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

IAEA chief says inspectors will visit Iran's nuclear sites under Iran-US interim deal

The head of the U.N.'s nuclear agency has signaled that Iranian nuclear enrichment sites would be visited by his inspectors, a day after U.S. and Iran offered contradictory remarks about the issue.

Prairie Fires

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Remember the Phoenix, that Arabian bird that lived for five hundred years, then consumed itself on a funeral pyre, and…

In the Ebola epicenter, a gold-mining town reacts with fear, disbelief and grit

NPR reports from Mongbwalu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The fight to contain the virus faces obstacles from lack of supplies to residents who doubt that the virus is real.

Why are crisis pregnancy centers saying they can 'rule out' ectopic pregnancy?

Under President Trump, more federal attention and support has gone towards anti-abortion Christian centers. A watchdog group says many of them mislead patients with promises to "rule out" ectopic pregnancies.

4 ways to design a dreamy summer, according to a happiness expert

Don't let the season fly by. Gretchen Rubin, host of the Happier podcast, shares exercises to help you get what you want out of summer. Fill out the printable worksheet and stick it on your fridge.

5 years after the Surfside condo collapse, the toll of the tragedy remains

Surfside, Florida, is marking five years since a beachfront condominium collapsed, killing 98 people. It was one of the largest structural failures in U.S. history.

Experts weigh in on Screwworm dangers for Iowa livestock

With Screwworm cases rising in the south, concerns have arisen on Capitol Hill as international trading partners question the import of American beef.

Appeals court allows Trump administration expanded use of speedy deportations

A federal appeals court on Tuesday allowed the Trump administration to resume carrying out speedy deportations of undocumented migrants throughout the United States, not just near the border.

Archaeologists find huge Viking textile production site in Denmark

Archaeologists have discovered a huge Viking Age textile production site in Denmark that dates back more than 1,000 years and underlines the sophistication of Viking society.

Illinois Keaton Walger, Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz, Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson taken in first round of NBA Draft

Three college basketball players with regional ties were selected in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, including players from Illinois, Iowa and Iowa State. Keaton Wagler, Bennett Stirtz and Joshua Jefferson heard their names called in the first round.

Iowa, your Caitlin Clark vote counts in WNBA All-Star race

DES MOINES, Iowa — This is one assist Iowa fans can make from the couch. Caitlin Clark is in the running for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, and the fans have a real say in whether the local superstar gets the starting spot. Clark, the former Dowling Catholic and Iowa Hawkeyes star, is already among [...]

Davenport Parks and Rec holding summer camp

The camp will meet four days a week at the Roosevelt Community Centers.

Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department negotiating with City over department future

Fire officials say a growing population has strained the department's resources, and if the City will not increase funding, they should take it over entirely.

Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre to hold summer puppet day camp

Campers age seven to 12 will build their own puppets in several styles and learn to work with them.

DNA Doe Projects describes how it identified 'Jane Clinton Doe,' 15-year-old Cheryl Lynn Edwards

More than 50 years after a Jane Doe was found in Clinton County, the DNA Doe Project used forensic genetic genealogy to identify her as Cheryl Lynn Edwards.

Sides clash in court over legality of abortion-pill advertising in South Dakota

The Andrew Bogue Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Rapid City, South Dakota, where a judge conducted a hearing Tuesday in a lawsuit against a new state anti-abortion law. (Photo by Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)RAPID CITY — A nonprofit organization argued Tuesday that the information it provides about abortion pills is protected as free speech even in a state that bans abortion, while the state of South Dakota equated the nonprofit’s messaging with soliciting and facilitating illegal activity. The opposing sides presented their arguments during a court hearing on the eve of the four-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned nationwide abortion rights. The hearing was about New York-based Mayday Health’s request for an order blocking a new South Dakota law from taking effect. The judge will issue a ruling later. New anti-abortion laws clarify definition, criminalize pills, require prenatal videos in schools The new law prohibits the dispensing, distribution and advertising of abortion pills and other abortion-related items, and makes violations punishable by felony prosecutions and fines. Another South Dakota law that took effect four years ago bans abortion in all cases except when necessary to save the mother’s life. South Dakota’s Republican governor signed the new law in March after the Republican-controlled Legislature passed it. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1. Jim Leach, the Rapid City-based lawyer representing Mayday, said the law unconstitutionally targets free speech about abortion that state officials don’t like. “The state absolutely hates our speech,” he said in his opening statement. A team of state lawyers at the hearing included Attorney General Marty Jackley, who is also the Republican nominee to run for U.S. House in the Nov. 3 general election. Jackley said the type of speech Mayday practices on its website is not protected by the U.S. constitution. “What the First Amendment doesn’t do is protect an illegal drug transaction in South Dakota,” he said. Plaintiff’s case The clash between Mayday Health and the state predates Mayday’s lawsuit. It began in December when Mayday posted advertising placards on gas-station pumps in South Dakota. The placards included the address of Mayday’s website, which provides information about abortion pills and links to providers who send abortion pills in the mail. Jackley sent Mayday a cease-and-desist letter, accusing Mayday of falsely advertising abortion as legal in South Dakota and making misleading statements about the safety of abortion pills. Dueling lawsuits arose and were settled in early March when Mayday agreed to remove the placards. State board approves options for prenatal videos in schools, including one from anti-abortion group By that time, the Legislature was on its way to approving the new law. Mayday and a South Dakota woman, Nancy Turbak Berry, filed their lawsuit against that law last month in federal court. Turbak Berry is a lawyer, a Democratic former legislator and an abortion-rights proponent from Watertown. The lawsuit’s argument about free speech is partially built upon her purchase of a sweatshirt from Mayday’s website. Text printed on the sweatshirt says, “They don’t want you to know this: You can still get abortion pills in all 50 states” and “learn more at mayday.health.” Turbak Berry alleges the state could use the new law to label the shirt as abortion-pill advertising and prosecute her for wearing it. She alleged that would violate her free-speech rights. As Leach’s first witness Tuesday, Turbak Berry explained why she got involved in the lawsuit. “I was disgusted that the state was trying to keep information from South Dakota women about the fact that abortion pills are available,” Turbak Berry said. Leach’s next witness was Leo Raisner, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works as executive director of Mayday Health. He testified that he co-founded Mayday Health in 2022 after seeing survey data indicating that many people in the United States are unaware that abortion pills are available. Raisner testified that Mayday provides information for people to use for themselves, and does not promote abortion or encourage anyone to have an abortion. “What I really, really want women to have is reliable, trustworthy information about abortion pills,” Raisner said on the witness stand. Mayday Health Executive Director Leo Raisner, left, and attorney for Mayday, Jim Leach, talk on June 23, 2026, outside the federal courthouse in Rapid City, South Dakota. (Photo by Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) State’s witnesses In the state’s questioning of Turbak Berry, Raisner and the state’s own witnesses, the state’s lawyers attempted to show that Mayday’s website goes beyond the mere dissemination of information. The state’s first witness was Kayla Klemann, an investigator for the Office of the Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Protection. She testified that the Mayday website provided her with links to abortion pill providers after she input her age as 14, that the site never asked her where she lived or whether abortion was legal in her state, and that after she input 23 weeks and four days as the duration of her pregnancy, the site told her that pills were not her best abortion option but allowed her to go back and change her response. Klemann testified that her interactions were with a chatbot on the Mayday website. Raisner testified that the chatbot was removed from the website on Sunday. That removal was a frequent point of contention during the hearing, with Leach contending the judge should only consider current conditions when deciding whether to issue a court order against the new law, and Jackley and the state arguing that the chatbot’s past existence remains relevant to the case. Klemann additionally testified that she found information from Mayday advising people to use mail-forwarding services to receive abortion pills — which Jackley described as part of a “scheme” to help people obtain illegal drugs. Raisner testified that the mail-forwarding information was removed from Mayday’s site several years ago. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley talks to reporters on June 23, 2026, outside the federal courthouse in Rapid City. (Photo by Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) The testimony concluded with dueling South Dakota OB-GYN doctors, both of whom are retired. Patti Giebink, who acknowledged she considers herself “pro-life,” testified for the state that prescribing abortion pills — mifepristone and misoprostol — online without an in-person consultation is potentially dangerous, especially for patients who are alone and have conditions that might make them susceptible to complications. The state’s attorneys attempted to show that Mayday misleads people about those potential safety risks. Marvin Buehner, who acknowledged that he has won awards for his “pro-choice” advocacy, testified for Mayday and Turbak Berry that complications from abortion pills occur in “astoundingly small numbers” and that abortion pills are safe and effective. In closing arguments, Leach said Mayday provides information vetted as accurate by experts and does not sell abortion pills. He said the state failed to prove that Mayday committed a crime, or engaged in commercial activity involving abortion pills, or provided misleading information. Jackley said Mayday chooses the content and links on its website, that it describes abortion pill providers as trusted partners, and that it instructs users how to obtain abortion pills that are illegal in South Dakota. Jackley characterized Mayday’s actions as conspiring, soliciting, and aiding and abetting the distribution of illegal drugs. Mayday and Turbak Berry are initially seeking a temporary injunction that would prevent the state from enforcing the new law while the lawsuit proceeds. Judge Camela Theeler gave the parties until June 30 to file additional briefs, and until July 3 for responses to the briefs. Although the new law takes effect July 1, Jackley told the judge he does not intend to initiate any enforcement actions against Mayday during the time between the hearing and the judge’s ruling. EDITOR’S NOTE: South Dakota Searchlight has engaged attorney Jim Leach, who represents the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, in a past unrelated legal matter. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of South Dakota Searchlight

All six weekly classes will compete at Davenport Speedway

When racing returns to the Davenport Speedway this Friday, weekly points racing will be center stage. All six weekly classes will be in action, on June 26, a news release says. Davenport Speedway has reached the midway point of the 2026 season. The battles for the track championships are beginning to take shape. While some [...]

Mamdani's political gamble pays off as his endorsed candidates sweep their primaries

All three progressive candidates backed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani — including two who took on Democratic incumbents — won their primaries in safe seats almost guaranteeing their election in November.

Cook review: 'Beast' packs solid punch in story about MMA fighters

"Beast" made a quiet entrance and an even more silent exit in theaters a few months back. Maybe this solid film will earn an audience on streaming platforms. I hope so - it deserves to be seen. Russell Crowe, who is among the ensemble in a small but pivotal role, also co-wrote the screenplay with [...]

Moline American Legion Post #246 swears in new leadership

Moline American Legion Post #246 swore in new leadership. The move is part of the legion's celebration of 250 years of America. To join the American Legion, click here. Those interested can also send a message via Moline American Legion Post #246's Facebook page or contact Jack Achs at 563-650-3641 or email here.

Bettendorf police remind community of fireworks ordinance ahead of 4th of July

Consumer fireworks can only be used July 3 and July 4.

Muscabus will take center stage at Muscatine City Council meeting

MuscaBus will take center stage during Tuesday’s Muscatine Council meeting as the council recognizes the 2026 MuscaBus Driver of the Year and the mayor will proclaim June 26 as MuscaBus Appreciation Day. The council will convene at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the City Council Chambers, on the second floor of Muscatine City Hall. Veteran driver [...]

Davenport Speedway extends fan vote for 2026 Hall of Fame inductees

The Davenport Speedway Hall of Fame Selection Committee has decided to extend the fan vote for the 2026 class of inductees to the Hall of Fame, a news release says. The fan vote was scheduled to end June 17 at the Iowa Governor’s Cup, which was rained out. The new deadline for the fan vote is [...]

‘Trump’s farmer’ wins nomination for SC agriculture commissioner

Cody Simpson with his 1-year-old golden retriever, Manning, outside his family's general store in the unincorporated Home Branch community in Clarendon County. (Photo courtesy of the Simpson campaign)COLUMBIA — The candidate who calls himself “President Trump’s farmer in South Carolina” easily won the GOP nomination to become the state’s next agriculture commissioner. As of 9:45 p.m., Cody Simpson was leading with a lopsided 63% of votes cast over Danny Ford II, the son of the legendary football coach of Clemson’s 1981 national championship. Ford, whose crops include hemp, touted his first-hand understanding of the plant. But he said it was a crisis at his family’s Upstate cattle farm last year that fueled his bid. Before he even entered the race, Simpson had the endorsement of both Gov. Henry McMaster and President Donald Trump. His campaign quickly broke fundraising records. Simpson specifically thanked the president and the governor for their support in a statement on social media following his win. “South Carolina just planted the seeds for a stronger future,” Simpson added. “We must — and together, we will — protect our farms, ensure our food security, strengthen our rural communities, and preserve our agricultural heritage. Our momentum is strong, and we’re just getting started.” The fifth-generation farmer joined McMaster’s office in 2018 as an agriculture adviser and left as chief executive assistant in spring 2025. That’s when the Trump administration appointed him as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency’s executive director for South Carolina — a long title he shortened to Trump’s farmer. Less than 1 percentage point separated Simpson and Ford in the four-way primary June 9. In an interview with the S.C. Daily Gazette, Ford thanked the people of South Carolina for giving him the opportunity. “To have never participated in politics before and in three months to do what I did speaks volumes,” the political newcomer said. “For me, it was not about the seat. It was about getting out for the farmers,” Ford added. “They’re really in trouble.” As for Simpson, Ford said he hopes he does a good job, “because our farmers need it.” Simpson’s win means November will feature two natives of Clarendon County. Simpson’s family farm is in the unincorporated Home Branch community, where he says he was working at the family general store by age 10. Democrat DeShawn Blanding, of Manning, is a former policy analyst for the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. Today he works with farm organizations and policymakers on issues tied to food access and rural economic development. They are competing to replace Commissioner Hugh Weathers, who’s retiring after 22 years leading the state Department of Agriculture. He was first appointed to head the agency of about 250 full-time employees in 2024. Farmers in the fast-growing Palmetto State are feeling more pressure from developers seeking to turn farmland into subdivisions. The state has lost nearly 290,000 acres of farmland since 2001, according to the state Farm Bureau. The agency’s duties include promoting the state’s $51 billion agriculture industry and various agribusiness sectors, keeping the food supply safe, inspecting gas pumps, and — since 2024 — handling all inspections of the state’s 24,000 food vendors, including restaurants and cafeterias. Courtesy of South Carolina Daily Gazette

LeClaire to hold splash pad ribbon cutting ceremony

Kids in LeClaire will have a new spot to cool off this summer.

Morris-based mega-dairy coming closer to reality with key regulatory ruling

Riverview Dairy is seeking to expand their Morris-based West River Dairy operation from 7,855 cows to almost 19,000 cows. (Drone photo by Rob Levine/Minnesota Reformer)A proposal to expand a Morris-based dairy operation from roughly 8,000 cows to nearly 19,000 moved closer to construction this week with a key regulatory ruling. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency decided this week that Riverview Dairy does not need to complete an environmental review known as an Environmental Impact Statement to move forward with the expansion.  The decision was met with outcry from farmers, environmentalists and some Morris locals who worry a dairy of this size could put smaller dairy farms out of business and potentially pollute the nearby Pomme de Terre watershed.  “Consolidation is reshaping our dairy sector, and the trend has implications for land access, local economies and the next generation of farmers,” said Minnesota Farmers Union’s Vice President Anne Schwagerl, in a press release. “Requiring an (Environmental Impact Statement)  is a measured, reasonable step. It ensures that when we make decisions, we do so with eyes wide open.” The MPCA, which is the regulatory agency for Minnesota dairies, received nearly 1,400 public comments on Riverview Dairy’s feedlot permit and Environmental Assessment Worksheet, a requirement for all feedlot permits that assesses a proposal’s potential for significant environmental impact. (Considered less rigorous than an a  Environmental Impact Statement.) The agency also held a public meeting in Morris in late April that was attended by an estimated 450 people. Big dairy outside Morris wants to grow bigger After reviewing public comments, the MPCA announced on June 22 that the proposal did not have adverse-enough environmental impacts to require an EIS. The agency said concerns about pollution in Morris and the Pomme de Terre watershed would be “mitigated through the water appropriation and feedlot permits the company is required to comply with,” according to an MPCA press release.  Conservation groups disagreed with MPCA’s decision. “An EIS is exactly the tool needed to answer the serious questions people have raised about water use, manure management, groundwater protection, public health, and the future of family-scale dairy farming in western Minnesota,” said Sean Carroll, policy director of the Land Stewardship Project — a vocal opponent of the expansion — in a press release.  SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The operation would be the largest dairy in Minnesota if constructed. The project would add a new barn and three new liquid manure storage areas to the existing facility in Morris. Brady Janzen, a partner of Riverview LLP, said the expansion represents a “long-term investment in the Morris area that will support local jobs, local businesses, and Minnesota’s agricultural economy.”  The company was issued its feedlot permit on June 23 and is waiting for a water appropriation permit and local zoning permits. The project is estimated to take 16 to 24 months to complete.  Courtesy of Minnesota Reformer

Moline to celebrate completion of Riverside Legacy project with ribbon cutting for new mini-pitch

The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on July 10.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley names new president and CEO

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley has announced a new president and CEO. According to a Facebook post from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley, Daniel Gleason has been named as the president and CEO of the organization. Daniel brings a wealth of experience in community leadership, nonprofit management, fundraising, partnership [...]

DNA Doe Project reveals how Cheryl Lynn Edwards was identified more than 50 years later

A team of 16 genealogists from three countries helped identify Cheryl Edwards. Here's how they traced her family history.

Muscatine police start patrols around evacuated buildings

Overall, 36 apartments and 18 businesses are still under evacuation orders.

Iowa blocked from restricting sugary foods and drinks under SNAP

A federal judge said Iowa cannot block SNAP recipients from buying sugary foods and drinks with their benefits.

Two new locations make pitch to become home of the Chicago Bears

Two new locations have been proposed for a new Bears stadium, one in Chicago's Southeast Side and one in McCook, with the latter offering the Bears the land for free, a $2 billion stadium with their own money, and a $1 per year lease to the village.

DNA Doe Projects discusses how it identified 'Jane Clinton Doe,' 15-year-old Cheryl Lynn Edwards

More than 50 years after a Jane Doe was found in Clinton County, the DNA Doe Project used forensic genetic genealogy to identify her as Cheryl Lynn Edwards.

Oregon AG Rayfield highlights new Medicaid fraud charges amid national fraud crackdown

Attorney General Dan Rayfield listens to a Salem City Club member after his speech at the Willamette Heritage Center in Salem on Sept. 12, 2025. (Photo by Laura Tesler/Oregon Capital Chronicle)SALEM — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced new criminal charges Tuesday against four people the state alleges stole taxpayer money and victimized vulnerable Oregonians by filing fraudulent Medicaid reimbursement claims. Rayfield’s announcement coincided with the federal government pressing Medicaid fraud charges against more than 450 people. In Oregon, each of the new cases involved providers investigated by the state’s 22-person Medicaid Fraud Unit of investigators, auditors, attorneys and data analysts.  “At its core, combating Medicaid fraud is about fighting for working families, protecting vulnerable Oregonians and holding bad actors accountable when they take advantage of taxpayer dollars,” Rayfield said at a press conference.  None of the defendants in the recently filed cases Rayfield highlighted Tuesday have yet listed defense attorneys on the state’s court information system, and none responded to calls to publicly listed phone numbers Tuesday afternoon.  Edward Morgan III of Beaverton faces two counts of first degree theft, two counts of forgery, two counts of identity theft and one count of computer crimes tied to fraudulently receiving housing assistance for two individuals through the state’s health-related social needs funds, according to Rayfield and charging documents. Linda Thomas of Corvallis and the company she owns, Gateway of Willamette Valley, each face charges for theft and making false claims for health care payments related to billing Medicaid for day support program services that were not provided to Medicaid recipients, according to Rayfield and charging documents.  Amanda Thorne of Portland, a former Lane County employee, faces charges for allegedly making personal purchases that included paying rent and a car down payment with a government-issued credit card intended to be used for purchases for clients of Lane County’s developmental disabilities services, according to Rayfield and charging documents. Tedros Gebrezgabhere, who owns a medical transportation company in Portland, faces multiple charges of theft and making false claims for health care payments for billing for non-emergent medical transportation that he never provided, according to Rayfield and charging documents. “In addition to holding bad actors accountable, we want to speak publicly about this work and these cases to hopefully deter people who might be considering taking advantage of our Medicaid system,” Rayfield said. Approximately 1.4 million Oregonians — roughly one in three people and more than half of all children in the state — receive health care through Medicaid, known here as the Oregon Health Plan.  Staff from Rayfield’s office were among the only employees of Democratic state attorneys general offices to attend a late May meeting on anti-fraud measures Vice President JD Vance led. Rayfield said while he objected to the late notice — his office received an invitation the Friday before Memorial Day for a meeting across the country the following Tuesday — he felt it was an important issue. “This is incredibly bipartisan work that is being done by attorney general offices across the state and their fraud units at the state level,” he said. “Currently, there are hundreds fewer people working on fraud investigations at the federal level now than there were when the Trump administration took over, and that’s why this work is so important right now at the state level. This is just another area where the states have had to step up when the federal government has stepped away from protecting consumers and taxpayers.” The Medicaid Fraud Unit has secured 348 criminal convictions, 156 civil settlements and judgments, $14.9 million in criminal recoveries and $131.7 million in civil recoveries since 2010, Rayfield said.  SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Oregon Capital Chronicle

Finding Jane Doe: How genealogists identified Cheryl Lynn Edwards

Law enforcement and genetic genealogists identified an unidentified body from 1975.

Where legislatures lag, local officials are stopping data centers altogether

The rapid expansion of hyperscale data centers is far outstripping efforts to regulate them in Missouri and other states. As a result, communities are responding with hastily called moratoriums and divisive local elections to address the massive industrial facilities popping up across America.

New mural with nod to Burlington's history brightens corner

A new mural brightens the corner of Central Avenue and Columbia Street, adding another piece to Burlington's growing collection of public art while celebrating the community's rich history and sense of place. Commissioned by local business owner Ross Haeger and painted by Burlington artist Craig Jacoba, the mural depicts a Burlington riverfront scene featuring a [...]

Illinois, public school libraries receive over $27M in grants

The money will help pay for books, technology, literacy programs, building improvements and security upgrades.

Chateau Estate residents return after explosion

Residents of the Chateau Estates neighborhood in Dixon, Illinois are returning home after an explosion that severely injured one person.

Lawmakers want research on social media’s effect on young people

Lawmakers advanced bills Tuesday to set up a social media research center and examine social media’s effect on youth. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)A legislative panel approved two bills Tuesday that would create a social media research center in New Jersey and call for it to work with state health officials to study and possibly recommend warning labels to help kids avoid addictive online behavior. The bills passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee with Democratic support alone; the four Republican members all abstained or voted no, with several citing concerns the legislation would violate free speech, an issue also flagged by trade groups critical of the measures. Amy Bos, the vice president of government affairs with NetChoice, a tech lobbying firm, said requiring companies to post warnings would violate constitutional protections. “No matter how well intentioned this bill may be, forcing a private platform to display a government message puts it on the wrong side of the First Amendment,” she said. No supporters testified Tuesday. The bills, both championed by Assemblywoman Andrea Katz (D-Burlington), cite growing research connecting obsessive use of social media platforms with anxiety, depression, body image issues, and other mental health concerns among youth. The issue is also a chief concern of Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat who has prioritized child mental health and online safety in her first budget proposal and praised related bills sponsored by Katz. One of the bills approved Tuesday calls for state officials to select a four-year public college to host the research center, which would study the negative impacts of social media and make recommendations to lawmakers, the governor, and other stakeholders. The second measure calls for the research center to collaborate with the state Department of Health’s office of online youth mental health to examine the impact of addictive social media on children’s health, the impact of repetitive warning labels to steer kids away from addictive online behavior, and make recommendations on what should be done in New Jersey. The state would then need to implement the recommendations under the bill. Senate versions of the two proposals, sponsored by Sens. Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson) and Linda Greenstein (D-Mercer), have both passed one panel and now face votes in the Senate Budget Committee. The bills cite a 2025 report from a commission established under former Gov. Phil Murphy that studied the impact of social media on youth. The panel recommended banning phones from schools — a change Murphy signed into law in January — and called for parents to delay children’s access to social media. The commission also said social media companies need to better police bullying and restrict under-age use. “This report is a roadmap for action. Social media has rewired childhood, and the stakes could not be higher,” commission co-chairs Pearl Gabel and Charles Gelinas said in September, when the report was released. “New Jersey has the opportunity to lead the nation and prove that when it comes to our children, safety and well-being come first.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of New Jersey Monitor

Vander Veer Park fountain will be inoperable this year

Staff have tried to fix a persistent issue with the fountain, but city officials said a full replacement is needed.

Rally attendees criticize Gov. Shapiro for being ‘incredibly cozy’ with data center industry

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was heavily criticized for his perceived coziness with data centers across the commonwealth on June 23, 2026. (Natalie Javitt/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)Over the course of an hourlong rally calling for a data center moratorium in Pennsylvania, no single individual’s name came up more than Gov. Josh Shapiro — who was repeatedly criticized for welcoming a $20 billion Amazon investment last year. Colby Wesner, part of the Concerned Citizens of Montour County who opposed a local data center rezoning effort related to Amazon, filed numerous Right-to-Know requests seeking details about the proposal. Those records, he said, revealed “how incredibly cozy our governor and his administration are with Amazon and the data center industry.” “The only thing I haven’t been able to find yet is where and when he sat down with big tech to make friendship bracelets,” said Wesner.  Amazon announces $20 billion AI investment that will bring at least 1,250 jobs to Pa. The event is only the most recent grassroots backlash to data centers, which are springing up across the commonwealth — and country — at a breakneck pace, prompting several to call for a development pause. The resource-hungry facilities are necessary to process the influx of digital information, powering new technologies like artificial intelligence.  It’s not clear how much Amazon will get in return for its Pennsylvania investment, but, like other data center developments, it could receive a sales tax exemption diverting millions from the state’s coffers.  Speaker after speaker decried deals that they said occurred without public notice behind closed doors, only to be revealed by a well-placed public records request. But powerful politicians, including Shapiro alongside Republicans U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick and President Donald Trump, have all touted their support for various efforts related to AI and data centers. Many signs at the rally targeted Gov. Josh Shapiro specifically, calling on him to limit data center growth in the commonwealth. (Photo by Emily Scolnick/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) Megan McDonough, the state director at Food & Water Watch, compared the data center  “playbook” to fracking companies, who tried to come into communities like hers over a decade ago.  “Now they want us to hand data centers powered by fracked gas and call it the future. Nope. That’s not the future we’re fighting for,” continued McDonough. “We show up. We get louder. We get stronger and we do not stop until every sellout in this building understands that Pennsylvania belongs to the people, not big tech.” The power-hungry demands of data centers are being used to kickstart future fracking efforts, she continued, while pointing to studies linking increased cancer rates to fracking proximity in southwestern Pennsylvania.  “It’s the same thing that we do over and over again,” McDonough told the Capital-Star. “The AI data centers that they want to build in Pennsylvania, they want gas-fired power plants to power them. That inevitably means that we’re all on the chopping block for fracking again … and we’ve had enough. We’ve already suffered enough.” At the Capitol Perhaps one of the most vocal data center critics in the legislature is Sen Katie Muth (D-Montgomery), whose Senate Bill 1359 would prohibit developments statewide for the next three years.  Muth was unsparing in her assessment of data centers and Shapiro’s plan for “responsible” development, saying she would “love to see a data center that’s built responsibly.” But, she added, she has yet to see “anything that protects the public from the health harms of these massive, industrial projects.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE “The lesson of Pennsylvania’s industrial history is clear,” said Muth, noting that Pennsylvania leads the nation in its number of polluted superfund sites. “When government fails to ask hard questions at the beginning, communities pay the price for generations.”  “We cannot afford to repeat those mistakes. Not with our water, not with our air, not with our families and our communities, and not with our future,” continued Muth. “Because Pennsylvania is not for sale.” She tied ever-increasing electric bills with the projects, saying average users “subsidize the transmission and distribution costs for infrastructure buildout.”  Sen. Katie Muth (D-Montgomery) pushes for a three-year moratorium on data centers on June 23, 2026. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) “If you think we’re going to sit by and live next to massive high-voltage power lines, massive hyperscale data centers and then also pay the bill for it, you’re out of your mind,” said Muth.  In response to concerns about electrical and water usage, Shapiro pitched voluntary standards, known as GRID, which tie tax breaks to sustainability measures and incentivizes companies who supply their own power. Wesner dismissed these rules as a “PR stunt to attempt to show concern,” drafted in coordination with Amazon and other data center interest groups.  “But behind the scenes, you’re making sure your friendship bracelets stay firmly in place,” continued Wesner. “That’s not leadership, that’s duplicity.”  Ramifications for the November election? Again and again, speakers warned of consequences for Shapiro if the governor didn’t take action to limit data centers. He’s running for reelection in the fall.  Sam Burleigh, also of Montour County, pointed to a primary write-in effort for Muth, with some voters casting ballots for the state senator to protest Shapiro. He said opposition to data center projects would be “a major topic” up and down the ballot. “There’s Republicans and Democrats standing side-by-side on this, and whoever wants to stand with the people and stop these things — or at least slow them down so that people can get ahead of them — they’re going to be the ones that are in the limelight,” said Burleigh. “I voted for Shapiro, and he’s done some good, but this is one issue (where) the party is not going to matter.” Construction continues for a data center being built at the former Homer City Generating Station in Center Township, Indiana County May 14, 2026. Previously, the largest coal-burning power plant in Pennsylvania, the plant is being transformed into a natural gas-powered data center campus. (Photo by John Beale for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star) Alluding to Shapiro’s rumored presidential aspirations, Burleigh said that even if Shapiro was reelected as governor, support for data centers would sink that campaign.  Shapiro’s Republican gubernatorial opponent, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, attacked Shapiro over the Amazon deal in May, calling it a “sweetheart tax deal” for former company CEO Jeff Bezos.  “Pennsylvania should pause data center development to give local communities the opportunity to update zoning laws and the Office of the Attorney General should initiate an investigation into the sweetheart tax deal Jeff Bezos and others received from the Shapiro Administration,” said Garrity. “We need a Governor who will partner with local communities to find solutions that best meet their needs, not sacrifice the people they represent for the sake of their personal political aspirations.” Some legislative proposals would allow municipalities to enact their own bans and eliminate the sales tax exemption used by Amazon and others. Last week, two state House committees advanced transparency requirements alongside a bill allowing municipalities to “pause” developments while they consider zoning requirements. But at the time of the Amazon announcement, when she was already considered a frontrunner to challenge Shapiro for his seat in 2026, she called the investment “great news” on the social media platform X. She previously pitched rural Pennsylvania as communities that could “welcome” data centers.  In a statement, Shapiro spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky said the administration was working with the General Assembly to codify GRID standards into law, but pinned inaction on Senate Republicans.  “(The Shapiro Administration) is working closely with the House Democrats on an appropriate package of data center legislation that will protect Pennsylvanians and establish strict guardrails to hold data center developers accountable,” said Lapowsky. “Unfortunately, Senate Republican leadership has said they will not take action to rein in these developments — we urge advocates and others to engage them on the need for legislation to protect our communities.” Lapowsky added that Shapiro proposed the voluntary GRID guidance because he believes the state “should establish strong, enforceable standards,” saying he “has heard directly from Pennsylvanians who are concerned about what data center development could mean for their communities.” Shapiro didn’t respond directly to a question about whether he was reviewing the Amazon project, or if the administration would consider a statewide data center moratorium. Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Supreme Court rules that prison guards can't be sued for shaving Rastafarian's head

The Supreme Court ruled that a Louisiana prisoner whose dreadlocks were forcibly shaved off by prison guards cannot sue the guards under a federal law to protect the religious rights of prisoners.

Police begin patrols to ensure no one enters evacuated Muscatine buildings

The City of Muscatine asks residents in the 200 block of East 2nd Street to comply with the mandatory evacuation put in place last week as a precautionary measure, according to a news release.  Starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, the Muscatine Police Department is patrolling the area to ensure no one enters the [...]

Latest sunset of the year coming this Saturday

Enjoying these late sunsets? Or early sunrises? Well, the latest sunset of the year is THIS Saturday! The sunset times do not change much near the solstices, so we're only gaining a few seconds in the evening right now. It all peaks this Saturday when the sun sets around 8:41:44. Then, we slowly start losing [...]

Medical experts urge safety around fireworks as Fourth of July nears

Hospital emergency rooms typically see an uptick in visits from fireworks-related injuries around the holiday.

Local photographer opens gallery highlighting local female athletes

Holly Willwerth is on a mission to highlight and celebrate local female athlete from elementary through high school.

Rock Fall hit and run driver, vehicle identified

The driver and vehicle that struck a bicyclist in rural Rock Falls have been found and identified.

State police sergeant remembered 25 years after Centennial Bridge death

The Centennial Bridge reflects that day, now named for fallen Master Sgt. Stanley Talbot.

Bill to increase supply of homes and lower prices advances

The Senate passed a bill designed to increase the supply of homes and lower their prices. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644) would ban corporate investors from buying single-family homes. The move also provides money to turn abandoned infrastructure into housing and offers a framework for communities that want to reform outdated [...]

Moline-based Elliott Aviation celebrates 90th anniversary

Elliott Aviation is one of the country's oldest fixed-base operators.

Healthcare providers, law enforcement provide 4th of July safety tips for fireworks

Doctors urge anyone using fireworks to always have water on hand to put out any fires and to douse used shells.

Dedication ceremony to be held for mural honoring Black Davenport’s history

The Friends of MLK, Quad City Arts and the Downtown Davenport Partnership will host a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the new mural, according to a media release.

Free garden breakfast series invites you to tour QC GIFT Gardens, fight local hunger

This summer you can enjoy free breakfast while touring QC GIFT gardens and learning how they're stocking our food pantries with fresh produce. Here's how to attend.

Go Over the Edge to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley

You can take the rappel of a lifetime and help Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley! Kylie Wise joined Our Quad Cities News with details on Over the Edge. For more information, click here.

Learn about historical garments and textiles with the Putnam Museum's Collection Couture Club

You can get exclusive glimpses into the world of collecting historical garments and textiles, how collections are built and what it takes to preserve them with the Putnam Museum. Michele Darland joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about the Collection Couture Club. For more information, click here.

Elliott Aviation celebrates 90 years in the QCA

An aviation services company in the QCA is marking a big milestone. Elliott Aviation is celebrating 90 years in Moline. The company started off on a small grass airstrip in DeWitt in 1936 and has expanded its service from the Quad Cities metro and Des Moines to Minneapolis and Atlanta. CEO Michael Parrish says they've [...]

Nearly $3 million available for flood mitigation in Davenport

City officials have until July 22 to apply for the funds.

Pharmacy seeks millions from Iowa Medicaid, citing unsupported fraud allegations

(Photo by Getty Images)The owners of a Fort Madison pharmacy are suing the state over an alleged failure to pay for millions of dollars’ worth of pharmaceuticals. Rashid Pharmacy is seeking judicial review of a May 22, 2026 order by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees Iowa Medicaid Enterprises. The company claims it operated in Fort Madison from 1963 to March 2022, when it closed. In June 2021, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise suspended all Medicaid payments to Rashid Pharmacy, claiming a “credible allegation of fraud” existed, although, the lawsuit claims, the Medicaid programs in Illinois and Missouri took no such action. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The lawsuit alleges that in March 2022, the federal government executed a search warrant at the pharmacy, seeking information related to alleged inventory discrepancies tied to Medicare — not Medicaid — payments for drugs. The lawsuit claims that after the search, the federal government acknowledged it had misinterpreted data, giving rise to a suspicion of inventory discrepancies. The data, the lawsuit alleges, had counted shortfalls for drugs that were packaged in a certain way, but failed to take into account overages for the same drugs purchased in different packaging. The result was that the pharmacy falsely appeared to have billed Medicaid for dispensing far more drugs than it had on hand, the lawsuit claims. Rashid Pharmacy appealed its Iowa Medicaid payment suspension, noting that Medicare, the Department of Justice and Iowa Medicaid Enterprises had been unable to find “a single patient report” of fraud. According to the lawsuit, Iowa Administrative Law Judge Jonathan M. Gallagher issued a proposed order in favor of DHHS in October 2021, expressing concern that “there is precious little to indicate Medicaid fraud,” while adding that “there is no definitive proof of no fraud.” In his proposed order, Gallagher stated that “on balance, DHHS’ position on whether a credible allegation of fraud exists has more force than Rashid’s counterargument.” Gallagher noted that DHHS was not required to show proof of fraud in order to suspend payments, pointing out that it was “enough to say there is no proverbial smoking gun to show no fraud.” “It has now been more than 62 months since the search warrant and about 60 months since the inception of the payment suspension,” the lawsuit asserts. “Rashid Pharmacy ceased operation on March 26, 2022. Despite the federal government’s investigation, no criminal charge or civil claim has been brought against Rashid Pharmacy in relation to alleged Medicaid fraud. Nor have there been any allegations, charges, indictment, information, or civil suits as to any claimed Medicare or Medicaid fraud or shortage.” During those five years, the lawsuit adds, Iowa Medicaid Enterprises has withheld approximately $2 million to $3 million in payments for services rendered and products lawfully dispensed to Medicaid beneficiaries. Rashid Pharmacy now seeks judicial review of DHHS’ May 2026 decision to deny payment of the money the pharmacy claims it is owed, arguing the decision is either unsupported by evidence or is wholly irrational. The State of Iowa, which does not comment on pending litigation, has yet to file a response to the lawsuit. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch

Carrie Underwood, July 4

A country-music superstar whose long list of accomplishments includes eight chart-topping albums, more than two dozen chart-topping singles, and recognition as the most awarded country artist of all time – all since her American Idol debut in 2005 – Carrie Underwood is the fourth of July's special guest in the John Deere Classic's "Concerts on the Course" series, Rolling Stone hailing her as "the female vocalist of her generation in any genre."

Old Dominion, July 5

With AllMusic hailing the group's most recent album Barbara for "songs that are as vulnerable and deeply introspective as they are radio-friendly," the chart-topping musicians of Old Dominion perform the closing July 5 event in the John Deere Classic's "Concerts on the Course" series, the popular touring ensemble's credits including four Academy of Country Music Awards and nine top-10 Billboard singles over the past decade.

Pints and Paws blood drive returning to the Quad Cities in July

For every donor who gives blood at one of the drives, the Red Cross will donate $10 to animal shelters in the Quad Cities.

Julianna Joy, July 5

With Still Listening magazine hailing the artist as "unafraid to bend genres and explore the depths of her emotions," indie-pop singer/songwriter Julianna Joy headlines a July 5 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, Illustrate magazine adding to the raves by saying that the Midwestern talent "captures the ache of emotional distance with striking precision."

UNMC hantavirus operation wraps up, team ready if Ebola outbreak calls

A look at the quarantine unit inside the Davis Global Center on the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus in Omaha. (Courtesy of UNMC)OMAHA — Empty, at least for now, is the Omaha-based National Quarantine Unit that for six weeks hosted American cruise ship passengers exposed to a deadly hantavirus. All 18 people sent to the unit May 11 for monitoring because of an outbreak on the MV Hondius have returned to their respective states in “top shape,” University of Nebraska president Dr. Jeffrey Gold said Tuesday. Dr. Jeffrey Gold, president of the University of Nebraska system. Sept. 4, 2025. (Photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) The last six “guests” cleared out Sunday. Others left the Omaha facility at various times. Gold joined Gov. Jim Pillen, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medical officials at a media event to touch upon lessons learned, patient feedback and what might be ahead. All who spoke generally praised local medical staff and the 18 people Gold referred to as “guests.” Pillen recalled weeks earlier, when he said Nebraska officials had “no idea” of what to expect or what could happen. “This was the most amazing and the greatest outcome we could have ever asked for,” he said. “No hantavirus occurred here or in the United States.” To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm no related cases in the U.S. As reported previously, three people died, two while on the Dutch polar expedition ship and one at a clinic in South Africa. Several others got sick and the world was on alert. Pillen said America should be assured: “Nebraskans stand ready to address the next difficult, highly infectious deadly disease. No matter what the risk is … ” With the escalating and deadly Ebola outbreak in Africa, the officials responded to a potential Nebraska role. Angie Vasa, director of biopreparedness and special pathogen programs for Nebraska Medicine, said local officials have not formally been asked to accept any affected patients. However she and Dr. Michael Wadman, medical director of the quarantine unit, said their teams are prepared to respond. Rendering of the future Project Health facility — the glass structure connected by pedestrian skywalks to a future parking garage and the CORE building that’s under construction on the west side of Omaha’s Saddle Creek Road in what is dubbed The Edge District. (Courtesy of University of Nebraska Medical Center) Asked about whether local quarantine space might ever expand beyond the existing 20-bed capacity, Gold took the podium and discussed UNMC’s planned 1.56 million-square-foot Project Health teaching and hospital care complex. He said discussions are underway with federal partners including the Departments of War and Health and Human Services as to whether they want additional space in or adjoining the $2.19 billion facility to be funded by public and private sources. Said Gold: “Those conversations are ongoing right now, perhaps even more acutely precipitated not only by the hantavirus experience … but also by what’s going on in western Africa right now.”  He said the Ebola outbreak should be “on all of our radars given the rapidly expanding numbers.” According to the CDC, as of Monday, there had been 1,068 confirmed cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, making this Ebola outbreak the second largest on record. There have been no confirmed cases in the United States.  During the hantavirus quarantine, Nebraskans showered medical personnel and passengers with emotional support, the officials said. Gift baskets were plentiful. Wadman said Loveland Elementary students and a La Vista junior high band sent letters. Runzas were delivered. Omaha steaks were grilled in the parking lot. Angie Vasa, director of biopreparedness and special pathogen programs for Nebraska Medicine. (Courtesy of UNMC) A passenger shared a recipe with a caregiver for avocado mango salad. Others recommended good books to read. “Lots of great examples of people working together to get through the six weeks,” Wadman said.  Passengers offered feedback, and Vasa said lessons learned were shared with other federal partners to improve future missions. For example, a “daily town hall” proved helpful for those in the quarantine unit. Isolation wears on physical and mental health, Vasa said, and the “safe space” allowed questions and concerns to be aired. Passengers also were informed about daily tactical operations. Medical needs arose beyond those related to why the passengers are being monitored, she said, reinforcing the need for ready access to other services. Said Wadman: “Every time we activate we get a little better.” The local quarantine facility, he and others say, is the only federally funded unit designed specifically to safely house and observe people who may have been exposed to high consequence infectious diseases. If someone develops symptoms, they’re moved to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit to receive treatment ranging from clinical monitoring to critical care. That unit, activated in 2014 to treat American Ebola patients evacuated from Africa, has a voluntary staff of select nurses, doctors and infectious disease specialists. Dr. Michael Wadman, chair of emergency medicine and medical director of the UNMC-based National Quarantine Unit. (Courtesy of UNMC) Both quarantine and biocontainment units were activated locally in 2020 for the care and management of U.S. citizens from Wuhan, China, and from the Diamond Princess Cruise ship who were exposed to COVID-19. While Tuesday’s media event mostly touched upon positive aspects, national news outlets have interviewed upset passengers. The New York Times on Sunday reported complaints by one woman who said she had been forced to stay longer than she wanted. She said the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., signed an order, despite a CDC medical review that she be allowed to go to Florida. According to the Times, the woman’s attorneys were considering litigation, which prompted a DHHS spokeswoman to say the order was needed “in absence of proper home monitoring by state authorities.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX.   Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner

Largest Medicaid pediatric provider sues DeSantis administration over pay rates

Pediatric Associates is suing the DeSantis administration alleging it used bad math when calculating new managed care rates to account for the costs of covering applied behavioral analysis services for children with special needs or autism. This kind of care in Florida has exceeded $2 billion in the past, according to the state. (iStock/Getty Images Plus)Florida’s largest Medicaid pediatric healthcare provider is suing the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis, alleging it erred when Medicaid officials adjusted the rates the state pays to managed care plans to include the costs of applied behavioral analysis (ABA) services to children with autism and special needs. Pediatric Associates said it notified the state Agency for Health Care Administration Tuesday morning that it plans to seek $300 million in primary care Medicaid funding it claims it was denied over the last 20 months under a revised payment schedule the agency adopted in February 2025. The pediatric healthcare provider says it cares for more than 300,000 Medicaid-eligible children in South Florida, or about 15% of Florida’s pediatric Medicaid population. “AHCA’s changes have jeopardized pediatric care for hundreds of thousands of Florida families. Many pediatricians caring for children on Medicaid are now being paid less than it costs to provide care, placing these doctors in an untenable position: continue to treat children on Medicaid at a financial loss or exit Medicaid altogether,” attorneys for Pediatric Associates wrote in the challenge, which eventually will be filed in the state Division of Administrative Hearings. Pediatric Associates asserts the new rates were adopted in violation of state and federal statutes and is asking a state administrative judge to issue a final order banning the state from using them. It also is asking the judge to require the agency to recalculate the rates going forward. Represented by the Greenberg Traurig law firm, Pediatric Associates also wants the judge to award it legal fees. Before filing the suit, Pediatric Associates maintains, it met with AHCA “at least five times” in the stretch between January and May to discuss the new Medicaid payments and the errors it alleges were made in determining the rates. AHCA acknowledged in an April 17 correspondence to Medicaid managed care plans that the inclusion of the ABA services in value-based contracts that the managed health plans ink with providers “has the potential to result in access issues.”  Value-based contracts reflect clinical performance and set pre-determined, mutually agreed upon quality, financial, and patient experience targets that need to be met to reap incentives such as bonuses. As such, the correspondence encourages managed care plans that have value-based contracts that put healthcare providers at full risk—such as Pediatric Associates— to renegotiate those agreements and reach “mutually agreeable terms to mitigate unanticipated financial losses.” The correspondence gave the health plans 45 days to work with their contracted providers to reach a resolution, a deadline that has come and gone. In its legal challenge Pediatrics Associates alleges AHCA “has taken no action to mitigate, let alone solve, this problem.” AHCA declined to comment telling the Phoenix in an email  “the Agency does not comment on pending litigation.” Pediatric Associates also claims it went to the Florida Legislature for a fix before heading to state administrative court. “We’ve repeatedly raised this issue with Florida’s leaders, engaging in good faith for months to identify a resolution to a problem that seems so simple to solve. We met with agency and legislative leadership. While they understood our concerns and the crisis ahead, a fix is yet to come. We’ve now been forced to take formal legal action against the state because Florida’s children should not have to wait any longer for a solution,” the suit asserts. The root of the problem Florida mandates that most Medicaid enrollees — the poor, elderly, and disabled — enroll in a state-contracted managed care plan to receive benefits. For Medicaid purposes, the state is divided into nine regions. Medicaid clients choose a plan based on the region in which they live. There have been exceptions, though. For instance, the Medically Needy program (which helps people with acute illnesses who otherwise wouldn’t qualify for Medicaid), dental services for non-pregnant adults, and home-and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities aren’t mandated managed care services. Until recently, ABA services were carved out from the state’s Medicaid managed care mandate, meaning people weren’t required to receive the care through their managed care plans. But the state has grappled with holding down ABA costs which, according to a recent AHCA document, exceed $2 billion annually.  Beginning in February 2025 AHCA required ABA services to be provided through managed care plans. ABA includes therapy for adults, children with autism and special-needs children that focuses on individualized interventions to help control challenging behaviors. It helps to improve the quality of life for children with special needs and their families. AHCA relied on its contracted actuarial consultants to calculate how to modify the managed care rates, which are adjusted by age cohort and geographic location, to cover the ABA services the  plans are now required to provide. Math mistakes The lawsuit argues that the actuarial consultants made several math mistakes, such as when they spread the costs for ABA services equally across the nine Medicaid regions and across all age groups. “In reality, utilization of ABA services is far higher in South Florida than elsewhere. By allocating ABA funding uniformly across rate cells to all Medicaid regions, the consultant’s rates effectively underfunded care (including pediatric care) in regions that use the most ABA services (such as South Florida) while overfunding in parts of the State where ABA utilization is lower,” the suit asserts. Similarly, actuaries allocated the costs of ABA services across all age groups even though “nearly all ABA services are utilized by children and adolescents, not by adults or infants,” attorneys wrote. Additionally, the consultants didn’t preserve the underlying payments made to pediatricians for core, non-ABA services before developing the new rates. The errors, attorneys wrote, resulted in rates that in some instances were too low for Medicaid patients who required ABA services and too high for patients who didn’t require the services. Quotation I know from experience that if action is not taken, more families will end up relying on emergency rooms for everyday care — or worse, skipping care entirely. The funding miscalculation we are asking the state to correct is fixable, and fixing it matters for every Medicaid-insured child in Florida, not just the ones in my practice. – Dr. Rasciel Socarras, Pediatric Associates In the aggregate, the new rates “changed the funding formula for (managed care) in a way that has dramatically reduced funding for pediatric care — primary, specialist, and acute — by as much as 20 to 30% in some counties. Overall, Florida has experienced a roughly 15% drop in reimbursement for core pediatric care — approximately $15 million per month in cuts to essential funding — even as the cost of providing this care has risen.” The flawed formula has allowed Medicaid reimbursement to fall below the costs of providing the care, the complaint says.  And while losing money is never ideal, it’s exacerbated by the value-based purchasing contracts Pediatrics Associates has with managed care plans. The contracts put the pediatric healthcare provider at full risk of the costs of providing care to its Medicaid patients. Children without healthcare access Rasciel Socarras is a board certified pediatrician and Pediatrics Associates provider. Pediatric Associates said in its challenge that because it’s at full risks for the care the new rates “have adversely affected Pediatric Associates economically, jeopardizing Pediatric Associates’ ability to continue providing care to its Medicaid patients.”  That could leave hundreds of thousands of families who rely on Medicaid for their children’s healthcare in need, the pediatric provider claims. “If the children I care for every day lose access to pediatric care, it would be absolutely devastating,” Dr. Rasciel Socarras of Pediatric Associates said in a prepared statement. “I know from experience that if action is not taken, more families will end up relying on emergency rooms for everyday care — or worse, skipping care entirely. The funding miscalculation we are asking the state to correct is fixable, and fixing it matters for every Medicaid-insured child in Florida, not just the ones in my practice.” Highlighted The Phoenix highlighted a sentence in the April 17 letter from AHCA to contracted Medicaid managed care plans that is referenced in the DOAH legal challenge. Courtesy of Florida Phoenix

Johnny Delaware, July 6

Lauded by the Charleston City Paper as its "Singer/Songwriter of the Year," and praised for "deftly blending an array of influences that nod toward crooning pop-rock in the vein of Chris Isaak or Roy Orbison, the theatrical roots-rock excess of Bruce Springsteen, and the dark post-punk romanticism of Echo & the Bunnymen," Johnny Delaware performs a solo concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel on July 6, the artist also famed for his tenures with the alt-rockers of Susto and The Artisanals.

Rachel Swain, July 8

Touring in support of her debut album Neon Lullaby that Music Arena Gh praised for its "sprawling themes of defiance, motherhood, and queer identity," singer/songwriter Rachel Swain headlines a July 8 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, Music Arena Gh adding that the Americana artist's first full-length recording is "a deeply honest testament to her own survival,"

WA transgender prisoner policy lands before state Supreme Court

(Getty Images)Washington’s state Supreme Court justices will weigh in on where a transgender woman held in state prisons should be confined, as the state faces a federal probe over the issue. The court on Tuesday heard arguments in the case of Amber Kim, who had been held in the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor before she was moved to the men’s prison in Monroe due to an infraction. Kim argues this decision amounts to unconstitutionally cruel punishment that puts her safety at risk and sets back her transition. The Trump administration is now investigating how Washington houses incarcerated trans people, after a lawsuit from a prisoner in the state’s women’s prison alleged a transgender woman attacked her there.  The U.S. Department of Justice told Gov. Bob Ferguson last month that it was looking into reports the state “failed to protect female prisoners from sexual and physical violence, harassment, voyeurism, and intimidation from male prisoners who identify as female.” Kim was the first transgender woman transferred back to a men’s prison in Washington. It came after she was found to have had sex with her cellmate at the women’s prison. “The department did something far beyond what was necessary to address any legitimate concerns it had about Ms. Kim’s conduct,” said Adrien Leavitt, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Washington branch, who is representing Kim. Emma Grunberg, of the state attorney general’s office, argued moving Kim to the men’s prison was a matter of safety. State policy The process for transgender women to be transferred to the Gig Harbor prison can be lengthy.  Transgender, intersex and non-binary prisoners can request a transfer to gender-affirming housing. A team of medical, mental health and custody staff makes recommendations to agency headquarters on where they should be imprisoned. Housing assignments are reassessed every six months. Federal regulations under the Prison Rape Elimination Act state: “In deciding whether to assign a transgender or intersex inmate to a facility for male or female inmates, and in making other housing and programming assignments, the agency shall consider on a case-by-case basis whether a placement would ensure the inmate’s health and safety, and whether the placement would present management or security problems.” Once at the Washington Corrections Center for Women, transgender prisoners can be transferred out “due to documented, objective safety and security concerns,” under state policy. The state prison agency is under an ongoing settlement agreement regarding its treatment of transgender prisoners. Disability Rights Washington had filed a complaint claiming the state had failed to provide timely medical and mental health care to trans prisoners and subjected them to strip and pat-down searches. The department agreed in 2023 to provide gender-affirming care, such as ensuring those with hormone replacement therapy prescriptions continue to receive it in prison. The settlement didn’t address the issue of where to house transgender prisoners. A state appellate court denied Kim’s challenge last year, leading to the Supreme Court taking up the case. Coming out as a transgender woman does not guarantee placement in the women’s prison. The state Department of Corrections reported last month that the women’s prison held 20 transgender prisoners, while 347 transgender or non-binary individuals were held across all state prisons. Most trans prisoners in Washington’s prisons haven’t requested gender-affirming housing, said Grunberg. The justices grilled both Leavitt and Grunberg during the arguments Tuesday at the Temple of Justice in Olympia. It could be months before a decision in the case. Life in prison as a transgender woman Kim is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole for murdering her parents in 2006.  She was housed in a men’s prison for years, as she wasn’t open about her gender identity. Small and effeminate, other prisoners targeted Kim, frequently calling her anti-gay slurs, according to court filings. She was reportedly attacked multiple times. Kim came out as a transgender woman in 2016, and underwent gender-affirming procedures. But she remained in a men’s prison.  After four years, the state Department of Corrections approved her transfer to the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor. There, she didn’t experience the same harassment, writing in court papers that it was a “massive improvement in all aspects of my life.” In March 2024, Kim and her cellmate were caught having sex in their cell. Kim insists the sexual contact was consensual. But Grunberg raised the question of coercion, saying the cellmate “had been known to be vulnerable and to have high mental health need.” “DOC never alleged that that encounter was non-consensual, although obviously there is a difficulty in determining true consent in the context of incarceration for any encounter,” she said. They each got an infraction for the incident. Her cellmate remained at the Gig Harbor prison, but state officials transferred Kim to the men’s prison in Monroe, and held her in solitary confinement, according to court documents. Kim has remained in solitary confinement since her transfer in 2024, Leavitt said. She told prison officials she doesn’t want to be placed in the general population there.  “I will face the ultimate paradox: my continued physical transition helps address my debilitating gender dysphoria, but the more female-presenting I become in appearance, the more unwanted, nonconsensual attention I will receive from the men in prison,” Kim wrote. “If I do not continue my transition, my gender dysphoria will rear its ugly head, fueling my depression and making my life miserable.” So in December 2024, she filed a petition challenging the conditions of her imprisonment. The state constitution prohibits cruel punishment. Leavitt said that the review the Department of Corrections underwent to move Kim back to a men’s prison wasn’t proportionate to that for the decision to move her to Gig Harbor, which took years. Kim also says the state could’ve instead continued to house her at the women’s prison without a cellmate or in a more restrictive setting. And still could if the Supreme Court sides with her, Leavitt emphasized. “The department has wide discretion about what to do with Ms. Kim” if she returns to the women’s prison, Leavitt said. “The department could require her to engage in behavioral management programs, clinical interventions. The list really goes on.” Grunberg countered that holding Kim under “close custody” in Gig Harbor wouldn’t have been sufficient to reduce the risk of Kim continuing to have sex with fellow prisoners. Prisoners confined under that status can “freely mix” with people in other custody levels, she added. Two-part test An unrelated appeals court decision in 2021, which was based on a lack of bathroom access, set out a two-part legal test for determining if a prisoner’s confinement conditions are unconstitutional. For one, the conditions must “create an objectively significant risk of serious harm or otherwise deprive the petitioner of the basic necessities of human dignity.” And second, it must be clear those conditions “are not reasonably necessary to accomplish any legitimate penological goal.” Kim’s lawyers argue the appeals decision in her case ran afoul of this test and the state constitution. The penological interest here is “managing the risk of problematic sexual activity in the unique environment of a woman’s prison,” Grunberg said. The Department of Corrections has argued Kim poses a safety risk, as officials believed she could impregnate a female prisoner. But Kim says she’s now infertile after gender-affirming surgeries. Leavitt argued the department’s transfer is a punishment “disproportionate” to the infraction. “What Ms. Kim did — engaging in sex with her roommate — is so far from that line,” Leavitt said. “None of their stated penological interests can support the cruel conditions.” Courtesy of Washington State Standard

Free garden breakfast series invites public to tour gardens, fight hunger

This summer you can enjoy free breakfast while touring QCA GIFT gardens and learning how they're stocking our food pantries with fresh produce. Here's how to attend.

North Scott Press — June 24, 2026

2026 Iowa City Jazz Festival, July 3 through 5

A dynamic lineup of nationally acclaimed artists and rising stars will take center stage at the 2026 Iowa City Jazz Festival, presented by GreenState Credit Union from July 3 through 5 in downtown Iowa City. This free, three-day celebration features performances on multiple stages, culinary delights, artist booths, and family-friendly activities, all located adjacent to the University of Iowa Pentacrest on Clinton Street and Iowa Avenue.

In symbolic vote, Congress directs Trump to remove forces from Iran war

The measure to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran does not require the president's signature, nor does it carry the force of law. But it reflects bipartisan frustration with the war.

Davenport Parks and Recreation launches new safe summer fun program for teens

Participants help shape the experience by planning their own field trips and volunteer opportunities, officials said.

Traffic Alert: Government Bridge, Rock Island Viaduct to close for sealing

The bridge and viaduct will be closed to traffic from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday for roadway sealing, according to a media release.

The Jayhawks, July 3

Their most recent album XOXO lauded by Pitchfork for being "a distillation of their manifold strengths" boasting "pastoral accounts of American beauty curdling into something coarser and sadder," the Minnesota-based alt-country and country-rock outfit The Jayhawks headlines a July 3 concert at Maquoketa's Codfish Hollow Barn, Louder Than War adding that "there is a real feel of togetherness on XOXO which is reflected in the interchanging lead vocals and instruments."

Pert Near Sandstone and Arkansauce, July 9

Hailed by Tomorrow's Verse for “unique and soulful songs that don’t often lean on bluegrass clichés – or any clichés, for that matter,” the lauded roots and bluegrass ensemble Pert Near Sandstone co-headlines a July 9 concert at Maquoketa's Codfish Hollow Barn alongside the talents of Arkansauce, whose 2023 release Ode to Wonder, according to Americana Highways, ""provides listeners of bluegrass with revelry, wonder, and whimsy on 11 distinctive insightful songs,"

Collecting nature’s bounty

How many times are young children asked: Where does your food come from? It comes from Walmart or Hy-Vee, they might say. No, their parents and teachers might correct them, it comes from farms. But every spring and summer, the natural world produces its own abundance of food. They range from shallow plantain leaves in your backyard to black caps running along the side of the road; from jellylike wood ears climbing up dead trees to elderflowers dangling pale and yellow-white. “Why not eat what nature provides for us?” Luke Hart, a naturalist with Muscatine County Conservation, said on a late spring hike for wild edible around Saulsbury Bridge. “It’s a cool idea to think that what we need is right here in this park.” He picked a sprig of wood sorrel from the side of the trail. Its heart-shaped leaves grow in clusters of three. “Some people call it false clover. It's full of a very tasty oxalic acid that is rather sour and tart,” Hart said. “I don't eat too much, but when the kids are interested in trying something new, I'm like, here you go.” Becky Baugh, a Scott County Conservation naturalist, handed me a cluster of wood sorrel seed pods at the Wapsi River Center outside Dixon. Each was about the size of a pinky nail and had a tart, lemony snap. Many of the region’s wild foods have several edible parts, she explained. Like elderberry plants, one of her favorites: their flowers can make a summer cordial or tea, while their berries can be stewed into a medicinal syrup. Foraging for wild edibles can be daunting, Hart said. But “you just have to be a little brave.” “I started by learning five new edibles, getting really used to them,” he explained, “being able to identify them, and I didn't even start to harvest or eat until I was comfortable identifying them over and over.” They were dandelions, wood sorrel, mulberries, morel mushrooms and black walnuts. “And then I just kept adding them.” “There's something empowering about knowing what you can go out and pick and eat,” he said. “And it costs nothing. All it costs is being respectful” Hart follows certain rules of responsible harvesting, and shares them with the young naturalists enrolled in Muscatine County’s summer camps. He takes a third of what he finds, only up to what he plans to eat. For him, foraging is part of a thoroughgoing excitement about the natural world—and teaching kids what they can eat is one way he can share that knowledge. “Kids love trying new things,” he said. “They get excited because they're like, ‘Can I eat this?’ I'm like, ‘Yes, you can, because I told you you can’... My hope is that they will recognize it again and be able to pass on that rather tribal knowledge. It’s something I think is being lost.” “The job is really, as educators, to teach kids why these habitats are so important, not just for the animals that call this home, but why is it useful to us,” Hart continued. Wild edibles are among the best evidence. As he walked, Hart pointed out not just the plants he eats, but what he does with them. He uses redcedar berries in his sauerkraut—a native replacement for traitional juniper (native redcedars are actually a variety of Juniperus). He places a few garlic mustard leaves on top of a salad. Golden oyster mushrooms, he said with a large cluster of them in his hand, are best sautéed in butter. Perhaps this cluster was a little larger than desirable, he said—the mushroom was best when small and young. But he would still harvest and eat it. “They're not native, quite invasive, and they kind of steal the show, steal the habitat from our native oyster mushrooms,” Hart explained. Caleb Sayler of Bettendorf, vice president of the Iowa-based Prairie States Mushroom Club, began foraging for morel mushrooms twenty years ago. Now he hunts for a range of wild mushrooms, like spring golden oysters, summer wood ears and chanterelles and fall hen-of-the-woods. For him, the trick is not just finding the mushrooms—but convincing his three young kids to eat them. Even young kids cannot resist a fried and breaded morel, although their growing season ended in May. “Just about any other mushroom, when it's my first time eating it, I will slice it kind of thin and then sauté it in butter,” he said. At this point, he reckons he has tried every edible mushroom in eastern Iowa. Sayler can comfortably identify Iowa’s edible mushrooms, as well as a range of nonedible or undesirable varieties, like phesantbacks, oysterlings and a rare summer Gymnopilus, one of the region’s rare psychedelics. It smelled like honeysuckle and licorice. The early summer marks the peak of berry season. Mulberries are among the region’s most widespread and commonly consumed wild berries, Baugh said. Two varieties can be found: the invasive white or Asian mulberry and the native red or American mulberry. “You can kind of tell with the leaves,” she said, pulling down a branch. “If they are hairy and rough, that is the red mulberry, and if it is smooth, it is a white mulberry. I think this one is a white mulberry, because those are smooth. “So this is one of the invasive, but they are still delicious. I have them growing in my yard, and I eat off of them.” And it’s not just Iowa’s humans who enjoy wild mulberries. They are adored by Iowa’s box turtles. “You want to find turtles, go find a very ripe mulberry tree, dropping berries. You will find turtle after turtle, lips stained purple,” Hart said. And he thinks he knows why turtles find the dropped berries irresistible. “This is fermenting fruit. Are these turtles getting drunk off of these berries?” Hart wondered. “We have a three-toed box turtle. Won't eat raspberries, won’t eat blueberries. I threw mulberries in, and it took right to them.” Mulberries are part of a family of wild fruit that include blackberries, raspberries and black raspberries (which are their own, third fruit). These varieties grow across eastern Iowa in low, thorny brambles. Their canes fly up and down out of farmland and roadside soil. Gooseberries—a relative of currants, with a concentrated, almost raisinlike taste—also grow across the region. Birds had devoured nearly every gooseberry off the tree Baugh found, though she took a leaf in her hand. “I always remember gooseberry by its leaf. It almost kind of looks like a goose foot,” she said. “It is also very thorny.” The small gooseberries tend to attract birds, which makes it one of Baugh’s favorites for native landscaping. “If people want to plant something that they can eat, but also bring in the wildlife, this is perfect,” she said. “Our catbirds absolutely love this. Our orioles will also eat off this tree.” Raccoons may also sample the fruit, she noted. “The downfall of the berries is they're always ripe when the bugs are also everywhere, at worst,” Baugh said, swatting bugs from her arms. The Wapsi River Center is a nature preserve and does not allow visitors to forage, Baugh said. But Scott County Park and West Lake Park are open to responsible foragers, and so is Saulsbury Bridge in Muscatine. “Make a map,” Hart recommended. He said Muscatine Conservation offers free maps of the park—where you can jot down a fruitful mulberry or a patch of wood sorrel. “The small berry tree is going to be here next year… and then you come back year after year.” Baugh encouraged new foragers to “make a plan” before they set out. “Do a little research first. Always plan your trip, so you're not just kind of going out and seeing what you want. If you know what certain plants you want to try to forage for, then you know what habitats to go look for them,” she said. Whatever your level of experience, learning in the natural world never stops. “I consider myself still a beginner, a novice, really,” Hart said. Though he could fool you. Get familiar All of the expert foragers recommended using a guide or handbook, and becoming familiar with edible species before trying them. And we recommend the same: because my story, photos and descriptions are not meant to be a guide. They might pique your interest, or share an interesting detail; but if you want to ingest the natural world, you had better consult the experts. Sam Thayer’s 700-page Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern & Central North America is the standard, encyclopedic reference for foragers. The Scott County Library System owns a copy. Mike Krebill of Keokuk has written The Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles, an accessible catalogue that includes notes on both botany and cuisine. Sayler recommended novice mushroom foragers begin with guides by Michael Kuo, such as 100 Edible Mushrooms and Mushrooms of the Midwest, coauthored with Andrew S. Methven. Iowa State Extension also offers a free, 80-page guide titled Safe Mushroom Foraging that can be downloaded from their website. Please, before you start gobbling wild edibles—consult the experts.           

A blossoming community at Miss Effie's

Mother knows best? Well, maybe not always. Back in 2002, Cathy Lafrenz and her husband, Cliff, were at a crossroads. They’d both recently experienced career shifts. Living on their acreage just outside of Donahue, they decided to make the land work for them. Lafrenz decided she wanted to start a flower farm, and her husband agreed. “According to my mother, nobody would ever drive down a gravel road to pick flowers,” said Lafrenz. “We all say, ‘Mary was wrong.’ And we say it loudly, because it was the only time she was ever wrong in her life.” Instead, the original 20x20 foot patch turned into Miss Effie’s Country Flowers and Garden Stuff, Iowa’s first you-pick flower farm. Twenty-five years later, Lafrenz has not only continued the flower farm, she’s also learned new ways to diversify her revenue and build community. Lafrenz’s earliest exposure to horticulture was in college. “I took some hort classes at the University of Illinois when I was in school, just for fun. I was not a city girl. I grew up in a very, very small town. Both of my grandparents farmed, and my dad was a large animal vet. So, I lived in this itty-bitty town. I went to college and got a degree in home economics. I took two hort classes when I was in college – learned the difference between an annual and a perennial, and that was kind of it. Honest to God, our textbook was a ‘Better Homes & Gardens’ gardening book.” Later, though, she became a Master Gardener. While Miss Effie’s started out with just the pair, Cliff passed away after a battle with cancer in 2020, at the very start of the pandemic. Today, Lafrenz manages the farm with a staff of about seven. On June 10, Lafrenz shared some of her secrets of the trade during a farm field day hosted by Practical Farmers of Iowa. Several dozen people from across the state turned out for her two-hour session, “Small Space, Big Impact: Growing Flowers and Community on a Small Farm.” Indeed, the farm is small – just 1.8 acres, including the house. And she uses every inch of that land, not just for flowers, but other entrepreneurial efforts to keep customers engaged all year round. The blooms still reign supreme, though. Lafrenz said, due to the nature of the you-pick business, she’s not necessarily a conventional flower farm. Because she gets visitors of all ages, safety is key. “You will notice I don’t use fabric on my field for weed control, because weed fabric can get slick at times. We don’t use drip irrigation; we use overhead irrigation. So, for the absolute best blooms in the world, I’m probably not the model. My customers are coming out to pick flowers to take home, to enjoy the experience.” While some customers take advantage of the you-pick model to source flowers for weddings, and Lafrenz does sell fresh-cut bouquets, she’s not about selling high volume. “My customers are more about the experience.” Customers who arrive at the farm can pay a flat fee to pick during business hours. They receive a bucket and a pair of clippers. When the bucket is full, the customer will have, on average, 35-40 stems, which Lafrenz said can fill as many as four vases. What to grow This year, due to the weather, the farm has gotten something of a late start on blooms. Lafrenz mainly deals with perennials, although she’s also branched off into some other efforts. “The first thing you should do, if you are a flower farmer, is plant perennials. Peonies – you can never have enough peonies. We do a lot of delphiniums, and I do a lot of clematis … I have clematis on vines everywhere.” Lafrenz is also a fan of grasses, if they come in at just the right time. She said Shenandoah switch grass is particularly nice for use in bouquets due to its pink stem and vivid colors. Another recommendation is hardier perennials, like lysimachia and false indigo. For shrubs, she likes hydrangeas. She recently turned what was a vegetable patch into an area for wildflowers, although that came with its own difficulties. While the wildflowers were a success initially, Lafrenz said that didn’t last long. “Wildflowers are just such a struggle. We thought we read everything, we researched everything, and we’ve never gotten it quite right.” The problem? “Weeds, weeds and more weeds. “We started out, cleared the garden and we thought we had it in great shape. We threw double layers of cardboard in … we brought in six inches of compost, put that on top, and then we fall seeded all the wildflowers. The first year was amazing. We woke up and it was beautiful. I also did some perennial bulbs, mini crocus, mini tulips and mini daffodils, and we had those going all the way through. It was great, and I got a lot of great cuts out of it. But then the second year came along, and we just couldn’t control any of the roots. And we worked on it, and we’d get it better. And then it wasn’t. The third year, we kept wanting to make it work, and I wanted to mow it all down. But these lovely people that worked for me said no. “So, this fall, we went in, made the plan and organized what we wanted to put in. And you will still see some wildflowers come up. There’s a lot of Virginia pepperweed in there at the moment. And the sunflowers came in – we had planted a few sunflowers one year or another, and those all fall seeded. So, I’m hoping there’s something good.” For farmers interested in planting wildflowers, Lafrenz recommends taking advantage of the Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) programs available in Iowa. Many counties, including Scott, offer assistance with roadside native planting processes, which can include planting in ditches and rights-of-way. These programs can also serve as valuable conservation projects. And Lafrenz said there’s another advantage. “Prairie plantings are amazing, and you can get really good cut flowers out of them.” This year, she said she’s looking to get back to perennials. That will include blue wood-aster, solidago, coreopsis, phlox and beebalm, along with some varietal grasses and coneflowers. Those flowers are just starting to come in, and as they do, well, it’s more weeds again. “I’ve always said this is like your grandmother’s garden. It’s not a showpiece, and we do our best. We make it look good. I’ll go by and say, ‘Oh my God, that looks so pretty.’ And then I go, ‘Oh, no it doesn’t.’” Lafrenz said she and her staff put a tarp over the field for the fall and winter months, which helped, but as soon as the tarp came off, weeds began to emerge. At Miss Effie’s, Lafrenz prefers to use organic fertilizers and pesticides when she can, as well as no-till methods. But that means the weeds mostly come out by hand. They’re also experimenting with a locking straw weed barrier and mulch method. Lafrenz said the locking straw, while not cheap, can help suppress weeds when they are small.    Another form of weed and pest control comes in the form of the ducks Lafrenz keeps on the farm. Ducks root and forage, but because they don’t have sharp claws on their feet, they tend to leave hardier plants undamaged. They also provide natural fertilizer. Lafrenz is also a fan of natural fertilizers like alfalfa pellets. “It’s super easy and super cheap, and you don’t have to worry that you’re going to over-nitrate anything. I like the pellets. I have used the meal, but I just use this straight pellet.” She tends not to use pre-emergent, although she and her staff have put a little on some of the perennial beds this year. “We’re more on the organic end, so I try to stay away from the pre-emergent.” Lafrenz said she’s also learned some valuable lessons on what not to plant over the years. “I started out with a lot of perennials, and then somebody said to me, ‘You don’t make money off of perennials. You make money off of annuals.’ So, I quit buying perennials for about five years and filled my garden full of annuals. Well, that is a really dumb idea, and I don’t know why I listened to them. Because you end up with this really dead spot in your garden sequence.” She’s also largely stepped away from attempting to grow roses, except for her personal use. Lafrenz has a few secret weapons when it comes to laying out her farm. “Because I’m a you-pick farm, I try to create areas of mystery,” she said. “Because it’s Iowa and it’s flat – I’ve got a little bit of a hill, but I want to create the vision that there’s something beyond there that they want to see.” That’s where her cattle panel arbors come in. She uses the wire farm fencing in various places around the gardens as decoration and as support for other flowers and vines. Cliff Lafrenz, who was an engineer, designed the supports, which Lafrenz calls “Contention Creek plant supports” after the creek that runs through the fields adjacent to her property. She said they started using the panels because they weren’t fond of the Hortnova netting that is frequently found on other flower farms. Her background in sales and design also informs how the beds are laid out. “I kind of coordinate my garden, and I treat my garden like it’s a retail store.” Lafrenz likes to plant complimentary flowers near one another, which can help make things easier for customers who may not have floral design skills. As she walked through one of her beds, she explained the theory to her field day guests, pointing to several types of flowers together in a row. “This row may have yellow in the center of it, and blue on one end and purple on the other. And we really pay attention to color. “I was in retail management for a long time in clothing stores, and that’s what you did. But it also makes sense when my customers walk through here. They’re buying a pink snapdragon right here. Well, what goes with that? Well, maybe the bupleurum here. I’ve got feverfew right here, and then we go into the pinkish of the Dara. And more snapdragons.” Diversifying revenue streams But flowers have only gotten Lafrenz so far, and with the unpredictability of her crop, she’s found ways over the years to diversify her revenue. The benefit of living on a flower farm is that when the product is in bloom, it’s incredibly photogenic. That makes Miss Effie’s an ideal venue for photography sessions, everything from high school seniors to families to Mommy and Me shoots. “Photography – the rentals on flower shoots have paid my property taxes for the last five years,” said Lafrenz. “So, if you’re not renting your farm out for – and that means you have to have insurance – but if you’re not renting your farm out for photo shoots, you may want to think about it.” Photo shoot rentals are $50 for two hours for a single client, ideal for senior photos and family shoots. But she’s also gotten involved in the mini-shoot trend. This allows a photographer to rent out the farm, at $50 per hour for a minimum of two hours and fit in multiple clients in quick sessions. Photography isn’t the only way Lafrenz rents out the farm though. She’s also available for rentals for events. She has an antique grain bin on the farm that’s been turned into a gazebo, and it’s hosted everything from bridal and baby showers to book clubs. Miss Effie’s also hosts small weddings – no more than 50 people – and elopements – no more than 10 people – starting at about $500. Another surprising source of revenue? Camping. While there’s no room for RVs, Lafrenz rents out a portion of her farm for tent campers. Rentals can be done at hipcamp.com or by contacting Lafrenz directly. “That is a great stream. It’s super easy to do. You can make it as simple or as hard as you want. I already have a porta-potty out here. So, I rent out the orchard area for 10 campers. I specialize in women that are travelling across the country, because I can advertise that it is a gated area. It’s a flower farm and I have a pink porta-potty. Is it huge? No, but it adds another $45 or so a week.” Just because there’s an off-season on the flower farm doesn’t mean Lafrenz takes the winter off. Instead, she offers cooking classes out of her home on Sundays during the cold months. Among her offerings are bread and pasta making lessons, and she said a popular topic right now has been salad making. Attendees can sample different types of lettuce and other salad mix-ins and learn how to make various dressings. The classes are usually capped at around six people at $50 per and are advertised on Miss Effie’s Facebook page. Collaboration and community Lafrenz has also built a community through Miss Effie’s. That includes her partnership with Connie King of Prairie Belle Flowers in DeWitt. In the lead up to spring, the pair get to work creating Blossom Boxes. Sold at $125 each, the boxes are essentially a starter garden, with approximately 35 blooms in each. They’re typically ready to go around Mother’s Day but must be ordered and paid for in advance. King and Lafrenz also teamed up to start the Farm-Hers Market at Miss Effie’s. Every Wednesday (weather permitting), approximately a dozen female-led vendors set up shop and sell all manner of products, from teas to baked goods, hand-made crafts and art, and even honey and homemade jams from Lafrenz’s own apiary and gardens. Lafrenz said that although farm stores are extremely popular right now, “I just can’t keep up with it.” That said, the Farm-Hers markets represent the best of both worlds, bringing customers to the farm and allowing them to meet new vendors that might not otherwise get attention at a larger or more traditional farmer’s market. Lafrenz added it is also a good way to highlight women in agriculture, as numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture report female producers make up 36.3% of the country’s total farmers. Madeleine Rhode, who owns Madeleine’s Macarons & More Bakery, is in her second year as a vendor at the Farm-Hers Market. She said she loves the community that has sprung up with the market. “We’re a community in and of ourselves, whether we’ve met before, or whether the Farm-Hers Market brought us together for the first time. We all talk amongst ourselves, we help one another out, we’re talkative. It’s great.” Rhode is a professional ballet dancer when she’s not baking and was introduced to the Farm-Hers Market when she met King at another market. She was immediately drawn to the concept of a female-led market. And she said she loves the farm. “You’re in touch with nature. It’s peaceful, it’s quiet. I feel like you’re forced to be more in tune with yourself too when you’re out here. It’s just great to be here and take in the nature.” In addition to the partnerships she’s built in Scott County, Lafrenz has other statewide partners. Not only is she a member of Practical Farmers of Iowa, she’s also a Silos and Smokestacks partner and has a good relationship with Travel Iowa.   What’s in a name? There’s one question Lafrenz gets asked all the time: who’s Effie? The answer turned out to be a little more interesting than Lafrenz ever intended. She said, when it came to the name, she was looking for something that evoked a little old lady in the 1930s. “She would raise chickens and sell eggs; she would sell flowers. Both of my grandmothers did that in their time. “One was named Georgia and the other was named Gladys, and we didn’t think either one had the right ring to it.” She landed on Effie as an inoffensive, albeit unusual, option. And for years, it was just Miss Effie’s. But Lafrenz’s relationship with the name took on new meaning when she was doing some genealogy and looking for more information about her Aunt Nora. “My grandmother Gladys, her oldest sister was always known as Nora. And I knew Aunt Nora. But I was doing some genealogy stuff, and I can’t find Aunt Nora. And she was 20 years older than my grandmother and lived in California. But I just can’t find anything. “And sure enough, I’m looking through things, and I discovered her name wasn’t Eleanora, like I thought. It was Effie Nora.” Lafrenz found another book with family artifacts, including a recipe from Aunt Effie Nora. She now has it framed and hanging in her kitchen. Will she be teaching that recipe in an upcoming cooking class? “Oh, God. I won’t eat it for anything in the world. It’s lime Jell-O, lemon Jell-O, fruit cocktail, pineapple and melted vanilla ice cream. No, we’re not making this one.” Miss Effie’s is open seasonally, weather permitting, June-September. Hours are subject to change and are listed at misseffies.com. Updates are frequently posted on Miss Effie’s Facebook page. The farm is located at 27387 130th Ave. in Donahue.  

“Corn Zone,” July 5 through September 27

Purchased in honor of the Figge Art Museum's late museum trustee, board president, and museum supporter Tom Gildehaus, the visitor favorite Corn Zone returns to the Davenport venue July 5 through September 27, its “corn field” installation of oversize blown-glass ears carefully suspended from the museum's ceiling with rope, and designed to explore the fragility of glass, the story of corn, and contemporary issues in farming.

“Connie & Michael Roberts: Portrait of America,” July 5 through January 3

Timed to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States' Declaration of Independence, the Figge Art Museum exhibition Connie & Michael Roberts: Portrait of America will be on display in the Davenport venue's Lewis Gallery July 5 through January 3, this arresting collection of works inviting audiences to reflect on the individuals who helped shape our nation’s history.

Put your healthiest hoof forward

For about a decade, Wilton FFA member Allysa Valet has enjoyed being around horses, taking care of them and making sure they are able to live their best, happiest lives. Her love for them first began as a young girl, being inspired to start riding horses after watching one of her favorite childhood movies, Barbie: A Pony Tale. “I’m so fortunate that my aunt had owned horses, so I’d known about them and started taking lessons,” Valet said. “After the first couple lessons that I had, I really bonded with the horses and after that, it was always a part of my life.” But while riding might have helped grow her love for horses, her desire to help them walk, run and thrive came from the farrier skills her aunt, Linda Staley, who began teaching Valet on her West Liberty property, where she has been providing professional hoof care and horseshoeing for over 50 years. “She’s teaching me everything that she knows,” Valet said. Plenty to learn Valet began learning about hoof care in 2024. To be a farrier, she had to learn about how to properly trim a horse’s hooves, as well as how to remove any dead soles or issues that would affect a horse’s ability to walk. “This past year has really been where I’ve made the most progress,” Valet said. Despite only working as a farrier for a couple years now, Valet said she feels she’s already learned a lot, having 20 to 25 horses on her aunt’s property to work on, with each one needing their feet trimmed about every six weeks, in addition to the clients she’s also taken on. “There’s a lot of different ways that people do it,” she said. “If you go over to Kalona, they leave the hooves very natural, but that can cause different deformities – it can cause their hoof to go out on one side or flare out, which just causes problems for them while moving.” With hooves, Valet said she had to learn different hoof measures, eventually developing a natural eye for judging how low or high a hoof is, as well as an instinct for how short to cut a hoof. “An eighth of an inch can make a world of difference, and so it has to be very specific.” One of the most difficult thing about the job, she shared, was getting the hoof angled in the right way when she prepares to work on it. “Their hoof has to be at a specific angle to make sure they are able to walk properly - it has to be between 50 and 55 degrees – so that was probably one of my biggest struggles.” Another difficulty was the more physical aspects of the work, with her needing to build up proper endurance to both use her tools and to hold up the horse as she works on them, with these horses sometimes needing to lean on her for support. “Initially it would take me an hour to do just a single horse, just because I’d have to take so many breaks,” Valet said. “There’s a lot of physical challenges at the start, but it’s just like when you start a new exercise, you eventually get used to it overtime.” Despite their strength and height, Valet added she was never too worried about being hurt by the horses she worked on, first starting on easier, more well-tempered horses, and has moved on to younger and sometimes more easily startled horses. “There’s been times where I have gotten kicked, or I’ve accidentally cut myself while I’m doing the trimming,” she admitted, though she never felt discouraged or intimidated by these moments. Valet would also often use her horse training skills during her farrier work, having already developed patience and calming strategies that she could then implement, typically through allowing them to take plenty of breaks. “A lot of times we’ll bring in a different horse that they like, just to make them feel safer.” Having already honed a lot of her farrier skills, Valet has started learning how to shoe horses. “Just in the past two months, I’ve learned how to do that, and I’m working right now on learning how to use a forge, how to widen the shoe and custom fit it to the horse’s feet, and learning how to nail it in their hoof.” This has involved developing a whole new style of hoof trimming, she explained, as its done differently when preparing for a shoe to go on afterwards. Like with trimming, Valet has been able to see first-hand how much of a positive difference shoes make for horses. “It’s kind of comparable to when you’re barefoot to when you’re wearing shoes for humans and horses. Some horses may limp when they’re walking, and then you put on shoes and they walk and run and do everything else they should be able to do.” Already excited about this new set of skills, Valet hopes to learn more about blacksmithing horseshoes, including the different types and sizes of them and which shoes work best for specific horses, all just so she can continue helping them. Making a true difference It didn’t take long for Valet to put her new skills to personal use, she recalled, as the first horse she bought had problems with her feet. “We were able to help her a lot through trimming her, so that was really just motivation for me, seeing (my aunt) be able to fix this horse and help their lives,” Valet said. Years later, Valet helps her main horse, Trixie, manage her arthritis through keeping her hooves clean and well managed. “Making sure her feet are okay is a really big part of making sure she’s overall healthy.” Recently, with her newest horse, Valet was able to put shoes on him herself, which she says felt like a great personal achievement for her. “He was limping on the rocks and while he was walking around, and he’s only five years old so he should not be doing that. He came to us and his feet were very bad and very flared (…) and just within the past five months, there’s been a world of difference in the way that he moves and the way his feet work,” she said. For the time being, Valet plans to continue working as a farrier as she attends college. “It doesn’t take that long to do, it takes me about 30 to 45 minutes to fully trim a horse, and it’s decent pay for how long it takes.” Once she graduates, she expects to primarily use her skills to trim and take care of her own horses. “It saves a lot of money, being able to do your own horses as opposed to paying someone else.” As for how she plans to continue helping other horses, Valet said she plans to go into horse and human chiropractic, a field she already has a leg up in. “I’ve noticed that just knowing the different bones, ligaments, and tendons all in their leg through doing farrier work, because I have to learn all those to correctly do the hoof, has helped me with the chiropractic side as well,” she said. Knowing how much of a difference her new skills have made for her and her horses, Valet encourages other students to also learn the farrier process, especially if they own horses and have been around them for a long time, though she specifies that they should learn how to do it properly through people who have already spent years doing it. “You have these farmers who do their horses because it’s their working horse, so they’re just going to trim them, and they don’t realize how things have to be or the angle the hoof has to be at, and that can just wear down the horse’s tendons and legs over time. So, I would encourage people to learn how to do it properly and then apply those skills on different horses,” she said. The best way to start learning, Valet believed, was through asking a personal farrier detailed questions while watching what they’re doing, trying to get as much knowledge as possible. “There’s just little tiny things you need to know, and it can be very specific, so ask as many questions as you can.” With all she’s learned and how much more she still has to learn, Valet said her favorite part of the job has continued to remain the same. Outside of getting the chance to meet and get to know different horses, the most enjoyable part has always been being able to see the improvements each horse is able to make once they get the help they need. “Seeing before and after pictures of a horse that I had to cut a big chunk of hoof off and then seeing that they’re able to walk so much better and live happier lives is always just really great,” she said.  

Iowa crops rated well despite heavy rain, storms

Damaging storms, one of which reached derecho status, spread across Iowa over the past week, but the state’s crop conditions remain stable, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said in a news release Monday that severe storms damaged crops and homes in eastern and southern Iowa during the June 8 through June 14 reporting period. Above-average rainfall for the second week in a row also caused flooding in some fields and “created challenging conditions for farmers” according to Naig. “Our thoughts are with those affected as recovery efforts continue,” Naig said in a news release. State Climatologist Justin Glisan reported the average precipitation across the state was 2.37 inches for the week, which was more than an inch above the climatological normal. A weather station in Russell reported a weekly total of 7.44 inches – the most precipitation recorded in the state during the reporting period. Heavy rain meant soggier soils. USDA rated 19% of topsoil as having surplus moisture and 13% of subsoil as surplus moisture condition for the week. This is an increase from the week prior, when 9% of topsoil and 7% of subsoil had a surplus moisture condition rating. The weather left farmers with 3.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the reporting period. Glisan also reported the week was unseasonably warm, with a statewide average temperature of 73.2 degrees Fahrenheit, more than 4 degrees warmer than the normal. Average temperatures across the state have been elevated for several weeks, with temperatures more than 8 degrees warmer than the normal during the May 25 through May 31 reporting period, according to Glisan’s reports. Iowa’s main crops continue to progress at or ahead of last year’s schedule. Corn and soybean emergence, at 97% and 95% respectively, are ahead of 2025 crop report figures and planting is mostly finished for both crops. Seventy-nine percent of corn crops in the state rated good to excellent condition for the reporting period. Iowa pasture and soybean were both rated 77% good to excellent condition. Oat conditions were 83% good to excellent and the crop, with 78% emergence, is 11 percentage points ahead of last year’s crop.

“America 250: Focus with Artist Sarah Ann Weber,” July 9

In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Davenport's Figge Art Museum is hosting American Art talks throughout the month of July, and on Thursday the 9th, guests are invited to the John Deere Auditorium to hear from Chicago artist Sarah Ann Weber, whose work Their Perfume Lost is featured in the A Golden Age for Whom? exhibition currently on view in the Mary Waterman Gildehaus Community Gallery.

Heavy Metal Summer Experience gives students hands-on electrical training in Moline

Eight Quad-Cities students are spending a week learning electrical skills, wiring projects and solar installation through a hands-on summer program.

Muscatine County Fair celebrates U.S.A. 250 July 15–19

The theme of this year’s Muscatine County Fair, scheduled from July 15-19, is “Freedom, Farming and Family Fun.” Wednesday and Thursday are Kids’ Days and Friday is Seniors Day. The annual Muscatine County Fair Parade will be Sunday, July 12, at 2 p.m. For more information, contact the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce. July 15: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA dog show, the 4-H/FFA dairy goat show and the 4-H/FFA meat goat show. The evening entertainment will include the coronation of Fair Royalty at 5 p.m. in The Grove, followed by stock car races in the grandstand. July 16: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA swine show and the 4-H/FFA rabbit show. Bacon Buddies will take place at 2:30 p.m. Evening entertainment features a concert by country band Confederate Railroad, with opening act the Cal Stage Band.  July 17: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA beef show, the 4-H/FFA poultry show, the 4-H/FFA bucket calf show and the 4-H FFA pet show. The evening entertainment will be the annual tractor pulls, hosted by ECIPA. July 18: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA sheep show. The evening entertainment is a concert by up-and-coming musician Josh Ross, with opening act Mark Chestnutt. July 19: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA horse show. Grandstand entertainment includes the annual demolition derby and trailer racing.  Throughout fair week, guests are welcome to explore the newly opened Kent Event Center, which will feature a wide array of static 4-H exhibits, as well as new activity exhibit for kids, “Play with the Giants: Ag edition.” Grounds admission to the fair is $10 for adults and $5 for kids per day. Pricing for grandstand entertainment varies by event and can be found at the Muscatine County Fair website. Fun passes and carnival armbands can also be purchased through the site. The Muscatine County Fairgrounds are located at 101 N. Clay St. in West Liberty. More information is available at muscatinecountyfair.com.

Cedar County opens the fair season July 8–12

The Cedar County Fair runs from July 8-12, with pre-fair activities scheduled July 5-7. Daily activities include Carve R Way chainsaw artistry, Bruno Blaszak’s Royal Bengal Tigers, Ms. Amy’s face painting, bingo, demonstrations from Cedar County Conservation, a petting zoo and more. July 8: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA horse show, the livestock skill-a-thon, the 4-H/FFA poultry show and the egg show. A veterans’ day ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m., and the Sports Wall of Fame induction will be at 1 p.m. Mutton bustin’ will take place at 4 p.m. in the Rodeo Arena. The fair royalty crowning will be at 5:30 p.m. on the Family Foods Stage at the Custom Builders Pavilion. Grandstand entertainment includes Mutton bustin’ and the Rogue Rodeo. A DJ will play following the rodeo. July 9: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA swine show, followed by Bacon Buddies, the 4-H/FFA sheep show, 4-H/FFA meat goat show, and the open lamb show. The Queens Cake and Ugly Cake contests will start at 10 a.m. in the Floral Hall, and the salsa contest taste testing will be at 5 p.m. The Tipton FFA and alumni pie auction will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Brothers Market Stage at the Custom Builders Pavilion. Grandstand entertainment includes Hot Laps at 6:30 p.m., followed by races. Adult bingo will be held following the races. July 10: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA cow/calf show, the heifer show, a draft horse show, the 4-H/FFA pet show, the 4-H/FFA bucket/bottle calf show, the “pre-4-H” bucket/bottle calf show and the dairy show. From 9 a.m. – noon, daycares will have free gate entry, and noon – 3 p.m., senior centers will have free gate entry. The kiddie tractor pull, sponsored by the Tipton FFA, will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Custom Builders Pavilion, together with the truck and tractor pullers meet and greet. The Cattlemen will host their Brisket Bash from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Cattlemen’s Building. Grandstand entertainment includes the ECIPA Truck & Tractor Pull, followed by a performance by Dirt Road Rockers on the Brothers Market Stage in the Custom Builders Pavilion. July 11: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA rabbit show, the 4-H/FFA market beef show, the 4-H/FFA supreme showmanship show, the live market beef auction and the all-species ribbon auction. The auction buyer’s celebration will be held at 4 p.m. in the Cattlemen’s Building. The Bill Riley Talent Contest will begin at 11 a.m. on the Brothers Market Stage in the Custom Builders Pavilion, and the chainsaw artist auction will be held at 5:30 p.m. Grandstand entertainment includes a concert by Randy Houser, featuring Conway Turley, at 7:30 p.m. Turley will also perform on the Brothers Market Stage following Houser’s concert. July 12: Livestock shows include the open horse show and the 4-H/FFA carcass contest. The baby contest will be held at 10 a.m. on the Brothers Market Stage. The Cedar County Auto Fest car show will start at 10 a.m. south of the main gate. 4-H activities continue at 10:30 a.m. with the style show on the Brothers Market Stage, followed by the Clover Kids graduation and Share the Fun. Youth Olympics will be held from noon – 3 p.m. south of the swine building. Grandstand entertainment will be a demolition derby at 3 p.m. Season passes for the fair are $40 for adults and $20 for seniors and children aged 6-16. Tickets to the Randy Houser concert are $35 before July 11, when the price will increase to $40. VIP tickets are also available. Additional pricing for all grandstand entertainment is available at thecedarcountyfair.com. The Cedar County Fairgrounds are located at 1195 210th St. in Tipton. A full fair schedule and pricing is available at thecedarcountyfair.com.

“The Wizard of Oz,” July 8 through September 5

At Rock Island's Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse from July 8 through September 5, family audiences are invited to follow the yellow brick road toward a magical stage treat in the theatre's new production of The Wizard of Oz, a delightful stage adaptation of the L. Frank Baum tale boasting the beloved musical score from the MGM film and unforgettable songs including "If I Only Had a Brain," "Ding Dong, the Witch Is Dead," and, of course, the iconic "Over the Rainbow."

Reynolds calls ruling ‘short-sighted’ that blocks SNAP restriction on junk food

A sign at a grocery store shows certain items cannot be purchased using the federal nutrition assistance program. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday called a federal judge’s decision to stop Iowa from restricting the purchase of soda and candy through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program “short-sighted” and said it “does nothing to improve the health of our country.” The decision issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson overturns a federal waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that allowed Iowa to exclude certain food and drinks from being purchased using SNAP. The waiver was granted to the state in May 2025 and took effect at the start of the year, Jan. 1. Colorado, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia had also been granted waivers by the USDA to implement similar restrictions which were rescinded by the district court decision. The lawsuit, filed by the National Center for Law and Economic Justice on behalf of SNAP recipients in the impacted states, argued the “healthy” food waivers stop individuals from accessing foods that meet their needs for issues like diabetes or allergies — as well as stating these waivers change the legal definition of “food” for the program. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. In her decision, Jackson agreed with this argument, saying that when Congress defined “food,” when creating SNAP,  it did not “authorize the agency to amend or waive the definition it enacted” or authorize the USDA to “cut types of food out of SNAP entirely.” Jackson also stated the ruling was not a reflection on whether the waivers to restrict items deemed unhealthy should or should not be pursued. The ruling is based on the fact that U.S. law states SNAP benefits are only restricted for “alcoholic beverages, tobacco, hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption,” she wrote. “The federal defendants and the states may have a genuine desire to improve the health of SNAP households by encouraging healthy choices at the store, and they can take lawful steps to meet those goals,” the ruling states. “But what they cannot do is violate the law and their own regulations along the way.” Reynolds defends Iowa’s waiver Reynolds said in a statement, “for decades, the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has fallen short of its original intent to provide low-income families with affordable access to nutritious food.” “With a broad definition of eligible foods — one that excludes only alcohol, tobacco, and hot foods — taxpayers are subsidizing so-called nutrition benefits that today include soft drinks and candy while 40% of American adults and 20% of children are obese,” Reynolds said in a statement. “I’m proud that Iowa is among the states leading the type of SNAP reforms necessary to promote better nutrition, health, and well-being. The changes proposed aren’t a mandate—SNAP members can choose what they want, but the state won’t pay for unhealthy foods.” The USDA has approved waivers restricting certain foods from purchase in 23 states overall, Reuters reported, — changes that were supported by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ​as part of the “Make America Healthy Again,” or “MAHA” movement. A spokesperson for the USDA said in a statement that the department “will not be backing down from the fight to Make America Healthy Again, including for families and communities reliant on SNAP.” In Iowa and other states where these restrictions were implemented, some SNAP recipients and anti-hunger advocates have argued they are not necessarily helping people receiving food benefits eat more healthy food, but are making it more difficult for people in need to access assistance while causing confusion for retailers. In a Tuesday statement, Katharine Deabler-Meadows, a senior attorney at the National Center for Law and Economic Justice called the decision “a major step in restoring essential food assistance to the millions of families that rely on SNAP nationwide.” “This decision makes clear that the USDA cannot bypass the legal guardrails that establish how SNAP must operate across the country,” Deabler-Meadows said. “It affirms that families deserve a program that works without confusion.” However, the decision could potentially affect Iowa’s participation in federal food assistance programs in the future. The Iowa “MAHA” law, signed by Reynolds in May, requires the state to “continually request” restrictions on the purchase of unhealthy foods through both SNAP and the federal Summer EBT program. While the law, House File 2676, states SNAP benefits will be available to recipients “uninterrupted” in accordance with federal law, regardless of whether the USDA “approves state participation utilizing only eligible foods,” it does not contain this requirement for the state’s future participation in the Summer EBT program. In December 2025, Reynolds had announced the state would participate in the USDA SUN Bucks program — known as Summer EBT — in the 2026 summer because the federal department approved a waiver aligning the summer feeding program with the “Healthy SNAP” restrictions. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch

MVF to offer single concert ticket option this year

The Great Mississippi Valley Fair returns for its 106th year Aug. 4-9. Attractions include the kids’ tractor pull, Dallas the Fire Guy, mutton bustin’, Tiger Encounter, Incredible Bats, Pretty Bird Paradise and more. Sandyland will return, and new this year will be kids karaoke. The Little Farm Hands petting zoo will be located in the Iowa Educational Building, which opens Thursday. Aug. 4: Tuesday is Special Needs Day, and individuals with special needs will receive free admission from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Livestock shows include the meat goat show, the 4-H sheep show and the 4-H and youth dairy goat show. The grandstand concert is Brad Paisley. Aug. 5: Wednesday is Senior Day, and individuals aged 60 and older will receive free admission all day. Livestock shows include the 4-H dairy and dairy bucket calf show and the 4-H breeding beef show. The grandstand concert is Keith Urban. Aug. 6: Thursday is Kids’ Day. Gate admission is free for all children aged 4-12 accompanied by an adult. Livestock shows include the 4-H poultry and egg show and the hay judging contest. The grandstand concert is Jessie Murph, featuring Stella Lefty. Aug. 7: Livestock shows include the 4-H market beef show and the bucket calf show. The 4-H fashion show and Share the Fun will take place in Keppy Hall at 5:30 p.m. The grandstand show is Tucker Wetmore, featuring Braxton Keith.  Aug. 8: Livestock shows include the 4-H rabbit show and the 4-H swine show. The apple pie auction will take place at approximately noon in the Claussen Show Barn. The grandstand concert is Goo Goo Dolls, featuring Neon Trees. Aug. 9: Sunday is Military Day, with free admission all day to all active and inactive service members with a military ID. Livestock shows include the horse show. The 4-H and FFA ribbon auction will take place at 10 a.m., followed by the buyer appreciation luncheon. The grandstand concert is Craig Morgan and Neil McCoy. Mississippi Valley Fair Fun Cards are $100 before July 1, when the price will increase to $120. Once again, the MVF is offering the WLLR and Pepsi Premier Experience, which includes exclusive pit access. A limited number of experience tickets are available at $200 per person. New this year, the MVF is offering a single ticket concert option, allowing fans to attend a single concert without buying a Fun Card. Ticket prices vary by headliner, and a limited number of tickets are available. The cost of the ticket also includes admission to the fair. There is also a single concert WLLR and Pepsi Premier Experience package for $125 per person. Installment payment packages are also available this year for tickets purchased online. Grounds admission to the fair (which does not include grandstand concerts) is $12 for adults and $5 for kids aged 4-12 and senior citizens. Kids under 3 are free every day the fair is open. The Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds are located at 2815 W. Locust St. in Davenport. A full fair schedule and the online box office can be found at mvfair.com. 

“Heaven Help Me,” July 9 through 19

With its author Joe Simonelli praised by the Asbury Park Press as a playwright who "really knows his characters" and "writes in a way which really gets to people," the ethereal comedy Heaven Help Me enjoys a July 9 through 19 run at Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, Bloomberg Radio's Joe Franklin adding to the praise by calling the show "a touching comedy/fantasy that displays both wit and charm."

Federal court strikes WV’s SNAP restrictions on soda

A sign for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is displayed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of USDA)A federal judge on Monday struck down a West Virginia pilot project that restricted recipients of the federal food assistance program SNAP from using their benefits to purchase soda.  United States District Judge Amy Berman Jackson granted plaintiffs a summary judgement on Monday in a case brought by SNAP recipients from five states, including West Virginia, where the federal Department of Agriculture has approved SNAP waivers that restrict what foods can be purchased.  Plaintiffs are represented by the National Center for Law and Economic Justice and Shinder Cantor Lerner LLP. The judge wrote that the section of law the USDA used to authorize the SNAP waivers doesn’t cover projects meant to improve the health of SNAP recipients and that the agency sidestepped the section that does address the projects, which has strict requirements.  The USDA also failed to meet a requirement to post notice of pilot projects likely to have significant impact on the public in the federal register 30 days prior to implementation, the judge wrote.  “The Court’s analysis should not be taken as a comment on whether the pilot projects are a  good idea or not,” Berman Jackson wrote. “That is a question of policy that is not before the Court. The federal defendants and the states may have a genuine desire to improve the health of SNAP households by encouraging healthy choices at the store, and they can take lawful steps to meet those goals. But what they cannot do is violate the law and their own regulations along the way.”   Katherine Deabler-Meadows, a senior attorney at the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, called the ruling a “huge win” for SNAP recipients in affected states.  “It’s very helpful not just for SNAP recipients to be able to buy the foods that they need to buy with their benefits, but it’s also really important for just general access to food,” she said. “These restrictions are very, very onerous for retailers to actually comply with.  “It costs a lot of money, it requires a lot of resources, and so there was a real risk that with these restrictions in place that retailers would stop participating in SNAP, and that, then any SNAP recipient who lived in that community wouldn’t have anywhere to use their benefits,” she said. “So we’ve avoided those consequences in the five states that were included in this case.” West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey formally requested the SNAP waiver to restrict soda purchases last spring. It was part of Morrisey’s  “Four Pillars of a Healthy West Virginia.” The USDA approved the SNAP waiver in August, and the restrictions took effect Jan. 1.  The state’s SNAP ban included regular soda, diet soda and zero-calorie soda, but did not include water, milk, juice or energy drinks. The state defines soda as “any carbonated, non-alcoholic beverage that contains water, a sweetening agent, flavoring, and carbon dioxide gas to create carbonation.” Morrisey’s office and the state Department of Human Services did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday.  The USDA referred a West Virginia Watch reporter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins’ post about the ruling on the social media platform X.  In the post, Rollins called Berman Jackson an “activist judge” who blocked a “commonsense restriction” on using SNAP benefits for “soda and junk.”  “SNAP is for food — not sugar bombs fueling obesity, diabetes, and skyrocketing healthcare costs for low-income families,” she wrote. “Taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize junk food and drinks at the expense of American health. This administration will keep fighting to Make America Healthy Again.” In a statement Tuesday, a USDA spokesman wrote that “the idea that taxpayer funds should not be used to purchase junk food should not be controversial. USDA will not be backing down from the fight to Make America Healthy Again, including for families and communities reliant on SNAP.” Courtesy of West Virginia Watch

Countryside Community Theatre's “Guys & Dolls,” July 3 through 12

One of the greatest and most beloved musicals in the history of American theatre opens Countryside Community Theatre's 2026 summer season at Eldridge's North Scott High School Fine Arts Auditorium, with Guys & Dolls running July 3 through 12, and treating audiences to a nine-time Tony Award winner that the New York Times called “the show that defines Broadway dazzle.”

“Cabaret,” July 3 through 12

One of American theatre's most exciting, acclaimed, and tune-filled entertainments receives a Timber Lake Playhouse staging during the July 3 through 12 Mt. Carroll run of Cabaret, the legendary Kander & Ebb musical that earned a combined 12 Tony Awards for Broadway's 1966 original and 1998 revival, and that was adapted into a 1972 film classic that received eight Oscars including Best Actress for Liza Minnelli and Best Director for Bob Fosse.

“Legally Blonde: The Musical Jr.,” June 24 through 27

The one-act version of a Tony-nominated delight the New York Times described as "a high-energy ... hymn to the glories of girlishness,” the theatrical version of a beloved Reese Witherspoon comedy enjoys a June 24 through 27 run with the Timber Lake Playhouse's Legally Blonde: The Musical Jr., a hilarious, tune-filled treat sure to demonstrate why Broadway World called the original show “a bright testimony to the power of women and importance of self-love.”

How a George Floyd-inspired California law accidentally weakened police accountability

How a George Floyd-inspired California law accidentally weakened police accountabilityIn 2020, with the death of George Floyd still dominating the national conversation over police accountability, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law taking away responsibility for investigating fatal police shootings from local authorities and putting it in the hands of the state attorney general.Lawmakers reasoned that an independent outside agency would bring more credibility — as well as speed and investigative firepower — to the process while eliminating potential conflicts of interest that can arise when police or local district attorneys have to investigate agencies they work closely with.Police accountability advocates enthusiastically endorsed the legislation that authorized the switch. Then-Assemblymember Rob Bonta championed it, too. When Bonta became attorney general the following year, he pledged to complete all investigations within 12 months.He hasn’t come close. The department has yet to close a single investigation within one year.In fact, a CalMatters investigation found that Bonta’s office has 13 use-of-force investigations that have exceeded three years or longer — well past the statute of limitations for many of the crimes an officer or a deputy could conceivably be charged with short of murder.The average fatal shooting investigation takes Bonta’s team nearly two years and five months to complete. Just eight of 41 closed cases took less than two years.The delays take away another potential enforcement tool as well: Once a case extends beyond three years, an officer cannot be decertified, meaning they cannot be prevented from working for other law enforcement agencies.The time lag leaves families of potential victims waiting for justice and leaves officers in limbo as they wait to be charged or exonerated.“In my experience, three years is an awful long period of time, especially if you’re starting to come upon statutes of limitations,” said Anne Marie Schubert, the former Sacramento County district attorney who unsuccessfully ran for attorney general in 2022.Schubert said she was surprised to see that the last case closed by the program was a shooting in 2023.“Is it resources?” she asked. “Is it experience? That’s a question I’d want to know.”To date, not a single officer has been prosecuted by Bonta’s office, and no officer has been referred for decertification or even discipline after a police shooting investigation.Bonta blames the backlog on a lack of funding and other priorities from the Legislature. His predecessor, Xavier Becerra, made the same argument just before the law took effect when he requested twice as much money for the investigations than the Legislature provided. On its first investigation, Justice Department employees complained in internal emails that they were undermanned.Bonta’s office also says nothing in the law prevents local authorities from conducting their own parallel investigations. Natasha Uzcátegui-Liggett // CalMatters But the CalMatters investigation found that as a practical matter, local authorities take a hands-off approach once Bonta’s office steps in.“If the case meets the criteria under (the police shooting law) and DOJ confirms they are taking over the investigation, we do not do a parallel criminal investigation of our own or do a criminal investigation of our own after DOJ concludes their investigation,” said Capt. Brian Cole, who oversees the detective division at the Redding Police Department. “They have complete criminal jurisdiction of the matter.”‘I didn’t see him again alive’That happened with a Redding case that began on Christmas Day, 2022, when David Couch was taken to jail. Since then, Jeanelle Couch spent three and a half years trying to find out exactly what happened to her son.By the time David Couch, 31, was released on Feb. 8, 2023, Jeanelle Couch said her son was experiencing a manic episode.According to a lawsuit Jeanelle later filed, David was given the wrong medication for his bipolar disorder for his entire jail stay. He told her he had spent the majority of his time in solitary confinement, another allegation in the lawsuit.“He was happy to see us and he asked if we remembered him,” she said about the day he went home. “When I got up the next morning to go to work, he talked to me for a long time and I said, ‘Oh, honey, I’m so sorry, I got to go to work now.’“And then I didn’t see him again alive.” Larry Valenzuela // CalMatters That afternoon, David sat in his car in his mother’s driveway in a small residential neighborhood in Redding.At 5:25 p.m., the California Highway Patrol received a call of a driver southbound on Interstate 5 who was brandishing a gun. The make, model and plates matched David’s car.Nine minutes later, California Highway Patrol officer Ryan Cates pulled into Couch’s driveway.According to dashboard camera footage, Couch was sitting in his white Ford sedan with the driver’s side door open.“Show me your hands!” Cates called out. “Put your hands up!”Couch emerged in a brown hooded sweatshirt, khaki pants and a gray baseball cap, the dashcam footage shows. He was wearing a backpack and gripping his cell phone with both hands. Couch also had a pair of knives strapped to his jacket, according to a Justice Department investigation, but didn’t touch them. Couch took eight steps toward Cates, who had his gun in his right hand, pointed at Couch.Their initial conversation is inaudible.Cates raised his gun, holding it now with both hands. Couch came toward him. The dashboard camera was able to record more of their argument, which involved Couch saying to leave him alone, then calling Cate obscenities and saying “shoot.” A struggle ensued that was not visible on camera. At least twice, Couch called Cates a slur.“Get on the ground,” Cates said. “I will shoot you right now.”According to a Department of Justice report issued last week, Couch then got ahold of Cates’ Taser. Images via the California Department of Justice Couch continued to berate Cates, calling him a “dirty cop.” The two slid back into view, with Cates holding Couch against the hood of the car, Couch’s face bathed red in the patrol car’s dashboard lights. Cates attempted to put handcuffs on Couch, but Couch slipped to his right and out of view of the dashboard camera again.“Give me a .45 (caliber handgun) and I’d f— you up!” Couch yelled at Cates.Cates would later tell Justice Department investigators that he believed Couch was trying to take his handgun.Then, there were several audible clicks. Couch taunted Cates, asking, “It’s not working?” A second later, Cates fired four shots. The entire encounter lasted exactly one minute.“I am uninjured,” Cates said into his police radio. “Suspect down, multiple gunshot wounds.”Couch lived for nine days. He died on Feb. 17, 2023.According to Couch’s sister, “David was shot so many times he was no longer recognizable.” In an online fundraising appeal for the family, the sister, Lauren Metzger, added that, “We can’t understand why this happened, but we do know he did not have a gun anywhere around his person when he was discovered laying in the street by my parents and his best friend.”For the nine days David Couch survived, a five-agency team convened to investigate the shooting, led by the Redding Police Department. Then, when Couch died, the Department of Justice shooting investigation team took over, and the local team ended its inquiry. Larry Valenzuela // CalMatters More than three years have passed. Cates returned to work, according to the California Highway Patrol. His lawyer did not respond to messages from CalMatters.Shasta County and the state of California have denied responsibility in the federal lawsuit filed by Couch’s family in the Eastern District of California. In its response, Shasta County said Cates is entitled to qualified immunity, which limits the civil liability of government officials, usually police officers.The investigation from the Department of Justice took 1,199 days. It found “there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution of Officer Cates.”Shorthanded from the startGiving the state justice department more power to investigate law enforcement shootings was hailed as a big win for the police accountability movement when Newsom signed the law in 2020.Former Assemblymember Kevin McCarty of Sacramento had proposed the legislation several times before. The fatal shooting of Stephon Clark by Sacramento police in 2018 lent momentum to McCarty’s effort — Clark’s family was outraged that Schubert, then the district attorney, didn’t press charges against officers in his killing.George Floyd’s killing by a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020 emboldened a bipartisan push for police reform laws that ultimately carried McCarty’s bill through the Legislature and on to Newsom’s desk.But within days of receiving their first case, the Justice Department’s shooting investigation teams knew they were undermanned.“There were dozens of tasks and assignments that the … special agents could not accomplish because of limited staffing,” the department wrote in a budget request submitted to the Legislature in 2022.Even before the shooting teams deployed, there were early warnings that the Justice Department might have bitten off more than it could chew.The department asked for $26 million to pay for the new shooting investigation teams. The Legislature allotted half of that, about $13 million.The allocation “is significantly lower than our estimates and not enough resources to stand up professional teams to perform these new investigative and prosecutorial duties,” former Attorney General Xavier Becerra wrote to McCarty in January 2021, six months before the law took effect.The department originally wanted four investigative teams — one each in Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles and Riverside. Instead, it got two, one North and one South.One year into the program, shooting investigations were already lagging behind Bonta’s self-imposed timeline of one year.In response, at the time, Bonta said: “We got the funding that we got, and we’re going to make it work. We have no choice. We have to find a way.”Investigations first stretched past one year, then two years, and in 2025, a case reached beyond three years.The California Department of Justice did not make anyone available for an interview about its backlog of police shooting investigations. In a written statement, an unnamed spokesperson said Bonta personally reviews every investigation.“All investigations are unique in their complexity, and some may take longer than others to investigate and reach a conclusion,” the statement read.“We’re continuously identifying ways to tighten timelines and improve our processes. It’s a balancing act — but it’s one we’re actively managing. Improvements are already taking hold. In the last two and a half years, we closed 9 times as many cases as were closed in the first two and a half years that the law was operational, and we remain committed to improving.”Police chiefs want faster investigationsMany law enforcement leaders are growing impatient.“Police chiefs across the state have consistently raised concerns and advocated for a timelier process, yet progress has been minimal,” said Sean Thuilliez, president of the California Police Chiefs Association. “When transparency is not accompanied by timeliness, the system risks falling short for everyone—eroding confidence, deepening mistrust, and prolonging uncertainty.”Law enforcement and conservative prosecutors were, perhaps predictably, opposed to losing local shooting investigations to the state. But even prosecutors who were pursuing police accountability were nervous about removing locals from the process.With the state in control, local citizens have less power to protest or pressure their local leaders.“Local concern, local protests, local interest is felt by local prosecutors,” said Cristine Soto DeBerry, who created a unit investigating police officers at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, where she was chief of staff. She is now the executive director of the progressive advocacy group Prosecutors Alliance.“The very real pain of family and community members that experience that absolutely has an impact on a prosecutor and their willingness to take this crime seriously.”Jeanelle Couch said that even though the DOJ investigation is over, she’s still hopeful about the lawsuits her family filed against the state, the county and the officer who killed her son.“I want light on it,” Couch said. “That’s what I want. Just, justice.”What does justice look like to her?She looked at the ground.“Now? I don’t know.”This story was produced by CalMatters and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Red, White, & Boom!, July 3

Annual explosions of fun followed by literal explosions in the air will be taking place in Davenport's LeClaire Park, Rock Island's Schwiebert Riverfront Park, and Davenport's baseball stadium Modern Woodmen Park when the Quad Cities hosts its Fourth of July celebration Red, White, & Boom!, the bi-state July 3 event delivering a spectacular fireworks display over the Mississippi River as well as live music, food and beverage vendors, special presentations, family programming, and more.

2026 Walcott Truckers Jamboree, July 9 through 11

Making its eagerly awaited July 9 through 11 return, the Walcott Truckers Jamboree at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop will, in its 46th year, showcase more than 175 exhibits, displays, games, cookouts, fireworks, local and national country and rock musicians, and even a beauty contest for trucks in a celebration of America's big rigs and those who drive them.

River Action's Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks, July 7 through August 1

Delivering a blend of local history, environmental issues, education, entertainment, and fresh air, Davenport's River Action continues its series of outdoor presentations in the annual Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks – weekly "Explore the River Series" programs that, from July 7 through August 1, will address such topics as ferry boats, pollinators, Silvis' Hero Street, and noted area jazz legend Bix Beiderbecke.

Boll's sold: Historic community center fetches $200K for Princeton

Princeton will sell Boll’s Community Center. The city council voted 5–0 Monday to accept a $200,000 offer from Tom McMurren of Rushville, Ill. for the storied property, 428 River Drive. Councilman and former mayor Kevin Kernan voted against listing the community center for sale last August. But on Monday, he said it was the right decision for the town. “It's very expensive to run down there. It's a great location for it—it’s just not being run right,” he said. “Cities don't run great businesses.” Once a thriving general store, Boll’s has served as Princeton’s community center for several decades. Recent years have seen rental revenue dwindle as repair and maintenance costs have grown. Mayor Travis Volrath and members of the council have said they would like to devote the proceeds of the sale to renovation of the former Presbyterian Church building, which the city accepted as a gift last summer. The church building could host a new community center, city offices, a day care and a food pantry, Volrath and council members have suggested. Many Princeton residents have fond memories of the building, Councilman Zach Phares acknowledged Monday. “Those memories don't go away when it becomes something else. In fact, it is something completely different right now than when we made those memories,” he said. “When we can't afford to put the love into the building that it deserves, allowing somebody that has a passion to do so for our community becomes the best option,” he said. In an email, McMurren said that he planned to continue offering the building as an event venue and hoped to add “historic and antique décor.” “The long term plan is to get the upstairs, which is in great disrepair and will need a lot of time, money and sweat to complete, turned into a living space that would work as an Airbnb,” he added.  Reached for comment Monday evening, McMurren said he would share additional details after the sale closed. He said that he had formerly lived in LeClaire and planned to move back to the area soon. McMurren made a $150,000 offer on the space earlier this month, Volrath said Monday. The city council decided to counteroffer at $200,000 in a closed meeting June 11. McMurren accepted the counteroffer. Princeton City Council listed the building for $350,000 in August 2025. They dropped the price to $325,000 this March. Princeton’s insurance policy lists the building’s replacement cost at $2.5 million. Scott County has assessed the building at $171,000. As a piece of commercial real estate, it would generate approximately $5,000 in new tax revenue annually, city realtor Chris McDanel told the council Monday. Princeton resident Myrna Dannatt encouraged the council to sell the building at a public hearing before the vote Monday. A member of the community center board, she said the building had fallen into disuse and could be revitalized by a private business—like a coffee shop, antique mall or bed-and-breakfast. “We’ve got to do something different here... Let's make a change,” she said. Resident and former councilwoman Ann Geiger asked the council several pointed questions about the sale. She has voiced opposition to the sale and concerns over the potential cost of church renovations since last summer. “Have you already decided to sell it?” she asked. “Is all the money going to be used for the church, and has any ceiling been put on the church as to what is considered to be too much money to spend on that building?” Kernan said the council owed Geiger an answer to her questions about the church. Mayor Travis Volrath insisted that the council not discuss the church at a meeting where it did not appear on the agenda. Before voting in favor of the sale, Kernan noted that all proceeds would enter the city general fund, and noted that city statements would show how the money is spent. Boll’s is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Title trouble McDanel and Volrath said they hoped to close on the property by the end of July—but that could be difficult, as the city could not locate its abstract of title. The city has lost abstracts of title to all its buildings besides the Presbyterian Church, City Clerk Kisa Tweed said Monday. Former city clerk Katie Enlow last accessed title documents in the city’s safety deposit box in 2018. But when Tweed contacted her this month, she did not have the key. Princeton paid $200 to have the box drilled open—only to find that there were no title documents inside. Enlow did not have those either. McDanel said title reconstruction for Boll’s would cost about $1,500.  

Iowa American presents options

Representatives from Iowa American Water gave another presentation to the Eldridge Utility Board on Tuesday, June 16. However, board members and city officials still have many concerns to be addressed before any final decisions will be made on what to do with the city’s water and sewer utility. Ben Keith, director of business development and government affairs for Iowa American Water, delivered essentially the same presentation given to the Eldridge City Council on June 1. At that meeting, Iowa American Water president Brad Nielsen followed up on a presentation given at a May 18 joint committee of the whole meeting between the city council and the utility board. At the May 18 meeting, Iowa American Water officials recommended a full acquisition of Eldridge’s water and sewer utilities at a proposed price of $36.8 million. On June 1, Nielsen returned to give more information about two other options, a bulk water sale agreement and a defined service area agreement. Nielsen, and later Keith in his presentation to the utility board, said in their May 18 meeting, they had assumed the city was further along in its decision-making process regarding the utility, which had led the company to make its recommendation of the full acquisition. Therefore, they wanted to provide more information on these other options for consideration. Under the bulk water purchase agreement, Eldridge’s water utility would connect to a 12-inch watermain south of Slopertown Road that is owned by Iowa American Water. The company would set up a water meter, and the city would pay a monthly rate based on usage. Any additional capital investment in the area within the Eldridge city limits would be paid for by the city. A recent study by ISG Engineering said that could cost anywhere from $18 million to $29 million. Scott Hinton, engineering manager for Iowa American Water, shared additional information on what being a bulk customer would mean for the city. “Something to keep in mind: a bulk water sale would not be viewed as a regular customer. One of the things the Iowa Utilities Commission requires is that we treat all of our customers the same. So, should there ever be a situation where there’s enough development that we can’t serve all of our customers and our bulk water customers, the bulk water customers are the first ones that would not be served. “At this point, we can treat 30 million gallons a day, and our average day of selling is 16 to 17 (million). A big day in the summer might be 23 or 24. So, we still have plenty of capacity. But, I guess I want to be clear and make sure everyone understands, we have to serve our customers first, and a bulk water sale is not considered a customer similar to the rest of them.”  Hinton said this could be an issue if, for instance, a large data center was built nearby. However, he added that the company would know this in advance and prepare for how it could increase its capacity. It would not be a situation where Eldridge would have little notice that the city would not be served. With the designated service area agreement, the city and the company would enter into a contract, and any customers within the designated service area would have their water supplied by Iowa American. Any agreement would have to be approved by the Iowa Utilities Commission. On June 1, Nielsen said if the company made investments into the water system, it would expect an in-kind investment from the city on the sewer side.  Nielsen and Keith both discussed ways the city could potentially invest proceeds from the full sale of the water and sewer systems. After the presentation, Keith and the other members of the Iowa American Water contingent left the meeting, leaving the utility board to further discussion. Chair Michael Bristley said there was a question on the recent community survey for Eldridge residents about the potential utility sale. “I’ll be anxious to see what the voice of the community comes back with on that one. Does anybody else have anything else they want to talk about? We heard some additional information, but it’s still a lot to consider, I think.” Board member Mark Goodding asked if there was any consensus from the board as to what the best option might be. Bristley said knowing there was the opportunity for interconnection on the south side of town might be helpful for assistant city administrator Jeff Martens as he works on the economic development side of his job. “And it depends on who your first customer is going to be, or where does it start from. Does it start from the east and work west, or does it start west somewhere? At least knowing there is a potential for a bulk water purchase situation … options are good. And I think the district is something that can be considered if there’s an overabundance of demand for development. That could be a great option. For full acquisition, with the survey coming out, there’s a lot to consider.” Board member Jeff Hedrington expressed concerns about the current sewer capacity. Bristley asked city administrator Nevada Lemke if there was a master plan currently in place for water and sewer infrastructure. Lemke said the city is using the report prepared by ISG Engineering as its master plan. Lemke also referenced a rate study conducted by PFM, saying the proposed rates were based on work the city already knew it would need to do on both the water and sewer side. “And that was about $3.5 million or something, wasn’t it?” asked Goodding. Lemke confirmed, saying these were improvements that would need to be made to maintain just the current customer base. Bristley asked if there was a master plan for extending the infrastructure into the southern part of town. Lemke said the ISG report gave a proposed timeline of five-to-seven years and a median price tag of $25 million for any expansion. “With development, that’s difficult,” she said. “That’s not going to meet the needs of developers that come down there in these next couple of years, where we’ve got that opportunity … five-to-seven years isn’t going to get us to be that site that’s selected for those developers. They’re going to go where they can get utilities quicker than that.” City council member Ryan Iossi, who serves as the liaison to the utility board, told members that the council discussed starting the process to update the city’s comprehensive plan at its June 15 meeting. He encouraged board members to stay abreast of the council’s discussions going forward. “It’s going to be helpful, because that was – I wouldn’t call it a debate, but we had a conversation last night. Do we want to start from the east and take baby steps? Or do we want to go headfirst all the way in? Or do we want to focus on the northeast corner by (Lewis Machine & Tool)? My personal answer was, I think with baby steps, we’re going to miss out on that window.” He reiterated a discussion point from the June 15 meeting, where the council talked about how residential taxes alone won’t cover the city’s needs. Iossi also addressed the city’s current comprehensive plan. “The difference is, they did a comprehensive plan in the past and then it sounds like it got put up on a shelf. And that doesn’t do any good if that’s not a working document and we’re not revisiting it on a regular basis. It does no good to put in all the work for a comprehensive plan. We have to then make moves along the way for that comprehensive plan to come through.” Bond for improvements? Lemke spoke more on the fact that, with the bulk purchase option, the city would still have to do approximately $25 million in infrastructure expansion. “But would that bond out on the water side?” asked Goodding. “That’s what worries me is the bonding,” said board member Abby Petersen. “Because if you’re looking at bonding for this and you’re looking at bonding for something else, you’re smacking the citizens with a very, very large amount.” Board member Jeff Hamilton agreed. Bristley asked how much of the cost could be passed on to a developer. “That’s where you go back to baby steps,” said Iossi. He said the council had discussed concerns about Davenport annexing land in the southwest portion of Eldridge and installing infrastructure. “Davenport’s going to run out of space, and they’re going to take what they can get. They don’t have a problem jumping across Slopertown if that’s what it takes for their tax base.” Iossi brought up issues in the 1970s between Eldridge and Davenport over the Caterpillar plant that ultimately resulted in a lawsuit. “So, again, it comes down to that overall goal of, do we want to do baby steps, or do we want to jump in headfirst? And then at that point, it needs to be determined is having that bulk feed head there good enough? Or if we’ve got to put that money in the infrastructure anyway, is it better to have that bulk feed as a backup in case we aren’t able to expand? And then at that point, we’d have to do a mixing station. I don’t know.” Hedrington again asked about sewer, and said expansion of that system would come with an even greater cost than water. Lemke said that, because the sewer side had been making incremental rate increases, and the water had not, sewer has some reserves and capital built up. She said, right now, the cost to expand the sewer is at about $4.5 million. Iossi said the revenue from the sewer is also at least partially covering some city wages, and it would need to find ways to make that up if the sewer utility was sold. “I think from our point of view, we’re going to keep the sewer,” said mayor Scott Campbell. “I think that we will keep it probably – most likely – because of conversations we’ve had with the council, we need those funds for other things. The water thing, I think is different, because of the infrastructure that needs to be put out there for businesses to come.” He reiterated Iossi’s point about residential growth not covering all the city’s needs. “That’s why we need industrial growth to balance that out. And we are a long way from that.” Campbell also said he and Lemke had a phone conversation with attorneys from Ahlers & Cooney, which handles the city’s bond issues. “We’re no different than other municipalities across the state. We are in trouble – not because of this board – but previous boards have not raised our water rates. And a ton of other communities in Iowa are in the same boat we are. If we would have raised our rates like we should have, we would be like the sewer department, where we would have some of this money built up that could help with some of this cost. We are behind the eight-ball. So, the key is, don’t make the same mistake twice.” Petersen expressed concern about the water rates being so far behind, which has caused discussion about the city bonding to help pay for the cost of infrastructure. “Well, you still put that back on the citizens. You can’t just say, ‘bond it.’ That’s not imaginary money, you know? That still comes out of their pockets, right? One way or another, it’s going to have to get paid for.” She said there might be some benefit to being under the umbrella of Iowa American Water, if the cost of the projects would then be spread out among all the company’s customers. “I don’t know. I’m kind of torn on it.” Petersen asked Lemke if there was a deadline or a timeline for the city to decide. Lemke said she didn’t think there would be time this year to get a referendum question about bonding for projects or selling the utility. “I think the only timeline we’re looking at is making a decision so that we can get answers to developers before we’re two years down the road and then they have missed that opportunity.” “I guess the other question I have is, what is the plan – and this is going to be a massive question from the community – say we do sell it in whole, what is the plan for that money? Because they will want to know and that needs to be clearly defined, I think,” said Petersen. “Because you’re not going to get support if it’s not well thought out.” Iossi agreed that the city needs to have a clearly defined plan, although he revealed that Ahlers & Cooney is also exploring the legality of several of Iowa American’s proposals, including ways the city can invest the money and the designated service area, to ensure these are even options the city can pursue. Goodding asked how long it would take to determine if the options were legal. Lemke said the law firm was double-checking to make sure Iowa law supported these options. “From my perspective, it sounded like there was a good possibility. A lot of other utilities have those kinds of agreements, and it would be dependent upon the structure, but it’s not anything they’ve seen or is common, so they just want to make sure there’s a state law that can support it.” Hedrington said he thought it would be similar to the franchise agreements the city has in place with MidAmerican Energy and Alliant. “OK, good discussion,” said Bristley. “Again, lots to consider.”