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

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026
	Quad Cities commercial real estate market report released for 2026 The report focuses on current conditions and trends shaping the Quad Cities region.
	Have you seen these suspects? Crime Stoppers wants to know! Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities wants your help catching two fugitives. It’s an Our Quad Cities News exclusive. You can get an elevated reward for information on this week’s cases: RENITA CLAY, 25, 4’11"” tall", 171 pounds. Wanted by Iowa DOC High Risk Unit and Scott County Sheriff’s Office for parole violation on convictions [...]
	Rock Island County Health Department offering STI screenings and Narcan kits Rock Island County Health Department Chief Nursing Officer Tracy Keenon says the screening covers four STIs with results within 48 hours. The testing is $25, but can be waived for lack of funding. The department is also continuing its free Narcan kit outreach program. Since May 2024, the department has given out nearly 700 kits. Anyone can request one, and the department staff will show how to administer the lifesaving opioid overdose nasal spray, no questions asked.
	Salem City Council responds to planned closure of Salem Elementary School The Salem City Council released a statement following the decision to permanently close Salem Elementary School at the end of 2027.
	Massive scrapyard fire in Kewanee destroys building, sends smoke across central Illinois A large scrapyard fire in Kewanee Tuesday afternoon destroyed a building and office area, shut down roads and drew aid from numerous agencies.
	3 juveniles charged after being found with BB guns near park, Silvis City Hall Three juveniles have been charged after being found with BB guns near a park and City Hall in Silvis.
	2 firefighters injured while battling garage fire At 9:07 p.m., crews arrived to see smoke coming from an attached garage in the 800 block of Robin Road, according to a news release.
	KWQC, KCRG-TV9 to host Democratic congressional forum KWQC and KCRG-TV9 will host a live, commercial-free candidate forum for Democrats running for Iowa’s Second Congressional District seat ahead of the June 2 primary election.
	These companies help parents try to pick their babies' traits. Experts are wary Prospective parents can now pick embryos based on risk predictions for thousands of diseases and odds for specific traits. But should they?
	Death Notice: Lonnie Pool Lonnie Ray Pool, 66, of LeClaire, died Saturday, May 2, 2026, at his home. A private family burial will take place in McCausland on Wednesday, May 13, with a public luncheon to follow at 11 a.m. at the McCausland United Methodist Church. The family invites all who loved Lonnie to come celebrate. Weerts Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements. A full obituary will appear in the May 13 edition of The NSP.
	Republicans want to add $1 billion for Trump's ballroom security to ICE funding plan Republicans in Congress are proposing $1 billion in funding for security for President Trump's White House ballroom as part of their partisan plan to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
	Preserving pollinators is good for health -- and income Pollinators have economic and health benefits, but those benefits have been difficult to quantify. A new study puts some numbers to how important pollinators are for both nutrition and income.
	Coya’s Cafe to reopen in former Adolph’s Mexican Foods Coye’s Cafe is moving. The Moline favorite celebrates its final 4th Avenue day before opening at a renovated location on Avenue of the Cities.
	Rock Island Co. man deemed sexually violent by judge A Rock Island County judge has declared Ryan Rogers a sexually violent person, ordering him into IDHS custody following his past sex crime conviction.
	2 firefighters injured in Muscatine garage fire A fire at a Muscatine home Tuesday night caused an estimated $15,000 in damage. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries.
	Iowa family farms are disappearing. One farmer has a plan to save his. Who will farm Iowa's fields in 20 years? For many family farmers, that question could mean the difference between their legacy continuing or disappearing altogether.
	Man facing weapons charge in connection with road rage incident A Davenport man is accused of pointing a weapon at a person during a road rage incident Tuesday night.
	Tuesday night fire in Muscatine causes $15,000 in damage No occupants were injured, but two firefighters were treated on scene for minor injuries and immediately returned to duty.
	Three juveniles charged after reported weapons incident near Schadt Park in Silvis Three juveniles were charged after police responded to reports of a person with a possible firearm near Schadt Park in Silvis Tuesday.
	Davenport man accused of asking for child sexual abuse material on Instagram Jeremiah Archer, 50, was arrested Tuesday and is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class B felony, and grooming, a Class D felony.
	Muscatine crews respond to garage fire Muscatine firefighters responded to a garage fire last night. The Muscatine Joint Communications Center (MUSCOM) received a 911 call reporting a fire in the attic of a two-story single-family home in the 800 block of Robin Road on May 5 at about 9:07 p.m. The Muscatine Fire Department responded with 13 firefighters and the Muscatine [...]
	Watch boys go from frightened to feral in an unforgettable 'Lord of the Flies' A TV adaptation of William Golding's 1954 novel follows schoolboys who survive a plane crash and must fend for themselves on a deserted island. It was co-written by Adolescence creator Jack Thorne.
	New Horizons, Muscatine, moving to new location New Horizons in Muscatine has a new location, effective Monday, May 11. New Horizons, a part of UnityPoint Health – Robert Young Center, will move its offices inside the existing Robert Young Center at 1616 Cedar Street, across the street from its previous location. The move ensures continued access to high-quality, compassionate care for people [...]
	Officials: Large fire at scrapyard powered by fuel tanks that failed Officials are investigating, but said the fire is being considered accidental.
	QC transit systems offer free rides to bikers during Bike to Work Week QC transit systems are marking National Bike to Work Week May 11 – 17 with free rides for anyone who brings along a bike. Davenport CitiBus, Bettendorf Transit and MetroLINK are encouraging Quad City commuters to combine biking and public transit as part of their daily trips to and from work. The three transit systems [...]
	Greetings from a sea village in Indonesia, where Indigenous fishing gets help from mangroves As a water taxi rounded a corner at sunset, the village of Torosiaje came into view, with its colorful stilted houses perched over the Molucca Sea.
	Brash CNN founder Ted Turner dies Turner had a larger-than-life personality, and used it to launch the country's first 24/7 all-news network.
	'A trailblazer, a rabble-rouser, a do-gooder': CNN founder Ted Turner dies at 87 Turner had a larger-than-life personality, and used it to launch the country's first 24/7 all-news network.
	Temperatures warming up toward the weekend May has certainly gotten off to a cool start with temperatures over the past couple of days being colder than normal in the 50s and low 60s. It was only this past Monday when temperatures exceeded the 80s, but things are warming up through this week. By Friday we will be nearing the 70s to [...]
	Moline celebrating Bike to Work Day with free breakfast The City of Moline is celebrating Bike to Work Day on Monday, May 11 from 6 - 9 a.m. at Bass Street Landing, 1601 River Drive. The event is being held in partnership with the Quad City Bicycle Club (QCBC) and will offer free breakfast and coffee for cyclists and community members. The public is [...]
	Geneseo to host inaugural downtown Wine Walk The first‑ever Geneseo Wine Walk is set for May 30, a 3–7 p.m. downtown event featuring more than a dozen wine‑tasting stops, shopping promotions, live music and a pedestrian‑only State Street experience requiring advance tickets.
	Honor Flight 65 takes off from Quad Cities International Airport Honor Flight 65 took off Wednesday morning, sending local veterans to Washington, D.C. for a day of remembrance and recognition.
	Have you lost or are worried about losing SNAP benefits? NPR wants to hear your story NPR wants to hear from people impacted by changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
	Iran's Revolutionary Guard says ships can now pass through the Strait of Hormuz Iran's Revolutionary Guard says safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be provided after President Trump said he was pausing a U.S. military-guided effort to let merchant vessels through.
	Iran's Revolutionary Guard says ships can now pass the Strait of Hormuz Iran's Revolutionary Guard says safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be provided after President Trump said he was pausing a U.S. military-guided effort to let merchant vessels through.
	Iran says ships can pass Strait of Hormuz as Trump warns of bombings without a deal Iran's Revolutionary Guard says safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be provided after President Trump said he was pausing a U.S. military-guided effort to let merchant vessels through.
	FULL \| Vice President JD Vance, Republican leaders speak at Zach Nunn campaign event in Des Moines The visit came less than a month before the June 2 primary that sets up November’s midterm elections, where Nunn is expected to face state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott
	New book imagines Hans Christian Andersen showing up to Charles Dickens' house In Five Weeks in the Country, author Francine Prose imagines a distressing, ill-timed visit to Charles Dickens' home in 1857 — offering a memorable twist on the classic English country house drama.
	Orion board hears concerns from neighbors of potential DG Market site Two residents whose condos border the Dollar General property on Route 150, spoke to trustees Monday about the need for a fence between the properties.
	Scott County considers updating public records policy after settlement The board will vote on the proposed policy at its 5 p.m. meeting on Thursday.
	Everyday People: A boy-mom becomes the grandmother to a little girl Aimee and Rick Coursey spent the morning working on their still-new property in rural Milan. They took a break for lunch at Meatheads Cookout in town.
	Culinary arts courses in the Quad-Cities provide robust, applicable programs As certain sectors saw hits last year, the hospitality and food service industry grew; here's how some Quad-Cities schools are preparing students for the food industry.
	Paying Attention This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Father Bonn was one of Rock Island's saints. He lived in a dark two-room basement apartment with a hot plate in a dying…
	A new Medicare option for weight loss drugs is coming: Here's what to know Millions of people with Medicare will soon be eligible to get discounted GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. Here's how it will work.
	Poll: Trump blamed for gas prices as Democrats gain midterm edge A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds strong support for Democrats this midterm season. It also shows increasing concern about the war in Iran and the economy, particularly the price of gas.
	Lindsey Vonn's Olympic crash was a horrific setback. But she's never been one to hide Vonn defied her doubters to race in the Olympics on a torn ACL, but her comeback dream ended with a broken left leg. Most people would want to hide after such a setback — but Vonn isn't most people.
	Do you say 'wash' or 'warsh?' Here's where the pronunciation comes from Trump's nominee for the Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh, has dominated headlines for weeks. For some, his surname is a reminder of a disappearing accent in South Midland America.
	Man arrested in Scott County for road rage incident A man was arrested in Scott County in connection with a road rage incident. According to a release from the Scott County Sheriff's Office, the Scott Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call May 5 at approximately 4:21 p.m., stating that a firearm was pointed at a victim during a reported road rage incident. An [...]
	Iowa gas, diesel prices near record highs: AAA DES MOINES, Iowa -- Gas and diesel prices in Iowa are nearing record highs. According to AAA, the average price for regular unleaded gas in Iowa reached $4.14 per gallon on Tuesday, one of the highest prices seen since a record average of $4.76 per gallon in 2022. Yesterday, prices in Iowa averaged $3.94. A [...]
	Cook review: The animated short 'What is Dyslexia?' is joyful. WATCH IT HERE. For many years, I taught college classes. I have one regret. I stopped teaching some years ago, and now I can't show "What is Dyslexia?" in any of my classes. My students - the youngest of whom was 18, if I remember correctly - were adults. Some of them had a rough go during their [...]
	Zelenskyy slams Russia as strikes kill 22 in Ukraine before announced ceasefire Zelenskyy rebuked Moscow for what he said was its "utter cynicism" in launching the attacks after Russia announced a unilateral ceasefire over two days later this week.
	Police say Australian women with alleged IS ties face charges on return from Syria The Australian government had been alerted Wednesday that four women and nine children had booked flights from Damascus to Australia, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.
	City and Augustana College share plans for proposed Rock Island 550-acre land, water reserve Officials discussed the city’s partnership with Augustana students and faculty, who will help study the area’s ecosystem and gather community feedback to help create a long-term management plan for the wetlands.
Tuesday, May 5th, 2026
	Will gas prices soon cool drastically in Iowa and Illinois, other states? After spiking last week, double-digit dips could be coming soon.
	Alleman survives United Township in 2OT thriller, wins on second penalty shootout Alleman girls soccer defeated United Township in a thrilling double overtime and second penalty shootout.
	United Township defeats Moline 4-1 United Township baseball defeated Moline 4-1 at home.
	Davenport man accused of brandishing a firearm during road rage incident A 21-year-old Davenport man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly pointed a handgun at another person during what authorities are calling a road rage incident.
	Davenport man arrested after allegedly asking minor for nude photo over Instagram A Davenport man has been arrested for allegedly asking a 14-year-old girl to send him a nude photo of herself over the social media platform Instagram.
	Vance touts taxes, trade and American jobs during Iowa visit The vice president will visit Ex-Guard Industries with Republican Rep. Zach Nunn and deliver remarks.
	Iowa Democrats challenge Vance and Nunn over Burlington CNH plant closures Iowa Democrats challenge Vance and Nunn over Burlington CNH plant closures and GOP policies following the Vice President's recent visit to Iowa.
	US Marshals arrest Illinois man on Scott County sexual abuse warrant The U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Task Force arrested Miguel Rodriguez at his home in the Lake Holiday community near Sandwich, Illinois, on Tuesday.
	Former immigration judge wins in tight Ohio Supreme Court Republican primary The Gavel outside the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.)Former Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Colleen O’Donnell defeated a four-person Republican primary field to earn the nomination for the party, cementing the race against Democratic Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner in the general election. Races for the state’s top judicial positions were made explicitly partisan when Republican state lawmakers added party labels to the races starting in 2022. Brunner is currently the only Democratic justice on the 6-1 Republican court. O’Donnell said she was “humbled” by the election results. “This is not just a victory for my campaign team, but for all Ohioans who support law and order, public safety, and fair, consistent court decisions,” she said in a statement late Tuesday night. In addition to working in the Franklin County Courts, O’Donnell also previously worked for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. She’s also served with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and most recently as a federal immigration judge in Laredo, Texas. O’Donnell came out ahead in a tight race with Fifth District Court of Appeals Judge Andrew King. Ninth District Court of Appeals Judge Jill Flagg Lanzinger and Second District Court of Appeals Judge Ron Lewis were also on the ballot Tuesday. The May primary included party affiliations for judges, after state lawmakers decided to add the labels in 2022. A win for O’Donnell and for incumbent Republican Justice Dan Hawkins in the Nov. 3 general election would establish a full 7-0 Republican Ohio Supreme Court. Hawkins faces First District Court of Appeals Judge Marilyn Zayas to defend his seat. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Ohio Capital Journal
	Anonymous $200,000 donation to the Muscatine Art Center helps cover funding cuts The center lost a significant portion of its funding while the City of Muscatine worked to make up a $700,000 budget shortfall.
	Vance touts taxes, tariffs and American jobs during Iowa visit The vice president will visit Ex-Guard Industries with Republican Rep. Zach Nunn and deliver remarks.
	Man charged with pointing gun at driver during road rage incident north of Stockton 21-year-old Traveon Hall is charged with assault while displaying a weapon in connection to the incident.
	Body recovered from Cedar River after man disappeared Monday night According to the Cedar Rapids Police Department, 33-year-old Dakota Freese was pulled under after wading into the river to recover fishing gear he'd dropped.
	Man charged with pointing gun at driver during road rage incident north of Stockton 21-year-old Traveon Hall is charged with assault while displaying a weapon in connection to the incident.
	Crews respond to large junkyard fire in Kewanee A plume of smoke could be seen from miles away.
	Rock Island holds meeting about proposal wetlands land and water reserve The next steps are to map out the wetland's habitats and understand how the health of the area has changed over the last 30 years.
	Taxes, tariffs and American jobs were top of mind during Vance’s Iowa visit The vice president will visit Ex-Guard Industries with Republican Rep. Zach Nunn and deliver remarks.
	Former state Rep. Jay Edwards takes Republican primary nomination for Ohio Treasurer A voter leaves a polling place. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images) A tight Republican primary on Tuesday tested the endorsement power of higher-up Republicans in the state and federal, and in the end former Ohio House member Jay Edwards edged out current state Sen. Kristina Roegner in unofficial results. Both candidates received high-profile endorsements, with Roegner backed by Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican candidate for governor, and Edwards touting the support of Republican Vice President JD Vance. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX During her primary campaign, Roegner touted her experience and her goal to maintain financial discipline, along with returning money to Ohioans from the state’s unclaimed funds, rather than allowing it to be used for sports stadium funding, as legislators pledged. Late Tuesday night, Roegner congratulated Edwards and said it was important for Ohio to stay “on a strong fiscal path.” “Ohio Republicans remain united in our commitment to responsible government, strong economic growth, and protecting the hard-earned tax dollars of Ohio families,” Roegner said in a statement. Edwards used his campaign promising to bring “young energy” to the Ohio Treasurer’s Office and help maintain the “Trump Republican Party.” While he said the pledge to use unclaimed funds for sports venues “could have been spent a better way,” but has said he’s not against the idea “if we can afford to do them, and if we’ve checked all the other boxes.” Edwards will face Democrat Seth Walsh, a Cincinnati community organizer, in the Nov. 3 general election. Walsh was unopposed in the primary. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Ohio Capital Journal
	New momentum in research offers hope for people living with lupus (BPT) - Since she was 8 years old, Nancy Mize Gonzalez dreamed of becoming a concert pianist. She practiced for hours a day every day, and it paid off. At 16, Gonzalez was accepted into a college music program to pursue her dreams."Everything was beautiful, and I was thriving," said Gonzalez. "But one morning I woke up, and my hands were stiff — fingers aching so much that it hurt to move them. Every single note was excruciating to play."At 18, Gonzalez's world changed as her doctors diagnosed her with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease.A condition that affects millionsGonzalez is not alone — as lupus affects millions of people worldwide."In lupus, the same immune system that helps us defend ourselves from infections mistakenly thinks that our own body is a harmful invader and attacks," said Dr. Roberto Caricchio, Myles J. McDonough chair in Rheumatology and chief of the Division of Rheumatology at UMass Chan Medical School. "Because lupus is systemic, it can attack any organ, such as the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, and skin, as well as blood and joints. No one's experience is the same."Despite its prevalence, many people are unaware of what lupus is or how it impacts people with the condition. That's why this May, during Lupus Awareness Month, the Lupus Research Alliance, the world's largest private funder of lupus research, and dedicated members of the worldwide lupus community are celebrating "Hope in Action: The Future of Lupus" — increasing awareness, supporting those living with lupus, and raising funds to fuel research to treat and one day cure this debilitating autoimmune disease.Research breakthroughs provide hopeFor decades, lupus has been one of the most complex autoimmune diseases for researchers to understand and treat, largely because the disease affects each person differently and involves many immune pathways. For 50 years, there were no treatments specifically approved by the FDA for lupus.However, since 2011, scientific momentum has been building toward today's research renaissance. Four targeted therapies are now FDA-approved across systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis, and hundreds of clinical trials are currently underway investigating potential new treatments. Researchers are uncovering new insights into how lupus develops, identifying biomarkers for earlier detection, and advancing therapies designed to target the disease more precisely.One organization that has been at the forefront of lupus research over the past two decades is the Lupus Research Alliance. To drive discovery and development of next-generation lupus diagnostics and curative treatments, the Lupus Research Alliance funds the most innovative research, fosters scientific talent, and drives discovery toward better diagnostics, improved treatments and, ultimately, a cure for lupus.Since its inception, the Lupus Research Alliance has:Awarded more than 675 grants and invested over $284 million in lupus research grants.Funded or supported the only four new treatments developed specifically for lupus.Established Lupus Therapeutics, the clinical affiliate of the Lupus Research Alliance, which is involved in more than 25% of active lupus clinical trials.Launched Lupus Ventures, the world's only venture capital fund dedicated to lupus, its manifestations, and related autoimmune conditions.The Lupus Research Alliance's work and recent progress in lupus treatments have emboldened other organizations and individuals to do their part to raise awareness of the disease and support research. For instance, because of her desire to know more about her condition and to help others, Gonzalez switched careers.After pursuing her M.D./Ph.D. degrees at Texas A&M College of Medicine, she will soon start a neurosurgery residency in Houston. She is also an executive member of the Lupus Research Alliance Young Leaders Board."Back when I was first diagnosed, I asked my doctors, 'What's lupus? What does autoimmune mean? Will I get better? What's the cure?' I was always met with the same answer: 'We don't know. We need more research,'" said Gonzalez. "Eventually, you get tired of hearing that. So, I decided to go back to school, to become a doctor and be able to give other patients the answers I struggled to find."Everyone can do their partWhile curing lupus may not be a reality yet, there is hope on the horizon."This is an unprecedented time in lupus," said Dr. Caricchio, Vice Chair of the Lupus Clinical Investigators Network (LuCIN), overseen by the Lupus Research Alliance's clinical affiliate Lupus Therapeutics. "The next step is ensuring that these advances translate into real-world approaches and therapies that improve daily life for people living with lupus — slowing disease progression while minimizing side effects."Realizing that future requires collective work — and everyone can play a part. There are several ways to get involved — like donating to fuel new breakthroughs, taking part in research, and taking time to learn about lupus and raising awareness."With still only a handful of therapies ever approved for lupus, the next wave of breakthroughs could redefine treatment for millions worldwide — and we're right at that precipice," Albert T. Roy, president and CEO of the Lupus Research Alliance, said. "By working together, we have a real opportunity to bring people living with this disease closer to a cure."To learn more about lupus, support those living with the disease, and donate to fuel breakthroughs, visit LupusResearch.org.
	Mercado on 5th returns with food, vendors and live entertainment Mercado on Fifth will open for its 10th season in downtown Moline.
	City of Rock Island hosts informational meeting on proposed preservation area People in Rock Island got their first look at a proposed land and water reserve near the Milan Bottoms Tuesday night. Some faculty and students at Augustana College are conducting a study to see how the land should be treated. "It's a great place where if the students have the need, we can transform it [...]
	Rock Island police announce promotions for 2 veteran officers Lt. Timothy Muehler will be appointed as Rock Island's new deputy chief of police, and Officer Mario Mendoza will be promoted to the rank of police sergeant, according to a release.
	May events in the Quad Cities expected to generate $4.8M economic impact From golf championships to international handball tournaments, Visit Quad Cities said it takes a lot of work to bring such events to town. Here's how they do it.
	In packed GOP field, gubernatorial candidates aim to distinguish themselves in first TV debate Most of the Republican gubernatorial candidates participated in the May 5 WMTW debate. From top left, Jonathan Bush, Ben Midgley, Garrett Mason, Owen McCarthy, David Jones and Robert Wessels. (Official campaign photos)The Republican gubernatorial candidates all agreed that, if elected, they’d cut taxes, regulations on businesses and, overall, the state budget during the first statewide televised debate Tuesday night. But, they differed on how they’d achieve those shared goals and how they believe their backgrounds would help them in doing so. WMTW invited all candidates to participate, however Bobby Charles, an attorney from Leeds and former federal government official, declined. Charles also won’t partake in another upcoming debate Thursday, which he said is because Robert Wessels, a small business owner from Paris, isn’t allowed to participate. Wessels didn’t meet the criteria of the networks sponsoring Thursday’s debate, CBS News 13 and the Bangor Daily News, including getting 5% support in an independent poll. The six candidates who did participate Tuesday spent a lot of time critiquing Charles, both for his decision not to attend and for his campaign promises. “I’m disappointed that Bobby Charles isn’t here again,” said David Jones, who owns F.O. Bailey Real Estate in Falmouth. “His absence is a pattern that we all see. Maine deserves a candidate who knows how to answer tough questions. Nothing should stop me from being here, and he definitely should be here as well.” The likely Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine was also not spared from critique. “As I look out to the working people of this state — the people I grew up with, they are Republicans, independents and Democrats — we know they want change and we know this because Janet Mills just lost to an outsider with a working class message,” said Owen McCarthy, a health industry entrepreneur and University of Maine trustee from Gorham. Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of the race last week, essentially handing it to frontrunner Graham Platner, a political newcomer. Five of the six Republicans in attendance self-identified as CEOs, with Wessels as the exception. Wessels also said he’s the only candidate who homeschools his children and that he’d push to expand school choice. Of the majority CEO bunch, Ben Midgley, the former president of Planet Fitness, said his work creating thousands of jobs and building a company sets him apart. Jonathan Bush, a health technology entrepreneur who is the nephew of the late President George H.W. Bush, mentioned being a former platoon leader with experience “getting rid of the weak links and relentlessly motivating the team.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Along with Charles, Garrett Mason is the only other candidate to have worked in government. Mason served as Maine Senate majority leader during Gov. Paul LePage’s administration. “I’m not a newly converted conservative,” Mason added, “and I’m not one who just learned to talk like one on social media.” That distinction came up later, when the candidates were asked if they’ve ever voted for a candidate of the other major political party. Midgley has. He was previously a Democrat. Bush also said he has, though not recently. All others said no. Here’s how else the candidates distinguished themselves: What is a tax subsidy, mandate or state program that you’d cut in your first budget? Wessels said he would cut $2 billion from the budget during year one, including by eliminating unfilled state positions, downsizing the Department of Education and addressing fraud. Additionally, he’d expand the homestead exemption and have the state adopt the federal provisions of no taxes on tips and overtime for certain workers. Long-term, he wants to eliminate property taxes for primary residences, like Florida. Bush pushed back on Wessels’ plan, calling a $2 billion cut unrealistic in year one. “But, it’s certainly plausible as we grow,” Bush said. But Bush did not point to a specific policy he’d cut. “I hate them all equally and they all need to go in equal measure,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a specific one that’s more egregious than the other. It is the fact of an overwhelmingly high tax load and an overwhelmingly suffocating regulatory load, making it impossible for regular Mainers to grow their business.” Jones also disagreed on the exact number that could be cut in the first year of an administration, with his estimate being $1.5 billion. “But the bottom line is, if we don’t have the House and we don’t have the Senate, we can all sit here and make all the promises in the world to everybody out there and we can’t do anything unless we have their help,” Jones said. A Republican governor would likely face a divided Augusta, given that the wider Democratic majority in the Senate is unlikely to flip, though the Maine House of Representatives could. Mason offered a litany of taxes he’d eliminate — the tax on streaming services Mills recently added, the tobacco tax she recently raised, the franchise tax, paint tax, mattress tax. But, most importantly, he pointed to the income tax. McCarthy said he would cut income taxes for people making under $200,000 by 10%, as well as make it so veterans with permanent and total disability pay no property taxes. On the other hand, Midgley sees the largest state expense that can be cut down as welfare. “You can cut taxes across the board and still not be in the ball game in terms of where you should be,” he said. How would you keep people from moving out of Maine’s rural communities? Midgely said he’d do so by creating more opportunity, specifically by decreasing reliance on welfare. “I’ve been on the system, so I understand this,” he said. “We need to create a bridge for folks so they can go after opportunities, make more money, do better for themselves and their families and then get back in the workforce.” Wessels said he’d create more business-friendly policies. “Right now one of our biggest exports is our kids,” Wessels said. Bush would cut taxes, specifically $1 billion from the state’s income tax. “We got to get rid of these little grant games and grow our economy,” Bush said. Jones would eliminate property taxes on primary residences, as well as raise the homestead property tax exemption. Mason spoke about what he wouldn’t do, including incentivizing people to put solar panels on their farmland instead of growing food or allowing seed potatoes carrying pathogens that threaten Maine’s potato industry. “They’re agrarian in nature,” Mason said of counties in the north. “Their economies are very fragile.” McCarthy, the only candidate with roots north of Augusta, said he’d propose what he called mill rebirth zones, “where we rise up like the Phoenix,” joining what he sees as the reindustrialization of America. He’d also focus on rebuilding hospitals and birthing centers. Should the state be doing more to reduce the cost of childcare or to expand access? The candidates agreed on not wanting the state to foot the bill for childcare. They instead spoke about building a stronger, more competitive economy to bring costs down. Many said they believe the current rules and regulations for childcare providers are too stringent. Mason and Jones specifically brought up vaccine mandates. “Bottom line,” Jones said, “parent’s choice.” McCarthy offered a distinct take of focusing on the private market as a solution, where local businesses can step in to provide care. “They’re motivated to do it because they’ve trained these people,” McCarthy said. “They don’t want to lose them in the workforce. We need to be a convener on that.” Midgley also outlined specific steps he’d take, including expanding use of section 125, which allows businesses to offer employees pre-tax salary deductions for qualified expenses, and incentivizing employers to provide childcare by giving them tax write offs. Wessels mentioned energy prices as a cost driver, as well. While advocating for decreasing regulations on childcare providers, several candidates simultaneously brought up the issue of child welfare, which several had also focused on during a debate back in September. “We have all this focus on people who are caring for kids, and absolutely none on people who are not taking care of kids that are wards of the state,” Mason said. Maine’s public-facing persona Maine’s last Republican governor, LePage, installed a sign at the border that read, “Open for business,” which Mills replaced to read, “Welcome Home.” The candidates were asked, if elected governor, what is the message you’d put on the sign at the border? McCarthy: “Innovationland.” Midgely: “A state that you can make home.” Wessels:: “A state for the people.” Bush: “Open for business,” returning to LePage’s sign choice. Jones: “Welcome to opportunity.” Mason: “Call me romantic, but if it’s just a street sign it’s ‘The Way Life Should Be.’” Though, he said he wouldn’t mind having “Open for business.” Courtesy of Maine Morning Star
	DeWitt teen accused of sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl The 19-year-old was arrested Saturday and booked into the Clinton County Jail. He was released from the jail after posting a $50,000 cash-only bond.
	Gas prices top $4 a gallon in Iowa Quad Cities as costs continue to climb Gas prices in the Iowa Quad Cities have topped $4 a gallon, marking a sharp weekly increase. See how Iowa prices compare to Illinois and the U.S. average.
	Trump-backed Ramaswamy wins Ohio governor primary, setting up a competitive Nov. race In Ohio, where a Democrat hasn't won an election for governor in 20 years, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton could be in for a tight race this fall.
	QCA shelter helps in nationwide beagle rescue King's Harvest Pet Rescue spent the day contributing to what's become a nationwide effort to house beagles rescued from Ridglan Farms, a biomedical research facility in Wisconsin. It's led by a Florida-based organization, Big Dog Ranch Rescue. Hundreds of volunteers and shelters - like Kings Harvest - have given the dogs a chance at a [...]
	Iowa congressional primary races take shape ahead of June election JD Vance campaigns for Rep. Zach Nunn as Iowa voters prepare to choose nominees for the upcoming primary elections across the state's four districts.
	Galesburg children's museum opens new experience that mimics Judy's Family Cafe Little Judy's Cafe at the Discovery Depot is a play-sized version of the real deal and gives kids a chance to make "the best pancakes" like the social media star.
	Annual MLK Jr. Food Drive returns to tackle food insecurity in the Quad Cities Between May 6-20, food donation boxes will be available all over the QCA, including many Hy-Vee stores and libraries. All of the food will stay local.
	No injuries reported after Kewanee junkyard fire No injuries were reported following a junkyard fire in Kewanee. The fire started around 2:00 p.m. May 5 when workers inside a building at Cernovich Auto & Truck Wrecking on E. 6th St. were removing equipment, causing a spark to light some fuel. Eight fire departments, including Tulon, Kewanee, Wyoming and Galva and other agencies [...]
	Davenport wastewater plant flood project gets nearly $3 million in federal funding The federal funding will help fortify a plant that treats wastewater for Davenport, Bettendorf, Riverdale and Panorama Park.
	$3M federal funds earmarked for Davenport flood mitigation, Miller-Meeks says Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks secured $3 million in federal funding to boost flood mitigation efforts and infrastructure in Davenport, Iowa.
	Willard Elementary selects interim principal for next year Willard Elementary School will have a new principal starting next year for its last year before retirement.
	Muscatine Art Center receives $200,000 anonymous donation The Muscatine Art Center received great financial news recently when an anonymous donor said they were making a $200,000 donation to make up for losing funding from the city. Mark Seaman, president of the Board of Trustees of the Muscatine Arts Center, spoke with Our Quad Cities News via Zoom to share the details of [...]
	Interim principal named for Willard Elementary School in Moline A new interim principal has been named for Willard Elementary School in Moline. According to a release, the Moline-Coal Valley School District announced the appointment of Jennifer Graves to the position for the 2026-2027 school year. Graves will succeed principal Doug Bodeen, who was appointed as principal of Hamilton Elementary School. Graves earned a Master [...]
	Alabama House, Senate committees approve bills that could alter primary elections Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Linden (left) questions Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile (foreground) about a bill that would allow new primary elections if the U.S. Supreme Court allows the state to redistrict on May 5, 2026 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)Two legislative committees Tuesday advanced bills that could lead to new primary dates in Alabama, if federal courts allow state to revert back to congressional and legislative maps previously ruled racially discriminatory. HB 1, sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, would allow for a new special election if the U.S. Supreme Court lifts an injunction preventing the state from redrawing congressional maps before 2030. Secretary of State Wes Allen and Attorney General Steve Marshall sought to have the injunction removed last week after the U.S. Supreme Court significantly weakened a key part of the Voting Rights Act. “This allows us to have a special election using the plan that this legislative body passed in 2023 and was signed by the governor,” Pringle said to the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee. SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, would allow special elections in Senate Districts 25 and 26 outside Montgomery if the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturns a district court finding that the shape of those districts denied Black voters an opportunity to choose their own voters. If the Supreme Court overturns the 2030 injunction, the state would revert to a 2023 map approved by the Legislature that federal courts later ruled to be racially discriminatory. Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, drawn by a court, would be the most affected; the Black Voting Age Population (BVAP) would drop from 48.7% to 39.9%. That would likely make the district, currently represented by U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, Republican-leaning. Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, speaks to the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee about a bill to set new primary schedules if the U.S. Supreme Court allows the state to redistrict on May 5, 2026 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) If the orders are dissolved or overturned after the May 19 primaries or June 16th runoffs, those results would be nullified and new elections would take place. There would not be runoffs for the new primaries. HB 1 advanced out of the committee on a voice vote split across party lines. At a public hearing, no individuals spoke in support of the bill and GOP members of the committee said very little about it. Democrats have denounced the session as an attack on Black representation in Congress, and several in the House committee Tuesday criticized Republicans for trying to restore a map deemed discriminatory. “So because the map was racist then, the map just apparently won’t be racist now, if the Supreme Court changes their mind and allow a different opportunity, a different path forward,” said Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard, during the meeting. Rep. A.J McCampbell, D-Linden, said the Legislature is using the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais to push for a new map and election. “The members of this body have elected to make this an issue in Alabama. That’s what has happened. It’s not, let’s not go there and say, because they changed the law that now we have got to go and do this. 2030 was still a fair option. We didn’t have to do this right now,” he said. Eliza Jane Franklin of Barbour County holds up a copy of “Witness to Injustice,” a book by David Frost Jr. about racial violence and the Civil Rights Movement in Eufala, Alabama while speaking to the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee on May 5, 2026 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Franklin spoke in opposition to a bill that would set new primary dates should the U.S. Supreme Court allow the state to use maps ruled racially discriminatory in the past. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Public commenters at the meeting also opposed passing the bill. “When districts are drawn unfairly, communities are divided, voices are diluted, and trust in our system begins to erode,” Agnes Lover, pastor at St. Paul AME Church in Montgomery, said to the committee. “People start to feel like their vote does not matter, like the outcome has already been decided before a single ballot is passed, and when people lose faith in their vote, they begin to disengage altogether.” Eliza Jane Franklin, founder of the Black Heritage Society of Eufaula who spoke against the legislation, said after the meeting, she felt like legislators had no regard for voters. “I’m saddened because we thought things had progressed,” she said. “We thought that maybe on the federal level, we have someone who is in office who is problematic, but on the state level we thought there was a change. And coming here today, I’m saddened to say there is no real change and we have to speak up about it.” The one-time special election would have to have its results certified by Aug. 26 and would cost the State General Fund $4.5 million to reimburse the counties in the affected districts for election expenses. Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, was critical of the funding that would go towards the election. “Every time I bring up mental illness, we’re told we don’t have the money,” she said. “Where are we getting the money from now to have a special election and to pay all these lawyer fees so we don’t see anything wrong by putting another burden on the general fund when we’re really not taking care of the business of the citizens of the state of Alabama.” Bracy said despite the bill advancing out of committee, there will still be a fight to stop it. “It’s not gonna go quietly, but I don’t know what people expect when you put a committee together of 15 people and you have four Black people on it fighting for the Black community in the state of Alabama,” he said. “I don’t know what other outcome people expect, but just know that our voices will not be silenced.” Democratic Sens. Vivian Davis Figures of Mobile, Kirk Hatcher of Montgomery, Bobby Singleton of Greensboro and Merika Coleman of Pleasant Grove speaking before a committee meeting on May 5, 2026, in the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama, on the second day of the special session addressing legislation on special primary elections for court-altered legislative districts. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) On the opposite side of the Statehouse, the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved a bill setting a new primary election for two Montgomery-area Senate districts along party lines. Sens. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, and Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, who respectively represent Districts 25 and 26 have swapped districts for the 2026 election cycle because of a court-ordered map put in place in November. “SB 1 deals with a potential for a special election in essentially, Senate Districts 25 and 26 if the federal courts issue an order to vacate an injunction allowing the Legislature to use maps that we previously enacted for our own Senate districts,” Elliott said. The committee approved the legislation after a public hearing that consisted of only opponents, including Tabitha Isner, vice-chair of the Alabama Democratic Party and the party’s nominee for the court-ordered Senate District 26. “The number one issue that I faced thus far is helping voters to understand where is the district, because it changed in November,” Isner said. “Much effort and expense from taxpayers, and from people in this room, has been put into making sure that voters understand where District 26 is, and you want to pull out the rug from them again.” Isner said the bill was “about cheating the system.” “This is about disenfranchising voters, and it’s not just Black voters,” she said. “I’m a white Democrat, and I’m not alone. I deserve to have representation in this government too, and saying that we can disenfranchise Black folks by simply disenfranchising Democrats does not get you off the hook. Disenfranchisement is disenfranchisement. Either you respect all the people of this state who you represent, or you don’t.” Jerome Dees, policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, argued that the bill was unlawful because of a state constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2022 that prohibits changes to a general election within six months of an election. “Never mind that the current primary is already underway with absentee ballots sent that has already created confusion for voters, burdens election officials and risks undermining public confidence in our democratic process,” Dees said. “Alabama voters deserve certainty, clarity and stability, not an election system sustained on speculative outcomes.” Elliott said the bill will only affect primary elections, and the general election for both Senate districts will be on Nov. 3. Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, annotating legislation prior to a committee meeting on May 5, 2026, in the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama, on the second day of the special session addressing legislation on special primary elections for court-altered legislative districts. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) “This is not a general election. This is a primary election. And so words matter, and certainly the words of the Constitution matter,” Elliott said. “When we talk about a general election, we’re talking about a general election that’s typically held in November and specifically not held in May or any other part of the summer. It’s not applicable, because this is not a general election.” The bill uses a winner-takes-all primary election model with no runoff. Hatcher offered an amendment to add a runoff primary election. Currently, there are three Democratic candidates running for Senate District 25, including Hatcher. “What I’m after is, the bill is indicating no runoff in an election, and what I’m attempting to correct is that there would be a runoff,” Hatcher said. Elliott disapproved of the amendment and it failed. “I certainly understand the purposes of it, and I would say simply that the reason the language is in the bill as drafted is for a timing concern, admittedly a timing issue that the courts have put us in,” Elliott said. Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, criticized Elliott’s position that it is the courts’ fault that the Legislature is in a special session. “The court didn’t say that we had to come back and do a special session. It didn’t say that. The court didn’t say we have to spend all of this money, taxpayer dollars, to come here,” Coleman said. “The court actually drew neutral maps because you all chose not to. That’s what happened.” Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, offered an amendment to require public notice of the new primary election in order to avoid confusion caused by a new election. “We’re talking about people’s right to vote and having notice of where they vote, and what this bill is going to do is confuse a lot of people, as it has been stated already in this public hearing. So if that is your aim, then you definitely don’t want the amendment,” Figures said. “But if you want the people to know where they vote, then you would have no problem with this amendment.” The amendment failed, but Elliott said in an interview after the meeting that he would consider the amendment again if it was offered on the Senate floor on Wednesday. “We have plenty of opportunities to address that amendment, but I want to do so informed, measured and with good information on cost and resources and everything else that it’s going to take to implement that,” Elliott said. “I don’t necessarily have an objection to it. I just want to make sure that we have an opportunity to fully vet what she’s asking for there.” The full Senate will consider SB 2 when it meets on Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. The House will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday to consider HB 1. Courtesy of Alabama Reflector
	Tuesday temps about 25° colder than Monday's - how long will it stay this way? We hit 83° on Monday afternoon...and we won't even get close to 80° for several days now. In fact, we don't even warm up to 70° for a few more days. Average for a high right now is right at 70°. Tuesday afternoon temps are about 25° cooler than what we had Monday. We do [...]
	Judy's Family Cafe and Discovery Depot Children's Museum team to bring more visitors to Galesburg Two big attractions in Galesburg are teaming up to help bring more visitors to the city. Judy's Family Cafe is bringing their viral name to the Discovery Depot Children's Museum. They held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Little Judy's, a mock restaurant for the kids. Little Judy's adds to the rest of the town square [...]
	PHOTO GALLERY: North Scott Educational Foundation Scholarships The North Scott Educational Foundation held its annual Scholarship Night Wednesday, April 29, celebrating 40 years of presenting financial awards to North Scott students. This year, a total of $230,950 was presented, amounting to 161 scholarships given to 112 seniors. In the Foundation’s 40-year history, more than 1,600 scholarships, totaling more than $2.5 million have been presented.
	Still unclear what the loud boom heard in Moline over the weekend was News 8 is working to find out what caused a loud boom in the Quad Cities that many reported Saturday night.
	Large fire breaks out at Kewanee junk yard Kewanee police officials said there are no evacuations or road closures in the surrounding area, but they are asking community members to avoid the area.
	Auxiliary lock at Locks and Dam 14 in Pleasant Valley to remain closed for the summer In past years, the Army Corps of Engineers has operated the lock on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
	Americans might love Cinco de Mayo, but few know what they’re celebrating Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo doesn’t mark Mexican Independence.
	International handball tournament coming to TBK Bank Sports Complex Joan Kranovich with Visit Quad Cities joined The Current on News 8 to discuss the tournament's economic impact, as well as some other events coming to our area.
	Man killed in April 16 Clinton house fire, suspect charged with arson News 8 has obtained an incident report from the April 16 fire that shows a 64-year-old man was killed as a result of the fire.

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

Tuesday, May 5th, 2026