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

Sunday, February 1st, 2026
	Mississippi Islands This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.If God had asked for advice from Minnesotans and Wisconsinites when he set about designing Mississippi islands, those…
	Iran's supreme leader warns any US attack would spark 'regional war' Iran's supreme leader warned Sunday that any attack by the United States would spark a "regional war" in the Mideast, further escalating tensions as President Donald Trump has threatened to militarily strike the Islamic Republic.
	Minnesota citizens detained by ICE are left rattled, even weeks later The number of immigration agents in Minnesota may be reduced, but they'll leave leave behind a changed community, including many U.S. citizens questioned and detained in recent weeks.
	Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins a reliably Republican Texas state Senate seat, stunning GOP Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas state Senate on Saturday, flipping a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
	Trump says feds won't intervene during protests in Democratic-led cities unless asked to do so President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem not to intervene in protests occurring in cities led by Democrats unless local authorities ask for federal help.
Saturday, January 31st, 2026
	Protesters rally in Muscatine amid nationwide demonstrations over ICE agents’ fatal shootings People in Muscatine joined protests against ICE, reflecting broader national demonstrations.
	Protest against ICE held in Muscatine Demonstrators gathered in Muscatine to protest ICE and the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
	Box turtle at Nahant Marsh facing life threatening health issue A box turtle has been diagnosed as egg bound, meaning she is unable to pass eggs, causing them to be stuck in her reproductive tract and can become infected.
	Cook review: 'Melania' is everything a documentary shouldn't be - except for music "Melania," the new documentary about the First Lady, is everything a documentary shouldn't be. Except for some engaging music. The story behind the film - why it was made, what it cost - you can learn about with a simple web search. Instead of telling viewers more about Melania's childhood, her modeling career, her parents, [...]
	Quad City Symphony will present 'Rite of Spring;' world premiere by Angel Lam The Quad City Symphony Orchestra will present Masterworks IV: "The Rite of Spring," featuring the world premiere of Angel Lam’s "Unearthing the Heart: The Thousand Grottoes of Dunhuang," a news release says. The program will be presented twice: The Quad City Symphony Orchestra invites audiences to an immersive artistic experience with this program that pairs one [...]
	Don Lemon and Georgia Fort vow to continue reporting following arrests tied to anti-ICE protest The two independent journalists face federal charges related to the interruption of a church service in Minnesota earlier this month. Lemon and Fort say they were there to cover a protest.
	7 years ago - do you remember -33° in the Quad Cities? Happy anniversary? For a lot of us, not so much! 7 years ago today was the coldest day EVER in the Quad Cities! The low on January 31st, 2019 was -33° in the Quad Cities. That beat the old mark by 5° - the old record low was -28° on February 3rd, 1996. So, as [...]
	Davenport Police unveil new mobile speed camera cabinets across city Davenport police say new mobile speed camera cabinets will replace vans, keeping the same locations while upgrading enforcement technology.
	Court date scheduled for Davenport man accused of trafficking weapons in 2024 A court date has been scheduled for a 31-year-old Davenport man accused of burglary and trafficking a gun, according to Scott County Court records. Nicholas Millender, who was being held Saturday in Scott County Jail, faces felony charges of trafficking in stolen weapon(s) used in a crime, third-degree burglary, and dominion/control of a firearm/offensive weapon [...]
	Fire meets ICE at Friday vigil and call to action in Davenport Quad Cities Interfaith held a vigil and call to action regarding the federal government’s immigration crackdown and activities by agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Friday night, January 30th, at Zion Lutheran Church, Davenport.
	DNC will allow Iowa Democrats to compete for early date for 2028 caucuses Five Republican precinct caucuses were held at Franklin Jr High in Des Moines Jan. 15, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)Iowa Democrats were approved Saturday to present their case to national Democrats on why the state’s Democratic caucuses should go in the early presidential nominating window in 2028. At the Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting Saturday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, members reviewed the applications from 12 states that submitted waivers to hold their presidential nominating contests ahead of Super Tuesday. All 12 state parties that submitted requests for early contest waivers to the DNC — Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia — were approved to present at later RBC meetings. This is the second presidential nominating cycle in a row where Democrats are considered likely to make changes in their calendar. The DNC went through a similar process of evaluating states and shifting the long-held process of beginning the nominating cycle with the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries during the 2024 election cycle. The Rules and Bylaws Committee approved a calendar in 2022 starting the nominating process with the South Carolina primaries, with contests in Nevada, New Hampshire, Georgia and Michigan also held in the early window — but this schedule is once again up for change heading into the next election cycle. As committee members spoke about the new calendar, Minyon Moore, the RBC co-chair, said the committee would evaluate states based on rigorousness, efficiency and fairness of their nominating contests. The goal of the committee is to “craft a calendar that produces the strongest possible Democratic nominee for president.” The DNC charter and bylaws requires that only one state from each of four regions — the Eastern, Western, Southern and Midwestern — can be granted an early contest position, with the RBC able to grant one additional waiver. Iowa Democrats are competing against Michigan and Illinois to become the Midwestern state to hold an early contest in 2028. Iowa submitted its application to return to an early state spot Jan. 16, telling members of the RBC in the proposal that “no other state has the knowledge, infrastructure, and history of giving long-shot Presidential candidates a fair chance.” Iowa was home to the first-in-the-nation caucuses for several decades, kicking off the presidential nominating process for both parties. However, following issues with reporting results during the 2020 Iowa caucuses and existing concerns about the caucuses being less than fully accessible, the DNC removed Iowa from its position starting the process in 2024. Some Democrats have said Iowa caucuses, conducted at in-person, evening events, are difficult for many people to participate in, especially people with disabilities, those who have children or who work late shifts. In an effort to address these concerns, the Iowa Democratic Party moved to a “mail-in” caucus system in 2024. In their January application, the IDP wrote Iowa Democrats are working toward creating a more accessible contests, and that the Iowa’s party-run caucuses “provide a great deal of flexibility in how we achieve the goal of a more inclusive process.” “Historically, reforms have been constrained by two factors: A desire by the national party to move away from caucuses in favor of primaries; and the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s definition of what constitutes a primary,” the application read. “For our proposal, we offer a ‘menu’ of options that we look forward to discussing with the RBC, the current Iowa candidates we intend to elect this November, and our grassroots activists.” While Iowa Democratic precinct caucuses will be held on the same day as Republicans in 2028, the IDP said the state party had flexibility on setting dates related to delegate allocation for the presidential nominating process. Iowa’s application outlined two major ways that could provide more accessibility to voters who cannot attend the in-person caucuses — the mail-in preference card system used in 2024, or the option to hold satellite and virtual caucuses. The Iowa Democrats’ application argues that while the RBC rejected their effort to include a virtual caucus option in 2020, the state party believes this idea should be reconsidered following the 2024 DNC decision allowing delegates to electronically nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential nominee. Michael Kapp, an RBC member from California, questioned this argument. “I’d like Iowa in their presentation to address what I feel is a fundamental difference between a convention vote, with a known finite universe of credentialed voters, and a caucus process involving an open and undefined universe of potential participants,” Kapp said. RBC member Frank Leone, of Washington, D.C., called for Iowa to provide the committee with a specific proposal instead of a “menu” of options. “We spent a lot of time going back and forth with Iowa eight years ago, the DNC certainly raised some issues that caused some problems,” Leone said. “There’s a lot of issues that went on there, but I don’t think we want to spend a lot of time trying to fine tune it. … I think what we need to hear from Iowa is, ‘This is what we want to do,’ and then this committee will fairly consider it and make a decision.” Along with beginning the process of choosing early states, RBC members considered states’ ability to comply with the new calendar. Many states would need legislative approval to change the dates for party nomination contests. In the 2024 nomination cycle, the DNC calendar was not implemented with full success. The New Hampshire and Georgia secretaries of state, both Republicans, denied Democrats’ request to change the date of their contests, and held their primaries outside of compliance with the DNC calendar. States currently controlled by Republicans could face similar problems that New Hampshire and Georgia encountered in implementing the calendar during the previous cycle. If states hold contests unsanctioned by the DNC, voters can still weigh in on their choice for presidential nominee — but the results of the state contest will likely not be counted when the national party holds its convention to select their presidential nominee. However, New Hampshire, which did not abide by the Democrats’ calendar and held its first-in-the-nation primary ahead of South Carolina in 2024, was allowed to have their delegates participate in the 2024 convention as the RBC approved an April nominating event held by New Hampshire Democrats. The IDP conducted a survey in 2025 asking voters how they want the state party to approach the 2028 caucuses. Results found 65.3% of respondents wanted Iowa to be first or early in the nominating process, but 51.1% did not want Iowa to defy the DNC calendar if not granted a waiver. The dates for when Iowa will present before the RBC — and when the committee will decide which states to grant waivers — has yet to be determined. The next RBC meeting is scheduled for April in New Orleans. A statement from the Iowa Democratic Party said “we are pleased the Rules and Bylaws Committee decided to move forward with our application and look forward to having continued conversations with its members and co-chairs.” “All options are on the table for Iowa Democrats in 2028,” the statement read. “It was a mistake for the DNC to cut us out of the calendar, letting Republicans’ attacks go unanswered in Iowa while millions of dollars in advertising, organizing and the worldwide media flooded our state. If the Democratic Party wants to start winning big, sustainable majorities again, our candidates need to show they can compete in states like Iowa.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Programming note: No evening newscasts Sunday due to NBA games The Knick and Lakers and Nuggets and Thunder will faceoff in back-to-back NBA games.
	Death Notice: Steve McNicol A funeral service celebrating the life of Steven Kent McNicol Sr., 87, will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at First Baptist Church of Bettendorf. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. A lunch will follow the service. Weerts Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements. Mr. McNicol died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Bettendorf. Online condolences may be made at www.WeertsFH.com. A full obituary will appear in the Feb. 4 edition of The NSP.
	'Sanford and Son' co-star Demond Wilson dies at 79 The actor was best known for playing Lamont Sanford, opposite Redd Foxx's Fred Sanford in the hit 1970s sitcom. Wilson died Friday from complications related to cancer, his publicist said.
	Milan protesters call for U.S. ICE agents to leave Italy as Winter Games approach An ICE unit from the US Department of Homeland Security is playing a role providing security at the Winter Games. At past Olympics, their involvement would have been unremarkable. But after the violence in Minneapolis, many Italians protesting in Milan say ICE agents are no longer welcome.
	Judge says she won't halt the immigration enforcement surge as a lawsuit proceeds U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the ruling on social media, calling it "another HUGE" legal win for the Justice Department.
	Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina defeats No. 1 Aryana Sabalenka to win Australian Open Saturday's win marks the second Grand Slam title for Rybakina, who took Wimbledon in 2022.
	Alaska Beacon state and legislative daybook for the week of Feb. 2, 2026 A snow-covered statue of William Henry Seward stands in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (James Brooks photo/Alaska Beacon) Monday, Feb. 2 ALASKA MARMOT DAY Alaska Forum on the Environment takes place in Anchorage. North Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Anchorage. The full council meets Feb. 5-11. 8 a.m. – School officials testify in House Education Committee, promoting a new funding bill 9 a.m. – Senate Finance hears a status report on the state ferry system House/Senate floor sessions are expected about 10:30 a.m. 1 p.m. – Public testimony in the House Judiciary Committee on a bill allowing Alaskans to write-in presidential candidates. 1:30 p.m. – House Finance gets an update on the state employee salary study published last year 3:30 p.m. – North Slope oil producers talk to Senate Resources Committee Tuesday, Feb. 3 Alaska Forum on the Environment takes place in Anchorage. North Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Anchorage. 9 a.m. – Senate Finance hears a bill that would repeal the frequently-ignored law that calls for a 90-day legislative session 9:30 a.m. – Alaska Alcohol Control Board meets 9:30 a.m. – State Board of Barbers and Hairdressers meeting 10 a.m. – Want to keep banning Russian seafood in America? House Fisheries is taking public testimony on a request to extend a federal ban that expires in 2026. Noon – Departing President Pat Pitney delivers a status update on the University of Alaska 1:30 p.m. – House Finance hears an update on the degree to which the state’s public employee pension program is funded 1:30 p.m. – DOT is proposing to reorganize itself; Senate Transportation Committee hears a presentation on how it plans to do that 3:15 p.m. – OCS discusses its recent legislative audit with the House Health and Social Services Committee 3:15 p.m. – House State Affairs takes public testimony on a bill naming the giant cabbage Alaska’s state vegetable 3:30 p.m. – Department of Health presents the latest update on the effect of the “Big Beautiful Bill” on Medicaid and SNAP 3:30 p.m. – Norm McDonald (not that one, the deputy state forester) gives an update on the 2025 fire season in Senate State Affairs Wednesday, Feb. 4 Alaska Forum on the Environment takes place in Anchorage. North Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Anchorage. 9 a.m. – State Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives meeting 9:30 a.m. – Marijuana Control Board meeting begins House and Senate hold floor sessions at about 10:30 a.m. 1 p.m. – House Judiciary takes public testimony on a bill increasing the number of superior court judges in the state 1:30 p.m. – State Real Estate Commission meeting to discuss cutting regulations 1:30 p.m. – House Finance holds its first hearing on the supplemental budget bill for transportation funding, etc. Thursday, Feb. 5 Alaska Forum on the Environment takes place in Anchorage. North Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Anchorage. 9 a.m. – Alaska Railroad Corp. board meets in Anchorage; will consider AKLNG use of railroad right of way 9 a.m. – House Finance holds its first hearing on the governor’s fiscal plan tax bill 12 p.m. – Statewide update on housing and homelessness, lunch and learn in the Capitol 1:30 p.m. – Alaska Student Loan Corp. meets in Juneau 1:30 p.m. – House Transportation talks about the Cascade Point ferry terminal in Juneau 5:15 p.m. – Does the Legislature’s gas pipeline consultant, Gaffney Cline, have a conflict of interest? Well, we might not find out because the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee will talk about it in executive session. (They’re also talking about hiring an attorney for a “personnel matter.”) 5:30 p.m. – Public testimony on the governor’s proposed sales tax and other tax bill in House Finance; two minutes per caller Friday, Feb. 6 Alaska Forum on the Environment takes place in Anchorage. North Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Anchorage. 9 a.m. – State Board of Public Accountancy board meeting House/Senate floor sessions start at about 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m. – Alaska Court System presents its budget to House Judiciary and explains new programs 1 p.m. – House Resources takes public testimony on a bill that would set up a statewide fund for spay/neutering animals 3:30 p.m. – Senate Resources considers a bill on LNG import facilities and the governor’s tax bill Sunday, Feb. 8 4:30 p.m. – Legislative water polo club starts, meets on Sundays SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Lt. Milo joins West Burlington Police as therapy cat Lt. Milo is officially the newest member of the West Burlington, Iowa, Police Department, according to the department's Facebook post. "We are excited to officially introduce the newest member of our department," the post says. "Meet Lt. Milo! Our therapy animal and newest pawwficer on duty!" First responders face-high stress situations every day, and having [...]
	Nonprofit will present Motherhood Fair in Davenport Strength in MotherS, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to improving maternal health and wellness, will host a Motherhood Fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 28, at Hickory Creek Event Center, 3504 Hickory Grove Road, Davenport, a new release says. The purpose of the event is to bring together families, providers, and community organizations to support individuals [...]
	Roadwork to begin Monday on Rock Island's 5th Avenue During the closure, eastbound Fifth Avenue traffic will be detoured south to Seventh Avenue.
	10 of Soul will perform at Central DeWitt Performing Arts Center The Central DeWitt Performing Arts Center will welcome 10 of Soul at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, for an afternoon of high-energy live music featuring soul, funk, and pop favorites, a news release says. Known throughout the Quad Cities area for their powerful vocals, exceptional musicianship, and dynamic stage presence, 10 of Soul has built [...]
	Gonzalez-Torres artwork brings celebration of LGBTQ to Figge Art Museum, Davenport Felix Gonzalez-Torres: “Untitled” (L.A.,) now on view, offers the Figge Art Museum, Davenport, "a meaningful opportunity to share the work of this deeply influential artist with the Quad Cities community," a news release says. This exhibition invites visitors to reflect on themes central to Gonzalez-Torres’s practice: The joyful celebration of LGBTQ identity alongside acknowledgment of [...]
	Free funeral planning session scheduled for Gilda's Club Moline Cancer Support Community Iowa and NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club will host a free educational workshop from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at Gilda’s Club Moline, 600 John Deere Road, Suite 101, Moline, or virtually via Zoom, a news release says. This informative workshop will guide participants through the essentials of pre-need funeral planning, helping [...]
	Memories of Muscatine: A train derailment in 1967 This week for Memories of Muscatine: A train derailment that happened at Cedar and Sycamore streets in January, 1967.
	Moline approves waste contracts, residents to see 2% increase in sanitation fees this year Moline recycling fees will remain the same in 2026, but sanitation fees will increase 2%.
	Intermittent closures to affect East Moline's 12th Avenue beginning Monday The daily closures are so a large crane can set a number of large electric transmission line poles for MidAmerican Energy.
	Illinois legislators take questions on passenger rail, public safety during Chamber review Five local legislators from Illinois attended the review in Rock Island Friday morning.
	New display at Iowa Statehouse showcases unclaimed treasures DES MOINES, Iowa -- A new display is up at the Iowa Statehouse. It's part of the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. The display shows just some of the $648 million of unclaimed property held by the state. It includes old cash, sports cards, old birthday cards, and war medals. There is a QR code for [...]
	The U.S. will likely lose its measles elimination status. Here's what that means The South Carolina measles outbreak is now bigger than last year's Texas outbreak and is happening as the U.S. is poised to lose its measles elimination status.
	Israeli strikes kill 23 Palestinians as Gaza ceasefire inches forward Hospitals in Gaza said Israeli strikes killed at least 23 Palestinians Saturday, one of the highest tolls since the October ceasefire aimed at stopping the fighting.
	Woody Woodpecker This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Do you remember that outrageous cartoon woodpecker named Woody? With his pointy red topknot, his insane cackle, and his…
	With decades-long restrictions lifted, a Pakistani brewery has started exporting beer Drinking is illegal for Pakistan's Muslim majority, but Murree Brewery's beer has long been available to non-Muslims and foreigners there. Now it's being exported to the U.K., Japan and Portugal. Is the U.S. next?
	Want to get stronger? Start with these 6 muscle-building exercises If you're curious about starting a resistance training routine and not sure to begin, start with these expert-recommended movements.
	A red hat, inspired by a symbol of resistance to Nazi occupation, gains traction in Minnesota A Minneapolis knitting shop has resurrected the design of a Norwegian cap worn to protest Nazi occupation. Its owner says the money raised from hat pattern sales will support the local immigrant community.
	Cookware recalled due to possible lead contamination The cookware may be contaminated with elevated lead levels that could leach into food.
	Venezuela announces amnesty bill that could lead to release of political prisoners Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Friday announced an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners detained for political reasons.
Friday, January 30th, 2026
	DHS keeps making false claims about people. It's part of a broader pattern Trump administration officials have falsely linked Alex Pretti and Renee Macklin Good to domestic terrorism. It's part of a larger pattern by the Department of Homeland Security.
	What to know about the partial government shutdown The Senate passed a measure to avert a shutdown on Friday. But with the House on recess, funding for broad stretches of the federal government has technically lapsed.
	Changes coming to SNAP benefits on Sunday Nearly 42 million people will see changes to SNAP benefits beginning Sunday.
	Davenport library gives away formalwear Members of the community donated dresses, suits, blazers and more for the giveaway.
	St. Ambrose University holds spoken word event "Speak Your Peace" allowed audience members to vote for their favorite spoken pieces.
	Rock Island Arsenal set to receive more than $100M in funding from defense appropriations bill $100M of the Arsenal funding will be used to stabilize the flow of labor at all three U.S. Army Arsenals, including Rock Island.
	Displaced Fulton apartment fire victims find housing The people who lived in Fulton's Hotel Martin apartment building are trying to figure out what's next after a fire destroyed the historic structure last week. On Friday, they got a better idea of the options they have moving forward. "We lost everything,so you can't really put your hand on it," said Tylin Davis, a [...]
	'Melania' is Amazon's airbrushed and astronomically pricey portrait of the First Lady Amazon paid $40 million to acquire the documentary, and is spending $35 million more to promote it.
	Photos: Thousands once again protest ICE in Minneapolis and across the U.S. Demonstrators in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities participated in protests as part of a "national shutdown" to end immigration enforcement operations.
	Trump administration denies full disaster funding for Western Alaska storms, state files appeal Eric Phillip, the boardwalk foreman for Kongiganak, Alaska, surveys infrastructure damage caused by Typhoon Halong, Oct. 18, 2025. (Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Moon)The Trump administration has denied Alaska’s request for full reimbursement for disaster relief efforts immediately following last October’s devastating Western Alaska storms, despite the Dunleavy administration’s claim that the federal disaster declaration meant the state would be fully reimbursed. Gov. Mike Dunleavy arrives in Bethel after visiting the storm-damaged villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok on Oct. 17, 2025. (Photo by Eric Stone/Alaska Public Media) That leaves the state on the hook for millions of dollars for disaster recovery, however the full amount is still unknown. The state’s request for federal support for 100% of disaster relief efforts in the first 90 days after the storms hit was denied on Dec. 20, according to a spokesperson for the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on Thursday. The state appealed the denial on Jan. 15, and asked for a 90% federal cost reimbursement, but has not yet gotten a response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “We have not heard back from FEMA on approval or denial and there is no timeframe requirement,” said Jeremy Zidek, public information officer for the division, by email. A spokesperson for Dunleavy’s office did not respond to a list of questions, but confirmed the appeal on Friday. “An appeal has been filed and the administration will await the federal government’s decision,” said Jeff Turner, Dunleavy’s communications director. In the meantime, the federal government is reimbursing Alaska’s disaster recovery efforts at roughly 75%, leaving the state to cover 25% of its costs, with some exceptions for certain relief programs, Zidek said. Following the West Coast storm disaster in October, Dunleavy quickly declared a state disaster emergency. On Oct. 22, his office announced that the Trump administration approved the state’s request for a federal disaster declaration, and the state’s full costs would be covered immediately following the storms. “President Trump was deeply concerned with the wellbeing of Alaskans who lost their homes and livelihoods to this historic storm,” Dunleavy said in a statement along with the announcement. “I want to thank him and his administration for approving the disaster declaration because now Alaskan families have local, state and federal support for rebuilding their lives in the months ahead.” “The federal disaster declaration authorizes a 100 percent federal cost share for all categories of relief assistance for the next 90 days,” the statement said. Dunleavy’s office did not respond to questions about his previous statement or whether his office had communication from the Trump administration about why the request was denied. Alaska’s Republican U.S. congressional delegation applauded the federal disaster declaration and Trump’s support for the Western Alaska disaster response last year. All three members said through spokespeople Friday that they support the state’s appeal. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has been actively engaged with FEMA and state officials throughout the disaster relief efforts, said her communications director, Joe Plesha, in a statement on Friday. “Alaska’s vast geography and many rural communities make disaster response more challenging and recovery efforts significantly more costly,” he said. “She supports the state’s appeal and will work to secure the maximum amount of federal support available to Alaskans who have suffered so much from this devastating storm.” A spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, Amanda Coyne, said the senator has advocated for the 100% federal cost share, as well as organized a delegation of FEMA and other Trump administration officials to visit Western Alaska. “Given the severity of the storm and its devastating impacts on communities in Western Alaska, Senator Sullivan believes an increased federal cost share is warranted,” Coyne said. “He will continue strongly advocating with FEMA and other senior officials in the Trump Administration for an increased federal cost share as the state’s appeal goes through the process.” A spokesperson for Alaska’s lone U.S. Representative, Nick Begich III, said on Friday that he supports the appeal and will continue to advocate for those impacted by Typhoon Halong at the Congressional level. “Our office is in communication with the Administration to ensure recovery efforts in Western Alaska remain a priority,” spokesperson Silver Prout wrote. Western Alaska storm recovery is ongoing The Western Alaska storms and particularly ex-Typhoon Halong brought record-breaking winds and flooding — damaging thousands of structures, roads, boardwalks, airports and other critical infrastructure. It prompted the state’s largest mass evacuation of residents from their homes to other villages, Bethel and Anchorage. Evacuees of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok wait to board an evacuation flight from Bethel to Anchorage on Oct. 15, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon) While some Western Alaska residents are continuing to rebuild through the winter, other residents who evacuated to Anchorage are living in temporary housing. As of Thursday, the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management reports that 471 residents are still sheltering in hotels in Anchorage. The state is administering public assistance programs, which reimburse costs of repairing public infrastructure and utilities, as well as provide individual disaster assistance, in partnership with other agencies, including FEMA. FEMA has awarded $31.2 million in individual assistance to date, Zidek said. More than 2,000 residents have been awarded state individual assistance, and 1,794 households have registered for federal assistance from FEMA. Those applications for state and federal assistance are still open until Feb. 20. State disaster relief funding under debate The state’s disaster relief funding is a point of ongoing debate among lawmakers and the governor, as they kick off discussion of Dunleavy’s proposed $7.75 million budget and its $1.5 billion deficit. Last year, legislators approved $23.3 million in state disaster relief funds, but Dunleavy vetoed $10.3 million of that sum last summer, leaving $13 million in the budget. In November, following the federal government shutdown, Dunleavy announced a state disaster to help provide food aid, transferring $10 million to the state’s disaster relief funding from the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Village Safe Water and Wastewater Infrastructure program. This year, the governor has requested an additional $40 million in the state’s supplemental budget, which is a routine ask for additional money to pay the state’s bills for the previous year. Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, a co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, didn’t mince words about the governor’s back and forth with disaster spending. “Ill-advised and foolish,” he said. “It makes no sense what he did to me, frankly, and it’s embarrassing for him, his veto.” But Stedman said he hopes the state’s federal appeal is approved, and expects legislators to pass the governor’s request for the additional $40 million. “Obviously, 100% is better than 90 and 90 is better than 75,” Stedman said of the federal cost share. “So that’s pretty much a given there. But we will fund the disaster request as the governor puts it on the table, through next week’s amendments.” Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, also a member of the Senate Finance Committee, commended the governor for his record on disaster response, and echoed hope for the appeal to move forward. “There’s no question in my mind that this is exactly what the federal disaster relief programs exist for. So I think the governor’s request was the right thing, and if it came back at less than full funding from the feds, that’s the wrong call,” Kiehl said. Kiehl described the state’s fiscal picture, with rising costs and ongoing debates on how to raise more revenues, as “bleak.” “So there isn’t cash just sitting around for disaster assistance,” he said. “We have to step up for western Alaska financially. That’s going to stink, but we have to do it, as far as I’m concerned.” A typical cost share between the federal government and a state for disaster relief efforts is a 75% federal and 25% state cost split. “We have dozens of federal declared disasters we are currently working on that have the 75/25 cost share structure,” said Zidek, with agency. “Large disasters are occasionally given a modified cost share structure adjustment, but it is not guaranteed. When we have a large disaster, we ask for modification to reduce the amount of state funding needed because as managers of state funds it is the responsible thing to do.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Chicago Dance Crash in residency at Knox College, Galesburg The Knox College dance program has announced the upcoming dance residency with professional company Chicago Dance Crash. The theme of this residency project is Community Healing through the Arts., a news release says. Starting Sunday, Feb. 1, and running through Saturday, Feb. 7, members of the Chicago Dance Crash company will be on campus, working [...]
	Iowa call center connects abuse survivors to local resources statewide The Iowa Victim Services Call Center offers 24/7 support to those in active crisis or with lingering issues from trauma, violence, crime, abuse and more.
	Rock Island Library hosts Lincoln actor, QC Chordbusters, new kids' book club Escape that winter cabin fever with free events at the Rock Island Public Library. On Tuesday, Feb. 3, the library hosts the QC Chordbusters for a free live music show of barbershop and choral harmonies. Offered as part of the library’s Tuneful Tuesday series, the free program starts at noon in the Downtown Rock Island [...]
	Highlight Zone: Week 4, high school basketball The Highlight Zone returns for a fourth week.
	Community push grows for suicide prevention measures at I-74 bridge Advocates and the QC community are calling for suicide prevention measures at the I-74 Bridge, with experts saying even small interventions can interrupt a crisis.
	Brutal Cold and Walking Dogs: On and Off the Radar Weather Podcast Episode 1 Meteorologists Andy McCray and Anthony Peoples discuss the weather and more in the first episode of the On and Off the Radar Weather Podcast. How many days of below zero temperatures have we had so far this month and how many more are to come? What kind of weather is expected this weekend and beyond? [...]
	Harvest for All helping feed people in need in Carroll County The Carroll County program has donated more than $800,000 to local food banks over the last 21 years.
	Artemis II set to launch in February, one step closer to returning to the moon The first humans stepped on the moon in 1972, and since then, no one has back. Now, NASA is taking the steps to get back to the surface of the moon, this time with bigger plans in mind for the future of space exploration. Artemis II will be the next step to achieve that goal. [...]
	City of Davenport looks for public input on city spending The City of Davenport is holding a meeting Saturday, Jan. 31 to discuss the 2027 operating budget.
	Harvest for All helping feed people in need in Carroll County The Carroll County program has donated more than $800,000 to local food banks over the last 21 years.
	Sauk Valley Area Chamber names outstanding community leaders The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the recipients of its awards, celebrating people who exemplify dedication, leadership, and service to our community throughout 2025. The honorees were recognized during the Chamber’s Annual Awards Ceremony, on Thursday, Jan. 29, at McCormick Event Center. The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce recognized LeAndra Hartman [...]
	Galesburg’s Mary Davis Home to close by March amid staffing, legal issues The Mary Davis Home is a juvenile detention center in Galesburg. Officials said it will close by March 21 due to staffing, funding problems and a recent lawsuit.
	Martini Shake-Off fundraiser returns in February to support QC youth The 2026 Martini Shake-Off fundraiser returns Feb. 19 at Davenport’s RiverCenter, offering martinis, music, and more to support HAVlife® Foundation’s mission to Prevent Lost Potential® in local youth.
	Junior Achievement seeks volunteers for spring classroom programs Junior Achievement of the Heartland is recruiting community volunteers to help deliver hands‑on financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurship lessons in local classrooms this spring.
	Online petition seeks suicide prevention measures for I-74 bridge On Jan. 20, 2026, Blackhawk Fire Protection District firefighter Ali Jasim jumped from the I-74 Bridge into the icy waters of the Mississippi River, ending his young life. Haley DeGreve, founder and CEO of the Gray Matters Collective, who has worked tirelessly for years as a suicide prevention advocate, wants to help be sure that never happens to another person.
	Prosecutors name new witnesses in 29-year-old Appleby murder case New court documents in the Trudy Appleby cold case list additional potential prosecution witnesses as Jamison Fisher faces murder charges in Henry County, with allegations tied to a 1996 abduction, drug debt, Kershaw Trailer Park train bridge, possible body movement, and remains never found.
	Judge hears arguments in Trump's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register Trump claims a pre-election poll amounted to consumer fraud.
	Future legal path for Trump’s lawsuit against Iowa paper, pollster debated, judge pledges ruling soon Polk County Judge Scott J. Beattie, after hearing lawyers’ arguments, said Friday he will decide within two weeks whether the case can proceed to discovery.
	Bird's-eye views from across the Quad Cities region for the week of Jan. 30, 2026 Sit back, relax and enjoy these scenes captured by the News 8 drone from across the Quad Cities region this week.
	Friday morning's below 0° low could be the last of the frigid mornings for now... Friday morning marked the 12th different day we've had a below 0° temp in the Quad Cities so far this season. 5 in December and 7 have been this month. Most of our lows Friday morning we're in the range of 0 to 4 below...but a few spots (including Galesburg) were even colder than that! [...]
	New documents detail more potential witnesses, allegations in 1996 Trudy Appleby homicide New court documents in the Trudy Appleby cold case list additional potential prosecution witnesses as Jamison Fisher faces murder charges in Henry County, with allegations tied to a 1996 abduction, drug debt, Kershaw Trailer Park train bridge, possible body movement, and remains never found.
	Boil order active in Milan The boil order was issued due to a water main break.
	Pleasant Valley School District announces next superintendent The assistant superintendent of operations for Ankeny Community School District will be replacing retiring Pleasant Valley Superintendent Brian Strusz on July 1, 2026.
	Rock Island Arsenal set to receive more than $100M in funding from defense appropriations bill $100M of the Arsenal funding will be used to stabilize the flow of labor at all three U.S. Army Arsenals, including Rock Island.
	Dixon, Ill., deputy police chief retires After more than 30 years of law-enforcement service, Dixon, Ill., Deputy Chief Douglas Lehman has retired, according to a news release. Lehman started as a deputy in Boone County in December of 1995. He was hired by the Dixon Police Department in September of 1999. Lehman joined the Tactical Response Team, was a department sniper, [...]
	Pleasant Valley School District selects new superintendent The Pleasant Valley Community School District has named the district’s new superintendent
	Judge rules Luigi Mangione should not face death penalty A federal judge dropped two of the charges against Luigi Mangione — the man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson — making his case no longer eligible for the death penalty.
	World Championship Ice Racing brings the Crazy Train to the QCA Hop aboard the Crazy Train with indoor ice racing! Stuntman Ken Remer joined Our Quad Cities News with all of the excitement of World Championship Ice Racing. For more information, click here.
	Some Milan residents under boil order Some Milan residents are under a boil order.
	Rock Island announces Fifth Avenue road closure The City of Rock Island announced a temporary road closure on Fifth Avenue beginning on Feb. 2, for roadwork.
	Milan issues boil order after water main break A boil order is in effect for residents in the 400 to 500 block of W. 12th Avenue and W. 13th Avenue and the 1200 block of W. 5th Street and W 4th Street in Milan due to a water main break. The boil order is in place until further notice. Click here to learn [...]
	Blue Origin pauses space tourism flights to focus on lunar lander Blue Origin, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, says it's stopping human spaceflights for at least two years. The move will allow it to "shift resources" to the company's lunar landing capabilities.
	These films took home top awards at Sundance — plus seven our critic loved Vibes were all over the place during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival — the last held in Park City, Utah. These are the movies critic Aisha Harris loved.
	Quad Cities students stage anti-ICE walkouts Students in some areas across the Quad Cities are organizing school walk outs on Friday.
	Portugal Golden Visa: Approvals down, family permits up in 2024 Portugal Golden Visa: Approvals down, family permits up in 2024Portugal's Golden Visa (ARI) program issued fewer residence permits in 2024 than the previous year, but family reunification permits linked to the program nearly doubled. The shift, documented in Portugal's latest official migration reporting, marks a notable change in the program's profile after years of policy revisions. Movingto analyzed the latest official migration data to track these changes.The numbersIn 2024, Portugal issued 2,081 ARI residence permits, down from 2,901 in 2023—a 28% decline year over year, according to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA)'s annual migration and asylum report.At the same time, family reunification permits linked to ARI rose to 2,909 in 2024, up from 1,554 in 2023—an 87% increase. Moveto Moveto Who's applying?The most recent nationality breakdown, published for 2023, shows the United States led with 567 permits, followed by China with 306.Historical contextThe Golden Visa—formally the Autorização de Residência para Atividade de Investimento (ARI)—launched in October 2012. Official reporting from the program's first decade shows:More than €7.3 billion in total investment (October 2012–October 2023)Over 12,700 main applicantsMore than 33,000 total beneficiaries, including family membersReal estate routes accounting for roughly 88%–90% of historical investmentThe 2022 annual reporting (RIFA 2022) provides a granular snapshot: €654.3 million in total ARI investment that year, with property purchases representing €534.6 million across 1,008 investments.What may explain the shift?The program has undergone significant changes in recent years, including restrictions on real estate investment routes and the administrative transition from Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) to AIMA. These changes created a complex operating environment that can influence year-to-year totals.The data doesn't explain causation, but it shows a clear pattern: fewer new ARI permits, more family reunification.MethodologyThis story summarizes publicly available reporting from Portuguese migration authorities. Year-over-year comparisons are calculated from reported annual totals. Figures may be revised by the source agency in later publications.This story was produced by Movingto and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Bettendorf Police make arrest in series of vehicle burglaries Bettendorf Police have made an arrest in connection with a series of vehicle burglaries in the city over the past few months. A post on the department’s Facebook page says on January 6, police asked for the public’s help to identify suspects in vehicle burglaries along Central Avenue. After months of investigation, officers recovered a [...]
	Lila Iké learned what "self-love" means with her Grammy-nominated album Lila Iké's full-length debut album, Treasure Self Love, has been nominated for a Grammy. Iké spoke to All Things Considered about being one of the only women ever to receive a nomination for best reggae album.
	Texas A&M University cancels programs in women's and gender studies The university said it had also modified hundreds of courses and cancelled six in efforts to eliminate teaching related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
	Temporary road closure to impact 5th Avenue, Rock Island A traffic alert for drivers in Rock Island.
	WATCH: Polk Co. judge hears arguments for motion to stay in Trump lawsuit against Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer President Trump sued the pollster, her company, the Des Moines Register and Gannett after the 2024 Selzer poll stated Kamala Harris would win Iowa.
	Suspect named in 'Geneseo John Doe' case weeks after remains identified This month, investigators identified a body found back in 1966 as a missing California teen. His now deceased half-brother has been named the suspect in his death.
	Rock Island Arsenal receiving millions from defense appropriations bill Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2026 defense appropriations bill earlier this month that funds the Department of War for the current year, October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026. The Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance advocated for Rock Island Arsenal’s needs to be included in the budget with the area’s congressional delegations. The bill includes $216.5 [...]
	IRS tax extension: The ultimate guide on what it means to extend your tax return IRS tax extension: The ultimate guide on what it means to extend your tax returnEach year, millions of taxpayers elect to extend the filing of their tax return. But what does that mean? Range explains what IRS tax extensions are and how to request one.IRS Tax Extensions, ExplainedA tax extension allows you to take up to an additional six months to file your tax return, extending your deadline to Oct. 15 (or the next business day if the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday). The IRS does not require a reason to extend a return, and any taxpayer can do so. However, it's important to understand the difference between filing and paying your taxes—these can have different deadlines.You Must Still Pay Your Taxes by the April DeadlineWhen it comes to timing your taxes, payment matters more than filing. There is little a taxpayer can do to defer payment for the previous year after April 15 (or the following business day if the 15th falls on a holiday or weekend). The good news: You don't have to know your exact tax liability on April 15. As long as you can calculate (or have a professional help calculate) at least how much tax is owed, you can cover the entire bill on time and avoid underpayment penalties.Does Filing an Extension Incur Penalties?No. As long as the extension is filed and accepted by the original due date in April, there are no penalties. Once a request to extend is filed on time, taxpayers have until Oct. 15 to submit their final return before the IRS charges any failure-to-file penalties.How Do I File an Extension?The IRS offers several methods for filing an extension:Pay online and elect extension treatment: Pay your estimated tax balance through the IRS Direct Pay portal and select the option to treat it as an extension.Use IRS Free File: Electronically request an extension using the IRS Free File tool.Work with a tax professional: Have your CPA or tax preparer file an extension on your behalf and advise on payment.Request by mail: File Form 4868 by mail. You can pay electronically or include payment as directed in the form instructions.Step-by-step guides to filing your 2026 tax extension are available online.How Much Do I Need to Pay in April After Extending?Since calculating the exact amount due by April isn't always practical, many extension payments are rounded to estimated figures. A tax professional can help you determine your tax balance. For taxpayers who make quarterly estimated payments, some professionals calculate an additional sum to include in the extension payment to cover the Q1 tax liability (which is also due on April 15) in addition to the previous year's balance.Do I Need to Make Estimated Tax Payments?Quarterly tax payments don't apply to all taxpayers. They're generally not required if you have a small tax balance (under $1,000) or adequate withholding from wages or retirement distributions. As a rule of thumb, taxpayers who typically receive refunds do not need to make estimated payments because their withholding is generally sufficient.However, if your tax withholding won’t equal at least 90% of this year’s total tax or 110% of last year’s tax, you’ll likely need to make estimated quarterly tax payments.Key Tax Deadlines for 2026Keeping track of filing and payment due dates can be confusing. Here are the key dates for tax year 2025: Range April 15, 2026: Tax filing deadline (or request extension); Q1 2026 estimated payment due; payment for 2025 tax liability dueJune 15, 2026: Q2 2026 estimated payment dueSept. 15, 2026: Q3 2026 estimated payment dueOct. 15, 2026: Extended filing deadlineJan. 15, 2027: Q4 2026 estimated payment dueWho Usually Extends Their Return?Extensions are common when necessary information is incomplete or unavailable. The most frequent filers of extensions are taxpayers who hold an interest in private "pass-through” entities, such as S-Corporations or partnerships. Their individual tax return depends on the prior completion of the corresponding business return, which allocates the information shareholders need to report.Business owners aren't the only ones who extend. Sometimes gathering documents is time-consuming, and sending everything to your tax professional isn't always a priority early in the year. Since filing an extension has little to no barrier, it can be a smart choice. By extending, taxpayers and their professionals can reduce the risk of error by taking more time to collect complete information and verify return outputs.Benefits of Filing an ExtensionFiling an extension alone isn’t generally viewed as a red flag and shouldn’t increase the likelihood of a tax audit, although the IRS may select returns for many reasons. Here are two reasons why filing a tax extension may be beneficial:Reduced Risk of ErrorsOne reason many tax professionals suggest extending is to gain a better understanding and level of assurance that the details captured in the return are accurate. Taking more time helps avoid errors or potential misstatements that could eventually lead to IRS scrutiny.Statute of Limitations ConsiderationsOne consideration: The statute of limitations extends an additional six months if you extend rather than file timely. However, this additional exposure should not preclude taxpayers from filing later in the year. The likelihood of an audit is not impacted, and a rushed, inaccurate return could lead to worse outcomes than an extended but accurate one.The Bottom LineExtending your tax return deadline until Oct. 15 is a valuable option utilized by millions of taxpayers each year. It should be viewed as a prudent strategic choice, not a last resort. Extending the time to file carries no penalty, provided you accurately estimate and pay any tax owed by the April deadline.Whether you're a business owner awaiting essential financial documents or simply need more time to gather your information, an extension grants you the necessary breathing room to ensure accuracy. By reducing the risk of errors that can arise from rushed or incomplete filing, extending your return promotes both confidence and compliance.Frequently Asked Questions About Tax ExtensionsWhat happens if I miss the extension deadline?If you miss the Oct. 15 extended deadline, the IRS may charge a failure-to-file penalty of 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month (or part of a month) that the return is late, up to a maximum of 25%. If you also owe taxes, you'll face additional interest and failure-to-pay penalties. File and pay as soon as possible to minimize these charges.Can I file an extension online?Yes. You can file an extension online through the IRS Free File tool, by making an electronic payment and selecting the extension option, or through most tax software programs. However, when calculating the taxes you’d owe in April, it’s a good idea to consult a trusted tax advisor.Does an extension give me more time to pay?No. An extension only extends the time to file, not the time to pay. Any tax owed is still due by the original April deadline. If you don't pay by then, you'll accrue interest and potential penalties on the unpaid balance.Will filing an extension increase my chances of being audited?No. There is no evidence that filing an extension increases audit risk. In fact, taking additional time to ensure your return is accurate may reduce the likelihood of errors that could trigger IRS scrutiny.Do I need to explain why I'm requesting an extension?No. The IRS does not require a reason to file an extension. Any taxpayer can request one, and extensions are automatically granted when filed by the original deadline.Disclosure:The information contained in this communication is for informational purposes only. This content may not be relied on in any manner as specific legal, tax, regulatory, or investment advice. While we strive to present accurate and timely content, tax laws and regulations are subject to change, and individual circumstances can vary.You should not rely solely on the information contained here when making decisions regarding your taxes or financial situation. We strongly recommend consulting with a certified tax professional, accountant, or legal advisor to address your specific needs and ensure compliance with applicable laws.This article focuses on U.S. federal individual returns; state deadlines and rules may differ. Some taxpayers (e.g., living abroad) may have different deadlines.This story was produced by Range and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Iowa Supreme Court finds in favor of Davenport Public Defender's office in workload case The Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday that judges were wrong to not allow public defenders to withdraw from Scott County cases citing workload.
	Catherine O'Hara, who starred in 'Home Alone' and 'Schitt's Creek,' dies at 71 O'Hara enjoyed a six-decade career in TV and films playing sometimes over-the-top, but endearing characters. "I loved playing cocky untalented people," she told Fresh Air in 1992.
	Turn shipping and mailing data into cost savings with analytics Turn shipping and mailing data into cost savings with analyticsShipping and mailing are two of those “invisible” cost centers in many businesses—you pay for postage, labels, carriers, packaging, and handling but may not have full visibility into how much you’re spending, where the inefficiencies lie, or whether your service levels justify the cost.Without that view, it’s nearly impossible to control costs, take advantage of savings opportunities, or make data-driven decisions to improve your business.Stamps.com explores how businesses and professional services organizations using data analysis in logistics and predictive analytics to gain shipping and mailing insights can uncover patterns they’d otherwise miss.By using shipping and mailing data and analytics, you can:See where your money goes: What are you spending per carrier, service level, destination, or package type?Spot inefficiencies: Are you using an expensive expedited service when a cheaper ground option would suffice or shipping small parcels with a large-parcel service?Compare carriers and services: Which carrier is the most cost-effective or ships the fastest?Forecast and optimize: Are you allocating funds effectively or choosing the best fulfillment locations?How to use reporting tools and shipping data analytics to save moneyHaving the tools is one thing; using them effectively is another. Here are the top ways to leverage reports to reduce spending.Establish a baseline of your spend and performancePull your current shipping and mailing data for the last two years via your shipping platform and review the spend. Look at the total spend and breakdown (by carrier, service level, and destination zones) and the total number of shipments and shipments by service level and package size/weight.Segment and analyze by dimensionUse filters to break up the data by carrier, service type, and cost codes, which let you track expenses and bill postage spend back to specific clients, projects, or departments.Look for patterns in the data, such as services where the cost is disproportionately high relative to volume or weight, package sizes where you might be overpaying, and carriers with below-average transit performance.Identify data-driven opportunities to optimizeBased on your analysis, formulate cost-saving opportunities such as service-level right-sizing. If many items are shipped via expedited service but the delivery time doesn’t require it, consider a slower but less expensive service. You can also consider shifting carriers or transferring more volume to a more affordable provider if one offers a lower rate for a specific zone or weight.Monitor the impact of your changes and optimize continuouslyWith reporting in place that helps you make sense of your metrics, keep a close eye on how your actions are impacting spend and performance. Create recurring reports for a convenient way to track KPIs that matter most, such as change in cost per shipment or on-time delivery rate.You can broaden the impact of your shipping and mailing analytics by sharing reports with stakeholders in finance, operations, fulfillment, and other areas of your business. Most shipping platforms support printable views and exports, making it easy to communicate and share knowledge across functions. You can also feed data from the platform into your own business intelligence dashboards or integrate data with your ERP or fulfillment systems.Shipping and mailing are dynamic—rates and services are constantly changing. Regular reporting leads to measurable ways to save time on business mailing and reduce costs.How mailing and shipping analytics lead to real-world cost savingsHere are several ways shipping analytics translate to savings:Lower postage and label cost: By shifting to the lowest rate and carrier, you reduce your per-shipment cost.Reduced time and waste: Less manual handling, fewer trips, less time spent reconciling—those hours saved translate into reduced costs.Avoid hidden costs: Reducing packaging inefficiencies, failed deliveries, returns, and reshipments.Better resource allocation: You’ll know which channels or products have high cost relative to margin—you can adjust pricing, packaging, or shipping policy accordingly.Scalable advantages: As your business grows, analytics help you ensure shipping and mailing costs don’t grow disproportionately.Leverage automation: After creating rules, automate the process to reduce mistakes and make the process easier.Mailing and shipping analytics software is a must-haveShipping and mailing aren’t just “necessary costs”—used smartly, they’re a lever for competitive advantage. Using shipping and mailing data and analytics, you can transform raw data into insights that drive significant cost savings.For small and mid-sized businesses and professional services organizations that ship and mail at scale or are growing rapidly, this kind of visibility can mean the difference between cost being a drag on margin or a managed, optimized expense. If you’re not yet tracking your shipping and mailing data with a centralized reporting tool, now is the time.This story was produced by Stamps.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Generative AI is eating culture. See how close it’s getting to disrupting dance Generative AI is eating culture. See how close it’s getting to disrupting danceDancers say their craft can’t be duplicated by AI. Our tests show they’re right — for now.Bird singing and dancing, as practiced by the Cahuilla Band of Indians, tell a story about the creation of the world, and how the Cahuilla migrated to their current home in Southern California. Moving the same way your ancestors did, perhaps on the exact same land, makes you feel part of the past, present, and future all at once, said tribal member Emily Clarke. She’s done bird dance with her loved ones since she was 7 years old—an act, she said, not only of spirituality but also of perseverance, since bird dance is among the acts of Native American culture nearly eradicated by colonization and U.S. government policy.So when Clarke heard that some generative artificial intelligence models, like Google’s Veo 3 and OpenAI’s Sora 2, can mimic the dance, her first thought was that it was wrong, distasteful and disrespectful. Then she wondered briefly if automated forms of bird dance could help preserve her culture—before deciding they can’t, since they will never replicate the conversations and community bonds that have helped give Cahuilla bird dance its distinct style and impassioned practitioners.“It would miss the cultural and social importance, and without that, it’s not bird dancing,” she said.Developers of AI systems are working continuously to do an increasingly better job of replicating complex human movement, including dance. Doing so has become a sort of holy grail in the field of generative AI due to the many technical challenges involved, but it remains an open question among dancers like Clarke of how much the technology will disrupt the world of dance as it progresses.Clarke’s conflicting and uncertain thoughts about AI mirror those of other dancers across California interviewed by CalMatters, who were, depending on the specific question or moment in time, optimistic, skeptical and concerned about AI’s incursion into their art form. Most settled into the view that AI is incapable of capturing the uniquely human aspects of dancing, including the cultures surrounding it, the pride and passion of dancers, the energy imparted by audiences, or the form’s essential element of improvisation. Photo courtesy of Emily Clarke CalMatters and The Markup tested four commercially-available AI video-generation models — OpenAI’s Sora, Google’s Veo, MiniMax’s Hailuo, and Kuaishou’s Kling — and so far, dancers don’t have much to worry about. Late last year, for the sake of this study, the four models were asked to depict humans performing nine different dances, including the Apple dance popularized on TikTok, bird dance, folklórico and the Mashed Potato. All but one of the 36 tests returned a video of a human dancing, but all of the videos failed to produce a video of a person performing the specific dance requested. Furthermore, a little under a third of the videos included many of the common issues seen in generative video, like inconsistencies in a subject’s appearance from frame to frame, abnormalities in movement, or too many limbs.Video generation models still make obvious mistakes like liquefying limbs or sudden changes in clothing, but they are clearly improving. When CalMatters and The Markup ran similar tests in late 2024, videos had more impossible limb movements and visual inconsistencies, failings that appear less frequently and are more difficult to spot today.Clarke said of the AI-generated videos depicting the Cahuilla Band of Indians bird dance: “None of these depictions are anywhere close to bird dancing, in my opinion. The regalia is only similar in that there are skirts with ribbons, but the songs and dance movements are completely off.”Generative AI, technology that makes it possible to quickly generate audio, text, imagery or video with a simple text prompt, raises issues beyond the dance community. It’s often made with data scraped from the internet, meaning that creatives who share their work online risk having it used to train AI models.Understanding how AI might affect the world of dance has also taken on new urgency as AI begins to influence the art and careers of creatives in adjacent fields and slop begins to crowd out images of real people on social media.A nearly five-month strike in 2023 by Hollywood writers was prompted in part by concerns around the use of artificial intelligence in entertainment. An actors’ strike also addressed the effects of AI on performers’ work. Lawmakers are trying to sort out the policy implications; the California Legislature last year passed laws sponsored by the Screen Actors Guild to protect actors from getting turned into digital replicas without their consent. Next year, lawmakers will consider the passage of a bill supported by Hollywood creatives, which places digital fingerprints on copyright material so individuals can ask tech companies whether their work was used to train generative AI models and give them grounds to demand compensation or credit.Most dancers are not unionized, although some are part of SAG-AFTRA, along with others who earn a living by moving their bodies, like stunt performers and martial artists. Within this group, video game motion actors are at the vanguard; they went on strike last year alongside voice actors as they sought protections from AI.Hip hop, folklórico, and the limits of techEdye Kelly, 23, first started dancing in a Bay Area hip-hop studio in 2016. She moved down to the Los Angeles area a couple of years ago to pursue a career in dance. She has been in a Daddy Yankee music video, and has performed at the Grammys as one of the dancers for R&B singer-songwriter SZA. She completed her first tour as a backup dancer with multiplatinum pop entertainer Usher.Kelly heard creatives talk about how AI could affect their work during the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike, but she doesn’t think many dancers know about the possibility that the technology could have a big impact on their livelihoods.She said full-body motion technology is already beginning to encroach on human dancers’ territory: “It kind of already has happened, when you think of video games and how they use dancers for ‘Just Dance’ or ‘Michael Jackson: The Experience.’” Those video games use a combination of real dancers’ movements and motion technology, according to dancers who have talked online about their work for the games. Ubisoft, the maker of both games, on its website touts its use of AI “across the board” to “create believable worlds” and has posted to YouTube a video showing its capture process in action. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment on its use of software to simulate or augment dance.Kelly, who earns money by dancing and teaching dance classes, is concerned that AI could eventually threaten dancers’ jobs and said she hopes dancers are fairly compensated if their likenesses or moves are used to train AI models.But she struck an optimistic note, too, saying, “I don’t think AI could ever get to a point of perfectly mimicking humans … We are constantly evolving. They would always be behind in some kind of way.”Nadia Arambula is an introvert, but that all melts away when she’s dancing. Arambula, 46, started folklórico dancing as a toddler in Guadalajara. Folklórico dance styles and clothing vary by state or region in Mexico, and as a child, Arambula embraced the fashions of the Jalisco region by playing dress-up in her mom’s colorful skirt and heels. When she was 5, her mom signed her up for dance classes at her daycare, and she’s been at it ever since. Today Arambula dances at events in San Diego at places such as Padres baseball games and community gatherings with her students at Ballet Folklórico El Tapatío.Arambula said she has danced nearly her entire life because she enjoys how the elegant, flowing drawing movements with skirts projects pride in Mexican culture and manifests joy and a sense of freedom. She also loves teaching insecure young people to get up on a stage and live out loud—to feel the sort of joy she feels when she dances.Arambula believes it’s impossible for AI to mimic the emotion of a dancer, especially when it comes to interacting with the audience. The tech, she said, will never be able to transmit the grace, joy and emotions she feels when she dances.“When I perform, I can feel the audience,” she said. “I give life to the people, and at the same time receive life from the people. It’s beautiful. There are no words that describe the feeling that I have when I perform and seeing the audience wants to be part of this moment.”Shown some of Jalisco folklórico AI dance videos generated by CalMatters and The Markup, Arambula said they don’t come close to representing the Jalisco dance style she grew up with and teaches today. There’s no proper footwork, posture or skirt movement — all essential elements of the style. In some instances, AI makes a head turn without shoulders following or makes part of a dress disappear for a moment, but she said she has to stop to catch the imperfections. She may not notice them if she scrolled past these videos in her social media feed without an indication they were made by AI.Dance competitionComputer scientists have for years made it a grand challenge for their AI models to generate convincing dance videos on demand from textual descriptions — not unlike similar dreams of developing AI that can drive a car next to humans on city streets or one that can detect emergencies before any humans dial 911. Videos from YouTube and TikTok provided them with ample training data, helping AI systems generate movement without needing sensor-laden humans to literally dance for them, a process known as “motion capture” that is currently required for most video games and augmented reality worlds. (YouTube now prohibits the use of videos it hosts for training models unless users opt in. TikTok did not respond to repeated requests for comment.)Researchers at UC Berkeley made important strides in 2018, when they used YouTube videos to train AI to do acrobatics like backflips, martial arts, and, perhaps most importantly, the Gangnam Style dance. Subsequent work by Berkeley researchers in 2019 used video of a ballerina on YouTube as training data. In 2022, a UCLA researcher, along with their collaborators, introduced Bailando, a generative dance AI model. The same year, Stanford researchers introduced EDGE, which can generate lengthy state-of-the-art breakdancing videos based on only five seconds of music and video. In 2024, researchers from the University of Southern California and TikTok parent company ByteDance introduced AI models that imitate facial expressions and dance moves.Making videos with AI has become even easier with the advent of generative AI models from companies like OpenAI, Midjourney and Runway.Despite this progress, AI models still struggle to create natural movement. For example, it’s easy to make a video of a fireplace ablaze or a Hollywood explosion, said UC Berkeley computer science professor James O’Brien, but it’s hard to make a video of a wildfire impacted by strong winds. This limitation means AI models may do a poor job at imitating some dance moves today, but O’Brien said it’s important to appreciate that when AI developers fix their sights on a challenge, they can make vast improvement within a matter of months. Two years ago, for example, text-to-video models were incapable of producing videos of Will Smith eating spaghetti (which, like dance, is another de facto benchmark for AI models). Today such videos are not perfect, but they’re much more lifelike than they used to be.Computer scientists are interested in being able to generate realistic videos of dance because the capability is a gateway to creating a range of photorealistic human movement, said Yuanhao Zhai, a recent Ph.D. graduate in computer vision from State University of New York at Buffalo. If you can generate video of a gymnast doing a backflip, for example, it will be easier to produce footage of a person walking down the block.Feeling dance moves under your skinA ballerina figurine atop a music box is what inspired Emma Andre, 26, to dance. They were 3 years old and mesmerized by the miniature as it spun around a tiny piano, bent in an arabesque. They told their parents they wanted to go to dance class. A creative movement class led to lessons in ballet and contemporary dance, attendance at the Boston Conservatory, and training with dance companies in New York City. Today Andre choreographs dance performances and teaches dance to kids in Berkeley in the same kind of classes where they got their start.Lately, they have enjoyed movement in dance shows like My Obsession with Hamletmachine and the Yerba Buena Garden ChoreoFest in San Francisco. They also enjoy working with their partner and fellow dancer Henry Winslow on a duet Andre calls the couple’s dance theater idea farm. Last year they performed a three-part duet in front of an 11-person audience in their one-room apartment in Oakland, a feat that required some modifications to ensure Winslow didn’t stick a leg out a window or upset downstairs neighbors. Florence Middleton for CalMatters Florence Middleton for CalMatters Andre said they are open to exploring the use of AI in dance, but believes that it is a uniquely human form of movement, incorporating elements that cannot be imitated by AI. Even if AI got every step right, it cannot capture the lessons and experiences that sometimes determine the next step for human dancers. A pirouette, a spin on one leg, is different every single time, they said.“I do a lot of improvisation for my choreography, so I don’t even know what I’m gonna make. And so it’s really crazy to me that an AI could predict that?” they asked. “We talk a lot about fascia, which is the layer of connective tissue under your skin that goes throughout your entire body. And I feel like a lot of my movement stems from a fascia level. You can’t map that externally.”What drives them to continue to dance is the joy of movement and connection, of meeting people and building relationships through dance. Ephemeral, beautiful, intimate moments of movement make dance what it is, they said. Andre is also motivated to pass on that passion to young people — seeing them discover and feel creative and confident the same way Andre learned when they were a child fuels their interest in exploration.“I have a choice, but I will always choose to dance,” they said.Andre said they found a depiction of the Horton modern dance style generated using the Veo 3 model “staggeringly lifelike,” but they caught moments in a majority of the generated videos where something is“not quite right,” like when a dancer’s head is momentarily on backward in one video, or when a ballet dancer bounces on to their tippy toes, but they’re wearing soft shoes, and you would only do that in hard toe ballet slippers.“It’s really confusing to me why anyone would prefer this instead of hiring one of the thousands of really capable, really talented dancers in most major U.S. cities,” they said. “The whole point of dance is connecting with the human form.”Winslow enjoys how dance connects him with Andre and other people in order to create something meaningful together, and delights in feeling the history of movement styles developed over generations that traveled across continents.Sometimes a dance step is new and sometimes it’s something in the zeitgeist or you didn’t know you picked up from theater camp as a teenager. The majority of the time it isn’t new but something you learned over time, something programmed into a dancer’s nervous system over the span of days or decades, or mirror neurons that fire in the brains of experienced dancers when they watch other dancers perform. He questions how AI can imitate those human processes.“Because we’ve been doing this for a while, there’s just a lot under the surface,” he said.Social media: To share or not to shareAndre said they stopped sharing their dance on Instagram in order to take a mental health break from the unhealthy dopamine dependency such platforms can enable. Posting dance videos on Instagram has helped Andre find jobs, but they said that if generative AI started imitating their favorite dance styles they would be less likely to post videos online in the future because they don’t like the idea that their body and movements can be copied and used by an AI model.And they are worried about constricting their posting that way because they believe dance is meant to be shared. If fewer dancers share their videos, it can reduce learning and access. They have a contemporary dance degree from Boston Conservatory, but learned how to do fouetté turns from a YouTube video and has drawn inspiration for how to choreograph dance performances from other videos posted on social media.“My body and my dancing is mine, and the idea that that can just be siphoned through this process and then become part of AI without my consent is something that I don’t love the idea of,” they said.Conversely, Arambula said she’s fine with the makers of AI scraping video of her performances because she’s confident that a machine cannot imitate the way she connects with an audience.Emily Clarke said that if she found out her videos were part of data used to train video-generating AI, she too would stop publicly posting videos on social media, but she’s not worried about that negatively impacting community connection since it’s more common to learn bird dancing from an elder or another tribe member than it is to learn on social media.Zion Harris is 25 years old and has been dancing since he was 5. He was 12 when he made it onto the Golden State Warriors’ Junior Jam dance team as a part-time employee of the NBA franchise, which is when he said he seriously began to think of making a living as a dancer. Alisha Jucevic for CalMatters Now he’s doing it. Harris, who grew up in the Bay Area, has been on tour as a backup dancer with Puerto Rican rappers Bad Bunny and Daddy Yankee, getting to explore North and South America in the process. He has performed at the Grammys with country/hip-hop crossover star Lil Nas X. He’s been in a Coach commercial with Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion.Dance has helped him get through his “hardest times,” Harris said. “It blows my mind every day that I can do this.” His main sources of income are tours, music videos and stage performances. When there are human dancers at a concert, “it definitely helps with the crowd… and brings the artist’s vision alive,” he said. “Having a hologram, or digital images on a screen, would be boring.”There are times when things get slow for Harris. But when he’s not on a job, he is training — taking dance classes or holding practice sessions with his fellow dancers.Harris is signed with a casting agency that helps him book jobs, but social media plays a huge role in getting him noticed and sometimes helps him find opportunities directly. So the possibility of his moves and likeness being copied off social media platforms by AI is “definitely a big worry,” he said.“Everything is becoming easy to replicate or use without consent,” Harris said. “But if we don’t post [on social media], our opportunities could stop. You really just have to take the gamble.”Dancers and educators experimenting with AIThough some dancers are clearly concerned about having their work exploited to build artificial intelligence models, others are experimenting with incorporating AI into their craft. Performers associated with the dance tech nonprofit Kinetech have used AI in a number of ways since the organization formed in 2013, including in dance performances with robotic arms or AI systems that use motion capture to mimic the steps of a live performer.Regular contributors to Kinetech shows run the gamut from a computer scientist so stiff it looks like they can’t move their shoulders to dancers with little to no experience in technology, said Daiane Lopes da Silva, a dancer who cofounded Kinetech alongside technologist and director Weidong Yang. Juliana Yamada for CalMatters Members of the group come together in order to use technology as a tool to highlight humanity, Yang said.That play and experimentation takes place at a weekly “open lab” gathering in San Francisco’s Mission District. Amid exercises at an open lab last year ahead of the group’s annual DanceHack show, Lopes da Silva led warmups for about 30 dancers and technologists with snaps, claps, shoulder rolls, and an order to “make magic with your hands like an alchemist.”Lopes da Silva thinks motion capture technology can help dancers, capturing their unique style of movement and serving as a tool for self reflection. She recently used motion capture to discover that she dances more enthusiastically on her right side than her left.The best part about humans making art with machines, Yang told dancers and technologists at an open lab ahead of DanceHack, is when things go wrong.“Artists like glitches,” he said. “That can lead to improvisation, unexpected events that cannot be reproduced.”Ari Kalinowski runs a lab at Gray Area, a nonprofit arts organization known for putting human dancers on the same stage as robots. He supports lawsuits against companies like Stability AI and Midjourney, which artists accuse of copyright infringement. Neither company responded to requests to comment. At the same time, he has also been working with Kinetech on AI that can mimic and interact with dancers and wants dancers to explore dancing with AI agents.The art form can withstand integration with AI, he believes.“People still play chess after Deep Blue beat Garry Kasparov,” he said. “We now have in addition to chess, augmented chess, and as an artist I’m not interested in replacing artists. I’m interested in expanding creativity to include human-agent interaction in different ways.”Kate Ladenheim is an assistant professor of choreography at UCLA and a self-described creative technologist. Ladenheim was once asked to choreograph a ballet about Anonymous, the hacker group, which “pointed me toward digital life as a really strong influence for my work,” Ladenheim said.Ladenheim uses motion capture extensively and has explored the intersection of dance and technology in various other ways, including by teaching a class about modern dance as it relates to tech development, and working with a member of the Martha Graham Dance Company on a chatbot that responds in the voice of Graham, the famous dancer and choreographer.Ladenheim said the impact of technology on dance is nothing new, and that fears about technology’s effect on labor have been around since the industrial revolution. Generative systems that are producing dance animations aren’t very good yet, in Ladenheim’s opinion. Still, they acknowledged that AI has the potential to get so adept that it brings up an “essential question for the field of choreography: What is the implication if we can (subtract the human) body from it?”About half an hour away at the University of Southern California’s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, associate professor d. Sabela grimes is facing AI head-on instead of fearing it. Many dancers have been early tech adopters, he said, embracing sampler and drum machines, and the internet as a way to share music files.The professor encourages his dance students to use ChatGPT to help formulate questions. He also believes generative AI can help students in their choreography classes and help teachers engage students. AI models are “going to be integrated in so many systems, so why not get ahead of it,” he said. Yet he added that there’s an important conversation to be had around “the ethics of plagiarizing people’s styles and using it for datasets.”Should dancers be worried about AI replacing them? It depends on what audiences and artists want, grimes said: “If people value a virtual experience vs. a human experience, there will be a danger.”Kat Lin is a technologist who has danced since she was 3 years old and taken part in Kinetech performances since 2018. She’s never seen Kinetech do shows that didn’t involve AI in some way. Though AI or metaphors about AI are part of many Kinetech dance performances, Lin doubts that AI can easily replicate their shows because they’re often improvised and technological glitches are treated like opportunities to explore the unexpected.There’s a lot of fearmongering today about AI taking jobs from creatives, Lin said, but she doesn’t view the relationship between AI and art as antagonistic. Humans might take inspiration from dancing with AI or learn things, like how their dance steps land heavier on their right side than their left. But Lin doesn’t believe AI is a threat to dancers’ jobs. “There’s always going to be something different about having a human stand in front of you and moving,” she said. “Nothing will ever replace that kind of energy, probably because humans are very social, and there’s just something magical to that.”Lin said AI can’t imitate the community she enjoys at Kinetech open labs, which she has participated in since moving to San Francisco seven years ago. And it can’t mimic the connection she felt with Weidong Yang, whom she met while doing a handstand. He joined her there, upside down with his legs against the wall, and she now considers him a great friend.“I often say that getting to do dance pieces or be in rehearsal is just an excuse to hang out with friends,” she said. “Community is everything.”This story was produced by CalMatters and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Rock Island closing 5th Avenue for road work Drivers in Rock Island who use 5th Avenue will need to find another way to get across town starting next week. A news release from the City of Rock Island says 5th Avenue will be temporarily closed starting Monday, Feb 2 to accommodate planned roadwork. Both eastbound lanes of 5th Avenue will be closed to [...]

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