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

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026
	Bachman-Turner Overdrive plays Rhythm City Bachman–Turner Overdrive will be playing Rhythm City Casino September 18. According to a release, Bachman-Turner Overdrive brings its No Speed Limit Tour 2026 to the QCA. In 2023, Randy Bachman revived Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the legendary rock n’ roll band behind worldwide hits such as “Takin’ Care Of Business” and “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet." After [...]
	Eugene Field Elementary closed due to water main break An email from the Rock Island - Milan School District says Eugene Field Elementary School will be closed today, June 2, due to a water main break. All classes and school-related activities are canceled today. Families and staff have been notified and will receive updates when more information is available.
	UTHS student makes school history with dual graduation United Township High School senior Tyler Horvath made school history this spring as the first known student in United Township High School history to simultaneously earn both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree while still in high school, according to a news release. Tyler graduated from Black Hawk College, earning his associate’s degree [...]
	After prison, artist finds new purpose through massive bridge mural A collection of murals is growing in Moline, including a massive tribute to the I-74 Bridge created by an artist rebuilding his life after prison.
	Eugene Field Elementary School closed Tuesday due to water main break The district said all classes and school-related activities are canceled due to the break. Families and staff have been notified.
	Estes Construction launches new community grant funding process New company giving pillars to guide Estes Construction’s regional investments in both grant funding and sponsorship fulfillments.
	Family dog dies, no injuries to people reported in Davenport fire Monday Firefighters responded to the fire in the 3300 block of Covington Drive at about 6:52 p.m. Monday.
	Davenport, Bettendorf, Eldridge, LeClaire seek ideas about public transportation The cities of Davenport, Bettendorf, Eldridge, and LeClaire invite residents to participate in a survey to share experiences and ideas to improve public transportation in Scott County, according to a news release. The regional transit study is made possible by an Iowa Department of Transportation grant awarded to the four partner communities. The study aims [...]
	Mitsubishi HC Capital America and Vibrant Credit Union expand retail financing for inventory finance dealers Mitsubishi HC Capital America has new relationship with Vibrant Credit Union to provide non-commercial, consumer retail financing for customers purchasing compact agriculture and construction equipment.
	Retirements, hirings and personnel news from Rock Island-Milan School District from May 26 The following personnel items are from the May 26 agenda of the Rock Island-Milan School District.
	Live updates: Quad-Cities voters head to the polls for Election Day FREE ACCESS: Election Day is here! Quad-City Times reporters will be at polling places and candidate watch parties, bringing you live updates as Iowa's 2026 primary unfolds.
	Changes coming late week -- hotter and wetter Warm and dry weather is in the forecast today and tomorrow. It turns breezy and hot Thursday. Dry conditions and a worsening drought are expected until showers and storms late week. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Davenport schools, library, launch summer Books on the Blacktop Program The Davenport Community School District (DCSD) has announced a partnership with the Davenport Public Library to launch the Books on the Blacktop Program this summer, a news release says. Designed to bring literacy resources directly to local neighborhoods, DPL Outreach Wheeled Library (OWL) will visit elementary schools across the district, offering students and families easy access [...]
	Mark Twain This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Mark Twain held a very peculiar idea about literature. He thought that books ought to tell the truth. It’s a lesson he…
	10 new books in June will transport you With all that's required to reach "dream destinations" these days, another option is to walk to your local public library instead — and pick up one of these new books out in June set across time and place.
	EU strikes migration deal for more deportations and detention centers abroad The European Union has moved forward with an overhaul of its migration policy, aiming to ramp up deportations and build detention centers abroad. Critics compared the regulation to the immigration strategy of the Trump administration.
	Stripping U.S. citizenship en masse is harder than Trump vowed President Trump's vow to revoke citizenship worries immigrant advocates, legal scholars and naturalized Americans — but so far it's proving harder to do than the rhetoric suggests.
	Tuesday is a big primary day. Here are key races to watch Six states — California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and New Mexico — hold elections on Tuesday. Here are key races to follow.
	Why is Michigan loosening its rules for parents wanting to exempt kids from vaccines? A decade ago, Michigan had high rates of parents not vaccinating their children, so it required them to attend an in-person education class to get an exemption. It worked — until things got ugly.
	Ultra-Orthodox protesters block roads and trains across Israel over military draft Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox demonstrated across Israel on Monday, blocking roads and trains and setting cars on fire to protest mandatory enlistment in Israel's military.
	Cheese bread sold at Costco, Walmart recalled over salmonella concerns A Michigan-based company is recalling some of its popular frozen cheese breads over potential contamination with salmonella.
	What to know about US military strikes on alleged drug boats The U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats have killed over 200 people. The attacks began in September and aim to stem drug flow, but critics question their legality and effectiveness.
	Russian attack on Ukraine kills at least 11 and traps others in damaged buildings Russia attacked Ukraine overnight Tuesday, killing at least 11 people and trapping others, authorities said. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were damaged in eight of Kyiv's districts.
Monday, June 1st, 2026
	Elected officials, law enforcement react to Muscatine shooting Elected officials and law enforcement organizations are speaking out after six people were killed in Muscatine.
	A look into the Muscatine shooter’s criminal past The man who police say killed six people in Muscatine has an extensive criminal past
	Gov. Reynolds signs agriculture and water-quality bills into law Gov. Kim Reynolds signed several bills related to agriculture and the environment into law Monday, including measures related to water quality, ethanol and the Iowa Farm Act.
	A look into the Muscatine shooter’s criminal pas The man who police say killed six people in Muscatine has an extensive criminal past
	The number to remember for one key Iowa primary race Five candidates for one office could mean that no candidates earns enough votes to clinch the nomination.
	Galva citizens pressure city council to find way to pause carbon-capture project Galva residents packed half of the high school gym on Monday night. Not because of a basketball game, but to make their voices heard on a project they believe is too risky to have in their town. About 150 people attended the Galva City Council meeting Monday evening. It was moved to the Galva High [...]
	Knox County Courthouse Task Force holds first meeting The courthouse is nearly 140 years old and recently suffered a sewer collapse beneath the building.
	After prison, artist finds new purpose through bridge mural A collection of murals is growing in Moline, including a massive tribute to the I-74 Bridge created by an artist rebuilding his life after prison.
	7 dead, including shooter, following shootings in Muscatine Police believe 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland shot and killed six family members on Monday. When confronted by police, officers said McFarland took his own life.
	Cinemark theaters have record domestic box office for month of May Cinemark Holdings, Inc. , which has a multiplex in Davenport, has announced it delivered its highest-ever domestic box office performance for the month of May, according to a news release. These record-level results were fueled by broad moviegoer enthusiasm and the company’s strategic programming of a well-balanced slate that included blockbusters, breakout mid-tier content and strong [...]
	Este verano, deje que el juego marque el camino (BPT) - Con la llegada del verano y el cambio de rutinas, muchos padres se preguntan cómo mantener a sus hijos entretenidos, aprendiendo y desarrollándose mientras no hay clases. Entre el trabajo, los horarios ajustados y el intento de limitar el tiempo frente a las pantallas, es fácil sentir que debería hacer más.Sin embargo, una de las cosas más valiosas que puede ofrecerle a su hijo este verano no requiere más tiempo, dinero ni planificación.Requiere juegos.El Día Internacional del Juego, que se celebra el 11 de junio, es un recordatorio oportuno de que jugar no es solo una forma de pasar el tiempo; es una de las maneras más importantes en que los niños aprenden y crecen.El juego no es una pausa del aprendizaje: es aprendizajeExiste la idea equivocada de que el juego está separado del aprendizaje, como si fuera algo que los niños hacen después de terminar el "verdadero" trabajo. En realidad, ocurre exactamente lo contrario.Los niños pequeños aprenden mejor jugando.A través del juego, los niños desarrollan al mismo tiempo habilidades fundamentales: lenguaje, resolución de problemas, autocontrol, creatividad y comprensión socioemocional. La Academia Estadounidense de Pediatría incluso ha descrito el juego como una necesidad biológica esencial para el desarrollo saludable del cerebro y la creación de relaciones sólidas y afectuosas. Las investigaciones demuestran de manera constante que el juego favorece el bienestar emocional y la resiliencia, no solo en los niños, sino también en los adultos.Por qué el juego funciona"El juego acompaña a los niños exactamente en la etapa de desarrollo en la que se encuentran", afirma Rachel Robertson, directora académica de Bright Horizons. "Les permite explorar, experimentar, tomar decisiones y aprender mediante prueba y error. Cuando los niños dirigen su propio juego, están pensando, resolviendo problemas y desarrollándose activamente".Además, el juego se relaciona con algo igual de importante: la alegría.Como jugar es divertido, a veces puede parecer menos importante; sin embargo, la alegría impulsa el aprendizaje. Cuando los niños participan activamente y sienten curiosidad, tienen más motivación para explorar, hacer preguntas y perseverar frente a los desafíos. Es en esos momentos de risas e imaginación donde nacen la confianza y la creatividad. Pequeños momentos, gran impacto¿La buena noticia? Fomentar el aprendizaje de su hijo a través del juego no requiere dedicar horas de su día. No se trata de agregar más actividades, sino de reconocer las oportunidades que ya existen.Estas son algunas maneras sencillas de aprovechar al máximo los momentos cotidianos este verano:Convierta las rutinas en juegos. Cante canciones mientras ordenan, hagan carreras para ponerse los zapatos o cuenten los pasos mientras van hacia el coche.Siga la iniciativa de su hijo. Incluso 10 minutos de juego guiado por el niño, donde él decide qué hacer y cómo hacerlo, pueden tener un impacto enorme.Aproveche lo que ya tiene en casa. Cajas, cucharas, papel y materiales simples de arte ofrecen infinitas oportunidades para la creatividad.Destaque lo que observa. Comentarios sencillos como "Seguiste intentándolo hasta que funcionó" ayudan a desarrollar la confianza y la perseverancia.Haga que los tiempos de espera sean divertidos. Ya sea en el coche, en una fila o en el supermercado, jueguen, inventen historias o busquen patrones juntos.Acepte el desorden y las tonterías. La creatividad y la exploración pueden ser desordenadas, y eso también forma parte del proceso. Ordenar juntos es otra oportunidad de aprendizaje.Ya va por buen caminoEl verano no necesita estar lleno de actividades estructuradas para ser significativo. Algunos de los aprendizajes más importantes ocurren en los momentos más simples: cuando usted está presente, participa y disfruta junto a sus hijos.
	This summer, let play lead the way (BPT) - As summer begins and routines shift, many parents find themselves wondering how to keep their children engaged, learning and thriving while school is out. Between managing work, juggling schedules and limiting screen time, it's easy to feel like you should be doing more.One of the most powerful things you can offer your child this summer doesn't require more time, money or planning.It requires play.International Day of Play on June 11 is a timely reminder that play isn't just a way to pass the time; it's one of the most important ways children learn and grow.Play isn't a break from learning — It is learningIt's a common misconception that play is separate from learning — something children do after the "real" work is finished. In reality, the opposite is true.Play is how young children learn best.Through play, children are building critical skills all at once: language, problem-solving, self-control, creativity and social-emotional understanding. The American Academy of Pediatrics has even described play as a biological imperative, essential to healthy brain development and strong, nurturing relationships. Research consistently shows that play supports emotional well-being and resilience — not just for children, but for adults too.Why play works"Play meets children exactly where they are developmentally," says Rachel Robertson, Chief Academic Officer at Bright Horizons. "It allows them to explore, experiment, make choices and learn through trial and error. When children are in charge of their play, they are actively thinking, solving and growing."It also taps into something equally important: joy.Because play is fun, it can sometimes feel less important — but joy actually fuels learning. When children are engaged and curious, they're more motivated to explore, ask questions and persist through challenges. Those moments of laughter and imagination are where confidence and creativity take root. Small moments, big impactThe good news? Supporting your child's learning through play doesn't require carving out hours of your day. It's less about adding more — and more about noticing what's already there.Here are simple ways to make the most of everyday moments this summer:Turn routines into play. Sing songs while cleaning up, race to put on shoes, or count steps on your way to the car.Follow your child's lead. Even 10 minutes of child-directed play — where they decide what to do and how to do it — can be incredibly powerful.Use what you already have. Boxes, spoons, paper and simple art materials offer endless opportunities for creativity.Name what you notice. Simple observations like "You kept trying until it worked" build confidence and persistence.Make waiting time playful. Whether you're in the car, in line or at the grocery store, play games, tell stories or look for patterns together.Embrace the mess and the silliness. Creativity and exploration can be messy — and that's part of the process. Cleaning up together is its own learning opportunity.You're already on the right trackSummer doesn't have to be filled with structured activities to be meaningful. Some of the most impactful learning happens in the simplest moments — when you're present, engaged and having fun together.
	What was missing in some key Iowa primary races Several perceived front runners ended the primary campaigns in Iowa without debating their opponents.
	Neighbors recount what they witnessed as Muscatine shootings unfolded Residents watched first responders flood their street Monday afternoon. Here's what neighbors saw and heard as police investigated.
	When the most aggressive-seeming greenery has a softer side S’áxt’, also known as devil’s club, is seen in Juneau in September 2020. (Photo by Jasz Garrett)There were lots of cottonwoods. Some birch and spruce. I didn’t yet know them as individuals, the shade and companionship they’d give, but they were friendly. And welcoming, in their familiarity. Like cousins, green with life. Especially the aspens, who felt the most charming and easy in a teasing way, with their flapping leaves that said, “Hello.” To me, the newcomer in town. Last summer, walking down a small slope on the dirt path near my house felt like stepping through a portal. To life and breath and soil. Away from busy cars. Powerlines. Sidewalks. The mail-order-kit houses erected in the 1950s during the oil boom, all lined up, one after another. Away from neighbors I felt shy around and mostly didn’t know yet. In the neighborhood we’d chosen because it was known to be uncharacteristically neighborly. Where there is, however, a standing, though unenforceable, restrictive covenant, which says: “The property hereby conveyed shall not be sold or alienated in any manner whatsoever to other than Americans of the white race.” So, as you can imagine, entering that portal meant entering the familiar world of the good nature of trees, who always welcome. And other plants that didn’t abide by often cruel, made-up human rules. Daily walks, wherever I am, have always been important for me. My therapist friend tells me that walking is a form of somatic therapy. Body healing that calms the nervous system. Movement that allows us to process emotions and trauma. I know I need these walks, and I know I enjoy them more when I’m surrounded by the quiet of trees and growing plants that are ever-changing throughout the summer. Quotation Other plants didn’t abide by often cruel, made-up human rules. So I was surprised when I looked down at the forest floor of my new walking route on the trail system of Alaska’s largest city and felt like a stranger. I knew the ferns. But I didn’t yet know the difference between pushki, or cow parsnip, and devil’s club, two showy plants with leaves as big as Thanksgiving platters. I hadn’t yet realized that pushki has a soft, hollow green stem while devil’s club has a strong, dark brown, spine-covered branch-like stem. Other patterns of new-to-me plants pushed out from the soil, and I wanted to know them, too. If I knew who they were, maybe I could gather the courage to get to know some new people, too. My introduction to having a relationship with plants wasn’t on a trail but in Gram’s kitchen, as a kid. If I had a cough or sore throat, Gram gave me a mug one-quarter full of a brown cold tea. Though we grandkids didn’t like the astringent, bitter medicine taste of sargiq, or wormwood, we drank what Gram gave us, because Gram knew best. Now I pick the tall stalks every fall to dry upside-down in my kitchen, then store them in jars to make tea for my family whenever we catch a cold or have a sore throat. And today, whether I’m walking on the Anchorage trails or back home on the river beach in Unalakleet, I am drawn to the plants, knowing that many are helpers, some are food, and a few, like rich purple monkshood, are straight-up deadly. On my new neighborhood trail, in a place where I felt like a foreigner, I knew I needed to be introduced. Like at a dinner party. Or a backyard barbeque get-together. I needed a casual, safe situation where introductions were expected. SO, NATURALLY, I met devil’s club, or S’áxt’, as it’s known in Tlingit, at the hospital clinic. The same place where I get penicillin shots for strep throat, estradiol patches and progesterone pills for perimenopause, and colonoscopies. The Alaska Native Medical Center has a Traditional Healing Clinic, where Indigenous healers provide counseling, physical services, a healing garden, talking circles and cultural classes. For two months, I saw a healer every week to relieve pain in my shoulder and hip. She offered a class on making a healing salve out of devil’s club. I immediately signed up and waited, impatiently, for my introduction to a plant I knew was important to local and Southeast Alaska Native peoples. Seven or eight of us met in what felt like a lab in early summer. White 5-gallon buckets sat on the table filled with stalks of brown, thick, spiny, crooked stems. Our instructor told us to pick the stalks in early summer and to wear leather gloves to protect our skin from the plant’s sharp spines, which contain a sap that can cause blisters and pain. In fact, most people who come across S’áxt’ avoid it at all costs because any spines that become embedded in one’s flesh can cause a severe infection. Devil’s club’s scientific name is Oplopanax horridus, or “horrid, armed ginseng.” A proper introduction to this plant was necessary. Our instructor, Ruby, is Tlingit and was introduced to S’áxt’ by her grandmother, who made tea from the cambium in her kitchen. Ruby taught us to scrape the spines and outer skin off the stems with a spoon. We then peeled the next layer, the smooth cambium, off the stalk in white tendrils. This was the medicine. Like sargiq, which I knew, S’áxt’ could be made into tea for colds and sore throats or a healing salve for aches and pains and a long list of ailments. The plant teaches me that even the most feared and aggressive-seeming life can be soft and have something to share if you take the time to get to know it. Quotation New-to-me plants pushed out from the soil, and I wanted to know them. I left the clinic with cambium ready to soak in a carrier oil like grapeseed or olive. In the fall I mixed the oil with Vitamin E oil and beeswax from some Anchorage friends who keep backyard bees. I gifted a tidy jar of the salve to them and shared others with more of my friends and family. I kept a small tin case of it for any rashes, cuts or achy joints at my house. Later in the summer, my husband, young son and I went biking along the Anchorage trails. Among the ferns, in the golden sunlight that filtered through the birch and cottonwood branches, I saw some large showy leaves on a plant taller than me. Cone-shaped clusters of small red berries dotted the cacophony of plants, showing off their glory at the tail-end of the season. I smiled. And said, “Hello,” to S’áxt’. Happy to know them. Feeling like I was no longer a total stranger in a new place. I was getting to know my neighbors. We welcome reader letters. Email High Country News at editor@hcn.org or submit a letter to the editor. See our letters to the editor policy. This article appeared in the June 2026 print edition of the magazine with the headline “Plants make good neighbors.” This article first appeared on High Country News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: "https://www.hcn.org/issues/58-6/in-anchorage-a-writer-gets-to-know-devils-club-and-her-other-new-botanical-neighbors/", urlref: window.location.href }); } } Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	1 killed in dump truck crash A dump truck appeared to be in the ditch on its side.
	Meet our new Storm Track 8 meteorologist, Matthew Clark! Matthew joins our team all the way from Tampa, Florida. He looks forward to the change of pace with the Midwest's weather.
	Police: 6 family members killed in Muscatine before suspected gunman shot himself Police say all 6 victims are believed to related to suspected gunman
	Iowa Democratic Senate primary: Wahls, Turek make final push before election Iowa’s primary election is Tuesday, and candidates across the state are making their final push to voters.
	Iowa primary election guide: What voters need to know With early voting numbers lagging behind 2022, Iowa county auditors are preparing for Tuesday's primary. Here's what you need to know to vote.
	Illinois passes budget, still no deal to keep the Bears in the state Illinois state lawmakers wrapped up the legislative session after almost three straight days of debate, but there's still no deal to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois. Our Quad Cities News Illinois Capitol Bureau chief Alex Whitney looks at why that will be in limbo going into the summer.
	Dementia tracking bracelets helping bring loved ones home A Geneseo program designed to keep people with dementia safe is giving families peace of mind and helping police find missing loved ones faster.
	7 dead, including accused shooter, following series of shootings in Muscatine Police believe 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland shot and killed six family members on Monday. When confronted by police, officers said McFarland took his own life.
	Idaho has the fifth-highest rate of uninsured young kids, report finds A report by the Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families found that nearly 8% of Idaho children under age 6 are uninsured, according to the latest data from 2024. (Getty Images)The rate of Idaho babies, toddlers and preschoolers who don’t have health insurance rose 36% in recent years, leaving the state with the fifth-highest rate of uninsured young children, according to a new report. The report comes years after Idaho state health officials removed tens of thousands of children from Medicaid shortly after the COVID pandemic ended, a public assistance program that covers more than a third of Idaho kids in rural areas. And as Idaho Medicaid braces for a big slate of changes — like pay cuts for doctors and disability care providers — one local health policy advocate says access to health care will get even harder for kids. “All it takes is one broken arm on the school playground to financially devastate a family already struggling to make ends meet,” Idaho Voices for Children Policy Associate Ivy Walker said in a statement. “This should be a wake-up call for Idaho policymakers because the unfortunate truth is that children’s access to health care is about to get much worse.” The report, released Monday by Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, found that nearly 8% of Idaho children under age 6 are uninsured, according to the latest data from 2024. That meant Idaho had the fifth-highest young children’s uninsured rate. Researchers with the center say they focused on young children’s health insurance coverage rates in the latest reports because access to health care is important during their formative years. “Their coverage is really important during a critical time of their development. When they don’t have access to the care that they need in those early years, they’re at higher risk of falling behind developmentally,” said Elisabeth Burak, a senior fellow at the center. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Nearly 8% of Idaho young kids don’t have health insurance Idaho’s rise in uninsured rates for children means that 10,700 young Idaho kids were uninsured in 2024, a number that grew by 2,800 kids between 2022 and 2024. In 2022, 5.8% of young Idaho kids were uninsured, compared to 7.9% in 2024, the report found. Accounting for race and ethnicity, American Indian and Alaskan Native young children had the highest uninsured rates, at 10.5% in 2024, along with Hispanic and Latino young kids, who had a 7.2% uninsured rate in 2024, according to the report. Three large states — Texas, Florida and Georgia — accounted for more than half of the national increase of 220,000 more young children being uninsured, which was a 23% increase between 2022 and 2024, the report found. Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families Executive Director Joan Alker said she expects to get new data about health insurance coverage rates for 2025 this fall. In a separate report released last fall, Georgetown’s center found that the rate of Idaho children without health insurance rose the second fastest in the country. Why did Idaho’s rate of uninsured young kids rise so much? The data analyzed in the report covers the years in which Idaho state health officials were reviewing the eligibility of all Idahoans on Medicaid. Pandemic-era protections that barred states from removing people from Medicaid had ended, and Idaho sought to complete the eligibility reviews fast. Most Idahoans who lost Medicaid through the process, commonly called unwinding, were removed for not replying to the state’s renewal paperwork. Almost three-quarters of the nearly 50,000 kids who lost Medicaid were removed from the health insurance public assistance program for non-responses, Idaho Voices for Children said last year. Walker, a policy associate for the nonprofit, said the latest report’s results confirm what she and other experts feared. A spokesperson for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the state agency that runs Medicaid, pointed to several checks in Idaho’s handling of unwinding, saying the state “followed all requirements.” That includes starting first with automatic renewals before sending out paperwork, finding updated addresses using the Postal Service, and sending three notices. “Idaho was one of the first in the nation to begin and finish the required Medicaid Unwinding process so numbers for some states show less closures because they started and finished the process after we did,” agency spokesperson AJ McWhorter said in a statement. In the past, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare officials defended the agency’s handling of Medicaid unwinding, saying they rushed to meet a legislative request to quickly finish the process and that state officials “went above and beyond” to reach out to people on Medicaid, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. Walker said there are several other issues at play in the recent rise in young Idaho children being uninsured, like the state ending the practice of using other government data to automatically review Medicaid enrollee’s eligibility to stay on the program and what she described as confusing renewal paperwork notifications during the unwinding process. “It’s just, I think, a lot of confusion in a very complex system,” she said in an interview on Monday. “The Department of Health and Welfare really needs to improve their outreach for enrollment, especially around children.” Walker said the crunch to access care is likely going to worsen under recent Medicaid provider pay cuts of 4% — recently extended by the Legislature. “The budget and these lower payment rates have also unfortunately affected how providers are going to move forward, under their own business models,” she said. “Meaning they may have to limit the number of Medicaid patients they see, or just be unable to continue offering their services altogether.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	Police: Muscatine man fatally shot six family members and himself A domestic dispute is believed to have triggered the shootings, in which seven, including the suspect, were killed.
	NJ bill would help Medicaid recipients meet new federal work requirements A bill backed by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin seeks to make it easier for people who receive food stamps or Medicaid benefits to satisfy the new work rules through volunteer jobs. (Photo by Mary Iuvone/New Jersey Monitor)With more than half a million New Jerseyans soon set to face new Medicaid work rules, lawmakers in New Jersey advanced a Democratic measure Monday that would make it easier to meet those requirements through volunteering. Changes by the Trump administration to reduce federal spending on Medicaid will force some recipients to document that they spend at least 20 hours a week working, in school, or volunteering if they want to continue to receive public health insurance benefits after January 2027. A bill sponsored by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) calls for state agencies to connect Medicaid members with volunteer opportunities and make it easier for them to document the time they gave to these causes. The Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee passed the bill Monday, with four Democrats voting yes and two Republicans abstaining over concerns that the language suggested the Trump administration’s requirements were unreasonable. “If volunteer hours count toward the new eligibility requirement, then we ought to be able to make it easier for people to comply,” Coughlin told committee members. The bill doesn’t change the benefits or who is eligible, Coughlin said, but it would reduce the barriers imposed by the new law. “It simply makes it a little bit easier for the people who have it a little bit harder,” he said. Medicaid covers nearly 2 million New Jerseyans, some 550,000 who will be subject to work rules next year. These members will also need to prove they are financially eligible twice a year instead of just once. Experts warn that the federal changes could force as many as 350,000 out of the program. Coughlin’s proposal would also apply to New Jerseyans who receive food stamps, federal aid that helps feed some 850,000 people statewide. Work rules implemented this year are expected to impact tens of thousands of food stamp recipients, state officials have warned. These changes are already reducing the number of people who can collect benefits, Coughlin said. “People are now running into barriers that have nothing to do with whether they qualify but have everything to do with whether they can navigate the system,” he said. Coughlin’s legislation calls for $120,000 to support various state volunteer programs and requires them to work together to create a comprehensive database of opportunities with links to multiple state websites. It also calls for records documenting people’s volunteer jobs to be easily available to Medicaid and food stamp administrators. Gov. Mikie Sherrill included $10 million in her state budget proposal for the coming year to shore up New Jersey’s Medicaid enrollment system in advance of the work-rule requirements. The spending plan, which lawmakers must adopt by July 1, also includes $71 million to offset federal funding cuts for administering the food stamp program. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of New Jersey Monitor
	1 person is dead after a crash in Rock Island County The sheriff's office says a car was hit by a truck. The driver of the car, 38-year-old Brenton Collins died at the scene.
	I Am Curious (About the Yellow): “Backrooms,” “Pressure,” and “The Breadwinner” I'm not sure what it says about the future of horror movies – if it says anything at all – that the year's strongest, scariest creep-out to date is directed by someone not quite old enough to drink.
	Scott County residents invited to take public transit survey Residents in Davenport, Bettendorf, Eldridge and LeClaire are invited to take a survey to share experiences and ideas for public transit.
	The Third Place QC seeks larger home as demand for services exceeds expectations The organization anticipated serving about 40 people a day when it opened in October 2025. Since then, The Third Place has served around 120 people daily.
	Frequent records requester sues Davenport for redacting attorney billing Ezra Sidran's lawsuit alleges Davenport improperly redacted certain information from billing statements for outside legal counsel that he requested under open records laws.
	Arizona sues MultiPlan, major insurers, alleging a ‘cartel’ that underpaid doctors and hospitals Attorney General Kris Mayes speaks to reporters on June 1, 2026, announcing a lawsuit accusing MultiPlan and health insurers of colluding on prices in violation of Arizona law. (Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy/Arizona Mirror)Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced a lawsuit Monday against MultiPlan, which last year renamed itself Claritev, alleging the company conspired with insurers for years to under pay doctors and hospitals, oftentimes leaving patients footing the bill for out-of-network care. “This wasn’t an accident,” Mayes told reporters Monday. “It was a coordinated deliberate scheme.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Mayes’ office is accusing Multiplan, along with insurers Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Elevance, Molina, Centene and Health Care Service Corporation, of working together to determine lower rates for out-of-network care. The sprawling complaint alleges that MultiPlan helped these companies set the prices for out-of-network services by using a proprietary algorithm that fixed prices for each service regardless of the geographic area or other factors. The company has already been under the microscope after a 2024 investigation by the New York Times brought many of the same allegations to light. The company is also facing a federal lawsuit making similar allegations in which the U.S. Department of Justice has sided with those seeking relief from MultiPlan. “This case, like the RealPage case, is an example of old fashioned price fixing using new technology which is against the law all the same,” Mayes said, referring to a lawsuit she filed in 2024 involving collusion among apartment complex owners. The MultiPlan lawsuit alleges that insurers contributed to the “illegal repricing scheme by supplying the claims, and billing data that informs MultiPlan’s algorithms, which would be against each client-payor’s competitive economic interests but for the market control on out-of-network services compensation rates affected by the conspiracy.” Mayes’ office is seeking a permanent injunction from MultiPlan being allowed to operate in this way; restitution for those harmed; civil penalties; and for those named in the suit to surrender any profits made under the alleged “illegal scheme.” State prosecutors claim that MultiPlan and its co-conspirators violated Arizona’s anti-trust act consumer fraud act. “The more they squeezed our doctors and hospitals, the more profits they made,” Mayes said. Claritev, which used to operate under the name MultiPlan, said the lawsuit is “without merit” and countered that it follows state and federal laws. “Because this is active litigation, we will defend ourselves through the legal process and will not comment further on the specifics of the complaint at this time,” the company said in a statement. “We remain focused on working with clients and partners across the healthcare ecosystem to make healthcare more transparent, accessible, and affordable for consumers.” The lawsuit alleges that MultiPlan and the health insurers wielded an outsized influence, effectively eliminating any competition and consolidating market power — allowing them to set prices and “effectively forming a buyer’s ‘cartel.’” This “cartel” primarily impacted PPO plans, specifically those through employers which are offered as having increased flexibility. The availability of a large network of insurers and their data was something that MultiPlan used to “further lower out-of-network prices and to enlist new clients into the cartel,” the lawsuit alleges. “MultiPlan retains all competitor data in a massive database—by February 2026, MultiPlan touted that it had ‘approximately 15 petabytes of data’—to which all clients have access,” prosecutors wrote in the lawsuit. And that data allowed MultiPlan to create tools like PlanOptix, which allowed any member of that “cartel” to determine in real time if a competitor was reimbursing at a higher or lower rate than them. “As a doctor, there is nothing more frustrating or heartbreaking than watching an insurance plan get in the way of a patient’s needs,” Dr. Andrew Carroll told reporters Monday. Carroll supported the lawsuit and said that MultiPlan’s alleged price fixing hurts smaller independent doctors like him, as they are unable to appeal decisions made by the company. Doctor and Arizona Medical Association President Jason Jameson said that the “collusion” among insurers created a dangerous environment for patients in the state, in addition to harming physicians and hospitals. “It is more than insulting, it is actually dangerous to the healthcare in our state,” Jameson said. With hospitals set to see major impacts to their budgets from Medicaid and Medicare cuts, MultiPlan and the insurer’s “collusion” creates further problems for hospitals that oftentimes rely on insurance payouts, Mayes said. “The MultiPlan cartel takes particular advantage of hospital emergency departments,” the lawsuit alleges. “Emergency rooms cannot decline to treat patients with insurance plans connected to MultiPlan. As such, hospital emergency rooms rely on the commercial insurance networks that contract with MultiPlan for reasonable compensation for emergency services. At the same time, demand for emergency department medical services is highly inelastic. Patients often have little choice regarding which hospital they are taken to and are rarely able to avoid or defer emergency medical treatment. By colluding to underpay emergency services providers, MultiPlan and its clients have been bleeding emergency rooms dry.” The lawsuit also alleges that private medical groups with tight profit margins are being hit hard by these underpayments. “While revenue per physician has increased by 9.1% since 2020, the median expense per physician has increased by 26.5%,” the lawsuit says. “Just like other providers, these medical groups cannot afford to be underpaid. When they are, access to and the quality of care could decline, which, in turn, harms patients.” ***UPDATED: This story has been updated to include additional comments. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Arizona Mirror
	Gov. Reynolds signs agriculture and water-quality bills into law Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs Senate File 2493 into law outside of the Capitol, exempting products that use 85% ethanol from the state excise tax, Des Moines, Iowa, June 1, 2026.Gov. Kim Reynolds signed several bills related to agriculture and the environment into law Monday, including measures related to water quality, ethanol and the Iowa Farm Act. One of those bills, House File 2771, the state’s agriculture and natural resources budget bill, includes the “Farm to Faucet” water-quality proposal introduced by Reynolds, state Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig and other Republican officials in the final days of the 2026 legislative session. The package represents a $319 million investment in improving Iowa’s water quality over the next 12 years, according to the governor’s office. It includes a one-time investment of $25 million going directly to Central Iowa Water Works to upgrade its nitrate-removal capacity, alongside a one-time $10 million revolving loan fund — the Rural Iowa Infrastructure Bank — to provide loans at a rate of 1% or less to finance small and medium-sized communities seeking to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure. The proposal makes several other funding shifts and investments, which GOP officials have said will direct money to programs that have proven to effectively improve water quality and agricultural best practices in the state. It eliminates the Water Quality Financing Program and redirects the $8.5 million currently going to the program to other initiatives, such as the Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Financial Assistance program. It also creates a new Greater Des Moines Watershed Program with $3.72 million in annual funding. There’s also $800,000 going to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources annually for water quality monitoring efforts, some of which will be distributed through grants. Water quality has become a top concern in Iowa in recent years, especially in central Iowa where Central Iowa Water Works implemented a lawn-watering ban in June and July of 2025 when nitrate levels were significantly elevated in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers As worries grow about the potential risks of high nitrate levels — and the possible relationship between Iowa’s water quality problems and the state’s high cancer rates — Democrats in the state legislature moved to introduce multiple measures during 2026. Though some Democrats voiced concerns about the Republicans’ proposal, saying it did not provide enough resources to water quality monitoring programs through the Iowa Water Quality Information System administered through the Iowa Flood Center or provide meaningful incentives to farmers to implement best water quality practices, the measure signed by Reynolds gained bipartisan support in both chambers. At the bill signing Monday, the governor said improving water quality in the state is a top priority on both sides of the aisle. “We all want the same solution on water quality. And this is how we get there,” Reynolds said. The governor also signed Senate File 2465,”The Iowa Farm Act,” a measure introduced by Naig early in the year. The new law will make the Choose Iowa program permanent and rename it the Choose Iowa Food Bank Purchasing Program, alongside creating the Choose Iowa School Purchasing Program — an expansion on the dollar-matching pilot program helping schools and food banks in the state acquire locally grown and raised products from Iowa farms. It makes a variety of other changes, including a sales tax exemption for honeybees, expandinding the state’s agricultural tourism law to include public educational events about agriculture on Iowa farms, and includes new confidentiality measures related to biosecurity and equipment data. The governor called the measure “a first of its kind — the Iowa Farm Bill,” and thanked Naig and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship staff, alongside the DNR, for their work on the measure. Naig thanked lawmakers, farmers, landowners and other parties for their willingness to work with his office to move the measure forward. “Every item in the Farm Act can be traced back to an idea or feedback that came directly from farmers and businesses or community roundtables as I’ve traveled the state,” Naig said. “It expands opportunities for Iowa’s agriculture, reduces unnecessary regulatory burdens, strengthens rural communities, supports beginning farmers and our ag workforce, and gives farmers greater certainty and more tools to prepare and plan for the future.” The governor also signed Senate File 2493, a bill that exempts ethanol blends above 85% used in agricultural equipment from the state excise tax. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support, with a 44-0 vote in the Senate and an 85-1 vote in the House. Reynolds, joined by members of the Legislature, Iowa Corn Farmers and John Deere executives on the Iowa Capitol steps, touted the benefits of statewide ethanol use and production. “Ethanol isn’t just beneficial to Iowa agriculture as a product, it also is a fuel that farmers depend on to operate equipment at competitive prices,” Reynolds said. “This legislation builds on Iowa’s leadership in renewable fuels and recognizes the importance between agriculture and biofuel production in our state.” Deanna Kovar, the president of John Deere’s Agriculture and Turf Division, emphasized that the bill will allow Iowa to continue leading the ethanol industry. “Overall, it is important that Iowa continues to lead in ethanol with all of the refiners and all of the corn that we grow in this state,” Kovar said. “About 40% of U.S. corn crops go into ethanol, so it’s a really important business for all corn growers across the country.” Kovar added that the bill will help facilitate more widespread ethanol use for newer agricultural technology, including the John Deere E98 Prototype 8R tractor that was on display. Kovar said the tractor, which was manufactured in Waterloo, has “diesel-like” characteristics, and uses an engine that accommodates E98 fuel. Kovar said she has heard exclusively positive feedback from farmers. No release date is set for the model. “We had two farmers help us get this bill passed, but just as importantly, they used this tractor in their fields last year,” Kovar said. “The agricultural community’s response to the tractor has been tremendous.” Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Illinois politics latest: State budget finalized, Chicago Bears bill stalls, social media tax Brenden Moore with Capitol News Illinois joined The Current to break down the latest headlines from the statehouse.
	Scott County worker killed in dump truck rollover crash A secondary roads employee was driving a county-owned dump truck when the driver reportedly lost control and rolled into a ditch.
	June (and summer) climate preview for the Quad Cities What a beautiful Monday! It made for a great (and above average) start to June and meteorological summer in the Quad Cities. Here's a look at the June climate stats for the Quad Cities: And this is also the first day of meteorological summer in the Northern hemisphere too - here are some summer stats [...]
	National abortion network says assistance calls and related costs are increasing Ginnely Carrasco, director of programs and interim executive director of the Florida Access Network. (Screenshot)New data show the need for support for women seeking the procedure has nearly doubled in the four years following reversal of Roe v. Wade, with the number of calls for assistance reaching 158,000 in 2025, up from 82,000 calls in 2022. Since 2024, abortion funding costs have increased by 30% and costs for travel and accommodations have have risen by 13%, according to the National Network of Abortion Funds. The data were compiled by the abortion funds, grassroots organizations that help make abortions more affordable for people in need. They work in their communities and states but collaborate with other funds to help people who must travel out of state to access abortion. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The national abortion network represents about 100 abortion funds. window.addEventListener("message", function(event) { var message = JSON.parse(event.data); if (message.sender == "Flourish" && message.context == "iframe.resize") { src = message.src.replace(/#.+$/, ""); vizFrame = document.querySelector('iframe[src="' + src + '"]'); vizFrame.setAttribute('height', message.height); } }); Despite its 24-hour waiting periods, required sonograms, limiting the procedure to medical doctors and osteopathic physicians, and a ban on the use of telehealth to provide abortion care, Florida was once considered a state where women could come to obtain this care. That changed in May 2024, when a six-week abortion ban took effect. Of the 44,206 abortions performed in Florida in 2025, 1,359 were for women who reported living out of state, according to an Agency for Health Care Administration report. “Now we’re in a situation where over 30% of Floridians that we serve need to travel out of state for abortion access,” Florida Access Network director of programs and interim executive director Ginnely Carrasco said Monday. “Currently, abortion seekers are traveling an average of about 1,000 miles to access care in states like Virginia and Pennsylvania, and the average cost of traveling outside of the state for abortion care is around $2,400,” she said. Carrasco said her network decided in 2024 to “close its forum” between Thursday and Sunday, to ensure the fund didn’t run out of money. “While this means that we don’t go through our budget within the first week or two, it has limited our reaching on our capacity to be accessible to as many clients as possible,” she said. Nevertheless, she acknowledged “temporary closures this year because of funding shortages and struggles.” Courtesy of Florida Phoenix
	Nurse practitioners renew push for independence from physician oversight in Pa. Nurse practitioners, pictured with association President-Elect Sheilah Yohn, pushed to expand their scope of practice at a June 1, 2026 rally in Harrisburg. Most of the commonwealth's neighbors, with the exception of Ohio, allow the providers to operate independent of a physician. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)Last year, Family Practice and Counseling Services Network hired a psychiatric nurse practitioner to assist with the mental health needs of a “medically underserved” clientele. But CEO Emily Nichols said it would be nearly six months before they saw a single patient at the Philadelphia Federally Qualified Health Center, since Pennsylvania requires nurse practitioners (NPs) to practice underneath a physician. “And that’s just one psych NP. We could hire four more for the need we see, but we don’t have the resources and we don’t have the collaborating physicians,” Nichols told the Capital-Star. “And we have to pay for (collaborating physicians). We’re a community health center; we’re operating on a pretty thin margin.” A map of physician assistants and nurse practitioners in Pennsylvania using 2023 data. (Chart from the Center for Rural PA) Pennsylvania is what’s known as a “reduced practice state,” meaning that Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners must have a written collaborative agreement with a licensed physician to work. But attempts to advance legislation changing that rule have repeatedly failed, despite broad, bipartisan support. The Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners notes that NPs can assess patients, diagnose conditions, order and interpret tests, develop treatment plans, prescribe medications and coordinate patient care — with an agreement for an overseeing doctor to consult, review records and charts and more. Rep. Nancy Guenst (D-Montgomery) notes that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has had full-practice nurse practitioners for nearly a decade. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) Other states don’t have the same restrictions, including nearly all of Pennsylvania’s neighboring states. Supporters argue that NPs can fill in gaps as the number of commonwealth physicians declines, particularly in rural areas. In contrast, the number of NPs has been increasing in both urban and rural settings. More than two dozen states are more flexible, as well as the Veteran Affairs health system. Rep. Nancy Guenst (D-Montgomery), a U.S. Army veteran, said, “If it works for our veterans, it can work for Pennsylvanians.” “We do not have to guess whether this works,” Guenst said before a crowd of NPs in the Capitol on Monday. “Study after study has shown improved access to care, particularly in rural communities, with no reduction of quality or patient safety.” Nichols, who’s based in Philadelphia, called her center “lucky” for having a supportive collaborative partner, adding that many other centers don’t have NPs at all because of that requirement. But day-to-day, doctors still need to sign off on routine items, such as specialized shoes for diabetic patients. “When a nurse practitioner is seeing you as a patient, they could easily just sign that form and you could go get what you need,” said Nichols. “But there’s a barrier to do that.” Support in the General Assembly Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington) started her current term in 2018, and has introduced Senate Bill 25 every year to expand the practice of NPs. Despite that consistency, even keeping the same bill number across two administrations, it has yet to make it to a governor’s desk. Bartolotta’s first version notes that 21 other states and the District of Columbia allow NPs “full practice authority.” Today, that number is 28. “I do not want to see 49,” Bartolotta said at Monday’s rally. “We hit a crisis point a long time ago. It’s not, ‘This could be good someday.’ That day is behind us … What the heck are we waiting for?” Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington) has sponsored Senate Bill 25, which would expand the scope of practice for nurse practitioners, every year since 2017. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) In the early years, NP legislation passed the Senate with only a handful of detractors, but didn’t get a House hearing at least four years in a row. Now, the hesitation appears to come from her own chamber’s leadership, as House Minority Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford) advanced his own pilot version out of the House chamber when he was a rank-and-file member in 2020. This year’s House version, House Bill 739, is sponsored by Guenst. Neither Bartolotta’s Senate measure nor Guenst’s bill have yet had committee hearings. One of the biggest opponents to expanding the scope of NP duties is the Pennsylvania Medical Society, whose opinion Bartolotta said, “has carried significant influence in Harrisburg and has contributed to delaying the legislation despite its broad bipartisan support.” The Medical Society didn’t immediately return a request for comment Monday, but generally opposes expanding duties for non-physicians, including pharmacists. Online, the body points to studies showing that non-physician led care increases health care costs, asserting that, “Optimal patient care is most effectively delivered through health care teams.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. “We’re not trying to replace doctors,” Bartolotta emphasized. “(NPs) are in partnership with them, able to fill in all of those gaps that just keep turning into chasms. They’re here to fill the gaps of really good, quality healthcare for people who desperately need it.” In contrast to ongoing efforts focused on educating new providers, Bartolotta noted that NPs “are ready to go” now at no extra cost to the state, and can refer high-level cases to doctors when needed. Some Pennsylvania NPs have secured jobs across state lines, like addiction specialist Justin Rohrback. He started his practice in Maryland instead of his York County hometown. He said that disruptions in physician oversight not related to patient care in a previous job threatened to undo recovery treatment plans, and were only averted “at great (financial) cost.” “When we discuss healthcare policy … we need to remind ourselves what these numbers represent. These are not just prescriptions. They’re mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, neighbors and friends,” said Rohrback. “We are losing qualified healthcare providers due to regulatory red tape.” Leaving money on the table? Licensed NP Rep. Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia) jokingly noted that few things had such broad appeal that they’d attracted support from political opposites like President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama. “We have Democratic support. We have Republican support. We have Senate support. We have House support,” said Khan. “Let’s get this done.” That endorsement is reflected in the federal Rural Health Transformation Plan’s application process. The state got $193 million last year from the program, which is designed to offset the billions in Medicaid losses over the next decade. Pa.’s federal rural health funding doesn’t compare to projected Medicaid loss Despite having the third-largest rural population in the country, Pennsylvania’s per-resident award was just $78, compared to an average of $157 nationwide. A handful of scoring mechanisms work against the commonwealth, including its status as a “reduced practice state” for NPs. The program application places an emphasis on states that “help rural providers practice at the top of their license,” naming both NPs and physician assistants as examples. “We are running out of time to pass the full practice authority before the state submits its (next) application to the federal government,” said Sheilah Yohn, the president-elect of the NP coalition. “We must be able to clearly state that we are a full-practice state,” before the Aug. 30 deadline, she continued. In some commonwealth counties, she added that NPs are the highest-level healthcare provider, but must coordinate with a physician outside of their community to deliver care. “Full practice is a win for everyone,” Yohn concluded. Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star
	Rescue Rocks benefit for Scott County shelter returns Saturday The Humane Society of Scott County will hold its annual Rescue Rocks fundraiser June 6 at The Tangled Wood in Bettendorf, featuring live music, a silent auction, food and drink specials, and adoptable pets.
	Multiple active crime scenes in Muscatine Around 3:10 p.m. a KWQC crew could see police in the 300 block of Park Avenue.
	Police responding to active scene in Muscatine News 8 journalists are on the scene of an investigation in the 200 block of Park Avenue in Muscatine.
	66th Honor Flight departs with 8 service women making the trip The 66th Honor Flight departed the Quad Cities International Airport this morning with eight service women making the trip.
	Battery storage would ease stress on Pa.’s power grid, panel hears Power lines in Upper Burrell Township in Westmoreland County on Jan. 16, 2026. (Photo by John Beale for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star)As higher electricity rates took effect Monday in Pennsylvania, state lawmakers heard broader deployment of battery storage technology could help improve the stability of the region’s power grid and lower the price of power. A part of daily life, batteries power smartphones, cars, toys and an endless list of electronic devices. But large-scale battery storage is a relatively new element of the power grid that lights homes and businesses and keeps industry humming. “Battery storage is no longer an emerging technology,” Chris D’Agnostino, the head of state policy for the renewable energy industry group Advanced Energy United. “It’s a proven grid resource that can help address some of Pennsylvania’s most pressing energy challenges.” He and other experts testified before the state House Energy committee that grid-scale battery storage helps optimize energy efficiency by storing electricity from sources including wind, solar, hydroelectric and traditional thermal power plants and then releasing it when it’s needed. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. But the commonwealth ranks 28th in the nation in battery storage capacity, committee Chairperson Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia) said. “I would like us to move up in those rankings quite a bit,” she said in the hearing on legislation that would mandate the state’s largest electric utilities to install 3,000 megawatts of battery storage by 2033. House Bill 2380, introduced by Rep. Nikki Rivera (D-Lancaster) would put the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) in charge of assigning shares of the 3,000 megawatts based on the service load and annual peak demand of each electric company with more than 600,000 customers. Witnesses agreed increased battery storage would improve affordability, reliability and the grid’s ability to meet growing demand from increased electrification of transportation, industry and data centers to power artificial intelligence. But an electricity industry representative said the question before the panel was not whether batteries will play a larger role in the commonwealth’s future energy supply, but whether the legislation is good policy. Andy Tubbs, president and CEO of the Energy Association of Pennsylvania, said setting hard mandates for electricity companies without basing the figures on pilot programs or system reliability standards is a mistake. “The acquisition targets would be more understandable if we had better footing … where these targets are stemming from,” Tubbs said. Pennsylvania is part of the PJM Interconnection grid, which manages wholesale electricity markets for 13 states and Washington, D.C. The organization holds auctions to ensure there’s an adequate supply of electricity. Over the last two years, prices have increased sharply as plans for hyperscale data centers fueled unprecedented rises in the demand forecast. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office sued PJM in late 2024 and reached a settlement establishing a price ceiling for the auctions that has now been extended twice under pressure from PJM state governors and the Trump administration. But for the second summer in a row, consumers will see the impact of the wholesale price increase in their electricity bills. According to the PUC, customers of 11 electricity distribution companies will see rate hikes this month, with most increasing between 1.5% and nearly 20%. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Under Pennsylvania’s deregulated electricity market, local electricity companies may no longer own power plants or other generating assets. But the PUC has determined that battery storage facilities are a “non-wire” distribution asset that can improve reliability by eliminating congestion on the grid, Commission Chairman Stephen DeFrank said. And because storage battery systems can improve the grid’s resilience at a lower cost than building new transmission lines, the investment is easier for local utilities to justify to the commission, DeFrank added. Since issuing a policy statement on battery storage, the state has seen little significant investment in the technology, he noted. PPL has two battery storage facilities, while Duquesne Light operated a two-year pilot program. UGI Electric also had a pilot approved but did not pursue it due to cost issues. “With this background, it is prudent for this committee to consider means to spur investment in energy storage as a distribution and transmission asset,” DeFrank said, but added the mandate to install 3,000 megawatts of storage, ”may be overly aggressive and potentially unachievable when required to meet cost benefit tests.” Battery storage is most common in “behind the meter” applications, where homeowners or business owners install battery banks to capture solar electricity for later use or to feed into the grid to offset their bills. Grid-scale battery storage is “in front of the meter,” meaning that it feeds directly into the electricity grid to serve all customers, Michelle Buczkowski, CEO of storage battery maker EOS Energy Enterprises, said. H.B. 2380 divides the 3,000 megawatts utilities would be required to install into 2,000 megawatts of short duration storage, which can feed into the grid for up to four hours. They would also install 1,000 megawatts of long term storage, which lasts 10 hours or more. Buczkowski said short duration storage excels at meeting hourly fluctuations in demand, but lacks the ability to deliver sustained energy needed to meet extended increases in demand, such as severe weather events or greater industrial demand. She noted that giving utilities more flexibility to install long-duration storage systems could further improve reliability and lower costs for consumers. Extended duration events, such the arctic cold that affected most of the country in February, are the greatest threat to grid reliability, said Mark Thompson, senior director of state affairs for Form Energy. The company manufactures multi-day batteries with 100 hours of storage capacity. “Multi-day storage can store massive amounts of energy from periods of abundance and low cost, and then dispatch that when needed,” Thompson said. He drew comparisons to the electricity grid and other utilities such as water and natural gas, which benefit from massive long-term storage capacity in reservoirs and tanks. “This kind of long duration energy storage is not available on the electric grid. We have seen on those other systems that it tends to make their systems very reliable and much lower cost,” Thompson said, adding that it would help the electricity grid weather variations and increased load. “The system’s calling out for the ability to store power over extended time periods.” Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star
	Iran halts talks with U.S. over Israeli actions in Lebanon, Gaza Trumps says Israel and Hezbollah will stop fighting after Iran stops talks with U.S. over Israeli operations in southern Lebanon, Gaza
	Rhode Island has a primary care problem. Health Insurance Commissioner Cory King has a plan. Fewer Rhode Islanders reported have a personal doctor or healthcare provider over the last decade, a dip mirrored nationwide, a new state report notes. (Photo by Jose Luis Pelaez/Getty image)An initial wellness exam for the state’s primary care landscape published by the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner on Monday found fewer Rhode Islanders have a personal doctor they can turn to for non-urgent health concerns compared with a decade earlier. The 31-page report, which relies on 2024 insurance claims data, marks the first in what Health Insurance Commissioner Cory King intends will serve as an annual checkup on the policy and funding ailments plaguing Rhode Island’s primary care system. “The purpose is to establish a baseline understanding, so we can be able to judge whether the efforts undertaken actually improve the needle on primary care payment and access,” King said in an interview. Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner Cory King. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) “Primary care is the cornerstone of a strong and effective health care system,” the report states. “For most patients, it serves as the entry point to care; they rely on trusted relationships with primary care clinicians for preventive services, chronic condition management, and referrals to specialists when needed. Timely access to high-quality primary care is crucial to the health and productivity of Rhode Islanders.” Rhode Island is not alone. Financial strain, provider shortages and the behavioral shifts lingering after a COVID-19-induced shutdown have led to a drop in primary care visits nationwide. The Ocean State appears to fare better than the national average in terms of adult access overall, but demographic details reveal alarming disparities. One-third of Hispanic Rhode Islanders lack a reliable primary care doctor or nurse practitioner, more than six times the rate of their white, non-Hispanic peers. Low-income households, those that earned less than $25,000 in 2024, were more than four times as likely to report no primary care provider than households that earned $75,000 or more. People on Medicaid are also at a disadvantage relative to their peers with commercial insurance; less than half of Rhode Islanders with Medicaid through managed care organizations had a regular wellness visit with a primary care provider in 2024, compared with nearly seven in 10 people with commercial insurance plans. And across insurance models, people are increasingly turning to urgent care in lieu of traditional office visits with doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants due largely to an ever-deepening provider shortage. Research from Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School referenced in OHIC’s report estimates Rhode Island needs at least 300 more primary care providers, with the 700 full-time providers unable to care for the population even at a staggering 1,700 patients per provider. Workforce burnout, retirement and moves to other states that offer competitive reimbursement rates are expected to worsen the existing provider shortage. It’s a grim prognosis, and one that many fear will worsen under federal policy changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. New restrictions on Medicaid eligibility are expected to create a rise in uncompensated care, adding more demand and pressure to cash-poor healthcare facilities. Caps on student loan amounts will make it hard for aspiring doctors and nurses to afford advanced degrees, limiting the pipeline of providers badly needed to fill in the gaps in Rhode Island. And new limits on federal pass-through funding to states will make it even less financially feasible for providers to participate in treating patients with government or even traditional, commercial insurance — leading to a rise in private-pay “concierge medicine,” in which a limited number of patients pay a fee directly to their doctor for access. “There’s no business reason why any primary care physician shouldn’t do direct primary care,” said Dr. Michael Fine, former state health director and president of advocacy group Primary Care for All Americans. Referring to the rise in concierge medicine, Fine said, “What I am hearing on the street with this is, it’s turning into a tsunami.” Low-income and Hispanic people in Rhode Island are far less likely to have access to a primary care provider than their more affluent and White peers. (Courtesy of Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner) In search of solutions But, there are remedies — some already in place and others under consideration — that could help heal the state’s primary care system. In March 2025, King’s office issued new regulations to commercial insurers, requiring them to increase their share of overall annual spending on primary care from the 4.7% spent in 2024, to 10% by 2028, while mandating they reduce prior authorization policies for providers by at least 20%. The spending mandate is expected to increase funding by $40 million over four years. Meanwhile, a highly anticipated review of state reimbursement rates for primary care providers, measuring costs and competitiveness with neighboring states, will be issued in September. Many expect OHIC’s forthcoming rate review will mandate further rate hikes for primary care providers, who receive 30% less than their Massachusetts counterparts for the same services, on average, from commercial payers, according to the OHIC report. Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement comparisons are less stark, but still favor Massachusetts providers. Commercial insurers have historically pushed back on the rate differences between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, citing the cost-of-living differences. King acknowledged that it’s unreasonable to expect the Ocean State to match its northern neighbor on all types of medical service payments. But given the importance of primary care, a matching rate might be needed, he said. Meanwhile, lawmakers are finalizing a fiscal 2027 spending plan that, at last revision, is set to include a $5 million seed fund for a medical school at the University of Rhode Island. The long-awaited creation of a state medical school is one of several measures intended to attract and retain new primary care providers, along with enhanced student loan forgiveness (also bolstered in the revised House fiscal 2027 budget) and scholarships. The Senate Committee on Finance is scheduled to advance a bill Tuesday that would set up a scholarship fund for doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who stay and work in Rhode Island for twice the number of years they receive educational scholarship funds. The $1 million price tag was not included in the revised fiscal 2027 budget, but Sen. Pam Lauria, the bill’s sponsor, remains optimistic. “I know the budget is being discussed in both chambers, and this is something the Senate is committed to,” Lauria, a Barrington Democrat and nurse practitioner, said in an interview. A House companion bill by Rep. Kathleen Fogarty, a South Kingstown Democrat, remains under review in the chamber’s finance committee following an April 30 hearing. Asked for comment on the scholarship bill, Larry Berman, a spokesperson for House Speaker Christopher Blazejewski, said the revised fiscal 2027 budget added more money for loan forgiveness plans for primary care providers, including through the state’s Wavemaker fellowship program. A spokesperson Senate President Valarie Lawson did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. The Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner has required commercial insurers to increase spending on primary care to 10% by 2028. (Courtesy of Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner) Tackling self-insured employers King is also considering how to leverage his office’s authority over self-insured employers, responsible for coverage for roughly two-thirds of Rhode Islanders. Unlike businesses that transfer all the risk of health coverage for their workers to third-party insurers, or self-insured individuals, King’s office has no power to set annual premium rates for these private companies, including top employers like the state of Rhode Island and many of the major hospital and healthcare groups. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island voluntarily raised its primary care provider rates for its self-insured employee plan last year, with the intent of investing more than $50 million through 2028. “These investments will improve financial stability for practices, support recruitment and retention, and help expand access to care at a time when primary care continues to face workforce and financial pressures,” Rich Salit, a company spokesperson, said in an email. Goodwill might not be enough to spur other self-insured employers to follow suit. So King is contemplating mandates by way of the insurance companies that act as third-party administrators to business-funded plans. “If we’re really committed to primary care, it’s worth exploring whether we can or should require self-insured employers to invest in primary care,” he said. Lauria backed the proposal, noting that her own employer, Brown University Health, has not voluntarily agreed to increase its reimbursement rates to primary care providers. Brown University Health did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. Fine remained skeptical that any of the small measures taken or under consideration were enough to save a broken healthcare system. “I don’t care about where the deck chairs are on the Titanic,” he said. “What I care about is that we are sailing the Queen Elizabeth and not the Titanic.” His proposal? A “Marshall Plan,” that includes strategic and coordinated oversight of providers, and private and public insurance payors, while also addressing geographic distribution of primary care offices and the demographic barriers to care. Fine’s advocacy group, Primary Care for All Americans, recently held its inaugural summit in Cambridge, Massachusetts, featuring top research and healthcare leaders discussing various models for improving primary care, including a universal care model. “Cory did a great thing by throwing down this gauntlet,” Fine said of the report. “But his authority only extends so far.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Rhode Island Current
	Police responding to scene in Muscatine News 8 journalists are on the scene of an investigation in the 200 block of Park Avenue in Muscatine.
	Greyhound Lounge opens in downtown Davenport Greyhound Lounge is a new bar in downtown Davenport catering drinkers and non-drinkers in a unique and cozy setting.
	7 sales tax filing errors that trigger state audits and what to do if you already made them 7 sales tax filing errors that trigger state audits and what to do if you already made themWith states ramping up their tax enforcement personnel and sharpening their data-matching tools in 2026, Q1 filings are right in the crosshairs. Finance teams that filed just a few weeks ago may already be in the window where errors surface.The last thing your business needs is state tax notices or audit selection letters. The good news is that most common mistakes are fixable. However, you need to act before the state does. Anrok pulled together seven common tax filing errors after consulting leading sources, including BDO USA, Source Advisors, and more.The most common state tax filing errors to watch out forKeeping your business in compliance this tax season is about knowing how to avoid common mistakes. These are seven to have on your radar.1. Failing to register where you have economic nexusSince the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, states can require out-of-state sellers to collect and remit sales tax once they cross a certain revenue or transaction threshold. Commonly, $100,000 in sales is the threshold, but rules can vary by state. Some states have removed transaction based thresholds from their economic nexus calculation.If you discover you’ve been selling into a state and haven’t been collecting tax when you should have been, filing a Voluntary Disclosure Agreement (VDA) can typically limit the look-back period and the imposition of penalties. Timing will be critical, though, once a state tax authority notice arrives you’re generally disqualified from pursuing a VDA.2. Missing or deficient exemption certificatesExemption certificates are a leading area of audits when it comes to sales tax. They are also one of the most easily neglected. Under audit, an otherwise exempt sale may be deemed taxable if there is no valid documentation from a customer. Missing a few certificates can result in large penalties and interest, as outlined by Source Advisors. Additionally, the bar for what counts as valid may be higher than you think.For example, accepting a certificate that hasn’t been updated in years and and is expired as of an explicit date may be treated as a failure in an audit occurring today. Many states are starting to scale back leniency around retroactive certificate collection, too, meaning once you are audited, you may not be able to claim a certificate. If you notice any gaps, reach out to customers now, as proactive remediation will almost always yield a better outcome.3. Product taxability misclassificationNot all products your business offers will be taxed the same way, and the rules are constantly changing. In particular, states continue to broaden and redefine what counts as taxable digital products. This can lead to seemingly inconsistent rules around product downloads, SaaS, streaming, and cloud-hosted tools. An outdated product classification can lead to tax gaps across multiple states.In a late-2025 update to sales tax changes put together by Anrok, Maine was singled out as an example. In that state, digital audiovisual and audio works, including subscriptions to platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify, have been pulled into their definition of taxable services. Similar changes have taken effect across other states. If your product includes any digital goods or bundled services, it’s worth reviewing the most up-to-date taxability classifications to avoid outsized liabilities.4. Late or missed filingsFiling taxes late can be expensive due to compounding penalties. Some states are as low as 1%, but others can be quite high. California, for instance, has a maximum of 25% per its latest Franchise Tax Board update. Even a late filing with zero tax due can trigger a penalty and, perhaps worse, flag your account for future scrutiny.Some states offer amnesty programs where you can pay outstanding taxes for all unfiled periods without incurring fees, so run an internal audit to see if you have unfiled returns. Filing something is almost always better than filing nothing, as the clock on penalties doesn’t pause while you’re deciding if you need to file.5. Incorrect tax rate applicationSales tax is rarely just a single number. Rather, it’s a layered combination of state, county, city, and special district rates. Outdated internal systems may accidentally misapply tax rates, omit jurisdiction-specific rules, or fail to track exemption certificates as they should. These technology gaps can be easily exploited by auditors. Ensure that all tax calculation systems in your organization have been updated to reflect 2026 rates, and consider a Voluntary Disclosure Agreement if you notice any accidental under-collecting.6. Unreported consumer use tax on business purchasesConsumer use tax is one compliance obligation that many businesses overlook until they’re in an audit. When a company purchases taxable goods or services from a vendor who is located out-of-state, it can get tricky. If that vendor didn’t charge sales tax, it’s the buyer’s responsibility to self-assess and remit use tax directly to the state. This can apply to software subscriptions, equipment, office supplies, and other items.If your business hasn’t been tracking and self-assessing this tax, a quiet internal review focused on identifying these gaps and making voluntary corrections is far preferable to an auditor finding the issue.7. Assuming marketplace facilitators handle all obligationsIf your business sells through Amazon, Etsy, or other major marketplace providers, it’s easy to fall prey to a false sense of security. As outlined by BDO USA, a major professional services firm, this is one example of many where tax gaps may occur.Marketplace facilitator laws require platforms to collect and remit sales tax on behalf of third-party sellers in states with sales tax, but that’s where the coverage ends. Should your business also sell through your own website, social media, or other nonmarketplace channels, you are the responsible party for collecting and remitting sales tax.Also, sellers using the Fulfillment by Amazon program may be required to file tax returns in states where inventory is stored, even if Amazon is handling the tax collection on those transactions. This is why reviewing your multichannel exposure and confirming exactly which obligations fall on you is essential.The window to self-correct is still openState audit selection isn’t completely random. States are running increasingly sophisticated data-matching programs, and they are cross-referencing income filings, payroll records, and more against sales tax returns using new technology.If a state shares information about noncompliance with other states, based on information sharing agreements, a single audit can open the door to multistate exposure. For any of these seven common errors, the cost of correcting mistakes is almost always lower than the cost of doing so through an audit. Identify any gaps your business may have and act before the state does.This story was produced by Anrok and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Voting opens to name the Field of Dreams ballpark’s new baseball team The decision is up to Iowans — what will be the name for Dyersville’s baseball team?
	Large police presence near Muscatine riverfront A large police presence including Iowa State Patrol and the Muscatine Police Department is in multiple locations near the Muscatine riverfront on Monday afternoon. Police blocked off both the riverfront bike path and the 200 block of Park Avenue in what appears to be a crime scene. Yellow police tape stretched across Park Avenue. Muscatine [...]
	Justice Department says it will abide by court order pausing its 'anti-weaponization' fund The Justice Department said it 'strongly disagrees' with the court's ruling that paused a $1.776 fund for victims of government "weaponization," but would still abide by it.
	Scott County employee killed in dump truck rollover crash on Monday A secondary roads employee was driving with a load of gravel in a county-owned dump truck when the driver reportedly lost control and rolled into a ditch.
	Uninsured rate for young children at highest level in nearly a decade The share of young children in the U.S. under age 6 who were uninsured increased 23% between 2022 and 2024. (Getty Images) The share of young children in the U.S. under age 6 who were uninsured increased 23% between 2022 and 2024, according to a new report from Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families. The report released on Monday found that 220,000 additional babies, toddlers and preschoolers were uninsured in 2024, the most recent year for which data is available. Texas, North Dakota, Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho, Arkansas, Florida, and Oklahoma have the highest rates of uninsured children under 6 nationwide. North Carolina’s uninsured rate for children in this age group was 4.2% in 2024, below the 5.3% national average. The state had 30,800 children who were uninsured, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Joan Alker, executive director of the Center for Children and Families and a research professor at the Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy, says North Carolina made two decisions during the Cooper administration that benefited thousands of children who would have otherwise lost coverage. Alker says after the COVID-19 pandemic when states were “unwinding” Medicaid continuous enrollment, North Carolina moved slowly and deliberately. “They were also one of two states in the country — North Carolina and Kentucky — that put a longer hold on their disenrollment for children,” said Alker. “Going fast was really a risky approach, like Idaho took, but going very, very slowly and taking the time to do it right was something that North Carolina and Kentucky did, and that was a good choice.” Elisabeth Wright Burak, a senior fellow at Georgetown University and a lead author of the report, says North Carolina was also one of just a handful of states that applied to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for a 1115 waiver, allowing for continuous coverage for children up to age 6. “Before it sunsets in a few years, we’re hopeful that it will protect a lot of young children in North Carolina,” said Burak. “We’ll have to watch.” Federal law requires that all states provide children at least 12 months of continuous coverage under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Alker said North Carolina’s decision to formally expand Medicaid in December 2023 also provided a “welcome mat” effect, with newly eligible adults seeking healthcare coverage for their children as well. But Alker worries that nationally, the numbers are now moving in the wrong direction. Two million fewer children are enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP since Trump took office, said Alker. When child enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP goes down, the uninsured rate for children goes up. The Congressional Budget Office estimated recently that the number of children covered by Medicaid will decline by 3 million over the next decade as cuts from H.R. 1 – the One Big Beautiful Bill Act – take effect. Healthcare costs top of mind for voters as midterms approach, survey finds Some Republican lawmakers and President Donald Trump have said Medicaid expansion is unsustainable. They say the cuts to coverage in the 2025 spending package were needed to offset the cost of tax cuts. But Alker says lawmakers focused on affordability issues should see health coverage for children as an issue of economic security. “It’s a great investment of our taxpayer dollars,” said Alker. “Winding up in the emergency room with a broken arm or an asthma attack can really bankrupt a family at a time when they’re already facing such high costs. That’s why even one month of a child being uninsured is too many.” Courtesy of NC Newsline
	How AI helps SC small businesses compete Megan Cockrell and her husband, business analyst Matt Cockrell, meet with Brent Leaders, a potential client of 2M Social, in 2022. (Photo by Davey Morgan Photography/Courtesy of 2M Social) For people outside the industry, social media marketing probably looks like hashtags or hopping on the latest trends. For those of us who run agencies, it looks a lot more like deadlines, analytics dashboards, content calendars, ad performance metrics, customer acquisition costs search engine optimization (SEO) strategy and video editing queues. That is exactly why artificial intelligence has become so important to businesses like mine. As the owner of social media marketing agency here in South Carolina, I have watched AI move from novelty to necessity over the last few years. In an industry where the pace changes by the hour, AI has become the difference between staying competitive and getting buried under the sheer volume of content the modern economy demands. For small businesses like mine, technology isn’t abstract. It’s practical. AI tools help us work smarter, but digital tools on platforms like Facebook and Instagram and e-commerce sites also help us reach new audiences, connect with customers we otherwise never would have met, and compete in ways that weren’t possible even a few years ago. Today, every business is expected to behave like a media company. A local restaurant in Charleston needs short-form video. A real estate team in Columbia needs automated lead nurturing and SEO-optimized listing content. Tourism brands along the Grand Strand are competing for attention against national travel companies. AI empowers small businesses that don’t have enterprise-level budgets or in-house production teams. My agency uses AI tools to accelerate video scripting, analyze audience behavior, optimize ad copy, identify trending search patterns, improve customer targeting, generate campaign concepts and monitor platform performance in real time. Work that once required staring at screens for hours now moves at the speed the digital economy requires and frees my team up to engage with our community, be creative in their work, find opportunities to grow and build client relationships. As we’re still celebrating National Small Business Month, it’s important to recognize that small businesses are the backbone of the economy — making up about 99% of all companies in the United States and contributing more than 40% of the national gross domestic product — and its important they have the tools they need to operate. In the Palmetto State, we are fortunate to have the perfect environment to adopt AI throughout the economy. We have the logistics infrastructure, manufacturing base, energy footprint, military presence and technical college system that modern AI infrastructure such as data centers require. All of this opportunity is leading to major tech companies expanding investments in South Carolina and advanced manufacturing companies recognizing that the Southeast is becoming one of the country’s most important growth corridors for technology-enabled industry. You can feel the momentum building. Even culturally, South Carolina businesses are adapting faster than many people realize. Local brands that once depended entirely on foot traffic are now building online communities, creator partnerships, livestream commerce strategies and digital customer funnels that reach well beyond county lines. Not to mention, 60% of South Carolina small businesses are using AI to grow and run their daily operations. Some of the most effective marketers I know are not sitting in Manhattan high-rises. They are running campaigns from coffee shops in Mount Pleasant or home offices in Spartanburg. But America cannot afford complacency. Our AI innovators must be able to continue to innovate and bring the best tools and systems to market. China is investing heavily in AI because it understands that it is economic infrastructure. The country that leads in AI will influence global commerce, media ecosystems, and financial markets for decades to come. The United States needs to lead that future, and South Carolina deserves a seat at that table to ensure American workers, entrepreneurs, creators and small businesses have free-market, high performing tools to compete in a faster and more demanding world. From where I sit, somewhere between campaign analytics, client calls and another round of content revisions before midnight, that future is already here. Thank you to the legislators who are forging ahead with smart AI technology and AI infrastructure policies, and to the rest, please put South Carolinians and Americans first in the AI economy. Courtesy of South Carolina Daily Gazette
	How much does jewelry insurance cost in 2026? How much does jewelry insurance cost in 2026?Standard jewelry insurance will cost about 1%-3% of your jewelry’s appraised value per year, while some providers offer a lower range of rates costing 0.5%-1.5% of the appraised value per year. As such, if you were to calculate the cost of jewelry insurance for, say, a $10,000 engagement ring, you’d find that your rates could vary from $4-$25 per month, depending on the provider.The main factors influencing insurance rates will be the jewelry’s value, your location, whether the insurer offers monthly payment options, and the terms of your policy, such as whether a deductible applies. However, keep in mind that the cost goes beyond the monthly or annual rate; homeowners or renters insurance often has coverage limits and stipulations that change your true cost.BriteCo provides the following guide to the cost of jewelry insurance in 2026.Here are the basics of how jewelry insurance cost is calculated:The jewelry’s value is multiplied by 0.5%-3%.That number is adjusted based on factors like location, monthly payment discounts, etc.Then, extra, future costs may be added to a homeowners riders, like an increased premium if you make a jewelry claim. This is something to always consider when comparing a rider or floater to stand-alone jewelry insurance.Jewelry Insurance Cost Calculator: Estimate Your Price in 60 SecondsHow much should jewelry insurance cost? Check out the table below to see what your annual or monthly cost would be based on your jewelry’s value and the insurance rate. BriteCo Keep in mind, though, that your actual quote will depend on location and policy details, such as higher limits for deductibles or available payment plans. The best way to know how much to insure jewelry for is to simply reach out and get a quote, as you explore your various coverage options.What Affects Jewelry Insurance Cost?The prices of jewelry insurance vary based on the jewelry’s value, your location, and policy terms.During an underwriting review, insurance companies will look at factors such as:Your jewelry’s appraised value.Your zip code and state.The item type — whether it’s a ring, watch, heirloom jewelry, loose stones, etc.What kind of coverage you want. Policies may offer differing coverage for incidents such as loss, theft, damage, mysterious disappearance, etc.Documentation, e.g., an appraisal (some providers do have an appraisal requirement), receipt, etc.“Rates are most dependent on the individual and their risk profile, but can vary by location due to crime, climate (gloves on and off can pull off rings), and even proximity to water (swimming frequently with jewelry on),” says BriteCo chief actuary Conor Redmond.Furthermore, some insurance providers may give you discounts for things like a home security system or storing your jewelry in a safe — measures that show you’re taking care to keep your jewelry protected.“Rates may also vary due to state laws,” Redmond says. “For example, California doesn’t allow insurers to consider a person’s credit rating. So the overall rate has to be higher to account for risks insurers would reject elsewhere for poor credit.”As you’re gathering quotes for coverage, if two quotes are far apart, the difference is usually in the deductible, coverage limits, and/or exclusions.How Deductibles Change Your Jewelry Insurance PriceOpting for higher deductible options usually lowers your premium, but you’ll ultimately pay more out of pocket for jewelry insurance coverage if you file a claim.As such:If you want a lower premium, opt for a plan with a higher deductible.If you want a predictable cost when making a claim, opt for a low deductible or $0 deductible.If you have no emergency fund and can’t replace jewelry on a whim, avoid plans with a high deductible.What does this look like in real life? Let’s say you have a plan that covers loss, you lose your ring, and you make a claim. If you have a plan with a $500 deductible, but it costs $4,000 to replace your ring, then the insurer will only give you $3,500. You’ll be stuck paying the remaining $500 out of pocket.Is It Cheaper to Add Jewelry to Homeowners or Renters Insurance?It can look cheaper to add a jewelry rider to your homeowners or renters insurance, but homeowners insurance and renters insurance policies often have low jewelry limits and high deductibles, which changes the real value of the personal property coverage.Do You Need an Appraisal (and Does It Affect Cost)?In order to insure jewelry, most jewelry insurance providers require proof of value — often by getting your jewelry appraised — because your premium is tied to the documented value of the item. However much your jewelry is worth, whether it be new jewelry or heirloom precious pieces, the value determines your premium, so proof of value is necessary.If you have a valuable piece of new jewelry that you only recently purchased, you may be able to simply provide your receipt and the insurance provider may accept that as proof of value. However, if you have an older piece, like an heirloom, an official and up-to-date appraisal is often preferred. Another proof of value that an insurer might request is a gemstone grading report.“An insurance replacement value appraisal is the gold standard,” Redmond says. “Receipts and warranty cards can work in some cases. The important thing is proving ownership, piece comments, and value.”How to Lower Your Jewelry Insurance Cost Without Cutting ProtectionThe best way to lower your insuring jewelry cost is to adjust terms smartly (such as by opting for a deductible rather than a zero-deductible plan) and reducing risk where possible. For instance, you can reduce risk by investing in a safe deposit box or bank vault, or by ensuring you’re taking care of jewelry maintenance that prevents damage or loss, like stone tightening or clasp replacement. This way, you lower cost without dropping the protections you actually need.Consider:Choosing a plan with a deductible you can afford.Picking a plan that accurately reflects your jewelry worth so you’re not overpaying.Keeping your documentation current.Using a safe or safe deposit box for rarely worn pieces.Shopping around for coverage and comparing quotes.Avoiding duplicate coverage, like a stand-alone jewelry policy on top of a homeowners rider or floater.Rather than relying on homeowners insurance to cover jewelry, or renters insurance to cover jewelry, or similar blanket coverage, opting for specialized jewelry insurance ensures you have comprehensive coverage for a minimal monthly fee.Real Examples: What Jewelry Insurance Can Cost Per MonthHere are a few examples, based on BriteCo proprietary data, of what real people have paid for insurance on precious pieces like an engagement ring or wedding band, to protect them from theft, loss, accidental damage, and mysterious disappearance. Quotes vary by location and terms.$4.51 per month for $6,500 earrings in New York City.$5.23 per month for an $8,600 pendant necklace in Austin.$10.60 per month for an $11,750 luxury watch in San Francisco. BriteCo FAQs About Jewelry Insurance CostWhat’s the typical annual rate for jewelry insurance?Jewelry insurance costs about 1%-3% of the jewelry’s appraised value per year, while some providers offer a lower range of rates of 0.5%-1.5% of the jewelry’s appraised value per year.How much does it cost to insure a $5,000 ring per month?Insuring a $5,000 ring should cost $25-$150 per year, or $2-$12.50 per month.Why do two quotes for the same ring come out different?Differences in insurance quotes can typically be credited to the deductible, coverage limits, and/or exclusions.Does a $0 deductible make jewelry insurance more expensive?With some jewelry providers, a $0 deductible may make the premium more expensive, but that is not always the case; a $0 deductible is standard with some providers’ policies.Do I need an appraisal to get an accurate quote?Jewelry insurance providers may have an appraisal requirement in order to get a coverage quote, unless you just purchased the jewelry and can provide a recent receipt.Jewelry Insurance Cost: Quick Recap and Next StepsJewelry insurance cost is usually a small percentage of the appraised item’s value per year, and the quote shifts mainly due to value, location, and deductible/terms.Compare a policy’s coverage details (like the deductible, whether it covers loss and mysterious disappearance, and policy limits) and truly compare and contrast what policies protect. That way, you can choose the best jewelry insurance for your needs, rather than picking a plan simply because it’s the cheapest.This story was produced by BriteCo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Florida sues OpenAI and Sam Altman over alleged safety lapses The lawsuit accuses the company of failing to warn users that ChatGPT could be dangerous and instead marketing it as safe and reliable.
	NC bill would steer $10 million to Khan Academy for AI tool of debatable value The North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)A North Carolina Senate education bill would direct more than $10 million in recurring state funding to Khan Academy for a statewide AI tutoring program, making the nonprofit the sole provider for participating school districts without a competitive bidding process. That’s despite the fact that Khan Academy’s own founder says the AI tutoring program has not made the impact he had hoped for. In an April interview with Chalkbeat, Khan Academy founder Sal Khan acknowledged the company’s AI tutoring tool, Khanmigo, had not met early expectations for classroom use. “For a lot of students, it was a non-event,” he said. “They just didn’t use it much.” Neither the bill’s primary sponsor, Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover), nor Khan Academy immediately responded to NC Newsline’s request for comment. S1006, an omnibus education bill scheduled for its first committee hearing Wednesday, would create a state AI Academic Support Program and provide the funding to run it. From algorithms to AI chatbots, child advocates push for greater protection for NC youth Under the proposal, participating districts would use state funds to purchase Khanmigo, which is designed to help teachers with lesson planning and answer student questions about coursework. Funding would be distributed based on enrollment in grades 6 through 12. Districts that opt in would review the program each year before deciding whether to renew contracts. This isn’t the first time Senate Republican leaders have pushed the program this session. A similar proposal, SB 619, filed in 2025, would have provided $15 million for Khanmigo. That measure had bipartisan sponsorship in the Senate, but never received a hearing. The proposal comes as lawmakers across the country continue exploring how artificial intelligence can be used in classrooms. K-12 students using Khanmigo increased from about 400,000 in the 2023-24 school year to roughly 700,000 in 2024-25. The figure is expected to reach 1 million in 2025-26, the company’s chief learning officer told K-12 Dive last year. Beyond the Khanmigo proposal, the 25-page bill includes more funding for Advanced Teaching Roles, a teacher apprenticeship program, and an increased oversight of school district finances. It would also require districts to report chronic absenteeism rate to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Courtesy of NC Newsline
	Officials: Investigation underway in Muscatine, public asked to avoid area near riverfront Developing.
	How to pay yourself as a small business owner How to pay yourself as a small business ownerYou work hard for your business, but do you pay yourself? And if so, are you handling it in the right way from a tax, cash flow, and budget perspective? The right approach depends on multiple factors. According to Xero's guide to paying yourself as a business owner, your business's structure is the most critical.Whether you run a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation determines how you should pay yourself — when to cut the check, how to label it in your accounting records, and the tax forms you need to file. Sometimes, you have to pay yourself (at least on paper), even if you don't take any money out of the company. Let's dig into the details.Owner payments are based on business structureOwner payments have different names based on the business's structure:Sole proprietorships: owner drawsPartnerships: distributions or guaranteed paymentsS corp: wage or salary and distributionsC corp: wages or salary and dividendsWhat if you have an LLC? That's the most common business structure, but it doesn't have its own tax classification. By default, single-member LLCs are sole props, while multi-member LLCs are partnerships. If you like, you can opt to have your LLC taxed as an S corp. Then pay yourself accordingly.Paying yourself when you're the bossYou're in business to make money, but the IRS requires you to follow very specific protocols with owner payments. And again, it's all based on your structure.With sole props and partnerships, whether or not they're LLCs, paying yourself is easy. These are owner draws or distributions delivered through pass-through entities. You simply cut a check, transfer money from your business to your personal account, or even keep some cash out of the deposit. Then, label the withdrawal as a "draw" if you're a sole prop or a "distribution" if you're a partnership.Partners can also get guaranteed payments. That's completely separate from distributions, and it's typically based on investing or working in the company.Say Libby and Taylor start a partnership and decide to split the profits 50/50. Libby's not involved in day-to-day operations, but Taylor manages the company, so they agree that she gets $5000 in guaranteed payments every month.The payment takes the same form as a distribution (check, bank transfer, etc.), but it's accounted for differently both in the books and on the tax forms.For S and C corps, it gets a little more complicated. Owners who work in these companies are called shareholder-employees, and they must pay themselves wages or a salary through the payroll system, just like any other employees.The big difference between paying owner and employee wages is timing. You can run owner payroll once a week if you want, but you certainly don't have to. A lot of employee-shareholders do it once a year.S corp owners report their share of the business's profits as distributions, even if they don't take the money out of the company. C corps, in contrast, can keep profits in the business, but if distributed to owners, the payments are called dividends.Sole proprietors pay tax on profitsAll owner payments get reported and taxed differently, and the rules can be surprising, so you need to understand how it all works before tax season hits.With sole props, you report the profit as income and pay self-employment tax on the full amount and income tax as applicable in your situation. At tax time, it doesn't matter how much you took out or kept in the business — the IRS taxes you on all the profits.Often, the profit is the cash left at the end of the year, but not always. It depends on how you handle depreciation, loan payments, owner contributions, and other details.For example, say your business brings in $1 million in revenue, spends $800,000 on expenses, and buys equipment in cash for $150,000. You don't take out a dime all year long, and you keep the remaining $50,000 in the business account for next year.When you file your tax return, you depreciate the equipment over five years, meaning you claim $30,000 this year. That makes your profit $170,000. Here's the math:Revenue: $1 millionExpenses: $800,000Depreciation: $30,000Profit: $170,000You report the $170,000 profit on Schedule C with your individual tax return, and even though you didn't "pay yourself," it's all taxed.Partnerships pay tax on guaranteed payments and profitsPartnerships are taxed almost exactly the same as sole proprietors. The only differences are guaranteed payments and how it's all reported.With both guaranteed payments and distributions, the partnership just gives money to the partners. You don't have to withhold any tax. Transfer the funds and label the transactions as "guaranteed payments" or "distributions" in your accounting records.Then, at tax time, file Form 1065 (U.S. Return of Partnership Income) to report the partnership's revenue, expenses, and profit. This return is informational. It doesn't create a tax bill. You just file it to show the IRS a tally of the business's earnings and how profits were distributed.Say you and Bob launch a 50/50 partnership. It has $40,000 in profit after accounting for all depreciation and expenses, including a $60,000 guaranteed payment to Bob.The partnership reports these details on Form 1065 and then distributes a K-1 to each partner. Your K-1 shows $20,000 in "ordinary business income" — that's your half of the $40,000 profit. Bob's K-1 shows $20,000 in business income and $60,000 in guaranteed payments.You each report your K-1 income on your individual income tax returns, and you face self-employment tax on all of the earnings, plus income tax based on your situation.With partnerships, you report the profit as income, even if you left all the money in the business and didn't take any distributions.S corp owners pay tax on salaries and profitsS corp owners have to jump through a few more hoops, but it's often worth it for the tax benefits. If you work in the business, the S corp must pay you a reasonable amount. That could range from hourly minimum wage for retail work to a competitive annual salary for managing your graphic design company.The S corp pays you the same way it pays any other employee. It withholds FICA and income tax from your payment, makes matching Social Security and Medicare contributions, and pays state and federal unemployment taxes. Then, it gives you a W-2 at the end of the year and claims the wages and employer taxes as business expenses.At tax time, the S corp files Form 1120-S to report its revenue, expenses (including owner wages or salaries), and profit, but it doesn't pay any tax with that form. Instead, it generates a K-1, showing each owner's share of the profits.When you file your individual tax return, you report your earnings from the W-2 and the K-1. The W-2 income is subject to FICA taxes, but at this point, those taxes have already been paid — half by the business and half from your paycheck. The K-1 income is not subject to FICA or self-employment taxes, which can save you a lot of money. All of the income, of course, is subject to income tax based on your situation.Just like with sole proprietorships and partnerships, you report the profit as income, even if you didn't take the cash out of the business.You may pay tax twice as a C corpC corps also pay W-2 wages to owners who work in the business, and for both the business and the owner, the reporting is exactly the same as it is for S corps.The difference is that C corps pay tax at the corporate level. They file a 1120-C and pay corporate income tax on profits. Then, if the corporation distributes profits to owners, they're called dividends. Owners report and pay tax on dividends even though the company already paid tax on those profits.What's the best structure for paying yourself?It really depends, but the best option is to start with an LLC. Then, handle taxes as a sole proprietor if you've got one member or a partnership if you've got multiple.As profits grow, it can be beneficial to elect to be taxed as an S corp. That can save money on self-employment tax, but requires a few extra tax forms. Most small business owners stay away from the C corp structure because it's just too complex.How much should you actually pay yourself?It depends on your goals for the business and your personal finances. With some businesses, you'll take the bulk of the profits from day one, with others, you might reinvest the profits for a decade or more before pulling anything out. As a general rule of thumb, try to focus on investing in the business during the early stages, give yourself a livable wage or a percentage of profit during growth stages, and reward yourself with a stable income once you're well established.Make sure you understand how it works, or you'll face trouble at tax time. Don't run owner payments for sole proprietorships or partnerships through payroll software, but if you have an S corp, absolutely don't forget to do that. Talk with an accountant to get it all set up correctly so you can stay tax-compliant while also keeping yourself paid.This story was produced by Xero and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Race for US Senate in Iowa, Davenport city council's priorities: News 8 This Week - May 31, 2026 This week, News 8's Jon Diaz speaks with Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Zach Wahls. Plus, Davenport City Administrator Tim Gleason on city priorities.
	Partition without conflict: How families are resolving shared property issues amicably Partition without conflict: How families are resolving shared property issues amicablyFor heirs and co-owners managing shared real estate portfolios, property illiquidity driven by divergent financial motives has become a primary risk to asset preservation. The friction is quantifiable.According to a 2023 study by LegalShield, 58% of families face disruptive property disputes or see assets fall under direct court control when multigenerational real estate is transferred without an explicit operational roadmap or partition agreement. While joint ownership functions as a key vehicle for capital accumulation, the lack of a predefined exit protocol frequently traps siblings, co-investors, and family groups in high-stakes stalemates. This analysis evaluates the precise operational and statutory guardrails required to navigate property division amicably, ensuring asset protection without compromising family harmony. Underwood Law What Causes Family Conflict During Property Partition?According to Underwood Law, the most common reason family members pursue property partition in the first place is divergent financial needs and goals among co-owners.The conflict usually arises from unbalanced expectations and decades of unresolved family dynamics, intensified by high financial stakes.Consider a baseline scenario involving three siblings inheriting a primary investment property. One sibling may be facing debt and need their share of the sale proceeds. On the other hand, another sibling may view the property as an emotional sanctuary or a long-term investment and refuses to sell. Meanwhile, the third sibling is caught in the middle and is forced to choose sides.If all the siblings agree to keep and maintain the property, another potential source of conflict is uncompensated improvements. When one person has put more work into the property than the others, resentment is almost guaranteed unless there is a preexisting contract.Conflict also arises when one co-owner pays for the new roof and property taxes while the other co-owners expect an equal split of the proceeds upon partition.How to Have a Family-Friendly, Amicable Property PartitionMitigating interpersonal disputes while protecting joint financial interests typically requires the intervention of a neutral third party. This can be a mediator or a neutral real estate consultant who attends family meetings where property partition is discussed, or a property partition lawyer.Statutory requirements may render legal counsel mandatory if co-owners reach an unresolvable stalemate or breach fiduciary duties.If you choose to keep things in the family, here’s what you can do to avoid major conflicts:Draft a Partition AgreementDo not wait until you have a buyer to decide how the money will be handled. Executing a preemptive contractual agreement prior to asset marketing ensures transparency.The agreement should cover things like:Which realtor to use (ideally one with no family ties).The minimum acceptable offer.How to split closing and holding costs (utilities/insurance) until the sale.Account for Sweat Equity and ExpensesBefore splitting the proceeds, make sure everyone’s contributions are noted and accounted for. If one sibling paid the property taxes for five years or replaced the water heater, they should be reimbursed from the top of the sale proceeds before the remaining money is split.You should also consider documented out-of-pocket maintenance expenses as credits toward the payer’s share. It’s the best way to ensure everyone is satisfied and no accusations of unfairness arise.Offer Right of First Refusal with a TimelineIf one family member desperately wants to keep the property, give them a fair window to make it happen, but set a hard timeline. As a rule of thumb, 60 to 90 days to secure financing for a buy-out at the agreed-upon appraised price is usually a fair window.If they cannot secure the funds by the deadline, the agreement must state that the property goes on the open market immediately. This prevents the co-owner’s asset illiquidity, where one person's dream stalls everyone else's financial life.When to Hire a Property Partition LawyerHiring a lawyer doesn’t mean you’ll be airing family grievances in public. It’s just a way to move things further when nothing else works. Shifting communication to a formal legal intermediary insulates personal relationships from ongoing financial negotiations.As already mentioned, legal intervention is necessary when one person refuses to sell. In this scenario, you cannot move forward without a court order. Another situation is when a family member is living in the property and refuses to move out or allow potential buyers to view the home.Other situations include clouded title chains, which usually happen during an inheritance dispute. A lawyer can work with title companies to pursue a quiet title action, clearing the path for the property to be sold to a third party.Often, simply having a lawyer send a formal demand letter explaining that you are prepared to file a partition action is frequently sufficient to incentivize a voluntary settlement among cooperating tenants in common. A forced court sale will result in a lower price and high legal fees for everyone, so it’s in their best interest to unblock the proceeds.The Macro Outlook for Fractional Asset GovernanceAs real estate values remain elevated through 2026, traditional fractional property ownership is projected to increase, accelerating the rate of multigenerational asset transfers. This shift is driving a broader corporate trend toward proactive asset governance over reactive court interventions.Ultimately, establishing clear capital contribution reconciliations before disputes arise ensures that shared real estate functions as a mechanism for generational wealth preservation rather than an operational liability.This story was produced by Underwood Law and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	AI giant Anthropic files paperwork for an IPO The Anthropic IPO, and those of other AI-related firms like OpenAI, could be among the biggest in U.S. history.
	AI giant Anthropic prepares to sell stock to the public; files preliminary IPO paperwork The Anthropic IPO, and those of other AI-related firms like OpenAI, could be among the biggest in U.S. history.
	Serena Williams returns to tennis, announcing 'next chapter' A tennis legend at 44, Serena Williams is returning to pro tennis this month, announcing plans to play in the HSBC Championships in London. Williams, a mother of two, retired nearly four years ago.
	Two Republicans aim to become candidate to flip state auditor seat to GOP control Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer and Iowa County Supervisor Abigail Maas face off in the June 2 Republican primary to succeed Democrat Rob Sand as Iowa State Auditor.
	Hammond mayor expects final Bears stadium decision in 30 days Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. expects the Chicago Bears will decide by the end of June whether the team will construct their stadium in Northwest Indiana.
	Vehicles struck by gunfire in Rock Island Two vehicles were hit by gunfire in Rock Island on Sunday. The Rock Island Police Department says it happened around 9:21 p.m. near 43rd Street and 15th Avenue. Officers responded to the area after reports of shots being fired and found two vehicles struck by gunfire and recovered shell casings. Police say "the investigation suggests [...]
	Richard Pryor's daughter studies the N-word — a word he used, then disavowed Historian Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor spent years researching the racial slur, but never revealed that her father was the legendary comic who used it profusely. Her new book is Something We Said.
	After gunfire heard Rock Island police find shell casings KWQC is working to learn more information.
	Star-Spangled Sing-Off: Vote now for your favorite a capella performance The first-round of voting is now open.
	The evolution of jet memberships: How subscription models are outpacing traditional ownership The evolution of jet memberships: How subscription models are outpacing traditional ownershipPrivate aviation allows passengers to move on individualized schedules. A single itinerary can span commercial hubs from Paris to Shanghai within a 48-hour window.But if private aviation only catered to billionaires with their own aircraft, the industry wouldn’t have reached a nearly $30 billion market in 2025. It would still be a tiny world occupied by ultrawealthy individuals and corporate fleets, while everyone else dealt with crowded terminals, delays, and uncomfortable seating.Owning a Gulfstream isn’t the only way to fly private anymore. With charter operators, jet memberships, and on-demand booking services, private aviation has become accessible to a much broader group of travelers.Jettly examines how membership and subscription models are reshaping private aviation and reducing reliance on full aircraft ownership. Jettly A Bit of HistoryWealthy people have been fascinated with aircraft since the inception of civil aviation. But early private flying looked nothing like the sleek business jets we know today.Before the 1950s, private planes were often clunky, uncomfortable, and wildly impractical. There were no pressurized cabins or plush interiors, and plane rides were generally uncomfortable.That started to change as aircraft technology improved. One major milestone was the Cessna 172, which helped make private flying more practical for up to three passengers. In 1957, the aviation market saw the introduction of the Lockheed JetStar, one of the first business jets capable of carrying 10 passengers.With better engines, improved comfort, and eventually pressurized cabins, private aviation began evolving from a risky hobby into a legitimate business travel solution. For decades, though, it still remained a luxury reserved almost entirely for billionaires, celebrities, and major corporations.But as the industry grew and more charter companies emerged, the tides turned, and more people were able to access the service. And we arrive at today, when flying private means booking a seat, chartering a flight, or joining a membership program.Today’s Landscape: Ownership vs. Subscription ModelsIn just a few decades, private aviation has evolved from a status symbol into something much more practical. Sure, owning a luxury jet is still an unmistakable sign of wealth, especially in today’s economy. Most users do not require the capital footprint of ultra-high-net-worth individuals or global icons; rather, they prioritize utility over legacy equity ownership.A lot of today’s private flyers are business executives, entrepreneurs, families, or frequent travelers who value flexibility, privacy, and saving time more than the bragging rights of owning an aircraft.Why Subscriptions are WinningUntil recently, on-demand booking was the most popular model among charter clients. Within this model, users pay an annual or monthly fee to access a digital marketplace with guaranteed or capped hourly rates.Subscribers maintain complete fleet flexibility, allowing them to secure a 6-seat Phenom 300 or a large-cabin corporate jet depending on the mission profile.But the current fuel surcharges and pilot wage spikes caused on-demand rates to fluctuate by as much as 20% month over month. To avoid this, frequent flyers may prefer membership models that provide fixed hourly rates, such as jet cards, all-you-can-fly, or fractional ownership.Here is a breakdown of these models and who they’re best for: Jettly Subscriptions provide fixed hourly rates during the membership period and peak-day protection. This protects users from price surges motivated by high-demand events (like the Super Bowl or the FIFA World Cup).The Financial Burden of Whole OwnershipThe one disadvantage of subscriptions and on-demand booking is that passengers are not guaranteed access to the same aircraft type every time. Also, during peak season, they may not be able to book a flight without a 24-hour notice.Whole asset ownership mitigates these availability constraints. An individual owner retains total operational control, a dedicated crew is permanently at their disposal, and the aircraft can achieve operational readiness within hours of notification. However, this level of readiness comes with steep costs.Initial acquisition requires allocating between $3 million and $90 million in capital. Beyond the purchase price, operators must account for ongoing overhead, including maintenance, hangarage, and crew.Without a high-frequency travel profile or ultrahigh-net-worth status, justifying these staggering outlays remains difficult.More People Can Fly PrivateWhile owning a private jet remains prohibitively expensive, today’s business model is far more accessible. For most travelers, chartering offers the flexibility, privacy, and convenience of flying private without taking on the enormous costs and responsibilities of owning an aircraft.There are no maintenance headaches, no need to hire a crew, and no paying for a jet to sit in a hangar. That’s why jet memberships and subscription models continue to grow. They give travelers the freedom to fly on their own terms, whether that means a few flights a year or frequent business trips across the globe.This story was produced by Jettly and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Sara Evans will be in concert at Rhythm City, Davenport Sara Evans will be in concert at Rhythm City Casino Resort On Friday, Oct. 9. Tickets are available online here or at The Market at Rhythm City for $44.45-$87.25. (The online/phone ticketing fee is waived when you purchase tickets at The Market Gift Shop inside Rhythm City Casino Resort, 7077 Elmore Ave., Davenport.) About Sara [...]
	Motorcycle, car and van crash in Rock Island Westbound 18th Avenue is closed at 30th Street after a motorcycle, car and van crashed near 29th Street on Monday. A witness told Our Quad Cities News that the car was turning left onto 29th and hit the westbound motorcycle, which sent the motorcycle into the van waiting at the stop sign. The motorcyclist was [...]
	Remains found in Kewanee identified as man missing since 2022 He was reported missing on Nov. 18, 2022.
	Iowa nurse faces second round of drug-related disciplinary charges (Photo courtesy of the Iowa Board of Nursing)An Iowa nurse who was previously sanctioned for substance abuse issues is now facing additional disciplinary charges. The Iowa Board of Nursing has charged registered nurse Ranae Fallis of West Des Moines with habitual intoxication or addiction to the use of drugs, and with engaging in unethical conduct or practice harmful or detrimental to the public. The board has not publicly disclosed any of the alleged conduct that gave rise to the charges or indicated where or when they are alleged to have occurred. A board hearing on the matter is scheduled for July 23, 2026. In an unrelated civil proceeding, a court order was issued on May 12, 2026, in which a Polk County judge wrote that Fallis recently testified at a hearing “as to her involvement with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services in approximately 2022 related to substance abuse, after which Ms. Fallis successfully completed treatment. Ms. Fallis testified that she recently relapsed December 2025, is currently unemployed as a registered nurse, and is considering further treatment.” State records indicate Fallis was first issued an Iowa license to work as a registered nurse in August 2003. In July 2022, the records show, Fallis was working at a hospital when she agreed to submit to a reasonable-suspicion drug test that indicated she had been using cocaine. At the time, the board charged Fallis with unauthorized use of a controlled substance, and in April 2023, the board placed her license on probation for 18 months. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Man who died in Rock Island County crash identified UPDATE: The man who died in Sunday's crash was identified as Brenton G. Collins, 38, of Seaton, Illinois, by Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson. EARLIER UPDATE: A crash in Rock Island County killed one driver and sent another to the hospital. The Rock Island County Sheriff's Office says it happened Sunday around 6:30 at [...]
	Skeletal remains found in park identified as man missing since 2022 The skeletal remains found inside a Northeast Park waste tank have been identified as Daniel J. Cernovich, a Kewanee man missing since November 2022.

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Monday, June 1st, 2026