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

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026
	Regular customer charged in 2025 Davenport vape shop robbery A Davenport man is charged with first-degree robbery after police say he threatened a vape shop employee with a knife during a 2025 robbery.
	Firefighters battle Carbon Cliff house fire Firefighters responded to a house fire in Carbon Cliff Wednesday morning. Part of North First Avenue was closed as crews worked at the scene.
	Quad Cities Community Foundation launches nonprofit networking series The Quad Cities Community Foundation has a new way to help nonprofits find skilled, engaged board members. The foundation is launching Quad Cities Board Connections, a networking series that is supported by corporate sponsors and designed to connect nonprofit organizations with professionals interested in serving on nonprofit boards, committees and advisory groups. The inaugural Quad [...]
	Have you seen these suspects? Crime Stoppers wants to know! Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities wants your help catching two fugitives. It’s an Our Quad Cities News exclusive. You can get an elevated reward for information on this week’s cases: MARKCUS DAVIS, 32, 5'8", 187 pounds, brown eyes, black hair. Wanted by Rock Island County Sheriff's Office for failure to appear on aggravated assault [...]
	People are watching the Reflecting Pool like reality TV. What does that say about us? It's not just watching paint dry. The twists and turns of the Reflecting Pool repairs, originally a two-week project, have kept bloggers and viewers busy all summer.
	Multiple departments respond to Carbon Cliff fire Our Quad Cities News is on the scene of a structure fire in the 100 block of N. 1st Avenue in Carbon Cliff. Units from Carbon Cliff/Barstow Fire, Silvis Fire and Hampton Fire responded to the scene. There is no word on any injuries at this time.
	Independent autopsy "inconclusive" on cause of death for 18-year-old Nolan Wells in Mississippi An independent autopsy of the body of Nolan Wells shows that the cause of death is undetermined pending an investigation, according to attorney Ben Crump.
	MercyOne centers honored for treatment of heart disease, stroke MercyOne Medical Centers in Iowa have been recognized for their work to treat heart disease and strokes. The medical centers received 17 American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline achievement awards for demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for treating heart disease and stroke, leading to more lives saved, shorter [...]
	Senior Bix kicks off Bix Week along the Mississippi River Trail Runners and walkers had the option to complete a 1-mile or 2-mile course.
	Greetings from Jerusalem, whose holy sites host some of the oldest colonies of nesting swifts The scythe-winged birds have nested in the cracks of the Western Wall and other holy sites in Jerusalem for thousands of years.
	3 Things to Know: July 22, 2026 Muscatine sewer repairs, Bix 7 road closures in Davenport and WQAD's school supply drive are your three things to know for Wednesday.
	Illinois debuts Blue Envelope Program to assist drivers with autism during traffic stops Starting Jan. 1, 2027, drivers can get a free blue envelope at their DMV to hold their vehicle documents. Similar programs have been established across the U.S.
	Muscatine City Council denies property owner appeals over unsafe buildings Muscatine City Council voted to deny all appeals from downtown property owners, upholding the decision to declare the buildings along East Second Street unsafe.
	Rock Island man arrest after shooting just 39 days after sentencing in a Scott County crime A man faces charges after a Rock Island shooting, but it's far from his first brush with the law. TV6 looks into his criminal past
	Downtown Davenport to host events, festivities for Bix Weekend As thousands of runners, spectators and visitors arrive in Downtown Davenport for the annual Bix 7 race, the Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP), in collaboration with community partners, will present a full lineup of free events and activities throughout the weekend, a news release says. "Bix Weekend has always been about more than a race. It's [...]
	Traffic alert: Part of 280 closed for multiple-vehicle crash Interstate 280 is closed between the exits for West Locust Street and for 160th Street in Davenport.
	Riverside Park, Muscatine, will close for late-July events Most of Riverside Park will be closed to vehicular traffic during the final week of July as several major summer events take place along the riverfront in Muscatine, according to a news release. From July 26 through August 3, Riverside Park will be closed to all vehicle traffic — except emergency vehicles — from the [...]
	Iowa governor appoints QC member to Developmental Disabilities Council The Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council has announced Gov. Kim Reynolds' appointment of five new members - one from the Quad Cities - who bring diverse experiences, strong advocacy backgrounds, and a shared commitment to advancing opportunities for Iowans with developmental disabilities. New council members These new members join a statewide team of advocates, state leaders, [...]
	Henderson joins Sandburg Foundation as athletic development, engagement officer Lucas Henderson, who has several years of college athletics experience as a coach, has joined the staff of the Carl Sandburg College Foundation as athletic development and engagement officer, a news release says. In his role, Henderson will connect with Chargers alumni and supporters to elevate the opportunities and experiences available to Sandburg student athletes. [...]
	Everyday People: After a tough year, Quad-City Times Bix 7 is a relief for Dylan Parker After a rough year, Dylan Parker sees running in the Quad-City Times Bix 7 as his road back.
	Nice weather for a few more days Although July temperatures are still running above average, we have a few cooler than average days in the forecast. While rain chances over the next seven days are slim, they are not at zero. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Her son was killed by ICE at a traffic stop. She says she's still waiting for justice Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, was fatally shot by an ICE agent two months into President Trump's second term. His mother says her family has yet to receive justice.
	6-year-old aims to run entire Quad-City Times Bix 7 to raise funds to see polar bears With running in his blood, Karsen Valenzuela is hoping to complete the Quad-City Times Bix 7 as one of the youngest to do it.
	U.S. and Iranian attacks continue as tensions mount on a key waterway in the Red Sea The attacks overshadowed diplomatic efforts in Pakistan, one of the conflict's mediators, where a senior Iranian official held talks potentially aimed at reviving a collapsed ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
	The Circus This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.I beg to differ with The New Yorker magazine. In their first issue in 1926, they announced that they were not writing…
	Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall but damage appears limited Storm damage is expected to be limited because the El Nino weather pattern will counter its worst effects But unusually warm waters in the Atlantic means the risk of destructive storms is still high.
	Trump has campaigned more so far in 2026 midterms than he did at this point in 2018 Heading to Georgia on Wednesday, President Trump is campaigning more often this year than he did in the same period for 2018 and has already rallied for a dozen candidates in toss-up races.
	States want to bring Medicaid behind bars. Federal changes make that harder Funding cuts and program changes required by President Trump's big budget law are forcing states to rethink bipartisan efforts to bring Medicaid into jails and prisons.
	Peptides get their regulatory closeup A panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration will meet this week to make recommendations on whether specialized pharmacies should be allowed to make some popular wellness peptides.
	Jessica VanDyke of Visit Quad Cities earns Forty Under 40 Award Visit Quad Cities has announced that Jessica VanDyke, business growth & sports manager for Visit Quad Cities, has been named a recipient of the 2026 Quad Cities Business Journal Forty Under 40 Award among others who have made a great impact in the region, a news release says. This annual recognition honors 40 emerging leaders [...]
	21st-Century Intolerable Grievances On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was unanimously adopted by the second Continental Congress of the 13 united states, and soon after sent to King George III to serve as notice of the 13 former colonies' separation from Great Britain, including future jurisdiction and all subsequent authorities of the Crown.
	Mamdani says New York City can't arrest Netanyahu but the federal government should New York Mayor Mamdani said the city would not be able to execute an arrest warrant issued by the top war-crimes court for Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, but urged the federal government to do so.
	French lawmakers approve a sweeping social media ban for children under 15 The move makes France the first country in the European Union to pass a blanket ban on platforms as concerns grow worldwide over the harmful effects of digital content on kids.
Tuesday, July 21st, 2026
	Staying in a job for the health insurance? About 1 in 4 Americans do, a survey says About 24% of U.S. employees stay in unwanted jobs just for health insurance, a report out Wednesday finds. Up significantly since 2021, the uptick in "job lock" is a concerning sign for the U.S. economy.
	DMV services returning to Aledo Since the previous location's closure last year, Aledo residents have had to travel to DMV facilities in Silvis, Monmouth and Galesburg for in-person services.
	Coal Valley man accused of inappropriately touching two children A Coal Valley man has been arrested for allegedly inappropriately touching two children.
	Semi truck driver airlifted to hospital after crash that landed in Linn County creek According to an Iowa State Patrol crash report, the semi truck suffered a tire failure while traveling north on Interstate 380.
	After Silvis alderman's resignation, ethics commission holds hearing Former Alderman Craig Pirmann was accused of recording a closed-door City Council meeting.
	Woman found inside walls of Geneseo business pleads guilty Caleigh Gottsche pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of methamphetamine.
	House votes to extend government funding, aiming to avoid an election year shutdown Lawmakers are hoping to avoid a third shutdown since last September. The stopgap funding measure now heads to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future.
	GIFT Gardens initiative, summer classes featured by ISU Extension Scott County Extension GIFT Gardens produce donation program and upcoming gardening events, including Breakfast in the Garden, the Summer Blooms Garden Walk and a Jumping Worm Awareness class is featured by ISU Extension, Scott County.
	New mural at MLK Park depicts Dr. King’s only visit to Davenport The Friends of MLK held a dedication ceremony Tuesday for the new mural at MLK Park.
	Bettendorf expanding park cameras after vandalism causes thousands of dollars in damage Kiwanis Park currently has three security cameras, and city officials are now planning to install additional cameras at other parks.
	New Martin Luther King Jr. mural dedicated in Davenport A new mural celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. was dedicated in Davenport. Local artist Isaiah "Zay" Williams started working on the mural in July. Speakers shared stories about Dr. King's only visit to Davenport and his impact on unity, culture and education. Williams said he's honored to keep King's legacy alive through his art. You [...]
	Houser Street closes temporarily after Muscatine sewer line collapse The City of Muscatine Department of Public Works will close North Houser Street at the intersection with Dawson Street beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday, July 22, to conduct emergency repairs after a sewer line collapse, according to a news release. The Sewer Collection and Drainage Department team expects the closure to remain in place for [...]
	College for Kids at Black Hawk College prepares students for their futures College for Kids is in the midst of its 46th summer camp at Black Hawk College preparing kids for their futures. The opportunity to select three classes out of 30 allows kids to dive deep into something they find interesting or see as a career path. While a lot of the focus may be on [...]
	How control over Hero Street monument could change in Silvis The Hero Street monument set at the entrance to Hero Street, just a few houses down from Memorial Park, has been under care of a volunteer group for years. Now, that could all change as the City of Silvis is exploring the idea of taking control. Some say it is not sustainable to leave it [...]
	10th-largest Mega Millions jackpot up for grabs Someone could win a record-sized Mega Millions jackpot on Tuesday.
	Bettendorf Parks and Recreation wants more cameras to help curb vandalism City officials said existing cameras are already working, capturing the moment a person vandalized new futsal courts at Kiwanis Park.
	USDA reversal on crop insurance change welcomed by farm groups Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks in Fargo, N.D., on April 22, 2025. She was invited by North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven, left. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reversing course on a change to a federal crop insurance policy to allow farmers to buy more protection if weather or field conditions prevent them from planting a crop. USDA had eliminated the option to buy additional prevented planting insurance going into the 2026 growing season. This raised concerns from growers in North Dakota, where the buy-up option has been a popular risk-management tool. In a Tuesday hearing of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., asked Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins where the department stood on the policy. “We are 100% supportive of that and are moving forward to execute that buy-up option,” Rollins said. Farmers face greater risk with planting insurance option removed The change will restore the 5% buy-up option, which provided additional coverage for more than 67 million acres across the country in 2025. North Dakota accounted for 10 million of those acres, Hoeven said. Justin Sherlock, past president of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association and a director with the American Soybean Association, said restoring the buy-up option is welcome news, but that farm groups felt that USDA was required by law to offer it. He said defending crop insurance in general was the bigger issue. “It was the concern that this could be a bigger infringement upon the crop insurance program as Congress intended it.” While he was encouraged by Rollins’ comments, Sherlock said he would like to see the change noted in the Federal Register or in a formal statement from USDA. Prevented planting was not a major issue in North Dakota this year, but Sherlock did benefit from hail insurance on some land in Griggs County. “I wouldn’t be farming without it,” Sherlock said of federal crop insurance. Hoeven credited working with Chair Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark.,and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., of the Senate Agriculture Committee on emphasizing the need to return to the previous policy. “Given the challenges facing farm country, we worked very hard to restore this prevented plant buy-up option to provide our producers with an additional layer of protection when disaster prevents them from planting their fields,” Hoeven said in a news release. Reach North Dakota Monitor deputy editor Jeff Beach at jbeach@northdakotamonitor.com. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of North Dakota Monitor
	Illinois Tollway seeks public input on $26.5 billion plan Illinois Tollway users might face higher toll rates in 2027 under a $26.5 billion plan that officials said would rebuild infrastructure and modernize the system.
	Idaho’s Brownlee and Hells Canyon reservoirs under health advisory Cyanobacteria blooms occur when blue-green algae rapidly grows out of control. (Courtesy of Lorraine Backer/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public health image library)Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare advised recreators to stay out of Brownlee and Hells Canyon reservoirs on Monday, after recent samples revealed high amounts of toxin-producing cyanobacteria. Monday’s advisory comes after the department issued the same warning for Crane Creek Reservoir in Washington County earlier this month. The advisories show the continuing effects of a harmful algal bloom season, which lasts the length of the summer. All three reservoirs tested for high levels of toxin-producing cyanobacteria, which can be harmful to people, pets and livestock. Summer heat can cause dangerous conditions, harmful algal blooms in Idaho’s rivers and lakes Contact with the water in the reservoirs, whether by humans or animals, should be avoided, according to the advisory. Cooking or drinking the reservoirs’ water is also advised against, as boiling or filtering does not remove toxins and may increase its toxicity. While the advisory does not restrict fishing in the reservoirs, it encourages washing hands after handling fish and cleaning fish thoroughly before consuming as cyanotoxins may build up in fish. Regardless of where they plan to recreate, the Department of Health and Welfare urged Idahoans to “evaluate water conditions before swimming, boating, or letting pets enter any lake or reservoir.” The department also urged Idahoans to watch for symptoms if they do end up in contact with the water, including rash, hives, diarrhea or headache. Dogs may become ill quicker than humans, and thus should be washed immediately after exiting the water. Increased levels of cyanobacteria are the result of rising temperatures, though the microorganisms are a native part of Idaho’s watersheds. Their populations bloom, releasing cyanotoxins, and present in a variety of different looks including mats, foam, or surface scum. The blooms are not always visible from the surface. For the latest information about health advisories in Idaho visit: https://www.gethealthy.dhw.idaho.gov/recreational-water-health-advisories?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery. Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	Man sentenced in connection to July 2025 Davenport shooting The 18-year-old pleaded guilty in connection with a July 2025 shooting, during which a bystander was struck by a bullet.
	Genesius Guild will wrap up 70th season with Greek comedy 'Women's Festival' The Genesius Guild is wrapping up its 70th anniversary season with two weekends of an updated Greek comedy by Aristophanes, a news release says. Performances of "Women's Festival" (previously staged under its Greek name "Thesmophoriazusae") will be July 25 and 26 and Aug. 1 and 2. The productions start at 7 p.m. All shows are staged in Lincoln [...]
	Silvis Ethics Commission holds hearing following alderman's resignation Former Alderman Craig Pirmann was accused of recording a closed-door City Council meeting.
	Questions swirl about ambulance services in Henderson County The Henderson County board is discussing having Burlington, Iowa provide ambulance services to the entire county.
	Iowa ACA health insurance premiums set to rise for thousands in 2027 Thousands of Iowans could see their health insurance premiums increase next year after five Affordable Care Act marketplace insurers proposed rate hikes, some reaching double digits, according to the Iowa Insurance Division.
	The Supreme Court got it right in T.M. v. University of Maryland Medical System The U.S. Supreme Court. Getty Images photo.The U.S. Supreme Court issued an important 5-4 decision in T.M. v. University of Maryland Medical System, affirming a basic but critical principle of our judicial system: Litigants should not be permitted to simultaneously challenge the same state-court judgment in federal district court while state appellate proceedings remain ongoing. The court held that the longstanding Rooker Feldman doctrine bars such duplicative federal litigation, even when a state-court judgment is still subject to appeal. While the legal issue before the Court was procedural, the implications for patients, physicians, hospitals, and the integrity of our judicial system are substantial. The Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi) joined the American Medical Association in filing an amicus brief because healthcare professionals and institutions depend on clear, predictable legal processes. Physicians make difficult decisions every day, often in emergency and behavioral health settings where patient safety, public safety, and individual rights must all be carefully balanced. Those decisions are already subject to extensive review through administrative proceedings, state courts, professional licensing oversight and established appellate processes. Your opinion matters Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@marylandmatters.org. We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from public officials, elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. Allowing parties dissatisfied with a state-court ruling to immediately seek a second review in federal district court before the state process is complete would create confusion, encourage forum shopping and dramatically increase litigation costs. It could also produce conflicting judicial decisions arising from the same underlying facts. The result would be uncertainty for patients and healthcare professionals alike. The Supreme Court recognized this concern. Writing for the majority, Justice Sonia Sotomayor concluded that federal district courts cannot serve as alternative appellate tribunals for state-court judgments simply because state appeals remain pending. The decision preserves the proper relationship between state and federal courts and reinforces the principle that litigants must follow established appellate pathways. Importantly, this ruling does not deprive individuals of access to justice. Parties remain free to pursue their claims through state appellate courts and, when appropriate, seek review by the United States Supreme Court itself. What the court rejected was an attempt to create parallel tracks of litigation that could undermine judicial consistency and finality. For Maryland physicians, this case arose from a particularly sensitive context involving involuntary psychiatric treatment and related judicial proceedings. These situations are among the most challenging encountered in medicine. Clinicians must often act quickly while balancing patient autonomy, safety concerns, medical evidence and legal requirements. When disputes arise, healthcare professionals deserve a judicial system that is orderly, predictable, and capable of reaching final resolutions. While MedChi is a close ally with UMMS, MedChi and the AMA did not participate in this case to advocate for any particular healthcare institution. We participated because the broader principle matters. Healthcare delivery depends on stable legal frameworks. Courts function best when each level of the judicial system respects the role of the others. By reaffirming those boundaries, the Supreme Court protected not only federalism and judicial efficiency, but also the ability of physicians and healthcare systems to operate within a coherent legal environment. The Court’s decision may not generate the headlines of more politically charged cases, but it reinforces a foundational principle of American jurisprudence: There must be one orderly path for appellate review. In T.M. v. UMMS, the Supreme Court got it right. Courtesy of Maryland Matters
	2-time heart attack survivor plans to walk in Quad-City Times Bix 7 Robert Farrington Jr. will walk the Bix 7 Saturday after surviving his second heart attack in April and completing cardiac rehab at UnityPoint.
	Illinois treasurer returns $307.8 million in missing money to 567,000 residents Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned a record $307.8 million in missing money to more than 567,000 residents, businesses and organizations through the I-CASH program during Fiscal Year 2026, a news release says. “Our changes to I-CASH allowed us to return more money to more people,” Frerichs said. “We are proud to set records, but [...]
	Moline considering plans for future of Catfish Charlie's The riverfront restaurant closed in 2024.
	Iowa Department of Transportation updating speed limit signs The new limit on some Iowa highways and rural roads is now 60 miles per hour, instead of 55 miles per hour.
	Sterling man faces child sex-abuse material charges: Police Jason L. Erdmier, 47, of Sterling, Illinois was arrested on Tuesday, July 21, in the 600 block of 8thAvenue, Sterling, for two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, a Class 2 felony. Sterling police detectives began an investigation in May 2026 based on a cybertip received from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) [...]
	Main pool at YMCA Water Park at The Landing closes The main pool at the YMCA Water Park at The Landing has closed. According to a Facebook post by the YMCA of the Iowa Mississippi Valley: The YMCA Water Park at The Landing is located at 2255 Middle Rd., Bettendorf. For updates, click here.
	Former JI Case building on Bettendorf riverfront being torn down The riverfront building in Bettendorf had been vacant for decades as plans to redevelop it went unrealized.
	Surveillance footage released after man accused of Bettendorf futsal court arson Surveillance video captures damage at Kiwanis Park days before the grand opening of the new futsal court.
	Bix Beiderbecke Museum and Archives to hold grand opening of its new location The Bix Beiderbecke Museum and Archives will hold its grand opening for its new location on Friday, July 24.
	Davenport dedicates new mural at MLK Park The park stage mural was created by local artist Zay Williams.
	Shock House QCA Halloween attraction to close A Halloween tradition in the QCA is coming to an end. After 14 seasons of scares, organizers of Shock House announced it will not return this fall to the QCCA Event Center. In a Facebook post, organizers say the decision came after years of work and changing challenges, including more regulations, fewer volunteers and the [...]
	Davenport chiropractor surrenders license after patient becomes paralyzed A Davenport chiropractor voluntarily surrendered his license after a patient became paralyzed while receiving care in 2024.
	State-ordered study says opioid settlement money should target treatment for incarcerated people An opioid rescue kit, which includes a naloxone kit inside, is stationed on the third floor of the South Dakota State Capitol, near the Senate chamber on June 3, 2026. The kit is next to an emergency defibrillator, which is used for cardiac arrests. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)South Dakota should spend opioid settlement money in the coming years to address the needs of people entering or leaving prisons and jails, according to an assessment prepared for the state Department of Social Services. The department commissioned the $325,000 statewide needs assessment to help guide the state’s investment of settlement dollars. The inadequacy of the programs and services for addicted people in the justice system was a major takeaway, the department secretary told members of the Legislature’s budget committee on Monday at the Capitol in Pierre. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US “This is a more intense addiction once you get to that level of opioid use disorder,” Secretary Matt Althoff said. “We still see, as is so often the case, the justice involvement. Laws get broken, they become incarcerated or they become prosecuted, and they are also struggling with addiction.” The money comes from the makers and sellers of opioid painkillers linked to spikes in addiction and overdose deaths. South Dakota is expected to receive about $99 million in settlement funds through 2038. The state’s collected $32.8 million so far, with 70% of the money tagged for statewide dispersal and 30% going directly to localities. Thus far, the state has awarded all but $2.7 million of its share through a three-tiered grant system, with awards ranging from $5,000 on the low end to more than $50,000 on the high end. The largest single award went to Avera Health, which is using its grant for an addiction-focused psychiatric residential treatment facility in Sioux Falls. Medication-assisted addiction treatment In the future, treatment for those released on supervision could involve the use of medications for opioid use disorder, a class of pharmaceuticals that, at therapeutic levels, deaden the craving for the drugs without producing the high or spurring a higher tolerance and a need for higher doses. The Department of Corrections already offers the medications inside its institutions, but it has concerns about the availability of the drugs and follow-up care on the outside, said Brenna Koedam, who leads the Department of Social Services’ Behavioral Health Division. The two departments have discussed where they might begin with a collaborative effort, Koedam said, which could be with eight outside prison locations for follow-up care to parolees using the medicines. South Dakota awards $7.8 million from opioid settlement to combat addiction The Department of Social Services and Unified Judicial System have also begun talks on the drugs’ possible use for people on probation, Koedam said. On Tuesday, court system spokeswoman Alisa Bousa said the state courts are interested in “any additional educational and engagement tools that would benefit the probationers.” At the legislative meeting, Koedam told lawmakers that a stigma and “misconceptions” still surround buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone, the three medications approved for opioid use disorder by the Food and Drug Administration. The department needs to “continue to get the education out there in regards to how effective these medications can be” when administered as part of an addiction treatment program, said Koedam. Rep. Terri Jorgenson, R-Piedmont, wanted to know how long people take the drugs, on average. “This isn’t a lifelong thing, is it?” Jorgenson said. Koedam told her the answer is complicated and depends on the individual. Some, she said, may use them long-term. Sen. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City, said she recognizes that reliance on a non-intoxicating medication is preferable to opioid use, but asked if “we’re trading one addiction for another addiction.” For some people, Koedam said, such medicines can be “maintenance” medications, not dissimilar to drugs for blood pressure or depression that people commonly take for a lifetime. Some people, she said, will remain on the anti-addiction medicines “for the course of their lifetime.” Sen. Red Dawn Foster, D-Pine Ridge, urged the department to prioritize “innovative” approaches to addiction for those inside institutions. “I know a lot of inmates are self-medicating, so this is some type of need,” said Foster, referencing the use of illicit substances in prisons and jails. Next steps for funding Questions of ongoing funding bubbled up throughout the meeting. Jorgenson said the settlement money is finite and noted the department’s mention that the award amounts will grow smaller as 2038 draws near. Howard, meanwhile, said “I’m seeing a lot of new programs,” and said she wasn’t convinced that taxpayers won’t be expected to keep paying for them. State revamps use of opioid settlement money by offering ‘transformative’ grants up to $2 million “When somebody comes and asks for this grant, have you considered saying, ‘I need your commitment that you aren’t going to ask for ongoing dollars from this,’” Howard said. The department denied a sizable stack of funding applications because it prioritized programs that wouldn’t need ongoing money from the state, Althoff said. “Why did we say ‘no?’ Because a lot of it was not sustainable,” he said. The next round of funding awards will prioritize applications in the mid-range of the department’s three-tiered grant system, which it calls “organizational” grants of up to $50,000. The small awards were designed for projects at the idea stage, Althoff said, while the large ones were more about developing infrastructure. Over the next year, the goal will be to get projects into the operational and sustainable stage. Near the end of the briefing, Sen. Paul Miskimins, R-Mitchell, praised the department’s willingness to take on opioid addiction. Miskimins, a retired dentist who said he tightened his approach to painkiller prescriptions as their addictive nature became clear, said he hopes lawmakers and the general public remember the human cost of the drugs behind the settlement money. “One of the finest ladies in my practice was arrested for stealing medications out of a medicine chest at a rummage sale because she was addicted and hiding it from everybody in the world,” said Miskimins. “She was a Sunday school teacher.” Opioid settlement dollars Opioid settlement spending information presented July 20, 2026, to the South Dakota Legislature’s Interim Committee on Appropriations. Courtesy of South Dakota Searchlight
	Smithsonian too focused on 'oppressors and the oppressed,' say House Republicans In a House DOGE subcommittee hearing, GOP representatives excoriated the director of the National Museum of American History, following a White House report earlier this month that also criticized her.
	6 arrested for Burlington robberies, 2 victims assaulted Six people were arrested following two robberies that took place in Burlington, Iowa.
	Ukraine's Zelenskyy fires his military chief after protests and names a new one President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces following days of protests demanding his removal. Zelenskyy appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new army chief.
	Cyclosporiasis outbreak surpasses 560 cases in North Carolina With cases of cyclosporiasis on the rises, North Carolina health officials recommend people thoroughly wash fresh fruits and vegetables. Cooking your produce can also kill the parasite. (Photo: Getty Images) North Carolina is reporting 561 cases of cyclosporiasis as of July 20, 2026, but the cause of the state’s growing outbreak remains a mystery. Dr. Carl Williams, state public health veterinarian for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, told reporters Tuesday that while some states were able to identify lettuce as the source for a significant proportion of cases, in North Carolina the outbreak may be caused by several sources. “Our thought is that it’s likely that there are multiple vehicles for cyclosporiasis. It’s not a single source or a single food product from a single company,” said Williams. While that can make it difficult to offer advice about what to avoid, Williams says that thoroughly washing fresh produce is a good first step to protecting yourself. Even if the packaging says the produce has been triple washed, that does not guarantee the parasite will be removed entirely. “[Cyclosporiasis] is shed in feces that could contaminate surface water. In other countries, that surface water may be used for irrigation or it may be used for the application of pesticides,” Williams explained. “That’s how it gets from the human to the surface water onto the surface of the fresh fruit and vegetable. These fresh fruits and vegetables come to the United States, they come to North Carolina, there’s no outward sign of a problem.” Williams says cases tend to increase in the summer months when more people are enjoying more fresh fruits and vegetables. Cyclosporiasis, like many foodborne illnesses, can be prevented by cooking foods to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. “If you cook it, you’ll kill it. But most people don’t want to cook their fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Williams. Cyclosporiasis is one of more than 80 conditions that is reportable to the state by law. Each case is carefully investigated by NCDHHS and local health departments as they work to identify the original supplier or source. Because most state public health labs cannot do the molecular work needed to trace specific strains of cyclospora, it’s up to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish any genetic linkages between specimens taken in North Carolina and specimens from another state. Williams says the CDC has been very responsive to NCDHHS, conducting calls twice a week with state health departments as they search for answers. The microscopic parasite can cause explosive diarrhea and intense stomach cramps that can last for days. That can be especially dangerous for certain segments of the population. FDA: Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce sample produced a false positive for cyclospora “Certainly, you want to take extra care if you are immunocompromised or elderly,” Williams told NC Newsline. “Even things that may not be that big of a problem, you can get dehydrated. That alone can create serious problems.” Sixteen people in North Carolina have been hospitalized because of the parasite. Some school districts have made the decision not to serve fresh produce until more is known about the source of the outbreak. Durham Public Schools decided to serve frozen or canned vegetables until September. NCDHHS has been consulting with the NC Department of Public Instruction about the risks cyclosporiasis might pose for schools this fall, but has not issued any formal guidance. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	DMV services returning to Aledo, Illinois Secretary of State confirms Since the previous location's closure last year, Aledo residents have had to travel to DMV facilities in Silvis, Monmouth and Galesburg for in-person services.
	New DMV facility coming to Aledo Aledo is getting a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) facility again. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that his office has signed a lease for a new DMV facility in Aledo, returning local DMV services to the community. The previous location closed last year after unsuccessful lease negotiations with the former landlord. The new [...]
	6 arrested in connection with Burlington robberies, police say Six people were arrested in connection to two Burlington robberies, police say.
	Citing fraud, feds halt more than $1B in Medicaid money for California, Minnesota Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, speaks at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., in December. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Tuesday that they are freezing more than $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota in an effort to crack down on fraud. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is freezing more than $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota in an effort to crack down on fraud. Medicaid is the public health insurance for people with low incomes, including some disabled and elderly people, jointly funded by state and federal dollars. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services deferred more than $867 million to California and $199 million to Minnesota. The feds say they need more documentation from those states to support some Medicaid claims for services that are at high risk for fraud. The freeze marks the latest round of withheld payments as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on suspected fraud in publicly-funded social service programs, mostly focusing on Democratic-led states. Earlier this year, the Trump administration launched a fraud task force to look into potential waste or abuse in publicly-funded benefits programs, explicitly naming states such as California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota and New York. The Trump administration has already deferred Medicaid payments in Minnesota twice this year, totaling nearly $400 million. The deferral process, under which the federal government can withhold funding when questioning claims already billed to Medicaid, had never been used to deny funding for entire service areas until a $243 million deferral in February, the Minnesota Attorney General noted. A letter delivered Tuesday from CMS to the Minnesota Department of Human Services stated that $195 million of the deferred $199 million comes from specific providers that CMS identified as high-risk for fraud or “aberrant billing practices” based on historical billing and analysis. The money comes from services delivered from January through March and has already been paid. States will have to provide documentation backing up the claims or be forced to reduce future billing to the federal government. The Trump administration has also threatened to withhold $2 billion in annual Medicaid funding to Minnesota in a separate process. The funding fight in Minnesota centers on 14 Medicaid services deemed high-risk to fraud and are largely designed to give long-term care for elderly and disabled people. But state officials have said that funding freezes could deliver a serious blow to the state’s Medicaid program more generally, which cost $18 billion in 2024 and covers other low-income Minnesotans. John Connolly, temporary commissioner and state Medicaid director for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, said in a statement that Tuesday’s deferral reflects the federal government’s “unprecedented and punitive ways as part of their war on Medicaid and its recipients.” “CMS touts their new fraud-detection capabilities, yet has not provided data or explanation on how the deferral amount was calculated or what it was based on. I respectfully ask the federal government to partner with us and share any information about their methods to identify potentially fraudulent providers in Minnesota,” Connolly said. The federal-state fight over Medicaid funding has affected thousands of Medicaid providers in Minnesota, who were abruptly cut off from funding as the state raced to reach a federal deadline to screen all providers in the “high-risk” services. Providers and their advocates said the process was rushed and left legitimate providers unable to get paid for delivering services to vulnerable Minnesotans. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the Trump administration’s goal is to strengthen the integrity of the Medicaid program and make sure federal funds are spent appropriately. “States that receive federal Medicaid funding must demonstrate that every dollar meets federal requirements,” Kennedy said in a news release on the deferred funds. “When they cannot, we will not release federal funds until they do.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, called the withheld funds a “recycled political stunt” in a post on X, and said his state was being targeted for political reasons. Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz rejected the Trump administration’s framing of the situation in a post on X: “This isn’t about fraud — it’s about cutting your healthcare so that Trump can afford the tax cuts he gave to billionaires.” CMS said it identified unusually high growth in spending on certain in-home care programs in California, triggering the hold on that state’s funds. It has not provided proof of fraud. Newsom countered in his X post, arguing that California is saving taxpayer money “by keeping seniors and people with disabilities out of far more expensive nursing homes.” In Minnesota, a CMS review flagged expenditures that raised “potential eligibility or billing concerns.” “CMS is done trying to chase down stolen and misused funds after they’ve already left the building,” Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS administrator, said in a news release, adding that the deferred payments are part of a “proactive new approach to program integrity.” The pauses in funding don’t affect who is eligible for Medicaid, and they’re not permanent cuts. Alyssa Chen of the Minnesota Reformer contributed to this story. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline
	What would it take to end child marriage? There’s a new federal push to limit it. A participant holds a place card that reads "End Child Marriages!" during the Women's March gathering at a public park on March 8, 2025, in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. (Photo by Annice Lyn/Getty Images) This story was originally published by The 19th. Genevieve Meyer describes her childhood in the 1980s as being filled with “a lot of violence, a lot of volatility and a lot of instability.” She was raised in Southern California by a single mom who suffered significant mental health issues and, later, she had an abusive stepfather. She stopped going to school after sixth grade, never went to medical appointments and often fielded questions from social service workers called to the house. By 14, Meyer spent a lot of her free time wandering around the surrounding desert, avoiding her home. That’s how she befriended a neighbor, a divorced father with two children who was 28 years older than her. “He kind of started grooming me after he figured out that I didn’t want to be at home,” Meyer said. When her mom found out about the relationship, she called the police, who arrested the neighbor for “lewd sexual acts” — charges that were later dropped. Meyer insisted she was not sexually active, but her mom believed she was likely to become pregnant and that marriage was the only option. The neighbor agreed out of fear of losing custody of his children, and Meyer was told she would be allowed to return to school if she went along. “I thought, here’s my opportunity because that’s all I really wanted — I just wanted a normal adolescent life,” said Meyer, now 46. “I wanted to play sports, and I wanted to hang out with people my own age. I don’t think I really understood marriage. I think I saw it as just kind of a piece of paper and a get-out-of-jail-free card.” Meyer’s mom tried to get her daughter married in California, then Nevada and then Utah — all without success due to differing laws and one judge refusing because of the couple’s age difference. So Meyer’s neighbor borrowed an RV and drove her to Mississippi. With her mother’s written consent, the state’s only other requirement to obtain a marriage license was to get blood tests checking for sexually transmitted infections. No one asked Meyer any other questions before a judge in a courthouse read some words from a book and pronounced them married. In SC, 16-year-olds can get married. A bill would allow only adults to wed. She was 15. He was 43. A bill that aims to prevent child marriage like Meyer’s was introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate last week. The legislation — cosponsored by Democrats Reps. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin and Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois in the House and Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Brian Schatz of Hawaii in the Senate — was first introduced in 2024 and is the first concerted effort by Congress to condemn and prevent child marriage domestically. “I don’t think people realize that child marriages do occur in the United States, so I want to build awareness with this bill,” Moore told The 19th. “And also it’s just part of my wheelhouse of trying to stop violence against women. This is just yet another piece of that puzzle.” Under the U.S. Constitution, only individual states can set minimum age requirements for marriage. The federal government has no authority over family or domestic law, but it does have control over immigration laws related to spousal and fiancé visas. This bill — first shared with The 19th in an exclusive — would act as “a practical roadmap” for states to end child marriage, Moore said. “Our bill builds on the work of countless survivors and advocates across the country to ban child marriage in the United States,” Durbin said in a statement. “We must enact this legislation at a federal level to protect the future of hundreds of thousands of young girls who have been stripped of their independence.” About 300,000 minors — the vast majority of them girls — were legally married in the United States between 2000 and 2018, the year statehouses began taking action. Child marriage is defined as any marriage where at least one of the parties is under the age of 18. Prior to 2018, child marriage was legal in all 50 states. As of 2026, 17 states have passed bans while advocates continue to push lawmakers to end the practice in states and on the federal level. “I thought that what happened to me was just a random fluke, like a crack somewhere that only I fell through,” Meyer said. “But I was stunned to learn how many children were married. And it wasn’t the close-in-age teenage lovebirds. It was more like my situation with the big age gap and weird stuff.” Meyer, who said she was abused in that marriage, got a divorce after seven years. Now, she lives in Indiana with her third husband and consults on a statewide human trafficking task force and advocates for victims of gender-based violence and abuse. “There’s literally no good outcomes for child marriage,” Meyer said. “We legislate everything else: We decide when kids can stop going to school, when they can get their driver’s license, when they can smoke, when they can drink, when they can sign up for the military. But putting them between systems where there’s absolutely no protection, where they’re not going to get their coaches, their peers, their school, their doctor, child services — none of those support systems — and handing them over to an adult? It’s crazy.” The 19th spoke to half a dozen child marriage survivors and advocates who for years consulted with lawmakers, informing core provisions in the legislation and identifying loopholes to close. Here are some strategies laid out in the bill: Educate the public Casey Carter Swegman, the director of public policy at the Tahirih Justice Center, a nonprofit that serves immigrant survivors of gender-based violence, said she’s been working with Durbin’s office since 2019 on this legislation. “No matter how much outreach and education we think we’ve done, it feels like every week we still have a conversation with someone who is completely unaware that child marriage is happening in the United States and that it’s legal,” Swegman said. “And it’s happening to folks of all backgrounds, religious faiths, immigration status, socioeconomic status — it really does not discriminate.” Swegman said introducing legislation like this is first and foremost an education tool. “Children are being married in this country every day,” Swegman said. “And the more people learn about it, the more outrage we have, the more voices at the table, the more likely we are to make change.” Close an immigration loophole Currently, there is no minimum age for someone to sponsor a spousal or fiancé visa; there is also no minimum age for how old a foreign-born spouse or fiancé must be to be eligible for that visa. Swegman said Tahirih social workers and advocates have worked with thousands of young girls in America who are forced to marry and then sponsor the visas of older men from abroad, as well as thousands of children who are brought to the United States under the guise of spousal visas to marry men decades older than them. Between 2007 and 2017, more than 8,500 marriage-based visa petitions involving at least one child were approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, according to findings by a Senate committee. The majority of these involved adult men seeking to bring girls from overseas as brides or fiancées. The bill would require U.S. petitioners for spousal and fiancé visas to be at least 18 and to have been 18 or older at the time of marriage to a foreign visa beneficiary. It would also require beneficiaries to be at least 18 when the petition is filed except in limited circumstances. Naila Amin was 4 years old when she moved from a rural village in Pakistan to New York City. She was 7 when her auntie pinned her down to pierce her nose in preparation for a nath, the traditional nose ring worn by brides. She was 8 when she was told that she was engaged. “My dad told his oldest brother that he could have me for his son, who was 13 years older than me,” said Amin, now 36. “Like I was a piece of cow, like I was cattle or something.” Amin said because she had a U.S. passport, her family just saw her as a vehicle for her fiancé to get out of Pakistan. At the time, New York law said children had to be at least 14 with parental permission to get married. (New York officially banned child marriage in 2021 with the passage of Naila’s Law, named after Amin.) “Having the immigration piece (in this bill) is so important because we are literally laundering children through our U.S. immigration system,” Amin said. “It’s human trafficking.” Repeal the consummation requirement in proxy marriages In proxy marriages — ceremonies where one of the parties is not physically present — consummation is currently required to validate the union. This bill would repeal this condition, which advocates argue incentivizes rape, and instead require the parties to have met in person within two years before the wedding date. Sasha Taylor, a child marriage survivor and advocate, insisted that this provision was included in the bill. As an immigrant from Pakistan with American citizenship, she sees proxy marriages in a lot of Asian and other immigrant communities in the United States. Often, Taylor said the girl is not even present to consent to the marriage and someone else speaks on her behalf. When she was 15, Taylor was forced by her parents to marry a stranger seven years her senior because he needed her to sponsor his visa to stay in the United States. Her family’s reputation relied on her strict obedience and submission to the marriage — a phenomenon that she calls “honor-based violence.” “If they say you’re going to marry this person and you refuse, that’s going to break the honor of the family within a community structure,” Taylor said. “Girls can get viciously abused by the collective family, embarrassed in the community or she can even get killed for it. That is absolutely happening in immigrant communities in the United States.” Prohibit child marriage from occurring on federal property The bill would prohibit child marriage from occurring in or on property owned by or funded by the federal government, including military bases in the United States and abroad. Swegman said she is aware that child brides live on military bases, which she described as “some of the most isolated spaces for survivors that you can think of.” Use grant funding as an incentive The bill would provide states that end child marriage with increased grant funding from the Office on Violence Against Women. It would also establish grant programs for states that have not yet ended child marriage to create task force forces to support advocates and survivors. “Right now, we have survivors, advocates and others who are doing this work for free, who are doing child marriage advocacy work without funding and really pushing a very heavy boulder up a hill,” Swegman said. “Those state task forces would allow them to be focused and enable homegrown movements to make progress.” Point to a standard model The bill would instruct the attorney general to promulgate a model state statute that prohibits child marriage. Judy Wiegand, a child marriage survivor based in Kentucky and now advocate, said she was most excited that this provision was included in the bill because she would like to see standardized guidelines across different states. The reason, Wiegand said, is that families stymied by one state’s marriage laws simply find another destination. “They’re playing hopscotch with which state they can go to,” she said. Wiegand also said some states with existing bans, like Kentucky, need more direction on how to enforce them. In 2018, Kentucky raised its minimum marriage age to 18 with a loophole that allows 17-year-olds to marry with parental and judicial approval after Wiegand shared her story in front of state lawmakers. She was married at 13 after she was sexually assaulted. She got pregnant and was forced by her parents and small-town community to marry the person who assaulted her, who then became her abuser. Wiegand, now 62, said she was surprised to see that child marriages were still happening in Kentucky. About 141 cases of child marriage — more than a dozen of which were illegal — have reportedly occurred in the state since 2018. She said there are some county court clerks that are continuing to allow children under the age of 17 to obtain marriage licenses. “This is my understanding based on what I’ve seen this year,” Wiegand said. “Exceptions are being made without following any of the laws set in place, and they’re not being held accountable for doing so.” Establish a national commission to study the issue The commission would evaluate and report on eliminating child marriage in the country. The bill would also require the Government Accountability Office to examine the extent to which U.S. citizens and permanent residents sponsor foreign spouses who are under 18 at the time of marriage and make recommendations. Donna Simmons, a child marriage survivor in Kentucky, said more studies need to be conducted to better understand all of the factors that contribute to child marriage and perpetuate harms against girls and women. Simmons was a 14-year-old patient at a behavioral health facility when she met a 29-year-old mental health technician who worked there. He groomed her, they started a relationship and two years later, he paid her mom $1,000 to get married to avoid statutory rape charges. He went on to traffic her at strip clubs for years. Simmons, now 42, started advocating for other girls and women survivors and in 2018, helped Kentucky set the marital minimum age to 17. “Back in 2016, I started working in the advocacy space because I started realizing that it wasn’t just that I was a bad kid that bad things happened to,” Simmons said. “It was that the system had a huge responsibility in protecting me and failed at every angle.” Even though she was legally emancipated because she was married, Simmons was not qualified for many jobs, could not lease an apartment under her name and was even turned away from a domestic violence shelter because she was still a minor. She said she felt like she was stuck with her trafficker until she turned 18 — but didn’t leave him until she was 19 and finalized the divorce at 20. “One of the reasons that studies are so important is because we need to make sure that people understand, we need to humanize what child marriage actually means,” Simmons said. Girls who marry before they turn 19 are more likely to drop out of high school and four times less likely to graduate from college. (Simmons never finished her sophomore year.) They are associated with higher poverty rates in life and increased psychiatric disorders, and they have a greater risk of developing serious health conditions. And the risk lingers for following generations: Simmons’ own mother was 13 when she married an older man who had served in two wars and had two sons already. “If we ever want to stop these cycles of generational trauma, like ongoing poverty and chronic health conditions, we cannot possibly get there if we continue to sanction marriages that involve children and ultimately perpetuate these cycles,” Simmons said. Courtesy of South Carolina Daily Gazette
	David Lee Roth, July 31 With his larger-than-life personality and powerful voice that conveys all the energy, celebration, and hedonism of an all-night block party, music icon David Lee Roth brings his national tour to East Moline venue The Rust Belt on July 31, the rocker best known for his integral role in Van Halen’s meteoric rise to global dominance during the late ’70s and early ’80s, plus his massive successes as a solo artist.
	Brad Paisley, August 4 With his professional laurels including three Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 14 Country Music Association Awards, country-music superstar Brad Paisley headlines the first grandstand concert at this year's Mississippi Valley Fair, his August 4 engagement treating fans to such chart-topping smashes as "He Didn't Have to Be," "Mud on the Tires," "Water," and "Remind Me."
	Keith Urban, August 5 The recipient of four Grammy Awards, 13 CMAs (including two for Entertainer of the Year), 15 ACMs (including the prestigious Triple Crown for Best New Artist, Male Vocalist, and Entertainer of the Year), three AMAs, and two People’s Choice Awards, country-music superstar Keith Urban headlines the August 5 grandstand concert at the Mississippi Valley Fair, the artist having also celebrated nine consecutive gold, platinum, or multi-platinum albums which, combined, have resulted in more than 11 billion streams.
	Davenport man facing drug charges after marijuana, meth found in boot deputies say A Davenport man is facing several drug charges after marijuana and meth were found in his boot, deputies say.
	Davenport teen charged in June incident, alleged to have chased, rammed vehicle A Davenport 18-year-old is accused of ramming a car in late June.
	Rock Island artist celebrated for completing new MLK Park mural Isaiah “Zay” Williams of Rock Island fulfilled a dream by painting a new mural of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., behind the stage at MLK Park, 501 N. Brady St., Davenport.
	Jessie Murph and Stella Lefty, August 6 With both artists having enjoyed top-10 Billboard successes (and songs in the horror smash Scream 7) over the past 13 months, ascending country-pop stars Jessie Murph and Stella Lefty jointly headline the Mississippi Valley Fair grandstand concert on August 6, the former's Sex Hysteria a popular and critical hit last July, and the latter's Is This Heaven? released to great acclaim this past May.
	“The Ultimate Elvis Experience,” July 31 Returning to Davenport on July 31 with three internationally revered tribute artists, The Ultimate Elvis Experience will deliver a thrilling celebration of Presley's music and magic with featured headliner Shawn Klush, this stage spectacle having spent numerous years captivating audiences around the globe.
	“To the Limit: The Ultimate Eagles Experience,” August 1 Paying homage to one of the most iconic rock bands of all time, the touring sensation To the Limit: The Ultimate Eagles Experience lands at Davenport's Adler Theatre on August 1, the band devoted to recreating the timeless sound and spirit of The Eagles, and capturing the essence of their music with remarkable precision.
	PHOTO GALLERY: All color, all day River Drive comes to life for Princeton Summer Fest. NSP photos by Erin M. Gentz and Noah Glasgow.
	Blackberry Smoke, August 1 Touring in support of their most recent album Be Right Here, a top-10 Billboard hit that Glide magazine said "goes far beyond mere toe tapping or foot stomping," the lauded country rockers of Blackberry Smoke bring their latest tour to Davenport's Capitol Theatre on August 1, Uncut adding that the group's latest recording is "a minor classic of the genre."
	Larry & Joe, August 3 Performing a fusion of Venezuelan and Appalachian folk music on harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, maracas, guitar, upright bass, and whatever else they decide to throw in the van, the unlikely yet wildly successful duo Larry & Joe headlines an August 3 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, their concert boasting a distinct blend of musical inheritances and traditions as well as storytelling about the ways that music and social movements coalesce.
	PHOTO GALLERY: Walcott flies the grand old flag Walcott Day brought hundreds to town Friday and Saturday. Festivities began with kids races and fireworks Friday afternoon. Adult races stepped off the next morning, followed closely by the Walcott Day parade. In the afternoon, hundreds of visitors gathered in Victory Park to watch outhouse races and tratcor pulls beneath Old Glory. Drinks, burgers and walking tacos proliferated. The pie auction saw 43 pies raise just shy of $50,000—an average higher than $1,000 per pie. Full results of the contest and auction are below. Photos by Noah Glasgow.
	Pippi & Daniel Music, August 2 On August 2 a lauded singer/songwriter and gifted pianist/composer will combine their talents at the Orpheum Theatre when Pippi Ardennia and Daniel Leahy perform in a special fundraising concert for the Galesburg venue, their Pippi & Daniel Music jazz project delivering electrifying, emotionally-charged performances that fuse jazz, soul blues, gospel, and R&B into one unforgettable sound.
	“Elvis: Reflections of the King,” August 1 Covering more than 20 years of the artist's musical career and recognized by Graceland as one of the top Presley tribute acts in the world, Joseph Hall brings his touring sensation Elvis: Reflections of the King to the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts on August 1, this salute to the King of Rock 'n' Roll led by the nationally lauded artist and a former competitor on America's Got Talent.
	“The 25th-Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” August 6 through 16 Lauded by the New York Times as “effortlessly endearing” and by Variety as “enormously satisfying,” The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee closes the 2026 summer season at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, the show's August 6 through 16 run sure to demonstrate why composer William Finn's celebrated 2005 musical comedy received two Tony Awards and enjoyed a Broadway run of 1,136 performances.
	New mural to be unveiled at The River's Edge, Davenport Davenport Parks and Recreation is unveiling a new mural at The River’s Edge, 700 W. River Drive, on Friday, July 24 at 9 a.m. Apprentices from Quad City Arts spent the last month concepting, designing and painting the six eight -by - eight -foot panels that make up the mural, representing Davenport Parks and Recreation [...]
	Nicaragua's President Ortega says no more elections, extending his 20-year rule The announcement effectively canceled Nicaragua's next elections, originally scheduled for November 2027.
	“Roosevelt's Guns,” August 1 At the Davenport Public Library's Eastern Avenue Branch on August 1, the Rock Island Auction House's firearms historian Seth Isaacson will highlight a variety of firearms owned by or related to our 26th president in his program Roosevelt's Guns, exploring how, as a Rough Rider, hunter, and conservationist, Theodore possessed a deep interest in firearms, the technology advancing rapidly during his lifetime.
	2026 Mississippi Valley Fair, August 4 through 9 Returning to the area for its incredible 106th year, an eagerly awaited six-day festival boasting games, competitions, vendors, and concert sets by more than two dozen national and local acts returns with the 2026 Mississippi Valley Fair, its August 4 through 9 engagement at Davenport's Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds boasting, as always, grandstand performances by chart-toppers, multi-platinum sellers, and multiple-award winners.

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026

Tuesday, July 21st, 2026