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

Bennett boil order lifted

The boil order was lifted around 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Decades-long photo restoration project earns Bureau County statewide award

The county's history center earned the 2026 "Best of Illinois History" award for its magazine, "The Chronicle" and its exhibit on a Princeton photographer.

Bishop Hill will feature renowned guitarist, singer-songwriters, in May concerts

Crossroads Cultural Connections will present two different concerts - singer-songwriters and an internationally acclaimed guitarist - at Bishop Hill Creative Commons, 309 North Bishop Hill St., Bishop Hill. Claude Bourbon Guitarist Claude Bourbon will perform on Wednesday, May 6, at Bishop Hill Creative Commons. This special performance is part of Bourbon’s Farewell Tour, marking what is expected to be his final tour [...]

Engine failure leaves West Liberty Fire Department reduced to 1 ambulance

Until a replacement is secured, West Liberty will have to request mutual aid from neighboring towns for EMS calls, which can delay help by more than 20 minutes.

How AI could help with flood prediction

Flooding can happen anywhere, and the QCA is no stranger to floods and the damage they can bring. Our Quad Cities News correspondent Eric Henrikson shows how Google's Flood Hub utilizes artificial intelligence to give meteorologists tools to predict flash flooding 24 hours in advance. For more information, click here.

Emergency overnight shelter in Moline served more than 300 people this winter

In addition to over 300 people using the shelter this year, Project NOW and the Salvation Army worked together to house 86 people.

Davenport speed cabinet knocked over

One of Davenport’s new mobile speed cabinets got knocked over.

Iowa DOC asks for help in locating Davenport man who left residential corrections facility

He was last released from prison and placed on work release on Jan. 14, 2026.

Inside Iowa Politics: Zach Lahn’s challenge to other GOP candidates for governor

Zach Lahn, one of the Republicans running for governor of Iowa, issued challenges against the others competing for the nomination.

Moline welcomes leaders from new sister city in Germany

Visitors from Asbach, Germany, toured Moline this week as the two cities begin a new sister-city relationship focused on cultural exchange, education and business.

From water wells to underpasses: Knox County’s hunting for federal funding

Knox County leaders are trying to get federal funding for three infrastructure projects: the South Street Underpass, new municipal water wells and a city fleet maintenance facility.

Two men accused of selling marijuana and THC products out of Davenport convenience store

They are each scheduled to make a first appearance on the charges Wednesday in District Court.

Muscatine reopens Walnut Street after water leak repair

Walnut Street in Muscatine has reopened to traffic after repairs were completed on a water leak in front of 216 Walnut St. that undermined the pavement and created sinkholes on both sides of the roadway, a news release says. A lane closure is now in place on Bidwell Avenue near the entrance to Geneva Country [...]

Rainy April to end on a pretty dry note

After an above average start to the month, April will end with a couple of mainly dry days. Now that the drought is wiped out, some dry weather isn't a bad thing for the end of the month! We are above average and on the cusp of one of the 10 wettest months of April. [...]

Ceiling collapses in Rock Island apartment

There are concerns about the safety of an apartment complex in Rock Island after the ceiling in one of the units collapsed a few days ago. It forced the woman who lives there to leave, and she wants answers. "If I had stayed up and watched that movie, I would not be here today," says [...]

Yomif Kejelcha broke the 2-hour marathon but got 2nd place. He's still happy

Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha ran the London Marathon in under two hours, but he only got second place. He told NPR he hopes to run his next marathon a minute faster.

Bettendorf teacher selected for national fellowship shaping America 250 curriculum

Leigh Ann Schroeder of Rivermont Collegiate is one of 100 teachers across the country working to connect America's founding ideals and moments to modern civic life.

Scholarship opportunity for Moline seniors pursuing service field careers

The Moline Police Department and Moline Police Benevolent Association are providing a scholarship for local high school seniors.

What's ahead if Clinton brings a data center to town?

Data centers have been at the center of a national debate with people weighing the pros and cons. That debate is coming soon to Clinton. The Clinton City Council had a discussion surrounding an ordinance related to opening a data center scheduled for Tuesday night but postponed it for a couple of weeks. Soon the [...]

Iowa receives $65 million to help replace over 60 bridges

Iowa is receiving $65 million in federal funding as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Competitive Highway Bridge Program.

Iowa farm bankruptcies more than double as economic pressures mount

Farm bankruptcies are increasing across the Midwest, with Iowa seeing 18 farm bankruptcies in 2025, according to data from the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Project NOW sees success in recently closed temporary winter shelter

Project NOW this past winter served 302 unhoused people in a temporary shelter in Moline, and found year-round housing for 86 of them, about four times its placement last year.

New DMPS audit reveals conflict of interest, questionable spending by Ian Roberts

The State Auditor's office also attempted to review the Department of Education, but said it was unable to.

QCA convenience store receives $9,190 grant for Iowa-produced products

A Gas Spot convenience store in Davenport was awarded a $9,190 cost-share grant from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to increase market access for Iowa-grown products. According to a release, as one of 30 grant recipients, the location at 303 W. Locust St. will create an Iowa Grown section to feature locally-manufactured [...]

Scientists see Trump's firing of the National Science Board as an attack on research

The move follows an administration push for cuts to the NSF and raises concerns in the scientific community that it could jeopardize a tradition of independent decisions about federal science grants.

Davenport Schools approves purchase of Iron + Grain Coffee House, other property

The school board approved the purchase of two properties, on Main and Locust streets, Monday.

Putnam Palooza returns for its second year

The event will take place on Saturday, May 9.

Linda McMahon punches back at senators questioning Education Department cuts

In her first appearance on Capitol Hill this year, lawmakers questioned Education Secretary Linda McMahon about cuts to federal education spending and students' civil rights.

Iowa 'Make America Healthy Again' bill heads to Reynolds' desk

A bill looking to expand the use of charter schools in Iowa is also awaiting the governor's signature.

Davenport Fire Department picks 3 rescue boat name finalists

You can vote on the name at the Davenport Fire Department's Facebook page until Thursday at 5 p.m.

Bureau County History Center receives state recognition

The Henry W. Immke Exhibit, with 22,000+ glass plate negatives and tintypes, and the Center's magazine were named the 2026 Best of Illinois History Award winners.

Police officer planned to drive wrong way down one-way, not looking at red light ahead of squad car crash

More details have been released about a Friday night crash which left two Davenport squad cars damaged.

Former Davenport City Council member files lawsuit alleging open meeting violation

City staff gave presentations on public records requests and a monthly financial analysis that weren't specifically listed on the agenda.

Rivermont Collegiate instructor selected to help develop America 250 curriculum

Leigh Ann Schroeder joined The Current to discuss her love of American history, the topics she'll be exploring and how to get students in love with history.

Police: Davenport man arrested after firing gun near Chick-fil-A

A Davenport man faces two felony counts after police say he fired a gun toward an occupied vehicle near Chick-fil-A on Monday night. No injuries were reported.

Illinois, Iowa rank among the states with most Tornado Warnings so far this year

Illinois has had the most Tornado Warnings so far in 2026.

With no radical footprint, what drove suspect to try and assassinate Trump?

An attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday has, again, highlighted the climate of political violence in the U.S. But there are still many questions about the motive.

Three-row SUV Hybrid Option Rated at Up to 35 MPG

Sorry, but your browser does not support the video tag. var bptVideoPlayer = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayer"); if (bptVideoPlayer) { var cssText = "width: 100%;"; cssText += " background: url('" + bptVideoPlayer.getAttribute("poster") + "');"; cssText += " -webkit-background-size: cover;"; cssText += " -moz-background-size: cover;"; cssText += " -o-background-size: cover;"; cssText += " background-size: cover;"; bptVideoPlayer.style.cssText = cssText; var bptVideoPlayerContainer = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayerContainer"); if (bptVideoPlayerContainer) { setTimeout(function () { bptVideoPlayerContainer.style.cssText = "display: block; position: relative; margin-bottom: 10px;"; var isIE = navigator.userAgent.match(/ MSIE(([0 - 9] +)(\.[0 - 9] +) ?) /); var isEdge = navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1 || navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Trident") > -1; if (isIE || isEdge) { fixVideoPoster(); } }, 1000); } var bptVideoPlayButton = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayButton"); if (bptVideoPlayButton) { bptVideoPlayButton.addEventListener("click", function () { bptVideoPlayer.play(); }, false); bptVideoPlayer.addEventListener("play", function () { bptVideoPlayButton.style.cssText = "display: none;"; }, false); } var mainImage = document.getElementById("mainImageImgContainer_sm"); if (mainImage) { mainImage.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var mainImage = document.getElementById("photo-noresize"); if (mainImage) { mainImage.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var assetGallery = document.getElementsByClassName("asset_gallery")[0]; if (assetGallery) { assetGallery.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var assetGallery = document.getElementsByClassName("trb_article_leadart")[0]; if (assetGallery) { assetGallery.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } var assetGallery = document.querySelectorAll("[src='https://d372qxeqh8y72i.cloudfront.net/']")[0]; if (assetGallery) { assetGallery.style.cssText = "display: none;"; } } function fixVideoPoster() { var videoPlayer = document.getElementById("bptVideoPlayer"); var videoPoster = document.getElementById("bptVideoPoster"); fixVideoPosterPosition(videoPlayer, videoPoster, true); window.onresize = function() { fixVideoPosterPosition(videoPlayer, videoPoster); }; videoPoster.onclick = function() { videoPlayer.play(); videoPoster.style.display = "none"; }; videoPlayer.onplay = function() { videoPoster.style.display = "none"; }; } function fixVideoPosterPosition(videoPlayer, videoPoster, display) { setTimeout(function () { var videoPosition = videoPlayer.getBoundingClientRect(); videoPoster.style.position = "absolute"; videoPoster.style.top = "0"; videoPoster.style.left = "0"; videoPoster.style.width = videoPlayer.offsetWidth + "px"; videoPoster.style.height = (videoPlayer.offsetHeight + 20) + "px"; if (display) { videoPoster.style.display = "inline"; } }, 1010); } (BPT) - Three-row SUVs continue to evolve as drivers look for vehicles that balance everyday practicality with comfort, technology and capability. Automakers are responding with models designed to support family life, long road trips and outdoor travel.Kia recently unveiled the redesigned 2027 Telluride at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show. The next-generation SUV introduces an available hybrid powertrain along with expanded interior space, updated technology and new comfort features.The available hybrid system delivers a combined 329 horsepower and is rated at up to Kia's estimated 35 MPG, with a driving range of 600 miles. A turbocharged engine option producing 274 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft. of torque is also available, with towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.Inside, the Telluride offers greater passenger room and cargo flexibility with a maximum cargo capacity of 86.9 cubic feet. Available front relaxation seats with power leg rests and a driver massage function are designed for long drives, while newly available second row captain's chairs offer heated and ventilated seating.The updated Telluride also adds new connectivity and convenience features. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across all trims, and available dual 12.3 inch digital displays support navigation and infotainment features. Digital Key technology allows drivers to lock, unlock and start the vehicle using compatible smartphones or smart watches.For drivers looking for added capability, the Telluride X Pro trim adds wider all-terrain tires, advanced traction systems and 9.1 inches of ground clearance designed for off road travel.The 2027 Telluride is targeted to go on sale in the United States in the first quarter of 2026 and will be assembled in West Point, Georgia.For more information, visit kia.com.

Body found near Hickory Grove Road

Police said at 9:41 a.m. Wednesday officers found the body of a man. An autopsy is scheduled.

California ballpark to be sponsored by Rock Island-based Modern Woodmen

Modern Woodmen of America, based in Rock Island, is now the official naming rights partner for the home of the Modesto Roadsters.

In Flames, May 13

With their most recent album Foregone praised by AllMusic for its "raw, bass-heavy, crunchy sound, with their usual highly melodic lines and harmonic solos present and correct," the melodic death-metal artists of In Flames headline a May 13 concert event at East Moline venue The Rust Belt, Kerrang! adding that "Foregone is a reminder that when In Flames are at the peak of their powers, they really are untouchable."

FCC orders early license renewal for ABC stations following Kimmel's first lady joke

The Federal Communications Commission has ordered Disney's ABC to seek early broadcast license renewals for the eight TV stations it owns amid backlash over Jimmy Kimmel's joke about Melania Trump.

JD Simo and Luther Dickinson, May 12

On May 12, two of the most electrifying forces in modern roots music – JD Simo (Chris Isaak, Jack White) and Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars, The Black Crowes) – will blend their talents at Davenport's Redstone Room, forming a soul-shaking trio alongside powerhouse drummer Adam Abrashoff, and delivering a master class in high-octane, roots-infused blues.

Winterland, May 9

Performing their celebration of one of the most revered and iconic rock bands in American history, the Redstone Room's May 9 concert featuring Winterland will find their artists paying exhilarating tribute to the musicians of the Grateful Dead, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees included among Rolling Stone's ranking of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."

Great Sounds Promotions 30th-Anniversary Celebration, May 8 and 9

On May 8 and 9, Great Sounds Promotions will celebrate its 30th anniversary of treating music fans to the best in contemporary jazz, gospel, and additional genres, with award-winning pianist taking the stage at Bettendorf's Rivermont Collegiate on Friday, and the Stellar Award-nominated gospel ensemble God's Posse appearing at the venue on Saturday.

Chris Duarte, May 9

With his most recent recording Ain't Giving Up hailed by Rock & Blues Muse as "a sublime effort that shows how much he still has to give us," master blues guitarist Chris Duarte headlines a May 9 concert at Davenport's Bootleg Hill Honey Meads, Blues Rock Review adding that the album finds its artist "raw and revved-up – taking the electric blues and gnawing it back to the bare bones."

Tommy Newport and Laney Jones & the Spirits, May 8

Two acclaimed indie acts delivering two stellar concerts will share one night at Davenport's Raccoon Motel on May 8, with the doors for soul-pop singer/songwriter Tommy Newport's concert opening at 6 p.m., and the rockers of Laney Jones & the Spirits taking the stage following the 8 p.m. opened doors.

Daniel Romano's Outfit, May 11

Touring in support of their March release Preservers of the Pearl, an album that AllMusic lauded for its "punchy rock and roll served with ample hooks and harmonies," Daniel Romano's Outfit plays a headlining engagement at Davenport's Raccoon Motel on May 11, the group's latest LP also inspiring Raven Sings the Blues to state, "It stalks R&B rubdowns, shines in shivers of folk and soul, and revels in letting riffs tower to their fullest heights."

J. Roddy Walston, May 13

With the Southern rocker and his famed outfit The Business lauded by Echoes & Dust for crafting "catchy, hummable melodies that will stay with you long after you stop listening," J. Roddy Walston brings his solo act to Davenport's Raccoon Motel on May 13, Glide magazine adding to the praise by saying the band was adept at "making excellent rock and roll, best played very loud."

Eli Winter Trio, May 8

With the artist lauded by Pitchfork for "ambling compositions that are as evocative as they are refined," bandleader Eli Winter brings his trio to Rock Island venue Rozz-Tox on May 8, his 2025 album A Trick of the Light hailed by Beats Per Minute as a work that "feels unabridged yet restrained, folksy yet contemporary, busy yet bucolic."

The Lettermen, May 11

With gifted vocalist and ensemble leader Donovan Tea currently celebrating his astonishing 42nd year with the group, the beloved pop vocalists of the Lettermen make their long-awaited return to the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse on May 11, their ever-popular springtime engagements overflowing with timeless hits such as “When I Fall in Love,” “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” “Hurt So Bad,” and “Shangri-La.”

Built to Spill, May 13

With the outfit's most recent recording When the Wind Forgets Your Name praised by Pitchfork as "dotted with cool surprises and intricately plotted melodies," the indie-rock trio Built to Spill headlines a May 13 concert at Maquoketa's Codfish Hollow Barn, Pitchfork also placing three of the band's albums – There's Nothing Wrong with Love, Perfect from Now On, and Keep It Like a Secret – in the top 50 of its "Top 100 Albums of the 1990s list."

“Menopause the Musical 2: Cruising Through 'The Change,'” May 12

Lauded by the Los Angeles Times as “fresh, funny, and simply terrific” and by the Boston Globe as “a rollicking girls' night out,” the song-filled stage sequel Menopause the Musical 2: Cruising Through “The Change” brings its tour to the University of Dubuque's Heritage Center on May 12, the Las Vegas Review Journal adding that “dollar for dollar … it's the best show in town!”

SAL hosting touch a truck event May 16

SAL Community Services invites QCA families to its annual Touch a Truck event on Saturday, May 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the parking lot of its office, 3800 Avenue of the Cities in Moline. This hands-on experience is free and open to the public, encouraging families to spend the morning exploring and [...]

Justice Department indicts former FBI director James Comey for a second time

The case revolves around a photo the former FBI director posted online last year of seashells on a beach arranged to say "8647."

Kevin James, May 9

A beloved film and television star whose comedy Solo Mio was a recent indie hit, Emmy Award-nominated Kevin James brings his national “Eat the Frog” standup tour to Davenport's Adler Theatre on May 9, his famed credits including the movie slapsticks Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Grown Ups, and his TV work boasting Kevin Can Wait and 207 episodes of The King of Queens.

Monster Jam, May 9

An eagerly awaited springtime touring event rides, jumps, and spins into the Vibrant Arena at the MARK on May 9 as the Moline venue hosts two presentations of Monster Jam 2026, the amphitheater event that brings a new level of high-flying, four-wheel excitement to the entire family with racing, two-wheel skills, donuts, and freestyle competitions.

“KPop Demon Hunters” After-Hours Party, May 8

On May 8, the LeClaire Community Library will be locking its doors and turning down the lights for face painting, snacks, crafts, a sing-along, and more in the KPop Demon Hunters After-Hours Party, with area youths invited to join Huntrix or the Saja Boys in hunting down demons hiding in the library – and in the dark.

Beaux Arts 2026 Spring Fair, May 9 and 10

An eagerly awaited springtime event taking place over Mother's Day weekend in Davenport's spacious Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, the Beaux Arts 2026 Spring Fair will treat visitors to an outdoor celebration of visual arts and fine crafts on May 9 and 10,, with the annual event featuring food, live music, children's activities, and works for sale by dozens of artists and Midwestern vendors.

“Huang, Jackson, & Terry,” May 8 through June 19

A trio of gifted Midwest photographers, one of them based in the Quad Cities, will have their latest works featured at Rock Island's Quad City Arts Center from May 8 through June 19, with the Huang, Jackson, & Terry exhibition showcasing the talents of the Peoria-based Qingjun Huang and Natalie Jackson, as well as those of Davenport's Matthew Terry.

North Scott Press — April 29, 2026

Music & Maker's Night with “Get Surreal (A Surreal Lens)” Tour, May 14

With the May 14 event led by Co-Senior Curator Joshua Johnson, the Figge Art Museum's latest Music and Maker's Night will boast an art-making activity and live music in the Davenport venue's Quad City Bank & Trust Grand Lobby, as well as Johnson guiding museum guests on a tour of the fascinating exhibition Get Surreal ( A Surreal Lens).

White, Shepard principals named

The North Scott School District once again has a full slate of elementary principals. But the hiring parade continues, as the board now looks to hire a new assistant principal at the junior high. Current junior high assistant principal Stephanie Fahrenkrog was hired to lead Ed White Elementary School, replacing the retiring Carrie Lane. Fahrenkrog has been at the junior high since the 2020-2021 school year, and prior to that, was a fourth-grade teacher at Virgil Grissom and served as an elementary instructional coach. Meanwhile, Kory Esbaum was hired as the new principal at Alan Shepard Elementary School. Esbaum is currently principal at Herbert Hoover Elementary School in the Bettendorf School District. She will replace Chad Ruth, whose employment as the new principal at Pleasant View Elementary School in Bettendorf was recently approved by the Pleasant Valley School District. The hirings of Fahrenkrog and Esbaum were both approved by the North Scott School Board at Monday’s meeting, held at the junior high. Superintendent Joe Stutting told the board that interviews to replace Fahrenkrog at the junior high are set for May 11. Interviews for the new district director of business affairs are scheduled for May 6. Parents question Wednesday, Sunday activities During the public comment portion of the meeting, two parents rose to ask the board to consider a moratorium on school-related activities on Wednesdays and Sundays, particularly during the busy graduation season. Daniel Reese and Carrie Lewis La Plante are also both area pastors. Reese serves Cornerstone Church, while La Plante is at Faith Lutheran. Reese spoke first, asking the board to consider policies that would release students from optional school-related activities on Sundays and Wednesdays, including events, practices, homework deadlines and other possible commitments. He said that, as students now have more demanding schedules, families are often rushing from place to place, without predictable designated family time. “Designating two consistent days each week for family and recovery could ease that pressure and yield measurable benefits,” Reese said. “Quality family time stands out as one of the most reliable predictors of positive child outcomes.” Reese cited data that shows families who have frequent shared family meals have children with improved academic performance, better nutrition, higher self-esteem, stronger emotional wellbeing and reduced risks of depression, substance abuse – including alcohol and vaping – behavioral problems and eating disorders. These families also reportedly say their students experience better communication skills and a stronger sense of belonging. “Strong family cohesion and emotional expressiveness have been identified as key predictors of students’ academic wellbeing and psychological resilience,” Reese continued. He said that when busy schedules crowd out family time, students experience higher anxiety, chronic stress, burnout, irritability and declines in academic performance and mental health. La Plante also addressed another concern, which was raised by members of the North Scott Clergy Group last year, about graduation being scheduled at 10 a.m. on a Sunday. “By having graduation at this hour on a Sunday, there is no opportunity for senior families to worship and to celebrate their seniors on the day of graduation, as so many of our congregations do. We can move those events to other days, I get it. But it seems sad that we should have to move something on a day when we should have priority because of graduation.” La Plante said students at Faith Lutheran value the time they are able to spend with their friends and peers at Wednesday night church activities, and having other events on Wednesdays does not allow for that fellowship. Later in the meeting, during the superintendent’s report, Stutting addressed concerns about graduation. He said high school principal Andrew Lehn has been working to see if the time of graduation can be changed. “We’d love to get out of that 10 a.m. time slot if we’re allowed to,” Stutting said. The difficulty comes from North Scott’s class size relative to other schools holding their graduations at Vibrant Arena on the same day. Because the district has a smaller class, it is easier to have its graduation earlier in the day to get graduates and their families cleared out of the building before another school comes in. Last year, Pleasant Valley and Moline were both scheduled on the same day as North Scott, with Moline scheduled at 7:30 p.m. and Pleasant Valley in the afternoon. Stutting said another difficulty came because Moline does not set its graduation until February or March. “I think it’s based off of snow days,” he said. Moline booked both a Friday and a Sunday as potential graduation dates last year. Stutting said North Scott officials did not find out until approximately two or three weeks before the ceremony that Moline elected to hold its graduation on the Friday date. He said Lehn is working on coordinating future graduation ceremonies and told Reese and La Plante he would be willing to address a future meeting of the North Scott Clergy Group to address additional concerns. Junior high presentation Principal Chad Jones, joined by art teacher Chris Baguss and agriculture technology teacher Courtney Wiedenmann, gave a presentation on the junior high’s “exploratory wheel” for seventh-grade students. The exploratory wheel is composed of four class offerings for all seventh-grade students: computer applications, art, industrial technology and agricultural technology. Students take two classes each semester every other day, and switch to the other two the following semester. “So, for example, you could have ag tech and industrial tech for first semester,” explained Jones. “And on an A day, you’d have industrial tech, and on a B day, you would have ag tech. Then second semester, you’d have computer applications and art, and they would rotate each day.” Jones also explained that the exploratory wheel was a major component of introducing junior high students to pathways that could be open to them when they enter high school. This is also a way to help utilize spaces in the junior high that were recently extensively renovated, such as the industrial tech classroom. Computer applications is taught by Michele Willet in the library. The curriculum is called Computer Science for Innovators and Makers and is offered through Project Lead the Way. Students learn basic block coding and teach small computers to read sensors and complete tasks. They also learn how to do planning using flow charts and how to troubleshoot when their programs don’t run correctly. Jones said the class also gets students to use their brains in new ways and collaborate. “When they first come in here, there can be some frustration moments there,” said Jones. “But Mrs. Willet makes sure that she utilizes that time to show them that’s OK. It’s OK that you don’t know, but you’re going to learn how to do some of these.” Art teacher Chris Baguss said her classes focus on the artistic process and teaching studio habits of thinking and working like an artist. There are four main units: drawing, painting, mixed media and sculpture/pottery. At the beginning of the semester, there is a three-day mini “Boot Camp” that teaches the basics of each. After the Boot Camp, students can then choose a skill or idea that they want to explore further. Throughout the semester, they design and create their own W.O.W. (Wonderful Original Work) project, which shows how they’ve grown as an artist. “What I’m really loving about it so far – and this is new for me – is that any given time, you’ll have every student working on something different … So, some might be painting, some are working with fibers. They learn from each other. They’re constantly asking each other for feedback about their work, which really is just kind of happening organically, and which is really awesome to see,” said Baguss. Once the students complete their work, it can be displayed on the “Red Wall Jr.,” which is a companion of the red wall in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium where art students display their work. Additional work created by students studying mixed media last semester is also currently on display in the junior high library. Isaac Simmons teaches industrial tech. Jones said the first focus of that class at the seventh-grade level is safety. “As incoming seventh graders, they’re simply going through, what are those shop rules? What are the expectations with that? What are the proper tool techniques? You have people that work with their family and do a variety of carpentry things all the way to somebody that’s never even held a hammer before. So, we’re just trying to gain exposure for all of the students, so they have a baseline going into high school.” There’s also a cross-curricular aspect, as students learn not only how to take accurate measurements, but also how to understand all the different measurement units. Throughout the semester, students improve their skills while also working on basic projects. “Spending time in the shop environment, they create beginner projects,” said Jones. “Push sticks, coaster sets. The really hot one right now is pickleball paddles. So, the students are creating paddles and sanding them, staining them, doing those types of things.” Jones said Simmons has done a good job tailoring the class to young and beginning students while also ensuring they stay safe. Ag technology teacher Courtney Wiedenmann said her class works to expose students to current and engaging topics in agriculture. “We basically took our curriculum from the past couple of years and pared it down to the seventh-grade class as being exploratory, focused and trying to get students to think about where does their food come from? How does it get to my plate? It does not come from the grocery store. There are many steps before that.” She said the class is broken into three units: career readiness, agricultural products (focusing on plants and animals) and agriculture technology. The students are also asked to keep a record book of their experiences. Wiedenmann said the agricultural products unit tends to be particularly fun because students are able to create and sample products like pickles and ice cream. Students also have the opportunity to hear guest speakers, including FFA student-leaders and industry professionals. As the final project, Wiedenmann asks students to create a new agricultural invention. This includes a trip to the Regional Innovation Center. “During that tour, my prompt to the students is, ‘OK, look around. See all these different spaces. Now, what can you do, or what could you make to make something easier?’ “We’re just getting the students exposed to what is agriculture and getting them past this idea of, it’s just farming. Again, thinking about where does their food come from past just their plate and the grocery store.” Jones said, as students move to the eighth-grade level, they start needing to make some tough decisions about their classes going forward, and the exploratory wheel helps with that, too. “I hear from, at the high school level, Mr. Lehn and all the teachers are hungry to make sure that these kids are getting exposed to this, so when they get to high school, they’re making some informed decisions with those pathways.” Bills District director of business affairs Jill Van Roekel presented bills in the amount of $920,455.33. Highlights included $2,500 to Berens-Tate Consulting Group Inc. for arbitrage rebate consulting services; $6,300 to Everway Holdco LLC for special education math curriculum professional development and training; and $9,208 to Iowa Testing Programs for spring 2026 ISASP assessments. Other business Jones also congratulated Wiedenmann, as the junior high FFA chapter was named the top middle school chapter in the state at the recent Iowa FFA State Convention. The board approved membership dues for the Iowa Association of School Boards for FY27 in the amount of $11,136. Stutting, in recommending the board’s approval, said the IASB is an invaluable resource to the district. He said this amount also includes programs the district uses, such as the Simbli software that hosts board minutes, agendas and policies.  Board member Frank Wood said this is a 0% increase from this year’s dues. The board also approved a 2.17% total package increase for certified staff for the 2026-2027 school year. An exempt session was held prior to the board meeting to discuss the package increase. Stutting gave a brief legislative update, including two new pieces of legislation that will affect schools. Eighth-grade students are now eligible for varsity athletics in the coming school year. All schools must also be equipped to accept cash for any school event. “You can still use your online payments, but you do have to take cash,” said Stutting. Stutting also reminded the board of an upcoming public forum that will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, at Princeton City Hall. The forum will be held just prior to the regular Princeton City Council meeting. The board also congratulated students who were accepted into the Iowa String Teachers Association Honor Orchestra, and band, choir and orchestra students who received Division I and II ratings at the recent state solo and small ensemble contest. Congratulations were also given to the cast and crew of Lancer Productions’ “The Addams Family.” Cast members Grady Kirst and Brooklyn Lacher were among the six students who attended the meeting as a requirement of their government class.  

Republicans agree on $9.5 billion budget, more than $1 billion over expected revenue

Among the bills that have just passed is a measure that allows education funding to follow students who choose to attend public charter schools.

North Scott Athletic Hall of Fame adds four Class of 2026 inductees

Three individuals, and a state championship team, are making their way into the North Scott Athletic Hall of Fame next week. Stew Gillmor (Class of 2007), Aaron Huber (Class of 2011), Evan Hundley (Class of 2015) and the 2002 state championship softball team will be inducted on Wednesday, May 6, in the North Scott High School Auditorium. Gillmor helped usher in an era of wrestling dominance at North Scott, and his accolades put him among the best to wear the scarlet and silver singlet. In the final match of his high school career, Gillmor captured the Class 3A 145-pound state championship. He became North Scott’s third state wrestling champion, and helped the Lancers finish sixth in the team race at state. At the time, Gillmor was just the second four-time state qualifier in school history, and he was one of two Lancers to medal three times. Gillmor is still the only Lancer to win four Mississippi Athletic Conference championships. His 145 wins were tied for the second most in school history, and it helped him secure a spot on the University of Iowa’s men’s wrestling team for the next four years. Huber was a three-sport star for the Lancers, excelling in football, baseball and basketball. Huber made an enormous impact on the gridiron, where his name still stands as a record-holder in touchdowns scored in a game (five), touchdowns scored in a career (34), and total points scored in a career (210). In his senior season, Huber was named first-team all-state and the MAC Player of the Year. He rushed 206 times for 1,301 yards and 20 touchdowns, leading the Lancers to a 9-2 record and the second round of the playoffs. On the diamond, Huber earned another MAC Player of the Year honor in his senior summer. He earned second-team all-state honors for batting .462, launching 11 home runs and driving in 62 runs. His 62 RBIs that season remain a school record. Before Huber went on to play basketball at Luther College, he was named first-team all-MAC as a senior. He scored 660 points in his Lancer career, and he was a three-year letterwinner. Hundley may have swam for Pleasant Valley, but she had the entire North Scott community in her corner. And there was a lot to cheer about. Hundley qualified for state in 16 events over her four years — and she won a medal 16 times. As a sophomore, Hundley and the Spartans set a state record at the state meet in the 400-yard freestyle relay. She won two other state titles, one in the 200-yard freestyle that year and another in the 200-yard freestyle relay her senior season. Hundley capped off her career by leading Pleasant Valley to its first state swimming team title in school history. Back in Eldridge, Hundley was a force on the basketball court, earning two all-state nods and two first-team all-conference selections in her sophomore and junior years. In 2014, Hundley hit the game-winning shot against Cedar Rapids Xavier in the regional final to send North Scott to state for the first time in over a decade. Hundley went on to swim at Iowa State University. She was named a captain her senior year, and she won the Big 12 Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar Athlete of the Year award. 2002 was the summer of destiny for Lancer softball. North Scott captured a state title that had eluded it the previous four seasons, when the team finished fourth, third, second and second at the state tournament. Led by first-year coach Lori Osterberg, and all-state players Mindy Heidgerken, Anne Wylie, Angie Hartwig, Lindsey Schneckloth, Allison Erichsen, Lisa Kirby and Nikki Ferden, North Scott went an incomprehensible 55-1 that summer. The Lancers went 16-1 in the MAC and won the conference title. The magic nearly ran out in the state quarterfinals against Fort Dodge, but heroics in the eighth and 12th innings ignited a comeback for the ages. North Scott did not waste its second chance. It comfortably beat Bettendorf in the semifinals and rallied late against West Des Moines Dowling in the championship for the school’s third state softball title. Created in 1988, the North Scott Athletic Hall of Fame now has a collection of 125 inductees — 96 players, 11 coaches, seven teams and seven other distinguished figures. North Scott Athletic Hall of Fame Board Members include: Scott Campbell, Jason Schroeder, Eugene Kreiter, Matt Liske, Pam Loussaert, John Loussaert, Kandi Olson, Ben Straley, Kevin Swanson, Zeb Hubner, Tracy Lindaman, Sarah Graham and Ross Shinberg.

As trial against OpenAI begins, Elon Musk seeks Sam Altman's ouster

If Musk gets what he's asking for, it would radically re-shape one of the world's leading AI companies.

Long Grove seeks to clarify AI usage

Long Grove plans to establish privacy agreements with artificial intelligence software providers after council members worried that few to no controls governed how the technology reviews city data and responds to residents’ queries. The worries followed a North Scott Press article published April 15, detailing how City Clerk Rose Guyer has used AI to improve communication with the public and inspect city finances. At a meeting Monday, April 27, the council directed Guyer and City Attorney Josh Cobie to prepare a mutual non-disclosure agreement with AI software provider Devs.ai. MNDAs guarantee the security and privacy or sensitive data, and Guyer said Cobie had recommended the agreement.  Long Grove Mayor Mike Limberg authorized Guyer to purchase three Devs.ai licenses earlier this year: for herself, Assistant City Clerk Lucas Syoen and the mayor. The licenses total $90, billed monthly.  The platform hosts a chatbot displayed on the Long Grove city website, which can answer simple questions for residents. It also hosts a “financial analyst” agent Guyer has built to help her review city documents. Both functions were detailed by The NSP April 15. Last Friday, Councilwoman Amy Shannon told The NSP that “virtually nothing in that article was anything the council knew about.” She clarified that while the council knew about the public facing chatbot, it did not know an AI program was being used to review city documents. “The city council was never informed that our financial records were being put into an AI program. There was no authorization. There was no data agreement. There is no safety net in place,” she said Friday. “Yes, it’s public data, but it’s being fed into a system, and training AI with information.” She said Monday that she had received messages from concerned residents who had read The NSP article and worried that software providers were “training the AI programs with our information.” Limberg and Guyer both stressed that Long Grove’s AI programs only had access to “public-facing information” that anyone, including software developers, could already use to train an AI program. An MNDA would specifically prevent contracted companies from putting Long Grove data to that use. Most consumer AI programs provide users with an option to prevent their conversations and data from being used to train future models. Shannon also argued Monday that Iowa code should have required the city council to authorize the purchase of AI software, “because it’s a contract” rather than a one-time purchase. Long Grove and other cities typically allow for a mayor or city manager to authorize purchases below a certain dollar value. Guyer said that software contracts with Microsoft, Adobe, and gWorks were paid and renewed without coming before the council. The city attorney would clarify whether new and renewed software contracts should be brought to the council for approval, Guyer said. Councilman Mike Boddicker, who works as the information technology director for the city of Davenport, said the council should consider writing and passing ordinances that would govern how staff uses AI. “Authoritative governance has to happen at the code level first,” he said. “So before you start thinking about IT policy of any kind, we need to get an IT code in place.” Limberg suggested that the city could suspend its AI license until an MNDA and new city ordinances were in place. No member of the council said that the move would be necessary, and Boddicker recommended against it. “I would suggest let it continue, because you need data points to write policy anyway,” he said. Guyer apologized to the council for any confusion  and worry her comments to The NSP may have caused. “I caused concerns with my article, and confusion. I apologize to everybody. That was never my intention,” she said. Guyer added that as Long Grove signs privacy contracts and considers new ordinances, it could become “a model for other communities.” “Other cities are going to want to address this stuff proactively instead of reactively,” she said. After the meeting, Shannon said it was “clear that we’re moving in the right direction with getting guidance from the city attorney.” How Guyer uses AI Our article April 15 detailed how Guyer has used AI to transform her work as city clerk of Long Grove and treasurer of McCausland. It also explored how AI coding tools were helping her build a municipal accounting program tailored to the needs of a small city. Broad concerns about her AI use spread quickly over social media. Guyer’s work in Long Grove, in McCausland, and in her personal time are separate, she clarified in an email to The NSP Friday. They rely on different software licenses and take up different hours of the workday. Data from one project did not train agents for another. In Long Grove, Guyer uses Devs.ai, to design and host “agents,” artificial intelligence programs that can carry out complex tasks with minimal instruction. The platform allows users to run their agents on the AI model of their choice. Guyer’s “financial analyst” uses Claude, while a public-facing chatbot uses ChatGPT. Long Grove purchased its Devs.ai license this year. Previously, Guyer used ChatGPT to assist her in tasks like drafting emails, she said. She also used ChatGPT to review McCausland city documents. She uses a range of personal AI licenses to build her own software program. Guyer has no intention to sell AI agents she has built as city clerk for Long Grove, using software licenses funded by taxpayers. Long Grove does not intend to transition its city clerk position to an autonomous AI program. 

Schneckloth: Walcott School is safe

Davenport Schools Superintendent TJ Schneckloth told Walcott City Council last week that the district has no plans to close Walcott K–8, and new plans to promote its high schools to students in the town and its neighbors. Schneckloth presented an overview of Davenport Schools’ strategic plan at the regular Walcott council meeting April 20. He told the council that Walcott benefits from a strong preschool at Calvary Church, and does not suffer from low enrollment common across other Davenport middle schools. If Walcott faces a challenge, it is directing its students towards Davenport West High School, he said. “One of the ideas [is], multiple times a year, take the kids from Walcott in and let them walk around West and see it,” Schneckloth said. “We just put a brand new weight room, wrestling room, gymnasium on there.” “They would walk around that hallway and they feel completely safe,” he added. Councilman Joe Quick encouraged the district to show parents what the district had to offer, too. “It wouldn't hurt to have an assembly or a program out here every year, or in Blue Grass or wherever, and be like: Here's what Davenport schools have to offer, and what's new this year,” he said. “Bring your one year old, bring your two year old, and you can see how Davenport school is progressing.” Schneckloth expressed support for the idea. Walcott resident Lynnette Tarchinski said few local families understood the scope of amenities available at Davenport schools. “Conversations are starting when these kids are like kindergartners. Well, I don't know if I want to go to West. I'm scared. What do they offer?” she said. He asked whether the council thought more agriculture programming would prevent students from transferring to Durant or North Scott schools. Members of the council said the idea was worth considering, but suggested that participation in 4-H and similar programming had declined in Walcott in recent years. Farmer and councilman Kirk Koberg said he had never been a member of FFA, but had loved his time at Davenport West. “Kids get scared of such a big school... But nobody really understands the culture you get from that big school, it's huge,” he said. “Maybe we have to teach these young families that the choices they make will help their kids be better off in the future. Going to a small school just tunnels you in, doesn't make it better.” Schneckloth’s visit followed an announcement earlier this month that a renovated football field at Walcott K–8 would be named for longtime middle school football coach Dennis Johns. “He was [Davenport school board member] Kent Paustian’s football coach, and my football coach,” Schneckloth said. He said the district was preparing renderings of the new site to present to Johns and former Walcott football players. He also said that improvements were coming to a former bus lot adjacent to Walcott K–8. “We're going to put a really nice play space for the students back there,” Schneckloth said. “I know that's been something the community has wanted. It looks terrible.” Meeting room policy amended The city council doubled back on approval of a fire department meeting room policy that cleared discussion on April 6 with few concerns. That policy listed approximately a dozen community organizations that would have access to the room, but councilwoman Bobbie Martinez questioned whether the city could expand that list, or at least provide access to other groups at the discretion of the city clerk. “Part of it bothers me…. It feels too exclusive,” Martinez said. Rickertsen suggested an amendment that would allow “other Walcott based community organizations” to use the room on approval of the city clerk. The amended resolution passed unanimously. A list of organizations approved for use appeared in the April 15 edition of The North Scott Press. Budget hearing Walcott council heard few comments on its city budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and voted unanimously to approve it. The budget includes a small property tax levy increase, from about $9.85 to $10.29 owed per $1,000 in taxable property value. Total property tax collections are expected to fall by $20,000, City Clerk Lisa Rickertsen reported, due to an increase in rollbacks that decrease taxable value for residential properties. Expenditures are expected to total $6.3 million, drawing on reserve funds to complete projects including a new well. Resident John Brockmann told the council that he was frustrated by a $7,000 tax increase on his S. Main Street property, where he has built two new warehouses. He said that the city offered tax rebates to new businesses using tax increment financing, but did not provide similar support for established business. “We improve our property and our tax base,” he said. “If taxes are going to be that high, get a rebate for existing businesses in town.” Rickertsen said the city had limited TIF dollars to projects exceeding $2 million, “so we’re not giving it out to everybody.” TIF rebates divert funds from the county and school district, she noted. She added that Brockmann could contest his property valuation with the county assessor. Other news In other business, the council established a stormwater reserve fund planned by the new budget and approved a contracted 4% increase in garbage collection rates.

State auditor finds questionable expenses in Des Moines schools audit after superintendent arrested

State Auditor Rob Sand released findings from a forensic audit of Des Moines Public Schools following the arrest of former Superintendent Ian Roberts on federal immigration charges.

Meet this week’s adoptable pet: Layla

She is 10 years old, weighs about 40 pounds, and got along with other dogs and children in her previous home.

Café planned for Coliseum

New owners of the Coliseum in Walcott, 116 E. Bryant Street, plan to transform the bar and event venue into Walcott Commons—a lively breakfast, lunch and coffee spot they say the small town needs. “Living out here in a small town, it's just really limiting,” new owner Felisha Lacher said. “We didn't have a place to sit down and eat, a place to grab a coffee. I feel like we always had to go into town for those things.” “We didn't want to do the bar thing,” she added. “We want to bring something different, that we need out here.” Lacher and her husband Brett have lived in Walcott for seven years. They purchased the Coliseum this month, and have already begun renovations that should see the first guests served by June. “We're going have coffees and energy drinks and pastries and ice cream,” Lacher said. “But you can also come in and sit and get breakfast or lunch.” They plan to have “healthier food options”—sandwiches, soups, salads and homecooked breakfasts—“which we don't have in this community.” The west side of the building, which dates to the 1890s and was most recently home to a bar, will host diners. The Lachers have planned a complete overhaul of the space: new windows, flooring and furnishings inside, new siding and signage greeting passersby. The reception room on the east side of the building will continue to host public and private events. Lacher said they plan to remove the stage to create additional space. If construction moves apace, the Lachers have planned a grand opening in the event space for June 12, featuring Davenport band Lynn Allen. The restaurant plans to open June 15.

Deere becomes Official Tractor of Major League Baseball

A new partnership makes John Deere the Official Tractor of Major League Baseball. A post on Deere’s website said the company has entered into a multi-year sponsorship with the league. “For nearly two centuries, John Deere has stood alongside the hard-working, dedicated people who care for the land and who build our communities,” said Jon [...]

Trump's 'American flag blue' reflecting pool project gets a mixed reaction in D.C.

The pool is being resurfaced in a shade more akin to that of a swimming pool. It's one of many physical changes Trump is planning for the nation's capital.

Developer plans 44 senior housing units

Additional affordable senior housing could soon be coming to Eldridge. At the April 20 meeting, the Eldridge City Council heard a presentation from Barry Accountias, vice president of development for Columbus, Ohio, based Woda Cooper Development Inc. Accountias said Woda Cooper is very interested in building a new senior housing complex in a prime spot just off LeClaire Road. The company is eyeing a plot on East Iowa Street between South 4th and South 6th avenues, located directly behind the North Scott Hy-Vee. The complex, which has a proposed name of Hope Crossing, would be for residents 55 and older and would consist of a three-story building with an elevator and two one-story row house buildings. This would include 25 712-square foot one-bedroom and 19 811-square foot two-bedroom apartments. The estimated total development cost is just over $15 million. The land is currently zoned C-3 General Commercial. After Monday’s meeting, assistant city administrator Jeff Martens said multi-family housing for senior citizens is a permitted use in a C-3 district. Proposed monthly rent would be $545-$870 for a one-bedroom and $645-$1,000 for a two-bedroom. If the complex was to be constructed in Eldridge, it would be Woda Cooper’s ninth development in Iowa. The company already has two complexes in Cedar Rapids, two in Johnston and one each in Des Moines and Indianola, as well as the Chandler Pointe Apartments in Wilton. There is also a complex currently under construction on West 54th Street in Davenport. Woda Cooper has housing complexes in 17 other states. Accountias said officials at Woda Cooper were extremely excited about the prospect of building in Eldridge. “With our success in Davenport, we were scouring the area. We literally got down on a Google Earth view and found a for sale sign in a lot. “We jumped in our cars and came out here and just could not believe what we saw. It is the perfect site for senior development. Walkable amenities are there. If we had a Wal-Mart, it would be an A+. Right now, it’s a solid A, and I don’t mean that tongue in cheek. You have the Hy-Vee, the McDonald’s, all the walkable, nice amenities. It’s a quiet street and you have utilities there. We’re in love with the site and again, we think it could really, really bring a nice place there to be part of the neighborhood.” Accountias said each apartment would have its own washer and dryer, and additional amenities would include a community room, controlled building access and security cameras, a dog park, solarium and covered outdoor seating, and extensive parking. “These are very modern apartments with the most energy efficient design that we can come up with and that we think is good for the market.” He said there would also be an on-site manager and a maintenance person, which would probably be shared between Eldridge and Davenport. Residents would pay all utilities, except for trash collection. Accountias said Woda Cooper takes the resident application screening process “very, very seriously.” That includes financial disclosures, a health and safety agenda, and a background check that includes prior rentals, criminal history and a credit check. The company also provides information on how all the amenities and appliances work to renters. “Especially with the senior population in these apartments, we want to make sure they understand what they’re getting into.” While Woda Cooper has not yet bought the property, Accountias said that there is a purchase agreement in place. He also said the company has applied with the Iowa Finance Authority for tax credits to bring the development to Eldridge. He said the company will know by the first week of June if the tax credits will be awarded. “We feel like we have a very good chance of getting a bite at that apple and winning there. And then, at that point, the project will be going full bore.” Long Grove resident Karen Bernick worked as public relations director for Woda Cooper prior to her retirement. She gave the council a little more explanation on Hope Crossing. She and her husband, Dan, are longtime Scott County residents. They have a daughter, Hope, who is 33 years old and has special needs. “When I announced that I was going to retire last fall from Woda Cooper, Barry called me and said, ‘Karen, you’re not going to believe this, but we are about to look at Eldridge very seriously with a property. And because of your service, we would like to name that property in honor of Hope.’ Of course, that was a big emotional moment for me and for Dan. “We’re excited about the prospect, because we know what this will mean for Eldridge. And it can be a really great thing. Senior housing is in high demand, and the kind of quality we know this will be, will be very appealing to the seniors in Eldridge.” Dan Bernick also vouched for Woda Cooper’s quality, saying he and Karen have been landlords in Walcott and LeClaire for more than 30 years. “We have a pretty good sense when we drive up to a property if it’s well-managed or not. “They’re good managers.” “So, Woda Cooper owns the property long-term?” asked council member Jeff Ashcraft. “It’s not something you develop and then you sell off?” Accountias said that, although Woda Cooper did recently sell off an ageing part of its portfolio, the company almost always holds on to its properties long-term. “We are not in the business of building and selling. We don’t do that. We’re going to be here for the foreseeable future, if we get in.” He said company founders Jeffrey Woda and David Cooper are also hands-on owners. Karen Bernick agreed. “Often, they would tell city leaders and others in the room, ‘Don’t judge us today at our grand opening. Come back in five years, 10 years, 15 years and judge us. Because we are willing to say that our property will be maintained.’ So, no, they don’t sell them. They keep them, and they have a lot of pride in how they operate.” Karen Bernick also brought along a friend, Eldridge resident Judi Sarafin, who traveled with Bernick to several apartment complex grand openings across the country. “They’re beautiful,” said Sarafin. “I would love to live in every apartment that I saw. “It’s a well-run organization and it would be a great asset for this city.” Council member Ryan Iossi asked Accountias what would happen if the tax credit application didn’t come through this year. “In the very short-term, we’re basing it on tax credit, but Karen and I just had this conversation,” said Accountias. “We’re going to hold on to this site as long as we can. It is a valuable piece of property, and again, we believe it will be fantastic for a senior population. Zoning is there, utilities are there, the market pieces are there. It just costs money to hold on to sites, to ask someone to take it off the market. We’re not in the business of buying property without having a project, but yes, if for some reason, we fall short, we have a serious internal conversation on, let’s hold on to this property as long as we can, and we have to make it financially worthwhile to the owner.” Council member Scott La Plante asked what the timeline would be if Woda Cooper got the green light to build. Accountias said if the company got the go ahead, they could potentially break ground in March of 2027, with a construction timeline of no more than 14 months. He said Woda Cooper would also plan to use as many local companies for labor as possible. Accountias also said council members could take a hardhat tour of the company’s new development in Davenport, Timber Ridge, to get an idea of what potentially could come to Eldridge.     

Better Business Bureau honors 3 Quad Cities businesses with Torch Awards

The Better Business Bureau of the Quad Cities is recognizing three local organizations for their commitment to ethical business practices.

All but Paustian agree to $136.9M budget

Scott County supervisors voted 4–1 to approve a $136.9 million budget for the fiscal year that begins in July. The budget will raise the rural services tax levy by $0.15, from $2.73 to $2.88. Property owners in unincorporated Scott County pay the rural levy on top of the base levy, which the new budget holds steady at $5.93.  County budget and financial services director David Farmer told supervisors the rural levy increase was necessary to maintain library and road services, but supervisor Ross Paustian said it led him to vote against the budget. “I wasn’t going to vote for an increase in the levy,” Paustian told The North Scott Press.  “Plus, I think there’s some things that we’ve been spending too much money on.” During budget discussions, Paustian repeatedly objected to a $70,000 county contribution to Visit Quad Cities, which promotes local tourism. “I’d like to see a rundown of where their revenue comes from and what they’re spending the money on, because I don’t think they need the money,” Paustian said last month. Paustian has also opposed county plans to purchase and renovate a new general store at Paul Revere Square, 2322 E. Kimberly Road. Supervisors voted 4–1 Thursday to spend $2.2 million to renovations. Paustian voted against. That $2.2 million sum is appropriated in the budget approved Thursday. “It’s just unfortunate that we don’t have more conservatives on the board,” Paustian said. “The administration came up with a budget, nobody questioned it, and it came through.” Paustian argued during budget discussions that the county’s urban tax revenue should make up a greater share of roads maintenance costs. Rural taxpayers have historically funded 75% of rural road expenditures. Fellow supervisors and county administrators said the $0.15 increase, which would generate approximately $198,000, was required to maintain that ratio. Paustian told The NSP that the county had not adequately prepared for restrictions on property tax revenue that legislators in Des Moines have promised. Those restrictions would go into effect in the fiscal year beginning July 2027. The new budget will raise county spending about 1.5% over the current fiscal year. More than one-third of expenditures will go towards public safety and legal services, which includes the county sheriff and attorney’s offices. Capital projects, which include road maintenance and renovations at Paul Revere Square, will make up 13% of spending, about $17.9 million. The county ambulance service, Medic EMS, will spend a similar share of the budget, $17.7 million. The county heard no public comments during a hearing on its budget Thursday. Details on the county budget can be found in the March 11 NSP. Paul Revere Square Supervisors awarded a contract for renovation of Paul Revere Square to Swanson Construction Company of Bettendorf for $1,994,000. The renovation will outfit the future general store with a lobby, private offices, bathrooms, a conference room and break room. It will leave about one third of the first floor of the Paul Revere Square building open to future development. Supervisors also approved separate contracts to purchase HVAC equipment and furniture for the space. Trane, of Davenport, will provide HVAC equipment for $107,288. Paragon Interiors of Bettendorf will furnish the general store for $107,133.38. Expenses sum to $2.2 million. Paustian opposed each of the three contracts. Last month, County Facility and Support Services Director Lori Elam estimated the total project cost at $2.275 million. That figure has risen slightly, she told The NSP last week, “due to cost of CCTV, fiber pathway and access control components.” The new estimate is a $2.4 million. 35th Avenue bridge Supervisors approved plans to replace a bridge on 35th Avenue in Liberty Township. County Engineer Angie Kersten said the bridge was “poor condition, primarily due to deterioration of the timber pile substructure.” “It's posted for reduced loading and needs to be replaced to maintain a safe and reliable roadway,” she said. Secondary Roads staff will construct a new bridge prestressed, precast concrete slabs. The county plans to open bidding on bridge materials May 12.  Other business In other news, the county: - Approved a $120,000, five-year contract with Securitas for maintenance of equipment at the county jail and youth justice and rehabilitation center. That sum is a 7% increase from the previous five-year contract. - Approved a two-year contract with Teamsters Local 238, which works at the county jail. Teamsters will receive a 3.5% wage increase this coming fiscal year, and a 3% increase the following fiscal year. - Approved routine grant application requests from the sheriff’s office. - Set a public hearing on an amendment to the current county budget for May 21.  

May Day is for bockwurst in Dixon

Have you ever tried a bockwurst? On Friday, if you buy a drink at the Dixon Legion, you’ll have the chance to for free. “They’re a German wiener,” explained Rod Ferris, who has helped revitalize the Legion this spring. “Buy a drink, get a bockwurst” is the latest effort to bring people out. Ferris said that a Legion regular had volunteered to buy 300 of the specialty pork and veal sausage, which has a unique savory taste. “We’re going to try it, and see what happens,” he said. They will start serving bockwurst at 3 p.m., and expect to wrap up around 7 p.m. The drink and bockwurst will come with a bag of chips.

Auto parts swap meet Sunday

The 42nd annual Spring Auto Parts Swap Meet and Cars for Sale Corral will be held on Sunday, May 3, at Fairgrounds Parking Lot, 700 N. Maple St., Monticello. Events are open to high performance, custom, stock and antique (domestic and foreign). Buy, sell, trade or browse from 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. Swap and Corral vendor (space) reservations can be made in advance or at the gate on the day of the events. Swap spaces are for parts, cars, trucks, motorcycles, related items and services. Corral spaces are limited to cars, trucks and motorcycles in running condition. Cruise in with your rod, rat, muscle, cruiser, antique, classic or motorcycle. For more information, visit www.autopartsswapmeet.net or call 319-465-5119.

FAA drone workshop May 27-28 in Ames

Iowa State University’s Digital Ag Innovation team, in partnership with Terraplex Ag, will host a two-day Drone Workshop designed to prepare participants for the Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification exam. The workshop will take place May 27–28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, at the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab, located at 3800 University Blvd., Ames. The workshop is geared toward agricultural professionals, drone operators and others interested in using unmanned aerial systems commercially. Participants will receive in-depth instruction on FAA regulations and operations, including Part 107 rules and limitations, airspace classifications and requirements and key concepts needed to successfully pass the Part 107 exam. The course will include hands-on review sessions, group discussions, FAA-style practice tests and time for a Q&A session. Study materials, including practice exams, are included with registration, and lunch will be provided both days. In-class instruction will also guide participants through the process of registering for the FAA Part 107 exam at an FAA-designated testing center. The FAA exam fee is not included in the workshop registration cost. The workshop will be led by Sam Welton, director of compliance at Terraplex Ag. Welton brings six years of military experience flying the U.S. Army’s RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aircraft system, five years of operating agricultural spray drones and extensive experience assisting operators with FAA certifications and licensing. Registration is required. Early registration is $449 by May 1, increasing to $500 after. Registration closes on May 22. Enrollment is limited to a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 30 participants. To register, visit FAA Part 107 Test Prep Course, Terraplex Ag. For more information, contact Doug Houser, digital agriculture extension specialist at Iowa State, at dhouser@iastate.edu.

Low-interest state loan brightens solar prospects

A solar array planned for the Princeton sewer treatment will qualify for a low-interest state loan, the city council heard Thursday. That brings the project one step closer to its promise to save the city money on energy costs. Iowa offers revolving fund loans to municipalities to lower the cost of water and sewer infrastructure improvements. The current SRF interest rate is 3.25%, below the market rate of about 6%.  Cities must service SRF loans with utility revenues, meaning the solar project would show up as a monthly “capital improvement” surcharge on residents’ sewer bills. Mayor Travis Volrath estimated that surcharge at approximately $5 per month per sewer hookup. There are about 330 hookups in town, City Clerk Kisa Tweed said. Councilwoman Lori Maher, who has helped lead the project, worried that the surcharge would frustrate residents. She wondered if the city could drop its underlying utility rates to reflect savings in the cost of energy. Tweed said the city had to make sure that sewer revenues covered the real cost of operations. If the council financed the project with general obligation debt at market interest rates, it could service the loan with property tax revenue. Either option would likely result in short-term costs for Princeton residents, which would promise long-term savings if the cost of energy continues to rise. The council also heard Thursday that the solar array would not have to be in service until December 2027 to qualify for a federal reimbursement—or “investment tax credit”—that would return 30% of the project cost. The council previously believed the project would have to break ground by July 4 of this year to qualify, and had moved with speed to meet that deadline. The pace of the project will now slow, as the council prepares an application for the state revolving fund loan. They said Thursday that they planned to extend the deadline for project bids past May 1. You can use a model developed by The North Scott Press to evaluate the potential costs or savings of Princeton’s planned solar array. View it on our website.

Renewed land lease hopes to drop nitrate levels at Lost Grove Well

Princeton will continue to pay local farmers to keep land surrounding its Lost Grove Road well out of agricultural production, as it hopes to bring water nitrate concentrations back below state standards. Princeton first reported nitrate concentrations at the well exceeding the state standard in September 2024. It leased surrounding farmland last April for $7,000 on the advice of water quality experts who said agricultural fertilizers could be the source of nitrates. Princeton will lease the land at $300 per acre this year. Nitrate readings have not dropped below the state maximum of 10 mg/L within the last year. Experts have said a single year would post “inconclusive” results. April readings at the well found nitrate concentrations at 12.9 mg/L. Exposure to high nitrate levels in drinking water can cause health problems for pregnant women and infants, and has been linked to certain forms or cancer. The council entered closed session last Thursday, April 23, to discuss whether to renew their payment to neighboring farmers. At a council work session in January, several members of the public suggested the city pass a wellhead protection ordinance that would forbid local farmers from production on land in proximity to the well. Princeton Mayor Travis Volrath has said payments were in the interest of fairness and would help the city avoid legal trouble. Planning and Zoning chair Tim Ruser said that prioritized the interest of three landowners over the drinking water of several hundred city residents. Volrath said the city could consider passing an ordinance once they knew that restrictions on production would drop nitrate levels. The city is required by law to make minutes of its closed session available once a lease agreement is signed. Aaron Schroeder, water quality specialist at the Iowa Rural Water Association, advised Princeton to take nearby land out of production last year. He also sent several water samples to a Nebraska laboratory that can test for the age of groundwater and the source of contaminants. He told The North Scott Press this month that he had not yet received the results of those tests. Ryan Clark of the Iowa Geological Survey has also advised Princeton. He said the state Department of Natural Resources had recently asked him to review rock samples collected when the well was drilled. The presence of more or less porous or permeable rocks could indicate whether Princeton’s groundwater recharged quickly or slowly, he explained. But he did not find any “unexpected” rock formations that would clearly explain city struggles with water quality.  

Park Board to depart, form nonprofit

Princeton council will allow members of the city park board to resign and form a new nonprofit, the Princeton Community Partnership. Nonprofit status will allow the board to apply for new funding opportunities not available to municipalities. It was not immediately clear whether the council would appoint new members to its park board. The council denied a request from the LeClaire Lions to use Boll’s Community Center for a fundraiser without paying a rental fee. No member from the Lions appeared to present the council with event plans.

Appeals Court judge Pedro Colón announces 2027 Wisconsin Supreme Court bid

Appeals Court Judge Pedro Colon announced Tuesday he's running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2027. (Photo Courtesy of Pedro for Supreme Court)Wisconsin Appeals Court Judge Pedro Colón announced Tuesday he’s running to replace retiring Justice Annette Ziegler on the Wisconsin Supreme Court next year.  Colón, a former Democratic member of the state Assembly and Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge, moved to Milwaukee from Puerto Rico when he was 10 years old. He was the first Latino elected to the Wisconsin Assembly and to sit on the state’s appeals court.  He was appointed to the Milwaukee County Court by Gov. Jim Doyle in 2010 and then reelected three times. He was appointed to the District I Court of Appeals by Gov. Tony Evers in 2023.  Colón said in a news release that his experience moving to Wisconsin and decades in the law make him qualified to sit on the Supreme Court.  “I came to Milwaukee at ten years old, not speaking a word of English. I know what it feels like to stand before a system that was not built for you,” Colón said. “For 15 years on the bench, I have made sure every person who walks into my courtroom gets the same thing: a listening ear and a fair shot. That is exactly what I will do on the Supreme Court.” Colón got his undergraduate degree from Marquette University and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. He lives in Milwaukee with his wife and has two daughters.  He is the second liberal-leaning judge to enter the race to replace the conservative former Chief Justice Ziegler, who announced her plan to retire earlier this year. Clark County Judge Lyndsey Brunette announced her candidacy earlier this month.  A liberal victory in 2027 would establish a 6-1 majority on the Court, leaving Justice Brian Hagedorn, who has occasionally been a swing vote and sided with the Court’s liberals, as the lone conservative on the bench. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Wisconsin Examiner

Flea on his wild path from childhood to the Chili Peppers: 'Thank God I've changed'

The longtime bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers has his first solo album. "I'm making music that occupies its own place in the world and that feels that's good to me," Flea says of Honora.

Guyer to leave, assistant Syoen promoted to clerk

Veteran City Clerk Rose Guyer will leave Long Grove for Fairfax in May, she announced Monday. The move will conclude nine-and-a-half years as clerk of Long Grove. She assumes her new role May 8. She has offered to remain a city employee or consultant for as long as 18 months as Assistant Clerk Lucas Syoen assumes her role. Members of the council expressed unanimous support for Syoen’s promotion Monday. “I can definitely do all the day-to-day stuff, no problem,” Syoen told them. He has served as assistant clerk on a part-time and now full-time basis for the past two years. Mayor Mike Limberg suggested Monday that the city wait to backfill his position, but council members Amy Shannon and Chad Ulrich said the city should look to hire immediately. Ulrich and fellow hiring committee member Ryan Christensen will prepare wages for Syoen and a new assistant clerk for the next council meeting, May 12.      

Fair Queen Delaney offers wisdom to would-be successors

Applications are now being accepted for young women interested in serving as Mississippi Valley Fair Queen. The Queen will reign over the 2026 Great Mississippi Valley Fair, handing out ribbons, introducing concerts, and generally serving as a goodwill ambassador throughout the fair, which will be held Aug. 4-9. Applications are due June 1. Delaney Engler, who is serving as the 2025 Fair Queen, said the week of the fair was a “whirlwind. “It went by with a snap of a finger. I was busy helping hand out ribbons at a lot of livestock shows, and then I got to introduce a couple of the grandstand acts. I also got to have a few conversations with Dani from WLLR and Shawn Loter, the general manager.” Engler said one of her favorite events to take part in was the Bacon Buddies swine show, which pairs young people with special needs together with 4-H members to show pigs in the arena. The Fair Queen also has the opportunity to compete in the Iowa State Fair Queen contest in Des Moines. “That was such a great experience, and it will be for anyone who is interested in applying. I can’t commend the Iowa State Fair Queen Board enough for all the work that they do for the girls. “We stay in Des Moines, and I got to go through so many workshops that help with leadership, communication skills and life skills. I got to do a fun runway show, and we got to volunteer. I volunteered at the dairy barn and served ice cream for people. We just got to do a lot of fun things, and it was just honestly such a fun experience.” In addition to those duties, the MVF Queen also receives a $1,000 scholarship, a crown and sash and a fair Fun Card.  The first runner-up receives $250. The Queen contest is open to all young women aged 16-21 as of Aug. 13, 2026. Contestants must have never been married or have children and must reside in Scott County or an adjoining county if the majority of her activities are conducted in Scott County. Each contestant must be a member of at least one service organization in the community. Examples include, but are not limited to, church group, Girl Scouts, 4-H or FFA. The application may be filled out online or hard copy and must include a letter of recommendation. The contest and coronation will be held July 21, but there are also several other required dates, including a welcome meeting on June 6 and a contest preparation day on June 28. Contestants are also expected to attend the Blue Grass Days, Eldridge Summer Festival and Walcott Day parades. The contest is judged on personality, attitude, appearance and awareness; leadership and citizenship or contribution to the community; and overall appearance, charm and poise. Although Engler said she never saw herself as a “pageant girl,” going through the competition changed her perspective. “As I submitted my application and thought about it further, I realized that it’s more of a leadership building experience than anything. The relationships that you get to make throughout this event will just stick with you forever. And it just really helps you network out to a bunch of industry professionals. “When I was younger, I always used to look up to the Fair Queen and all of the other queens handing out ribbons when I was exhibiting my livestock, and to be able to have the opportunity to be a role model for those young kids has just been a great opportunity for me, and I would encourage everyone to apply.” A link to the application and a full list of rules and requirements is available at the Mississippi Valley Fair Queen Facebook page and at mvfair.com/fair-queen-information. For more information or questions, please contact Joan Martz at 563-528-1496 or Jeantee Keppy at 563-370-5011.

Supreme Court hears arguments on Roundup warning labels

The U.S. Supreme Court could be ready to overturn a Missouri state court verdict that favored a man who sued the manufacturer of the popular herbicide Roundup for lacking any warning that the product carried a risk of cancer after oral arguments in the case Monday. The arguments focused on whether states could enforce their own labeling requirements of pesticides, or whether federal law preempted any deviation among states. Members of the court’s 6-3 conservative majority emphasized the need for uniformity across the country. The U.S. Department of Justice intervened in the case in favor of Monsanto, the Missouri-based company that manufactures Roundup and has been owned since 2018 by German pharmaceutical company Bayer. The company faces thousands of lawsuits claiming exposure to Roundup increased a risk of cancer and that the company failed to warn consumers when it reasonably should have known of the risk. Monsanto denies that the product causes cancer, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has consistently agreed. John Durnell, a St. Louis resident, sued the company in 2019 claiming that exposure to Roundup over two decades led to his developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. A Missouri trial court awarded him $1.25 million, and appeals courts affirmed the ruling. But the Supreme Court, which is the first federal court to hear the case, seemed inclined to protect federal supremacy. The EPA, which regulates labeling requirements for herbicides, does not require the kind of warning the Missouri jury said was appropriate. Federal law typically trumps state law, which Monsanto and the Justice Department emphasized Monday. Industry groups across the economy tend to support federal supremacy because it saves companies from complying with 50 separate regulatory schemes across states. ‘Is that uniformity?’ An exchange between Ashley Keller, the attorney for Durnell, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whom President Donald Trump appointed in his first term, may hold the key to the court’s ultimate ruling. Keller argued that Congress in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, which governs herbicide use, did not include a clause to expressly say that the federal law would preempt any state claims. There was no issue of a difference between state and federal law, Keller said. Instead, a particular jury decided a single case based on unique facts, he continued. Different juries in other cases may have decided differently. But Kavanaugh seemed not to accept that argument. He rephrased a similar question several times, and, even as Keller objected, appeared to dismiss the idea that the Missouri verdict was compatible with a national standard. “You think it’s uniformity when each state can require different things?” he asked. Keller rejected that framing. “The label’s illegal in one state and legal in another state,” Kavanaugh responded. “That’s uniformity?” Keller said he didn’t agree with that premise either, saying the label is not illegal based on the state but based on the facts presented at trial and the jury’s interpretation. “The label subjects you to liability in one state and does not subject you to liability in another state,” Kavanaugh continued. “Is that uniformity?” “I don’t think it’s state by state,” Keller said. “I think it’s jury by jury.” Paul Clement, a well-known conservative appeals lawyer, represented Monsanto in the case, and described Keller’s argument as chaotic. It would not just open up separate regulatory regimes in each state in the country, but subject manufacturers to liability based on the makeup of any particular batch of citizens on a state court jury. “It’s worse than 50 states,” he said. “It’s every jury is a new day.” A host of agencies in countries across the globe have all done studies on glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, Clement said. “It’s probably the most, like, studied herbicide in the history of man, and they’ve all reached the conclusion based on more data and the kind of expert analysis they can do that there isn’t a risk here,” he said. “You shouldn’t let a single Missouri jury second-guess that judgment.” Liberal justices seek consumer protections The court’s liberal justices spent more time questioning why states shouldn’t be allowed to enforce stricter regulations. Justice Elena Kagan asked Principal Deputy U.S. Solicitor General Sarah M. Harris, who argued on behalf of the federal government in favor of throwing out the verdict against Monsanto, if she agreed with Clement’s argument. Harris said she largely agreed, noting that 50 states setting up separate regulations on labeling pesticides would cause confusion. But Kagan asked why uniformity should be a higher goal than safety, saying a certain state government might have a better understanding than the EPA. “It does undermine uniformity, I appreciate that,” Kagan said. “On the other hand, if it turns out that they (state regulators) were right, it might have been good if they had an opportunity to do something to call this danger to the attention of the people while the federal government was going through its process.” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson also pointed out that the EPA only registers herbicides once every 15 years, meaning that states might have better information than the EPA, especially later in that cycle. “Lots of things can happen in science in terms of developments about the product,” she told Clement. “So if the product can become misbranded because of new information, I guess I’m just wondering why you think that you couldn’t have a situation where it would be perfectly rational for either the EPA or the states to bring to the attention of that manufacturer this new information and process a claim related to it.”

Four honored with Tom Goodall Fine Arts Awards

Prior to Sunday’s performance of “The Addams Family” in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium, four individuals were recognized with Tom Goodall Fine Arts Awards. The Community Fine Arts Awards were created in 2004 to recognize individuals, businesses or organizations for their contributions to the arts in the North Scott community in five areas: drama, instrumental music, vocal music, visual arts and literature and creative writing. Since their inception, these awards have been co-sponsored by The North Scott Press and the North Scott Rotary. In 2023, the awards were renamed the Tom Goodall Fine Arts awards in honor of longtime North Scott educator and Lancer Productions technical director and theatre manager Tom Goodall. Tom’s career spanned more than 50 years with the district until his retirement in 2023 and included 177 shows with Lancer Productions. He and his wife Joann also raised three children in the district, Joe, Kate and Christine, who continue to be involved in the arts as adults. The first honoree, in the area of vocal and instrumental music was Beth Ann Anderson. Beth Ann’s nominator said, “Beth Ann Anderson has been a constant and invaluable force on the Music Booster Board. She has chaperoned countless trips, dedicated many hours in the concession stand, and played a key role in organizing the Booster Patron Program. Most recently, she helped the North Scott Singers raise over $20,000 to support their performance at the ACDA Convention in Milwaukee. Beth Ann fondly jokes that she has ‘been in high school for 14 years,’ reflecting the many years she has spent supporting her children and the North Scott music program. As a go-to booster parent, she is always ready to take on the next challenge and lends her time and talents wherever they are needed.” Her activities with the Music Boosters and music departments include fundraising with Pizza Day (when they actually made pizzas!), sewing costumes, masks, and uniforms, pressing and hemming band dresses and tuxes, working in the wardrobe room to distribute and collect uniforms, and chaperoning students on choir and band trips to Iowa City, North Liberty, DeKalb, Dubuque, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Milwaukee. She coordinated Jazz Dinners, Singer’s Brunches, trip meals and snacks, worked in and scheduled staff for the Music Boosters’ concession stand (where majority of funds are raised for equipment, uniforms and camp scholarships), coordinated the Music Boosters’ Patron Program (which funds six $500 scholarships to senior music students annually), and served as an event coordinator for the annual Senior Salute banquet to honor our senior music students.  Last fall, she and Mary Beth Madden worked together with Mrs. Potts to secure financial sponsorships to ensure all North Scott Singers were able to travel to and perform at the American Choral Directors Association Midwestern Conference in Milwaukee. There have been many other duties assigned (or not), which might have involved baking cookies, taking photos, and video recording, but definitely involved supporting the success of our students and our directors.  She says we are very blessed to have an extraordinary music program at North Scott. Beth Ann has had a very musical life. She was in church choir and played flute, piccolo, and piano during high school and college.  She also played hand bells in high school and college and has occasionally joined the choir at Faith Lutheran for the Christmas Cantata and has played hand chimes at Faith in recent years.  She says, “Music was a big part of family time when I was young, with my grandpa playing organ, my dad on trombone, accordion, or the gut bucket, and my grandma singing along. My brother and cousins were musicians, too.  My brother is an accomplished musician and performs in the Ann Arbor and Detroit area. I married into a music family.  Darin and his five siblings were musicians, and his family was heavily involved with Drum Corps.” Beth Ann has been a resident of Park View since 1996. She and her husband Darin were married in 1995 and have four sons, Andrew, Brett, Matthew and Nathan, who is a senior this year. The Andersons have had sons in the North Scott Community School District continuously for 23 years.  The band and choir programs at North Scott High School have been a home to their sons for the last 14 of those years. She has been the office manager at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church since 2020.  Prior to that she was a substitute teacher with North Scott and worked with Griggs Music as a contract writer.  She was a stay-at-home mother for 16 years.  Before she had children, she was an auditor and casino controller. Finally, Beth Ann would like to add: “Music education is so important!  Not only for our students’ brain development, but also for their social and emotional development.  Music brings people together and speaks to the soul. Music evokes emotions and memories. It can calm, console, and celebrate!   “The students in our music programs develop highly sought skills by employers and higher education institutions, such as collaboration, time management and creativity.  The majority of the cast members in Lancer Productions presentation of “The Addams Family” are involved in the music classes at North Scott.  These classes provide a strong foundation for our students and set the stage for future involvement and enjoyment of the arts.” The second recipient, in the area of vocal and instrumental music was Tom Eriksen. Tom says: “I’m a lifelong resident of the Quad Cities. I was involved in choir from elementary school through my junior year of high school.  I played clarinet in the band for three years but wasn’t very good. Singing was more fun for me. Later on, when my wife and I joined St. Paul Lutheran Church, I joined the choir. Singing under Jon Hurty and later Nathan Windt was so much fun. Their knowledge and passion for music helped to broaden my love for music. When my daughter got involved in music at North Scott, my music journey changed. As the students learned more and got more involved, it was obvious to me that music is life changing.  I grew up playing sports. That was my passion. Watching the kids grow in music made me realize that music is for life. They will always be able to continue in music. 1Peter 4:10 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.’ Four years ago, I joined the North Scott Music Boosters. I wanted to help these kids grow their talents. Three years ago, I became president of the Boosters.  The other board members had so much experience and were running things so well, that I jumped into the concession stand and found a love for the people.  We have spent many hours working on the concession stand to make it the best we can. This is the biggest fundraiser for Music Boosters, so we spend a lot of time making it great. I have been on many trips with the bands and choir. Listening to the kids and seeing the music grow, is a true joy. The Boosters have become like family to me. I am proud to call them my friends. The board members are the true heroes behind the scenes.  They are why we are able to help the music programs the way we do.” The third recipient, in the area of vocal and instrumental music was Katie Grunwald. Her nominator said, “Tom and Katie have been invaluable for their work with the ongoing activities of the Music Boosters, but especially with the winter sports concession stands. They have spent countless hours running the stand, shopping for inventory, working tirelessly to improve offerings and cost savings, and soliciting donations and sponsorships for new equipment (popcorn machine, hot dog roller, air fryer, etc.). They will be moving on from these positions next year, and we are very appreciative of their work on behalf of the music program.” Katie was unable to attend the presentation. Finally, in the area of drama, Renae Mohr was honored. Renae is very honored to receive this award. First, she wants to give glory to God for the purpose and strength to serve these kids and community through this amazing theatre program. Renae is a 1998 North Scott graduate, and she was involved in theatre and speech throughout her high school career.  One highlight of her time with Lancer Productions was performing Schoolhouse Rock Live! on the International Thespian Festival stage in Lincoln, Neb., in 1997.  Her husband, Rich Mohr, disagrees and feels that the highlight should be meeting him on stage her junior year during the production of “The Music Man,” when they were cast as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn and Mayor Shinn in the fall of 1996.  Renae was raised in the North Scott theatre due to her mom, Jalois Crotty, aka Glittermama, being heavily involved in the Lancer Productions, Countryside Community Theatre, and other private theatres as a costumer.  Renae and her mom spent many amazing hours together in the North Scott theatre and it is such a special place to remember and honor her mom.   In 2014, she joined Stacie Kintigh in breathing new life into Lancer Productions as the assistant director.  In this role, she found a new passion in making amazing young adults shine on and off the stage through directing, costuming, and the many other behind the scenes activities. Stacie and Renae felt it was important to be teachers first and to help those in the program learn to be active participants in the world around them as well as know that they are loved and are safe in the theatre.  Renae has enjoyed giving her all so that those in the program can have an amazing experience.  In 2023, Renae took a step back from the role of assistant director and came back to help with costumes, hair, and make-up.  This year Renae has embraced the role of Glittermama and costumer.  It has been a joy to make these young actors look amazing on the stage and to teach those backstage new skills, so they all get the attention that they deserve. A very special thanks to her husband Rich and son Eddie, who have given up many hours with Renae when she was at the theatre.  She also wants to thank Stacie Kintigh, Emily Hintze, Josh Tipsword, Tom Goodall, Ashley and Bobby Becher, Bethany and Adam Sanders, and Sara Kook for their support and love as we have all worked together to bring life to this stage and pour our love into these amazing young adults.          

Here’s why Iowans say they volunteer to test waterways for nitrates

On a Wednesday in April, after heavy rainfall, Paul Carlson of Ankeny drove to the end of a road under the Saylorville Dam and parked alongside Rock Creek. It was his sixth time this year at that location with a goal of testing the nitrate levels in the water. Before walking over to the creek’s bank, he grabbed from his car a bucket with a rope attached, a jar, and a nitrate level testing kit, similar in size to a pill bottle. Once on the bank of the creek, he cast out his bucket and rinsed it a few times with creek water. Carlson said this is to prevent any possible contamination from other tests. He then poured that water into a jar and dunked a nitrate testing strip into it. He waited the recommended 30 seconds and watched a patch on the strip turn from white to a shade of pink. He matched that color as best he could to a range of colors and their corresponding nitrate readings on the outside of the testing kit bottle. Carlson read the test as matching a light shade of pink next to the number “5,” meaning the water he tested had a nitrate level of 5 parts per million. “0” is the low end and “50” the high end for the test kits. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies 10 parts per million as the threshold for unsafe drinking water. Once he had his test results, Carlson entered that data into the Clean Water Hub, run by the Izaak Walton League of America. Iowans all across the state are volunteering to go out to rivers and lakes near their homes to test for nitrates, which are associated with various health risks. Nitrates in excess of 10 parts per million in drinking water can cause methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome, which is a life-threatening condition that reduces the amount of oxygen that can be carried in the blood. While city water utilities treat drinking water for nitrates, heavy loads of the compound in source waters have led to extraordinary measures in central Iowa. Last June, Central Iowa Water Works issued its first ever lawn watering ban June 12. That was because high nitrate concentrations in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers made it difficult for the facilities to remove enough nitrates to comply with federal drinking water standards while meeting high demands for water. Carlson’s testing on April 15th was in line with his previous Rock Creek tests earlier this year. A look at the Clean Water database shows his data entries. After last October, he picked up testing again at Rock Creek in March and tested 7 ppm. His highest this season is 12 ppm, recorded on April 21st.  Iowa has more than 70,000 miles of River. The Des Moines River flows for more than five hundred of those miles. It begins in southwestern Minnesota before traversing through more than a dozen of Iowa’s 99 counties and finally joining the Mississippi River in Keokuk County, in the state’s southern-most corner. Rock Creek is just one of Des Moines River’s many feeder waterways. Carlson is a member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and one of many citizen water testers in Iowa taking part this year in the Izaak Walton League of America’s Nitrate Watch Program. ICCI joined the program a few years ago as a way to help test nitrate levels in Iowa’s waterways. IWLA sees its testing as something done in tandem with the state-run Iowa Water Quality Information System. The system is a network of sensors that tests for nitrate and pH levels, water levels, and stream flow rates, among other tracked qualities. The system is at risk of losing funding come this summer, which IWLA views as “irreplaceable.” A new study by the Environmental Working Group found that one-fifth of Americans relied on drinking water systems with elevated and potentially dangerous levels of nitrate between 2021 and 2023, Stateline reported. Carlson joined the Nitrate Watch program because he said he’s “always been interested in care of creation.” He sees his role as a water tester as a way to raise awareness, and he knows his testing cannot replace the state-run sensors. He likens what he does to a player in baseball’s Single-A league, while the IWQIS sensors are the Major Leagues. Still, he views testing Iowa’s small waterways, like Rock Creek, as necessary to determine where pollutants may be entering upstream and said nitrates in them “still impacts people, especially out in the rural area.” The day Carlson tested Rock Creek’s water, it was muddy. He said the water is usually crystal clear and “looks so beautiful and perfect.” “Then I test it, and it climbs up to 10 … It’s like you can’t trust the look, the appearance, because it’s hidden poison. It’s poison that you can’t see,” Carlson said. Volunteer seeks to bolster scarce data A day after Carlson went out to test Rock Creek, Ryan Kunkle of Indianola did the same at three separate locations in Warren County, plus his tap water at home. Kunkle said he’s new to the area, so he relied on finding sites to test by using data points that were already listed on the Clean Water Hub. He noticed, however, that the three sites only had one data point each. His goal is to test nitrate levels at each site every two weeks to better provide data that can lend itself to trends over time. His first stop on the sunny Thursday was Middle River, another tributary of the Des Moines River, which runs along Summerset State Park just south of Indianola. He walked along a path and descended the river’s bank under a bridge until he could crouch down to fill his Mason jar with the Middle River’s water. Kunkle did the same as Carlson, rinsing his jar with the river’s water to help prevent any possible contamination. Instead of testing along the river’s edge, Kunkle preferred to test his water at home. He said during a Zoom call with ICCI and IWLA, one tip he heard was to test water while it was at least 60 degrees. Kunkle said that’s to allow for a more accurate test. The time he takes gathering water from his other locations will allow the Middle River water to come to temperature. Kunkle views his involvement in the program as doing his part to fill a gap in water testing. Not only are there fewer Nitrate Watch data points in Warren County, he explained, but there are also no IWQIS sensors in the county. Testing is about creating public awareness, Kunkle explained, raising the same points as Carlson. He added the data serves “as a complement to what governmentally supported sensors are supposed to be doing.” It was on the Middle River bridge a few weeks ago, that Kunkle said he experienced creating public awareness firsthand. A woman stopped to ask what he was doing. They got to talking and he said she may have gotten interested in the Nitrate Watch Program. Over at Kunkle’s second testing site, Lake Ahquabi, south of Indianola, he laid part of the blame for Iowa’s water crisis on agriculture in the state. “Our water has been gradually getting poisoned by a set of policies that have allowed an increasingly monopolistic agricultural system to do whatever is necessary to intensify crop production, regardless of negative environmental externalities,” he said. “So if more and more people become aware of what the problem is … it presents potentially a basis for further organization.” Kunkle’s final field test was the South River, which he accessed just off Highway 65 south of Indianola. He again descended the bank and collected his sample. Once back at home, he tested all three, plus his tap water, using the testing strips provided by IWLA. Kunkle, however, also used the Deltares app to more accurately capture the readings. After reading his results by eye, like Carlson, he also laid the strips down on a small card provided by Deltares. He opened the Deltares app, snapped a picture, and the app recorded the readings for him. Kunkle then shared both his eyesight and Deltares readings in the Clean Water Hub database. Kunkle’s highest nitrate readings for the day came from Middle River at 4.8 ppm, which is in line with his previous testing at that site for the year. His lowest reading for the day came from Lake Ahquabi at 0 ppm. His tap water tested higher than that at 0.8 ppm. Montgomery Creek sees highest levels The following day, Barb Thompson of Boone County tested two waterways that either run through her property or near it: the Montgomery and Prairie creeks. Both creeks flow into the Ioway Creek, which in turn flows into the South Skunk River. Like Carlson, she cast a bucket with a rope attached over two bridges to collect her water samples. She poured that into a couple of jars for testing back at her house. Of all the waterways tested between Carlson, Kunkle, and Thompson over the three days, Thompson’s nitrate readings were the highest. At Montgomery Creek, she recorded 25 ppm, about five times higher than the same time last year. Her highest recording on the creek so far was 30 ppm during last June. Her readings from Prairie Creek, which runs through her backyard, fared little better, measuring 20 ppm on that Friday. She measured 30 ppm for that location last June also. Thompson said she decided to test her water after learning about the program because she’s long been curious what impact a hog confinement is having on the waterways around her. She said a new one was built by a man living in Alabama in 2011, about a mile away from where she lives. The confinement sits in between both creeks. Since testing, she’s been more hesitant to let her grandchildren play in the creek in her backyard. They still play in it, but only if the creek is running low and while wearing rubber boots. Thompson said they’re not dunking their heads in the water and are sure to rinse off immediately afterward. It’s a far cry from her visit to the cabin her family has in Minnesota, she said, where they can basically drink the lake water up there. Thompson explained her hopes with the Nitrate Watch program are to “get people’s attention on how serious it is.” Now that she was a year’s worth of data from her creeks, she plans to “go to our county supervisors and say, ‘Here’s what we have and it’s a concern. And what are we going to do about increasing buffers?’” Thompson was referring to buffer strips, permanent vegetation that are planted to help digest or slow down pollutants.  Thompson said she’s not sure how the Boone County supervisors will respond.

Considering the spring

I have my plants in the ground for the season, which is a kind of feat when you consider that I live on the second floor of an apartment building. I have limited myself to mint, parsley and thyme; I have also repotted rosemary that just survived the end of last summer and was slowly nursed back to health, indoors, last winter. All four are now enjoying springtime on my back porch. I will have to repot the mint. The eight-inch pot I purchased for the start is already nearly dwarfed. Mint is inexhaustible. There is so much of it that you don’t feel bad chopping it back and just tossing the leaves. It also provides an excuse to drink mojitos and juleps. Not that I need an excuse, but I will have to find a nice copper cup. Herb season begins my battle with the squirrels. They seem already determined to destroy my parsley, which is the smallest start I planted out. Looking distractedly out my blinds this weekend, I saw a black squirrel padding cautiously towards it. The squirrel must have seen me, or sensed my cool rage; it dropped out of sight. Rage is really not the right word. I had a sudden appetite for cruelty: I imagined, looking at the squirrel, the things I might to do to teach it to leave my herbs alone. ℘ Other spring tasks have been accomplished recently, or will need to be accomplished. I took the first decent weekend for cleaning, windows open, spray bottles strewn. I fixed up my boots with a double layer of wax, which should last through the summer. The weather is fickle so I have not—yet—folded down my coats, though that day is coming soon. ℘ In ten days I will be gone back east for a graduation, in Orono, Maine. My dear friend Thomas—essentially my brother—will graduate from the University of Maine with his girlfriend, Ruth, who happens to be the class valedictorian. He is an aspiring psychologist, she an agricultural economist. Thomas has lived with my family, to varying degrees, since the pandemic stranded him from his family in Shenzhen, China. We were boarding school roommates at the time. I have not seen his mother since our junior year in high school, and have never met his father. I will meet them in Piscataquis County, Maine, where my family and his will converge on Ruth’s family homestead. I will have to bring them all something sufficiently Iowan, to enhance the pedigreed cosmopolitanism of the moment. Thomas and Ruth will move to New York in the fall, where he is to study at Columbia and she work for a sizeable northeastern bank. That is another enviable pair lost to the Big City. ℘ We are at the time of year now when asparagus will climb two inches a day. I have never gotten used to the sight of asparagus in the ground: I do not know what I expect them to look like, but not like that, proud and spindly with absolutely no sense that they will be devoured from the base up. I have no asparagus, only memories of asparagus and fear of their price at the Hy-Vee. Last Thursday, driving back from Princeton, a light rain begun to fall into the upturned fields along Utica Ridge Road, producing an overwhelming smell of earth. At times it was so sharp that it reminded me of a smell I had thought unique—a dental drill scouring its way into a tooth. It made my eyes water. ℘ Although I have not folded away my coats I have broken out my summer suit and given it a good steam. If I wear it on two or three occasions I will count it a fine return on the investment I made last spring. It will have given me more than the rosemary, which produced the sprigs necessary for about one pan of beans cooked with herbs and garlic in the fall. I should make an effort to finish the beans still hidden in my pantry before the summer banishes my appetite for them entirely. I will want only fresh tomatoes. 

2001: Timothy Dose hired as sixth NS superintendent

April 28, 1976 • Diane Schurr was named Scott County’s first-ever Beef Queen during a potluck dinner hosted by the Scott County Cattlemen at the Farm Bureau building in Eldridge. Diane was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Schurr of rural Bettendorf. She was a senior at Pleasant Valley High School and planned to attend Iowa State University to study pre-veterinary medicine. • Volunteers joined in the effort to demolish the old McCausland Town Hall and fire station, a move which allowed the city to save approximately $2,000 in demolition costs. The old town hall was built in approximately 1910. A new 70x84 building planned to house both city offices and the fire department and was slated to begin construction in May. The new building would be dedicated during McCausland’s Bicentennial Day celebration on Labor Day. • An Eldridge police officer was fired for misconduct stemming from an incident at the Edgetowner restaurant. The officer reportedly became upset at the amount of mayonnaise on a salad he was eating at the restaurant and went into the kitchen to confront the 16-year-old cook, allegedly pushing the salad at the young man. After his firing, the officer said he didn’t “owe anybody anything … I was fired for pushing mayonnaise when kids push marijuana and get a suspended sentence.” • Lori Rock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Loraine Rock of Dixon, was chosen by the Dixon American Legion Post 353 Auxiliary to attend Girls State in Cedar Falls. • Jim Flick announced plans to develop an eight-store mini-mall at Eldridge Corners. He said the shopping center would be patterned after the downtown area in Galena, Ill. “There will be no neon signs, only authentic early American storefronts. The materials, design and construction will all be reminiscent of the good old days of the fair-dealing country merchants.” Flick said the tenants were expected to specialize in home improvement. “We hope to have a total home center encompassing what a homeowner would ever need to remodel, decorate or build.” April 30, 1986 • After the North Scott School Board terminated the contract of an industrial arts teacher due to declining enrollment, one member of the board said she was denied the opportunity to voice her opinion about a dissenting vote. At the meeting, Judy Bernhagen asked to read a prepared statement about her “no” vote and was denied the opportunity by the district’s attorney. He instead said she could file her statement with the board secretary and give a copy to the teacher, who was free to use it however he wished. The teacher gave his copy to The North Scott Press for publication. The NSP also filed a Freedom of Information complaint against the board. “I’m being denied my First Amendment right and the people of the school district should know that,” said Bernhagen after the meeting. “All the information is coming from one source. The administration makes the public statement and none of the information from the other side can be presented because it was presented in a closed meeting. The public gets to hear only one side. The public has a right to know both sides.”  • Fred Gertz was surprised when his fellow employees at the Eldridge Post Office honored him for 30 years of service to the USPS. Postmaster Dorothy Beck presented him with a 30-year pin and a letter of appreciation. Gertz was a rural mail carrier, driving the same route his father had for 40 years before him. • Matt Wilson received the Greenhand Award at the annual North Scott FFA banquet. Chris Gronewold received the DeKalb Senior Award, and Dennis Kirby and Gene Wuestenberg were named honorary FFA members. • North Scott senior Jenni Fitzgerald was named an Academic All-American, one of 10 girls in the entire country. She was one of five girls nominated from across the state. • The North Scott girls’ and boys’ golf teams were both off to strong starts and captured the team title at the six-team Lancer Coed Invitational at Rustic Ridge, defeating second place Linn-Mar by 32 strokes. “The tournament seemed to go very well, and I think the kids enjoyed the expiring of playing together,” said boys’ coach John McQuary. “As a whole, I think the golf program at North Scott is on a roll.” May 2, 2001 • The North Scott School Board hired Dr. Timothy Dose to succeed Dr. Pat DeLuca as superintendent of the North Scott School District. Dose, who would be just the sixth superintendent in district history, had served as superintendent of schools in Monticello since 1993. “He is a proven superintendent. He possesses the qualities we want,” said board president Jack Hill. “Every step he progressed and moved up.” For his part, Dose was excited. “It is an opportunity for professional advancement and a good location for me. I’ll be 30 miles from my mother in Clinton and I have a brother in Bettendorf.”  • Roy and Myrtle Keppy of Eldridge were named to the Iowa State University Agriculture Hall of Fame. The couple said they were surprised to receive the honor, which was presented for “regular, positive contributions to the livestock industry.” Roy viewed the award with humility. “I didn’t think that I was deserving. They told me otherwise.” • Coaches Deb Menke and Delmar “Deac” Ryan and softball legend Christy Dalton (Class of 1996) were named to the North Scott Hall of Fame. • Members of North Scott’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) chapter staged a mock car accident to remind students to drive responsibly during prom and graduation season. This was the first such event at the school since 1996. The reenactment was organized by teacher Randy Denner, Eldridge Fire Chief Scott Haycraft, and students Jami Lavin, Erin Denner, Laura Mapes, Kate Heyer and Laurien Bishop. Other participating organizations included Medic EMS, Med-Force Helicopter and Chambers & Sass Funeral Home. • The North Scott girls’ tennis team placed third at the Camanche Invitational. Lana and Laura Holst placed second at No. 2 doubles, while Alisa Tubbs, Allison Massey, Nikki Ferden and Stephanie Jurisic all placed third in their singles brackets. May 4, 2011 • North Scott graduate Tara (Ash) Case chronicled her experience with cancer in a book she wrote for her three daughters, “When Cancer Strikes.” Tara was diagnosed with cancer when she was in high school, and the book began as a series of journal entries she penned to her daughters, Madison, Presley and Josie. She said she realized after Madison’s birth that she wasn’t completely out of the woods with her cancer, and if anything happened to her, she wanted her girls to know about her life. “I wanted them to know how fragile life was and that they should never take it for granted.” Case wrote extensively about her cancer journey, as well as the support she received from her family and her high school boyfriend, now husband, TJ.  Initially, 25 books were printed for family members, but her story was spreading via the internet and through word of mouth and so she had more printed. • About 40 Eldridge residents turned out for a community planning meeting on a future land-use plan, organized by the city and Bi-State Regional Commission. Attendees were asked what services they might like to have in Eldridge. Suggestions included a trade school or Scott Community College branch, a swimming pool, more restaurant choices and more parks and trails.    • Shellee (Littell) Frazee (Class of 1977) was named to the North Scott Hall of Excellence. • Samantha Butlett placed 12th in the shot put at the Drake Relays. The 4x100 unit of Emily Soy, Kayla Naber, Abby Saladino and Jasmine Butler also clocked a season-best 52.41 at the Blue Oval. • For his Eagle Scout project, North Scott High School student Jacob Caudron rehabbed the three welcome signs in Princeton. While the Girl Scouts had painted the signs over the years, the wood was rotting and the signs were seriously weathered. Caudron and his grandfather did the woodworking, and Caudron logged 212 hours on the project, with volunteers assisting with another 147 hours. April 28, 2021 • The Scott County Auditor’s Office would see turnover at the top, as auditor Roxanna Moritz retired and elections chief Richard Bauer wrapped up his career after 30 years. While Moritz said she had intended to finish out her final term in office, she retired because she felt she didn’t have the support of the Board of Supervisors. And she said she wished her successor well. “We’re in a war about who gets to participate in a democracy,” Moritz said. • The Princeton City Council hoped that a new ordinance would bring big changes at Rivercrest Estates mobile home park. The ordinance set annual inspections and registrations and extended state and local nuisance codes to the site. “We hope this cleans it up and makes it a nice place for the people who live there. It’s as much about safety as anything else,” said council member Karen Woomert. But the park’s owner, Mary Diercks said she would fight back, claiming, “They can’t regulate me.” Diercks contended the park was not within the corporate limits of Princeton. The sheriff’s department and the county assessor’s office begged to differ. • Clarence (Butch) and Joann Richlen of Dixon were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. They were married April 29, 1961, at St. Mary’s Church in Tipton. • Spencer Thomas, a 2019 North Scott grad, helped the Grand View University shuttle hurdle team to victory at the Drake Relays. The squad set a school record of 1:01.78. At North Scott, Thomas placed 10th in the 110 high hurdles at the state meet as a senior.    • The North Scott girls’ soccer team upset No. 1 (Class 2A) Cedar Rapids Xavier at The Pitch, 3-2. The match was a back-and-forth affair, with Kendall Knisley kicking the game winner. It was a big week for Knisley, who also scored four goals and recorded an assist in a 6-0 win over Davenport North.

Help name the new Arconic eaglets!

Two eaglets are nesting at Arconic Davenport Works and they need names! A post on the Arconic Eagle Cam’s Facebook page says Liberty and Justice’s eaglets are settling into their nest and fans are encouraged to submit pairs of names for the eaglets. Any combination of names is welcome, as it’s unclear if they are [...]

From Bix to Borlaug: Two Iowans, Global Impact

I am not someone that will wake up early to run a race, nor do I have the disposition to fully appreciate the nuances of a jazz performance. However, even I, the uncultured and unathletic person that I am, cannot deny Leon Bismarck “Bix” Beiderbecke has had a great impact on our community and the world of art. When the World Food Prize Foundation announced that they were highlighting local Iowans that made an impact on their community as a part of their 40th Anniversary, I was intrigued to learn more about their choice of our area. Bix was selected and shamefully, all I knew about him is that during the annual race that bears his name, I should avoid downtown traffic. However, I am always up for a challenge and researching local history is something I could earn first chair in. From the founding of Davenport with the stock cars that took cattle to the Chicago feedlots for our rural areas, I regularly spend my limited time discovering more about what truly makes our community great. In my novice research, this is what I learned. • Bix’s career was intense but brief, ending with his death at just 28 years old. Despite his short life, his contributions to music earned him a lasting reputation as one of the most innovative musicians of the jazz age. His story serves as a reminder that influence is not measured by time, but by impact. • In 1919, Bix Beiderbecke became fascinated with a Victrola his brother brought home. Instead of relying on formal instruction, he taught himself to play the cornet entirely by ear, developing a style that was uniquely his own. That independence from traditional training helped shape a sound that would go on to influence generations of jazz musicians. • Being a mover and shaker often takes a bit of a rebellious spirit. While I would not encourage my students to follow this example, Bix regularly snuck off to Chicago at night while enrolled at Lake Forest Academy to play music. His dedication eventually led to poor grades and his dismissal in 1922, but that same passion launched his professional career shortly after. Now, armed with the understanding of a glimmer of his story, I see parallels to another Iowan, Norman Borlaug. Like Bix, Borlaug was another famous Iowan that influenced the world in his own area of expertise. Borlaug grew up on a farm outside of Cresco, Iowa. As a student, he attended a one room schoolhouse and then eventually went to high school in town. There, I am proud to share that he was enrolled in agriculture classes. He was also a member of the boys’ club, wrestling, and other sporting activities. It was his love of sports that would move him north to the University of Minnesota to wrestle and study forestry. He would see first-hand the devastation the Great Depression had on the working American and know that he would do what he could to make a difference to avoid these bread lines for all people. After finishing degrees in plant pathology and genetics, he was recruited to work on the Rockefeller Foundation-supported wheat program in Mexico. Again, faced with hunger, he physically took his tools, his knowledge, and set forth on to develop a variety of wheat that could feed more than just the Yaqui Valley, Mexico. After years of work, he was able to develop a variety of wheat that was semi-dwarf, resistant to a fungus known as a rust, and acclimated to a variety of climates. The novel techniques he used for hybridization and shuttle breeding the crops, launched a Green Revolution for the entire globe, allowing our global community to avoid the doomsday of the population bomb. For this effort, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Borlaug would go on to also earn several accolades including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold medal. He joins a small roster of people that have achieved all three honors. In 1986, he felt there was more he could do and founded the World Food Prize to alleviate global hunger by increasing the availability, quality, or quantity of food. This aspiration is still a goal the World Food Prize is working toward today as they facilitate global events in our backyard of Des Moines. This includes providing a half-million prize annually to leaders that fulfill the mission of the organization, host an international dialogue that includes leaders from around the world, and youth programs that challenge our students to better understand the challenging world around them. On a state level, they also host the Iowa Hunger Summit in the summer and honor local leaders for their food security efforts through the Robert D. Ray Iowa SHARES Humanitarian Award. Fun fact, this was awarded last year to Ann McGlynn of Tapestry Farms, a local nonprofit organization in our own community. While I might be able to carefully play Hot Cross Buns on my old saxophone and maybe walk the Bix... What I can do is run to the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines. I can run to the beautiful building that tells the story of Iowa, see the artwork, and experience the story of the man who saved more lives than anyone who ever lived. As the World Food Prize marks its 40th anniversary, there is no better time to engage—whether by visiting the Hall of Laureates, supporting its mission or helping amplify the stories that continue to shape our world. This uniquely Iowan institution belongs to all of us, and its future impact depends on our willingness to invest in it today.  

Tax reform is not one size fits all

The legislature has been “talking” property tax reform for years.  So far, without result.  Sadly, this year’s House action is no more likely to result in meaningful reform than last year’s…and last year the House did nothing.  Despite endless debate over rollbacks, exemptions and valuations, it seems no one’s property taxes actually go down!  The focus of finger-pointing this year is so-called “runaway local government budget growth.”  There are 1.3 billion reasons why it’s inappropriate for state lawmakers to criticize the fiscal management of local jurisdictions.  But, that’s another issue.  Nonetheless, it’s been proposed by the Governor, the House and Senate to limit local spending increases to 2%, with some variations. Spending caps would be the same for Bettendorf and Buffalo, Davenport and Dubuque and everywhere else.  But, one size does not fit all.  Surely, different jurisdictions have different priorities.  Some want more public safety, road maintenance or economic development.  Others less.  Shouldn’t local voters decide what’s a reasonable balance between city budgets and property taxes? Here’s the biggest problem.  All proposals coming out of Des Moines are seemingly arbitrary.  There’s no fiscal methodology evident.  None anyone can cite.  During debate I asked:  “Why 2%?  Why not 3%?  Why not 1%?”  No answer.  Nor can anyone articulate the expected impact.  After wasting most of the 100-day session on “culture war” issues, there was insufficient time to work responsibly on issues of concern to “everyday” Iowans, including tax policy. The good news?  There’s another 285 days in the year.  Let’s establish an interim-session, non-partisan commission to study the issue and recommend a path forward that delivers real, predictable reform, not just “feel-good” gimmicks.  Appoint actual economists and property taxpayers and have them develop a plan based on established fiscal policy.  Iowans deserve better than another misguided quick-fix.  We can do better.    

Des Moines heads to overtime

We completed the fifteenth week of the legislative session, and Tuesday marked the 100th day and the scheduled final day of the legislative session. As predicted, and with important work still to be completed, we will be heading into overtime. We continue working on big issues and important bills, and we are excited for the opportunity to deliver for our constituents and our state. This week, we reached a compromise with the House on our respective student behavior bills; reconciling bills is a normal part of the legislative process when both the House and Senate have versions on similar but not identical legislation. Senate File 2428, which addresses discipline for student-caused nonviolent or violent disruptions in school classrooms, came back to the Senate as amended by the House with the compromise. I’m happy to report I was able to manage SF 2428 on the floor with unanimous support. It now goes back to the House with another amendment that I proposed on the Senate floor. This bill came to us after hearing from teachers having issues in their own classrooms and getting hurt when all they want to do is focus on teaching. SF 2428 expands the definition for non-violent and violent interruptions and establishes policies for those students who cause disruptions to be admitted back into the classrooms. As teachers work to prepare Iowa students for success, it is crucial they are able to do so in a safe environment, for both themselves and their students. This bill is a great step forward to help protect students and teachers and ensure the classroom can be a safe place for learning. Another topic talked about this week was additional funding for pediatric cancer research. Senate File 2480 implements an additional tax on alternative nicotine or vapor products and appropriates $3 million to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital for conducting pediatric research. We heard, in multiple subcommittees on this bill, moving testimony by families that have seen the miracles worked at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. We also heard the other side of those stories about families who lost their children afflicted by cancer. SF 2480 creates a designated, sustainable funding source specific to pediatric cancer for research, clinical therapies, and physician-scientist leadership at the University of Iowa. The first $3 million raised under this new tax will fund those opportunities and give us the chance to get more information on how we can combat cancer in our state. This year, we have talked a lot about property tax relief, fiscal responsibility, and ensuring efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars. One bill discussed this week, Senate File 2500, brings this issue to the forefront. This bill updates a section of code that hasn’t been updated in decades, when townships managed much more at the local level. Now, cities and counties have taken over many of those tasks. It moves many of our small counties to an appointment system for township trustees and clerks. The legislation significantly increases fiscal transparency by requiring itemized budgets and annual financial reports to be posted online and submitted to the Department of Management. Crucially, it creates tiered oversight. Currently, townships with appointed officials must have their budgets approved by county supervisors, whereas elected townships remain more independent. To ensure service stability and fiscal integrity, the bill prohibits the commingling of township funds by supervisors, protects existing contractual obligations during governance transitions, and requires cities to deposit township fire service payments into dedicated rural fire protection funds. This bill was an important proposal to increase oversight of taxpayer funds, improve training for trustees and clerks, increase transparency, and ease the burden of elections in rural areas.

FilmScene launches Latin American film festival in Iowa City

A new film festival celebrating Latino culture and community is coming to Iowa City this weekend. The inaugural Aquí y Allá Latin American Film Festival takes place May 1-3 at FilmScene’s Chauncey cinema and features six new premieres.

Polarizing Express: Railroad deal spurs debate

Clickety clack. The great railroad merger of 2025 was highballing full throttle to the station, much to the delight of its supporters. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would combine to become one railroad company. The historic deal had been approved by shareholders of both companies. On Dec. 19, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern filed a joint application to federal regulators at the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. Approval could signal one of the biggest days in railroad industry history since President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act. That cleared the way for two rail companies to put down tracks from the Missouri to the Pacific Ocean. An editorial in The Wall Street Journal said the proposed consolidation could “boost competition for coast-to-coast shipping.” It said the deal would “create the largest U.S. rail carrier by far, and the first with the ability to run trains between the East and West coasts without renting access from a regional competitor.” Last fall, President Donald Trump profoundly said the merger “sounds good to me.” So, all aboard, right? Not exactly. In January, air brakes were applied to the $85 billion mega-merger, at least temporarily, after the STB rejected the initial application. The agency said the filing — even at 6,700 pages — was incomplete. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have since said they will file an updated merger application April 30. Calling their proposed merger “The Great Connection,” the railroads said linking the two systems will create a transcontinental network that “bridges the gap between East and West.” This amalgamation, they say will allow “freight to bypass congested interchanges and take the most efficient, price-competitive route.” Meanwhile, however, several critics of the merger are stating their case why the deal should be closely scrutinized, if not derailed altogether. Most notably, the American Farm Bureau Federation vented its steam. Farmers at ‘breaking point’ “The proposed merger of the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railways would leave farmers with fewer transportation options and vulnerable to shipping cost increase,” the Farm Bureau said. And it would come at a time when “balance sheets have been squeezed to the breaking point by rapidly rising input costs,” it added. Daniel Munch, a Farm Bureau economist, said freight railroads are a vital component of the U.S. agricultural supply chain. “Shippers of bulk commodities such as grain, oilseeds fertilizer, feed ingredients and food products rely on rail for long-distance movements where trucking is cost-prohibitive and waterways are unavailable,” he wrote in a research paper. Munch noted that the nation’s freight rail industry already has gone through decades of consolidation. The number of Class I railroads has plummeted from more than 40 to six, and four carriers now account for nearly 90% of total U.S. rail freight revenue, he noted. “A combined UP-NS system would further tighten this landscape,” he wrote. Farm Bureau wasn’t the only organization to blow the warning whistle. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, a Republican, was among several state attorneys general who signed a letter last November to the Surface Transportation Board. ‘Undue market concentration’ They said: “We write to express our concerns that the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern will result in undue market concentration that stifles competition and therefore creates higher prices, lower reliability, and less innovation at the expense of of America’s manufacturers and, ultimately, America’s consumers.” Similarly, the American Chemistry Council released a letter signed by 40 chemical manufacturing CEOs urging Trump and federal regulators to closely scrutinize the propose merger. “Fewer railroads will mean fewer transportation options and the merger threatens to make our U.S. manufacturing sites less competitive with the rest of the world,” the council said. One rail competitor, CPKX, a single-line transnational railroad linking Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, complained the merger is “unnecessary and will dominate rail transportation markets, reducing rail customer optionality in ways that cannot be undone.” Union Pacific responds But Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena, at the January winter meeting of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers, told customers, “We knew our competitors would oppose the merger, and we understand why. “This is a transformational merger that will inject more competition into the railroad industry and force them to enhance their services, reduce their price, or do both.” Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern argue the merger will create these benefits, among others: • Convert more than 2 million annual truckloads from roads to rails • Produce roughly 75% fewer carbon emissions than trucks • Reduce 2.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually • Transition to transportation — rail — that is 15 times safer than trucking Consolidation of the two railroads would create a transcontinental railroad with a 50,000-mile network across 43 states. It will be up to the STB to determine how the combined railroad would affect competition for freight. The agency is authorized to have five board members, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. As it stands, there are only three board members after Trump last year fired one of two Democratic members, Robert E. Primus. This vacancy allows Trump to appoint two additional Republicans to the board before its decision on the railroad merger. Mathing it out Farm Bureau economists already have noodled the numbers of a merged railroad. A commonly used yardstick, they said, is the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index. The HHI adds up the market shares of all major firms in an industry to measure concentration of a market. For Class I railroads, the index was 589 in 1978, “a level consistent with a competitive market,” Farm Bureau economist Munch wrote. It has since soared to more than 2,200 by the mid-2000s — “well above the U.S. Department of Justice’s threshold for a highly concentrated industry.” “A combined UP-NS system would further tighten this landscape,” Munch concluded. In any event, an STB decision is not likely until 2027, The New York Times reported. That provides plenty of review time for the STB to study the issue. But will it matter? Trump has already endorsed the railroad merger and called Union Pacific “a great railroad” (also a railroad that donated an unspecified contribution to Trump’s White House ballroom construction project). Stoking the coal engine And presumably a coupled, coast-to-coast freight line would be useful to Trump’s stated goal to ratchet up the nation’s coal industry. After all, about three-fourth of the nation’s coal is shipped by rail. “We must encourage and support our nation’s coal industry to increase our energy supply, lower electricity costs, stabilize our grid, create high-paying jobs, support burgeoning industries, and assist our allies,” Trump said in an April 2025 executive order. Allies? Never mind. “Our nation’s beautiful clean coal resources will be critical to meeting the rise in electricity demand due to the resurgence of domestic manufacturing and the construction of artificial intelligence data processing centers,” Trump said. Beautiful clean coal resources. Sound good to you?

Private, charter schools lack transparency

A significant concern with sending tax dollars to private, charter, and for-profit schools is the lack of transparency and accountability in how our money is spent. Vouchers were originally proposed to balance separate, but unequal, education opportunities for families priced out of private education. What passed allowed the wealthiest families to subsidize private education and incentivized private schools to increase tuition. The majority of students receiving vouchers were already enrolled in private schools, so that wasn’t a loss to the local school district, but it is a loss to the state budget. When the legislature approved vouchers for wealthy families, every dollar going to these families came from reserve funds. This led to a $260 million increase in education spending. The budget gap between revenue and spending is about $1.3 billion this year and is projected to be well over $1 billion next year. The state will cover this gap using reserves from the Taxpayer Relief Fund. There is plenty in that fund now, but what happens when this one-time money is spent? What services are we willing to cut? Transaction fees and administrative costs paid to the contractor overseeing the voucher program have already doubled. The New York-based private contractor handling the voucher program is not subject to state audit. Public schools must account for every tax dollar spent. Taxpayers can see how much the Administrator, down to the part-time custodian, is paid. Private and charter schools can be for-profit and are not required to disclose how tax dollars are spent or what is taught. Private and charter schools are not required to admit every student; they can legally discriminate based on disability, religion, or sexual orientation. After accepting a student and our tax dollars to educate them, the student can be rejected and sent back to the public school. This can leave the students with the greatest and most costly needs in public schools. School voucher programs, particularly in states with minimal oversight, have been linked to significant misuse of public funds, fraud, and a lack of transparency. The legislature continues to squeeze public schools while adding unfunded mandates and restrictions. Public schools are now required to accept students from charter schools, private schools, and home schools for athletics and extracurricular activities without compensation. Legislators must recognize that choices can come with consequences, and taxpayers deserve transparency.   Kay Pence Eldridge

Senate sends 'MAHA' legislation for Reynolds' signature

The Iowa Senate sent Gov. Kim Reynolds’ “Make America Healthy Again” legislation to her desk Monday, a package that includes SNAP restrictions, over-the-counter ivermectin and several school health and nutrition policies. House File 2676, passed 30-16, seeks to make permanent the state’s currently implemented waivers restricting the purchase of unhealthy foods through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the the federal Summer EBT program. The bill does this by requiring the state to “continuously request” approval of these waivers. Another provision requires Iowa medical school students to complete at least 40 hours of coursework on nutrition and metabolic health prior to graduation, and take a nutrition and metabolic health course every four years to remain certified as a physician. Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, said some of the changes to programs like SNAP do not promote healthy eating choices. She pointed to a report from the Washington Post that quoted some Iowans as being surprised that items like chips and cookies can still be purchased under the restrictions, while items like a “healthy sandwich” cannot be purchased with SNAP. “If we truly want to make Iowans healthier, then we need to help them make better choices, and that needs to be based on nutrition, not on just taxable status of food items in the grocery store,” Trone Garriott said. “We need to work together on real solutions for our neighbors — because they certainly need that support to be healthier, and a big part of that is making sure that Iowans have the resources to buy the healthy foods that are a lot more expensive in the grocery store.” The bill also would allow ivermectin, a drug used to treat parasitic infections that some have claimed can be used in preventing or treating symptoms of COVID-19, to be distributed over the counter by pharmacies. Senators also approved language added by House lawmakers that added several provisions related to food and instruction at Iowa K-12 schools. These changes include restricting digital instruction time to an hour each day and two hours of physical activity a week for K-5 students, requiring schools to use the Presidential Fitness Test in physical education courses, and requiring high schools to be involved in at least one cocurricular or extracurricular activity. Another proposal added by the House requires the state Department of Education to apply for a waiver to the Federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to exempt limits on sodium and requirements for whole grain and fruit and vegetable variety. The state DOE would work with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship on new guidelines on what constitutes an “nutritionally adequate meal,” which may reflect “regional food sources, including corn, pork, and dairy.” Additionally, the bill bans certain food dyes and additives, like Red Dye 40, from school meal programs and vending machines. Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, said the measure “does not improve health outcomes for Iowans,” particularly for students in rural school districts, which she said will be disproportionately impacted by the proposed changes. “We should be focused on strengthening Iowa’s investments in our schools, expanding access to healthcare, supporting our workforce and making sure every community has a fair shot,” Donahue said. “Instead, this bill promotes use of ivermectin ,and makes it harder for working families to access SNAP. It shifts burdens downward, reduces accountability, asks Iowans to do more with less once again. We can do better than this.” Sen. Kara Warme, R-Ames, said some of the changes being proposed in the bill like the limit on screen time — which comes after Iowa enacted a law restricting cell phone use in schools in 2025 — are also being taken up by others across the country, including at the Los Angeles Unified School District. “We are leading here because we care about kids in our state, and not everything that we do to improve health or education comes from throwing more money at it,” Warme said. Reynolds issued a statement Monday saying she was grateful to lawmakers for passing the bill, which she said “takes common sense steps to improve health and well-being for Iowans of all ages.”

House passes ‘right to repair’ bill for farm equipment

The Iowa House passed a “right to repair” bill with bipartisan support Monday that aims to ensure Iowa farmers can more easily repair their own agricultural equipment. House File 2763, passed 70-18, would require manufacturers of agricultural equipment to make documentation, parts, software, firmware and tools related to repairing or maintaining equipment available to independent repair facilities and equipment owners at “fair and reasonable terms and costs.” The measure has been discussed as a potential way to provide some cost relief to farmers, who often have to go to dealerships to receive repairs, as certain tools or software are required to make the needed changes. The Federal Trade Commission, as well a group of farmers, have brought legal challenges to Deere & Co. over this issue, complaining that technology needed to repair much of their equipment is available only to licensed John Deere dealers. Rep. Derek Wulf, R-Hudson, who floor managed the bill, said the measure is vital to making sure Iowans can adequately maintain their farms and are not dependent on dealerships. “Today, farmers are being told that they don’t have the right to fix their equipment they paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for,” Wulf said. “Think about that — you buy it, you depend on it, but when it breaks, you’re locked out.  … When a machine goes down in the middle of planting our harvest, farmers don’t have the luxury of waiting days for a dealership technician to show up. Every hour costs money, every delay risks the entire crop, and yet, they’re forced to sit while their own equipment is essentially held hostage by software locks and corporate control.” Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, compared the issue to other technology, like cars, that most Iowans depend on. “The root of this bill is competition, it’s about having options,” Scholten said. “If my car needed an oil change, there’s about a dozen places in Sioux City that I can think of off the top of my head that I could bring my car to, or I could do it myself. Farmers on the other hand, don’t have that flexibility.” Scholten said the measure will also improve Iowa’s agricultural economy, citing studies that found many farmers opt to purchase older equipment to avoid “right to repair” problems with new technology, and that this measure will save farmers money. He also said he did not believe the measure, if signed into law, would hurt Iowans’ access to this equipment, pointing to Colorado enacting a similar law in 2023. “Since that time, have there been significant economic harm to dealers or manufacturers in Colorado? No,” Scholten said. The bill was amended to include language that Wulf said would allow farmers to have ownership and confidentiality over data collected using their agricultural equipment. He said the measure reflects Iowa’s place as an “agriculture-first state,” and said the provision puts farmers first. “‘Right to repair’ legislation is about drawing a line in the sand,” Wulf said. “It says, ‘if you bought it, you own it. You have the right to fix it, modify it, and keep it running without asking permission.’ Farmers built this country on independence and grit and self-reliance, now they’re being told they need a password and a corporate blessing to turn a wrench. That’s not just bad policy, that’s an insult.” While the measure has passed the House, the proposal may not make it to the governor’s desk this session. The Senate has not considered a companion bill on the measure and would need to move the bill through the committee process before it would come to a vote — a tight timeline as legislative leaders aim to end the 2026 legislative session soon.