediately may actually cause your child to focus on the negatives. “Try talking about what was good or best today, or what was challenging,” Kahn says. “A balanced conversation is best for keeping kids on track.”Speak calmly.Raising your voice will only increase the emotions your child is struggling with. Show empathy and say, “I can see you’re upset. Take some time to calm down and we’ll talk about it.”Comfort your crying child.If your child’s form of emotional release is crying, be there with open arms. A soothing hug, cuddle, or back rub can help your child feel safe, supported, and better able to get past difficult emotions.Turn away from yelling.As long as your child is safe, turn and walk away from angry outbursts or nasty comments. Your child may stop ranting if you’re not there to receive it. They might also get the message that it’s not OK to take anger out on other people.Discuss the episode later.Wait until your child is calm. Talk in a neutral way that won’t stir up more emotions. Find out what happened during the day, and ask your child how you can help. Then, discuss better ways for your child to express feelings that have been bottled up all day.If after-school restraint collapse happens a lot, reach out to the professionals who know and support your child. Talk to your child’s teacher and health care provider. Share your observations and any notes you’ve taken.Their teachers can tell you what’s happening at school and may suggest ways to help at school and at home. Health care providers can check for medical causes and recommend next steps for addressing the behavior.This story was produced by Understood and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Rock Island council approves TIF-funded business assistance programs The Rock Island City Council on Monday approved two TIF-funded business assistance programs that are aimed at bolstering investment in the city's historic downtown.
	Ice Cream Safety Citation Program rewards kids for riding safely The Bettendorf Police Department is recognizing kids who ride bikes safely with a sweet reward. A post on the department’s Facebook page said officers are on the lookout for kids riding safely and wearing their helmets in the city. They may receive a special “Safety Citation” that can be redeemed for a free ice cream [...]
	Two Rivers YMCA breaks ground on $15 million expansion in Moline Officials on Tuesday marked the start of phase two of the three-phase renovation, which includes a new gym as one of the major components.
	Iowa tax-free weekend helps Davenport families save on back-to-school clothing Iowa's annual sales tax holiday drew local shoppers looking to save on back-to-school clothing and shoes under $100.
	PHOTO GALLERY: Animal instincts Scott County 4-Hers spend eight days at the fairgrounds last week—the culmination of a year's worth of feeding, breeding and training. The full results—and pictures of every champion—will appear in next week’s North Scott Press. The dog show began Monday, before the fairgrounds opened to the public. Goats and sheep followed on Tuesday, with meat goats in the morning, sheep in the afternoon, and dairy goats in the evening. Cows mooved on in Wednesday: dairy cows in the morning, breeding beef in the afternoon. By Thursday, activities had migrated to the SMA building for the daylong egg and poultry show. Cattle came on Friday, with a market beef show in the morning. Adorable bucket calves followed in the afternoon. Swine and rabbit shows played out in parallel Saturday morning, followed by the horse show Sunday afternoon—the end of 4-H at the 2026 Mississippi Valley Fair. NSP Photos by Erin M. Gentz and Noah Glasgow.
	Charges filed against Bettendorf couple after family reports abuse of 11-year-old Bettendorf residents Ebony and George Parks face felony child endangerment charges after family members reported physical abuse.
	Former QC Arts leader to stay in jail awaiting child sexual abuse material charges The judge said he did not believe any conditions existed under which Morris could be released without posing a danger to the public.
	North Scott Press — Aug. 12, 2026
	Marty, trusty Eldridge police dog, retires At Eldridge’s Night Out event, held Aug. 4, Corporal Jacob Costas led a demonstration with Eldridge’s K9 officer, Marty. It was one of Marty’s final public appearances, as the K9 is set to be medically retired next month. Police chief Andrew Lellig officially announced Marty’s retirement at the Aug. 3 city council meeting, followed by the public announcement at Night Out. “After extensive discussion with our K9 handler, our veterinarian and our K9 trainer, we have made the difficult decision to medically retire K9 Marty from service,” Lellig told the council. He said that Marty had sustained a leg injury during the last week of his initial training with Costas. “While he continued to serve the community with dedication, that injury has now progressed and progressively gotten worse over time and has now reached a point where we believe retirement is in his best interest,” said Lellig. “This decision was not made lightly, but it is the right one to ensure his long-term health and well-being.” Marty has been officially in action with the Eldridge Police Department since April of 2024, although the department began fundraising for its K9 program in approximately 2022. The department received a $13,000 grant from the Regional Development Authority, as well as more than $78,000 in donations from the public, all of which paid for the purchase and training of the dog, as well as equipment purchases and outfitting a police vehicle to serve as a K9 squad. The department has continued to receive donations for the K9 program, notably through the annual K9 Golf Outing. Lellig said the department currently has more than $24,000 in the K9 donation fund, of which approximately $17,000 will be used for the purchase and training of a new K9. Eldridge taxpayers will bear no burden for the cost of the new dog, Lellig told the council. Costas will remain the K9 officer and will train with the new dog at Tree Town Kennels in Forest City. The training is expected to begin in October. The cost will cover the purchase of the new dual-purpose K9, the 200-hour training course, a three-year health warranty for genetic defects, lifetime in-service and maintenance training, as well as some equipment, including a tracking harness, ID collar, patrol leash and tracking leash. Lellig said the department researched potential vendors in anticipation of Marty’s retirement, and after consulting with other police chiefs from across the state, Tree Town came highly recommended. But Costas won’t just care for the new dog. Per an agreement with the city, he will purchase Marty for $1 and Eldridge’s first K9 will live out his days with Costas and his family. “K9 Marty holds a special place in the history of the Eldridge Police Department as our first K9,” Lellig told the council. “Throughout his service, he’s been instrumental in removing numerous narcotics and firearms from our community and surrounding communities, enhancing officer safety and supporting our mission to keep Eldridge one of the safest communities in our area. He has served with distinction and we’re grateful for his contributions. We look forward to him enjoying a well-earned retirement.” Lellig added the department plans to hold a public event honoring Marty nearer to his retirement date. He said more details will be announced soon. Meanwhile, he also said the annual K9 Golf Outing will be rescheduled for September. The event, which had been scheduled for Aug. 1, was postponed due to rain. Lellig said the department will contact all registered golfers with more information on the new date.
	How have negotiations impacted rural neighbors? On the outskirts of Eldridge, dozens of farmers and homeowners depend on the Eldridge Fire Department for emergency services. But they don’t pay city taxes, and their representatives—a board of three trustees who set the rural fire service levy—have been left to spectate negotiations between City Hall and the fire department. “I just pray to god that there’s no interruption with service,” Trustee Scott Haycraft, former Eldridge fire chief, said last week. On Aug. 3, volunteers promised to resign if the city established a municipal department. “I think there’s growing pains going on,” he added. “I surely hope cooler heads prevail.” Haycraft and fellow trustee John Schneckloth both said that the EFD had provided reliable services to residents of Benefitted Fire District No. 3 for decades. The benefitted fire district is one of Iowa’s more archaic government institutions. (You haven’t been able to create a new one since 1975.) Different from a city or township, a benefitted fire district serves only to levy a tax for emergency services, up to ¢60.75 per $1,000 in taxable property value. The trustees of a benefitted fire district are named by the county board of supervisors. Their duties include setting the levy rate and guaranteeing that fire service is delivered to rural residents, usually through a 28E agreement with a nearby fire department. In recent years, Benefitted Fire District No. 3 has contributed approximately $60,000 to the EFD’s annual budget. It levies rural property at the ¢60.75 maximum. Trustee Shelie Kirby did not respond to request for comment. Haycraft and Schneckloth both praised Eldridge’s current firefighters. “The assets that the city of Eldridge and the fire district have in their personnel right now is invaluable,” Haycraft said. “It’s tremendous. Highly trained, very dedicated. I’d stand them up against anybody.” “The city has been spoiled by that fire department,” Schneckloth said. He expressed skepticism that the city could maintain their level of service with a municipal department. “Do I have any confidence in the city taking it over, and running it to the quality that is currently in place? No,” Schneckloth said. “I don’t think they have any idea what they’re getting into, or what they’re doing.” “At this point, the people who live in the city of Eldridge—and they probably don’t want to hear it—they need to step up and be taxed to pay for a full time fire department,” Schneckloth continued. Haycraft agreed that paid staff would help eliminate what he called “the burnout situation”—a feeling of frustration that firefighter’s responsibilities were often more bureaucratic than they might expect. “That busywork is what weighs the firefighters down,” he said. But Haycraft remained optimistic that the City of Eldridge could rebuild trust with the fire department. He encouraged representatives of the fire department to meet with the city and perhaps with one of the district trustees to find a fire chief who would satisfy all parties. “I just wonder if something like that would be agreeable to the members of the fire department,” Haycraft said. “If they had an active role in who was chosen to be the next chief.” Would current fire chief Keith Schneckloth be the choice of such a committee? “Who knows,” Haycraft said. “There could be some fantastic applicants out there.” But he also said the city had “raked [Schneckloth] over the coals” for minor misconduct while he was city mechanic. “Were there mistakes made there? Yeah. Is he a good fire chief? Heck yeah,” Haycraft said. City officials have said Keith Schneckloth is not qualified for the role of fire chief and could not be rehired following his dismissal from the city payroll in 2025. John Schneckloth said that, while fire service was currently reliable, he worried about its future, even in just a few months. “We’re not going to know [if there’s a problem] until there’s an emergency,” Schneckloth said. “That’s the only way you’re going to find out what’s going to happen.” Haycraft counseled the city and the fire department to come together for the good of Eldridge residents and their rural neighbors. “There’s a lot of animosity,” he said. “I think that all needs to be put aside, to do what’s best.”
	MLB at Field of Dreams: What’s changed at the iconic Iowa site What's changed at the Field of Dreams since the last MLB game in the 2022? KCRG breaks down what new amenities shape the movie site.
	Former QC Arts leader to stay in jail awaiting child porn charges The judge said he did not believe any conditions existed under which Morris could be released without posing a danger to the public.
	Eldridge council delays facilities plan While the City of Eldridge still hopes to construct new municipal facilities, there will likely be no action on that front this year, as city officials essentially said they will go back to the drawing board with regards to planning. At the Aug. 3 city council meeting, city administrator Nevada Lemke said staff are reevaluating the facilities project and looking for ways to introduce the project in phases, rather than trying to do it all at once. She said with modifications to this project, there will likely not be enough time left to put the issue up for a bond referendum this year. Last month, council members reviewed the results of a community survey on the proposed $32.9 million facilities project. Of the responders, 58% said the city should explore building new facilities at this time. However, just 45% said they would definitely or probably support the proposed $32.9 million referendum. Forty-one percent said they definitely or probably would not support it, and 14% were undecided. A successful bond referendum would require 60% approval. Lemke said, in addition to the proposed phasing of the project, city staff will also look at additional ways to inform the public about the need for new facilities, with an eye towards a potential referendum on a smaller project next year. Council member Jeff Ashcraft, participating in the meeting by phone, said he thought that was “a really smart plan. I think we got really good information from the residents. It was good to see that there was some support, but there were also some challenges that we need to overcome.” Ashcraft said additional education was important to help residents understand the need for the additional public works facilities, and he said there should be a renewed priority on a new police station. He said he agreed with the idea of modifying the project. Council member Brian Dockery said, “I think we should scrap the whole thing. There’s no way it will pass the referendum.” However, he said he supported the idea of a new police station and at least a warehouse for the public works department, in order to get equipment out of the old Caterpillar plant. The city pays approximately $25,000 in rent annually for the current storage unit at the old plant. Dockery said, if the city built a new police station, it could retrofit the existing city hall fully into city offices for the time being. The audience at the meeting indicated they might be amenable to a new police station, applauding Dockery’s idea, as well as his support for the department. Dockery proposed discussing the issue further at future committee of the whole meetings. Council member Ryan Iossi said the need for discussion on new facilities was, “important, but not right now.” He also said he didn’t like the proposed price tag for the project, but he saw the need for a new police department and city hall, “however that shakes out.” Council member Adrian Blackwell said he was glad the council was taking the feelings and feedback of residents into consideration, and he supported getting more community input. He also expressed concern about the current state of the police facilities. Blackwell also said he hoped the city pulling back on the facilities project might serve as an olive branch to the community, with many residents having strong feelings regarding the fire department issues and an expressed lack of trust with the city. “We may not always agree, but we can agree and disagree, but let’s do what’s best for the people,” said Blackwell. “And make it affordable.”
	Iowa 80 Truckstop appeals $28M property valuation The Iowa 80 Truckstop has appealed the $28 million valuation of its property and buildings in the northeast corner of the I-80 and Plainview Road interchange. Scott County Assessors have valued the 17 lots which make up the Iowa 80 Truckstop at $27,991,700. All lots lie within the corporate limits of Walcott. A civil suit filed by the Truckstop June 4 argues that “the properties are assessed for more than the values authorized by law.” Walcott City Clerk Lisa Rickertsen alerted the city council to the appeal at their meeting Monday, August 3. If successful, the appeal “would result in a substantial reduction in property tax revenue to the City,” she wrote in minutes. The current suit, which names the Scott County Board of Review as a defendant, follows a protest the Iowa 80 Truckstop filed against the county assessor’s office on similar grounds earlier this year. The board of review denied those protests May 20. The board of review ruled that the Truckstop had provided “insufficient evidence to prove assessment is more than value allowed by law,” legal filings show. It is not clear from filings what valuation limits are set by law and how the current valuations exceed them. Representatives of the Truckstop declined to comment. Other news at the council Walcott City Council approved the second payment to KE Flatwork for work on the new well installation on E. Wulf Road. The payment totals $301,678.95. Public Works Director Paul Stagg reported that a new 2026 Ford F250 public works truck had been placed into service, and that a retiring 2009 GMC 2500 would be listed for sale on GovDeals, an auction site.
	Meet Home Runs for Life honoree Hayden MercyOne Genesis Home Runs for Life is honoring another of its physical therapy and rehabilitation patients at Friday night’s Quad City River Bandits game. Hayden Bancroft, 6 of Bettendorf, will be recognized during the River Bandits game on Friday, August 14. The game starts at 6:30 p.m., and players from both teams will honor Hayden [...]
	Ed White student wins D.A.R.E. essay contest The D.A.R.E. program offered at Ed White Elementary School through the Eldridge Police Department achieved a rare honor recently. For the second year in a row, an Ed White sixth-grade student won first prize in the statewide D.A.R.E. essay contest. Isabel Jones and her family were honored at the Iowa D.A.R.E. Association conference in Marquette on July 27. Isabel read her essay to D.A.R.E. officers from around the state. She also received some D.A.R.E. swag and a $100 check, which was presented by Iowa D.A.R.E. Association president Robert Millen, police chief of the Mar-Mac Police Department, which serves Marquette and McGregor. Eldridge police chief Andrew Lellig also sent a letter of congratulations. Officer Garrett Jahns, who serves as SRO and D.A.R.E. officer for the North Scott School District, said this might be the first time a student from the same school has won the statewide essay contest two years in a row. “Back-to-back statewide recognition like this is an extraordinary accomplishment for a school and it speaks volumes about the incredible students, families, educators, and community we have here in Eldridge!” he wrote in a post on the Eldridge Police Department Facebook page. The post continued by saying that Isabel’s essay “stood out among students from across Iowa, but even more importantly, your words represented what D.A.R.E. is all about! Courage, good decision making, and believing in the person you can become. As you close the chapter on elementary school and begin your next adventure in junior high, we hope you carry those lessons with you.” Isabel said she enjoyed her D.A.R.E. class very much. “I thought that it was a good experience,” she said. “It helped me recognize how to analyze the situation. And it helped me develop a little more knowledge and confidence about saying no to drugs.” She also said she enjoyed having Officer Jahns as a teacher. “I thought he was a very nice teacher, and he was very enthusiastic about this.” Isabel said she was both surprised and happy to learn that she had won the statewide D.A.R.E. essay contest. She learned the news one day after she got out of theatre camp. “Mom was getting calls from the officers, and we weren’t sure what it was. And then I was like, ‘Did I win D.A.R.E.?’ “I feel like I worked really hard on (the essay) and I was really happy to hear that I had made it.” When it came to reading her essay in front of the crowd of D.A.R.E. officers from across the state, Isabel said, “It wasn’t too bad, actually. I’m not that scared of performing in front of people. I do like to present my ideas a lot, but it was really nice to have everybody listening to my essay.” In just a few weeks, Isabel will enter junior high, and she said she learned some vital lessons from D.A.R.E. that she will carry through the rest of her life. “I think that I’ll always try to make the most responsible decisions that I can and make sure that I don’t have anything bad happen to me because I didn’t make the right decision,” she said. “I think it will make me stop and think about what I’m doing before I actually do it.” Isabel's D.A.R.E. Essay Picture that you are in the middle of class on a quiet Thursday, finishing up an assignment. Soon a police officer; decorated with golden badges, handcuffs, and walkie talkies, pokes their head through the door. You are very alert and nervous, until you see a grin spread across their face. “Hey, everybody! What day is it today?!” exclaims the officer enthusiastically. “It’s DA.R.E. day!” the children yell back in unison. You might be wondering what D.A.RE. is and why everyone seems so excited about it. In addition to being fun, D.A.R.E is also a very important class that has helped me to become a better citizen. It has taught me many valuable things, such as important facts that help me to keep myself safe, to stop and think before I act, and what I can do in the future to help prevent myself, or someone else, from being hurt. One way D.A.R.E has helped me on the path to being a better citizen is teaching me important facts about how things can affect me, and skills that have taught me to prevent myself or others from being physically or emotionally hurt. Throughout D.A.R.E., I learned about the health effects that drugs can cause and how to prevent them by resisting. According to our D.A.R.E. textbook, a drug is, “Any substance other than food that affects the way your mind and body work." The health effects that drugs have on people can severely harm them. For example, smoking can cause lung cancer, heart disease, and upper respiratory issues, and alcohol can cause harm to every organ in your body, weaken the heart muscle, and slow down the body, sometimes resulting in a coma or death. That is why we learned how to resist drugs, without looking “uncool” in front of our friends. We also learned how to help other people stay safe from things like bullying. Bullying can be very stressful and damaging to your overall health. We learned how to report bullying anonymously, so we can help the peer who is struggling, without having to worry about the bully retaliating against us, and verbal and non-verbal communication skills that help us understand how ourselves, or other people are feeling. These skills can help to stop the bully from hurting the victim. Clearly, these skills are very important to have and would help me to become a better citizen by protecting others. Another way D.A.R.E. has helped me is by teaching me how to stop and think before solving a problem, using the D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model (DDMM). The DDMM uses the abbreviation D.A.R.E. as a step-by-step guide to helping you through tough situations. D.A.R.E. stands for Define, Assess, Respond and Evaluate. The first thing you do to solve a stressful situation, is to acknowledge what the problem is. Once you decide, you move on to assessing, where you brainstorm possible ways you could solve it. Once you have a good solution, you respond to the problem in the way that you chose. Finally, you evaluate to see if you made a good decision. We have used the DDMM and resisting strategies in class to brainstorm possible decisions that we could use in real-life situations. Using this tool can help me on my path to being a better citizen. Finally, D.A.R.E. has helped me reflect on my choices and inspired me to help others. I know from a discussion with a family member, using a reporting skill I learned in D.A.R.E. that when someone is helped out, they feel a lot better and safer afterwords. I asked my family member if he had ever been helped by a stranger. He said yes, that once when there was a snowstorm, his car got stuck, and a stranger helped him. My family member has never forgotten the stranger's kindness. While helping with things such as bullying is a very different experience, it still feels good to do the right thing. and it can have a lasting impact on people's lives. I also know from my own experience that when I am feeling stressed, it feels a lot better to talk or hug someone in my trust circle. I want to have this same impact on other people, so they can feel safe too. So, I will use the different types of skills I have learned to resist drugs to protect myself from harm and anonymously report if I see bullying in my community. Setting these goals for myself and helping other people will certainly make me a better citizen. Clearly, D.A.R.E. is a very beneficial program that has helped me to become a better citizen in my community. It has helped me learn important things about how things affect me and other people, to stop and think about problems before acting uncontrollably, and inspired me to do my best to make good decisions. That is why I, Isabel Jones, pledge and encourage others to always make safe and responsible decisions.
	Iowa sets host of new transmission line standards Newly adopted rules from the Iowa Utilities Commission aim to “mitigate potential impacts” of proposed large-scale transmission projects. IUC asked the grid operators for the region to consider the rules, which it said address safety and technical issues, when evaluating transmission projects. Under the new rules, transmission structures cannot be constructed on pasture and cropland with guy wires – wires that come off of the structure and into the ground to help stabilize – unless the landowner specifically allows these types of structures. Large-scale transmission projects must also operate within a noise limit of 55 decibels for the majority of a one-hour measurement period and have an electric field strength of no more than 6,000 volts per meter when measured one meter above the ground within the right-of-way. In a letter to Midcontinent Independent System Operator, known as MISO, which serves as the grid operator for the majority of Iowa, IUC said the new regulations were developed with engagement from transmission developers, industry stakeholders, farmers and advocates for the environment and consumers. “We believe it is imperative for large-scale transmission projects to be designed in a manner that will help mitigate impacts on landowners and surrounding areas, thereby reducing the number of requests by companies to use eminent domain,” IUC said in the letter. MISO’s long-range transmission planning phase known as Tranche 2.1 was a “catalyst” for the rulemaking, according to a news release from IUC. Tranche 2.1 develops a 3,631-mile transmission “backbone” with a 765 kilovolt line to carry more electricity and reduce energy losses across the Midwest MISO region, according to MISO. In its letter to the regional transmission organizer, IUC said the 765 kV lines proposed in Iowa will be the “largest scale of transmission infrastructure ever built” in the state. IUC said there are roughly 700 miles of 765 and 345 kV transmission projects proposed in Iowa. The new rules apply to transmission lines operating with a maximum voltage of 170,000 volts or more and to project petitions filed after the start of calendar year 2027. Iowa Farm Bureau Federation was supportive of the rule change through the adoption process and said in a filed comment that the rules “strike an appropriate balance between providing additional safety for landowners and cost when addressing some of the longstanding concerns with electric transmission lines going through agricultural land.” Iowa Farm Bureau was especially supportive of the rule to require landowner permission for guy wired structures, which the bureau said are “difficult to work around with farm equipment and impose an increased safety risk on farms.” Farm Bureau said the noise standard, at a maximum of 55 decibels, did not address “nuisance conditions, especially in the quiet rural areas where high voltage transmission lines are most likely to be placed.” According to Yale University, 55 decibels is about the sound of a household refrigerator.
	Lions shoe drive is underway The Eldridge Lions Club, in conjunction with Soles4Souls, is hosting a shoe drive from Aug. 10 through Sept. 11. At Soles 4 Souls, unwanted shoes are turned into opportunity, by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use – providing relief, creating jobs, and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty here in the US and around the world. The Eldridge Lions invite you to clean out that closet and shoe bin and bring your unwanted shoes to one of the drop off locations. Shoes in any condition are accepted, even new shoes. Look for the orange box at one of the following locations. Your closet will be happy and so will the recipient of your shoes. Shoes, boots, sandals, slippers, etc., can be dropped off Aug. 10 through Sept. 11 at: Faith Lutheran Church, Eldridge United Methodist Church, Eldridge St. Ann's Catholic Church, Long Grove Ace Hardware, Eldridge Scott County Library, Eldridge First Central State Bank, Eldridge Questions may be directed to the Eldridge Lions Club at 563-279-2213 or email eldridgelionsclub@gmail.com.
	Who’s afraid of a mediator? “What if they hired a mediator?” That question has been asked more and more often by those of us following discussions over the future of fire service in Eldridge. Both the city and the fire department are aggrieved and bitter. Both have said bitter and grievous things. In recent weeks, what looked like bluffs—the fire department would pack up and go home, the city would trudge blithely forward—have become realities. In their cooler moments, both city officials and members of the department acknowledge that discussions must continue. “We have to find a path for working together,” Mayor Scott Campbell said last Thursday. “We can’t be hostile. We can’t be at each other’s throats.” Fire Chief Keith Schneckloth evidently agrees. “We’d love to have a sit down conversation. We encourage a committee of the whole meeting to have discussions about this,” he told The North Scott Press. Yet recent attempts at conversation have looked more like litigation, or agitation. City officials try to demonstrate the correctness of their convictions, while the fire department dangles the Sword of Damocles over their heads. “More meetings” and “more conversations” won’t do the trick. Negotiations need a change. Hiring a mediator is relatively straightforward. All that the city and the fire department have to do is direct their counsel to find an independent professional who has made a career of rooting out animosity. That mediator would oversee future meetings and guide both parties towards a productive comprise. The city would pick up the bill. (They pay for the fire department, after all.) The presence of a mediator would have an immediate positive impact. It is almost impossible to have a helpful meeting when one side—the city—is in charge of the proceedings. A mediator would change those troublesome circumstances. It is also difficult to have a helpful meeting when another side—the fire department—threatens to withdraw. A mediator would encourage the active engagement that a lasting resolution to the current conflict requires. Both parties must recognize that productive compromise is the goal. If either decides to double down on a strategy of scorched earth, the residents of Eldridge will be the losers. Each party has insisted that their position will best ensure the safety and security of residents—but in the real world, neither party can deliver that outcome without the participation of the other. By hiring a mediator, the parties would be recognizing that their own frustrations have gotten in the way of the broader good. It is also true that, if one side were to propose hiring a mediator and the other side reject it, we would be in a position to clearly see who has dug in the deepest—where the buck stops, in other words. But would either party reject a proposal to rebuild faith and move forward together? We do not think so. We believe that the members of the fire department and the members of the city council have the best interests of the Eldridge community at heart, but that the divisiveness of the last several months have obscured that remarkable generosity of spirit. A mediator would help bring that feeling back to the fore. Erin M. Gentz NSP Editor Noah Glasgow NSP Staff Writer
	2011: Miss America visits Cinnamon Ridge Dairy Farm Aug. 12, 1976 • While Eldridge did not lose a case before the Iowa City Development Board, the board also refused to act on the town’s petition in the annexation fight over the Caterpillar plant. Board chair Michael Dunn of Keokuk said the board was not supposed to act if a voluntary annexation request was put forth, adding this would be a matter for the courts to decide. • When school started on Aug. 30, the doors would officially open at Neil Armstrong Elementary School in Park View. The building, which cost just over $1 million to build, was set up to handle three seconds of each grade except kindergarten, which would have the capacity for four sections. • Two Yorkshire boars bred and raised on the Roy Keppy farm would soon be on their way to Japan. Twelve Japanese buyers visited the farm in May and chose six hogs for possible exportation, eventually finalizing the purchase of two. One of the pigs was Ila Jean Keppy’s FFA project. She was pictured with the boar, along with her FFA advisor, Keith Schmidt. • Forty purebred pigs and a barn were destroyed by a fire on the Alvin Kuhl farm near Eldridge. The Long Grove and Eldridge fire departments responded to the scene. The fire was under investigation, and arson was suspected. • The Iowa Department of Transportation applied for federal approval for a highway connecting Davenport and Dubuque, which they said would stay as close as possible to Highway 61. According to DOT director of planning and research Raymond Kassel, this roadway would relieve heavy traffic on the existing highway. Dubuque was reportedly the largest city in the country not connected to the interstate highway system and Kassel said there was now a lot of truck traffic between Dubuque and Davenport due to the new John Deere plant in Davenport. Aug. 13, 1986 • A brand-new piece of BigToy playground equipment was constructed at Neil Armstrong Elementary School. Volunteers pitched in to put up the equipment. The $14,000 set was purchased through donations by the Armstrong PTO, the Lutheran Aid Association, and the Park View Homeowners Association. Residents planned to dedicate the equipment during a special “Birthday Bash” Labor Day weekend. This would mark three special occasions: the 10th anniversary of the opening of Neil Armstrong, the 20th year of Park View’s existence and the 30th anniversary of the founding of the North Scott School District. • Karen Lortz resigned as principal at Virgil Grissom Elementary School after accepting a position with the Linn-Mar School District. She had recently married, and she and her husband would be moving to the Cedar Rapids area. Lortz had worked for the district since 1981, and she originally served as the principal at Neil Armstrong for four years before switching schools with longtime Grissom principal Dennis Albertson. North Scott superintendent Doug Otto said there was no set timeline for her replacement, although he hoped to have a new principal on board by the end of September. • The Eldridge City Council showed increased interest in a municipal swimming pool and instructed city administrator Deborah Nier to gather more information about other city pools. “Eldridge is not unique in wanting a pool,” she said. “If the council doesn’t mind, I’d like to visit some of these pools that are close by and get more information.” Nier said she had also spoken with North Scott superintendent Doug Otto, who said the district was considering building an indoor pool at the high school, though no cost estimates or plans had been sought. • The North Scott School Board gave its approval for the district to start signups for an interscholastic soccer program, with teams to be offered at the varsity level for girls and boys if there was enough interest. At the time, North Scott and Burlington were the only schools in the MAC not to offer soccer. The startup costs for the program were estimated at $10,000, which would cover new uniforms, goals, nets and other equipment, and salaries for coaches. • Four North Scott players were named first-team all-MAC for softball. Jenni Fitzgerald capped her senior season with a first team berth, after being named first team all-conference and all-state in volleyball and basketball as well. She was joined on the team by Chris Hawes, Pam Leslie and Betty Turner. Second team selections included Ann Laughhunn and Jodi Osterberg, while Heather White was honorable mention. Aug. 15, 2001 • Skip Eckhart was expected to be named the interim North Scott varsity football coach after Randy Schrader was officially hired as the new athletic director for the Davenport School District. Eckhart coached for many years in western Iowa, including five years at Cresco, where his team claimed a state title in 1984. He was a defensive end coach at UNI for a year before returning to high school coaching. He served as head coach at Davenport Central for three seasons before signing on as Schrader’s defensive coordinator. The two coaches were longtime friends, and Eckhart said he was excited about the opportunity. • More than 1,500 customers in the eastern portion of Eldridge were left without phone service after construction workers accidentally cut a major phone cable while moving earth for the road-widening project on LeClaire Road. According to Butch Rebman, vice president in charge of operations for Central Scott Telephone, the company’s five repairment jumped into action and worked overtime to get the customers back online in less than five hours. Rebman said the cable was initially thought to have been deep enough to be unaffected by the construction, and CST personnel had marked it several times already throughout the project. “They go over the marks with that big, heavy machinery and the next thing you know, the marks are gone, and they forget the cables are there,” he said. • Rick Sharp announced plans to open a driving school in Eldridge, with classes expected to begin in early September. Sharp had taught driver’s ed at North Scott and at the Davenport School District’s Alternative Center for 17 years and decided to open the school to fill a need in town. He said many North Scott students were driving to Bettendorf for professional driving lessons, which was a hassle for students and parents alike. • Helen Schnekloth and Chris Blake were crowned senior queen and king of the Mississippi Valley Fair. They were pictured with Miss Valley Fair Colleen Dunnegan. • A group of area farmers took a boat trip to learn more about how the lock and dam system worked on the Mississippi River. The trip was sponsored by the Iowa and Illinois Corn Growers associations. The organizations put on this program to emphasize the need for expansion of the country’s ageing lock and dam systems, which many said were inadequate to handle the volume of goods being shipped. • North Scott rising seniors Katelyn Sandon and Breann Malik were named Varsity All Stars at the Universal Cheerleaders Association Camp held at North Scott in July. The honor qualified the pair to perform in the Varsity Spirit New Year’s Day parade in London, where they would join hundreds of other cheerleaders from across the United States in a week of touring, sightseeing and rehearsals. Aug. 17, 2011 • Miss America, Teresa Scanlan of Nebraska, visited Cinnamon Ridge Dairy Farm in Donahue. Her appearance was part of an upcoming episode of “America’s Heartland,” which aired on PBS. The program was designed to promote agriculture. Scanlan was also interested in agriculture, and had recently penned an editorial called” All Americans Have a Stake in the Success of Our Farmers and Ranchers,” which was published across the country. While at the farm, she was also able to meet with a group of students from Davenport and 36 visitors from Ukraine, whose visit was sponsored by John Deere. • The Princeton Players announced plans to present the melodrama “He Done Her Wrong or Wedded But No Wife,” at the Princeton Community Center. The show would be directed by Paul Holzworth, and cast members included Anna Froeschle, Matthew Froeschle, Warren Riley, Bonnie Sparks-Gray, Cheyenne Moore and Dionne Riley. Audience members were encouraged to take an active part in the performance by booing, hissing and cheering along. • New staff at North Scott included Shane Stenson-Debourcy, Raffaella Romano, Ashley Wilson, Nicole Reed, Christine Behnke, Jennifer Unwin, Violet Talbot, Kyle Harris, Lonny Truelson and Rob France. • The North Scott boys’ golf team opened the season with a sixth-place finish at the Muscatine Invitational. Jack Wolfe led the effort with a 76, while Bobby Wolfe and Brett Thiering each carded 81. • Shari Huber, a 2009 North Scott grad, earned her second letter in softball at Luther College. She batted .413, recording 56 hits, went eight-for-eight in stolen bases and scored 41 runs on the season. She was also named honorable mention All-Iowa Conference. Aug. 11, 2021 • Eldridge city administrator Lisa Kotter was placed on administrative leave following a harassment complaint from an employee. The city council was planning to meet and discuss hiring an investigator. The action also followed her long delayed performance review, where four council members reportedly shared concerns about her management and communication style. • Eldridge was gearing up to host the International Softball Congress tournament at Sheridan Meadows. More than one-third of the players were expected to be from international teams, including from Canada, South America, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia and Europe. • The Long Grove City Council told members of the Long Grove Fire Department a new fire station was part of its long-term capital plan. Fire chief Josh Roe took that to mean it would be at least three to five years before a new station would be built. He said he had approached the council on multiple occasions about a new station on city property, as the existing fire station was too small to meet the department’s needs. Council members said they would consider the city property as a site for a new fire station if they could find another place to put the proposed water treatment facility. • Bob and Marlene Westphal celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 18, 1956, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Davenport. They celebrated their anniversary with a trip to Wisconsin. • Members of the Scott County 4-H County Council included Elizabeth Paustian, Adrianna Blackwell, Cassi Paustian, Abigail Rhoades, Cale Claussen, Sydney Westerhof, Claire Westerhof, Caelan Engelbrecht, Brianna Blake, Dylan Engelbrecht, Elizabeth Daufeldt, Grant Van Nice, Abigaile Paper and Zach Paustian. Advisors were Lisa Zelle and Emily Lyon.
	I-80 blocked by truck fire near Walcott The fire was reported between Exit 280 and I-280, about a mile west of the Davenport area.
	Clear that mayor, council have failed duties On June 30, 2026, I submitted a letter in support of the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company and their Chief Keith Schneckloth. I purposely waited to see how this dispute played out. First off, a paid chief is not going to solve your problem, especially now that on Oct. 1 you have zero volunteers to manage. On Oct. 1 you plan on relying on mutual aid from neighboring communities to take care of your fair city. Mutual aid is designed for neighboring departments to assist in the event of a large incident or take calls if another agency is tied up on a call for an extended period of time. It is not intended for neighboring fire departments to cover your calls on a daily basis. I attended the Aug. 3 meeting in Eldridge. It has become blatantly clear to me that Mayor Campbell and the council have failed. EFD gave you an answer with regards to how many volunteers would remain, you then have the audacity to demean and disrespect the loyalty and faithfulness of its members. You asked EFD what they wanted, from the onset they gave you a dollar value and a plan to help reduce "member burnout" and move forward but you seem to not address the root problem. I do not live in Eldridge, but I do volunteer for a neighboring community that is under their mutual aid agreement. It is very important that this gets solved. Kelly Johnson Walcott
	City government must pause, hold open meetings The Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company has served this community with dedication for decades. All members of the EVFC have declined to accept an appointment with the city fire department effective Oct. 1 as the City Council is advancing a municipal takeover. This has many residents deeply concerned. The city is advertising for a fire chief and proceeding with the ordinance, yet questions remain about staffing, training, equipment, mutual aid, and readiness for that hard deadline. Not agreeing to having another Committee of the Whole discussion only heightens the worry that the transition lacks a complete, transparent plan. Public safety cannot be an afterthought. We urge the mayor and council to pause, hold open work sessions, and present a clear operational plan that guarantees continuous fire and EMS coverage before Oct. 1. The volunteers’ experience is leaving; the community needs assurance that protection will not leave with them. Roy and Marilee Leonard Eldridge
	Property tax reforms threaten senior housing An open letter to Iowa state legislators: As Scott County constituents and resident-members of The Suites of Bettendorf and the Village Cooperative of Crow Creek, we are writing to express serious concerns about Senate File 2472. Although the legislation includes positive provisions, reclassifying senior housing cooperatives as multi-unit commercial property rather than residential property would create significant unintended consequences. This could have devastating effects on more than 1,100 seniors in 30 senior housing cooperatives across Iowa. We respectfully ask our state legislators for their support in amending SF 2472 to preserve the residential tax status of all senior housing cooperatives in Iowa. We are not-for-profit, resident-owned buildings. Senior cooperatives are very different from traditional commercial properties. We are not apartment buildings owned by outside corporations seeking profit. Our cooperatives are owned, operated, and managed by the members who live here. We hold shared ownership in the property, share maintenance and operating costs, and govern our communities democratically. Classifying our homes as commercial property misrepresents our housing model and penalizes a successful, community-led way for seniors to age in place. We believe including senior cooperatives in the commercial classification was an oversight, not an intentional action directed at Iowa seniors. We respectfully urge you to introduce or support an amendment to SF 2472 that excludes senior cooperatives from the multi-unit commercial classification and preserves our residential status. Tammy Speidel President, Board of Directors The Suites of Bettendorf Bettendorf Vicki A. Jackson President, Board of Directors Village Cooperative of Crow Creek Davenport
	Top tennis talent returns for fall season There is nothing “fall” about it just yet, but the game is the same. North Scott’s girls hit the courts for the start of tennis season, with first practices and matches taking place last week. Entering year two of the new schedule, running 10 weeks from Aug. 6 to Oct. 14, the Lancers feel more prepared to tackle the challenges of playing half of their schedule before the first day of school. “I learned how serious we needed to take that summer time,” Lancer coach Emily Jepsen said. “We worked three nights a week. We would do conditioning every night. Different drills, singles and doubles strategy, and we did our challenge matches in late July. I was more mindful about my practice plans in the summer whereas last summer I was more laid back. We’re trying to get a little bit more ahead of it.” Helping the situation is the fact that North Scott is bringing back a relatively experienced crew. In the team’s first dual against Clinton last Thursday, four of the seven Lancers to play varsity matches were seniors. “We are at 23 total players, which is what I want,” Jepsen said. “I graduated my four, five and six. I returned my one, two and three. We’ve brought in some of the upper JV to varsity. Adding Claire (Jepsen) in is helpful. It’s still a different team than before.” Meet the Jepsens As Nute Gunray said in “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” — “This is getting out of hand. Now, there are two of them!” Freshman Claire Jepsen is joining older sister Maddy on the tennis team this year. (In actuality, there are four of them. Claire and Maddy’s parents, Emily and Mike, are on the coaching staff). Maddy, the winningest player in North Scott tennis history with 113 total victories across singles and doubles, will anchor the scarlet and silver’s lineup one last time. The senior, a three-time top five state medalist, enters this season ranked fourth in the Class 2A preseason individual rankings. “This offseason, she took her training to a completely different level — all on her own,” Emily said. “She has more tools to play with in her game. Her endurance, her footwork, she worked on a lot. “I’m excited to see where it goes… We told her the pressure needs to be off. Mike put it in a good way: this is your final victory lap.” Claire earned her spot at No. 2 in the singles lineup through the team’s intrasquad challenge matches during the preseason. Claire is not the same tennis junkie her older sister is, but her multi-sport skillset translates on the court. “Maddy is really strong. Claire’s strength is the opposite. She’s got endurance. She’s calm and collected in the sports world,” Emily said. Maddy and Claire will play together at No. 1 doubles. Of the nine matches played during the season-opener at Clinton, the Jepsen sisters’ 6-0, 6-1 victory was the most lopsided scoreline. “I’m excited to see what they do in doubles. I tell everyone that it will be pure entertainment,” Emily said. “They are very different from each other, but they are both very competitive. We have very competitive ping pong matches at our house all the time. “I tell them if you can figure out how to work out there together, embrace each other, play to your strengths, you will be tough for anyone to beat. You two have a connection that nobody else does.” Two more seniors provide North Scott with depth and stability at the No. 3 and No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles positions. Victoria Samara and Ava Pins enter their third seasons at the varsity level. Samara has 10 career singles wins, and Pins has seven career wins. With plenty of matches under their belts, the next steps in their development are on the mental side of the game. “I think for them, they know how to play the game. Now, we have to figure out how to strategize within our matches. That’s what we’ve worked on more this summer with those two specifically,” Jepsen said. “I know I can rely on them. They used to be doubles partners, so it’s nice to put them back together. They have natural chemistry together and get along really well. That’s fun to see. They both know how to play the game. Now, it’s about how we can use our tools and our skills to win matches a little easier. That’s the goal for them.” The No. 5 and No. 6 singles positions, and No. 3 doubles duo, will have rotating pieces through the early portions of the season. Jepsen said there are around four girls in the mix for those spots. Sophomore Kelsey Clayton, who featured in a handful of varsity matches last year, played in both singles and doubles against Clinton on Thursday. Clayton paired with senior Katie Moeller at No. 3 doubles, while junior Chloe Rickertsen got the nod at No. 6 singles. “We’re trying to find that right combination, trying to see who is ready to compete,” Jepsen said. “It’s nice to have some options, which means we’ll have a stronger team. That’s what I’ve tried to relay to them. If you know somebody is behind you, that’s going to be good to keep you motivated.” River Queens take season-opener 6-3 There are plenty of positives to take away from North Scott’s season-opening dual in Clinton despite a 6-3 loss to the ninth-ranked River Queens. Maddy Jepsen took care of business at No. 1 singles, winning 6-0, 6-3 over Tenley Cewe. The Jepsen sisters defeated Cewe and Kirstin Bengtson 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 doubles. North Scott’s third point came from Samara, who earned a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 3 singles over Bengtson. The Lancers had a handful of close matches at other positions. At No. 3 doubles, Clayton and Moeller lost a third-set match tiebreak. At No. 4 singles, Pins lost 7-5, 6-3 to Taedyn Cewe. Additionally, at No. 6 singles, Rickertsen played Piper Jennings to a 6-4, 6-4 match. Claire Jepsen had a tough assignment in her first match at No. 2 singles, losing 6-2, 6-3 to Elizabeth Grinnall, last season’s sixth-place medalist at state. North Scott’s next seven events will all be at home. There are four dual matches set for next week, which include MAC duals against Davenport West (Aug. 11) and Central DeWitt (Aug. 13). Tough schedule, tough rivals North Scott is keeping its schedule difficult this season with many highly-touted opponents on this year’s schedule, both new additions and repeats from last year. North Scott will join Pleasant Valley in a MAC/CIML quadrangular later this month. The MAC schools will take on third-ranked West Des Moines Valley and seventh-ranked Dowling Catholic on a neutral site at Cornell College. The Lancers will also play Missouri Valley Conference schools Dubuque Hempstead and Iowa City Liberty over the next seven days. These matches will give Maddy Jepsen quality opponents to help her seeding at state, as well as provide different challenging opponents for the rest of the team. “Playing the Des Moines teams will be fun. That’s nice and competitive. It’ll be tough overall, but it’s to help get matches outside of our conference,” Jepsen said. “I brought in Hempstead and Liberty thinking that will give us some common opponents in the MVC.” North Scott dropped the Waukee Northwest and Johnston triangular from last season, easing the travel and schedule load for the period after school starts and before the MAC tournament. “Our weeks two and three are heavy. Once we can get through that, we’ll be able to take a breather at times,” Jepsen said. In conference play, North Scott plays at fifth-ranked Pleasant Valley on Aug. 20 and will host Bettendorf on Sept. 10. 1A No. 7 Central DeWitt and 1A No. 10 Davenport Assumption are other highlights on the schedule. North Scott will host both the Sabers (Aug. 13) and Knights (Sept. 3) this fall. The MAC has the No. 4-ranked individual in each class — Jepsen in 2A and Assumption’s Lea Patrick in 1A. The conference has four ranked players overall, with Pleasant Valley’s Kaj Kabongo and Chahana Katreddy appearing at No. 7 and No. 9 in 2A. The top four ranked players in Class 2A mirror last season’s state tournament podium. Defending champion Addison Latta of Waukee Northwest is No. 1, runner-up Mackenzie Sagers of Cedar Falls is No. 2, bronze medalist Madeline Bellomy of Dubuque Senior is No. 3, and semifinalist Maddy Jepsen is No. 4.

Wednesday, August 12th, 2026

Tuesday, August 11th, 2026