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

Wednesday, May 20th, 2026
	Shirtless fans cheer at MLB stadiums as "Tarps Off" trend sweeps baseball world At ballparks all across the country, groups consisting of mostly young men are joining in on the trend: Go to the section where the party is happening, take off your shirt and start twirling it above your head.
	Patio swings sold at Costco recalled amid 'risk of serious injury or death' More than 18,000 woven patio swings sold at Costco have been recalled over concerns that the swing seat could detach from the frame.
	Bolivia's capital under siege as protests deepen crisis for President Paz Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz faces a deepening crisis as widespread protests and blockades leave the political capital under siege less than six months after he took office.
	WHO chief concerned over 'scale and speed' of Ebola outbreak The World Health Organization top official has expressed concern over the rapid spread of a rare type of Ebola in Congo. Authorities have reported at least 134 suspected deaths and over 500 cases.
	Xi and Putin meet to reaffirm China-Russia ties days after Trump's visit Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday in a meeting meant to reaffirm ties and that takes place only days after a visit by President Donald Trump.
Tuesday, May 19th, 2026
	Eastern Avenue bridge reconstruction bringing safety upgrades By raising the bridge about four feet, the new bridge will be out of the floodplain and allow the Duck Creek Trail to reroute underneath.
	Bus driver cited following Scott County crash involving pickup truck An initial investigation found that a North Scott school bus was traveling on 270th Street when the driver, according to police, failed to yield at an intersection.
	ORA Orthopedics introducing first-in-the-nation CT scanner The new scanner can take scans while patients are standing or seated, instead of only while laying down.
	Muscatine's Musser Public Library to reduce hours following budget cuts Beginning in July, the library will be closed on Sundays, and weeknight hours will be reduced. Some programming will also be suspended.
	Iowa GOP gubernatorial candidates debate rural health care, workforce shortages Four candidates discuss rising costs, medical access two weeks before primary
	Nearly $70K in state funding will fund new, accessible dock at Lake Potter Totaling $69,600, the project will replace the existing courtesy dock at the east boat launch with a new, more accessible gangway and dock system.
	Cook review: 'Obsession' is a masterpiece of disturbing horror ... and clever marketing Ever hear of "The Monkey's Paw?" It's an old horror story - one of the best - written in the early 1900s by W. W. Jacobs. The creepy paw grants its holder three wishes. That sounds all well and good. But the wishes, while they do come true, have a way of twisting around and [...]
	OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center completes renovation to cut wait times in Galesburg OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center is the only hospital with a full-service emergency room in the greater Galesburg area. The next closest to Galesburg is about a 45-minute drive. This puts pressure on OSF's hospital to provide for the rural community. "Getting people in front of an APP or physician, getting people in front [...]
	School bus driver cited in crash that sent 2 to hospital The crash is under investigation and charges are pending. Officials said names are being withheld until the investigation is done.
	Galesburg's only emergency department celebrates expansion OSF St. Mary Medical Center recently added 7,000 square feet of space, including six new patient rooms and a new triage area.
	Moline removes public art rule for developers, hopes to spark business growth The City of Moline is looking at plans to change a requirement for developers that they say will hopefully make it more affordable to build in the downtown.
	In Georgia, Republican primary for governor goes to a runoff between Trump backers Georgia is a swing state where both Democrats and Republicans are deciding the direction their parties will take in the fall in races for the senate and the governor's mansion.
	In Georgia, two GOP Trump backers vie to face former Atlanta mayor for governor Georgia is a swing state where both Democrats and Republicans are deciding the direction their parties will take in the fall in races for the senate and the governor's mansion.
	A look into a Dry May this year After a very strong month of rain from April last month, raining over 2 inches above average, May has been falling behind in that regard. As we are now in the second half of the month of May, things in the Quad Cities have been mainly dry for the most part. This past weekend has [...]
	Musser Public Library to reduce hours, programs, digital resources after funding cuts Muscatine's Musser Public Library will be cutting hours, programs and digital services in order to adjust to a combined $104,000 reduction in funding from the city and county.
	U.S. government to drop tax claims against Trump in broadening of IRS settlement As part of the settlement agreement, the U.S. is "forever barred and precluded" from examining or prosecuting President Trump, his sons and the Trump organization's current tax issues, according to a document posted to the DOJ website.
	Geneseo High School dedicates tech center to longtime educator The center is now named the "Ted McAvoy Career and Technical Education Center." McAvoy's 35-year career at Geneseo began in 1964.
	Endorsed by Trump, Ed Gallrein defeats Rep. Thomas Massie in GOP House primary In a major victory for President Trump, his hand-picked challenger, Ed Gallrein, beat out U.S. House Rep. Thomas Massie in a Kentucky House GOP primary, ending Massie's reelection bid.
	Former federal inmate helps others rebuild through housing After serving time in prison, one Quad Cities man is now helping others find housing, stability and hope.
	Nearly 20 businesses to participate with lemonade tastings, deals and curbside concerts in Davenport The Downtown Davenport Partnership will host a Lemonade Sip N’ Shop event May 30.
	Scott County man charged with sexual abuse, faces life in prison if convicted The charges include third-degree sexual abuse - second or subsequent offense, a Class A felony that carries an automatic sentence of life in prison if he is convicted.
	Levitt AMP Galva Music Series free concerts begin May 31 The famous Levitt AMP Galva Music Series will launch May 31. Every Sunday through Aug. 9, there will be free, family-friendly live music at beautiful Wiley Park.
	Quad Cities Craft Beer Week celebrates 15th anniversary The 15th anniversary of Craft Beer Week in the Quad Cities will take place May 29 through June 5.
	Robert Young Center offers Mental Health First Aid You've heard of first aid, but how do we recognize and treat signs of mental health issues in those around us? This training from UnityPoint hopes to help.
	Emergency responders in Fulton for possible oil spill in Mississippi River creek Emergency responders were in Fulton on Tuesday afternoon after a report of a possible oil spill into a small creek that runs alongside and into the Mississippi River. Our Quad Cities News crew saw the creek, which runs downstream from the bridge between Fulton and Clinton. The spill was contained by gates that block off [...]
	Backwater Gamblers kick off 2026 season with ‘Backwater Beach’ theme You can catch the free, family-friendly Baywatch-themed shows every Sunday and Wednesday this summer. It all kicks off on Memorial Day Monday in Rock Island.
	Backwater Gamblers kick off new season on Memorial Day During the summer, the Quad Cities water ski show team puts on free, family-friendly shows every Sunday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
	Learn about overcoming struggles at Multi-Generational Community Building Speaker Series A family of successful African American is making a big impact all over, and they're sharing their stories here in the QCA. Shellie Moore Guy and Sherwin Robinson joined Our Quad Cities News with details on the Multi-Generational Community Building Speaker Series. For more information, click here.
	A cool week but heating things up soon! After receiving some rain from this past weekend and early this week, things have started to cool down in the Quad Cities. Temperatures throughout the remainder of the week are mainly going to be falling into the 60s and some low 70s. Despite the cooler than average temperatures for this week it will not be [...]
	Moline Centre announces summer concert series, events in Historic Block Courtyard The Historic Block Courtyard is located at 1520 River Drive in downtown Moline between the River House and Dead Poet’s Espresso Ltd.
	Rock Island receiving nearly $70,000 for improvements to Potter's Lake The existing courtesy dock will be replaced with a new, more accessible gangway dock system.
	Learn how to properly retire an American flag in the QCA With Memorial Day approaching, you may be wondering what to do when Old Glory has seen better days. Earl Wendt and Bob Joseph joined Our Quad Cities News with details on how you can properly retire an American flag. For more information, click here.
	Robert Young Center offering 'mental health first aid' trainings Sarah Young with the Robert Young Center joined The Current to discuss the basics of mental health first aid and its importance in our communities.
	Emergency crews in Illinois and Iowa taking part in nuclear response exercise Local state and federal agencies are testing emergency response plans. FEMA will evaluate the units of government during the exercise.
	QC Engineering & Science Council announces Cardboard Boat Regatta winners The 2026 Cardboard Boat Regatta, which was held on Friday, May 8, featured 21 teams of students representing five area high schools and QC Elite. From creative themes to impressive engineering design, each team brought enthusiasm, teamwork, and innovation to the water. The Quad City Engineering and Science Council has announced the winners: 2026 award [...]
	KWQC partners with KCCI to host Iowa Republican gubernatorial debate The primetime debate features GOP candidates, who will take the stage to answer questions side-by-side, for the first time in this race.
	Three debate stage decisions for Iowa GOP candidates for governor Four of the five Republicans running for governor had to decide how to best use their time on stage during a 90-minute debate.
	'Taiwan Travelogue' wins the 2026 International Booker Prize The novel is the first work translated from Mandarin Chinese to win the award, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
	Muscatine's Musser Public Library to reduce hours following budget cuts Beginning in July, the library will be closed on Sundays, and weeknight hours will be reduced. Some programming will also be suspended.
	Moline City Council to consider rule change for developers to spark business growth in downtown The City of Moline is looking at plans to change a requirement for developers that they say will hopefully make it more affordable to build in the downtown.
	Adoptable pet: Meet Serena 1-year-old Serena is spayed, microchipped and is up-to-date on all her vaccines.
	A new survey shows why most Americans won't lock in higher savings returns, even when they want to A new survey shows why most Americans won't lock in higher savings returns, even when they want toFor millions of Americans, the math on locked savings products is simple. You commit your money for a fixed period, and you get a guaranteed return that beats a regular savings account. But most people aren't doing it.A new survey of 1,000 U.S. adults commissioned by Credit One Bank shows nearly half would consider a fixed-term savings product, yet most never actually open one. What's stopping them has less to do with financial literacy and more to do with a basic fear of losing access to their money when they need it most.The findings point to a gap between what consumers say they want and what they're willing to do, and they suggest the financial industry may be missing what would actually move people to save more.In this article, Credit One Bank explores who's worried, what's driving the hesitation and what could change the math.Why most savers won't lock in their moneyAsk Americans about fixed-term savings products like CDs, and interest rates rarely come up first. Access does.The study found that a little over half of respondents (51.9%) named losing emergency access as their single biggest concern about locking up savings. Among people aged 30 to 45, that figure jumped to 67.4%.That age group is often juggling mortgages, childcare costs and aging parents at the same time. For them, cash on hand functions as a buffer against an unpredictable month, which makes any product that limits access a hard sell.The fear has roots in recent history. People who entered the workforce around 2008 watched emergency funds vanish in real time. Add a pandemic and a couple of inflation spikes on top of that, and keeping savings within reach starts to feel like a sound strategy.Nearly one in three couldn't absorb a major surprise expenseConfidence in handling a financial shock varies sharply by income.When asked how confident they were that they could cover a $50,000 unexpected expense without tapping locked savings, nearly 1 in 3 respondents (30%) said "not confident at all." For households earning between $25,000 and $50,000, that figure climbed to 40.6%.For many of these households, the issue is less about reckless spending and more about not having the runway to take on extra risk, even the contained risk of a fixed-term product.The pattern matches broader federal data. The Federal Reserve's most recent report on household economic well-being found that roughly 2 out of 3 of U.S. adults (63%) could cover a hypothetical $400 emergency expense in cash.High earners and low earners aren't worried about the same thingsThe fears that dominate one income bracket barely register in another.Among households earning over $100,000, 1 in 4 (25.3%) said their top concern about locked savings was rate risk: committing to today's rate and watching better ones appear later. For households earning under $25,000, only 4.3% named rate risk as a top concern.Their question was more basic: If I need this money, can I get it?That's two completely different savings psychologies inside the same product category. High earners are optimizing. Lower earners are protecting. Banks and financial educators that treat both groups as a single audience tend to miss half the room.The one feature that could make locked savings more attractiveThere's one finding from the survey that stands out for product designers.Nearly 9 in 10 (89.1%) respondents said they'd be more interested in a locked savings product if it included one penalty-free emergency withdrawal. Of that group, 44.4% said they'd be "much more interested." Only 6.5% said it wouldn't change their interest at all.That kind of near-universal agreement is rare in consumer research. The resistance to locked savings appears to be practical rather than philosophical, with most people pointing to the worst-case scenario of needing the money and getting hit with a penalty.Take that scenario off the table, and the product becomes more attractive across nearly every demographic group surveyed.For now, the gap between intention and action remains wide. The appetite for better savings tools is clearly there, even if the trust to actually use them hasn't caught up yet. For the financial institutions paying attention, the survey points to a clear path forward.MethodologyThe data comes from a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted via Pollfish. Participants answered questions about their savings habits, their emotional relationship with money, and their willingness to lock funds away in exchange for a guaranteed return. Responses were analyzed across age, gender, and household income brackets.This story was produced by Credit One Bank and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	New-onset seizures as an early warning for brain tumors New-onset seizures as an early warning for brain tumorsA first seizure is a scary and disorienting medical event. Convulsions, losing control of the body or limbs, talking incoherently, intense, unusual feelings, or having the mind go blank right in the middle of a conversation are all possible symptoms of a new-onset seizure.It usually goes away as fast as it came, but that time during which the body and brain aren’t responsive feels like a lifetime. Seizures without a known cause are signs of trouble, but they’re also an opportunity for diagnosis.According to the American Cancer Society, seizures can be an early warning of a brain tumor. They affect up to 50% of patients with brain tumors, but fewer than 10% of first seizures are tumor-related. A new-onset seizure is a clear invitation for further investigation.Neurosurgery One, a specialized neurological center, examines the connection between new-onset seizures and brain tumors. Neurosurgery One New-Onset Seizures as a Diagnostic OpportunitySeizures are not as uncommon as they may seem. Research says that 8% to 10% of the world population will experience one during their lifetime. Plus, in most cases, they don’t always look like what people see in movies.There are billions of nerve cells in the human brain working together to keep the body moving, thinking, and feeling. But to function optimally, these cells need a stable environment. Even the smallest change can throw this fine-tuned biological machine out of whack.A first seizure, without any apparent cause, especially as an adult, is a clear sign that something isn’t working right inside the brain. Even if there is an apparent cause, like epilepsy, it could still be an early sign of a brain tumor, especially if an epilepsy diagnosis came during adulthood.Why Seizures?Tumors, especially slow-moving ones like low-grade gliomas, gangliogliomas, and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors, irritate the brain tissue and interfere with the brain’s electrical activity.When electrical activity is disturbed, there’s a 50% chance someone will experience a seizure. Depending on where the tumor is located in the brain, the symptoms are different. For instance, if the tumor is close to the optic nerve, it may impact vision. On the other hand, some patients report strong odors or numbness in their limbs.According to the Handbook of Clinical Neurology, glioneuronal tumors are the most likely to cause seizures. However, not all present with seizures. Low-grade gliomas seem to be the most likely culprit, especially in patients under 50.What to Do After A First-Time SeizureFew things are more frightening than a sudden loss of motor control. It’s not always a sign of brain cancer, but it is serious enough to start investigations immediately.Start with an ER visit. The goal here is to rule out immediate life-threatening triggers like strokes, severe electrolyte imbalances, or active brain bleeds. A CT scan can quickly rule out large tumors or hemorrhages.Once stable, it’s time to start looking for the reason behind the patient’s condition. By now, there should be a better understanding of the type of seizure and its possible causes. The gold standard is a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and an electroencephalography.Medical experts note that modern diagnostic tools have significantly reduced the invasive nature of brain mapping.AI-Enhanced Volumetric MRIStandard MRIs provide pictures of the brain that doctors use to figure out what caused the seizure. Radiologists use AI layers to detect subtle cortical thickening that standard imaging can miss, specifically in patients presenting with new-onset epilepsy.The scanner captures the brain in thin slices, which the AI assembles into a detailed 3D model. Next, the AI compares the brain’s volume against a massive database of healthy scans and detects even the smallest anomalies.CNS-Specific Liquid BiopsiesTo confirm a seizure was tumor-provoked, doctors also run a CNS-specific liquid biopsy, a minimally invasive procedure that requires a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).It’s the easiest way to analyze the genetic and molecular profiles of a brain or spinal cord condition without surgically removing tissue. Existing brain tumors, even microscopic ones, shed DNA fragments into the cerebrospinal fluid, and a biopsy will reveal their presence.When used alongside imaging, CNS-specific liquid biopsies help confirm if a seizure was tumor-provoked.Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT)Neurosurgeons often bypass the need for a traditional craniotomy. Instead, they use LITT, a minimally invasive neurosurgical procedure that uses laser-generated heat in place of a scalpel.For this procedure, the point of entry is a tiny hole in the skull, roughly the diameter of a pencil. Through this orifice, the neurosurgeon introduces a thin fiber-optic wire that is guided to the target using real-time MRI navigation.Once in place, the laser delivers controlled thermal energy to cook and kill the targeted tissue from the inside out. Since the MRI monitors temperature in real time, the surrounding healthy brain tissue won’t be affected.Because the incision is tiny, patients typically recover much faster than they would from traditional open-brain surgery, often going home the next day.Don’t Ignore The Brain’s MessagesA new-onset seizure is not always a sign of a brain tumor, and a tumor doesn’t always cause seizures. However, newly experienced symptoms, seizures, or a diagnosis of epilepsy as an adult means that it’s time to contact a neurologist.This story was produced by Neurosurgery One and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Skip the chaos: 7 US private airports near cities with the worst Memorial Day travel Skip the chaos: 7 US private airports near cities with the worst Memorial Day travelMemorial Day weekend has never been a great time to fly, but this year is shaping up to potentially be brutal.A partial government shutdown that ended at the end of April has left the Transportation Security Administration deeply understaffed heading into peak travel season. More than 1,000 workers resigned during October and November’s shutdown, and over 500 left the agency during the recent 75-day partial shutdown.The damage from these resignations won’t go away overnight. Replacing lost workers can take four to six months of training, yet peak summer travel starts with Memorial Day in just under a month. Airports are scrambling to plan ahead, but you can too.Paramount Business Jets has pulled together data from the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Forbes, and more to identify key general aviation reliever airports. That is, facilities built specifically to absorb private and business traffic away from congested commercial hubs.Most major metros have at least one reliever airport within 20 to 40 miles, meaning no long TSA lines, no gate holds, and a simple walk from the car to the plane. Note that most of the airports on this list serve private and charter aviation only, though, meaning travelers would need to arrange charter or private jet service to use them. This comes at a higher cost, but the benefits of ease of travel can often pay for themselves. The exceptions are Westchester County Airport and Dallas Love Field, which accommodate commercial airline service. Here is a list of the best alternatives near the airports where Memorial Day travel is expected to be the worst.1. Newark Liberty International (EWR) to Teterboro Airport (TEB) \| New York Metro Area / New JerseyAt Newark International Liberty, flights were delayed about 25% of the time in 2026, with average delays stretching past an hour. This is among the worst of all U.S. airports.The quick fix is just 12 miles away at Teterboro Airport. Owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, this airport has been the private jet gateway to Manhattan since 1919. Its five fixed-base operators, or private terminals, including Signature Flight Support, Jet Aviation, and Atlantic Aviation, which offer planeside pickup and 24/7 operations. The drive to Midtown runs just 25 to 40 minutes, depending on tunnel traffic.2. New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Westchester County Airport (HPN) \| New York Metro Area / Hudson ValleyLaGuardia’s on-time performance was an abysmal 71% in 2025, with delayed departures averaging nearly 1.5 hours. Westchester County Airport, about 32 miles north of White Plains, serves the same metro area with a quieter, more boutique experience. Private options, including Million Air and Atlantic Aviation, offer a much calmer alternative to the New Jersey corridor, and the airport can be a natural choice for those headed to Westchester, Connecticut, or the Upper East Side.3. Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) to Addison Airport (ADS) \| Dallas MetroplexWith on-time departures at only 69% so far in 2026, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Dallas-Fort Worth International is easily among the most delayed airports. Addison Airport, about 15 miles north of Dallas, is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country and serves the north Dallas corridor directly. Galaxy FBO handles private jet traffic on the field, and the airport puts travelers within spitting distance of the Tollway corridor without needing to touch DFW’s busy terminal complex.4. Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) to Dallas Love Field (DAL) \| Dallas MetroFor those seeking a quick commercial flight while avoiding the hustle and bustle of DFW, Dallas Love Field is an excellent alternative. Just about 7.5 miles northwest of Dallas, it’s an intriguing option because of the number of flights, both inbound and outbound. With nowhere near the chaos of Dallas-Fort Worth and its proximity to the city, Love Field is a great option if you need a commercial hub to fly in and out of.5. Los Angeles International (LAX) to Van Nuys Airport (VNY) \| Los Angeles / San Fernando ValleyLAX handled nearly 37 million departing passengers in 2025, and ground congestion is known to rival the airspace above. Van Nuys, just 20 miles northwest in the San Fernando Valley, is consistently ranked among the busiest general aviation airports in the U.S., but it doesn’t hold a candle to Los Angeles International.The Los Angeles World Airports authority operates VNY, and Clay Lacy Aviation and Castle & Cook Aviation provide full private terminal service. For those headed into the Valley, Burbank, or the West Side, the improved drive time advantage over LAX alone is worth the rerouting.6. Denver International (DEN) to Centennial Airport (APA) \| Denver South MetroDenver sits at a crossroads of mountains and plains weather systems, making it one of the more unpredictable major hubs in the country. Centennial Airport, about 18 miles south of downtown in Arapahoe County, is a Federal Aviation Administration-designated reliever airport serving the entire south market of the Denver metro.JetCenter of Denver and Modern Aviation are two on-field operators with full private terminal perks. Additionally, the airport puts travelers within easy reach of the Tech Center corridor and the southern suburbs without the distance and congestion of Denver International.7. Miami International (MIA) to Miami–Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF) \| Miami / North DadeFlorida had a strong showing on the list of top airports for delays, and Miami was No. 7. Opa Locka Executive, 12 miles north of Miami International in Miami-Dade County, is a full-service general aviation airport with Banyan Air Service operations as the major on-field operator. With solid highway access to Miami Beach, Brickell, and the Wynwood corridor via I-95, you can skip the commercial terminal entirely.Avoiding air traffic this summerAhead of summer, officials have started warning travelers to be aware of unpredictable wait times that can fluctuate sharply as airports continue struggling with TSA shortages. Add the standard Memorial Day volume spike on top of it, and the hub experience that weekend could turn from merely stressful to genuinely catastrophic.Typical general aviation airports won’t solve every traveler's problems. With the flexibility to use them, the alternatives on this list represent a proven and well-established relief plan the FAA built into the national air system for moments exactly like the crush expected over Memorial Day.This story was produced by Paramount Business Jets and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Scott County Regional Authority names spring 2026 grant recipients The Scott County Regional Authority (SCRA) announced awards totaling almost $1.4 million for the spring 2026 grant cycle. The full list of grant recipients is below. SCRA received 85 requests for funding, totaling $2,842,407 and a total of $1,398,415 was awarded to 48 projects that benefit Scott County residents. Since 1991, SCRA has awarded $105,665,437 [...]
	National Weather Service issues record number of severe warnings in QCA April, May and June are peak months for severe weather in eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
	In the face of devastating loss, Jesmyn Ward holds onto 'respair' Ward learned the term "respair" — meaning the recovery of hope after despair — during the pandemic. Her new book On Witness and Respair is an essay collection on grief, motherhood and survival.
	QC community meeting discusses how to respond to local ICE activities An April 22 action by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Davenport has the community worried, and many concerned citizens met Monday night to discuss the issue and potential next steps.
	Trial set for man accused of standoff that led to toddler shot by law enforcement Newly filed court documents allege police first tried to shock a man with a Tazer in a hostage situation before entering a room and opening fire.
	Porch piracy, delivery fraud and the rising cost of lost packages Porch piracy, delivery fraud, and the rising cost of lost packagesDelivery problems are becoming a larger retail challenge. For consumers, a missing package is frustrating. For retailers, it’s a growing financial and customer experience problem that extends beyond the value of the item itself.As e-commerce volume continues to climb, so do delivery-related issues such as porch piracy, package theft, delivery fraud, and misdelivered shipments. What was once an occasional inconvenience is now a persistent challenge affecting brands of every size, particularly those shipping high-order volumes or premium products.The issue is arriving at a time when retailers are already under pressure with rising parcel costs, tighter margins, and increasing customer expectations around delivery speed and visibility. Every lost package carries operational consequences that can ripple through customer service teams and fulfillment workflows, while also affecting long-term brand loyalty.“We’re seeing fraud becoming more sophisticated,” said Emerson Hammer, director of partnerships at Corso, during a recent conversation with Kase. “There are online communities sharing ways to scam brands, and different groups will target certain industries or policies until they’re shut down, then they move to the next one.”Package Theft Rises NationwideAn annual porch piracy report by Omnisend found theft rose in 2025, with nearly 1 in 3 U.S. households (29.7%) reporting at least one stolen package during the year. Retailers had to bear an estimated $7.9 billion in refunds and replacement costs tied to lost or stolen deliveries, spotlighting the growing financial burden of e-commerce fulfillment.On average, affected households experienced roughly 1.8 theft incidents and lost about $101 to porch piracy throughout the year. The issue intensified during the holiday season, with December emerging as the peak month for theft activity, while clothing, shoes, and jewelry ranked as the most frequently stolen retail categories.Urban Deliveries Face Higher Risk, but Suburban Incidents IncreasingWhile porch piracy remains one of the most visible forms of package theft, it is only part of a much broader delivery challenge. In many cases, packages are not stolen at all. They are delivered incorrectly, misplaced in apartment complexes, damaged in transit, or delayed long enough to create customer distrust.According to Corso, dense urban environments continue to present some of the highest exposure points for delivery problems. Apartment buildings without secure package storage, common delivery areas, and large numbers of daily shipments increase the likelihood of both theft and accidental package mix-ups.“Even when the carrier technically delivers the package correctly, someone else might grab it,” Hammer explained. “This is more likely to happen when you have 50 people in an apartment building sharing one delivery area. A neighbor might accidentally take the wrong package, and sometimes intentionally keep it.”Sean Kim, vice president of parcel at Kase, explained that carriers are actively working to mitigate causes in urban areas, while noting an increase in suburban incidents.“While urban areas still see a high concentration of theft, we’re also seeing more incidents in suburban neighborhoods,” said Kim. “Some of that is because carriers have improved delivery processes in dense city environments, while suburban areas often have longer delivery windows, less visibility, and packages sitting unattended for extended periods.”The impact reaches consumers quickly. Delivery expectations set by major e-commerce marketplaces have created an environment in which buyers expect fast shipping, proactive updates, and immediate resolution when something goes wrong. When those expectations are not met, frustration tends to fall directly on the retailer, regardless of where the issue occurred.The Hidden Cost of Shipping IssuesThat pressure has intensified as shipping costs have risen.“Most brands initially look at the shipping cost itself, but that’s usually the smallest loss in the equation,” said Kim. “The higher costs come from replacing goods, handling customer service issues, and the long-term impact on customer trust and retention. Customer acquisition costs are extremely high right now, so losing a customer because of a delivery issue becomes very expensive very quickly.”Retailers are now balancing higher transportation costs with hidden operational costs stemming from shipping issues. According to Corso, most brands underestimate how frequently delivery-related problems occur and how expensive they become once labor and customer support are factored in.“In general, we see about half a percent to 1% of shipments with some type of issue,” Hammer said. “That could be loss, damage, theft, or delivery problems. When you add in replacement costs, shipping, and the customer service time needed to resolve those claims, it can become 1% to 3% of a brand’s margin.”The financial impact is rarely isolated to product replacement alone. Kim noted that carrier selection has also become part of the broader customer experience strategy for premium brands.“Brands investing heavily in customer experience are usually prioritizing reliability over the absolute cheapest shipping option,” Kim said. “Bargain carriers are often focused on simply completing the drop-off. More mature carriers have years of delivery data, theft history, geolocation tracking, and better visibility into delivery issues before they escalate.”A single missing package can trigger customer support tickets, carrier investigations, reshipments, refunds, and additional warehouse labor. Brands also face the less measurable cost of losing customer trust.Consumers often expect retailers to handle delivery issues directly rather than redirect them to carriers.“Too often, we see brands deflect the responsibility of damaged or lost shipments directly onto the customer, instructing them to navigate carrier claims on their own,” said Hammer. “That leaves a bad taste in the customer’s mouth. The expectation is that the brand steps in and makes it right.”Small Fulfillment Errors Can Create Bigger ProblemsThe challenge becomes even more complicated during periods of high shipping volume, when fulfillment teams are already under strain and carrier networks are moving quickly to meet delivery windows. Small fulfillment issues that may have once gone unnoticed can now lead to lost packages and failed deliveries.Faster shipping speeds also introduce new variables. While expedited delivery can reduce the time a package spends in transit, it also raises customer expectations for visibility and precision. Consumers increasingly expect accurate delivery estimates and real-time notifications that help them prevent packages from sitting unattended.Brands that fail to communicate delivery timing clearly may inadvertently increase risk.“If customers think a package is arriving Friday and it actually shows up Wednesday, that package could sit outside for days,” Hammer said. “Customers need visibility into when it’s arriving so they can plan around it.”That growing complexity is also changing expectations around the role fulfillment providers play after a package leaves the warehouse. Rather than focusing solely on speed and outbound volume, many brands are looking to third-party logistics (3PLs) for better visibility.“The role of a 3PL goes beyond getting a package out the door,” Kim said. “It’s about helping brands understand carrier performance, delivery visibility, and where risk actually exists throughout the shipping journey. The middle mile and final mile are often where the biggest problems happen, not necessarily the initial pickup.”Shipping Protection Is Becoming Part of the Customer ExperienceFor many retailers, the conversation is beginning to shift from prevention alone toward resolution strategies. Instead of treating delivery issues as isolated exceptions, brands are building more formal processes around shipping protection, customer communication, and rapid claim resolution.That shift has helped fuel interest in newer customer-facing shipping protection models designed to streamline claims and reduce friction for both shoppers and retailers.Traditional shipping insurance often involves lengthy claim investigations, documentation requirements, and low approval rates.Working with a 3PL or fulfillment partner can provide access to shipping protection and post-purchase support tools that would otherwise require substantial internal resources to manage. As shipping issues become more common, fulfillment providers are helping brands streamline claims, improve communication about deliveries, and reduce the customer service burden associated with lost, damaged, or stolen packages through integrations or internal technology features.Many of these tools now allow customers to opt in to shipping protection at checkout and receive faster resolution when issues arise. Instead of navigating lengthy carrier investigations and manual claims processes, brands are building more streamlined systems focused on quicker communication and simplified resolutions.Kim added that fraud prevention is also becoming a larger part of post-purchase operations as some consumers repeatedly report missing deliveries despite successful drop-offs.“A lot of brands are realizing the same accounts tend to experience the same delivery problems over and over,” Kim said. “Technology tools that validate customer history, flag suspicious activity, and monitor repeated claims are becoming much more important as fraud becomes more sophisticated.”The Post-Purchase Experience Is Under More ScrutinyRetailers are realizing that post-purchase experience plays a larger role in retention. A fast and frictionless resolution process can often matter as much as the original delivery itself.The stakes are particularly high for brands shipping premium products, fragile items, apparel, cosmetics, and electronics, where both customer expectations and replacement costs tend to be higher.Kim also noted that packaging itself can unintentionally increase the risk of theft, particularly for premium brands shipping recognizable products.“Highly branded packaging can sometimes act like a beacon. If someone immediately recognizes the brand or assumes there’s a high-value product inside, it naturally creates more temptation for theft,” Kim said.At the same time, consumer awareness around package theft is growing. Smart doorbell footage, neighborhood apps, and viral videos have made porch piracy feel more visible and personal, even in suburban and rural areas that once viewed it as an urban issue.The result is a retail environment where delivery confidence has become part of the customer experience itself. This now requires building systems that reduce risk and improve visibility, while taking steps to resolve inevitable shipping issues without damaging customer trust along the way.This story was produced by Kase and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Illinois State Senator Mike Halpin pushing for higher education funding before the legislative session ends The Democrat represents the 36th district, which contains portions of Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Knox, McDonough, and Warren counties. He is advocating for a bill that would create a funding formula for eligible public institutions, stating it would help Western Illinois University. He also discussed a bill clarifying the use of eminent domain by carbon pipeline developers, regulating streaming-ad audio, and other topics, including data centers, SNAP benefits, housing, and artificial intelligence.
	Musser Public Library changing services after budget cut Budget cuts are leading to changes at the Musser Public Library in Muscatine. A message from library director Bobby Fiedler explains some of the programming changes. “Due to a combined $104,000 reduction in government funding — $54,000 from Muscatine County and $50,000 in City Capital Outlay (funds used for books, DVDs and other materials) — [...]
	The Gordon Ramsay effect: How celebrity chef endorsements actually change what we buy The Gordon Ramsay effect: How celebrity chef endorsements actually change what we buyCelebrity chefs have become some of the most influential voices in consumer purchasing, shaping not just what Americans cook but which cookware—from pots and pans to knives to tools—they buy.When a celebrated chef reaches for a particular knife or swears by a specific pan, people pay attention. They look it up, add it to their cart, and before long, it lands on their doorstep.That behavior has helped fuel a global cookware market projected to reach nearly $68 billion by 2034. Turns out that who’s holding the pan matters just as much as what the pan can do.HexClad examines how celebrity chef endorsements influence cookware purchasing behavior.Why Celebrity Chef Influence Is DifferentIn kitchens across the country, buyers choose tools based less on aesthetics and more on how well they perform day after day. That expectation changes how recommendations are received, especially when they come from someone whose work is built on precision and consistency.People have spent years watching chefs demonstrate techniques, explain ingredients, and work through the small decisions that shape a finished dish. “TV chefs not only entertain but also educate viewers,” a spokesperson for Biyo POS told Food Navigator in 2025, adding that their ability to connect with audiences has made them “influential figures in the culinary world.”This combination of entertainment and instruction helps explain why viewers regularly attempt to replicate what they see on screen, which means the tools in a chef’s kitchen become part of a larger learning experience rather than a passing recommendation.Research published in the journal Foods reinforces this pattern, finding that the strongest driver of purchasing behavior is the perceived fit between the endorser and the product being recommended. When a chef reaches for a specific tool, consumers tend to read it as professional validation.The Gordon Ramsay EffectFew chefs have built a name that carries the same commercial weight as Gordon Ramsay. His reach spans across television, social media, and publishing, and his reputation has always traced back to a principle he has spoken about openly."The fundamental crux of a successful chef is being true to what you do," he told Variety in a 2014 profile, and that honesty has become the foundation on which everything else is built. "The power of the brand I want to equate with quality," he added, and consumers have taken that seriously in ways that extend well beyond the restaurant.Part of what makes his name so valuable is how deliberately he guards it. People who have worked alongside him say his commitment to quality extends well beyond the kitchen. "He's a perfectionist," Paul Buccieri, chairman of ITV U.S. Studios Group, told Variety. "He wants to create an experience, and make that experience the best it can possibly be."That same expectation carries into the products he associates himself with, and consumers tend to notice. When a chef of his profile endorses a tool, it reads less like a sponsorship and more like a professional requirement, and that perception has shaped what serious home cooks believe they need.How Other Celebrity Chefs Have Changed Consumer BehaviorRamsay is far from the only chef whose preferences have reshaped what ends up in American kitchens. Ina Garten built a following around the idea that home cooks deserved the same quality of tools and ingredients found in professional kitchens, and her audience responded by seeking out the specific cookware, servingware, and pantry staples she reached for on screen.Martha Stewart did something similar with kitchen design, normalizing the idea that a well-organized, thoughtfully arranged kitchen was as much a reflection of personal standards as the food coming out of it.Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis pushed that further into ingredients and technique, making specialty items and professional-grade tools feel accessible rather than out of reach. This pull toward chef-endorsed products has proven consistent across categories.A 2024 Talker Research survey found that roughly half of Americans have already purchased kitchen products endorsed by a favorite chef, spanning cookware, utensils, cookbooks, appliances, and dishes.Patricia Bible, founder, president, and CEO of KaTom, pointed to something even more telling in the data, noting that "40% of Americans who haven't purchased kitchen products endorsed by their favorite celebrity chef are likely to do so in the future," adding that "no matter whom you're trying to emulate, there are always new things to learn and try."Why Consumers Want Professional-Grade Tools at HomeAcross American kitchens, cooking has taken on a more central role in daily life. According to Circana’s annual Eating Patterns in America report, Americans bought 86% of their food from grocery stores in 2024, up from 83% in 2019, and more people have been spending time refining what they make.Eric Kim, a food columnist for The New York Times, told The Food Institute in 2024 that this traces a generational change in how people think about food, noting that “people are just way more educated now and they have access to more ingredients," an awareness that continues to reshape what home cooks reach for and why.As that awareness grows, expectations around cookware performance tend to follow. Many people now consider themselves more than just casual cooks, with 58% identifying as professional home chefs in their own kitchens, according to a 2021 survey commissioned by Signature Kitchen Suite and conducted by OnePoll. That mindset has become one of the more reliable forces shaping how home cooks choose to equip their kitchens.The Psychology Behind Expert EndorsementsBehind every purchase driven by a chef recommendation, there is something more than brand loyalty at work. Research from the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative found that people are more likely to choose products endorsed by a celebrity, and they make that choice faster, showing less deliberation and more confidence in their decision.In studying how consumers visually engage with advertisements, researchers found that viewers tend to focus on the chef's face rather than the product itself, yet the endorsement still drives purchasing behavior.As Elizabeth Johnson, executive director at the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, explained, "Even though viewers aren't looking at the product as much, the celebrity is still building consumer confidence." For chefs specifically, that confidence carries an added layer because the endorsement draws from professional experience rather than fame alone.Consumers tend to associate a chef-backed tool with better results in their own kitchen, and in that sense, the purchase becomes less about the object itself and more about the belief that the right equipment closes the gap between the cook they are and the cook they want to become.Why Social Media Has Amplified Chef InfluenceSocial media has expanded how audiences experience chefs, turning scheduled programming into something immediate, continuous, and far more personal. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube now give viewers direct access to recipes, routines, and the tools used along the way, making it easier to see how dishes come together in real time.Steven Gao, an ICE Culinary Arts graduate and social media creator, told the Institute of Culinary Education that his own content bridges "the gap between what's happening in a professional kitchen and what someone can do at home." That access has changed how influence works and how products are perceived.Seeing chefs reach for the same tools day after day, in real meals and real kitchens, builds familiarity and trust in a way traditional formats never could.What This Means for Kitchen BrandsConsumer trust is not something a brand can manufacture on its own, and the most successful partnerships in the kitchen space have understood that from the start. What chefs bring to a brand is credibility earned over years of professional practice, and consumers can feel the difference.Patricia Bible, whose firm’s research tracked celebrity chef influence across American households, captured the consumer side of it well, noting that, "Whether you're already making gourmet meals at home or are just starting to awaken your inner chef, one thing is for sure: you need the right tools."And for millions of home cooks, finding those tools has become as personal as the meals they make with them.This story was produced by HexClad and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	92% of companies want to change their incentive strategy. Only 12% can do it inside two weeks. 92% of companies want to change their incentive strategy. Only 12% can do it inside two weeks. Economic volatility, AI disruption, and shifting trade policy are forcing revenue leaders to rewrite incentive strategy more often than at any point in the last decade. The wanting part is now near-universal.According to CaptivateIQ's 2026 State of Incentive Compensation report, 92% of companies have already made or are planning changes to their incentive strategy, but only 12% can implement plan changes in under two weeks. The implementation gap is the actual story.These figures draw on research from 200 incentive compensation pros at mid- to large-sized corporations. As this article from CaptivateIQ explores, the research shows that planning intent is running far ahead of operating capacity, with the people whose pay depends on the new plan last to know it has changed.The Gap Between Wanting to Change and Being Able ToWhile 92% of companies are revising their incentive strategy, only 12% can implement plan changes in under two weeks. Most strategy changes outpace the operational capacity to execute them, which means the new plan exists on a slide long before it exists in a paycheck.The 92% number gets cited in board decks. It signals adaptability and a comp function responsive to market shifts. The 12% number is what reps actually feel, because the field is still operating against last quarter's plan while leadership has already moved on.Implementing a plan change in under two weeks is harder than it sounds. It requires the new rules to be modeled, approved, encoded into the calculation engine, integrated with CRM and payroll, communicated to managers, cascaded to reps, and acknowledged by the people whose comp it governs. Each of those steps has its own owner and its own queue.Most teams measure planning-cycle agility, the speed at which leadership can decide on a change. Fewer measure implementation-cycle agility, the speed at which the change actually takes effect in a seller's plan. The second one is where most companies stall, and by the time changes land, the market condition that triggered them has moved again.Why Faster Planning Cadence Isn't Enough on Its OwnOnly 25% of annual adjusters report being prepared for economic volatility, compared to 83% of weekly adjusters. Planning cadence alone solves only one of three operating-speed gates: planning, implementation, and visibility.Annual planning is dying as the default. Quarterly reviews are now common, particularly in tech and SaaS where deal velocity and headcount churn force comp leaders to revisit assumptions on a 90-day clock. Some teams have moved to monthly or weekly windows for specific levers like SPIFFs and territory rebalances.The 83/25 preparedness gap is a real signal. Weekly adjusters feel over three times more prepared for volatility than annual adjusters, and the confidence is earned. When you've already changed a plan five times this year, the sixth change is a known process rather than a fire drill.But cadence is only the first gate. A weekly planning rhythm means nothing if the implementation engine still takes six weeks to encode the new rules and the seller communication arrives as a forwarded email two days before payroll. The 12% who can implement in under two weeks have invested in the second gate. Most of the rest have a fast planning cadence bottlenecking into a slow operating system.Visibility is the third gate, and the quietest. A plan can be designed in a week and implemented in another, and reps can still be in the dark about what changed and why. That third gate is where rep trust gets spent, and most operating models do not measure it at all.The Visibility Breakdown Most Companies Don't MeasureOnly 32% of reps are immediately aware of changes to their quotas, territories, or capacity, meaning even when companies plan and implement faster, the people whose pay depends on it are last to know. Two out of three reps are working a plan their employer has already moved on from.Quota, territory, and capacity are the three levers that most directly govern a seller's earnings. A change to any of them is, in real terms, a change to take-home pay. When that change moves through the operating system without reaching the rep clearly, trust erodes and shows up in attainment data months later.Implementation speed without visibility speed produces a failure where the plan is technically live but the seller is operating against an outdated mental model. They miss the new accelerator. They overweight a deprecated SPIFF. They make pipeline decisions that no longer match the incentive math.Jordan Wong, senior manager of sales commissions at Snowflake, has run sales commissions inside one of the fastest-moving comp environments in tech. He describes mid-cycle change as the operating reality, not the exception: “Things change, from accounts to account teams, big structural drivers and individual exception requests. Having a comp plan framework that allows for mid-year adjustments with strong business justification is necessary.”Wong’s framing closes the loop. If mid-year adjustments are structural, a comp engine without a fast, transparent visibility layer is structurally broken. The 32% awareness number is the symptom of that break, across financial services and SaaS where quarterly and mid-cycle changes are standard. The fix is treating rep visibility as a measurable cycle inside the operating model, with its own owner and its own clock, rather than as a downstream comp memo.What an Operating-Speed-Fit Comp Engine Looks LikeAn operating-speed-fit comp engine is one where planning cycles, implementation cycles, and rep-visibility cycles move at matching speeds. When any one cycle lags, rep trust breaks before the strategy lands.The companies in the 12% treat comp as an operating system rather than a planning artifact. Plan changes flow from decision to encoded rules to seller acknowledgment without re-fragmenting along the way, and visibility runs as a built-in cycle with the same SLA as the implementation engine that feeds it.That alignment is what Forrester principal analyst Anthony McPartlin described in 2023 when he made the case for operating-model thinking inside revenue operations: “Operating model is the bridge between your organization's strategy and sustained execution.”The bridge metaphor is the test. A 92% company with no bridge makes strategy decisions that never sustain. A 12% company has built the bridge with three lanes: planning, implementation, and visibility. Each lane is clocked and measured against the others.Comp leaders who measure all three cycles and close the slowest one first are the ones who will turn next year's strategy intent into earned attainment.MethodologyCaptivateIQ commissioned a quantitative survey of 200 mid- to senior-level professionals with direct responsibility for managing or selecting incentive compensation software at B2B organizations with 500 or more employees. Fieldwork was conducted in Q4 2025. Respondents span a range of industries, including software, financial services, manufacturing, and technology. Government, education, and nonprofit sectors were excluded. The sample is weighted toward U.S.-based professionals (88%), with Canadian representation at 12%.This story was produced by CaptivateIQ and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	5 countries are driving the EB-2 NIW surge. Here’s why. 5 countries are driving the EB-2 NIW surge. Here’s why.If you have an advanced degree and work that benefits the United States in a real way, the EB-2 National Interest Waiver may be one of the most overlooked green card paths available to you. It doesn’t require an employer to sponsor it, it bypasses PERM, and demand is growing fast.In FY 2025, USCIS approved 19,532 of the 35,395 NIW petitions it adjudicated. Manifest Law immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar walks through the five countries that produced the most approved applicants, and what’s driving the numbers in each. Manifest Law 1. ChinaChina produced the most NIW approvals of any country in FY 2025 by a wide margin, with 5,091 approvals and 12,081 petitions filed.Urizar says that much of this volume may be due to how heavily the country invests in research. China’s R&D spending grew by 8.7% in 2023, far outpacing the U.S. (1.7%) and the European Union (1.6%).These investments help fuel a pipeline of Chinese graduate students, many of whom pursue graduate degrees abroad. Students from China earned 5,981 U.S. science and engineering doctorates in 2023, more than the next four countries combined.These graduates often work in fields that fall under national U.S. interests, including artificial intelligence and biotechnology. About 83% of Chinese S&E doctorate recipients on temporary visas still live in the U.S. five years after graduation, and many of those graduates use the NIW to convert their temporary status into a green card.2. IndiaIndia ranked second among NIW-producing countries in FY 2025, with 2,892 approvals and 9,196 petitions filed.In 2023, Indian nationals earned the second-highest number of U.S. science and engineering doctorates. Most of these Ph.D. graduates try to remain in the country long-term, with 87% of Indians who finished STEM doctorates between 2000 and 2015 still living in the U.S.The NIW is especially popular among Indian applicants because of the EB-2 backlog, according to Urizar. India has the longest priority date wait of any country in this category, with current applicants waiting more than a decade in the queue.The NIW doesn’t shorten that wait, but it lets applicants bypass the yearslong PERM labor certification process. This allows them to lock in a priority date earlier, which matters more for Indians than for almost any other nationality.3. IranIran ranked third on the list in FY 2025, with 1,681 approvals and 3,871 petitions filed.The country ranks 19th globally for scientific publications, ahead of other developed nations like Sweden and Taiwan. Urizar says the volume of Iranian NIW filings reflects how much of that talent ends up building careers in the U.S. International sanctions, limited research funding, and government restrictions on academics have pushed researchers and physicians out of the country for decades, and the World Bank has put the annual cost to Iran’s economy at roughly $50 billion.These circumstances can help explain why so many Iranian Ph.D. students don’t want to leave the U.S. Fewer than 8% of Iranian doctoral recipients on temporary visas told the National Science Foundation they intended to return home, one of the lowest rates of any nationality.For these graduates, the NIW lowers the barrier of entry because it doesn’t require an employer sponsor. That’s a big deal for Iranian applicants, whose nationality can make it hard to find someone to file on their behalf even when their qualifications are strong.4. NigeriaNigeria came in fourth in FY 2025, with 1,187 approvals and 3,584 petitions filed.Nigerians are among the most educated immigrant groups in the United States. Around 29% of Nigerian nationals in the U.S. hold a master’s, Ph.D., or graduate-level professional credential, compared to 11% of the general U.S. population. The EB-2 category already requires applicants to hold an advanced degree, and Urizar notes that a large share of these immigrants clear that bar before they ever start the petition.5. BangladeshBangladesh ranked fifth in FY 2025, with 878 approvals and 2,621 petitions filed.Bangladesh spent just 0.30% of its GDP on research and development between 2020 and 2021, one of the lowest rates in the world. That gap pushes its graduate students toward foreign universities, with more than 20,000 Bangladeshi students enrolled at U.S. universities in the 2024-25 academic year — an all-time high and a 17.9% jump over the prior year.Urizar sees this pipeline as the structural driver behind Bangladesh’s NIW approvals, especially since many of these nationals enter on temporary visas and have one of the highest “definite commitment to stay” rates.How this list was calculatedThis list was calculated using the four FY 2025 quarterly releases of USCIS’s Form I-140 data. Specifically, country rankings come from the National Interest Waiver column on the “Approvals by Beneficiary Country of Birth” sheet, summed across all four quarters. Filing counts come from the matching “Receipts by Beneficiary Country of Birth” sheet, summed the same way.USCIS does not publish per-country denial counts in its quarterly data, so we did not calculate per-country approval rates.What this means if you’re thinking about the EB-2 NIWForeign nationals from the five countries on this list reach the EB-2 NIW through very different routes. Some lean on STEM pipelines, while others reflect domestic instability or fields the U.S. treats as national priorities. What unites them is that their applicants meet the bar that the category sets.For Urizar, what makes the NIW stand out is that it rewards merit and measurable impact instead of employer sponsorship. That makes it one of the most flexible green card paths in the U.S. system, she says, and it puts the focus on what an applicant can show rather than where they were born.This story was produced by Manifest Law and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Quad Cities VA outpatient clinic closed temporarily for water line break A spokesperson for Iowa American Water said the break was on a private service line that impacted the VA Clinic and some businesses in the strip mall.
	Caitlin Clark has been named the Indianapolis 500 grand marshal Caitlin Clark is finally going to the Indianapolis 500 and she’ll do it in style — giving the starting command before Sunday’s sold-out race.
	Here’s why we don’t know more about Iowa leader no longer on the job Governor Kim Reynolds said that she doesn't plan to release specifics about the departure of the man tasked with leading the state's public employees retirement system.
	The gas price burden: Where gas prices hit the hardest The gas price burden: Where gas prices hit the hardestThe average price of regular unleaded gasoline in California has topped $6 per gallon. However, while gas prices are posted by the gallon, they’re felt by the paycheck, and a tank of gas does not hit every household budget the same way. The same fill-up can be a minor errand in one area and a meaningful bite out of weekly income in another. With summer travel season approaching, the real pressure at the pump depends not only on gas prices, but on how much room residents have in their budgets to absorb them.SmartAsset analyzed gasoline prices to determine the gas-price burden in each state, or the price residents effectively experience after accounting for household income. The analysis measured the cost of a standard 15-gallon tank of gas as a percentage of each state’s estimated median weekly household income. SmartAsset also calculated how much of a full-time minimum wage worker’s weekly paycheck would be needed to buy a 15-gallon tank of gas in each state.Key FindingsGasoline prices hit hardest in West Virginia. Although West Virginia ranks No. 27 in pump price of gasoline at $4.30 per gallon, it ranks No. 1 in the share of median weekly household income needed to buy a 15-gallon tank of gas. In West Virginia, a 15-gallon fill-up costs 5.23% of the median weekly household income. West Virginia is followed by Ohio and Michigan.Minimum wage workers in Indiana can expect to pay one-quarter of weekly income on a fill-up. Among full-time workers earning minimum wage, Indiana drivers face the nation’s highest gasoline price burden: 24.97% of weekly income.Cheap gas does not guarantee affordability. Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma all have pump prices below $4.00 per gallon, yet each ranks among the 15 states where a tank of gas takes the largest share of median weekly household income.High pump prices do not always translate into high price burden: Although California, Hawai‘i and Washington have the nation’s highest pump prices for gasoline, none rank among the top 10 for gas-price burden. SmartAsset Where Gas Prices Hit HardestStates are ranked by the cost of a 15-gallon gasoline fill-up as a percentage of each state’s estimated median weekly household income. The table also shows the cost of a 15-gallon fill-up as a percentage of weekly pay for a full-time worker earning the state minimum wage. SmartAsset States Ranked1. West VirginiaGas price: $4.30 per gallonFill-up cost: 5.23% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 18.43% of weekly minimum wage2. OhioGas price: $4.89 per gallonFill-up cost: 5% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 16.65% of weekly minimum wage3. MichiganGas price: $4.87 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.97% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 13.30% of weekly minimum wage4. IndianaGas price: $4.83 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.96% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 24.97% of weekly minimum wage5. MississippiGas price: $3.88 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.86% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 20.08% of weekly minimum wage6. KentuckyGas price: $4.22 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.83% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 21.82% of weekly minimum wage7. LouisianaGas price: $3.90 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.73% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 20.16% of weekly minimum wage8. NevadaGas price: $5.17 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.71% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 16.15% of weekly minimum wage9. ArkansasGas price: $3.88 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.62% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 13.23% of weekly minimum wage10. OregonGas price: $5.25 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.56% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 13.09% of weekly minimum wage11. New MexicoGas price: $4.16 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.54% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 13.01% of weekly minimum wage12. CaliforniaGas price: $6.10 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.51% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 13.54% of weekly minimum wage13. AlabamaGas price: $3.96 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.39% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 20.48% of weekly minimum wage14. IllinoisGas price: $4.93 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.38% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 12.33% of weekly minimum wage15. OklahomaGas price: $3.89 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.34% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 20.10% of weekly minimum wage16. PennsylvaniaGas price: $4.52 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.31% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 23.38% of weekly minimum wage17. ArizonaGas price: $4.74 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.30% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 11.73% of weekly minimum wage18. MaineGas price: $4.40 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.26% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 10.93% of weekly minimum wage19. MontanaGas price: $4.32 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.24% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 14.94% of weekly minimum wage20. WashingtonGas price: $5.67 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.22% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 12.40% of weekly minimum wage21. WyomingGas price: $4.30 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.21% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 22.23% of weekly minimum wage22. WisconsinGas price: $4.37 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.17% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 22.61% of weekly minimum wage23. Hawai‘iGas price: $5.63 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.14% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 13.20% of weekly minimum wage24. FloridaGas price: $4.34 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.13% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 11.63% of weekly minimum wage25. MissouriGas price: $3.97 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.10% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 9.93% of weekly minimum wage26. TennesseeGas price: $3.99 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.10% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 20.66% of weekly minimum wage27. South CarolinaGas price: $4.00 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.09% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 20.70% of weekly minimum wage28. North CarolinaGas price: $4.08 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.08% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 21.09% of weekly minimum wage29. IdahoGas price: $4.46 per gallonFill-up cost: 4.06% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 23.04% of weekly minimum wage30. VermontGas price: $4.42 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.95% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 11.48% of weekly minimum wage31. South DakotaGas price: $4.06 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.91% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 12.86% of weekly minimum wage32. AlaskaGas price: $5.04 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.89% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 14.53% of weekly minimum wage33. Rhode IslandGas price: $4.38 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.88% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 10.95% of weekly minimum wage34. KansasGas price: $3.96 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.88% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 20.47% of weekly minimum wage35. IowaGas price: $3.95 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.87% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 20.43% of weekly minimum wage36. New YorkGas price: $4.45 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.84% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 10.44% of weekly minimum wage37. NebraskaGas price: $3.96 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.84% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 9.91% of weekly minimum wage38. North DakotaGas price: $3.99 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.79% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 20.66% of weekly minimum wage39. TexasGas price: $3.92 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.63% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 20.26% of weekly minimum wage40. GeorgiaGas price: $3.85 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.56% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 19.92% of weekly minimum wage41. DelawareGas price: $4.21 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.55% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 10.52% of weekly minimum wage42. ConnecticutGas price: $4.52 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.48% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 10% of weekly minimum wage43. MinnesotaGas price: $4.05 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.44% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 13.31% of weekly minimum wage44. ColoradoGas price: $4.44 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.38% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 10.98% of weekly minimum wage45. UtahGas price: $4.39 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.36% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 22.71% of weekly minimum wage46. VirginiaGas price: $4.17 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.35% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 12.25% of weekly minimum wage47. New HampshireGas price: $4.34 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.22% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 22.46% of weekly minimum wage48. New JerseyGas price: $4.42 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.13% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 10.40% of weekly minimum wage49. MarylandGas price: $4.27 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.07% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 10.68% of weekly minimum wage50. MassachusettsGas price: $4.34 per gallonFill-up cost: 3.06% of median weekly household incomeFill-up cost: 10.85% of weekly minimum wageMethodologyThe average retail gasoline price for each of the 50 states, reported by AAA as of May 3, 2026, was compared with the estimated current median household income and each state’s minimum wage. The estimated current median household income was calculated by adjusting each state’s 2024 median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 1-year estimates using growth in the Employment Cost Index for private-industry wages and salaries from the 2024 annual average through the first quarter of 2026. The estimated annual median household income was divided by 52, and the minimum wage, as recorded by the U.S. Department of Labor, was multiplied by 40, to express the cost of a 15-gallon fill-up as a share of weekly income. Source data providers are not affiliated with, and do not endorse or sponsor, this study or its findings.This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	United Way Quad Cities leader tapped for global council seat Ryan Sempf, chief impact officer for United Way Quad Cities, joins a 24-member global council to share local strategies for community improvement.
	Interim chief says ICE gave no advance notice before Davenport arrests Interim Davenport Police Chief Greg Behning spoke at a meeting organized by state Rep. Ken Croken on Monday, addressing the April 22 arrests of eight people by federal immigration officers.
	North Scott Press — May 20, 2026
	Rock Island receives IDNR grant to improve Potter's Lake dock The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has awarded four grants totaling $69,600 through the Illinois Boat Access Area Development Program to help local governments create boat and canoe access areas on Illinois lakes and rivers. “Investing in boat launches around the state helps communities improve access to public lakes and rivers and creates a [...]
	First phase of Las Vegas, NM water treatment facility to break ground in summer The New Mexico Environment Department and the City of Las Vegas on May 13, 2026, unveiled renderings of Las Vegas’ new water treatment plant, intended to help restore reliable drinking water in the aftermath of the 2022 Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon fire. (Courtesy of Burns and McDonnell Engineering) New Mexico environment department and officials with the City of Las Vegas have unveiled plans for the first phase of a new water treatment plant for the city scheduled for initial construction this summer. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Drinking water issues have plagued the city’s 12,000 residents since the devastating 2022 Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon fire, as the burn scars repeatedly slough a slurry of ash and debris into the Rio Gallinas, a city source of drinking water. In 2024, city officials received $98 million in federal funding to construct the facility. Repeated flood events in 2024 harming water quality, along with a complete water shutoff in the city in January of 2025, prompted the city to enter into a joint governmental agreement with three state agencies in hopes of fast-tracking the new system. As part of that agreement, the state has worked for months with city officials and an engineering firm to design new filtration systems, and presented design plans at the May 13 Las Vegas City Council meeting. The first phase of construction will install filters to better remove contaminants that wash into the river during rainstorms before the water goes through sanitation and treatment. So far, the city has replaced monitoring systems and water filtration pools to improve water quality as planning for the construction for the full water treatment plant continues, Las Vegas City Manager Robert Anaya told Source NM. The city has spent approximately $8 million on improvements and on designing the new systems. Las Vegas Mayor David Romero told Source NM the full water treatment facility is at least three years away from completion. “Everybody hopes that we can have it done yesterday, but we’re making sure we do it right the first time, and it’s tied to the appropriate design and compliance requirements that need to be in place to make it done right,” Romero told Source NM. The state will continue to offer technical support for the city, Jonas Armstrong, the state environment department’s Water Protection Division director, said in a statement. Courtesy of Source New Mexico
	YouTube is now the #2 most-cited social platform in AI answers YouTube is now the #2 most-cited social platform in AI answersAI search engines cite YouTube videos because the platform often provides structured, in-depth information that AI systems can extract and reference in generated answers. Long-form videos, transcripts, timestamps, chapter markers, and detailed metadata make YouTube content especially easy for AI systems to analyze.WebFX observed a recent study that found that the platform accounts for 38.1% of all social media citations in AI-generated answers. This makes it the second most-cited social platform across major AI search engines, including Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode, Perplexity, and ChatGPT.This shift matters for marketers and content teams because AI-generated answers increasingly shape how users discover information online. As YouTube citations grow, well-structured video content can directly influence brand visibility in AI search results.Why do AI search engines cite YouTube content more often? Courtesy of WebFX AI search engines cite YouTube because long-form videos contain detailed explanations that can be converted into text through transcripts. These transcripts give AI systems structured information they can extract, analyze, and reference when generating answers.YouTube also hosts a massive library of educational and instructional content covering millions of topics. As a result, AI platforms often treat YouTube videos as knowledge sources, not just entertainment content.This is evident in the fact that many of the videos cited in AI answers come from content most viewers have never encountered. According to the analysis, 40.83% of AI-cited YouTube videos had fewer than 1,000 views at the time of the study, while 36% had fewer than 15 likes. Courtesy of WebFX However, YouTube video AI citations vary across platforms, with Perplexity and Google AI Overviews accounting for roughly three-quarters of all observed YouTube citations in AI-generated answers.Here’s a breakdown of the share of total YouTube citations across different AI platforms:Perplexity: 38.7%Google AI Overviews: 36.6%ChatGPT: 4.4%Gemini: 0.2%Microsoft Copilot: 0.5% WebFX What kind of YouTube videos do AI search engines cite?According to the study, the most frequently cited YouTube videos by AI search engines include: WebFX Let’s unpack each type of YouTube video below.1. Long-form educational videosAI search engines overwhelmingly cite long-form, reference-style YouTube videos that explain topics in depth, providing AI systems with enough context to summarize.The dataset reveals that 94% of YouTube citations in AI answers come from long-form videos, not short-form content.That trend contrasts with how many brands currently approach video marketing. In the past few years, marketers have prioritized short-form formats such as YouTube Shorts, TikTok videos, and Instagram Reels to maximize reach, engagement, and algorithmic distribution across social platforms.But AI citations are changing that because they’re continually citing long-form videos that behave more like mini knowledge resources, for example:TutorialsProduct explainersDetailed walkthroughsDocumentariesVlogsInterviewsLectures 2. Videos with time stamps and chapter markersVideo structure also affects how frequently a YouTube video appears in AI-generated answers. Videos that include time stamps or chapter markers allow AI systems to reference specific segments rather than the entire video. Courtesy of WebFX When Google AI Overviews or Google AI Mode cite time stamped videos, they often link directly to individual sections. This structure effectively turns a single video into multiple citation points, expanding the number of opportunities for AI systems to reference it across different queries.3. Newer, trend-relevant videosAnother factor that appears to influence AI citation patterns is how recently a video was published. The study found a weak positive relationship between recency and citation frequency, indicating that newer videos were cited slightly more often during the observation window.This pattern is most noticeable in queries where fresh information matters, such as searches for “latest,” “new,” or a specific year, like “2026 fashion trends” or “top Amazon products for 2026.” In these cases, AI systems often favor more recent sources when generating answers.4. Videos with clear metadata and structured descriptionsThe analysis found that videos with more detailed descriptions were cited slightly more often than those with minimal descriptions. This suggests that clear summaries and structured metadata help AI systems better interpret a video’s topic.Citable YouTube video descriptions should:Explain what the video coversHighlights key concepts,Include structured elements such as chapter lists, keywords, or relevant termsInclude hashtags for additional topical signals about the subject of the video Courtesy of WebFX What YouTube content AI systems rarely citeThe analysis found that several common YouTube video optimization features show little measurable influence on whether a video gets referenced in AI-generated answers. Some of these include:Video popularity signals: Metrics such as views and likes have little effect on how often a video is cited by AI platforms.Channel size and subscriber counts: Larger audiences did not consistently translate into higher citation frequency.Total number of channel videos: While a larger library increases the number of possible citation candidates, it does not directly increase the likelihood that any single video is cited.Video duration alone: Simply making longer videos does not guarantee citations. The structure, relevance, and clarity of the explanations matter more than length by itself.Title length optimization: The dataset found no meaningful relationship between title or description length and citation frequency. WebFX How to optimize YouTube content for AI extractionIf AI search engines increasingly treat YouTube videos as reference sources, content teams may need to rethink how they structure video content. The patterns identified in the study suggest that videos most likely to appear in AI-generated answers share several characteristics:1. Focus on long-form explainer contentAI systems most frequently cite videos that fully explain a topic rather than briefly introduce it. For many topics, these are videos in the five- to 20-minute range that can be broken down into digestible chunks.Long-form videos also tend to produce clearer transcripts because they include structured narration and complete explanations. This makes it easier for AI systems to interpret the content and identify specific segments that answer a user’s query.Effective transcripts for YouTube AI citations include:Clear spoken explanations, not just visuals or background narrationStructured sections or chapters that organize the topic logicallyNatural use of keywords within the narrationComplete explanations of a question or process2. Structure videos with chapters and time stampsVideos that include time stamps or chapter markers are more likely to be referenced and cited by AI search engines. AI systems interpret time stamps, especially ones labeled in user-friendly language as subheadings, making your videos more extractable.In fact, 78% of time stamped videos show a higher likelihood of being cited again. Additionally, structured video content also allows for more YouTube AI citation opportunities across different questions, particularly within Google’s AI search surfaces. 3. Treat descriptions as structured metadataVideo descriptions often serve as metadata that help AI systems understand what a video covers. Descriptions that clearly summarize the topic, list key concepts, and include relevant terms make it easier for AI models to understand a video’s content.Chapter lists, keywords, and supporting links can further clarify the subject matter for AI systems.4. Keep content current when topics evolveRecency can also affect YouTube AI citation visibility, particularly for queries where users expect up-to-date information. For industries that change quickly, such as AI tools, software updates, marketing tactics, or product comparisons, regularly updating or publishing new videos can help maintain relevance within AI search ecosystems.This story was produced by WebFX and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Trump endorses Ken Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn in Texas Senate primary runoff President Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas GOP runoff for U.S. Senate, one week before voting ends in the contentious and expensive primary.
	Summa Cum Laude 2026 As the North Scott Class of 2026 takes the stage to receive their diplomas on May 24, they will be led by 39 students who have been named Summa Cum Laude, having excelled academically during their four years of high school. Summa Cum Laude designation is given to students who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher during their high school careers. Graduation speakers will be Charlotte Madden, Marlayna Cockshoot, Behren Radech and Nate Kramer.
	Iowa American Water puts forth Eldridge acquisition As Eldridge works to market itself as a prime location for industry, city officials have recognized the need for additional infrastructure. To that end, for the last nine months, city staff have been meeting with representatives from Iowa American Water to discuss ways the two entities might partner on projects, including additional lift stations on the south side of town, as well as improvements to the wastewater treatment plant, and a possible additional well. On Monday, during a joint committee of the whole meeting with the Eldridge Utility Board, representatives from Iowa American Water presented possible partnership options, up to and including a full acquisition of Eldridge’s water and wastewater treatment operations. No decisions were made, and opinions were sharply divided among those at the council table. Iowa American officials said their total purchase offer would be approximately $36.8 million for the utilities, with $12.1 for the water system and $24.6 million for the wastewater treatment. At the beginning of the meeting, mayor Scott Campbell explained that talks with Iowa American have been ongoing for approximately the last nine months, starting at the staff level. Members of the utility board and city council were brought into the process four or five months ago, Campbell said. Mary Egger, principal of business development for Iowa American, gave a brief overview of the company to begin the presentation. She emphasized that the company is regulated by the Iowa Utilities Commission, which oversees the company’s investment and sets its rates. The company serves 10 communities in Iowa and has five water treatment and three wastewater treatment plants, serving approximately 225,000 customers. Among the facilities is the East River Station, located in the Village of East Davenport, which produces up to 30 million gallons of water per day. Iowa American is part of the American Water group, which serves 14 states, including 18 military installations. Brad Nielsen, president of Iowa American, went on to explain the growing trend of industry consolidation. While Nielsen said this has been ongoing in the gas and electric industry for years, it is a relatively new trend in water and wastewater over the last decade. Nielsen discussed five recent local acquisitions by Iowa American, all of which he said had very specific concerns that needed to be addressed. These acquisitions included LeClaire and Dixon, which Nielsen said helped address water contamination and compliance concerns. “LeClaire, specifically, had one of their wells that was contaminated with some petroleum, and the other two wells in their community were at risk at that point in time.” In Blue Grass, Iowa American acquired the water and wastewater systems in two separate transactions. In both cases, Nielsen said the systems required a significant amount of investment to get the systems up to compliance, including fixing a lot of undersized watermain lines. “It was a significant amount of investment on the water side that the community just didn’t feel like they had the expertise or the willingness to go ahead and invest in the water side,” said Nielsen. Four years later, Iowa American acquired the wastewater system, after Blue Grass officials were having problems meeting permit limits for the town’s treatment plant. Again, these problems would have required a significant amount of investment on the town’s part to get the system up to compliance. Donahue is another fairly recent acquisition, a process that began after the town’s water treatment operator retired. “They were looking to fill a void of expertise on the water side,” said Nielsen. He said another result was that additional investment in the water and wastewater system helped a developer decide to begin work on a residential subdivision just south of town. This was the first new residential development in Donahue in approximately 20 years. Nielsen said the company’s most recent acquisition was in Low Moor, which Iowa American agreed to purchase after investing in an industrial park located about halfway between Low Moor and Clinton. “Each one had unique issues or problems to solve. And we really are here to help, when it’s all said and done, and we were able to help these communities solve those specific problems,” said Nielsen. He explained that conversations in Eldridge have centered on building out the utilities to accommodate potential industrial parks adjacent to town. “The common theme we hear from multiple Iowa communities as we have conversations is, how can they drive economic growth to remain viable in Iowa?” said Nielsen. “And that’s something we pride ourselves on – if you were to talk to any of our current partner municipalities, I’m confident they would tell you that we are an advocate of economic development and economic growth, and we’re a full-scale partner in making sure that our communities are viable in Iowa when it comes to growth.” Possible partnership options Nielsen said conversations have centered around three possible solutions for Eldridge. The first would be a metered connection to Iowa American’s existing water system, which could then serve a potential industrial park on the south side of town. However, Nielsen said the company didn’t feel that was the best option, because it would still require significant capital outlay on Eldridge’s part. Nielsen said it also wouldn’t account for the additional wastewater treatment capacity that would be needed. He said Iowa American would need to purchase the city’s wastewater treatment plant, “because we are not able to make investments in increasing that capacity unless we own (the asset).” The second proposal was a defined service territory. “How are we able to service that area while keeping it separate from the city? And that was a very difficult one to kind of navigate through the possibilities,” said Nielsen. While Iowa American would be able to extend existing infrastructure to areas within Eldridge, there would still be the issue of expanded wastewater treatment capacity, and the company would still be looking to purchase Eldridge’s wastewater treatment plant. “And that kind of leads to a bit of a mismatch,” said Nielsen, if the city were to continue to own its water system while Iowa American owned the wastewater treatment plant. All of which led to the company’s third, and recommended option, a full acquisition of the water and wastewater systems. Tony Loete, vice president of operations for Iowa American, discussed several of the reasons why this was the company’s preferred option. Eldridge has already commissioned several studies to try to determine what kind of infrastructure needs the city would face long-term in the event of more industrial development. ISG Engineering conducted a water engineering study, which concluded that additional wells, treatment and storage for industrial demand constitute priority projects, at an estimated $3-4 million, along with an expanded or even new water treatment plant, at an estimated $15-25 million. ISG identified the total long-term water investment at $18-29 million. “It’s important to note that these are just the findings that we’ve taken from the ISG study,” said Loete. “Iowa American Water didn’t have any part in or contribution to the formulation of these recommendations. It’s also important to note that ISG is not, in their findings, recommending the community to make these improvements. Instead, they’re actually recommending that Eldridge partner with us to service this new industrial development.” Additionally, Shive-Hattery conducted a wastewater engineering study that identified $26-28 million in capital need, including an estimated $14-15 million for the collection system extensions and lift stations, and $12-13 million in potential other improvements. Loete said, if Eldridge did agree to an acquisition, Iowa American would make approximately $9.52 million in capital investments over the first five years. He said immediate improvements would include the removal of the chlorine gas system at the treatment plants. He said chlorine gas was “an extreme risk, a risk that we don’t prefer to expose our employees to,” as well as a risk to surrounding properties. Loete said further investments would be made to technology, security and controls, including Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems that would allow utility customers to see their usage in real time. Bottom line for customers Ben Keith, director of business development and government affairs for Iowa American, discussed the rates customers could see if the acquisition were to occur. Keith said there are several factors the company considers when trying to estimate rates, including how much capital investment is needed, the state of the existing infrastructure, and the day-to-day cost to operate the system. He said an Eldridge customer who uses 4,400 gallons of water per month currently pays $24.21 for water and $40.55 for wastewater on their current bill. Keith said with an Iowa American partnership, that same Eldridge customer would see an approximately $15 increase to each, or an additional $30 in utilities per month. This would put the customer’s total monthly bill at about $94.76, compared to $64.76 now. Keith stressed, however, that this was just a proposed rate. He said the increase would help work towards maintaining the extra capital that would be needed to maintain improvements and expansions to the system. “A huge part of what we do here at American Water is we are very concerned about affordability. We are very concerned about the way that our rates look among peers,” said Keith. With the projected capital costs estimated by ISG and Shive-Hattery of upwards of $57 million, Keith said Iowa American felt that its offer of $36.8 million was a “fair and strong offer when it comes down to it.” He said the total investment in Eldridge, including the $9.52 million over the first five years would come out to about $46.3 million. “And then, once you include the $57 million of proposed avoidance, you’re looking at a net impact to Eldridge of upwards of $103 million,” said Keith. Council, board weigh in Before opening the floor to questions, Campbell reminded everyone that the utility board makes the decisions regarding water, while the city council handles decisions about the sewer side of water treatment. City council member Ryan Iossi asked about Iowa American’s developer rebate program, although he noted his concern wasn’t residential development so much as it was industrial growth on the south side of Eldridge. “We know we’ve got to get closer to being shovel ready, to bring the potential opportunities we’re looking for. And part of that is obviously for the water side, it’s the biggest cost. Sewer side, I don’t think we’re in as big of a predicament. The numbers I’ve seen, for the sewer, we actually have some revenue, and it offsets some of our other expenses as a city that I would be more concerned with that. But the water side, what I know about it, that seems to me like it’s our dealbreaker right now.” Iossi serves as the liaison between the city council and the utility board. City council member Brian Dockery was direct about the proposal. “I’m not in favor of any of this. Especially when you come out and say we have to do the sanitary sewer.” Dockery said the city has done a variety of upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant over the past 15 years, including almost $15 million about seven years ago. “All this is created by speculation that something big is going to come on the south part of our town,” said Dockery. “I’d rather tell that big development you’re going to have to wait until development gets to you before I’m willing to give up our utilities.” Dockery said the city could just as easily go for a bond referendum to pay for expansion of utilities. “I don’t see the desire or need to liquidate assets for potentially something that may or may not come for 10 to 15 years. I’m just not in favor of this. I think, long-term, we’d be doing a big injustice to our taxpayers,” he said. Utility board chair Michael Bristley said that Monday’s presentation seemed to prioritize full acquisition over any of the other suggestions. He asked if Iowa American representatives might provide additional information on the first two suggestions, wholesale water interconnection and a defined service area. “I know the other options aren’t American Water preferred, but we have a chance to evaluate that as well,” said Bristley. Nielsen said more information could be provided. Utility board member Abby Petersen asked city administrator Nevada Lemke about the city’s current water rates. A previous utility board had recommended to increase water rates more than a decade ago, but those rates were never implemented. Since that time, water rate increases have lagged significantly behind other utility rates. “In the event that the water rates had been implemented 13 years ago and it was voted on, what would be the water rate now?” asked Petersen. “Because, I think we are so severely behind, which is why we’re looking at this as a viable option, because we don’t have as much capital as we could have had. Is it such a shock to the citizens if it would have been implemented?” “It’s hard to say where exactly we’d be with rates today, if they had been increasing at the same rate that sewer was increasing rates,” replied Lemke. “It’s just a little bit easier to build for that capital improvement. But I think we can say for sure that they wouldn’t be experiencing the shock of the extreme rate increase that they would have to see right now in one jump to be able to make the improvements that are needed, because they would have been gradually increasing over time. And so, to build out, to get into that industrial zone to support the growth, it would still take an increase, even if it had been increasing over the past few years, but the jump wouldn’t be so extreme.” Lemke said if there had been a gradual increase, the city would also likely have more in the water reserve funds as well. City council member Scott La Plante asked how often rates increase with Iowa American. Nielsen said, historically, there is an increase every three to four years, and the increase must be set and approved by the Iowa Utilities Commission. Dockery said the current water and sewer systems are “doing just fine,” and ultimately, improvements are just a matter of what Eldridge is looking to attract in terms of industry. He asked utility board members if a cash flow analysis has been done for what it might cost to upgrade or put up more capacity at the current water treatment plant. Bristley and Lemke said an analysis has been done. Petersen said her recollection was the study said the city could not afford the improvements without going out for a bond referendum. “Well, that’s the way the city has always done it,” said Dockery. “When you come up with a big capital improvement, to bond and pay it back over time through modest increases in the rates. There may not be a development down there in five years.” Utility board member Jeff Hamilton said the city should be proactive instead of reactive in the face of development. “It’s the ‘what if?’ To be prepared instead of waiting for the last second and saying, well, we’ve got to get this done now.” “Don’t we have investors now wanting to buy and one of the things holding them up is that they don’t have utilities out there?” asked utility board member Jeff Hedrington. “So, it’s not like this is down the road. We’ve got people who want to purchase that property. They’re delaying the purchases because we don’t have utilities out there to support them. Meaning, we, the area. Not just Eldridge.” “And that window could close if we don’t get our act together,” said Campbell. He asked assistant city administrator Jeff Martens, who handles economic development for the city, to weigh in. Martens said he has regularly had inquiries from developers, including regarding the RIVAALD property, which is furthest away from current city services. “Right now, I’ve been told by the people that represent the property, they’ve got three investors that are looking at it. But the decision hasn’t been made because we have made no decision on how to supply utilities.” Martens said Eldridge has been a finalist for several development sites over the last few years, “and we’ve ended up losing, for one reason or another, which may or may not have anything to do with utilities.” City council member Adrian Blackwell said Davenport is also working on an industrial park near Interstate 280 right now. “We’re basically in a race with them,” said Martens. “Because they don’t have Jeff Martens doing this part-time. They’ve got a whole department of people that are working on this and are going to market it once they can do it. That’s the reality of the situation. Once they get the sewer line to 280, they’re going to have thousands of acres open for development. And they’ll provide more incentives than Eldridge to get people to go there.” “We can’t compete with Davenport. That would be like Folletts competing with us,” said Dockery. “We don’t have to compete, but we can be proactive rather than reactive,” said Iossi. “And we know the residential tax base does not support all the services we need. The industrial, commercial tax base does. “If we’re not proactive, if we don’t prepare, have those lift stations in a budget or in a plan, if we don’t have those watermains there, we’re going to keep missing out. And again, I don’t care about competing with Davenport. I’m looking at what’s best, ultimately, for the citizens of Eldridge. And that’s to increase our commercial and industrial tax base. Without that, nothing is going to change, and we can’t keep putting off what is coming anyway.” “I agree with that completely, because your tax base has got to support all of the other things that you want to do with your city,” said Petersen. “The jobs could build houses within the community then. So, then, you’re double-dipping into residential taxes and your commercial taxes. That’s how Iowa City, West Des Moines, they all went that direction. Coralville, North Liberty. They’ve all got stuff going on with that exact same tax structure. The jobs came; the houses came.” “We don’t have a problem building houses,” said Dockery. “Our tax rate is so low, and we provide so many services that we’re basically at break-even on the residential development,” said Martens. “So, that’s not increased our tax base to provide other amenities to the community.” “Many years ago, the council and the boards who were in place at that time – you might have been there, Brian. You’ve been around forever. They had a vision at the time that that’s where the growth would be,” said Campbell of the development areas on the south side of Eldridge. “They had a vision that would be the industrial growth, and we’ve done nothing to get that growth to come to us.” Martens also said that the ISG report indicated that by 2035, the city would have to spend $18-25 million on the current water treatment plant, not factoring in any industrial development. Utility board member Mark Goodding said water rates could possibly quadruple in that event. Lemke and Martens said, if Eldridge kept its water and wastewater systems, the utility rates would be the same or higher than Iowa American’s proposed rates within 10 years. Blackwell expressed an additional concern – what would happen to the existing city employees if Iowa American were to purchase the utilities? “I don’t like laying people off, and we’ve got quality workers now,” said Blackwell. The Iowa American representatives said any Eldridge utility employee in good standing would be offered employment with the company. At the conclusion of the meeting, Campbell said there would be further discussion, more information, and likely additional joint meetings with the utility board going forward.
	Improvements raise water rates Water rates are set to jump in Long Grove as the city prepares to spend nearly $4 million on utility improvements, including a new water treatment plant. The base water rate in Long Grove will rise from $44.08 to $50 per month July 1. The fee per additional thousand gallons will rise from $7.92 to $9.25. And both rates will increase at an annual rate of 2% beginning July 2027. Long Grove City Council passed the rate increases unanimously, and with little discussion, on Tuesday, May 12. “The city council has determined that the city must increase water rates in order to meet its financial obligations and ensure the long-term sustainability of the water system,” the ordinance to increase rates reads. Utilities, property taxes may share cost burden A pair of public hearings on June 9 will give members of the public a chance to comment on the council’s plan to split the cost of water infrastructure improvements between utility rates and property taxes. The council set public hearing dates Tuesday. In April, the council signaled that they hoped to spread the cost of the $3.8 million project, to avoid overburdening utility rates. The project has run $600,000 to $700,000 overbudget. Early plans would have placed the entire project on a low-interest state revolving fund loan that must be serviced out of utility revenues. Under the new plan, the city will borrow $1 million of that sum at market interest rates, backed by property taxes. That loan would require a $1.37 increase in the city’s property tax levy next year, Guyer told the council in April.
	No diving here As Memorial Day approaches and brings with it the unofficial start to summer, at least one tradition will be delayed. Last Tuesday, the Scott County Conservation Department announced that the opening of the Scott County Park Pool will be delayed due to construction issues. In a Facebook post, the department said the current anticipated opening date will be during the first week of July. “We understand this is disappointing news for families, visitors, and seasonal staff who were looking forward to the summer season,” the post read. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as work continues to complete the project safely and successfully.” Conservation director Roger Kean told The North Scott Press that the renovations currently underway at the pool have been in the planning stages for several years and are meant to address infrastructure issues with the ageing pool. “This project involved the installation of a new vinyl liner in both the baby pool and the main pool vessel. This will both eliminate the need for routine painting and patching repairs to the side walls and flooring and hopefully eliminate some water loss that has been occurring over the years,” Kean said. Additionally, the gutter system and underground plumbing are being replaced, which also required a significant amount of the concrete decking surrounding the pool to be pulled up and subsequently replaced. “While most of this work is almost completed, the largest delay now is with the arrival of crew needed to do the final piece, the actual installation of the liner,” said Kean. Unfortunately, due to the construction delay, swimming lessons for the summer 2026 season have been cancelled. Refunds will be sent to families that have already registered, as well as additional information. Meanwhile, the department said West Lake Beach will open as scheduled Memorial Day weekend. Those who have purchased 2026 swim passes may use them at the beach, as well as Scott County Park Pool when it opens. Anyone wishing to request a refund for their pool pass may contact the Scott County Conservation office at 563-328-3280. Passholders may also request a prorated refund once the opening date for the pool is announced. Updates on progress at Scott County Park Pool will be available at the department’s website, scottcountyiowa.gov/conservation, and on its social media pages, including Facebook.
	Movin' out, movin' in The North Scott student-built home program celebrated the end of a successful build Friday, May 15. Students, together with family, friends and contractors, gathered at the home, 414 S. Diamond Dr. in Long Grove, for a meal provided by Grandview Farms. Tours of the home were available. All 22 students in the program this year received scholarships from the Quad Cities Builders & Remodelers Association. This year’s participants included Noah Bell, Treyton Bolles, Cole Bruck, Bennett Hamerlinck, Koen Krambeck, Collin Kruse, Evan Kruse, Drake Lubben, Scott McCoy, Will McDermott, Matthew Williams, Caleb Willis, Aidan Broihier, Colten Goodding, Davis Hoeper, Grady James, Aaron Kuhn, Luke Newberry, Cody Powell, Brett Rouse, Ayden Tschopp and Evan Wilson.
	How Iowa Republicans think new property tax law will benefit you Iowa Republican legislators said that new property tax reform continues their commitment to lowering taxes.
	Early voting has begun Absentee voting for the June 2 primary began Wednesday, May 13, and is open until Monday, June 1. The deadline for returning absentee ballots is June 2 at 8 p.m. Ballots may be returned by mail; via the drop box located at the west side of the parking lot at the Scott County Administration Center, located at 600 W. 4th St. in Davenport; or hand-delivered to the Auditor’s Office. Absentee voting is also available at the Auditor’s Office, located on the fifth floor of the Scott County Administration Center from now until Monday, June 1. Voting at the Administration Center is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Voting will also be available Saturday, May 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There were no valid petitioned satellite locations. “Iowa has a closed primary election. There is a separate ballot for each party and voters can only vote on one ballot,” Scott County auditor Kerri Tompkins reminded voters in advanced of the June 2 primary. The primary election is held for members of the political parties to nominate candidates for the general election. Only people registered with a political party can vote in the party’s primary election. However, voters can change their party affiliation at the polls on Election Day or early voting. Iowa Code 43.42, 43.43 requires that all voters in a primary lection must declare a political party in order to participate in the process. Currently there are two political parties recognized in Iowa: the Democratic and Republican Parties. A voter’s registration records will be changed if a voter requests a ballot for a political party different from the party shown on their voter registration record. After the primary election is closed, the voter can fill out a new voter registration form and change back to the original party. For more information on the June 2 primary, visit elections.scottcountyiowa.gov.
	Fire study nears conclusion A statewide study on the creation of regional fire departments—led by several Scott County officials—appears unlikely to recommend forced consolidation. Donahue Mayor Ken Schoenthaler and Scott County Emergency Management Director Brian Payne both serve on the study committee. They told The North Scott Press last week that the committee will likely recommend that state legislators open a path for the voluntary creation of regional departments. But mundane considerations, like incompatible radio equipment and retirement plans, have led the committee away from a recommendation to require consolidation, they said. Schoenthaler, named to the committee as a representative of towns with 5,000 persons or fewer, has repeatedly said that forced consolidation would alienate volunteers and leave taxpayers with a larger—rather than a smaller—bill for emergency services. State Senator Scott Webster, whose district spans Eldridge and Bettendorf, led the study bill in the 2025 legislative session and sits on its committee. Last summer, he said told the NSP that the study bill had been inspired by concerns over dwindling volunteerism and savings that could result from the consolidation of urban departments. Materials from recent committee meetings include draft language for an amendment to Iowa code that would allow four or more government bodies to join together in the creation of a regional fire and emergency services district with its own taxing authority. The full recommendations of the study committee are expected early this summer.
	Memorial Day services scheduled The public is invited to attend one of the oldest continuous observances of Memorial Day West of the Mississippi River, at the 107th Annual Memorial Day Service at Historic Summit Church, on Utica Ridge Road, 21980 210th Ave., Davenport. The service will be held on Monday, May 25, at 9 a.m. It is a tradition that started at Summit Church in 1919, with Sunday School superintendent Sally Walker, who wanted to honor World War I veterans from the church. Now, a collation of the Scott County Historical Society, the Carl Jacobsen Post #639 of the American Le gion and Auxiliary, Eldridge, honor all Scott County veterans who have served from the Civil War to the present. The service will consist of an honor guard presenting the U. S. flag, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance led by a veteran, the singing of patriotic songs, listening to patriotic speeches, and reading of a roll call of Scott County veterans. Following the tribute, everyone is invited to remain and enjoy fellowship and refreshments at the historic country church. For more information, contact Tom at 563-676-6762 by May 22. Dixon There will be a ceremony in the Dixon Cemetery on Memorial Day at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the Dixon American Legion. Donahue The Larry M. Gronewold American Legion Post #532 will hold a Memorial Day service at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 25, in Allens Grove Cemetery. Maysville The Maysville Cemetery will fly the veterans American Flay and display white crosses on May 23-24, weather permitting. Princeton A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at Boll’s Community Center at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 25.
	Meet Long Grove’s new clerk Lucas Syoen is the new city clerk and finance director for the city of Long Grove. The council promoted Syoen from assistant clerk Tuesday, May 12, following the departure of longtime clerk Rose Guyer. Syoen has worked as Long Grove’s assistant clerk for two years. Guyer told the council last month that he could handle all the daily responsibilities of the position. The council hopes to backfill the assistant clerk position in the coming weeks. They agreed Tuesday to hire part-time for the role, with a transition to full-time planned. The council will review the assistant clerk job description at a committee of the whole meeting May 20. Long Grove will lose a combined 30 years’ work experience as Guyer leaves this month and Public Works Director Tony Saladino leaves in June. The council agreed in April to promote Public Works Assistant Nathan Loussaert upon Saladino’s retirement. Syoen will earn $29.24 per hour as city clerk. Loussaert will earn $27.32 per hour as public works director. Guyer, AI questions deferred Technology policies written to regulate how Long Grove City Hall uses AI software will be up for discussion at a May 20 committee of the whole meeting. The council will also discuss whether to retain Guyer as an interim finance and administra-tive support specialist. The May 12 agenda had included votes to adopt a new technology policy and retain Guyer. Councilman Mike Boddicker requested the items be deferred, and the council backed his motion unanimously. An April 27 committee of the whole meeting saw the council gather to review the city’s rapid deployment of AI tools, detailed in an April 15 story in The NSP. The council agreed to adopt new policies regulating AI use and restricting how AI software providers can use data provided by the city through mutual nondisclosure agreements.
	First round of church renovations to proceed Princeton will pull money from community center reserve funds to match a $45,500 Iowa Department of Natural Resources grant to repair the roof of the former Presbyterian Church building. The council accepted the building as a gift from the Presbytery of Eastern Iowa last summer. They listed Boll’s Community Center for sale in August, and said they would use proceeds of a sale to fund the renovation of the church into a new community space. Boll’s remains unsold, so the funds for the first round of renovations will draw from city reserves. The council will draw $33,000 from community center donations, $10,000 from the community center professional services fund, and $2,500 from the city buildings and ground budget to match the DNR grant, they voted unanimously Thursday, May 14. The DNR grant will fund repairs to the roof, where leaks have been identified near the belltower and steeple. City grant writer Angie Bloomfield said in April that the grant will cover expenses from engineering through construction and environmental reporting. The council received bids from local contractors on roof repairs, but Mayor Travis Volrath said that specifics did not match. The project will be rebid, he reported. Well grant Princeton will apply for a grant to pull—and possibly repair—the casing at its troubled well on Lost Grove Road. Councilman Brandon Forristall said one source of the well’s high nitrate concentrations could be a crack in the 450 feet of casing that protect the well shaft from surface runoff. Nitrate concentrations have remained above the legal maximum of 10 mg/L since September 2024. The Iowa Rural Water Association grant will cover up to $100,000 in expenses to pull and repair the well casing, Bloomfield said. Since April 2025, Princeton has leased agricultural land surrounding the wellhead and removed it from production in hopes of reducing nitrate pollution from fertilizers. The effects of that pollution would be magnified if damage to the well casing allows nitrates to enter the well shaft before percolating into the aquifer below. Solar project update Engineers Bryce Johnson and Ashley Keessler told the council that it will take another month to prepare adequate bids for a solar array planned for the city’s sewer treatment plant. The council had planned to open bids in May. But work remains to be completed with project bidders, MidAmerican Energy, and the state’s revolving fund grant program, engineers reported. Councilwoman Lori Maher, who has helped lead the solar project, said the city should be able to select a bid at their regular meeting in June. Public hearing on urban renewal area Princeton will hear public comments June 11 on an urban renewal area it has planned to accommodate the Winding Hills subdivision planned for Locust and 2nd Streets by local developer Rod Reid. The urban renewal area would provide Reid with a tax incentive for new construction. The council set the hearing date Thursday. Correction The Princeton Fire Department receives funding from rural benefit district no. 1, not no. 14, as stated in a March 25 story in The NSP.
	Minnesota becomes first state to ban prediction markets While dozens of states have taken legal action against the controversial industry, Minnesota is the first state to pass a law making it a felony for companies like Kalshi and Polymarket to operate.
	Eldridge, Indianapolis police make child exploitation arrest The Eldridge Police Department, in partnership with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, participated in an investigation that led to the arrest of an Indianapolis man on child exploitation charges. Daniel Elliot, 56, of Indianapolis, was charged with child solicitation by a person over 21 to a child aged 14-16 using a computer (Class IV felony), child exploitation/pornography – distribute/description (Class IV felony), vicarious sexual gratification (Class V felony), two counts of child solicitation (Class V felony), and dissemination of material harmful to minors (Class VI felony). Elliot, who was arrested Monday, May 11, was being held at the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis pending trial. Eldridge police became involved after an investigator with the department’s Special Investigations/Internet Crimes Against Children Unit engaged with a subject, later identified as Elliot, during a controlled online operation. Elliot is alleged to have used the internet to attempt to engage in illegal contact with an individual they believed to be a minor. "This arrest underscores our commitment to protecting children from online predators," said Chief of Police Andrew Lellig. "We will continue to use every available resource to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to harm our most vulnerable." The Eldridge Police Department reminds parents and guardians to speak regularly with children about online safety and to monitor internet usage. Anyone with information about suspected child exploitation is urged to contact their local law enforcement agency or submit a tip through QC Crime Stoppers at qccrimestoppers.com or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline at cybertipline. org. The department also extends a special thanks to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Cyber Crimes Unit for their assistance and collaboration in this investigation.
	County administrators assess tax reform bill Property tax reforms delivered by state legislators will cap county revenues and force supervisors to rethink how they pay for services, according to Scott County administrators. On May 7, budget director David Farmer gave supervisors a whirlwind overview of the 80-page tax reform bill passed by state legislators in the last hours of the 2026 session. The bill places a “hard cap” on the county’s general and rural service levies, which provide the bulk of property tax income. Revenue from neither levy can grow at more than 2% per year, excluding revenue from new construction. That cap will constrain expenditures that depend on service levies, Farmer reported, including county wages, secondary road maintenance and the rural library system. This year, county wage and library spending each grew by about 3.5%. A third core tax levy, called the general supplemental levy, remains uncapped, though states law restricts the services it is allowed to fund. Employee payroll taxes and retirement benefits, as well as litigation and risk management funds, can all draw on the supplemental levy. County voters can still approve certain secondary levies to support specific expenses, such as emergency medical services or a debt issuance. But state reforms have introduced new restrictions on how that revenue can be spent, and how much can be raised. Farmer argued that the reforms will reshape how the county accounts for certain services and plans for growth. If the county continues to build new homes and attract new businesses, new construction revenues could make up the tax revenue restricted by the 2% hard cap. That kind of growth is unstable and unreliable, Farmer said. “We don't know what we're going to get,” Farmer said. Now state legislators have removed the county’s ability to adjust tax levies to make up shortfalls. “You cannot guarantee that you're going to be back to where you're at,” he said. County administrator Mahesh Sharma said that “strategic planning and disciplined prioritization will be essential to sustaining service level and infrastructure in this constrained environment.” Vague and outdated language magnifies several of the reforms’ uncertainties, Farmer added. The reforms clearly prohibited the use of debt to pay employee benefits or salaries. But it can pay for “direct or indirect capital expenditures” and “capital leases”—terminology that will have to be clarified when budget writing season begins next fall, Farmer said. Among the questions the county will have to answer is whether high-value, long-term technology contracts count as capital expenses. “Subscription-based information technology arrangements”—SBITAs—resemble capital debts on county books. Can they be paid out of capital funds? Local option sales or ad valorem tax dollars can no longer pay for “general purposes or general operations,” Farmer said. He suggested that SBITAs might not fit that definition under the reform bill. The reforms are likely to prompt workarounds. The county has contributed between $1–2 million per year to the operating budget of Medic EMS since it took control of the ambulance service in 2024. Now it may ask voters for an emergency services levy, in order to free up that small portion of its operating budget. The resulting levy could be no more than a dime per $1,000 in taxable property value. Medic EMS generates the bulk of its revenue by billing clients. “There is an action that we can take to get this levy, if we so choose, and the public agrees,” Farmer said. Tax reforms also include some direct “tax relief” for homeowners. All homes are covered by a new exemption not less than $5,000 but not to exceed $20,000, at 10% of the home’s value within that range. “It lowers the tax base,” Farmer said. Assuming valuations grow at a rate above 2% the difference revenues will make up the difference. “The reform is primarily intended to limit the growth of property taxes, rather than outright reduce them,” Sharma said, “while also providing some taxpayer relief through exemptions and credits.” The reform bill presents several upsides for the county, Farmer said. It eliminates the requirement that the county mail a confusing property tax to all county landowners—an outright savings of $40,000 per year in shipping costs, he said. The bill also reintroduces a “multiresidential” classification for property with three or more residential units. Multiresidential property will be taxed at a premium over standard residential property, Farmer said.
	Auditor candidate stops in Eldridge Republican candidate for state auditor Abigail Maas stopped in Eldridge last week as the June 2 primary nears. Maas is running against lieutenant governor and former Scott County state senator Chris Cournoyer in the partisan primary. As an Iowa County Supervisor, Maas said she has “a bird's eye view on all the fraud, waste and abuse that's going on in the property tax system.” Her campaign platform calls for yearly audits of all small towns and townships. Under Iowa law, towns with a population below 2,000 and expenditures below $1 million are only required to perform an audit every eight years. Townships are never required to perform an audit. “It just frustrates me every time that I open my phone and see another case of city embezzlement from a small town, which we could easily correct by changing them to a yearly audit instead of every eight years,” Maas said. Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane helped organize Maas’s visit to Eldridge. He said he had made the first donation to Maas’s campaign last year, after hearing that she planned to challenge Cournoyer. Lane told The North Scott Press that he believed Maas would bring new ideas and strong Republican values to the auditor’s office. Lane filed an ethics complaint against Cournoyer over her role in handling a complaint from Scott County Deputy Sheriff Josh Wall concerning Jennifer McAndrew Lane, Tim Lane’s wife and a Department of Corrections employee. Supervisor Ross Paustian and former supervisor Diane Holst joined Lane and Maas at the gathering.
	CIPCO investment wing has bought county farmland, records show An investment firm owned and operated by Central Iowa Power Cooperative has purchased nearly 230 acres of Scott County farmland in the last six months. CMA Ventures bought 77 acres in Cleona Township in late December, and 150 acres in Sheridan Township in November, county records show. Both sites are several miles distant from 90 acres of farmland CIPCO has optioned for a controversial power plant east of Maysville. Both properties are zoned for agricultural preservation. CIPCO Vice President of Communications Kerry Koonce said that CMA Ventures purchased both plots “as an investment.” “CMA is an investment firm,” Koonce said. “The land is under lease for farming.” The Cleona Township property, which includes a homestead, was purchased for $15,135 per acre. The land has a corn suitability rating of about 82, just short of “high” quality for east central Iowa. The Sheridan Township property was purchased for $21,500 per acre. The land has a high CSR of about 95. In 2025, the average cost of farmland in Scott County was $15,192 per acre, according to Iowa State University. Several county residents opposed to CIPCO’s proposed power plant have expressed concern over the land purchases. Jerry Mohr of rural Eldridge, who has helped organize opposition to CIPCO’s proposed power plant, said he thought the property could be planned for a tax deferral exchange with Tom Dittmer, whose land CIPCO has optioned east of Maysville. Reached for comment, Dittmer said there was no planned land exchange and that he had not heard from CIPCO representatives in several months. Mohr also suggested the property could host a data center or serve as a secondary site for a power plant. Koonce denied that the property served any purpose besides investment. “If someone is trying to infer that these are sites we are looking to build the plant on, that is incorrect,” she said. “CMAV could decide to hold the land indefinitely, or if market conditions dictated, a sale could happen at any point in the future,” she wrote in a follow-up email.
	2 Quad Cities area spellers headed to 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee Two spellers from the Quad Cities area are headed to the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
	Defense challenges witness list in Jamison Fisher trial Attorneys for Jamison Fisher argue prosecutors’ motion is premature and includes hearsay.
	Hall of Excellence inductees speak North Scott Hall of Excellence inductees Kathy Henningsen and Dustin Henningsen spoke at the annual Honors Assembly Wednesday, May 13, in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. Sara Boeding was unable to attend, and her nephew, Brennon Boeding, accepted her plaque on her behalf.
	States sue over new student loan limits on certain nursing and healthcare degrees New York, Arizona, North Carolina, Kentucky and Nevada are among the states challenging a rule that limits federal student loans for graduate degrees in nursing, physical therapy and more.
	Can't keep a habit? This comic shares a proven formula to make it stick In this illustrated guide, behavioral scientist BJ Fogg breaks down his Tiny Habits framework to help you rethink your approach to starting (or restarting) a habit.
	Illinois Housing Development Authority awards funding to QC housing developments The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has announced $50 million in state and federal funding to support six new permanent supportive housing developments across the state. These investments will create 142 units of affordable housing paired with on-site services for individuals and families living with disabilities, experiencing homelessness, or at risk of housing instability. In [...]
	Honors Assembly rewards outstanding students On Wednesday, May 13, North Scott students were honored for academic excellence at the 45th annual Honors Assembly, held in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. These students were named to the Honor Roll based on their GPA for the last two completed semesters using a 12-point scale and must be 3.5 or greater to qualify. Second Honors is 3.5-3.749; First Honors is 3.75-3.99; and Academic Excellence is 4.0. Both semesters must qualify for the appropriate level, and it is not based on cumulative GPA. Academic Excellence Sophomores: Reese Barnett, Alec Chizek, Grace Clark, Mercedes Cortes, Obadiah Hagedorn, Dillon Hager, Logan Harris, Delaney Hill, Reese Hubner, Anna Jones, Kenna Kibler, Abigail Leonard, Alaina Leone, Jonathan Leone, Owen Meskimen, Sophia Nelson, Natalie O’Flahrity, Gabriel Overberg Goodrick, Kallen Rohlf, Brinley Schroeder, Jesse Skaala, Ezekiel Skyles, Chloe Sosnowski, Riley Toohey, Olivia Uhlenkamp, Brayden Vatnsdal, Dana Webb, Addyson Yanke Juniors: Jorge Azuela, Riley DeBourcey, Issac Farley, Treyton Feist, Olivia Graham, Parker Hamly, Marley Harrington, Madilynn Brus, Katelyn Kuesel, Ryder Maher, William Meeks, Aaron Raleigh, Emma Reif, Natalie Sierk, Luke Welsh, Tyler West Seniors: Ava Atzen, Marlayna Cockshoot, Mallory Deutmeyer, Rachel Eriksen, Johnny Grimm, Addison Harms, Kaitlyn Knepper, Haidyn Koberg, Nathaniel Kramer, Vivian McGee, Zachary McMann, Cael Mess, Ella Peters, Marin Robertson, Ryan Squires, Aubrey Toohey, Ava Vis, Audree Yanke, Emma Zrostlik First Honors Sophomores: Logan Bair, Isabella Block, Brendin Bohannan, Hayley Burkle, Mason Burnett, Alexander Castaneda, Natalie Chase, Grady Cleveland, Peyton Cline, Andrew Copeland, Hadley DeCook, Teagan DeSmet, Olivia Durkin, Madeline Fogel, Ciere Goemaat, Ashton Goodwin, Emma Hamann, Owen Harms, Porter Holle, Presley Holle, Katy Honeywell, Leila Hoogerwerf, Carmyn Jones, Tucker Keating, Emma Kruse, Alexis McCloy, Isabella Meier, Shannon Moeller, Taylor Murphy, Chelsea Nwatchock, Nora Piazza, Brylee Rathe, Chloe Rickertsen, Bella Riley, Jillian Rupp, Teagan Schmidt, Savannah Schwien, Kaden Seil, Alexander Simmons, Mason Smeltzer, Julia Solis, Ryleigh Sparkman, William Steward, Kora Thiessen, Connor Thompson, Colton Tutor, Caleb VanderTuig, Max Vannorsdel, Izabella Vaughn, Madison Warner, Peyton Waters, Jenna Weime, Ethan Wheeler, Natalie Yanke, Zach Zrostlik Juniors: Jaxon Adkisson, Aaron Bergfeld, Joshua Black, Kale Blodig, Khyaija Caldwell-Beasley, Robyn Carbonneau, Benjamin Clayton, Taylor Cramblit, Emery Cronkleton, Maxwell Davis, Nora Davis, Sage Dzeladini, Kolten Engler, Lillian Farro, Addison Frere, Khloe Hamilton, Benjamin Hill, Abigail Holst, William Hyde, Madelyn Jepsen, Pacey Kane, Carly Kemp. Madelynne Kindig, Annika Krambeck, Brooklyn Lacher, Mason Lattner, Carter Laughlin, Madison Leigh, Tyler McMillian, Katherine Moeller, Molly Mose, Katelyn Peck, Addalie Reese, Hailey Riniker, Grey Ryder, Jack Schermerhorn, Teagan Shanahan, Bryce Stewart, Kailyn Stillings, Isabella Suarez, Brody Twigg, Gabriel Ulloa, Anthony Vatnsdal, Parker Ward, Elizabeth Wiedeman, Eisley Weinert, Emma Windt Seniors: Addison Allen, Nathan Anderson, Charlotte Bauer, Noah Bell, Chase Blissett, McKenna DeCap, Lindy Dhuse, Addison Eckhardt, Broklynn Flenker, Cole Green, Lauren Griffin, Andrew Gustas, Parker Herrington, Riley Inch, Riley Johnson, Memphis Kearney, Benjamin Lightle, Charlotte Madden, Isabella Mohr, Hannah Nelson, Jane Nichols, Alana Owen, Landon Praught, Dylan Quinn, Behren Radech, Zoe Schwien, Brayden Serrano, Gabriel Skyles, Russell Squires, Emily Stutting, Carter Unwin, Morgan Vannorsdel, Robert Wheeler, Evan Wilson Second Honors Sophomores: Aubrey Bell, Kaitlyn Bibens, Makynli Bolles, Jackson Bosworth, Adalyn Brink, Alexander Claeys, Kellen DeCastecker, William DePaoli, Chonin Ebizo, Brinley Fitzgibbon, Madeline Fogel, Scott Hartin, Mia Housenga, Gracie Keener, Christian Keppy, Evan Kuhn, Landon Leppert, Marshall Mess, Emilee Odegaard, Conlan Panther, Joseph Powers, Andrew Quick, Addyson Quinn, Emmalia Ranson, Drake Reitz, Lydia Schnorrenberg, Hannah Seagren, Alexander Staggs, Andrew Vollbeer, Draven Wingler Juniors: Jordan Ball, Nora Barnett, Sean Blake, Megan Coffman, Katelynn Collins, Charli Conner, Syndey Darnielle, Madalyn Eller, Colin Engelbrecht, Olivia Feddersen, Griffin Grank, Chloe Gaul, Lorelei Gephart, Miller Haedt, Jackson Havercamp, Chloe Hulen, Sydney Jensen, Hayden Keppy, Andrew Klindt, Madelyn LaPlante, Kristen Lage, Collin Lewis, Jacob Link, Zach McCleary, Wyatt Mussmann, Logan Pacheco, Carson Pike, Kolten Price, Macyn Robertson, Victoria Samara, Hannah Schachow, Nevaeh Schimpf, Thomas Shlichting, Keaton Schneckloth, Sophia Schneckloth, Cooper Schoenthaler, Skylar Shalack, Hayden Shaw, Keaton Smeltzer, Logan Stick-Mueller, Ethan Strobbe, Dylan Ulloa, Saeler VenHorst, Emily Vollbeer, Kain Wulf Seniors: Amira Blackwell, Madilyn Brus, Payzleigh Crawford, John Fulkerson, Bennett Hamerlinck. Chloe Hundertmark, Reese Jackson, Grady James, Jordan Jones, Hailey Kaiser, Mya Kelsey, Owen Klinkenberg, Koen Krambeck, Jackson McCarthy, Kailynn McCracken, Addyson Miguel, Luke Newberry, MacKenzie Norn, Madison Norin, Nathan Osborne, Elizabeth Parrott, Ryann Petersen, Riley Plymale, Emily Raes, Brett Rouse, Claire Schnorrenberg, Kaden Timmerman, Lauren West, Cayla Youngquist
	Partisanship in local politics? Curiosity is one of my job requirements, so on occasion I try to puzzle out whether the mayors and council members I cover count themselves loyal to one political party or another. This rarely leads anywhere. Local politics is so inglorious, its conflicts so stale and petty, that it leaves very little room for the ideological grandstanding party politics requires. Guessing at partisan loyalties is a kind of parlor game apt to depend more on stereotypes than serious observation. That is my experience, anyway. I find it reassuring. Perhaps more keen-eyed partisans can spot their enemies, or the neighbors they imagine to be their enemies. Good for them. The county supervisors are among the few local officials elected as Republicans and Democrats. The overwhelming majority of their votes are unanimous, and Republican Ross Paustian is at least as likely to break with his colleagues as Democrat Maria Bribriesco is. Each of the supervisors rides their own hobby horse, more personal than partisan. Jean Dickson is often interested in questions of legality. Paustian brings a rural perspective, Ken Beck brings an urban one. John Maxwell likes to speak in agricultural vernacular. I wrestled last week with a line in my story about the supervisors. “It was an unusually partisan week at the board,” I wrote. I meant that in the strict literal sense: Republican supervisors had voted against Bribriesco in two separate decisions, and that was unusual. I was not editorializing, just pointing out a fact. Readers seemed to understand this: I got none of the angry phone calls I was expecting. Still, the line has weighed on me. Was it worth pointing out? Was the board overruling Bribriesco as a Democrat or as a peer? Was there anything particularly Republican in their position? If the line earned its spot, it was only insofar as it begged those questions. We hear a lot about political polarization these days—so much that you might think it has seeped into every crevice of civic life. It is refreshing to find ideas rejected because they are simply bad, budgets trimmed because there is only so much money, old feuds the primary axis of conflict. Who needs partisanship when your dislike of someone is entirely personal? Though the supervisors, I should note, are the chummiest board around. When I explain the sort of stories that I write, people often marvel at the obvious pettiness of small-town affairs. Small-town nonsense, they call it. But would we really prefer the alternative? Would we be better off if city council members behaved with the self-seriousness of senators? If every issue was a matter of ideology? Do we want to hear a Republican position on liquor license renewals, a Democratic position on water main repairs? Occasionally a government will act with real civic spirit, avoiding both partisan and parochial smallness. Walcott City Council recently agreed to build an accessible parking space near Water Tower Park. The council decided that about 75¢ from each resident—writing in rough terms—was a reasonable price to pay to ensure anyone could visit the city park. Decisions like this take no deliberation, require no partisan framework or tedious explanation. They are just obviously right. Can we bring such spontaneous decency upwards, into state and national politics? I am not sure. I suspect that for better or worse human beings respond best to what is right in front of them. Sophisticated abstraction is a practical challenge, and we try to avoid it when we can. Next week, we will run our first candidate guide of this election season. We have sent questions to all five candidates, even though only the four Republicans have a competitive primary. We would like to give you an early look at everyone. In our world, partisanship counts for little.
	1986: Scott County Extension faces major budget cuts May 19, 1976 • During a marathon meeting that didn’t adjourn until after 1:30 a.m., the North Scott School Board voted to purchase an option on five acres of land for a new administrative center. The property was located south of the Eldridge city shop and east of the high school and was currently farm ground. In addition to an administrative building, the site would also house the bus garage, maintenance building and a storage building, said superintendent Melvin Heiler. • Kevin Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller of Dixon, received his Iowa Farmer Degree during the 48th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference in Waterloo. This was the highest degree awarded by the Iowa FFA and was given to Miller for his achievements in livestock and crop farming and his leadership skills. • Two longtime Princeton teachers were set to be honored with a retirement party at Virgil Grissom Elementary School. Bessie Sierk and Laura Holst were lifelong Princeton residents, and both began their teaching careers in the rural one-room schools. Once they were hired in the North Scott School District, Mrs. Sierk taught kindergarten, and Mrs. Holst taught third grade. • The North Scott Class of 1976 was gearing up for graduation, with 185 students set to receive their diplomas during a ceremony in the high school gym. Pam Seligman and Brian Cox were named class speakers. While commencement was open to the public, principal Ed Fischer said that could change in the future. “In later years, it may have to be restricted. This year, each senior has received four tickets, which reserve a floor seat for friends and relatives. All others must squeeze in.” • The North Scott boys’ track team claimed the team title at the Big Bend Conference meet. Conference champions included Keith Jansen in the discus, Roger Friederichs in the half-mile, Brian Carter in the high jump and Greg Strobbe in the mile run. May 21, 1986 • As a result of federal budget cuts, the Scott County Extension service was forced to eliminate one full-time position and cut hours for four others. Joe Hutter, chair of the Extension Council, said they were also looking at a possible relocation at a lower rent. The county Extension offices were currently located in the Bettendorf Bank building near Duck Creek Plaza. • The Princeton Fire Department welcomed its newest addition to the fleet, a 1986 Mac firetruck. Two vehicles would be taken out of rotation. A 1940 Chevrolet would be kept, and the department planned to use it for parades and other festivities. The other, a 1952 Ford, was set to be auctioned off. • John T. Blong of Eldridge was named the new chancellor for the Eastern Iowa Community College district. Blong had served as president of Scott Community College since 1982 after being appointed vice-chancellor for administration in 1978. Prior to that, he was vice-president of development at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. • Three John Glenn teachers with nearly a century of combined experience were retiring at the end of the school year. Margaret Wuestenberg, Dale Arentson and Mary Stokes would be honored at a reception. Meanwhile, Virgil Grissom librarian Louise Grabin was also counting down to retirement. Her 35-year career included 23 years at Grissom. All said they would miss their time with the district. “It’s a district the whole community can be proud of,” said Stokes. • For the first time in program history, the North Scott boys’ golf team advanced to the district meet. The Lancers tied for third with Dubuque Wahlert during the sectional meet at Clinton Country Club, with both teams carding a 317. While Wahlert initially won the right to advance to the district tournament in a playoff, the Golden Eagles were disqualified when their coach went onto the green and gave a player advice. At the sectional, Joe Meyer led the Lancers with a 77. May 23, 2001 • The Eldridge City Council tabled a vote on whether to allow voters a referendum on the subject of an outdoor swimming pool facility. Council member Rick Sharp said a presentation from Burbach Aquatics, as well as several pro-pool Eldridge residents should have been held during a committee of the whole rather than a regular meeting to allow the council more time to consider the referendum. Council member John Strazewski said, while he might have been able to consider supporting an indoor pool for wellness reasons, he could not support an outdoor facility for recreational purposes. Strazewski said there were many other local outdoor facilities, including DeWitt, Wacky Waters in Davenport, and the Scott County Park Pool. • Miss Iowa 2000, Theresa Uchytil, visited Alan Shepard Elementary School. After performing her baton twirling routine for the student body, she also visited several classrooms to discuss her platform of not allowing disabilities to hinder dreams and treating everyone with kindness and respect. Uchytil, who was born without a left hand, was the first contestant with visible disability to compete for Miss America. She was pictured with students Emily Saladino, Chloe Gumpert, Courtney Holmes and Alexis Buchman. • For the first time in program history, the North Scott boys’ soccer team secured a district tournament victory, as the Lancers came from behind to defeat Dubuque Senior. Reese Saunders, Giles Looney and Jason Less all scored in the game. • Tom Power (shot put), Mitch Jansen (discus) and the 4x200 squad of Joe Miletich, J.W. Staver, Luke Shaw and Casey Dean qualified for the boys’ state track meet. “All of our state qualifiers, and the ones that just missed, are underclassmen,” said coach Joe Greenwood. “The future certainly looks bright if everybody stays put.” • Jason Less, Giles Looney, Amanda Sebastian and Ryan Weber were named commencement speakers for the North Scott Class of 2001. May 25, 2011 • The North Scott School Board voted 6-1 to continue the district’s 25-year-old day care and preschool program, for at least one more year. Board vice president Joe Slater voted against the proposal, although other board members had their own concerns, mostly regarding a lack of available space at all of the district’s existing facilities. Board member Mark Kruse pointed out, “If the decision is made to be out of the day care, the childcare in North Scott, then we’re out of it. I don’t think we’ll ever get back into it.” • The Walcott Cemetery Co. and several German clubs in the Quad Cities, including the American/Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society, planned to hold a ceremony during the annual Founders Day event. The town dated to 1853, when land agents bought land in Scott County for a proposed railroad station. On April 8, 1854, William Walcott registered the land that established the first railroad station west of the Mississippi River. Walcott later donated $500 to construct a school in the area, with the stipulation that the new town would be named after him. The Founders Day celebration at the Walcott cemetery was meant to pay tribute to some of the earliest settlers who are now buried in the cemetery. • Together with parents and other special guests, students at Walcott School celebrated the annual “Breakfast with Books.” Reading specialist Carol Thorud created the event 11 years earlier to celebrate reading as a family. In addition to a light breakfast, there was a book swap and music provided by students. • Two more North Scott football players signed letters of intent to continue their athletic careers in college. Ben Nagle committed to the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Jake Arthur followed in family footsteps and signed with Missouri State University. His parents, Bill and Lynn, and his sister, Paige, all attended the school on athletic scholarships. • Austin Belk placed fourth in the high jump, and Samantha Butlett finished seventh in the shot put at the state track meet in Des Moines. The Lancers earned 20th place finishes from Louis DeFrieze in the 200, Shayla Carlin in the discus and Jasmine Butler in the 100, and a 16th place finish from Abby Saladino in the 400 hurdles. May 19, 2021 • The Scott County Board of Supervisors agreed to appoint the lone candidate they interviewed for county auditor. Board chair Ken Beck said the name of the candidate would be revealed at an upcoming meeting. Meanwhile, Scott County Democratic party chair Elesha Gayman said the party planned to campaign door-to-door in an attempt to gather 9,500 signatures to force a special election. Supervisor Tony Knobbe said there was a long history of midterm appointments. Supervisor John Maxwell also indicated he thought an appointment would be appropriate. • Two high school groups qualified for the National History Day competition. Madison McNealey and McKenzie Bohr teamed up for a website project on Lewis Hine and child labor exploitation. Calla Brunkan and Peyton Wenck created an exhibit on Dr. Seuss and his cartoons for adults. At the state level, seventh graders Emily Stutting and Charlotte Madden presented a performance on the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing in Birmingham, Ala., in 1963. • Alan Shepard students took part in the school’s annual Fun Run. Although they were not able to make the trip to Lancer Stadium as in years’ past, they still got their laps in on the grounds of the elementary school campus. • The North Scott track teams qualified 16 individuals and 11 relay teams, a program best. “Whew, man! What a night!” said coach Troy Matthaidess. “With the exception of one event, I think we got just about every possible qualifier that we could have.” Coach Joe Greenwood agreed. “We’ve never had this many qualifiers in this many events. We were really happy with the results. We had a really, really good night.” • The North Scott girls’ soccer team was currently ranked No. 7 and was getting ready for substate. Following a 2-0 loss to Davenport Assumption (1A No. 1), they defeated Clear-Creek Amana (2A No. 5). Then, at the Waverly-Shell Rock Invitational, they beat Denver (1A No. 10) 5-0 and the Clippers again, this time 4-0. The third match of the day, against No. 15 2A Adel-DeSoto-Minburn, was cancelled due to weather.
	'Democracy thrives when everyone votes' Election time and Democrats are proud of their candidates up and down the ballot. We have two running for U.S. Senate, so you will have to do some homework. But a functional Congress is top of list to endorse the Constitution, which gives Congress, not the Supreme Court and not the President the power to pass laws and the power of the purse. Corruption is rampant in this administration, and the Republican U.S. senators and representatives are part of the corruption because they have rubber-stamped every step of the way. Space allows only highlights of a few un-American activities: ICE agents, brown skinned people, no day in court, inhumane camps; tariff sales taxes; hollowed out Justice Department and FBI; weakening NATO, favoring Putin; Epstein flies, pedophiles, victims; pardoning insurrectionists; Trump’s war, firing admirals, generals; Trump’s penchant for filing lawsuits; cuts in healthcare; tax cuts for wealthy; growing deficit; etc., etc. While Americans are drowning in sky high health insurance, everything else in every family budget is going up too. But the president is possessed with his marble bath, golden ballroom, coloring the reflecting pool, the silly arch, and his wealth that has grown in this term by billions with a B. We might call this the “let them eat cake” administration. Democracy thrives when everyone votes. Please vote! Mary Tomsche Long Grove
	Another sham from Des Moines Among other ill-advised decisions made by the sleep-deprived state legislature was a ban on the telehealth prescription of mifepristone. This proven-safe drug is often, but not exclusively, used to medically induce abortion. Republican lawmakers argue this ban will eliminate “black market” abortion pills. Good idea…except black market abortion pills are illegal already. GOP extremists also insist that mail-order mifepristone comes without doctor supervision. Wrong again. Only Iowa-licensed physicians can prescribe this medication to Iowa residents. Finally, far right republicans assert that only in-person visits can reveal signs of coercion or abuse. Maybe. But perhaps a private, home-based telehealth option encourages even more such reports. But this is not the point. The purpose of this bill is not to protect women’s health. It is to control them and limit their choices. These legislators must know Iowa has the fewest OB-GYN providers per capita in the nation. If you do find an in-state doctor, they cannot assist an abortion under current law. So, requiring an in-person appointment also requires travel, expense and family/work disruption that may not be possible, particularly for low-income women. It’s a sham and it’s shameful to impose one’s own personal beliefs on others What’s truly ironic is that the very same legislators who are so deeply concerned about women’s well-being also voted to make ivermectin available without any prescription whatsoever. This highly toxic drug is often used to kill parasites in humans and animals. When not administered properly ivermectin can actually cause your skin to peel off. Yikes. Ken Croken Iowa Representative, District 97 Davenport
	The YMCA is a place to work out, not to preen Cellphones and self-preoccupation have made gym etiquette a lost art at the Eldridge YMCA. You are there to work out, so work out. Recent exercise research recommends resting one to two minutes between sets for smaller muscle groups like bicep curls, lateral raises, or tricep pushdowns, since they recover faster. For bigger movements like squats, deadlifts, and bench presses, take three to five minutes to rest so that your body can fully recover. Camping out on a machine is selfish. Two people can share that machine. Allowing others to use a machine during rest periods is essential in a small gym. It’s a simple process: remove the pin from one position and place it in another. When you finish a set, put the pin back where you found it and wipe down the bench for the other person. When you’re at the dumbbell rack, grab the weights you need and step back so others can reach the rack too. Move around the gym like you are a defensive driver. Respect others’ space when working out. Set dumbbells down gently next to your bench instead of dropping them. If you need a drink of water or a toilet break, place a towel on your bench to show it’s in use, and try to return as quickly as possible. Some people use mirrors to check their form. Be thoughtful and avoid blocking their view. Take some time to learn proper exercise form, whether from an exercise book or YouTube. Bad form might not hurt you right away, but it can cause problems over time. I’ve dealt with a torn rotator cuff for 30 years because I didn’t know better. It was a decade before the inoperable damage presented itself. If you need help with a lift, ask someone to spot you. James Turley Eldridge
	Honored to serve the community The North Scott chapter of National Honor Society bid farewell to its seniors on Wednesday, May 13, in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. Members were also presented with Service Awards. These awards were presented to members with 50+ documented service hours over the last year. Service Awards were presented to: Mallory Deutmeyer, Lindy Dhuse, Addison Eckhardt, Brooklynn Flenker, Addison Harms, Madilynn Hillmann, Kelsie Hilsenbeck, Haidyn Koberg, Charlotte Madden, Vivian McGee, Katherine Moeller, Lydia Petefish, Ryann Petersen, Aaron Raleigh, Morgan Vannorsdel, Eisley Weinert and Emma Zrostlik. Graduating seniors included: Amira Blackwell, McKenna DeCap, Mallory Deutmeyer, Lindy Dhuse, Addison Eckhardt, Brooklynn Flenker, Addison Harms, Jordan Jones, Haidyn Koberg, Nathaniel Kramer, Charlotte Madden, Jackson McCarthy, Vivian McGee, Cael Mess, Alana Owen, Ella Peters, Ryann Petersen, Behren Radech, Marin Robertson, Claire Schnorrenberg, Gabriel Skyles, Russell Squires, Aubrey Toohey, Morgan Vannorsdel and Emma Zrostlik. Junior members include: Jorge Azuela, Nora Davis, Lillian Farro, Treyton Feist, Parker Hamly, Marley Harrington, Madilynn Hillmann, Kelsie Hilsenbeck, Madelyn Jepsen, Grady Kirst, Katelyn Kuesel, Katherine Moeller, Katelyn Peck, Lydia Petefish, Emmersen Plett, Aaron Raleigh, Emma Reif, Bryce Stewart, Isabella Suarez and Eisley Weinert.

Wednesday, May 20th, 2026

Tuesday, May 19th, 2026