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

Tuesday, April 21st, 2026
	Niabi Zoo kicks off 2026 season with new attractions, renovated exhibits Zoo Director Lee Jackson joined Quad Cities Today to detail what visitors can expect this season.
	The Taco & Margarita Festival returns for its 4th year The 4th Annual Taco & Margarita Festival brings together food, music, and family fun.Patricia Hansen with East Moline Main Street tells us what we can expect at the festival.
	Zookeepers at Niabi Zoo gear up for crowds on Opening Day News 8's Emma Buker took her first trip to Niabi Zoo in Coal Valley to see what visitors new and old can expect this year at the zoo.
	Road construction across the Quad Cities causing detours for residents Sewer work and water main repairs are taking place across the Quad Cities metro, so be prepared to take alternate routes as work begins.
	Henderson County sheriff’s office searching for missing Oquawka man Henderson County deputies are searching for a missing Oquawka man last seen on April 12. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office or 911.
	Quiet weather for a few more days in the Quad Cities After a frosty, cold start Monday, it'll be much warmer for the rest of the week. While an isolated shower or two can't be ruled out this evening, it'll likely stay dry until storms arrive later Thursday. Survey teams are still analyzing data from last Friday's tornado outbreak and the count is now over three [...]
	As the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deadline looms, here are the main sticking points The status of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear enrichment program are among the biggest obstacles to extending the truce, which expires Wednesday evening.
	World-renowned troll sculptures take shape in Clinton, built from recycled materials Three massive wooden troll sculptures by a globally recognized Danish artist are nearly complete, adding another stop to an international art project.
	A young mom turns to OnlyFans to make ends meet in 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' This TV adaptation of Rufi Thorpe's 2024 novel is a wild ride from start to finish. Its all-star cast includes Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman and Nicole Kidman.
	The hidden power keeping wages low For decades, economists gave short shrift to the idea of monopsony — a power employers can have to suppress wages. Now a wave of research suggests it's everywhere, and a new book argues it's key to understanding today's inequality.
	Al Tunick, Entrepreneur This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Like most Midwesterners, the folks who live around Rock Island are sturdy, but cautious. Seldom the first to try a new…
	3 things to know about Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh President Trump's pick to lead the Federal Reserve goes before a Senate committee today — but Kevin Warsh's confirmation could be held up by forces that are outside his control.
	She raised concerns about her company's contracts with ICE. Then she lost her job Billie Little had worked for Thomson Reuters for about two decades. She was fired after questioning whether federal immigration agents unlawfully used their products.
	The surprising origin of 4 features that superglue kids — and adults — to screens Taken together, these four features can create a trancelike state that can keep us stuck on social media apps or video games for hours. Children are particularly vulnerable.
	The dissenting musical life of John Luther Adams The Pulitzer-winning composer, whose unconventional music reflects the rugged landscapes he lives in, talks about his relationship to nature and his new piece Horizon.
	Gunman shoots several tourists at historic pyramids in Mexico A man standing atop one of the historic Teotihuacan pyramids opened fire on tourists Monday, killing one Canadian and leaving at least 13 people, authorities said.
	Cuba confirms meeting with US officials on island, wants energy blockade lifted Cuba's government confirmed that it had recently met with U.S. officials on the island as tensions between the two sides remain high over the U.S. energy blockade of the Caribbean country.
	87-year-old fitness instructor helping seniors thrive At CASI in Davenport, Jan Dorgan is helping seniors stay healthy and happy.
Monday, April 20th, 2026
	Japan approves scrapping a ban on lethal weapons exports The approval clears a final set of hurdles for Japan's postwar arms sales and facilitate its future sale of weapons such as a next-generation fighter jet and combat drones.
	World-renowned troll sculptures take shape in Clinton, built from recycled materials Three massive wooden troll sculptures by a globally recognized Danish artist are nearly complete, adding another stop to an international art project.
	I-80 bridge cleaning begins Starting at 8 p.m. every night and continuing until 6 a.m., the bridge will be reduced to one land in each direction.
	No jail time for Rock Island Arsenal fire captain found guilty of felony battery Timothy Weller was sentenced to 18 months of conditional discharge and must partake in anger management treatment.
	Developers break ground on apartments in old Moline Dispatch building By the end of the year, the space could be home to 40 market-rate apartments.
	QCA students push for bill allowing bachelor's degrees from community colleges Gabby Olson has ridden horses for most of her life. Now, she has an associate's degree in equine sciences from Black Hawk Community College. It's one of the few schools that offer that degree in the area. There are only eight schools in Iowa and Illinois that offer a degree or certificate in that study. [...]
	Rock Island Arsenal firefighter sentenced after battery in school parking lot: Records A 41-year-old Rock Island Arsenal firefighter was sentenced Monday in Mercer County Court hearing in connection with a Dec. 1, 2023, battery in a school parking lot, according to court documents. Tim Weller, of Coal Valley, appeared in court during the hearing, according to Mercer County Court documents. Weller was involved in a battery with [...]
	Behind the scenes of Davenport West's music performances The spring musical and fall marching band performances are some of the most intricate performances from Davenport West High School's performing arts programs, involving over 100 students and countless hours of prep, and all to "wow" the audience. Our Quad Cities News went behind the scenes of that preparation to see how the magic happens. [...]
	US soldier surprises daughter in return home at Rock Island High School U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Eli Phipps reunited with his daughter Patricia after nine months apart during his fourth deployment overseas.
	Vision coming to life at Main Street Landing along Davenport's riverfront Work at Main Street Landing in Davenport is continuing with warm weather in the forecast. Vertical construction is set to begin soon.
	Iowa House passes bill on foster, adoptive parents’ beliefs The Iowa House passed a bill prohibiting the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services from precluding prospective parents from consideration to foster or adopt a child on the basis or their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs about sexual orientation and gender identity. (Photo by Chinnapong via iStock / Getty Images Plus)Republican state lawmakers said a bill passed by the Iowa House Monday will increase Iowa’s pool of foster and adoptive parents — but Democrats argued the bill could put LGBTQ+ youth at risk. The House passed Senate File 473 in a 58-34 vote Monday, a measure prohibiting the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services from precluding prospective parents from consideration for licensing or qualification to foster or adopt a child on the basis or their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs about sexual orientation and gender identity. The measure includes language that a person’s “intent to guide, instruct, or raise a child in a manner consistent with the person’s sincerely held religious or moral beliefs” cannot be a reason to rule out a person as a potential parent, nor can their decision not to “affirm, accept, or support a policy related to sexual orientation or gender identity” that conflicts with their beliefs. Several Democrats said the measure would put LGBTQ+ youth who are in the foster care system in harm’s way. Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, read from the Foster Parent Handbook published in 2023, which states “foster parents must respect the right to religious freedom and culture of children in their care by demonstrating respect for the child’s culture, religious background, and affiliation.” This meant foster parents are required to respect cultural clothing and hairstyles, provide children with the option to attend religious services of their choosing, not require participation in religious observations contrary to their wishes or the wishes of their parents — as well as “respecting the child’s sexual orientation and gender identity, regardless of personal beliefs.” The legislation “tilts the balance away from children and toward the fostering adults,” Wessel-Kroeschell said, by limiting the state’s ability to ensure children are placed in appropriate environments. “This bill forces us to answer a simple question: When there is a conflict between the beliefs of an adult and the needs of a child in foster care, who do we prioritize?” Wessel-Kroeschell said. “This bill prioritizes the adult. I prioritize the needs of the child. The best interest of the child must be first and foremost, not a second mention.” Rep. Craig Williams, R-Manning, floor manager for the language, pointed to the language in the measure stating DHHS retains the ability to consider a child and their family of origin’s moral and religious beliefs when determining an appropriate placement. “This bill does not require the state to place a child in a home that is not in the child’s best interest,” Williams said. “The state retains full discretion to evaluate each placement individually, and ensure that the needs of every child are met.” Another measure passed by the House this session, House File 2557, also would make changes to language on how a parent’s beliefs regarding their child’s gender identity is considered under state law. This bill proposes adding exemptions to the definitions of “child abuse” and “child endangerment,” stating a parent cannot be considered abusive or be removed from foster parent licensing, adoption or custody proceedings based on their “intent to raise, guide or instruct a child in a manner consistent with the child’s sex.” The bill, which Democrats said could legalize the discredited practice of conversion therapy, passed the House in March, and is available for consideration in the Senate. Williams and other Republicans have argued both this earlier bill, as well as the measure discussed Monday, are needed because more individuals — particularly those with Christian beliefs — will be willing to become foster and adoptive parents, as the process would not force them to take actions in conflict with their religious beliefs if they do not accept LGBTQ+ identities. But Rep. Aime Wichtendahl, D-Hiawatha, disputed this argument, pointing to testimony from Chuck Hurley with the Family Leader, a conservative Christian organization, who supported the bill and spoke on his family’s experience fostering 15 children. “In a companion bill on this topic earlier in the session, the proponents of this legislation spoke about fear that they’re being denied (the ability) to be foster parents because of their sincerely held beliefs upon their beliefs on gender identity and sexual orientation,” Wichtendahl said. “But those same families — including a lobbyist for the Family Leader — confirmed in the testimony that even in expressing those beliefs, they are still foster parents. They are not being denied because of their religious beliefs on those topics. So either one of two things must be true — either one, this is a messaging bill, which fundamentally changes nothing, or two, this bill is designed to bring people into the foster care system who choose to impose their beliefs through coercion, upon the children in the foster care system, in a manner that supersedes the rights and beliefs of the foster child.” Wichtendahl also said the provision requiring a child or their family’s beliefs to be taken into account during placements may not help LGBTQ+ youth, as the disputes or safety concerns with their family of origin may have been caused by their family rejecting their identity. But Williams said lawmakers have heard from individuals who felt they were precluded or rejected from the foster care or adoptive process due to their religious beliefs. “If that discrimination’s not happening, as some have suggested, then this bill should change nothing,” Williams said. “Agencies in the state will already be operating exactly as this bill requires. But if it is happening, even occasionally, then we should all agree it must stop.” The measure, amended with some clarifying language changes, moves back to the Senate for further consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Candidate for governor plans to legalize marijuana in Iowa Sand’s plan would legalize and regulate cannabis for adults like alcohol, according to a media release.
	State health officials announce 2026’s first confirmed case of measles in Maryland Following the detection of the first measles case in 2026, Maryland health officials urge Marylanders to ensure they are vaccinated against the virus. (Photo by Jerry Saslav/U.S. Air Force)Maryland health officials warn that a Baltimore-area resident was confirmed to have measles after traveling internationally, marking the first measles outbreak of the year. With Maryland’s high vaccination rate for measles, most Marylanders are protected from the highly contagious virus that spreads easily through the air. But officials and public health researchers urge those with lower immunization to take caution. “Vaccination remains essential to protecting ourselves, our families, and our communities against measles and other infectious diseases,” said Dr. Meg Sullivan, Maryland’s deputy secretary for Public Health Services, in a statement Sunday. “Talk with your healthcare provider to ensure you and your family are up to date with all recommended vaccines, including the MMR vaccine.” A notice from state officials announcing a measles case is becoming a near annual occurrence, as outbreaks continue to pop up across the country in areas with lower vaccination rates, and as international travel exposes Marylanders to areas of higher measles risk. Last year, there were three cases of measles detected in Maryland, part of the 2,288 cases detected across the United States in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Religious exemptions for school vaccinations have been growing since COVID There was only one case detected in Maryland in 2024 and one case in 2023. There were no cases identified in Maryland from 2020 through 2022, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. William Moss, a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, says that Maryland benefits from a high vaccination rate in the state and said there isn’t reason to expect that there will be a great increase of measles cases this years. “Maryland has historically had very few measles cases, and I think that’s a reflection of the overall high measles vaccination rate in Maryland,” Moss said. “If history is proof of what’s going to happen, I would suspect that we won’t see many secondary cases of transmission in Maryland.” According to the most recent data, about 96.4% of Maryland kindergarteners were vaccinated against measles for the 2024-2025 school year, a common metric used to measure immunization in states. But what does concern Moss about this case is the amount of time the sick individual spent in emergency medical settings, including a pediatric-focused facility. Health officials say the department is continuing to identify people who may have come into contact with the affected individual. According to the Sunday advisory announcing the measles case, state health officials warned that those traveling on the evening of April 12 through customs at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in the arrivals area and baggage claim may have been exposed to the infected individual. Then, that individual went to FastMed Urgent Care in Baltimore on the evening of April 14 and early afternoon on April 17. Later that day, the individual went to Sinai Hospital’s emergency department main waiting area and pediatric emergency department from early afternoon into the evening. Health officials declined to answer questions about the infected individual’s age, citing patient privacy protections. But Moss noted that people going to emergency rooms are more likely to be at higher risk of severe illness if they are exposed to measles. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE “That’s of concern because there are a lot of people in a relatively small space – but more importantly, you could potentially have unvaccinated individuals there … as well as potentially immunocompromised individuals in a health care setting,” Moss said. “Those would be individuals who would be at risk for not only infection but more severe disease.” A pediatrics emergency room is also of concern because the measles vaccine is not recommended for children until they are at least 1 year old, though there are exceptions that would allow a child to get vaccinated as early as six months. Measles starts as a standard respiratory disease, with a fever, runny nose, cough and red, watery eyes. A couple days after the initial symptoms, people sick with measles may develop the illness’s calling card – a red, bumpy rash that starts on the head area and spreads to the rest of the body. The health department urges those who may have been exposed to check their vaccination status against measles. Those who were potentially exposed should monitor for symptoms, especially if not fully vaccinated or otherwise immunized against measles. Symptoms typically develop within two to three weeks after exposure. Those showing symptoms should not go to school, work or out in public and should contact a health care provider. Courtesy of Maryland Matters
	Bettendorf High School yearbook staff receives national recognition Bettendorf High School yearbook staff recognized as a Pacemaker Finalist.
	Garage ruled a total loss from Sterling fire No injuries were reported from a Sterling garage fire. According to a release April 20, Whiteside County Dispatch received calls of a reported garage fire in the 1100 block of 1st Ave. The Sterling Fire Department, Rock Falls Fire Department, CGH EMS and Sterling Police Department responded. Once on scene, crews discovered a fire in [...]
	Georgia’s ACA enrollment plunges, raising concerns for rural hospitals The state’s health sector was expected to lose more than $3.5 billion this year as a result of the expiring subsidies, as uninsured patients forgo care or show up in emergency rooms but can’t pay. Getty Images.More than half a million Georgians have dropped health insurance coverage amid stiff premium price hikes for federally subsidized Affordable Care Act plans, according to data obtained by The Current GA and the Georgia Recorder. The 37% enrollment drop – from 1.5 million Georgians in January 2025 to 950,000 as of April 17, 2026 — dwarfs any previous decline in the state since the launch of so-called Obamacare health insurance plans in 2014. Rising prices for health insurance policies bought on Georgia’s health care marketplace occurred after the U.S. Congress and President Donald Trump decided against extending Covid-era “enhanced” health insurance subsidies, which sunset Dec. 31, 2025. Preliminary data released in January about the number of Georgians enrolled in ACA plans hinted at a sizable decline of 190,000. The more complete numbers have been adjusted after those people who had been reenrolled automatically at the start of 2026 failed to make their first premium payments. The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire released the data to The Current following a public records request. It will be reported by the federal government this summer. The steep decline sparked immediate concern from the organization that advocates for Georgia’s rural hospitals about the financial viability of these vital institutions should the data signify that Georgia’s uninsured rate has soared after years of edging down. THE HISTORY, FACTORS The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010 and the Marketplace launched in 2014. Under the ACA, the federal government mandates basic levels of care such as for prescriptions, mental health and maternal care; and it also subsidizes premiums for certain income groups. Georgia also began its own subsidies in 2022. Starting with 2025 coverage, Georgia took over the ACA enrollment system at GeorgiaAccess.gov. Factors influencing whether the numbers of enrollees rise or fall have included how well the system is operating, how much outreach and enrollment assistance the government enacted, and above all, how expensive coverage was. President Trump in his first term pulled back on enrollment assistance, and in his second term has allowed massive pandemic-era subsidies to expire. <img decoding="async" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/JvhR6/full.png" alt="Georgia ACA enrollment drops by more than one-third in 2026 from about 1.5 million to about 950,000 (Line chart)" style="margin-bottom: 10px; max-width:100%;" /> “I don’t know what we’re going to do, honestly” said Monty Veazey, president of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, when informed of the data by The Current. “It’s a larger number than I anticipated,” he said about the enrollment drop. He said he was meeting with Gov. Brian Kemp next week and hoped to ask for his plans. Drop negates recent achievements Kemp came to office in 2019 promising to tackle Georgia’s adult uninsured rate, one of the highest in the nation. He has touted changes he oversaw to the state’s insurance market as well as the rollout of a state-based ACA marketplace called Georgia Access as solutions to this problem. The new enrollment figures, however, raise questions about how durable those gains will be. Both Kemp and Insurance Commissioner John King did not comment on the enrollment figures. Georgia’s enrollment drop dwarfs many other states’, according to partial ACA enrollment data first reported last week by the Wall Street Journal. Fluctuations in enrollment for so-called marketplace plans are routine. But year over year comparisons for April also project a stark picture. In April 2025, enrollment in Georgia’s marketplace plans had already dipped to 1.3 million, according to state officials. The April 2026 data still represents a 27% drop from that level. “It’s a really large shift in the market,” said Emma Wager, a senior policy analyst on the ACA at the health research nonprofit KFF. There is currently no data showing whether the Georgians who dropped their marketplace insurance are now completely uninsured, or whether they took up a new kind of insurance. Some of those previously enrolled could have gotten new jobs with employer-sponsored health care, but it’s likely large numbers of them had no better options, said health policy researchers. In general, said Matt McGough, a policy analyst at KFF, people relying on Obamacare plans “really have nowhere else to turn.” Wager, who emphasized that she herself had not seen the latest Georgia enrollment figures, said if the result in disenrollment ends up with a spike in the uninsured rates, then hospital finances across the state will be affected. “A larger uninsured population means that hospitals have to provide more uncompensated care. And we also know that people who are uninsured are more likely to delay or forgo medicare care…they may have severe needs by the time they actually see a doctor.” Georgia has traditionally had among the three worst uninsured rates, along with Texas and Oklahoma. But lower premium prices during the pandemic helped lead to a surge of Georgia patients getting insured. U.S. lawmakers including former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said that Congress’s decision last year to allow extra subsidies to expire would put insurance out of reach for many. Extending the enhanced subsidies another 10 years would have cost $350 billion. Democrats in Congress shut down the federal government last fall in a fight over the health insurance subsidies, but Congress did not renew the funding. Since those extra subsidies expired, Georgians who make above a certain amount— around $64,000 for a single person — no longer get any federal assistance and must pay the full market price for health insurance. For some Georgians, the cost of premiums more than tripled. Health providers expect hit The loss of enrollment will send shock waves through Georgia’s health care industry. The state’s health sector was expected to lose more than $3.5 billion this year as a result of the expiring subsidies, as uninsured patients forgo care or show up in emergency rooms but can’t pay. Georgia’s expected loss of health sector revenue from that change would be among the three largest in the nation, behind only Florida and Texas, according to the study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the left-leaning Urban Institute. Dr. Ben Spitalnick, a Savannah pediatrician, said the premium hikes presented a budget crisis for some of his patients’ parents. “I know patients who, this year it’s doubled for them,” Spitalnick said. “It’s insane to consider having to drop your health insurance,” he said. “If you’re, sort of solo employed or a very small business, and don’t have the comfort of either Medicaid or have a very large employer who has a large health plan, the exchange was a great option. Now it’s super expensive.” McGough, the KFF researcher, said the ACA tends to insure people who are juggling hourly jobs or are self employed. Self employed often means doing gig work like driving Uber. More than a quarter of farmers and beauticians were insured through the ACA marketplace as of 2023, according to KFF. The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010 and the Marketplace launched in 2014. Under the ACA, the federal government mandates basic levels of care such as for prescriptions, mental health and maternal care; and it also subsidizes premiums for certain income groups. Georgia also began its own subsidies in 2022. Starting with 2025 coverage, Georgia took over the ACA enrollment system at GeorgiaAccess.gov. Factors influencing whether the numbers of enrollees rise or fall have included how well the system is operating, how much outreach and enrollment assistance the government enacted, and above all, how expensive coverage was. President Trump in his first term pulled back on enrollment assistance, and in his second term has allowed massive pandemic-era subsidies to expire. This story was published in partnership with The Current. The Current is an independent, in-depth and investigative journalism website for Coastal Georgia. Courtesy of Georgia Recorder
	East Moline Public Library to host resource fair The East Moline Public Library will host a resource fair to connect people with local organizations.
	Gov. JB Pritzker reappoints Quad-Cities local to Workforce Innovation Board Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has reappointed Grow Quad Cities' Christine Caves to the Workforce Innovation Board.
	Quad Cities Regional Business Journal: What's ahead for Hyprlift in the QCA? The next generation of elevators will become a reality here in the QCA, utilizing the historic KONE Tower building in Moline. Dave Thompson from the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about what's ahead for Hyprlift. For more information, click here.
	Clinton police asking for help locating missing man Dermot Bly was last seen on Thursday. Officials said factors such as a traumatic brain injury and potential loss of medication make finding him especially urgent.
	Plenty of "April showers" already this month Even if we don't get another drop of rain for the rest of the month, this will be a top 20 rainiest month of April in the Quad Cities. We're in 20th place right now with 5.24" of rain so far. If we get another three quarters of an inch, that'd place us in the [...]
	Students can vote for Illinois' official state color Illinois may soon have an official state color. A bill that passed the Illinois House would allow K-12 students to vote to give Illinois a state color. Illinois State University student Elizabeth Austin contacted Rep. Travis Weaver for a civics class assignment, when she realized Illinois does not have a state color. Weaver says this [...]
	Illinois soldier makes surprise return home Eli Phipps surprised his daughter at Rock Island High School after returning home from his fourth and final deployment.
	Mobility equipment repairs, health services available at Caldwell Health and Resource Fair Seniors and other Idaho residents are encouraged to attend a health resources and social services fair on Wednesday in Caldwell. (Photo by Ariel Skelley/Getty Images)Seniors and other Idaho residents are encouraged to attend a health resources and social services fair on Wednesday in Caldwell. Molina Healthcare of Idaho and the Idaho Living Independence Network, or LINC, are partnering up to host the Caldwell Health and Resource Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the O’Connor Field House at 2207 Blaine St. The event will feature mobility equipment repairs provided by LINC, along with haircuts, mammogram checks, veterinary services and food trucks. Molina employees will also be on site to provide health information and support services. “Only 50% of Idahoans find it very or somewhat easy to access health care services for physical health needs, which is why LINC, Molina, and other partners are coming together to bring health-related services and resources into local neighborhoods,” a Molina Healthcare press release announcing the event said. “Through this long-standing community event, LINC and Molina are working to reduce barriers to care and support the health and well-being of Idahoans.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	Military homecoming at Rock Island High School Patricia Phipps started the day like any other Monday, returning to school after the weekend, not expecting the surprise of her life later at Rock Island High School. Phipps' dad, Eli Phipps, is part of the Illinois National Guard. The family moved to the Quad Cities in 2009 after he served in Afghanistan. Monday morning, [...]
	Giant wooden troll sculptures take shape in Clinton Three giant wooden troll sculptures are being built in Clinton with help from local volunteers.
	Programming note: No 10 p.m. newscast Monday night A programming note for our KWQC TV6 viewers.
	Alaska Senate advances bill to ban certain food dyes in school meals Children pick up their school lunches. (Photo by Amanda Mills/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)The Alaska Senate passed a bill Monday that would ban public schools in Alaska from serving certain food dyes in school breakfasts or lunches. Lawmakers expressed concerns that certain petroleum-based food dyes in processed foods have unhealthy side effects on children. Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, the sponsor of Senate Bill 187, said Monday, “We like to sell our petroleum to fuel our cars and generate our power plants, not to feed our kids.” Wielechowski pointed to studies that suggested that artificial dyes are linked to increased hyperactivity, inattentiveness and allergic reactions in children. The bill would ban red dyes Nov. 3 and No. 40, yellow dyes No. 5 and No. 6, blue dyes No. 1 and No. 2 and green dye No. 3. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a campaign in April 2025 to eliminate synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply by the end of 2027 and to authorize natural color alternatives. Alaska proposes banning the same food dye in schools that HHS and the FDA are working with the food industry to eliminate. The bill received strong support from Alaska Community Action on Toxics and opposition from the International Association of Color Manufacturers, which maintains that synthetic dyes are safe for consumers. Carlee Johnson McIntosh, Petersburg School District food service director, wrote in a letter to legislators that the bill aligns with work the school district is already doing to remove synthetic dyes from school meal programs. She said the bill would not create a significant burden for the school district. “Schools should be environments where students are set up for success, and access to nutritious meals plays an important role in that success,” Johnson McIntosh wrote. “Establishing these standards in state law would demonstrate Alaska’s ongoing commitment to student health, regardless of potential shifts at the federal level.” The bill passed the Senate with 19 yes votes. Sen. Donny Olson, D-Golovin, was excused absent. If it passes the House and becomes law, it would go into effect in January 2028. Alaska would join states including Arizona, California, Delaware, Louisiana, Virginia and West Virginia in banning artificial food dyes in schools. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Army sergeant returns home, surprises daughter at Rock Island High School An emotional reunion was had Monday morning at Rock Island High School.
	Gun found in backpack at Rock Island High School after weapon detection system alerts staff This is the second time the Evolv Weapon Detection System has identified a gun in the district.
	Fatal shooting by Fort Dodge police leads to lawsuit (Photo by David Talukdar/Getty Images)The family of a man who was shot and killed by Fort Dodge police while in the midst of a mental-health crisis is now suing the city. The estate of Tyler Stansberry is suing the city, its police department, and officers Nicholas Ruggles, Matthew English, Mathew Webb and Andrew Lane in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. The lawsuit, which was originally filed last month in state court, states that Stansberry, 24, was autistic and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. On March 16, 2024, according to the lawsuit, his brother, Tristan, called police and told the dispatcher, “My brother has schizophrenia … He’s having an episode right now … I need help, please … Tell them, please, not to hurt my brother.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Upon their arrival at the Stansberry home, according to the lawsuit, Tristan informed Ruggles and English the court had approved an involuntary commitment the day before and someone was supposed to come to the house to facilitate the commitment. Tristan also told the officers Tyler had a weapon — a knife, he believed — and advised the officers, “Just don’t grab your gun. Tase him if you have to. Don’t grab your gun,” the lawsuit alleges. At roughly 8:55 a.m., Webb and Lane arrived at the scene. Christine Stansberry, Tyler’s mother, allegedly overheard one of the four officers use the word “shotgun” and, according to the lawsuit, she panicked and asked, “What did you say? Did he say shotgun?” Lane clarified that he was referring to a shotgun that fired non-lethal beanbags to incapacitate individuals, according to the lawsuit. About 9 a.m., Ruggles entered the home holding a police shield in one hand and a Taser in the other. English, armed with a 9mm handgun, followed. Lane, with the beanbag gun, was behind English, and Webb, armed with a handgun, brought up the rear. The officers descended a set of stairs to the basement, according to the lawsuit. Tyler emerged from a room in the back of the basement and “moved directly toward the officers,” the lawsuit claims. Almost simultaneously, Ruggles fired his Taser, Lane fired his beanbag gun, and English fired two shots from his handgun — with Tyler struck by every round fired by each officer, according to the lawsuit. Stansberry later died of the gunshot wounds, the lawsuit alleges. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for alleged negligence that led to the shooting. The city has yet to respond to the allegations. Attorney general concluded shooting was justified The office of Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird investigated the shooting and concluded in a written report that Stansberry “had a history of violence,” had been violent that day, and was armed with at least one deadly weapon. The police officers, the report stated, “resorted to force only when Stansberry, without provocation, charged at them from concealment from only a few feet away, armed with a knife in each hand. Even after being tased, struck by a beanbag round, and shot by two bullets, Stansberry continued to resist the officers. “Had the officers, including Officer English, not used lethal force, they would have likely suffered serious injury or death … The Iowa Attorney General’s Office concludes that law-enforcement officers’ actions in this incident were legally justified and that criminal charges are unwarranted.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Build or bulldoze: Knox County considering options for aging courthouse The 140-year-old building continues to reveal more problems than the county can afford to fix.
	State: Troubled Davenport nursing home tried to evict resident to a homeless shelter A Davenport nursing home with a long history of serious violations has been cited for more than a dozen regulatory violations, including the forced eviction of a resident to a homeless shelter.
	Bird's-eye views from across the Quad Cities region during the week of April 17, 2026 Sit back, relax and enjoy these scenes captured by the News 8 drone from across the Quad Cities region this week.
	Bringing the Bandages Back Together: “Lee Cronin's the Mummy,” “Normal,” “Lorne,” and “Busboys” Probably like a lot of you, upon hearing the title of the latest horror flick to hit cineplexes, my immediate question was “Who the hell is Lee Cronin?!”
	Clinton police asking for help locating missing man Dermot Bly was last seen on Thursday. Officials said factors such as a traumatic brain injury and potential loss of medication make finding him especially urgent.
	Iowa City police seek person of interest in Ped Mall shooting, call for video Iowa City police said they have identified numerous persons of interest in connection to a shooting at the Ped Mall early Sunday that hurt five people.
	Moline to begin annual hydrant flushing program over 5-week span Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day.
	State: Troubled nursing home tried to evict resident to a homeless shelter A Davenport nursing home with a long history of serious violations has been cited for more than a dozen regulatory violations, including the forced eviction of a resident to a homeless shelter.
	Murrill asks 5th Circuit to stop telehealth abortion pill prescriptions while court case plays out Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has asked the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to halt Food and Drug Administration policy that allows telehealth prescriptions of abortion drugs while her lawsuit to overturn the rules entirely is on hold. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)Louisiana’s attorney general wants a federal appellate court to block Biden-era policy that allows telehealth appointments for abortion medication while her lawsuit against the Trump administration to end the practice entirely is on hold. Liz Murrill announced Monday she has filed a motion with the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to issue a stay or injunction that would require all prescriptions for the drug mifepristone come only after an in-person medical visit. Louisiana is suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reverse the regulation President Joe Biden backed in 2023. Mifepristone and misoprostol are components of a two-drug regimen for medication abortions. Louisiana outlawed nearly all abortions in 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that kept the procedure legal. The state has also prohibited shipments of abortion drugs by mail to Louisiana, though doctors and clinics in other states with shield laws to protect them have continued to send the pills to places where abortion is illegal. In addition to suing the FDA, Murrill has brought criminal charges against physicians in New York and California who have shipped abortion drugs to Louisiana. Shield laws in those states have stymied Murrill’s attempts to arrest and try the doctors. U.S. District Judge David Joseph put Murrill’s lawsuit on hold April 7 and ordered the FDA to conduct a safety review of mifepristone with “deliberate speed.” Anti-abortion organizations have argued the medication is too risky to prescribe without face-to-face doctor’s consultation, though prior research has deemed it safe. The same groups have accused FDA Marty Makary of slow-walking the study. In her filing, Murrill contends the decision earlier this month from Joseph, a federal court appointee of President Donald Trump, indicates the state is mostly likely to prevail on the merits of its case. In the meantime, Louisiana is “suffering irreparable harm” as long as the 2023 policy is in effect, she said. Both the attorney general and reproductive health advocates have said roughly 1,000 abortions per month are still taking place in Louisiana despite its strict ban, attributed largely to the availability of telehealth prescriptions. There was no immediate response to Murrill’s filing from the FDA or the two companies that manufacture mifepristone that are codefendants in the case. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Louisiana Illuminator
	Lindsay Park sculptures returning to Davenport The fiberglass statues are modeled after the Georges Seurat painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte."
	Former newspaper building in downtown Moline to become apartments The 40-unit building is expected to open by the end of this year.
	The Onion has agreed to a new deal to take over Infowars The Onion says it has a new deal to take over conspiracy theorist Alex Jones's Infowars media company. If approved, the satirical news website could turn Infowars into a parody of itself.
	Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO The 65-year-old Cook will turn over CEO duties to Apple's head of hardware products, John Ternus, on September 1 while remaining involved with the Cupertino, California, company as executive chairman.
	Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO The 65-year-old Cook will turn over CEO duties to Apple's head of hardware products, John Ternus, in September. Cook will remain with the company as executive chairman.
	Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO. In letter, describes 15 years of emails The 65-year-old Cook will turn over CEO duties to Apple's head of hardware products, John Ternus, in September. Cook will remain with the company as executive chairman.
	The Waiting Child: Future astronaut Keishawn loves science; waits for a Big Brothers Big Sisters ‘Big’ More than 200 kids in the area are on the waiting list for a ‘Big.’ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley needs volunteers to spend time with them. In this week’s The Waiting Child, Our Quad Cities News' Eric Olsen introduces us to Keishawn, who loves science and is a future astronaut. Keishawn [...]
	Rhode Island health officials report year’s first confirmed measles case A red, blotchy rash that is the trademark symptom of measles is shown. People are contagious for four days before and after the rash appears. (iStock/Getty Images)Rhode Island’s first confirmed case of measles in 2026 was identified over the weekend. The Rhode Island Department of Health announced Saturday that the case involved a man in his 40s from Providence County, who returned to Rhode Island on April 13 after traveling abroad. Two days later, on Wednesday, April 15, the man went to Atmed Treatment Center in Johnston, where he tested positive for measles. The health department is alerting customers and staff at Panadería El Quetzal — a Guatemalan bakery at 445 Hartford Ave. in Providence — that they may have been exposed to the illness if they were there on April 15 between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The health department said it is working with the bakery and Atmed to notify people who were potentially exposed. Also notified was the Division of Global Migration Health within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to help identify and alert any passengers who may have been exposed during travel. The man, now recovering at home according to the health department, is the state’s first confirmed case of measles since January 2025. People who may have been exposed and who have become symptomatic should first call a health care provider before arriving at a doctor’s office, clinic or emergency department, the health department warned, because an in-person visit could expose others. Measles evolved from a now-eradicated, cattle-only virus called rinderpest. Other viruses in this family, known as Morbilliviruses, affect dogs, cats, seals and cetaceans like dolphins. A 3D graphic rendering that represents a spherical-shaped, measles virus particle. (U.S. CDC/ Allison M. Maiuri, MPH, CHES) Measles is known for being highly contagious, and spreads through the air easily via an infected person’s breathing, coughing or sneezing. It can linger in the air for up to two hours, and the CDC estimates that up to nine out of 10 nonimmune people can get infected via close contact with a measles-infected person. It does not spread easily via objects. The symptom timeline for measles can complicate infected people’s awareness of having the illness. Initial symptoms usually include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed by the rash, which tends to start on the face and move downward over the trunk. People are contagious for four days before and after the illness’ trademark rash appears. Care is mostly supportive, as no antiviral medication exists. Complications can include pneumonia, ear infections and respiratory illness. The health department noted, however, that people are unlikely to get sick if they have had measles before or have received two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. These vaccines are typically administered in infancy and again early childhood. State health officials noted that Rhode Island’s kindergarten measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rate is about 97%. “Measles is almost entirely preventable through vaccination,” health department Director Dr. Jerry Larkin said in a news release issued Saturday. “Any parent or guardian who has a child at home who is older than a year old and has not been vaccinated against measles should talk to their child’s healthcare professional. For any family with insurance issues or trouble accessing care, RIDOH can make vaccine available at no cost.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	Police searching for persons of interest in Iowa City shooting that injured 5 One of the victims is still in critical condition.
	Wisconsin social work leader resists attack on conversion therapy ban A Wisconsin professional standard for social workers and other counselors bars conversion therapy, but two organizations are demanding its repeal after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Parade participants in England carry a "ban conversion therapy" banner. (Getty Images)Two right-wing organizations are taking aim at the ban on conversion therapy in Wisconsin’s professional code for social workers, citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. But the head of a group that fought for the ban says professional standards are the central issue — and aren’t subject to free speech claims. In a joint letter Wisconsin Family Action and the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty are demanding that Wisconsin repeal the ban. Conversion therapy is a widely discredited practice purporting to change sexual orientation or gender identity. The Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board included the ban in its updated professional code published in April 2024. The code declares that it is “unprofessional conduct” for practitioners to use or promote “any intervention or method that has the purpose of attempting to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including attempting to change behaviors or expressions of self or to reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender.” WILL has been at the center of many conflicts over trans-inclusive policies and gender identity. Wisconsin Family Action has also lobbied against including gender identity in state civil rights protections. Their letter seeking the conversion therapy ban’s repeal cites a U.S. Supreme Court ruling March 31 in a lawsuit that challenges Colorado’s law banning conversion therapy on First Amendment grounds. The high court ruling didn’t throw out the Colorado law directly. Instead, it instructed the federal court hearing the Colorado lawsuit to subject that law to “strict scrutiny” on First Amendment grounds because it seeks to “regulate speech based on viewpoint.” The WILL-Wisconsin Family Action letter, first reported by Wisconsin Health News, was sent April 14 to Gov. Tony Evers, the Department of Safety and Professional Services and the chair of the social work examining board. The letter demands that the board stop enforcing the ban and start the process of repealing it. WILL represents a Christian counselor in a pending federal lawsuit to block a La Crosse city ordinance that bans conversion therapy. Marc Herstand, executive director for the National Association of Social Workers’ Wisconsin chapter, said the U.S. Supreme Court ruling isn’t relevant to the Wisconsin rule. “I don’t think it applies because we have a rule, and according to state statute, professional boards can create their own ethical standards,” Herstand told the Wisconsin Examiner. That is supported by both the general law that applies to the state’s licensing boards as well as specific provisions authorizing the social worker board, he said. Herstand said rules against conversion therapy are to prevent harm. He compared the practice to an electrician’s bad advice that leads to a homeowner’s fatal electric shock or a health provider whose bad advice leads a patient with diabetes to lose a limb to nerve damage or the loss of circulation. “That’s not free speech — that’s unprofessional conduct,” Herstand said. The electrician or health professional “would be held accountable by the [relevant professional] board. Conversion therapy is exactly the same thing.” Republican lawmakers repeatedly blocked several previous attempts to update Wisconsin’s social work standards. In April 2024, after the Legislature’s session ended, the social work examining board updated its professional standards to restore the conversion therapy ban. Then, in a landmark state Supreme Court ruling in July 2025, Chief Justice Jill Karofsky wrote that the statutes that state legislators had used to review and suspend administrative rules violated the Wisconsin Constitution. The examining board “exercised its statutory authority” when it revised its rules to ban conversion therapy, Karofsky wrote in the 4-3 decision. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Wisconsin Examiner
	Fewer Oregonians are enrolling in marketplace plans because of federal uncertainty Oregonians can explore Marketplace health insurance plans at Healthcare.oregon.gov. (Getty Image)About 21,000 fewer people enrolled in health insurance plans through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace compared with a year ago, according to a new report. The Oregon Health Authority on Thursday released its annual report giving insight into what enrollment rates are for the state’s health insurance exchange and explaining why those rates are changing. The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace offers financial assistance and coverage guidance for those who don’t receive health insurance through their employer, Medicare, the Oregon Health Plan or Veterans Affairs. Self-employed people, part-time workers or employees of smaller businesses that don’t offer health insurance typically use the marketplace. About 118,400 people during open enrollment enrolled in marketplace health insurance for 2026, 15% less than the nearly 140,000 people who enrolled in 2025. Click here to read the Oregon Health Authority’s annual Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace report. The report attributed that drop to the expiration of the pandemic-era enhanced premium tax credit, which means more Oregonians purchasing marketplace coverage are now facing higher premiums. In 2026, people paid an average of $426 in monthly premiums after financial assistance, a surge from an average of $272 in 2025. The higher premiums are influencing people’s decision on whether to enroll at all or downgrade to a plan with higher-out-of-pocket costs, according to the report. Federal policy changes after President Donald Trump signed last summer’s sweeping congressional tax and spending law have also affected enrollment. The law he signed in July 2025 increased documentation requirements to access Medicaid and Affordable Care Act programs. And as of August, people who came to the U.S. as children and are enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program are no longer eligible for Marketplace coverage. Disenrollments took place in October. The state directed affected individuals to alternative coverage options, such as Healthier Oregon, a Medicaid-like program that is primarily state-funded. Among Oregonians enrolled in marketplace plans, the largest share, or 38% of enrollees, are people ages 35 to 54. They are followed by people ages 55 and older at 34%, adults ages 18 to 34 at 18% and individuals under age 18 at 10%, according to the report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Oregon Capital Chronicle
	Commonwealth Court rules the state constitution includes a fundamental right to abortion Pennsylvania’s Constitution grants the fundamental right to reproductive autonomy, a state court ruled Monday. (Capital-Star photo)(*This article was updated at 8:38 p.m., April 20, 2026, to include a response from State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the presumptive Republican nominee for governor. It also corrected the spelling of Susan Frietsche’s name.) Pennsylvania’s Constitution grants the fundamental right to reproductive autonomy, a state court ruled Monday in a long running challenge to the commonwealth’s ban on Medicaid subsidies for abortion. In its 4-3 ruling in favor of a group of Pennsylvania women’s health clinics, the Commonwealth Court struck down the coverage exclusion for abortion contained in the state’s 1982 Abortion Control Act as unconstitutional sex-based discrimination. Although that finding was enough for the court to dispose of the case, the majority took an additional step of declaring that the right to abortion is fundamental. The state’s justification for any infringement on that right is subject to the highest degree of legal scrutiny, the court held. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE That means the state can restrict the right only when it can demonstrate compelling interest in doing so, the majority said. They sided with a plurality of state Supreme Court justices in a decision last year that kicked the case back to the lower Commonwealth Court. “We agree with providers that recognizing this fundamental right, as the plurality did, is necessary to restrict state government to its proper sphere, thus protecting our liberty,” Judge Matthew S. Wolf said in his 40-page majority opinion. “This will mean that the state will face judicial scrutiny of its attempts to coerce reproductive choice. Those choices are the people’s, not the government’s.” In Monday’s opinion, the majority also said state Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office had failed to show either a compelling state interest or that the exclusion was the least restrictive way to accomplish its interest. David S. Cohen, a Drexel University professor of constitutional law who assisted in litigation, said the finding of a fundamental right to abortion in the commonwealth is especially significant in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Louisiana decision. That 2022 decision overturned the nearly 50-year-old precedent in Roe v. Wade that established a right to abortion under the federal constitution. A Planned Parenthood clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah, is pictured on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. (Photo by McKenzie Romero/Utah News Dispatch) The underlying lawsuit was filed in 2019 by the Allegheny Reproductive Health Center, Allentown Women’s Center, Delaware County Women’s Center, Planned Parenthood Keystone and the organization’s southeastern and western Pennsylvania chapters. Since then, the lawsuit has been through Commonwealth Court and the state Supreme Court twice. In January 2024, the high court reversed the lower court’s 2021 decision dismissing the case. In that 3-2 decision, the Supreme Court overturned a 42-year-old decision that upheld the constitutionality of the Abortion Control Act’s ban on Medicaid-funded abortions except in cases of rape or incest. The Commonwealth Court cited that decision as the basis for dismissing the lawsuit. Justice Christine Donohue, author of the state’s highest court’s lead opinion, and Justice David Wecht agreed that “the right to reproductive autonomy, like other privacy rights, is fundamental.” Justice Kevin Dougherty, who concurred in the overall result of the decision, said he agreed with dissenting Chief Justice Debra Todd and Justice Sallie Mundy that the case was not about the right to abortion and it was not the right time to decide whether there is a fundamental right. He added the question was likely to return to the Supreme Court. Susan Frietsche, executive director of the Women’s Law Project in Pittsburgh, said Monday the Medicaid coverage exclusion was the single largest barrier to abortion access in Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs noted the ban disproportionately affects low-income and minority women. “We moved a giant step in the direction of removing it,” Frietsche said, adding that it’s unclear whether Sunday, a Republican elected in 2024, would appeal Monday’s decision “But what is now in Pennsylvania law that I don’t believe an appeal would disturb, is the constitutional principle that equality of rights under the law guaranteed by our state Equal Rights Amendment includes reproductive rights,” Frietsche added. “And that is a big, significant and very meaningful win for the women of Pennsylvania.” Sunday’s spokesman said the attorney general’s office is reviewing the opinions. Cohen noted the court permitted Sunday to intervene in the case as a new attorney general. “It’s one thing, to intervene at a state being litigated, and it’s another, to take an appeal and spend taxpayer dollars to defend something to a court that has already, you know, strongly indicated that this law is unconstitutional,” Cohen said. While the defendant in the case is the state Department of Human Services (DHS), part of the executive branch, the Pennsylvania attorney general has the authority to defend state law under the Commonwealth Attorneys Act. That law delineates the responsibilities of the attorney general and the governor’s appointed general counsel. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is seeking reelection this year, announced following the Supreme Court’s ruling that DHS would no longer defend the abortion coverage exclusion. “I’ve long opposed this unconstitutional ban,” Shapiro said in a social media post. “I did not defend it – because a woman’s ability to access reproductive care should never be determined by her income.” State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the presumptive Republican nominee for governor, responded strongly to the ruling in a series of X posts. “The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court’s decision to force our tax dollars to pay for abortions is not only misguided, it is immoral. It is also deeply concerning that Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration withdrew as respondents in this case,” Garrity posted, also noting the Abortion Control Act was passed with bipartisan support and that using Medicaid funding for abortion would violate a federal ban. While Sunday’s filings said he accepts the Supreme Court’s holding that the Medicaid exclusion is sex-based discrimination, he offered three state interests that he argued are compelling and for which blocking coverage was the least intrusive means of achieving. Sunday argued the state has an inherent right to protect the life and health of a fetus subject to abortion, an interest in protecting the health of women and “not violating the conscience of those who oppose abortion.” The Commonwealth Court majority rejected each of the attorney general’s office’s arguments, saying it had not shown they are compelling interests. It noted the providers argued persuasively that many other government-funded initiatives would serve achieve those goals without restricting reproductive autonomy. “Any state interest in promoting carrying a pregnancy to term is furthered at least as well by state investment in maternal and infant healthcare, and in childcare and other resources for new mothers, as it is by the Coverage Exclusion,” Wolf wrote. Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star
	Clinton Police ask for help finding missing, vulnerable man Dermot Bly hasn’t been seen or heard from since Thursday, according to a Facebook post.
	Niabi Zoo opens 2026 season Tuesday with daily ostrich egg hunt Niabi Zoo opens its 2026 season Tuesday, April 21, with a daily ostrich egg hunt through April 26, hiding one egg each day for a guest to find.
	State: Troubled nursing home tried to evict resident to a homeless shelter The Ivy at Davenport has been cited for more than a dozen regulatory violations, including the forced eviction of a resident to a homeless shelter. (Photo via Google Earth)A Davenport nursing home with a long history of serious violations has been cited for more than a dozen regulatory violations, including the forced eviction of a resident to a homeless shelter. The Ivy at Davenport was inspected last month as part of its annual “recertification” inspection by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. The visit resulted in citations for 18 state and federal regulatory violations, as well as $29,750 in state fines, all of which are being held in suspension while the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services determines whether any federal penalties should be imposed. The violations include hazards in the environment; failure to perform staff background checks as required; failure to provide a safe, clean, homelike environment; failure to implement or adhere to policies on resident abuse; failure to maintain residents’ nutrition and hydration levels; failure maintain a medication-error rate of 5% or lower, and failure to prepare and serve food in a sanitary manner. During their March visit, state inspectors also investigated and substantiated four complaints against the facility. One of the problems cited by inspectors was the home’s failure to adequately plan for and report to the state the involuntary discharge of a resident. The home had allegedly planned to discharge the man, who had been combative and verbally aggressive with the staff, to a homeless shelter. According to inspectors, Davenport police were summoned to the home, handcuffed the man, and took him away. The home’s administrator later told inspectors she heard another resident’s relative had picked up the man after he was released by the police and then took him to a local hospital. According to the state inspectors, the home’s administrator admitted she did notify the inspections department or the Iowa Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s Office of the eviction as required, adding that “she did not know why” she failed to do so. The administrator, Dawn Bogdan, could not be reached for comment Monday. Firefighters repeatedly called to facility The home was also cited for staff’s repeated reliance on the Davenport Fire Department to help transfer a 575-pound resident in and out of a chair, with inspectors alleging the staff was not properly trained in how to use the mechanical lift designed for such transfers. According to inspectors, the city’s fire chief reported that he was concerned the facility did not have the appropriate equipment or staff training for transferring the woman. The chief reportedly shared emails to the home’s administrator in which he asked for “information on the actual procedure in which you would like us to follow for the safety of the patient and my crew,” noting that he wanted to “limit the liability issues which could come about with not having a set procedure in place.” In one email, the chief noted that while the mechanical lift used to transfer residents could handle up to 1,000 pounds, the staff would sometimes summon firefighters to the facility and then, once the firefighters were on the scene, the nursing home staff “stepped away from the lift and stated they didn’t know how to use it.” A lieutenant with the fire department told inspectors the home had “low staffing on the evenings,” and expressed the option that the staff “should not be calling the fire department” to provide routine care for residents. On one occasion, the lieutenant allegedly said, a total of six firefighters had to assist in moving the overweight resident from a chair to a bed, and they did so using a torn sheet rather than the home’s mechanical lift. “This was the most unsafe situation,” the lieutenant allegedly told inspectors. Although inspectors did not cite the home for having insufficient staff, one resident complained it could take two to three hours before call lights were answered during the evening shift. The resident said she once sought assistance by telephoning her niece, who then called the facility, but the staff allegedly told the niece they were aware of her aunt’s issues and were “about to respond” to the call light. Lawsuit alleges negligent care The Ivy at Davenport is currently being sued by the family of a former resident, Johnnie Dixon. The family alleges Dixon was admitted to the home on Jan. 22, 2024, and that on Feb. 9, 2024, he was rushed to a nearby hospital due to lethargy, a large open pressure sore and a missed dialysis appointment. After showing signs of a spinal infection, he was allegedly transferred to another hospital where he remained through March 20, 2024. The lawsuit claims Dixon was then readmitted to The Ivy at Davenport where, on April 4, 2024, The Ivy staff noted a pressure sore that was 4.7 inches in length. On April 8, 2024, Dixon was allegedly taken to another hospital for emergency treatment for pain and swelling. On April 12, he was allegedly hospitalized again, this time for pain related to a wound on his buttocks. According to the lawsuit, Dixon remained hospitalized for eight days until he was discharged to live with his daughters at home. After more hospitalizations for recurring infections, osteomyelitis and wound complications, Dixon died on May 14, 2024. The lawsuit alleges the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing subsequently verified the family’s complaints that the home had failed to consistently assess and treat Dixon’s wounds. The Ivy at Davenport and its owners, Accordius Health at St. Mary, have denied any wrongdoing. A trial date has yet to be scheduled. State and federal records indicate the Davenport home is managed by Ivy Healthcare Group, a Florida company run by Ryan Coane, who declined to comment on the Davenport facility’s issues when contacted Monday by the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Federal cost-reporting data indicates that in 2024, the home generated $7 million in revenue, but had operating expenses of $7.5 million. Violations date back to 2022 The Ivy at Davenport currently has CMS’ lowest possible rating for inspection findings, quality-of-care measures and overall quality. Federal records indicate the Davenport home has appeared on CMS’ list of the nation’s worst care facilities – the so-called “special-focus facilities” — for the past six months, although that appears to be in error. The home first appeared on CMS’ list of candidates for special-focus status in August 2023, dropped off the list in June 2025, then reappeared on the list in July 2025. In 2022, inspectors cited the home for 39 state and federal violations as part of an annual inspection and investigation into 21 complaints. The state fined the home a total of $975; federal officials imposed a fine of $87,949. The following year, the home was cited for 35 state and federal violations as part of an annual inspection and an accompanying investigation into 17 complaints. State inspectors reported medication errors, “horrible” staffing levels, a lack of bed linens, overflowing garbage cans, unsanitary kitchens, a rodent infestation and illicit drug use within the 75-bed facility. The state proposed fines totaling $37,250, which were held in suspension; federal officials imposed a fine of $111,040. In 2024, inspectors cited the home for 17 state and federal violations as part of an annual inspection and an accompanying investigation into four complaints. The home was cited for failing to provide a safe environment for residents, failing to meet quality-of-care standards, failure to treat or prevent pressure sores, a lack of timely physician assessments, a lack of competent nursing staff and inadequate infection control. While at the home, a state inspector observed that the kitchen floor was “heavily flooded” during lunch preparation, with food particles, wrappers, dirt, and debris floating in the water. The state proposed a fine of $32,5000, which was held in suspension. Federal officials imposed a fine of $85,737. Last year, in 2025, the state cited the home for 16 federal violations as part of the annual inspection and an accompanying investigation into eight complaints. No state or federal penalties were imposed at that time, according to state records. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Sterling garage deemed total loss after fire, officials say Multiple fire departments responded to a garage fire Monday.
	Des Moines County Court House to close early Tuesday for law enforcement training The Des Moines County Court House will be closed on Tuesday for training.
	Governor removes Dubois County sheriff from Indiana law enforcement board after failed settlement Outside the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy on Monday, April 20, 2026, in Plainfield. (Photo by Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)A divided Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board on Monday rejected a proposed settlement that would have allowed embattled Dubois County Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter to remain certified as a law enforcement officer until 2027, instead sending the case back for further review amid sharp criticism from current and former law enforcement leaders. Hours after the vote, Gov. Mike Braun announced he had removed Kleinhelter from the board. “Following the recommendation of Superintendent Anthony Scott, Chair of the Law Enforcement Training Board, and in light of a failed settlement agreement, I am removing Tom Kleinhelter from the board,” Braun said in a statement released Monday afternoon. Kleinhelter, who was appointed to the training board by former Gov. Eric Holcomb, had also been a member of the board’s decertification subcommittee reviewing his own case. The 9-4 vote came after nearly an hour of debate over whether to accept a negotiated agreement that would have required Kleinhelter to immediately resign from the training board but delay surrendering his law enforcement certification until Jan. 1, 2027. It would have been nice if he resigned, like most people do when they find themselves in those scenarios. – Indiana State Police Superintendent Anthony Scott Indiana State Police Superintendent Anthony Scott, who voted in favor of the deal, said afterward that while board members differed on timing, they largely agreed on the outcome. “It would have been nice if he resigned, like most people do when they find themselves in those scenarios,” Scott told the Indiana Capital Chronicle. “But, in principle, we all want the same thing, right? We all want him removed from the board, and we want him decertified,” he continued. “I understand the opposition. They want it done quicker — and I would like that, too.” Kleinhelter still sits as Dubois County sheriff and continues to retain his law enforcement credentials, however. A decertification request is still pending before the training board. The sheriff — who faces multiple pending criminal charges in Marion County tied to allegations he lied during a state police investigation — did not attend Monday’s meeting at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield. Neither he nor his attorney, Jim Voyles, responded to requests for comment. Disagreements over settlement The proposed agreement, approved earlier this year by the LETB’s decertification subcommittee, would have required Kleinhelter to resign from the board upon acceptance and formally relinquish his law enforcement certification by the start of 2027. It also specified that the agreement would not constitute an admission of misconduct. Subcommittee chairman David Wantz told board members the deal offered certainty in a case that could otherwise drag on. “This is a delayed voluntary relinquishment,” Wantz said. “It immediately will remove him from the training board… and it gives us a date certain when the [certification] will be relinquished.” Dubois County Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter (Photo courtesy Dubois County Sheriff’s Office Facebook) Wantz and others warned that rejecting the deal could prolong the process, especially given the pending criminal case. “It is likely that his attorneys will ask for continuances,” Wantz said, noting the board might otherwise have to wait until the criminal case concludes. But some members of the training board argued the agreement would allow Kleinhelter to avoid timely accountability and set a troubling precedent. “I can’t and will not vote for someone who is the chief law enforcement officer of their county… to continue to operate on our certification,” said board member Bryan Shearer, police chief in Ligonier. “We have held other officers accountable for the same violations. … I cannot stand for it.” “This is principle,” he continued. “If you’ve not read the public records for this case, please do before you make a decision.” Former ISP Superintendent Doug Carter, who spoke during the meeting, was even more blunt and criticized both the proposed settlement and state leadership for failing to act sooner. “Mike Braun and (chief of staff) Josh Kelley should have removed Kleinhelter months ago, and by not doing so, they have disrespected this body,” Carter said. Carter, who has been outspoken about the handling of the state police investigation into Kleinhelter and the fallout for the lead investigator, said the case was emblematic of broader accountability concerns within top law enforcement leadership. He urged the board to reject what he called a “politically expedient solution” and instead allow the case to proceed to a full hearing. “If Kleinhelter wants to drag this out, so be it,” Carter said. “But let the facts be known.” Decertification process continues Part of Monday’s discussion centered on the unusual nature of decertifying an elected sheriff. LETB general counsel Raquel Ramirez emphasized that Kleinhelter’s authority comes from his elected position — not his certification — meaning decertification would not immediately remove him from office. “His position and election as sheriff is what gives him authority,” Ramirez said. “Right now, whether we take [his certification] or not does not change his ability… to manage the jail and do all of the other things the sheriff is required to do.” Dubois County sheriff faces criminal charges tied to lying in state police investigation Had the settlement been approved, Kleinhelter would have been required to relinquish his certification by Jan. 1, 2027 — effectively ensuring he could not continue working as a law enforcement officer after his elected term ends or seek another policing job elsewhere in Indiana without going through the certification process again. Scott and ILEA Executive Director Tim Horty maintained on Monday that a delayed relinquishment sought to sooner ensure that the sheriff could not later serve as an officer elsewhere in the state. “We are in control,” Horty said. “If we (don’t approve the settlement), I think it’s a gamble, and we are not being as efficient with government resources as possible.” Board member David Gilbert, chief of the Marion Police Department, additionally said he was uneasy with the delay but ultimately saw value in the guarantee the agreement offered. “It would gall me … if on Jan. 2, this former sheriff has been appointed as a marshal in some part of Indiana, and he is able to — even for a couple of months — able to maintain law enforcement certifications. That would bother me more than the delay between now and the end of the year,” Gilbert said. “I don’t like it. But the certainty here is that after Jan. 1, he can’t be an officer… and to me there’s some value in that.” Ramirez also warned that moving forward with a decertification hearing while criminal charges are pending could complicate the prosecution. “It is essentially a free deposition and a free opportunity to cross-examine prior to the criminal case proceeding,” she said, adding that such proceedings often “push way into 2027.” But multiple board members rejected the idea of waiting. “We are the certifying agency of the state of Indiana,” Shearer said. “Our decision is… should he be a certified law enforcement officer in the state of Indiana? … He should be decertified, period.” The sheriff’s case now returns to the LETB’s decertification subcommittee, which will determine next steps — including whether to pursue a formal hearing or renegotiate terms. A previously scheduled decertification hearing for Kleinhelter remains on the calendar for next week, though Ramirez said Monday she was unsure whether it would proceed. Kleinhelter’s criminal case in Marion County is ongoing, with a pretrial conference set for May 12. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Indiana Capital Chronicle
	Indiana Supreme Court to take up RFRA-based lawsuit against abortion ban Anti-abortion and abortion rights activists line up on the Indiana Statehouse steps on July 25, 2022, as state lawmakers work on a near-total abortion ban. (Photo by Whitney Downard/ Indiana Capital Chronicle)A religious freedom lawsuit against Indiana’s near-total abortion ban will go directly from a county judge to the state’s highest court. Marion County Superior Court Judge Christina Klineman in March issued a permanent injunction blocking enforcement of the ban for a select group of Hoosiers with religious objections to the prohibition. A majority of the Indiana Supreme Court on Friday granted a request from the state attorney general’s office that the case bypass the state appeals court, and scheduled oral arguments for Sept. 10, according to an order signed by Chief Justice Loretta Rush. The state attorney general’s office argued that the Court of Appeals “has already expressed its views on the principal issues in this case, and on summary judgment, the trial court effectively adopted the Court of Appeals’ analysis.” Indiana Court of Appeals affirms RFRA-based abortion ban challenge “The time is ripe for this Court to decide whether the Court of Appeals’ original analysis is correct,” lawyers for the state wrote in their motion. “Neither the law nor the public would benefit from delaying this case’s final resolution.” Attorney General Todd Rokita celebrated the successful ask in a Saturday post to X. “The lower court’s decision fundamentally misunderstands religious liberty by claiming it confers a right to abortion,” Rokita wrote. “We look forward to continuing our defense of Indiana’s pro-life laws in front of the Indiana Supreme Court.” The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana — which filed the lawsuit almost four years ago on behalf of Hoosier Jews for Choice and anonymous plaintiffs — said in a statement Monday that it’s “disappointed the state is continuing to fight this case.” The lawsuit uses the state’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act to argue that the prohibition imposes a substantial burden on the religious practice of plaintiffs whose faiths permit or require abortion in broader circumstances than allowed by the ban. “The core issue remains the same: Hoosiers do not lose their right to religious freedom when they become pregnant,” the ACLU said. “We look forward to continuing to protect the right to religious exercise for Hoosiers as this case moves forward.” The 2022 abortion ban outlaws all abortions with limited exceptions for serious health risks to the mother, fatal fetal anomalies, rape or incest. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Indiana Capital Chronicle
	Increasing demand for water strains Upper Snake River system Wyoming's Mount Moran's reflection ripples across the waters of Oxbow Bend on a crisp fall day in 2025. (Photo by Rebecca Huntington/WyoFile)Tapping Snake River water to solve the crisis facing the Colorado River Basin would be a stretch, Wyoming Senior Assistant Attorney General Chris Brown told water aficionados Friday at a Jackson symposium. In fact, the Snake River system is already straining under the same pressures — rising demand and falling supply — as the Colorado River system. The outlook for the Colorado River is so concerning that it’s prompting the federal government to release huge amounts of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir on the Wyoming-Utah border to prevent Lake Powell from dropping to the point that it could no longer produce power. After hearing concerns about the potential for transferring water from one basin to the other to augment dwindling supply now threatening Northern Arizona’s Glen Canyon Dam, Brown said he spoke with the state engineer. Wyoming’s constitution gives the state engineer general supervision over all waters in the state, Brown said. “He is not entertaining any proposals to transfer water out of this basin into the Colorado River Basin,” Brown said, sparking applause and a few whistles from the audience gathered Friday for the all-day Snake River Headwaters Symposium. In 1971, the State Engineer’s Office evaluated the possibility of diverting Snake water into the Green River Basin, which flows into the Colorado. Two methods originally considered included pumping and piping or a free-flow tunnel. But Brown noted that Wyoming has a 1949 compact with Idaho that would require Idaho’s approval to take water from the Snake River Basin. “I obviously can’t speak for the state of Idaho,” Brown said, “but my legal opinion is they would say either ‘no’ or ‘hell no.’ That’s my guess.” Water ‘fight is only intensifying’ across the West, Idaho farmer says Indeed, speaker after speaker at the all-day symposium emphasized that there’s no extra water to spare. “It’s pretty serious for the area because our economy is built around agriculture,” said Idaho farmer Jeff VanOrden. “I take great pride in being a grower, knowing that the potatoes I grow end up on dinner plates all over this country.” Ted Kowalski, of the Walton Family Foundation, talks about lessons learned from the Colorado River at a Snake River Headwaters Symposium in Jackson on April 17, 2026. Trout Unlimited’s Sara Porterfield, Wyoming Senior Assistant Attorney General Chris Brown and WE Soda Vice President of Process Technology Aaron Reichl also shared insights. (Photo by Rebecca Huntington/WyoFile) But Idaho’s famous crop depends on water. Idaho’s Water District 1 oversees the distribution of more than 4 million acre-feet of water stored in nine reservoirs, stretching from Jackson Lake to Milner Dam near Twin Falls. “But there’s more demand than ever before,” VanOrden told the audience. More water-intensive industries have moved in and conflicts over water have increased. “The fight is only intensifying.” As in Wyoming, record heat and a low snowpack are putting the problem in stark relief this year. Idaho Gov. Brad Little declared a drought emergency last week for the entire state. Records show warming winters, reduced snowpack Understanding water availability in the past and projecting what it could be in the future is the job of Bryan Shuman, a professor in the University of Wyoming’s Department of Geology and Geophysics. Shuman is part of the WyACT Project Team, which stands for Wyoming Anticipating the Climate-Water Transition, funded by the National Science Foundation. Historical data shows extremely warm temperatures during the winter of 1933-34, amid the Dust Bowl. But Shuman said such winters are not as extreme as they once were because baseline temperatures have been creeping up over the decades. Instead of 11 out of 70 winters clocking in as unusually warm, eight out of 30 winters recorded temperatures on the high end from 1990 to 2020, Shuman said, presenting a slide showing average temperatures in the Snake River watershed accelerating upward after 1990. “Our temperature has shifted up meaningfully, so that if you’ve only been here since 1990, or anytime since then, most years you have not experienced a true cold winter,” Shuman said. “The coldest winters and falls, on average, have actually been more like what the average had been prior to 1990.” In particular, nighttime temperatures are getting warmer and when temps don’t drop below freezing, the snow melts faster, he said. As a result, the data shows runoff peaking earlier in the summer. While this fall and winter have been off the charts, Shuman said, the Snake River watershed has gotten a bit more snow than elsewhere. In fact, the data indicates “a sweet spot here in the West,” he said. “This is what we’ve been referring to as the warm refuge. It’s a region that is warming like the rest, but it’s not necessarily warming as much.” Still warmer temperatures, altered streamflows and other factors are putting pressure on prized native fisheries, and fishing is a multimillion-dollar industry, said Diana Miller, a fisheries biologist with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The Snake River Headwaters Working Group formed in 2023 to better navigate conflicts over water. That same year, it took intense negotiations among federal and state officials to avert a crisis that would have turned the Snake to a mud flat where the river meanders through the picturesque Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park below Jackson Lake Dam. The federal Bureau of Reclamation wanted to store as much water as possible as high in the system as possible to meet downstream demand later in the summer. Now Idaho State University researchers are intensely studying what happens to fish and aquatic life when releases from Jackson Lake ramp down, disconnecting the floodplain and drying up side channels of the braided Snake. That research will inform the Snake River Headwaters Working Group, which now involves more than 100 organizations. The working group coordinated the Jackson symposium to bring together scientists, water users, government agencies, nonprofits, businesses, guides and outfitters, Tribal representatives and community members to share insights into the pressing issues facing the watershed. One panel focused on what the Snake River can learn from water management, conservation and collaboration on the Colorado River. Others explored river management, ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, recreation and water quality. Echoing other speakers, VanOrden stressed, “without water we are nothing.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	Illinois State Board of Education honors QCA educators The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) honored excellence in education at the 52nd Annual Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet on April 18 in Normal. The event honored the 2026 Illinois Teacher of the Year Cohort and nearly 450 exceptional educators, administrators, school staff and volunteers for the impact they [...]
	Beyond falls: The overlooked emergencies facing older adults Beyond falls: The overlooked emergencies facing older adultsFalls dominate the conversation about injury risk in later life. Federal data shows they are far from the whole story.When families talk about keeping an older parent safe, falls are almost always the first topic. That instinct is well-grounded. Among adults 65 and older, falls caused 41,400 deaths and an estimated 3,850,612 emergency department visits in 2023, according to CDC injury data. No other single cause comes close.The public conversation reflects that reality. Fall prevention classes, grab bars, hip protectors, and wearable alert devices have become standard recommendations from doctors, aging agencies, and adult children. All of that attention is warranted.But the same CDC tables that confirm the scale of falls also reveal something less discussed: Once you set falls aside, thousands of older adults are still dying and more than a million are still visiting the ER each year from causes that get far less attention.Traffic injuries. Poisoning. Suffocation. Overexertion. Cuts. Burns. Product hazards. The data tell a broader emergency story, and most families have never heard it, Life Assure reports.Key FindingsIn 2023, falls caused 41,400 deaths and an estimated 3,850,612 ER visits among adults 65 and older.After removing falls, the top overlooked fatal risks were motor vehicle traffic injuries (9,123 deaths), poisoning (7,803 deaths), and suffocation (4,283 deaths).Those three causes alone accounted for 21,209 deaths in a single year.The top overlooked ER risks (falls excluded) were struck by/against injuries (301,032 visits), motor vehicle occupant injuries (240,833), overexertion (220,882), poisoning (157,646), and cut/pierce injuries (152,917).Those five ER categories total more than 1,073,000 visits, a seven-figure care burden outside of falls.CPSC's five-year recall dashboard lists fire, burn, poisoning, choking, and ingestion among the top hazard types, reinforcing that everyday product risks extend well beyond falls.The Fatal Risks Hiding Behind FallsA Life Assure review of 2023 CDC WISQARS injury data set out to answer a simple question: What happens to the risk picture for older adults when falls are removed from the comparison? The answer was striking.Motor vehicle traffic injuries ranked first among overlooked fatal dangers, with 9,123 deaths. Unintentional poisoning followed at 7,803 deaths. Unintentional suffocation ranked third at 4,283. Together, those three causes produced 21,209 deaths in a single year. That is a count large enough to fill a mid-size sports arena, and one that rarely appears in the public safety conversation for older adults.Less-discussed categories also appeared in the 2023 table: hot object or substance injuries (1,731 deaths), natural or environmental injuries (1,366 deaths), and adverse effects from medical care (1,998 deaths). Courtesy of Life Assure A Million-Visit ER Story Most Families MissThe nonfatal data tell a parallel story. Excluding falls, older adults made an estimated 301,032 ER visits for struck-by or struck-against injuries in 2023. Motor vehicle occupant injuries sent another 240,833 to the emergency department. Overexertion injuries (lifting, pushing, pulling, straining) generated 220,882 visits. Poisoning accounted for 157,646, and cut or pierce injuries added 152,917.Those five categories alone total 1,073,310 ER visits. That means the overlooked side of older adult safety is not a narrow issue. It is a seven-figure emergency care burden happening in plain sight, largely unaddressed by the mainstream falls-focused prevention message. Courtesy of Life Assure Traffic Injuries: The Risk That Shows Up on Both ListsOne pattern stands out: Transportation-related injuries rank near the top of both the fatal and nonfatal tables. 9,123 deaths from motor vehicle traffic on the fatal side. More than 240,000 ER visits from motor vehicle occupant injuries on the nonfatal side, with another 93,000+ from other transportation-related causes.NHTSA data reinforce the trend. Fatalities in traffic crashes involving older drivers increased 42% over a single decade, from 6,057 in 2013 to 8,572 in 2022. The older driver population grew 40% in that same period, meaning more people are on the road longer, and crashes are more physically dangerous for aging bodies. Older drivers have lower rates of speeding and alcohol involvement than younger drivers. Their crash fatality risk comes from physical vulnerability, not reckless behavior.For families focused on fall-proofing a home, the data suggest the conversation needs to extend to the driveway and beyond.Poisoning: A Quiet Emergency in the Medicine CabinetPoisoning appears on both the fatal and nonfatal lists, ranking second among overlooked fatal risks (7,803 deaths) and fourth among overlooked ER risks (157,646 visits). For older adults, the most common source of poisoning is not a household cleaner or a gas leak. It is medication.CDC data show that adults 65 and older visit emergency departments for adverse drug events more than 600,000 times each year, more than twice the rate of younger adults. The primary drivers are blood thinners, diabetes medications, and antibiotics. A 2024 study found that while 95% of older adults could read prescription labels, only 35% could correctly interpret the dosing directions. When a person takes two medications, the risk of an adverse drug reaction sits at roughly 13%. At five medications, that risk reaches 58%. At seven or more, it climbs to 82%.An estimated 98% of adults 65 and older live with at least two chronic conditions and take at least five prescription medications. That places the vast majority of this population in a risk range where medication errors become statistically likely, not exceptional.Overexertion and Everyday Injuries: The Risks No One Warns AboutOverexertion, the category covering lifting, pushing, pulling, and strain-related injuries, generated 220,882 ER visits for adults 65 and older in 2023. Struck-by or struck-against injuries topped the nonfatal list at 301,032 visits. Cut and pierce injuries added another 152,917.These are not dramatic events. They are routine activities: moving a box in the garage, bumping into a shelf, using a kitchen knife. The common thread is that aging bodies respond differently to the same physical forces. A strain that a 40-year-old walks off sends a 75-year-old to the emergency department. A kitchen cut that stops bleeding in minutes for a younger person becomes a medical event for someone on blood thinners.These everyday injuries rarely make headlines. They do not have awareness ribbons or designated prevention months. They show up instead in the CDC tables, quietly accounting for hundreds of thousands of emergency visits each year.Product Recalls Add Another Layer of RiskThe product safety record points in the same direction. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's rolling five-year recall dashboard lists fire, burn, heat-related explosion, poisoning, crash, entrapment, choking, and ingestion among the top hazard types for recalled consumer products. These are the same categories that appear in the CDC injury tables for older adults.A recent example makes the point clearly. In June 2025, CPSC recalled approximately 50,000 Apollo America combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors sold by Vivint after the agency determined the devices could malfunction and fail to alert consumers to a fire or carbon monoxide leak. For an older adult living alone, a product failure like that turns an ordinary household item into a time-sensitive emergency with no warning.Product recalls rarely enter the older adult safety conversation. The data suggest they should.None of this diminishes the importance of fall prevention. Falls caused 41,400 deaths and nearly 3.9 million ER visits in 2023. They remain, by a wide margin, the single most dangerous injury category for older adults. Every grab bar installed, every balance class attended, every alert device worn for fall detection is effort well spent. That work should continue.The point of looking beyond falls is not to replace one concern with another. It is to widen the lens. Families who already take falls seriously are in the best position to extend that same attention to the traffic risks, medication hazards, and everyday injuries the data show are also sending older adults to the emergency department in large numbers.What This Data Means for FamiliesFalls remain the leading injury threat for adults 65 and older. That fact is not in dispute. The question is whether a falls-only conversation gives families the full picture, and the federal data answer clearly: It does not.After falls, older adults are still facing serious risks from traffic injuries, poisoning, suffocation, overexertion, cuts, burns, and product failures. These causes accounted for more than 21,000 deaths and more than 1 million emergency department visits in 2023 alone. They affect people at home, on the road, in the kitchen, and in the medicine cabinet.Families do not prepare for emergencies by reading statistical tables. They prepare for situations that disrupt independence, create fear, and demand fast help. A broader understanding of where those situations come from, not only falls, but the full range of everyday hazards, gives caregivers a more complete foundation for the decisions they make every day.MethodologyThis article uses CDC WISQARS 2023 tables for adults aged 65 and older covering injury deaths and nonfatal emergency department visits. To focus on overlooked risks, falls were removed from the main comparison. The fatal comparison also excludes self-harm categories so the analysis stays centered on accidental everyday safety risks. CPSC recall data were used as supporting context and were not weighted into the ranking. All numeric values are direct source values from linked public CDC tables. No values were estimated or modeled.This story was produced by Life Assure and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	After nine months away from home, Rock Island soldier reunites with his daughter Staff Sgt. Matthew Phipps had been stationed in Poland since June of last year and surprised his daughter at Rock Island High School on Monday.
	City of Moline hosts groundbreaking for former dispatch building in downtown The City of Moline is bringing new life to a historic property by redeveloping the building into apartments.
	Des Moines County Courthouse closing for law enforcement drill A news release from the Des Moines County Sheriff says the Des Moines County Courthouse in Burlington will close to the public on Tuesday, April 21 at 3 p.m. for a simulated drill. The courthouse will be closed for the remainder of the day. The drill is designed for local first responders to practice emergency [...]
	Add Hasbro to the growing list of defendants facing a class-action lawsuit over a data breach A Mr. Potato Head stands vigil outside Hasbro Inc's headquarters on Newport Avenue in Pawtucket. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)Hasbro Inc. is facing a federal class action lawsuit by employees and customers for exposing their personal information to hackers in a recent data breach. Sheila Standing, an Ashford, Connecticut, resident who worked at Hasbro for 37 years, is leading the complaint on behalf of “hundreds” of people allegedly harmed by a March 28 breach into the company’s security network. Hasbro first reported “unauthorized access” to its network in an April 1 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The four-paragraph notice said the company had “activated its security incident protocols,” and launched an investigation with the help of third-party cybersecurity experts. An April 4 company press release alluded to “interim measures” being taken in response to the breach which could create minor shipping delays while emphasizing that “Hasbro is open for business.” The toymaker has not mentioned any specific steps taken to protect customer and employee data. Which is the problem, according to the 38-page complaint filed in federal court in Rhode Island on Thursday. It states Hasbro still has not formally notified employees about the breach, and done “little if anything” to protect those affected. “Defendant’s failures placed the Class’s [Personal Identifiable Information] (PII) in a vulnerable position—rendering them easy targets for cybercriminals,” the complaint states. “The exposure of one’s PII to cybercriminals is a bell that cannot be unrung. Before this Data Breach, its employees’ private information was exactly that—private. Not anymore. Now, their private information is forever exposed and unsecure.” Andrea Snyder, a spokesperson for Hasbro, did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment Monday. The lawsuit contends that potentially “thousands” of people across multiple states have had their personal information compromised, including current Hasbro workers. Standing, who retired in December 2023 according to her LinkedIn page, has received more scam and spam communications since the breach, the complaint states. The complaint warns that affected people’s PII has already been published — or will soon be available — on the dark web, exposing them to “rampant” fraud and identity theft by skilled cybercriminals able to access the encrypted information. “It is within this context that Plaintiff and all other Class Members must now live with the knowledge that their PII is forever in cyberspace and was taken by people willing to use the information for any number of improper purposes and scams, including making the information available for sale on the black market,” the complaint states. The lawsuit lists Standing’s anxiety, stress, fear and frustration, alongside tangible financial and security risks, as harms created by Hasbro’s failure to adequately protect its information from hackers. “Instead of providing a reasonable level of security, or retention policies, that would have prevented the Data Breach, Defendant instead calculated to avoid its data security obligations at the expense of Plaintiff and Class Members by utilizing cheaper, ineffective security measures,” the complaint states. “Plaintiff and Class Members, on the other hand, suffered as a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s failure to provide the requisite security.” It asks a federal judge to award damages and force Hasbro to adopt stricter security measures while also providing credit monitoring for people affected, simultaneously demanding a jury trial. Peter Wasylyk, the Providence attorney representing Standing, did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment Monday. Wasylyk, a former state representative, also represented Rhode Islanders in a 2025 class action lawsuit over the RIBridges data breach that exposed personal data of approximately 700,000 people who received food stamps and other public benefits the year before. Deloitte, the state contractor that managed the online benefits platform, agreed to a $6.3 million settlement to resolve the claims. The deal, which was projected to pay out $100 per person, also shielded Deloitte from future litigation unless a class member specifically opted out. Deloitte refused to admit wrongdoing. Lawsuits abound. Success does not. Across the country, lawsuits over personal privacy and data security have exploded as new technology, including artificial intelligence, become fodder for savvy actors to manipulate. There were 1,800 data breach class action filings in 2025 — 25% higher than the prior year, and up over 200% from 2022 — according to a January report by Duane Morris LLP. But class action lawsuits over data breaches remain mostly unsuccessful, with courts dismissing the complaints at high rates, often leading to pre-ruling settlements, according to the report. Data breach lawsuits, which primarily allege negligence and breach of contract as the legal basis for the complaints, are most often dismissed for failing to identify a specific harm that has already happened, or is highly likely to happen, under Article III of the Constitution, according to a 2024 article published in the Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems. “In many cases, the plaintiffs‘ injury — fraudulent charges — has not yet occurred and may never occur,” article author Patrick Lorio, an attorney with New Orleans-based Pipes, Miles Bechman, writes. “Questions arise, for example, as to whether hackers understand the data they obtain. Nonetheless, plaintiffs reasonably spend time and money on credit monitoring and other fraud-prevention services. Showing imminency of injury, therefore, is the first — and perhaps biggest — obstacle for individuals seeking to recover the resources they expend in response to a data breach.” Similar arguments were made by Deloitte in the class action suit against the RIBridges contractor. A settlement was reached via mediation rather than the jury trial that plaintiffs originally sought. State law requires any data breaches that compromise the personal information of more than 500 Rhode Islanders be reported to the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General within 45 days. As of Monday, Hasbro has not reported a breach to the AG’s office, Tim Rondeau, an office spokesperson, confirmed via email. Roughly 700 people work out of the international company’s Pawtucket headquarters, but not for much longer. The company is planning to relocate to Boston’s Seaport District by the end of the year. It expects to list its 343,000-square foot office in Pawtucket for sale after the move is complete, according to a Feb. 25 SEC filing. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Mary S. McElroy. Hasbro has until May 7 to submit a response to the complaint. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	Legal, civic organizations among groups opposing Raleigh judge’s ruling in WV school vaccine case A health care worker places a bandage on a child after giving a vaccination shot. (Photo by Scott Housley/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)The League of Women Voters of West Virginia and the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia have joined several health-related organizations and Education West Virginia in backing the state school board’s challenge of Raleigh County Circuit Judge Michael Froble’s November ruling prohibiting schools from enforcing the state’s school vaccination requirements. The organizations’ write-in amicus curiae briefs filed with the West Virginia Supreme Court state that the judge’s ruling should be overturned. Amicus curiae briefs — latin for “friend of the court” — are arguments filed by entities that are not parties in the case, but have an interest in its outcome. Froble ruled that the West Virginia and Raleigh County school boards’ policy not to accept religious exemptions violates West Virginia’s Equal Protection for Religion Act of 2023. He certified a statewide class in the case consisting of families who sought, obtained or will seek an exemption to the state’s school vaccination requirements under the Equal Protection for Religion Act except those who have received a final judgement on the merits in their own lawsuits in the matter. Froble’s ruling is on hold while the Supreme Court of West Virginia considers the case. States generally require school children to be vaccinated against a series of infectious diseases including measles, chicken pox and polio. West Virginia is one of only five states that do not allow families to opt out of vaccine requirements based on their religious or philosophical objections to the shots. Bills to add religious exemptions have failed in the state Legislature. Morrisey’s January 2025 executive order required the state health department to allow religious exemptions. The order is based on West Virginia’s religious freedom law. Morrisey has not rescinded his order even though the lawmakers last year voted down Senate Bill 460, which would have put the exemptions into state code, and did not pass any vaccine requirement exemption bills during the 2026 legislative session. The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan volunteer organization that promotes political responsibility, wrote in its brief that Froble’s ruling presents “a fundamental question of constitutional importance”: whether the governor may by executive order override a law made by the Legislature. While the case is about vaccine requirements, its implications go far beyond immunizations and involve the separation of powers in the state’s constitution, the organization writes. “(The case) is about whether duly enacted laws remain binding unless and until they are amended or repealed by the Legislature itself,” the brief says. “The answer to that question must be yes. This Court should reject the Circuit Court’s conclusion to the contrary and reaffirm our longstanding jurisprudence that statutes mean what the Legislature says they mean, not what the Executive wishes they said.” Attorneys for the league argue that Morrisey’s executive order violates the state constitution in creating a religious exemption to a law that does not contain one. “The Governor has not executed the law, he has changed it,” the attorneys wrote. “The West Virginia Constitution does not permit this action. The West Virginia Constitution is explicit. ‘The legislative, executive and judicial departments shall be separate and distinct, so that neither shall exercise the powers properly belonging to either of the others.’” The Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia is a statewide professional organization made up of more than 400 attorneys who defend individuals and corporations in civil litigation. In its brief, an attorney for the Defense Counsel argued, among other things, that state civil procedure requires courts to have “meaningful evidentiary record,” developed through discovery before certifying a class. “Here, the circuit court denied discovery,” the attorney wrote. “It barred depositions of the named Respondents and other putative class members, prohibited examination on critical issues, and left Petitioners with no meaningful means to test the propriety of the class claims. Instead, the circuit court relied on presumptions to certify the class despite the absence of supporting evidence. “West Virginia precedent is clear: class certification demands a thorough factual record, and discovery is the mechanism for building one,” the attorney wrote. The brief goes on to argue that the judge never asked families who filed the lawsuit whether they were sincere in their religious beliefs, even though the court’s permanent injunction acknowledged that liability under Equal Protection for Religion Act is determined by whether a person has sincere belief and that belief is substantially burdened, the brief says. So far the state Supreme Court has accepted six amicus curiae briefs in the case. Attorneys representing the Center for Rural Development led 11 other health-care related organizations have filed an amicus brief emphasizing the importance of the state vaccination requirements. Other briefs have been filed by attorneys representing the West Virginia Hospital association and the teachers union Education West Virginia. A joint brief has been filed by the American Public Health Association and other public health organizations and public health law and policy scholars. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of West Virginia Watch
	Explore the power of social media ads in shaping consumer behavior Explore the power of social media ads in shaping consumer behaviorSocial media didn't just grow up; it took over. Pew Research Center reports that about half of all U.S. adults say they check Facebook or YouTube daily. A lucky break online can turn an unknown startup into a household staple overnight, but the real story isn't the scale—it's the method. People are looking for answers. The search bar is officially handing over its crown to the social algorithm.Taradel, a marketing agency, examines data on how social media platforms have reshaped product discovery, consumer behavior, and the role of advertising in the purchase journey.A Vast Market UnmaskedThe raw numbers are staggering: 5.6 billion people—roughly two-thirds of the planet—are now regular users. According to historical benchmarks from DataReportal, this represents a nearly tenfold increase in global social connectivity since the mid-2000s.But the real weight is in the influence. Data from Rise at Seven suggests that 60% of product discovery is now concentrated on just three apps: YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. The old habit of "Googling it" is being phased out as the automatic first step for shoppers.However, discovery isn't the same as a sale. The journey is often a slow crawl, typically ranging from two days to over two months. In fact, a consumer might engage with a brand 97 different times before they finally pull the trigger. There is no such thing as a "silver bullet" in modern marketing. Success today is a slow, cumulative burn.The best results come from combining social media ads with other marketing channels, including direct mail. As consumers now use an average of 3.6 platforms before committing to a purchase, engaging them in more than one arena helps small businesses nudge them in the right direction, rather than losing out to larger, better-known brands.Effective In Spite of AIWhile AI search has rocketed into the public consciousness recently, marketers must not get distracted by its promised efficiency. An analysis by Sprout Social found that 52% of social media users prefer searching on social sites over using AI, specifically when trying to find authentic, user-generated content.Among Gen Z, the preference is even more pronounced. This demographic places significantly more trust in brand information encountered on social media than in responses from a chatbot. Consumer behavior still takes its lead from peer validation and "vouched-for" content. For the modern brand, the hype around AI tools should be taken with a grain of salt if it comes at the expense of a human-centric social presence.The Age Equation and the Rise of Gen AlphaWhile people of all ages use social media, younger generations spend more time in these spaces. Insights from the Pew Research Center highlight the entrenchment of these platforms: 80% of Gen Z use Instagram regularly, compared with just 19% of those over age 65.Frequency of usage is also a major factor. Among under-30s, 66% watch YouTube at least once daily, and 47% use TikTok with the same regularity.As we move into 2026, the focus is expanding to Gen Alpha. Early market reports suggest this cohort is even more reliant on "social commerce"—the ability to buy directly within an app—than their Gen Z predecessors.Companies that want to influence the behavior of the next decade's most valuable consumers must be across social media ads today. Falling short here risks missing out on connecting with an entire generation that will only become more influential as their disposable income grows.The Importance of PersonalizationWhile it's true that social media’s influence over consumer behavior deserves attention, it’s also important to note that businesses still need to fight hard to win over customers. Doing so becomes trickier by the day as expectations for ad personalization rise.Data cited by McKinsey shows that 71% of people anticipate a custom experience whenever they interact with companies. If this is missing, 76% of those users will express active frustration. Personalization is no longer a "nice-to-have" bonus but the baseline for loyalty.Social media ad platforms are uniquely designed to tap into massive datasets to serve content to the exact audience you want to reach. Failing to use these precision tools correctly doesn't just result in a missed sale. It can create a negative brand association that eliminates a customer's loyalty for a lifetime.Anticipating a Multichannel FutureSocial media ads will continue to monopolize the marketing focus of most organizations. However, the main takeaway from the current 2026 data is that discovery and conversion are two different hurdles.Brands that deliver excellent social campaigns and back them up with everything from print ads and direct mail to targeted email follow-ups stand to see the biggest benefits. In a crowded digital world, the brands that win are those that use social media to start the conversation and multichannel tactics to finish it.This story was produced by Taradel and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Scammers love to target high school graduates. Here's what parents need to know. Scammers love to target high school graduates. Here's what parents need to know.Spring is supposed to be a joyous time for high school seniors as they await college acceptance letters and plan graduation parties. The last thing on their minds—or, rather, the last thing that should be on their minds—is a scam sitting in their mailbox or inbox.Unfortunately, this season of change and intense emotions provides an opening for scammers. PeopleFinders shares some common ways that incoming college freshmen get scammed — and, perhaps more importantly, what you need to know to protect yourself and fight back against fraud.6 Methods Fraudsters Employ to Scam High School SeniorsA common misconception exists that younger people are less susceptible to scams than seniors. As it turns out, that’s not entirely true.Although young folks are often perceived as more tech-savvy than their parents and grandparents, they can still end up falling victim to the sophisticated methods that modern scammers use. In fact, recent Federal Trade Commission data indicates that adults aged 18-59 are 34% more likely to become victims of scams.Each age group has unique financial pressure points that scammers know how to exploit. Below, PeopleFinders takes a closer look at six potential weaknesses for college-aged individuals. If you’re a recent grad, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for scam tactics like the following:1. Fake scholarship and financial aid offersAs college expenses continue to soar, incoming freshmen are eager to get financial help whenever and wherever possible. Scammers know this and routinely send fake offers to students in exchange for personal information that can then be used to gain access to bank accounts.In other cases, bogus scholarship and financial aid offers may ask students to provide a small upfront fee, sometimes in the form of gift cards, to cover application costs.2. Housing application scamsIn many people’s minds, living in an on-campus dorm is synonymous with the college experience itself. Because the demand for student housing exceeds the supply, high schoolers must run the gauntlet to secure a dorm room.This provides scammers with an avenue to target housing-needy students. They might send fake housing applications that request sensitive information or request small deposits to secure limited campus living spaces that don’t actually exist.3. Nonexistent internships and jobsAnother pressure point for high school and college students is the need for relevant internships. Undergraduates, especially, are under pressure to obtain internships so they can get good-paying jobs after graduation. Many college students are also on the hunt for part-time jobs that work with their busy academic schedules.These conditions give rise to specific types of job scams that have affected roughly one-third of the U.S. population. The majority of people who fall victim to job scams also report losing money in the process.4. Loan forgiveness scamsThe stranglehold that student loan debt has on the U.S. (over $1.8 trillion in 2024) leads many borrowers to feel desperate. Scammers know all too well how eager students are to lower their payments, as shown in a 2024 scheme that stole $20.3 million from consumers.5. Fraudulent claims of unpaid tuition“Urgent! Enrollment will be canceled IMMEDIATELY if the student does not pay tuition upon receipt of this letter! Call TODAY to restore credits!”Countless students, including incoming freshmen, receive scam letters worded quite similarly. Adept scammers can recreate school letterhead and convince students to hand over sensitive financial information.6. Diploma millsInstead of paying University X $50,000 (or much more) over four years, why not pay Diploma Mill University $1,000 for the same degree you can get in just six weeks?Without knowing how diploma mills operate, that deal probably seems like a no-brainer. In reality, though, “students” of these non-accredited “educational institutions” end up paying their hard-earned money for a degree that isn’t worth the paper on which it’s printed.Accreditation mills only add to the scam by bestowing official-looking—but fake—credentials to diploma mills. If a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is.Protecting Yourself: How to Avoid College ScamsNow that you know what you’re up against, you can better understand the ways to fight back against college-related scams:1. Don’t pay upfront feesWhile most college applications cost money, the fees are almost never more than $100. Legitimate scholarships will not ask applicants for money. Additionally, FAFSA (federal student aid) forms are free to fill out.2. Don’t give out your Social Security number or FSA IDIf a student loan servicing company you’ve never heard of asks you to provide sensitive information, it’s a good idea to Google the organization before doing anything else. Similarly, you should not give out your federal student aid ID to anyone other than the Department of Education.3. Verify the identities of people who contact youGetting an unexpected phone call from your college warning you of catastrophic consequences for not sending over money is a commonly used tactic by scammers. Using a reverse phone lookup tool can help you identify illegitimate communications.4. Report suspected fraud to authoritiesAfter protecting yourself and your finances, report any suspicious interactions to the authorities. The FTC provides an intuitive fraud reporting tool, as does the federal Department of Justice. Don’t forget to contact your local police force.Protect Your Future this Graduation SeasonGraduating from high school, turning 18, and applying to colleges might be your first taste of the real world. Unfortunately, the real world is full of scammers and bad actors who care about nothing besides easy money.A healthy dose of skepticism and vigilance will serve you well as you navigate adulthood. The right digital tools, like a people finder, are also crucial for keeping you and your wallet safe. And remember: A good rule of thumb is, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”This story was produced by PeopleFinders and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How does cash back work for a credit card? How does cash back work for a credit card?Some companies may not pay much attention to credit card cash back, but for businesses that spend a lot, that can mean missing thousands of dollars a year. A company running $1 million in annual card spend at 1.5% cash back may be leaving $15,000 on the table every year if it doesn't have a strategy for capturing it. This is a gap that often pushes high-volume companies to evaluate high-limit business credit cards that pair stronger rewards with the spending power they actually need. The math is simple, but you need a basic plan to actually earn and collect the rewards.This article from Brex covers how cash back works from the ground up. You'll learn how rewards are earned and when they post, how the math works across different program structures, how redemption options compare, and what changes when you move from a credit card to a corporate card program with distributed cardholders and a finance team managing the close.What is cash back on a credit card?Cash back is a reward that gives back a percentage of each qualifying purchase to the cardholder. For example, a card earning 2% cash back on $100,000 in annual spend can receive a reward of $2,000, reducing the effective cost of that spend to $98,000. It's not free money. You have to spend to earn it, and the reward is always smaller than the purchase that generated it. Think of it as a discount applied after the fact rather than at the register.The reason card issuers can offer cash back comes down to interchange fees. Every time a card is used, the merchant pays a merchant discount to their acquiring bank to process the transaction; the acquirer then passes a portion of that to the card issuer as interchange. Cash back programs pass part of the issuer's interchange revenue to the cardholder as an incentive to route more spend through the card. The issuer still profits from the arrangement through the remainder of that interchange, interest on carried balances, and annual fees where applicable.One thing worth clarifying early is that cash back carries a fixed, predictable value. A dollar earned in cash back is worth a dollar when you redeem it. Points and miles work differently because their value fluctuates depending on how and where you redeem them, which can mean higher upside but significantly more complexity.How cash back works for credit cardsThe basic mechanic is straightforward. You use the card, the transaction is recognized as an eligible purchase, rewards accrue in your account, the billing cycle closes, and the cash back becomes available to redeem. That cycle repeats every month.Timing matters more than most people realize. Rewards typically post after a transaction fully clears, not when it shows as pending. Most issuers credit rewards at the end of the billing cycle rather than immediately after each purchase, so there's usually a short lag between spending and seeing the reward reflected in your account balance. If your team tracks reward accruals during close, confirm your program's posting cadence so the numbers reconcile on the right cycle.What expenses earn cash back and what don'tMost standard operating expenses qualify. Office supplies, technology, telecom, travel, dining, fuel, and professional services are all fair game on most programs. What doesn't qualify typically includes cash advances, balance transfers, fees and interest charges, some gift card purchases, and cash-like transactions such as money orders, foreign currency, and crypto.The category classification issue is one that catches finance teams off guard. Earning levels on programs with multiple reward categories depend on how a merchant is classified for card processing purposes, not how your team would classify them internally. A vendor you think of as a software company might be coded as a general business services merchant, which could mean you earn the base level rather than the elevated software level you modeled. Before committing to a program with multiple reward categories, validate how your highest-volume vendors are actually categorized. One conversation with your card issuer before signing up can save a significant amount over the course of a year.How cash back rewards on credit cards are calculatedThe base formula is simple. Eligible spend multiplied by your cash back rate equals the reward earned. A company spending $10,000 per month at 1.5% earns $150 in cash back that month, or $1,800 over a full year. At $500,000 in annual spend, that same 1.5% rate earns $7,500.Programs with multiple reward categories add a layer of math. Different levels apply to different spending categories, so your total reward is the sum of each category's spend multiplied by its respective level. A card offering 3% on software and 1% on everything else means a company spending $8,000 per month on software and $12,000 on other expenses earns $240 from software and $120 from the rest, for a combined $360 rather than the $300 a flat 1.5% card would earn on the same volume. The advantage is real, but only if your actual spend distribution matches the card's bonus categories.Caps are where the calculation gets important for high-spending companies. Many programs with multiple reward categories and rotating programs apply earning limits per category per quarter or per year. A 5% reward earning on the first $1,500 in quarterly spend that drops to 1% after means that even if you spend $10,000 in that category, your effective blended level for the quarter is much closer to 1.6% than 5%. Finance teams’ modeling program value should always calculate the blended level across their actual spending volume rather than citing the headline figure. That blended number is what your program actually delivers.Types of cash back for credit cardsDifferent cards offer different cash back structures, and the card you choose determines how much your company earns. The structure your card uses determines how much you earn, how much tracking is required, and whether the program actually fits how your company spends. There are four structures worth understanding before choosing a program.Flat-rate cash backFlat-rate programs apply the same percentage to every eligible purchase regardless of category. A 2% flat-rate card earns 2% on software, 2% on travel, 2% on office supplies, and 2% on everything in between. There's no activation, no category tracking, and no quarterly calendar to manage.The appeal for finance teams is predictability. You can model expected rewards against projected spend without factoring in category mix or cap schedules. If your company spends across a wide range of vendors and categories, flat-rate programs can often deliver the most consistent rewards.The tradeoff is that you won't earn elevated levels in your highest-spend categories. If your company puts $300,000 a year into software and travel, a flat-rate card leaves some value on the table compared to a program that rewards those categories at a higher level. The question is whether the higher potential rewards on a fixed-category program justify the additional management overhead.Fixed-category cash back with varying reward levelsPrograms with fixed reward categories apply different reward levels to predefined spending categories, with a lower base level applied to all other purchases. For example, a program may offer higher reward levels on categories such as software or telecommunications up to a quarterly cap, a mid-level on travel and dining, and a base level on remaining spend. These categories are defined by the issuer and are often consistent over time, though issuers may update them.Compared with flat-rate structures, programs with fixed reward categories can generate higher total rewards when spending is concentrated in categories with higher reward levels. For instance, a company with significant recurring software spend may earn more rewards on that portion of expenses under a fixed-category structure. However, caps can limit total rewards, so it’s important to model actual spend distribution against the program’s levels and limits before making a comparison.One planning consideration is that cap reset schedules vary by program and may not align with a company’s fiscal year. If a program resets on Jan. 1 and adoption occurs mid-year, the initial cap period may be shorter than 12 months, which can affect first-year rewards calculations.Rotating-category cash backRotating category programs offer elevated earn levels, often up to 5%, in categories that change on a quarterly schedule set by the issuer. Most require you to opt in each period to receive the higher level, and earning is typically capped once you hit a spending threshold in the bonus category.For individual cardholders who are willing to track the calendar and plan purchases around the rotating categories, the upside can be meaningful. For corporate programs with distributed cardholders, the operational burden usually outweighs the reward advantage. Communicating quarterly category changes across a team, ensuring everyone activates the bonus in time, and standardizing spending behavior around shifting categories adds administrative work that most finance teams would rather avoid. Companies with straightforward spend patterns and limited appetite for that administrative overhead are generally better served by flat-rate or fixed-category structures.Choose-your-own category cash backSome programs let you select which category earns the bonus level from a list of options provided by the issuer. It works like a fixed-category card in most respects, but you choose where the elevated level applies rather than accepting the issuer's fixed categories. Some programs allow you to change your selection once per billing cycle, which adds a layer of flexibility.This structure works well for companies with spending concentrated in one area that doesn't align with the standard bonus categories on most fixed-category cards. If your highest-spend category happens to be on the issuer's list of eligible options, a choose-your-own card lets you capture the elevated level without committing to a program built around different assumptions about how businesses spend.How to redeem cash back rewardsThe most common redemption options are a statement credit, a direct deposit or check, gift cards, travel through the issuer's portal, and merchandise. Statement credits and direct deposits are the most straightforward for businesses because they translate directly into reduced expenses or improved working capital. Gift cards and merchandise sometimes offer a slight premium in face value, but they introduce complexity that rarely makes sense for a corporate program.Two things often catch people off guard. Some cards require a minimum rewards balance before redemption is available, while others let you redeem any amount at any time. Some rewards also expire if the account sits inactive for an extended period or is closed before redemption. Both conditions vary by issuer and card program, so it's worth checking the terms before assuming your rewards will be there when you want them.How cash back works on corporate cardsThe earn-and-redeem mechanics are the same as a personal card. What changes are the scale, the governance, and a few structural features that don't exist on consumer programs. The pooling question is one of the first things to confirm when evaluating a corporate program. In centralized billing arrangements, rewards typically accrue at the organization level rather than in individual cardholder accounts. That means your finance team controls redemption rather than each employee independently, and cash back flows back to the business rather than sitting in personal accounts. Not every program handles this the same way. Some default to pooling during setup, others require you to request it. Companies that want full separation between business and personal finances may also want to explore business credit cards with EIN only, which evaluate creditworthiness on company financials alone.Card penetration has a direct effect on reward earnings that doesn't come up in consumer card discussions. For companies still building out their program, starting with the easiest business credit cards to get can help accelerate adoption and get more spend consolidated onto a single program faster. When company spend scatters across personal cards, reimbursements, and multiple payment methods, no single program reaches the volume that makes cash back meaningful. Pre-spend controls that enforce policy at the point of purchase rather than through after-the-fact reimbursement reviews increase the share of spend flowing through the card, which increases what the program accrues. Finance teams running a corporate program should track the rebate ratio as a quarterly KPI. That's total rebates divided by eligible spend, and it tends to improve as card penetration increases.Business expense cards also reward different spending categories than credit cards. Rather than groceries and gas, corporate programs tend to structure rewards around the categories where company spend concentrates, though the specifics vary widely by card. Some offer flat rates across all spend, some bonus-specific categories like office supplies, telecom, or travel, and others use startup-oriented structures that weight software and rideshare more heavily. Some corporate programs also offer redemption options that credit cards don't, including advertising spend and business-building options that can deliver more value than a straight statement credit, depending on your company's priorities.This story was produced by Brex and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Morrison water tower to undergo maintenance The Morrison water tower will be temporarily out of service for four to six weeks for maintenance.
	Stolen, loaded firearm found in backpack at Rock Island High School, police say A firearm was discovered in a student’s backpack at Rock Island High School on Monday morning.
	What it takes to be middle class in America What it takes to be middle class in AmericaOften, the expectations that come with the term “middle class” include reaching home ownership, raising kids, having the comfort of modest emergency funds and retirement savings, and the occasional splurge or vacation. In practice, a Pew Research definition sets the bounds of the middle class at two-thirds to two times the median income. And as the median household income varies widely across the U.S. depending on the local job market, housing market, infrastructure and other factors, so does what constitutes a middle-class income in America.With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked U.S. states and 100 of the largest cities based on the upper bound of middle-class income, including the full range of what’s considered middle class in each location.You can earn over $200,000 and still be middle class in five states. Massachusetts has the highest threshold to break out of the middle class, with the upper bounds at $209,656 per year. New Jersey is close behind with an upper bound of $208,588 on the middle class, followed by Maryland ($205,810), Hawai‘i ($201,490), and California ($200,298).Mississippi has the lowest statewide middle-class income range at $39,000 to $118,000. While the Magnolia State has the income bounds to be considered middle class nationwide, West Virginia ($40,532 to $121,596); Louisiana ($40,532 to $121,972); Arkansas ($41,404 to $124,212); and Kentucky ($43,017 to $129,052) also have particularly low entry points.These Californian cities have the most competitive middle-class incomes. Three of the top five cities with the highest bounds on a middle-class income are in California, including San Jose in the number one spot with a middle-class income range of $98,817 to $296,452. Irvine ranks second with a range of $97,154, while San Francisco ranks fourth at $93,201 to $279,602.A middle-class household may earn less than $35,000 in these cities. Two Ohio cities have the lowest income range to be considered middle class, with a lower qualifying bound of $28,922 in Cleveland and $33,708 annually in Toledo. Buffalo, NY households also need to earn just shy of $35,000 to meet the minimum middle-class threshold. SmartAsset SmartAsset Top 10 States With the Highest Bound on Middle Class IncomeMassachusettsUpper bound for middle class income: $209,656Lower bound for middle class income: $69,885Median household income: $104,828New JerseyUpper bound for middle class income: $208,588Lower bound for middle class income: $69,529Median household income: $104,294MarylandUpper bound for middle class income: $205,810Lower bound for middle class income: $68,603Median household income: $102,905Hawai‘iUpper bound for middle class income: $201,490Lower bound for middle class income: $67,163Median household income: $100,745CaliforniaUpper bound for middle class income: $200,298Lower bound for middle class income: $66,766Median household income: $100,149New HampshireUpper bound for middle class income: $199,564Lower bound for middle class income: $66,521Median household income: $99,782WashingtonUpper bound for middle class income: $198,778Lower bound for middle class income: $66,259Median household income: $99,389ColoradoUpper bound for middle class income: $194,226Lower bound for middle class income: $64,742Median household income: $97,113UtahUpper bound for middle class income: $193,316Lower bound for middle class income: $64,439Median household income: $96,658ConnecticutUpper bound for middle class income: $192,098Lower bound for middle class income: $64,033Median household income: $96,049Top 10 States With the Lowest Bound on Middle Class IncomeMississippiUpper bound for middle class income: $118,254Lower bound for middle class income: $39,418Median household income: $59,127West VirginiaUpper bound for middle class income: $121,596Lower bound for middle class income: $40,532Median household income: $60,798LouisianaUpper bound for middle class income: $121,972Lower bound for middle class income: $40,657Median household income: $60,986ArkansasUpper bound for middle class income: $124,212Lower bound for middle class income: $41,404Median household income: $62,106KentuckyUpper bound for middle class income: $129,052Lower bound for middle class income: $43,017Median household income: $64,526OklahomaUpper bound for middle class income: $132,296Lower bound for middle class income: $44,099Median household income: $66,148AlabamaUpper bound for middle class income: $133,318Lower bound for middle class income: $44,439Median household income: $66,659New MexicoUpper bound for middle class income: $135,632Lower bound for middle class income: $45,211Median household income: $67,816MissouriUpper bound for middle class income: $143,178Lower bound for middle class income: $47,726Median household income: $71,589IndianaUpper bound for middle class income: $143,918Lower bound for middle class income: $47,973Median household income: $71,959Top 10 Cities With the Highest Bound on Middle Class IncomeSan Jose, CaliforniaUpper bound for middle class income: $296,452Lower bound for middle class income: $98,817Median household income: $148,226Irvine, CaliforniaUpper bound for middle class income: $291,462Lower bound for middle class income: $97,154Median household income: $145,731Frisco, TexasUpper bound for middle class income: $290,888Lower bound for middle class income: $96,963Median household income: $145,444San Francisco, CaliforniaUpper bound for middle class income: $279,602Lower bound for middle class income: $93,201Median household income: $139,801Arlington, VirginiaUpper bound for middle class income: $267,164Lower bound for middle class income: $89,055Median household income: $133,582Gilbert, ArizonaUpper bound for middle class income: $249,936Lower bound for middle class income: $83,312Median household income: $124,968Seattle, WashingtonUpper bound for middle class income: $237,490Lower bound for middle class income: $79,163Median household income: $118,745Plano, TexasUpper bound for middle class income: $231,802Lower bound for middle class income: $77,267Median household income: $115,901Enterprise, NevadaUpper bound for middle class income: $222,256Lower bound for middle class income: $74,085Median household income: $111,128San Diego, CaliforniaUpper bound for middle class income: $222,064Lower bound for middle class income: $74,021Median household income: $111,032Top 10 Cities With the Lowest Bound on Middle Class IncomeCleveland, OhioUpper bound for middle class income: $86,766Lower bound for middle class income: $28,922Median household income: $43,383Toledo, OhioUpper bound for middle class income: $101,124Lower bound for middle class income: $33,708Median household income: $50,562Buffalo, New YorkUpper bound for middle class income: $104,422Lower bound for middle class income: $34,807Median household income: $52,211Memphis, TennesseeUpper bound for middle class income: $105,358Lower bound for middle class income: $35,119Median household income: $52,679St. Louis, MissouriUpper bound for middle class income: $106,748Lower bound for middle class income: $35,583Median household income: $53,374Milwaukee, WisconsinUpper bound for middle class income: $113,584Lower bound for middle class income: $37,861Median household income: $56,792Cincinnati, OhioUpper bound for middle class income: $113,820Lower bound for middle class income: $37,940Median household income: $56,910Hialeah, FloridaUpper bound for middle class income: $114,302Lower bound for middle class income: $38,101Median household income: $57,151Winston-Salem, North CarolinaUpper bound for middle class income: $115,516Lower bound for middle class income: $38,505Median household income: $57,758Newark, New JerseyUpper bound for middle class income: $116,980Lower bound for middle class income: $38,993Median household income: $58,490Data and MethodologyTo determine the income limits to be in the middle class, SmartAsset analyzed the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 1-year American Community Survey data for the median household income in 100 of the largest U.S. cities, as well as all 50 states. We applied a variation of the Pew Research definition of middle-income households, which defines a middle-class salary range by two-thirds to double the median U.S. salary, to determine the middle-class income range.This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Why playdates are key to preparing young kids for school Why playdates are key to preparing young kids for schoolPlaydates are the best way to prepare young children for school, according to a leading family psychologist.Dr. Martha Deiros Collado has 25 years of clinical experience and has conducted research by examining peer-reviewed papers (particularly longitudinal studies and meta-analysis) on playdates, school readiness, social play in the early years, socialization in 2-to 6-year-olds, loneliness and parenting.She said one of the most valuable things parents can do before September has nothing to do with reading or numbers — it's arranging a playdate.Kids between the ages of 4 and 6 who play with other children “regularly” learn to practice things like turn-taking, empathy, patience, communication and problem-solving in a “natural and meaningful way” — making them more “school ready.”As Dr. Martha explained to BBC Studios, “Playdates are the most important thing a parent can arrange to help a child get ready for school.“There is a wealth of science that shows children’s early play experiences with peers positively predicts better social skills and peer acceptance in reception class or kindergarten.”The advice follows a March 31 to April 9 poll of 2,500 parents of 3- to 7-year-olds from the U.K., the U.S. and Australia commissioned by BBC Studios and carried out through OnePoll.It found 81% have a playdate once a month or more. A further 62% believe that playdates help their child to feel more confident around other children. For 39% of those polled, the most important part of a playdate is simply seeing their child have fun.While Dr. Martha agrees, she believes the real value often lies beneath the surface.Through play, kids are learning how to take turns, communicate, cope when things do not go their way and build confidence with other children before they start school, according to Dr. Martha: “In the classroom, children need to share space, take turns and navigate bumps and conflicts with other children.”“Playdates give them the chance to begin building those skills before they start school — they are like impromptu mini life-skills workshops.”But Dr. Martha is keen to remind parents that playdates don’t always need to be smooth and trouble-free. She added, “Importantly, playdates do not need to be perfect to be valuable.“Small disagreements, little moments of frustration and working things out together are all part of how children learn.”When asked what activities make for a successful playdate, free outdoor play in a garden or park came top with 77% of those polled saying this was key.Simple crafts and drawing came second (64%), with role-play and imaginative games coming third (53%).Dr. Martha said, “Free play can be incredibly valuable for children. “It gives them the chance to imagine, negotiate, solve little problems and build confidence together, all in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.”The poll also found that playdates can help parents and carers build local support networks.Almost 4 in 10 (39%) said playdates have helped them to build new friendships with other adults, and similarly, 36% said they’ve had a positive impact on their social life. But while playdates appear to have many benefits, they’re not always easy to arrange.Challenges include not knowing other parents well (32%), clashing schedules (42%), feeling awkward about reaching out (21%) and worrying about hosting at home (18%).But children aren’t burdened with such concerns — they just want to have great playdates spent playing outside (60%), playing with toys (60%) and very often, enjoying snacks (56%).This story was produced by BBC Studios and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Autism Society of the Quad Cities hosting Autism acceptance walk The Autism Society of the Quad Cities (ASQC) is hosting a walk to celebrate Autism acceptance on Saturday, April 25 from 9 – 11 a.m. at Blackhawk Area Education Center, 4680 11th Street in East Moline. April is Autism Acceptance Month, and ASQC works with the Autism Society of America to recognize and support the [...]
	Davenport man accused of assaulting woman Sunday night A Davenport man was arrested after police say he assaulted a woman Sunday night.
	Gun found by metal detectors at Rock Island High School The school's weapon detection system flagged a possible firearm around 10 a.m. A security member searched the student's backpack and found the gun.
	Updated: Rock Island High School student faces multiple charges after gun found in backpack The high school's weapons detection system alerted staff to a firearm in a backpack Monday morning.
	Firearm found in backpack at Rock Island High School A firearm was discovered in a student’s backpack at Rock Island High School on Monday morning.
	Homes on the range: Is a federal affordable housing policy leading to a public lands selloff? Homes on the range: Is a federal affordable housing policy leading to a public lands selloff?For staffers at conservation groups like The Wilderness Society and Defenders of Wildlife, the daily routine often involves tracking congressional legislation and executive branch actions that, in some cases, look like trouble, RE:PUBLIC reports. In the early months of the second Trump administration, for example, radical changes started happening fast—among them, the DOGE-powered Valentine’s Day staffing cuts at the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.During this period, a different proposal emerged that didn’t get nearly as much attention from the media and public, but it sounded like a cause for concern. It centered on a Trump administration push to add a new category of “multiple use” to the traditional menu of mining, grazing, and timber harvesting: the construction of affordable housing.On March 16, 2025, the secretaries of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the creation of a “Joint Task Force on Federal Land for Housing.” In a Wall Street Journal op-ed co-written by secretaries Doug Burgum (DOI) and Scott Turner (HUD), the concept was described as a common-sense way to free up “underutilized” federal acreage—by “transfers or leases”—for the construction of new, affordable housing. It was headlined “Federal Land Can Be Home Sweet Home.”“Under this agreement,” they wrote, “HUD will pinpoint where housing needs are most pressing and guide the process by working with state and local leaders who know their communities best. Interior will identify locations that can support homes while carefully considering environmental impact and land-use restrictions.”“This isn’t a free-for-all to build on federal lands,” they said, “although we recognize that bad-faith critics will likely call it that.”Critics have indeed called it that, partly because Senator Mike Lee—a Utah Republican who’s one of the most vocal public-lands foes in Congress—has spent years pushing the same idea. Lee, notably, has shown little interest in affordable housing when it’s not connected to the sale, lease, or giveaway of public lands.The op-ed by Burgum and Turner didn’t go into detail about where new housing might be placed. Nor did the official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies, which required that the task force “meet quarterly to review progress [and] identify land transfer opportunities.” But Jon Raby, the acting director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), offered a few more specifics in an interview published on March 24, 2025, by the online site Bloomberg Law. (Raby is still acting director of the BLM, pending Senate confirmation of nominee Steve Pearce.)Raby said the task force had identified sellable lands that, as Bloomberg phrased it, are “within a radius of up to 10 miles of all cities and towns with a population greater than 5,000 people.” The story explained that the amount of BLM land potentially in play is significant—625 square miles, an area larger than the city of Los Angeles.Staffers at The Wilderness Society saw this and decided to map what a 10-mile radius would look like—an effort that was in progress last May when a more immediate problem emerged. As part of a budget reconciliation bill under consideration in the U.S. Senate, Lee and his allies were backing a proposal to sell off as much as 3.3 million acres of BLM and Forest Service land for development, which included using BLM lands near urban areas to build housing.The Wilderness Society shifted its attention to this, creating an interactive map that went viral, helping to touch off a firestorm. In late June, Burgum traveled to Santa Fe to deliver a speech at the annual meeting of the Western Governors Association. In his remarks, according to one report, he “referred to federal offshore and land holdings as ‘the largest balance sheet in the world.’”Outside the conference venue, 2,000 people showed up to protest; similar demonstrations occurred elsewhere in the U.S. In addition to expected pushback from environmental groups, the reconciliation language drew flak from hook-and-bullet nonprofits like the American Hunters and Anglers Action Network and even from a few conservative Republican legislators, including Ryan Zinke, a Montana congressman who served as Interior Secretary during Trump’s first term.The Wilderness Society’s map helped fuel all this: 1.87 million people clicked on it, and its reach was expanded by social media shares and coverage in more than 900 news articles. Ultimately, Senate Republicans blinked, and the sell-off language was stripped from draft legislation that was later passed as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Wilderness Society After the hubbub, what became of the housing task force? There haven’t been any recent public pronouncements on that front, but the concept certainly doesn’t appear to be dead. On April 7 of this year, Burgum and Raby were in Las Vegas for a series of events that included Nevada’s governor, Joe Lombardo, a longtime advocate for the construction of new affordable housing in the city—and for the idea of building it on repurposed federal land.“Lombardo has repeatedly urged the federal government to release Bureau of Land Management land in the Las Vegas Valley to local governments, for use in affordable housing,” a local news report said. “In order to get land, it must be ‘nominated’ by a local government, assessed and then approved before it can be transferred and construction can begin.”During this swing, Burgum said “multi-use” of federal lands should include “mining and grazing and timber and housing. It was meant for those things. It’s America’s balance sheet and we’ve got to get the appropriate return on it.”Meanwhile, whoever is in charge may have just missed an April 15 deadline for releasing an annual report that’s required by the original MOU between Interior and HUD. RE:PUBLIC requested updated information about the task force from DOI, HUD, and the BLM. None of these agencies responded.At our request, The Wilderness Society’s science team recently updated its 10-mile-radius map, which includes BLM land but excludes protected areas like national parks. In the task force’s MOU, the blanket term “federal lands” is used, making it reasonable to assume that Forest Service property would also be part of the mix. That’s on the map as well. The MOU does not mention the 10-mile radius—thus far, Raby’s comments are the only source for that. The Wilderness Society Open the map, and you’ll see why Nevada’s governor is salivating about the possibilities in Las Vegas—in every direction, large BLM parcels lie close to the city limits.As a case study, we also chose to zoom in on Durango, Colorado, population 21,000, a typical small, outdoorsy city and the hometown of Michael Carroll, BLM campaign director for The Wilderness Society. Take a look, and you’ll see a few pieces of BLM land in the immediate vicinity, along with a huge semicircle of Forest Service land north of town.On a map like this, these areas look like colorful abstractions, but to a local like Carroll they take in cherished stomping grounds that are a big part of what make the city special.“When you draw that radius around this community,” he says, “it contains some of our most coveted trail systems and recreation spots—places where people take their family to go on a picnic or hike, or to take the dog out after work.” In Durango, he says, that 10-mile ring includes trail systems like Animas Mountain, Sailing Hawks, Horse Gulch, and Twin Buttes. “And that’s just within the city limits.” The Wilderness Society Transfers of federal land in the West aren’t unheard of, but when they do happen—whether they’re for something like a water project, a new road, or some kind of housing—The Wilderness Society isn’t automatically opposed if they fill a clear public need. Such proposals are tracked and scrutinized internally by the group, which recently endorsed a bill called the Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act.This legislation was co-sponsored by Representative Jeff Hurd, a Colorado Republican, and Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat. The goal is to transfer, at no cost, 45 acres of Forest Service land that’s home to a reservoir near the alpine town of Ouray. The plan is for the city to take over, refurbishing the reservoir to boost the local water supply.Carroll, ticking off things The Wilderness Society thinks this legislation does right, says the bill requires local officials to maintain the land as public open space, prohibits new development or commercial use, and includes a “reversionary clause” that could give ownership back to the federal government if the city “fails to comply with these conditions.”The common denominator here, he says, is following the law, working with local communities and making any land transfer proposals transparent and clear while building in safeguards that have a clear public benefit.As a bottom line, Carroll points to a shared principles document endorsed by 75 national, state, and local public lands organizations during the federal budget reconciliation fight last year. The document argues that “public land conveyances must be rare, transparent, accountable, and rooted in place-based needs that serve a compelling public interest.” Unfortunately, as Carroll knows, not all legislators or federal managers share these ideals.One example is playing out right now in Oregon, where Republican Congressman Cliff Bentz introduced a bill that would transfer 500 acres of Mount Hood National Forest to The Dalles, a city of 16,000 on the Columbia River. The stated purpose is to allow the city to expand a reservoir that’s crucial to providing enough water for future urban growth. In January, Oregon Public Radio took a deeper look and made a convincing case that the real motive is to provide water for Google data centers.“The notion that this water is somehow for drinking water for residents, it’s just a fallacy,” John DeVoe, senior advisor at WaterWatch of Oregon, told OPR. “Obviously, the great driver of demand for water in The Dalles is Google.”The bill is currently under review by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.In Texas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed doing a land swap with SpaceX—the commercial space transport company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk—that would have adverse impact on the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, a series of habitat tracts along the final 150 miles of the Rio Grande River.According to Defenders of Wildlife, which opposes the swap, the refuge is home “to at least 18 threatened and endangered species,” including “all five species of sea turtle found in the Gulf of Mexico.”The proposed exchange involves giving 712 acres of refuge land to SpaceX in exchange for a smaller amount of land: 692 acres, some of which would be given to a different national refuge nearby, Laguna Atascosa. According to the government’s Draft Environmental Assessment, the land taken from the Lower Rio Grande Valley refuge would be used for “residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure purposes.” That is: construction.Nathan Marcy, senior federal lands policy analyst for Defenders of Wildlife, points out that land exchanges are allowed under the law that created the national refuge system: the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, which uses the phrase “suitable for disposition” but doesn’t define it. In Defenders’ view, it’s not at all suitable to trade away land vital to the health of this refuge, and they contend that this swap ignores that responsibility.“The refuge is strung out along the river—it’s a long corridor,” Marcy says. “The primary management goal of the refuge is to protect and restore habitat. This 712 acres would cut a big chunk out of that corridor, severing it permanently.”A public comment period on this exchange just ended. If it’s approved by Fish and Wildlife, Defenders has the option of pursuing litigation.Finally, in Jackson, Wyoming, a local group called the Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust is hoping to build 36 rental units on a 3.15-acre parcel that’s currently part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. This project—which has no connection to the HUD-DOI task force—is aimed at providing affordable rentals to a mix of U.S. Forest Service staff and private-sector employees who live in Teton County.According to a report in Mountain Journal, a public interest nonprofit, the proposal has drawn both local support and opposition. One argument against it is that a project like this should be designed only to include federal employees as renters.In the summer of 2025, The Wilderness Society submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to learn more about the Joint Task Force on Federal Land for Housing. To obtain even a partial release of records, its lawyers had to file litigation against the DOI, HUD, and the BLM earlier this year. The documents released so far, Carroll says, show little sign of engagement with “local leaders or community groups” as required by the MOU.The documents do show, as Public Domain reports, “that President Donald Trump’s Interior Department shared research with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which Lee chairs, and helped craft talking points that Lee used to pitch his controversial proposal.”They also reflect interest in building homes in Las Vegas. During a meeting held there last May, a Florida-based manufactured-home builder called PLAD—which stands for Personalized Luxury Adaptable Dwellings—was on hand as a possible vendor.While advocates wait to see if the task force comes back to life, Carroll and others are watching and waiting—among other things, for the release of more than 1,200 pages of records still in the hands of the DOI.“Any administrative or legislative proposal for the use or disposal of public lands for affordable housing needs to have requirements that the land never fuels speculative development,” he says. “Unfortunately, the administration seems to want to draw circles around cities and towns and put a for sale sign on all the federal lands inside it. Blunt approaches like this could cost communities their favorite trails and open spaces—and more than likely won’t address the communities’ affordable housing needs.”The Wilderness Society contributed interactive mapping to this story.This story was produced by RE:PUBLIC and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Rethinking anti-aging: The increasing presence of organic products in global beauty markets Rethinking anti-aging: The increasing presence of organic products in global beauty marketsAnti-aging is no longer a race to erase; it’s a strategy for dermal survival. For today’s consumer, aggressive "correction" is out, and long-term barrier support is in.Global Market Insights projects the natural beauty sector will reach $70.8 billion by 2035, carving out a significant slice of the $831 billion global cosmetics industry. As users ditch immediate inflammation in favor of cellular health, "well-aging" has emerged as the definitive industry standard, Froya Organics reports. Froya Organics The Rise of N-Beauty and Minimalist ExtractionThe global market is currently dominated by three regional philosophies: K-beauty (Korean), J-beauty (Japanese), and the emerging N-beauty (Nordic). While K- and J-beauty emphasize multi-step rituals and hydration, Nordic-inspired skincare focuses on skinimalism, or the use of fewer, more potent ingredients designed to withstand environmental stressors.This shift toward resilience is driving interest in brands that focus on minimalist formulations utilizing ingredients native to the Nordic regions.These botanicals are harvested for their natural resistance to extreme sub-arctic climates and high UV exposure during summer months, offering a high concentration of antioxidants and fatty acids.This resilient-ingredient model serves a growing market segment that is moving away from complex routines in favor of streamlined, high-performance products that strengthen the skin’s self-repair mechanisms.Defining High-Performance OrganicsThe modern organic sector has moved beyond simple botanical mixtures to high-performance formulations. These products use certified organic raw materials processed through advanced biotechnology to achieve clinical-grade outcomes.This involves isolating specific botanical compounds to trigger the same cellular pathways typically targeted by synthetic ingredients, such as collagen synthesis and elastin production, but with higher dermal compatibility. By focusing on bio-active molecules, gadget-free well-aging allows consumers to achieve measurable results without the risk of long-term sensitivity.The Retinol vs. Bakuchiol ComparisonThe most prominent example of this shift is the transition from synthetic retinol to Bakuchiol.While retinol remains a primary anti-aging treatment, clinical research published in Experimental Dermatology highlighted that Bakuchiol acts as a potent inflammatory modulator, significantly reducing redness-inducing cytokines that synthetic vitamin A can sometimes trigger.Unlike synthetic retinol, which is synthesized in a laboratory and often causes an initial inflammatory response characterized by scaling and purging, Bakuchiol is a plant-based ingredient obtained from the Psoralea corylifolia plant. Still, the compound used in high-performance skincare undergoes a sophisticated molecular extraction process to achieve 99% purity.This ensures that the final formulation delivers the same gene-expression patterns as retinol—stimulating the production of Type I, III, and IV collagen—while maintaining the skin’s moisture levels and avoiding the inflammatory markers common in traditional retinoid use.The Pro-Inflammatory Risk of Synthetic Hyaluronic AcidWhile Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a staple in most moisturizers, the method of production dictates the skin's biological response. Synthetic HA is typically produced via bacterial fermentation. To increase penetration, labs often utilize Low Molecular Weight (LMW) HA.However, emerging research in dermatological science suggests that LMW HA can act as a pro-inflammatory signaling molecule, essentially "tricking" the skin into a state of low-grade chronic inflammation. Over time, this can actually accelerate collagen degradation.Conversely, botanical HA offers a distinct biological synergy. Derived from the Tremella fuciformis fungus, this polysaccharide provides a high-performance alternative to lab-grown variants.Analysis from the LA Times confirms the compound can hold 500 times its weight in water, but its structural advantage is equally significant. Because its molecular particles are naturally smaller than synthetic equivalents, it facilitates deeper dermal penetration. This ensures moisture delivery without the pro-inflammatory ‘signaling’ risk typically associated with synthetic low-molecular-weight (LMW) versions.The Future of Barrier-Centric BeautyThe transition toward organic anti-aging represents a shift in how consumers manage dermal health. By prioritizing the skin’s long-term integrity over the pursuit of instant fixes, the industry is aligning with a more sustainable and biological approach to aging.This story was produced by Froya Organics and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Kewanee man gets two seven year prison terms His probation was also revoked on a 2023 aggravated battery case and he was sentenced to seven years in prison to be served consecutively to the seven-year term for attempted sexual abuse.

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