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

Monday, May 25th, 2026
	Stay safe this summer with heat and swimming safety tips As pools and lakes open up across the Quad Cities area, here’s some tips to stay safe this summer.
	Rock Falls participates in Taps Across America Every Memorial Day at 3 p.m. local time, musicians across the country play taps to honor fallen military heroes.
	QCA Patriot Guard Riders looking for new volunteers As their main membership gets older, the Patriot Guard hopes to get younger people involved in honoring service members and first responders.
	Illinois plan to expand housing sees obstacles A housing plan from Illinois' governor JB Pritzker isn't going over smoothly in Springfield. Pritzker's BUILD (Building Up Illinois Developments) and House Bill 5626 legislative package aim to expand housing across Illinois. The move would make it easier for developers to build new homes and apartments. There's also a provision to provide financial help for [...]
	City of Muscatine will test two primary flood gates The City of Muscatine’s Department of Public Works (DPW) will conduct its annual flood preparedness and maintenance exercise on Wednesday, May 27, weather permitting. The exercise includes the temporary installation, inspection, and removal of the city’s two primary flood gates, according to a news release. The Roadway Maintenance Division will begin with the roller flood [...]
	Sonny Rollins, colossus of the saxophone, has died at 95 The legendary jazz saxophonist, who revolutionized the art of improvisation, died Monday at his home in Woodstock, N.Y.
	Illinois grows millions of bushels of soybeans. Why aren’t we eating them? Illinois grows more soybeans than any other state, harvesting more than 639 million bushels in 2025, well ahead of Iowa’s 595 million bushels and Minnesota’s 371 million bushels.
	Fill the Van Donation Drive will help QC Animal Welfare Center, Milan A Fill the Van Donation Drive will be held from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, May 30, at Menards in Moline. Volunteers from the Quad City Animal Welfare Center will be on site collecting much needed donations for the animals at the shelter, which has announced it is at capacity. "We are currently in need [...]
	Traffic Alert: Intersection of Central Avenue, 23rd Street to close for resurfacing project Work in the intersection is expected to take two weeks, weather permitting, officials said.
	Illinois Hospitals and Programs Face Eviscerations That Not All the Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream in the World Can Palliate In response to a question last week from my associate Isabel Miller, Governor JB Pritzker said he didn’t think a group of progressive legislators could pass their progressive revenue bills through both chambers by the end of the spring session.
	‘If you follow a barge, it’s two and a half hours wait’: Boaters aren’t impressed with changes to Lock and Dam 14 Boaters who travel through Lock and Dam 14, north of the Quad Cities on the Mississippi River will now have to use the commercial lock chamber when traveling.
	Rock Island National Cemetery hosts annual Memorial Day ceremony More than 100 national cemeteries across the country held services for Memorial Day, and the Rock Island Arsenal was no exception.
	2 killed in Clinton County UTV crash Both victims were riding in a single UTV that left a trail in Calamus. The UTV landed on its top when it crashed, and the driver was declared dead on scene.
	Memorial Day kicks off 100 deadliest days on the road: What to know The Memorial Day holiday weekend may be the unofficial start to summer, but it also marks the start of what are considered the 100 deadliest days on the road every year for teenage drivers. Our Quad Cities News correspondent Teodora Mitov reports almost a third of the deadly collisions during this time involve younger drivers [...]
	2 killed in Clinton County UTV crash Both victims were riding in a single UTV that left a trail in Calamus. The UTV landed on its top when it crashed, and the driver was declared dead on scene.
	Ahead of the World Cup, pressure to win and grow American soccer is on Tim Ream's mind Hoping to make the roster for the U.S. Men's National team going to the World Cup, Tim Ream knows there's a lot riding on the tournament, from playing well to growing a new generation of fans at home.
	Force Mineur: “Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu,” “I Love Boosters,” and “Passenger” Over the course of two-hours-plus, “cute” will only get you so far. But it's astounding how far it gets us in Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu, which might've been an easy franchise low point if not for the diminutive cuddlebug of the title.
	Memorial Day ceremony honors veterans stories, sacrifice Families, veterans and community members gathered Monday at Rock Island National Cemetery to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice during annual Memorial Day ceremonies held across the country.
	A dry end to an already dry Month With the month of May coming to a close as we enter the last full week of the month, it has been pretty dry compared to average and is looking to remain that way. As we look through our rain outlook for the next seven days, the Quad Cities is not looking to see any [...]
	Whitewater Junction to temporarily close for repairs Whitewater Junction will temporarily close Tuesday, May 26 for repairs due to unexpected maintenance issues.
	Firefighter hospitalized, one occupant and dog safe after Bettendorf house fire The Bettendorf Fire Department responded to a house fire on the 1400 block of 21st Street. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
	Moline American Legion holds Memorial Day service It was held at Browning Park's commemorative stones, which are inscribed with the names of active duty military members and veterans.
	Federal prosecutors recommend 3-year sentence for Ian Roberts The government has filed a recommendation for former Des Moines Public School Superintendent Ian Roberts to serve 37 months in prison.
	The Waiting Child: How you can make a difference as a Big Brothers Big Sisters ‘Big’ More than 200 kids in the area are on the waiting list for a ‘Big.’ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley needs volunteers to spend time with them. In this week’s The Waiting Child, Our Quad Cities News' Eric Olsen shows how you can make a difference in a young life as a [...]
	Bettendorf crews battle attic fire on 21st Street Bettendorf firefighters extinguished a house fire Monday afternoon on 21st Street. Read the details here.
	Circa '21 Dinner Theatre presenting 'Fiddler on the Roof' From now through June 27, you can catch the classic, beloved musical at Circa '21 in Rock Island!
	Firefighter hospitalized, occupant and family dog safely exit after Bettendorf house fire The Bettendorf Fire Department responded to a house fire on the 1400 block of 21st Street Monday.
	No injuries reported following Bettendorf fire No injuries were reported following a Bettendorf fire. The Bettendorf Fire Department was called to the 1400 block of 21st St. on May 25. The fire spread from a shed to a house, leading to extensive damage to the home. An off-duty firefighter went inside to wake up a person inside who was sleeping. A [...]
	Two dead after UTV crash in Clinton County Two are dead after a UTV crash in Clinton County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash happened May 24 on a trail in the Calamus area. According to reports, the UTV flipped, killing the driver. A passenger was taken to the hospital and also died. The names of both people have not yet [...]
	Crews battle Bettendorf house fire, 1 firefighter taken to hospital KWQC has reached out to officials for more information.
	After Stephen Colbert's viral talk show parody, CBS backs down from copyright action CBS and Paramount backed away from copyright challenges to limit distribution of Stephen Colbert's appearance on a Michigan cable access show. He ended his run as host of "The Late Show" on Friday.
	Where Davenport’s mobile speed cabinets are located this week Here’s where Davenport’s mobile speed cabinets are located Tuesday through June 1.
	Veterans, families gather at Arsenal for Memorial Day remembrance Veterans and families gathered at Rock Island National Cemetery on Monday to honor fallen service members. Read more from the Memorial Day ceremony.
	Veterans, families gather at Arsenal for Memorial Day remembrance Veterans and families gathered at Rock Island National Cemetery on Monday to honor fallen service members. Read more from the Memorial Day ceremony.
	Trump to get "routine annual" medical exam 7 months after last visit to Walter Reed White House boasts Trump's "excellent health" as questions loom over the medical reality of the oldest inaugurated president.
	1-on-1 interview with Iowa gubernatorial candidate Eddie Andrews Local 5's Dana Searles sits down with Republican Eddie Andrews to discuss his run for governor as he makes his final pitch before the primaries.
	Crews at the scene of house fire in Bettendorf KWQC has reached out to officials for more information.
	East Moline racers share impact of Kyle Busch’s death Drivers at East Moline Speedway are remembering Kyle Busch and discussing the impact his death has on the racing community.
	2 dead after UTV crash The names of those who died have not been released.
	Thursday marks 3 years since deadly Davenport apartment building collapse The Davenport building collapse is still playing out in court today.
	Crews battle fire inside home Monday morning The fire chief said the fire started in a bedroom. One person inside was able to get out safely.
	58th annual Quad Cities Criterium races through East Davenport on Memorial Day The 58th running of the Quad Cities Criterium features a hilly course providing fast speeds, according to officials.
	Portion of Locust Street in Davenport to close for sewer repairs A construction project will shut down a portion of Locust Street starting Tuesday for sewer main repairs.
	East Moline Speedway drivers react to Kyle Busch's death Local drivers at East Moline Speedway reflect on the death of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch and its impact on the racing community.
	Two killed in ATV crash in Clinton County Authorities are investigating a fatal ATV crash in Clinton County that killed two people Sunday. Read the details.
	The highest-paying jobs in Iowa and Illinois, other states: Federal data Cardiologists are the highest-paid occupation in 14 states, while orthopedic surgeons lead the way in eight others.
	Hospitals, clinics want Nevada to bolster protections for discount drug program (Mint Images/Getty Images)Nevada hospitals and health clinics say drug manufacturers are restricting the number of pharmacies in the state that can participate in a federal discount drug program. The limitations put in place by drug companies make it harder for patients to refill prescriptions at reduced rates, and they affect a revenue stream hospitals rely on to fund health services for underserved patients, lawmakers were told at last week’s legislative interim Committee on Commerce and Labor. Officials from Renown Regional Medical Group and the Nevada Primary Care Association, an association of health centers and other community health providers, asked state lawmakers to consider legislation that places protections to ensure health providers can offer the drug pricing program at its fullest. The 340B Drug Pricing Program, which was created by Congress in 1992, requires drug manufacturers to offer medications at a significantly discounted price to eligible providers. The program allows eligible hospitals and clinics to contract with pharmacies to fill prescriptions, said Adam Porath, the vice president of pharmacy for Renown Health. “That drug would be shipped directly to the contract pharmacy,” Porath said. “Any reimbursement that happened for that particular prescription would flow back to the hospital.” Hospitals and clinics that participate in the program are able to use savings from the program to cover other health services for low-income and underserved patients. But some drug manufacturers have restricted which pharmacies hospitals can work with, Porath said. They’ve prevented hospitals and clinics with in-house pharmacies from entering contract arrangements. Twenty-two states have enacted laws to prevent manufacturers from restricting 340B-priced drugs to contract pharmacies in 2025, according to Porath. Representatives for the hospitals and health clinics want Nevada to consider similar legislation. One possibility would be to amend Nevada’s Unfair Trade Practices to “guarantee a right to receive 340B drugs at any pharmacy contracted by a covered entity from which the patient receives services,” said Steven Messinger, policy director with the Nevada Primary Care Association. The funds generated by the cost savings allows hospitals to stand up other health programs that benefit underserved and low-income populations. Renown Health used cost savings to provide pharmacotherapy services to both adult and pediatric patients, hire pharmacy liaisons that help with financial assistance for patients, and run a 24/7 pharmacy in Reno, Porath said. Nevada’s Federal Qualified Health Centers – community-based clinics in medically underserved areas – generate roughly 12% of their revenue from 340B Drug Pricing Program, Messinger told lawmakers. The 340B Drug Pricing Program opens up access to people who might not be close to hospitals and clinics to pick up cheaper prescriptions and rely on pharmacies, said Messinger. “I think it was suggested that you could just drive to the pharmacy where you could get your discount,” Messinger said. “Most of our patients don’t have lives that are that easy. They are not able to just drive across the valley to a specific place. When they go to access it’s very critical it be in the neighborhood they are in.” Nevada lawmakers have already passed legislation that prevents price discrimination on 340B drugs and ensures pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) sell drugs “at the wholesale acquisition cost” rather than adjusted, higher costs, Messinger said. “That’s how we are able to care for uninsured problems,” he said. “We were getting a lot of money captured before we passed that law.” ‘Very lucrative revenue stream’ Though hospitals and clinics have touted the benefits of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, the amount of revenue hospitals have generated has been scrutinized by states and at the federal level in recent years. The drug program’s spending went from $6.6 billion in 2010 to $44 billion in 2021, according to an analysis from the Congressional Budget Office analysis The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee has been investigating abuses of the 340B program. It is because of lucrative revenue streams that lawmakers should be wary about considering a legislative fix, said Dharia McGrew, the director of state policy with Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). “That mechanism has been co-opted by mega retailers and vertically integrated PBM-owned pharmacies that have learned that this program could be a very, very lucrative revenue stream, billions of dollars,” she said, adding that the program is driving up medical costs. “It incentivizes the prescribing of higher cost drugs that have a higher margin of revenue, and it is pushing patients into more expensive care settings.” Lawmakers, she argued, should leave it up to Congress to address gaps in services. Messinger pushed back against claims that patients aren’t directly benefitting from the funding accumulated from the drug pricing program. “A lot of the 340B discussion is assuming a world where everyone is privately insured and we are just trying to decide if the dollar should be going to the insurance company, the PBM, the drug manufacturer, or the provider,” Messinger said. “It doesn’t work that way for us. About 30% of our patients are uninsured and we have to find a way to pay for those patients.” Pharmaceutical manufacturers, he noted, have also benefited from keeping drug costs high, adding that the “three largest pharmaceutical manufacturers have profits that are measured in the tens of billions” of dollars. Nevada, he said, has a better safety net because of the revenue generated from the program and the money is better spent “than somehow putting the benefit back to pharmaceutical manufactures who seem to be doing fine.” “Why would you want to take that dollar out of clinics serving Nevadans and give them to someone else?” Messinger asked. Courtesy of Nevada Current
	Group O Inc. joins PMMI to support growth in packaging and automation Group O Inc., headquartered in Milan, has joined PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.
	Vibrant Credit Union named Best Credit Union in 2026 Buy Side Awards Vibrant Credit Union named Best Credit Union in 2026 Buy Side Awards by The Wall Street Journal.
	Rock Island and Henry County real estate transactions for May 24, 2026 Here are homes sales and property sales in Rock Island County and Henry County.
	Brews Energy opens storefront, Central Pool Supply opens second location, Pasquale's Pizzeria opens food trailer, and more Quad-Cities business news Pizzeria opens food trailer after restaurant fire, coffee shop opens storefront, Central Pool Supply opens second location, among other Quad-Cities business news.
	Gretchen at Work: Waterskiing with the Backwater Gamblers "I was born into it. I just stayed because I loved it," said Collin Ridgley, a member of the Backwater Gamblers.
	Hot weather builds in for the Quad Cities While May temperatures are still running below average, the last week of the month will be much warmer than average. Hot weather is expected through Thursday. Only limited rain chances are expected across the Quad Cities area for the week ahead. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Salt Lake City area ranks among top 10 best places for veterans to live Veterans United Home Loans analyzed 23 different factors and surveyed 200 veterans to develop its ranking. (Getty Images)The Salt Lake City-Murray area is among the nation’s top 10 places to live for veterans, according to a new ranking. The list released last week by Veterans United Home Loans — a mortgage lender for current and former military members — ranked the top metro areas for veterans, service members and military families based on a variety of factors, including quality of life, opportunities for affordable living, jobs, quality healthcare access, veteran support networks and proximity to major military installations. The Salt Lake City-Murray metro area ranked as the ninth best place to live for veterans and service members. Even though Salt Lake City has high housing costs compared to other areas across the nation, the metro scored high due to other factors including economic opportunity, outdoor lifestyle and overall quality of life. “With standout healthcare access, a growing job market and quick access to skiing, hiking and mountain recreation, Salt Lake City offers a compelling mix of opportunity and lifestyle,” the lender wrote in an article about the ranking. “Veterans can take advantage of nearby outdoor destinations like Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Park City and the Great Salt Lake, while still having access to city amenities such as Temple Square, local breweries, performing arts venues and a growing downtown.” Behind the scenes of an effort to house homeless veterans across Utah Here’s how the top 10 metros for veterans ranked: Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Northfolk area in Virginia and North Carolina San Antonio-New Braunfels in Texas Jacksonville in Florida Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin in Tennessee Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater in Florida Oklahoma City Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos in Texas St. Louis metro area spanning Missouri and Illinois Salt Lake City-Murray in Utah Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington in Texas The home lender estimated that the Salt Lake City-Murray metro area has nearly 38,000 veterans, which is a smaller veteran population than other cities that ranked in the top 10, “but it performs especially well in healthcare access and infrastructure.” The Salt Lake City-Murray area ranked No. 1 in healthcare and facilities scores, with a high number of physicians per capita and a high concentration of Veterans Affairs facilities compared to its veteran population. The VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System includes the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City and 10 community-based outpatient clinics spanning the state and into Idaho and Nevada. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Though “affordability is a challenge” for housing in the Salt Lake City area, the ranking said — with a median home price of $565,500 — the ranking noted that Utah also offers property tax relief options for eligible disabled veterans and some tax relief on military retirement income, though the state’s tax benefits aren’t as robust as other states with no income tax. Other factors like a strong economy, job market and its concentration of VA facilities helped Salt Lake City break the top 10. “Salt Lake City offers a lifestyle that’s hard to match, especially for those transitioning into civilian life,” Coral Alkashif, a real estate agent with Black Diamond Realty, said in a prepared statement included in the ranking. “The economy is strong, with growing job opportunities, major employers and continued development driven by tourism and infrastructure.” The Veterans United Home Loans analyzed 23 different factors and surveyed 200 veterans to develop its ranking, according to its methodology. The lender then scored 605 metro areas across all 50 states based on those factors, with an extra consideration on veteran resources and financial factors like cost of living. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Utah News Dispatch
	U.S.-Iran peace deal emerging, while war threats still loom President Trump and other administration officials are tempering expectations raised of an imminent agreement to end the war in Iran while Iranian officials have signaled there are still disagreements on key issues.
	Trump says more countries should normalize ties with Israel in any Iran deal President Trump's latest demand has tempered expectations for an imminent deal to end the war with Iran. Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation arrived in Doha on Monday for more talks.
	Rogers hospital to be first to use Arkansas’ initiative for doulas in maternal healthcare The UAMS medical sciences campus on Markham Street in Little Rock. (Photo by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)A northwest Arkansas hospital will be the first to use the state’s initiative to integrate doulas into maternal healthcare, the state’s largest healthcare system announced last week. Doulas provide emotional, physical, educational and logistical support to parents-to-be and serve as middlemen between them and other medical professionals. The Advancing Doulas and Perinatal Teams Toolkit from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences “creates a continuity of care that drives better outcomes,” UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation senior director Hannah McHardy said in a Thursday news release. Mercy Hospital in Rogers will pilot the program before UAMS expands it to other hospitals, and so far 45 Mercy staff have been trained in incorporating doulas into prenatal care teams, the release states. “Doulas are evidence-based partners that can complement the clinical team, help families navigate care with confidence, and improve the overall experience for both patients and providers,” Whitney Tolbert, vice president of patient services at the Rogers hospital, said in the news release. A growing number of parents nationwide are relying on doulas as a part of their birth plans and to help them navigate a complex healthcare system. Arkansas consistently has high maternal and infant mortality rates, and the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act of 2025 sought to make maternal healthcare more affordable and navigable. Delayed insurance coverage for doula services frustrates Arkansas parents and providers The law requires both Medicaid and private insurance plans to cover doula services, though implementing this policy had a shaky start because of a missed deadline. UAMS has launched multiple initiatives in the past few years with the goal of improving maternal health. Last year, the Institute for Community Health Innovation enrolled more than 50 people into a comprehensive doula training program, and it added 25 more people this year. Also last year, UAMS started the Arkansas Center for Women and Infants’ Health to work with providers to increase pregnant and postpartum Arkansans’ access to care, especially in rural and underserved communities. The center has been among the maternal health advocates participating in quarterly meetings led by the Heartland Forward think tank to work on implementing the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, according to a December news release. Courtesy of Arkansas Advocate
	A conversation with the retiring director of Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky Jill Seyfred at the Child Abuse Prevention Month kick-off in the Capitol Rotunda in 2025. (Photo provided)Child maltreatment was common when Jill Seyfred first became executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky in 1988, but many thought of it as a far away problem, not one that could affect anyone they knew. Seyfred, who is retiring this year after more than 40 years leading Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, said the herculean effort of ending child abuse in the commonwealth is possible, but it will take more financial investment in prevention and more widespread collaboration. Her last day is June 30, after which she will work part time through December to assist the interim director and new director in the transition. Seyfred sat down with the Kentucky Lantern to discuss child abuse over the last four decades and what must happen in the future to protect children. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Janna Estep Jordan, who serves as current assistant director and will be the Interim Director once Seyfred retires, and Jill Seyfred at a PCAK event called “Grape Expectations” that involved Lexington young professionals, sometime in the mid 2000’s. (Photo provided) Kentucky Lantern: Take us back to 1988, when you became director of Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, and characterize that time. What was the child abuse landscape like in Kentucky back then when it came to child abuse and neglect? Jill Seyfred: There wasn’t a lot of talk about it. I think people certainly knew that child abuse and neglect happened. There was a sense of: ‘It did not happen here, and it certainly did not happen to anyone that I knew or did not happen on my block. It didn’t happen in my subdivision, or it did not happen to anyone that I worshiped with or went to school with.’ So, kind of like: it happened, but somewhere else.’ KL: How did you and other advocates and organizations break through that misconception? JS: Part of it has to do with some national messaging that happened. When we first heard about child abuse, it was this arm’s length kind of approach. And then as the years went by and as messaging changed, then it was, ‘oh well, it can, it can happen in my community, just to not to people I know.’ And then … the space kept narrowing. Over time, that messaging then resonated: ‘oh, gosh, child abuse is happening and it’s happening in my community to people I know.’ I think now where we are is okay. I hope that everybody knows that it exists. I think our challenge now is people don’t know what to do about it. One thing that we as an agency try to do is to really get away from talking about (how) Kentucky is number one in child abuse and neglect — or number three or number five, or whatever the ranking may be in that particular year. We have found that that really almost stifles people, that the figures are so big, and the sense of being overwhelmed takes over. Instead of spurring people into action, which we want those figures to do, people actually do the opposite. When we constantly bombard people with those high numbers, they feel like, ‘oh, gosh, there’s over 50,000 reports, and I’m just one person, I’m not going to make a difference. So why even try?’ And that’s actually the opposite of what we want to happen. Because we want and we need everybody in the state to be involved in our prevention efforts. We want everybody to be able to see that they have a role in helping raise our children, nurturing families, making sure that families and children have what they need. KL: How can you properly raise awareness without setting in motion this bystander effect that you’re describing? JS: One thing that we try to do is: We might use some of those numbers, but then, almost in the same breath, we will say, ‘but this is what you can do. Here’s how you can help. Here’s how you can be involved.’ We know that there’s so many factors that go into a child not having what he or she needs. If kids don’t have a stable living structure, and we expect them to go to school and focus on learning and growing, that’s going to be really hard for that child. I think that that is probably the biggest shift that I’ve seen from 1988 to now — that it is more of a holistic, cohesive approach to the entire family. What does the family need to help the family and the kids be where they need to be? We as a state will all benefit, because those kids then are going to be contributing taxpayers, and we’ll get more tax revenue, and you know, they’ll grow up to be the next reporter or the next governor or the next social worker, and we’ll all be better off. KL: You’re getting at this line and balance we must look at between true neglect and a lack of resources. That line has become more of a focus in the last few decades. JS: Absolutely. Housing, mental health. Domestic violence, substance use disorder, especially for our state, is also a huge issue. So, it’s really approaching the family and looking at what the family needs as a whole. Social isolation certainly tends to lead to parents or caregivers feeling isolated. They have a job, and they come home from work and they’ve had a hard day, and the kids have had a hard day, and the financial stresses are mounting, and the parents or caregivers don’t have anybody that they can call or depend on, that’s a very lonely place to be. KL: And food insecurity, especially right now, is a concern. JS: Absolutely. Here we are in the summer months. I know that schools do a tremendous job, and a lot of community organizations do a tremendous job, of making sure that kids have the food that they need during the summer. A lot of them have summer backpack programs. And again, in 1988, that was not anything that we talked about or anything that was on the horizon. Jill Seyfred and representatives from Prevent Child Abuse America and the Cincinnati Reds at an event called “Safe At Home” sometime in the late 1990’s. (Photo provided) Policies that matter KL: You’ve seen many laws change in Kentucky in your career. What has been the most impactful? JS: What we used to call Shaken Baby Syndrome is now called abusive head trauma. We know that a number of fatalities and near fatalities, not only in Kentucky, but nationwide, are caused by abusive head traumas. I think that that was a really significant thing that the state did, and of course, it’s hard, because you’re asking professionals to get more training when they are already, regardless of their particular field of expertise, being required to get training within their field of expertise. And then that law basically made them get even more but we thought that it was very important, and certainly one of our legislative wins. In 2010, the General Assembly unanimously passed House Bill 285, which required foster parents of young children, child protection services staff and other professionals complete training about abusive head trauma. The Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Panel was established in 2012. And then in 2013 it was codified by the General Assembly. It’s basically a multi disciplinary opportunity for people to sit down and look at where we failed a child. But the point being, how can we do better? KL: Where are the biggest gaps? As we look to lawmakers in Frankfort and other decision makers, what must they do to better protect children? JS: The word ‘upstream’ has been bantered about in a lot of different situations. For us in the world of child welfare, we obviously think that going upstream means catching kids before they get into the foster care system and before families kind of spiral downwards and need significant amounts of help. But that always makes me think about prevention as a whole. There’s always more needs than there is funding to meet the needs. But I would argue that with every social situation that we are talking about — overcrowding of prisons and jails, the juvenile justice system, gun violence, ingestions, everything that you see in the headlines — if we truly go upstream and provide families with what they need when they need it, I think we’d be saving the state a lot of money. We’d be saving families a lot of heartache, and we would be leading the state in how to make child abuse prevention something that we all participate in. It’s hard to not talk about treatment when you have kids and families who have to have health right now, but we also have to continue to talk about prevention and those things that we talked about earlier: food and clothing and medical attention and a roof over their head and access to education and all of the things that help make a family whole. KL: What were the wins and misses from the most recent legislative sessions? JS: In 2024 we worked with (Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood) to pass House Bill 207 which had to do with sex dolls. (HB 207 criminalized sex dolls that resemble children). That was huge. And then this session, working with (Rep. Marianne Proctor, R-Union) on House Bill 4, the grooming bill. (HB 4 made it a crime to groom minors for sex). I know that the Attorney General and attorneys general before him have had an emphasis on internet safety and making sure that we keep kids safe online. We are on the cusp of having that be the next opioid epidemic with having so many kids, being either trafficked or otherwise falling into bad situations online. If we haven’t done what we already have done, it would be much worse. But we still have so much left to do, because kids every day are being abused through these online systems. And I know that electronic crime investigators cannot keep up with the tips that come in to them, so it is a growing concern. KL: Do any bills stand out that, if they made it into law, would have really helped children? In other words, what is in need of a serious revisit next year? JS: The animal control officer bill. We were very disappointed that that did not pass. We know that animal control officers are in a position oftentimes to interact with children and families prior to social workers or any other entities. (House Bill 246 proposed training animal control officers in how to spot signs of child abuse). One of the first Kids Are Worth It Conferences, held at the Harley Hotel (now defunct) in Lexington. Award winners Wanda Carroll and unknown gentleman with Jill Seyfred, right, in the late 1990’s. (Photo provided) Looking to the future KL: You’ve spent a lot of time trying to combat a very complicated and horrendous problem in our commonwealth. In 2026, we know children are still dying and nearly dying from abuse and neglect. What gives you hope, if anything? JS: I do have hope. Actually, I have a lot of hope. I think that there is more interest in being part of the solution. I think that there’s a lot of people that don’t quite know what to do, but they are interested in doing something. So then the challenge for agencies like PCAKY and others is how to harness that interest, and move that interest into action. But that gives me hope. KL: Do you think it’s possible to eradicate child abuse in our lifetime? What would that take? JS: It is definitely possible. I’m not sure if it’s possible in my lifetime. It’s not going to happen overnight, but there’s a whole lot of agencies, there’s a whole lot of people who are working together for the common good, the common mission of making sure that Kentucky’s families and children have what they need to break the generational cycle of abuse, and I do think it can happen. KL: In our conversation a couple of different times, you’ve mentioned that people are more aware of it, but they don’t know what to do. What should they do? JS: First and foremost, we want kids to be safe. To be able to call the report number would be first and foremost. (Kentucky’s Statewide Child Abuse Hotline is 1-877-597-233). But over and above that, it’s being involved in your community, it’s taking an interest in kids on your block. We have a program called Lean On Me Kentucky, where we want people literally to lean on your neighbors if you need something, or if you see that your neighbor needs something. A lot of times what we see is kids and families enter ‘the system’ because of a neglect report, and if we would have just taken the time to give that family what they needed on the front end, we could have kept the family and the children out of the system. Certainly above that, there’s all sorts of agencies in every community in this state that need volunteers, that need donations, whether it’s financial or in kind.: diapers, toys, all sorts of things. There’s all sorts of agencies that need good board members. I think that there’s a place for everyone, no matter what your skill is, and no matter where you live. KL: I want to end on a little bit of a lighter note. Tell me something fun you’re looking forward to in retirement. JS: I love to read but I haven’t read a lot or at all in the last, I don’t know, a few years, but that has not stopped me from having a huge book list that I want to read. And that hasn’t stopped me from going and buying books. I am looking forward to sitting in the sunshine and just reading to my heart’s content. Jill Seyfred and PCAK staff in the Governor’s Mansion for Child Abuse Prevention Month in 2003. The other individuals in this picture are members of the NFL Player’s Association, KY Chapter: from left: Dallas Owens, Kelly Kirchbaum, Joe Federspiel (in the middle), Lester Boyd, David Owen (PCAK Board President) and Raymond Smith. Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky created a public awareness campaign, featuring the NFLPA guys and it received national attention. (Photo provided) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern
	John Brown This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Someone once remarked that there is no zeal like a convert's—an apt description of the Germans from Schleswig-Holstein…
	Amazon celebrates opening of Virginia Beach robotics facility and more headlines The state Capitol. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) • “A Black community fled a Virginia island. Reclaiming their history opened old wounds.” — The Washington Post • “Amazon celebrates opening of Virginia Beach robotics facility.” — The Virginian-Pilot • “Southwest Virginia needs to solve its housing shortage if it wants economic growth, new jobs, governor says.” — Cardinal News • “Virginia health officials urge safe swimming pledge after 12 drownings in summer 2025.” — WSET • “Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office announces external review findings following death of Rolin Hill.” — WAVY SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Virginia Mercury
	Spin to win: How this life insurance company turns healthy habits into a game You've heard of lower car insurance rates for good drivers. Now, one life insurance company wants to incentivize longevity with lower rates and extra bonuses for people who adopt healthy habits.
	'My body carried me,' Elizabeth Smart says. Now she's celebrating it Her abduction at age 14 drew international attention. After her rescue, Smart says she struggled with feeling shame around her body. Bodybuilding has helped her see herself differently.
	This big university system is embracing AI. Students and faculty aren't all on board The California State University system offers an early look at what happens when an administration commits to a technology that its own community isn't convinced will improve education.
	Diners are staying home, so this restaurant lets patrons pay what they want Americans are increasingly passing up on dining out. So one restaurant is allowing diners to pay what they like for their food.
	In the 'biggest book giveaway in history' WWII soldiers received pocket-sized reads The books had to be light and small enough to fit in servicemen's pockets. The motto of the Council on Books in Wartime was: "Books Are Weapons in the War of Ideas."
	COMIC: To raise a confident little talker, learn to speak 'parentese' So you've got a baby in your life. How do you talk to them, exactly? In this comic, experts explain why conversing with your baby is important — and share ways to help them develop their language skills.
	This Dragon Slays: “The Tales of Custard the Dragon,” at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse through June 20 I enjoy experiencing new-to-me talent, but it’s cozy and comforting to see familiar faces at the theatre.
	Special courts helps veterans stay out of jail, but staff losses and cuts are threatening their work Veterans from past wars and those returning from ongoing wars will need the country’s continued support. (Photo by SDI Productions/E+ via Getty Images)Memorial Day is an apt time to reflect on the long-term consequences of war. Among them are substance use, mental health problems, homelessness and jail time for those who served in the military. About 8% of all Americans in prisons or jails are veterans, according to the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank. Veterans end up incarcerated largely because of substance use and mental health disorders, both of which also contribute to homelessness. For more than 15 years, one tool for helping veterans break out of addiction has been Veterans Treatment Courts. These programs help veterans accused or convicted of crimes address the challenges driving their involvement in the criminal legal system. Veterans Treatment Courts require a dedicated clinician and need to provide access to counseling, housing support and other social services to meet veterans’ needs. For this, they must have funding from the government. As a legal scholar studying the use of criminal law to aid veterans, my research shows that these programs, which exist in every state except Connecticut and Vermont, can be very effective. But they only work when they have the staffing and the resources to support veterans’ complex needs. However, since 2025, massive staffing losses at the Department of Veteran Affairs as well as cuts to publicly funded healthcare such as Medicaid and Medicare, which are widely used by veterans, are making it harder for veterans to access healthcare. What are Veterans Treatment Courts? Veterans Treatment Courts are a subset of the drug treatment courts that were created by judges and criminal legal reformers beginning in 1988. These courts are an alternative to jail for people arrested or convicted for crimes that may be related to substance use disorders. The idea was to allow courts to address the root causes of criminal behavior rather than simply punish people who committed crimes. Specialized treatment courts were soon developed to provide support for specific issues, such as mental health, or to groups accused of specific crimes, such as sex work. In 2008, a judge in Buffalo recognized that veterans in his drug treatment court would benefit from support from other veterans and the comprehensive services from the VA. So he launched a distinct program just for veterans that soon received national media attention. Veterans Treatment Courts now operate in over 745 courthouses. Eligibility varies across courts, but typically requires that the person have served in the military and that the crime they committed is not considered so serious that it deserves incarceration. While these programs are funded through a variety of sources, such as local and state governments, the federal government offers tens of millions of dollars every year for local courthouses to set up Veterans Treatment Courts. Veterans Treatment Courts have a variety of requirements for participants. Once admitted to the program, participants must attend a hearing where they talk to the judge about how they are doing. They must also take drug tests and attend therapy appointments. They may also have to show that they have stable housing and employment and that they have performed community service or engaged in other activities that indicate they are connected to their communities and therefore at lower risk for substance use or criminal behavior. If participants meet program requirements, they graduate. Graduation usually means some sort of legal benefit, such as dropped charges and fines or the termination of probation. Resources are key to success Advocates suggest that Veterans Treatment Courts are more effective than jail or prison in preventing people from committing new crimes, and that treatment courts in general cost less than incarceration. But studies on whether they help veterans more than alternatives such as drug treatment courts or a regular criminal court have been inconclusive. My research shows that treatment courts, in general, are most effective if they have dedicated staff and access to services to address substance use as well as housing insecurity. That level of support is exactly what the VA provides. Veterans with VA benefits not only receive outpatient and inpatient substance use treatment, but they are able to access federally funded education and housing support unavailable to most U.S. citizens. Even Veterans Treatment Court participants who are ineligible for VA healthcare benefit from the unique levels of public support and state-funded programs for veterans in the U.S. All this gives Veterans Treatment Courts the resources to help their participants more than other treatment courts or regular criminal courts can. A program under threat Recognizing the connection between veteran homelessness and incarceration, the federal government has put millions of dollars into the VA to help veterans in the criminal legal system. Congress annually authorizes tens of millions of dollars to support VA clinicians working in Veterans Treatment Courts. In January 2026, Congress even created a new center dedicated to this goal. However, despite this support, cuts to healthcare that is delivered by VA providers, as well as to publicly funded healthcare such as Medicaid and Medicare, present numerous challenges for Veterans Treatment Courts. Tens of thousands of VA employees have left the agency since President Donald Trump took office. This has lead to staffing shortages that undermine care for all veterans. Staff stability is especially important for these programs’ viability and success. My research shows that funding cuts lead to high turnover and low morale. When the Department of Health and Human Services sent a notice canceling US$2 billion worth of funding in January 2026, treatment courts were scrambling to figure out how they could staff their programs. Though this money was restored, the cancellation showed treatment court staff that their work could end without warning. Given that the country’s criminal legal system is already overburdened, enabling Veterans Treatment Courts to do their vital work does more than help veterans. In my view, this program also models how comprehensive social services can help people struggling with substance use disorders, mental health problems, housing insecurity and other challenges. As people recover from past wars and return from ongoing conflicts, they will need the country’s continued investment to reintegrate and thrive. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Jamie Rowen is an associate professor of legal studies and political science at UMass Amherst. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. Courtesy of Kansas Reflector
	Muslims begin the annual Hajj against a backdrop of war concerns More than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related regional tensions.
	China launches Shenzhou 23 spacecraft with 1 of 3 astronauts set for yearlong stay China launched the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft with 3 astronauts heading to its space station. One astronaut is set to stay in space for a year to explore human adaptability in long-duration spaceflights.
Sunday, May 24th, 2026
	The Power of Sharing a Table: How Americans are Reviving 'IRL' Experiences with Drinks, Dinners and Beyond (Feature Impact) Real-world connection has become increasingly rare and if you've felt the effects, you're not alone. After years of digital-first habits becoming the new norm, many people are looking to rediscover face-to-face social interaction - "IRL," in real life, not from behind a screen. With many Americans now spending less time together than ever before as in-person contact continues to decline, according to data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Teremana Tequila is inviting people back to something simple: the table. Rooted in the philosophy of Mana - the brand's guiding core philosophy and belief that good energy is contagious and the best moments in life happen when people come together - its "Share the Table, Share the Mana" initiative and partnership with Timeleft, a global app that matches strangers into small groups for real-life meetups, is a call for real-world connection. A gradual rebalancing is underway, according to Teremana. In a world where people are more digitally connected yet more personally disconnected, sometimes all it takes is one small gesture, like pulling up a chair and sharing a table to unlock something transformative. Activity-Based Communities According to the American Psychiatric Association, 1 in 3 American adults went at least a week in 2024 without feeling genuinely connected. In response, many people are shifting toward connection rooted in shared activities rather than conversation alone. Consider Eventbrite's 2026 Social Trends Report, which found 58% of people now prefer events where socializing isn't the primary focus, signaling a growing appetite for in-person gatherings built around common interests and experiences. Recurring events - such as weekly trivia nights or monthly potlucks - reflect this shift toward activity-based connection. With a built-in rhythm and shared interest, they reduce the pressure of constant planning and allow relationships to develop more naturally over time. Whether it's a standing "taco Tuesday" or "trivia Thursday," these gatherings create structure that makes it easier for people to simply show up and enjoy the moment together. This shift is also extending beyond traditional community spaces into experiences that transform everyday environments into opportunities for connection. Third Spaces, Reimagined Building on its spirit of good energy and shared moments, Teremana Tequila's "Share the Table, Share the Mana" campaign kicked off with a series of out-of-home billboards across the country, but took a surprising turn when what appeared to be a standard billboard concealed a hidden bartender, drinks and an open invitation to share the table - turning a street corner into an unplanned gathering space for strangers. More experiential moments like this are on the way. While digital tools remain central to how people connect, they're increasingly being used to facilitate in-person moments - helping organize meetups, dinners, and shared experiences in the real world. For example, by partnering withTimeleft, a global app that matches strangers into small groups for real-life meetups, Teremana's idea is becoming a nationwide movement. Every Thursday from now through August, the Share the Table series will bring curated groups of people together at bars and restaurants across 13 U.S. cities, creating a consistent space for the kind of unscripted human connection no screen can replicate. The nationwide initiative offers a key to unlocking something much bigger than one-off moments as an investment in infrastructure for connection, providing strangers opportunities to match with groups of people with similar interests and compatibilities. Neighborhoods as a Nexus for Connection By meeting and greeting neighbors and attending local events, the reliance on digital tools can be reversed. Proximity lowers barriers like time and distance, increasing the likelihood of repeated encounters for after-work drinks or dinner parties that allow for relaxed, low-pressure socializing. For an easy way to break the ice with those near you, sharing a drink, or the mana, lets you open up your home in a low-stress setting without the pressure of cooking for a crowd. These simple at-home cocktail recipes for a Cucumber Serrano Margarita or Mana Paloma make hosting a breeze - and will leave neighbors thinking you're a natural bartender. To discover more ways the philosophy of Mana can revitalize human connection, visit Timeleft.com. Cucumber Serrano Margarita 2 ounces Teremana Blanco or Reposado 1 ounce fresh cucumber juice 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice 1/2 ounce agave nectar 3 thin slices serrano pepper, divided ice cucumber slice, for garnish salt, for rim tajin, for rim In cocktail shaker, combine tequila, cucumber juice, lime juice, agave nectar and two slices serrano pepper; shake with ice. Strain over fresh ice into rocks glass. Garnish with cucumber slice and remaining serrano pepper slice. Rim half of glass with salt and tajin. Mana Paloma Ice 2 ounces Teremana Blanco 1 ounce grapefruit juice 3/4 ounce lime juice 1/2 ounce simple syrup club soda 1 pinch salt lime wheel or grapefruit peel, for garnish In highball glass over ice, combine tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup, club soda and salt. Gently stir, garnish with lime wheel or grapefruit peel and serve.
	Play Can't Wait: Give the Gift of Play to Children Around the World (Feature Impact) As the world comes together around the excitement of international soccer on a global stage, it's a reminder that every child deserves safe opportunities to play, learn and simply be a child. Play is essential to childhood - yet globally, about 1 in 7 children under the age of 5 do not have toys or playthings at home, according to UNICEF. Through play, children make sense of the world around them, building critical skills from problem-solving and creativity to physical strength, confidence and the social and emotional tools needed to connect and thrive. In times of crisis, play takes on an even greater role, helping restore a sense of stability, familiarity and joy when children need it most. While many families may spend this summer cheering on teams, signing children up for sports or playing outside together, millions of children affected by conflict, disaster and displacement still lack safe places to play at all. From the United States to Lebanon - and across more than 150 countries and territories - UNICEF supports safe spaces where children can play, learn and connect. The organization works with caregivers, schools and governments to bring play into classrooms and communities, particularly for children affected by conflict, displacement and poverty. "For children living through crisis, play is not optional, it is essential," said UNICEF USA President and CEO Michael J. Nyenhuis. "Play offers a sense of stability and connection, helping children cope and continue to grow despite adversity. Our organization is committed to ensuring every child can access safe, inclusive opportunities to play because this fundamental right is critical to their well-being, development and future because play can't wait." Play should be safe everywhere children are, both online and offline. Every child deserves environments that protect their safety, privacy and well-being while ensuring inclusion for children with disabilities and those most marginalized. Still, safe play spaces are shrinking, and childhood can't be put on pause. Access to safe play supports learning, emotional well-being and healthy development. Sometimes, something as simple as a ball, jump rope or shared game can help children reconnect with joy and normalcy. Consider supporting the mission with these UNICEF Inspired Gifts that help bring the power of play to children everywhere: 5 Soccer Balls for Kids to Exercise and Play: Soccer fosters connection, teamwork and a sense of normalcy. As the world unites around global moments of international competition, a simple ball can help bring the same spirit of unity and joy to children everywhere, so they can keep the world's game in play, no matter their circumstances. Recreation-in-a-Box: Designed for impact at scale, this kit includes basketballs, soccer balls and other recreational supplies to provide enough equipment for more than 90 children to play, move and have fun together. 30 Jump Ropes for Kids to Exercise to Play: A simple yet powerful tool. Providing 30 jump ropes to child-friendly spaces and schools allows children affected by crisis to gather, play and reconnect with childhood through movement and shared activity. The nonprofit organization supports parents and caregivers worldwide by expanding access to early childhood education rooted in learning through play. Together, these efforts help turn the right to play into a reality for every child. When play is protected, childhood is protected. To help children everywhere access safe opportunities to play, visit unicefusa.org/chooseplay.
	Iowa Hawkeyes coaches coming to Muscatine Hawkeye fans in Eastern Iowa are encouraged to attend the Muscatine I-Club Spring Event on Thursday, May 28.
	Whitewater Junction to temporarily close for repairs Whitewater Junction announced they will temporarily close Tuesday, May 26 to address unexpected repairs.
	Coaches from Iowa Hawkeyes coming to Muscatine Thursday for I-Club event Hawkeye fans in Eastern Iowa are encouraged to attend the Muscatine I-Club Spring Event on Thursday, May 28.
	Bill regulating powerful AI models advances as advocates say it’s only the first step The Illinois Senate voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to advance a bill that would regulate how large artificial intelligence model developers handle transparency and catastrophic risk.
	Fire up the grill for this Memorial Day forecast The holiday weekend has been a real good one for us so far with a little bit of some rain yesterday and a perfect Sunday. Temperatures reaching the 80s today and looking to continue to warm up to the mid and upper 80s for Memorial Day tomorrow. These temperatures will stay hot all throughout next [...]
	Tips to save cash this Memorial Day We're all feeling the pinch at the pump, but that's not keeping millions across the QCA and beyond from taking advantage of the long holiday weekend to plan gatherings with family and friends. Our Quad Cities News correspondent Jo Ling Kent shows ways to save some cash at the last minute as you celebrate Memorial [...]
	California chemical tank has cracked causing state of emergency, thousands to evacuate One California town is in a state of emergency and 50,000 people are under an evacuation order as a malfunctioning chemical tank at an aerospace plant is overheating and could leak or explode.
	Silvis honors fallen service members at Hero Street Memorial Day ceremony The city of Silvis hosted a Memorial Day ceremony at Hero Street U.S.A., honoring the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.
	‘We decided to make it right,’: QCA family places headstone on baby’s grave after 100 years A local family is finally giving a loved one something he never had — a headstone, 100 years after his death.
	Community gathers for Memorial Day ceremony in Silvis Hero Street in Silvis holds a Memorial Day ceremony to honor those who served.
	DR Congo Ebola cases rise amid distrust, armed conflict zone Africa races to contain a fast-spreading Ebola outbreak threatening 10 countries as infections spill from eastern Congo into Uganda.
	Whitewater Junction faces unexpected repair, to remain open through Monday The pool will remain open for Memorial Day weekend.
	Power restored to over 1,000 in Illinois, Quad Cities Over 1,000 MidAmerican Energy customers are without power in the Illinois Quad Cities area.
	4 the Record Web Extra: Iowa bill to target predatory towing practices has bipartisan support Thanks for checking out this web extra. We didn't have enough time to bring you all of our panel discussion on 4 the Record. This part of the conversation focuses on a bill in Iowa that targets a practice referred to as predatory towing. Let's look at House File 2617. It reached Governor Kim Reynolds' [...]
	Clucking egg prices as of 5/22/26 Here’s this week’s egg price update. This is the USDA’s average price per dozen when delivered to the warehouse on Jan. 20, 2026, compared to where prices are now. To see the price, click on the video above. Local 4 News, your local election headquarters, is proud to present 4 The Record, a weekly news and [...]
	Trump Administration's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" slush fund draws ire of former Iowa congressman It seems the people who took part in the attack on the Capitol on January 6 five years ago deserve some charity, at least in the eyes of President Trump. He already pardoned them. Now he's setting up a special fund in the Department of Justice. Acting attorney general Todd Blanche established what he calls [...]
	Illinois proposed tax for online vacation rental bookings gets bad review Illinois considers pursuing online vacation rental bookings as a new source of revenue. In Illinois, state lawmakers are considering a new tax. House Bill 5776 would impose a 4% tax on short-term rentals across the state. It would apply to rentals that last less than 30 days and would be paid by renters when they [...]
	Iowa governor hopeful Sherman calls Reynolds' eminent domain veto a mistake It is crunch time on the Iowa political scene. The Iowa primary is nine days from now. Five Republicans are on the ballot trying to be their party's nominee for governor to succeed Kim Reynolds. They are, in alphabetical order, Eddie Andrews, Randy Feenstra, Zach Lahn, Brad Sherman and Adam Steen. One candidate must get [...]
	Over 1,000 in Illinois, Quad Cities without power Over 1,000 MidAmerican Energy customers are without power in the Illinois Quad Cities area.
	What's open for Memorial Day 2026? Forgot something for your cookout? You're in luck.
	More than 500 children have died in an outbreak that the world is virtually ignoring The number of cases — and deaths — in Bangladesh is staggering. As of Sunday, 528 have died, mostly children. How did this measles outbreak begin? And how is the country responding?
	Louisiana lawmakers shelve maternal mortality resolution despite nation-leading death rates Marko Cvetkovic/Getty ImagesIn a state where women die from pregnancy-related causes at more than double the national average, Louisiana lawmakers quietly sidelined a resolution last week that would have forced a deeper examination of the crisis. House Concurrent Resolution 110, authored by Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, was voluntarily deferred in the House Health & Welfare Committee after a single objection — a move that stunned advocates who have spent years pushing for better maternal health outcomes. HCR 110 would have required the Louisiana Department of Health to conduct a sweeping review of maternal and pregnancy-associated mortality, evaluate barriers to maternal healthcare access and delivery, and provide recommendations to improve outcomes, strengthen accountability and reduce preventable deaths statewide. The resolution directed health officials to examine the state’s persistently high maternal death rates — 222 confirmed pregnancy-associated deaths from 2020 to 2022, with 84% deemed preventable It also called for a look into racial disparities that leave Black mothers 2.2 times more likely to die than white mothers. Also suggested for review were gaps in prenatal and postpartum care, including the finding that only 5.2% of pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries received a case management plan of care. The resolution also covered the collapse of obstetric services in rural parishes, including seven parishes with no birthing hospital, no obstetric providers and drives for patients exceeding an hour to the nearest facility. It also sought scrutiny for workforce shortages, including 24 parishes with no OB/GYN providing Medicaid services. Finally, Marcelle’s resolution was meant to measure the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of existing state maternal care programs. These priorities closely mirrored the findings of the March 2025 Louisiana Legislative Auditor performance audit, which found that $383.2 million in managed care Incentive payment spending on maternal health was “not always designed to achieve measurable outcomes and, in some instances, was duplicative.” The audit also found managed care organizations were providing case management plans to only 5.2% of pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries, that 24 of 64 parishes had no OB/GYN providing Medicaid services, and that 18.3% of listed OB/GYN providers had zero claims — providers on paper who were not seeing patients. Also, the state’s own Bureau of Family Health was not consulted during the development of the spending milestones, according to the audit. The state’s most recent 2020–22 Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review, published days before the committee hearing, reinforced these concerns. The report found that drug overdoses have been the leading cause of pregnancy-associated death since 2018 — eight consecutive years — and that its own recommendations “may not reflect existing policies of the Louisiana Department of Health.” The resolution also mandated the development of a statewide improvement plan and submission of a Feb. 1, 2027, report to the legislature, requiring the health department to publicly account for what is working, what is failing and why Louisiana continues to lose mothers at rates far above the national average. But Marcelle’s proposal never made it to a vote. Rep. Stephanie Berault, R-Slidell, argued the resolution was unnecessary, claiming “the state is already doing all of this.” She pointed to the health department’s existing Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review process and ongoing federal initiatives, though the 2020–22 review states its recommendations may not reflect existing state policy, and the Legislative Auditor found that 76.4% of pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries did not receive timely prenatal care. Berault’s comments lasted only minutes, but they were enough to halt the measure. The resolution was voluntarily deferred. The move underscores a broader trend in Louisiana’s maternal health response: Lawmakers concede the severity of the problem, but efforts to enact meaningful systemic change repeatedly stall. Despite years of reports documenting preventable deaths, racial inequities and failures in postpartum care, Louisiana has not implemented many of the recommendations made by its own review committees. The same categories of prevention recommendations — care coordination, substance use treatment, workforce expansion, racial disparities and data infrastructure — have appeared in every PAMR report since 2017. In 2018, the Legislature created the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Advisory Council through Act 497. The council reported recommendations in 2020 and then dissolved. By the 2020–22 PAMR, the council is no longer mentioned. Its recommendations remain unimplemented. Louisiana’s health secretary acknowledged to the Legislative Auditor that “having coverage under Medicaid does not mean that beneficiaries have access to services.” HCR 110 would have required a more immediate, comprehensive accounting. Instead, the legislature chose to trust that existing systems are sufficient — despite the findings of its own auditor and the health department’s own mortality review committee. Maternal health advocates reacted with frustration, saying the decision reflects a reluctance to confront the depth of the crisis. Dismissing the resolution as “duplicative” sidesteps the central finding of both the Legislative Auditor and the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review: Existing efforts have not been enough. 77% of the women who died had Medicaid coverage. 77.5% of deaths occurred after delivery, during the period when managed care organizations are responsible for follow-up care. Only 5.2% of pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries received a care plan. The state’s managed care system is failing to provide care management to the population most at risk, during the period when they are most likely to die. By shelving HCR 110, critics say lawmakers avoided a public reckoning with these failures and missed an opportunity to demand accountability from state officials and the system of care. With the resolution deferred, no new reporting requirements or oversight mechanisms will be implemented this session. The state will continue relying on existing programs that the Legislative Auditor found were not always designed to achieve measurable outcomes and that the PAMR committee’s own recommendations may not reflect. Courtesy of Louisiana Illuminator
	Mind-bending photos by anonymous cousins show the pain and dreams of Afghan women The young women make photos that look at life — how it is, how they wish it could be — under Taliban rule. The images are on display at the Photoville Festival in Brooklyn, New York.
	NAI Ruhl Commercial Company releases QC Commercial Real Estate Market Report NAI Ruhl Commercial Company releases Commercial Real Estate Market Report highlighting a more disciplined, opportunity-driven environment.
	Religious leaders, lawmakers push for $1 billion to secure houses of worship There's an effort on Capitol Hill to increase funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which awards funding to houses of worship to harden their defenses. In 2024, roughly a third of those who applied actually received funding.
	Orion elementary school principal to retire at end of 2029-30 school year The Orion school board accepted R.C. Lowe's retirement on Wednesday.
	15 movies we can't wait to see this summer, from Spielberg to 'Spider-Man' The Toy Story squad takes on a tablet, the Minions take on Hollywood and Christopher Nolan takes on a Greek epic.
	Suspect dead after opening fire near White House security checkpoint, Secret Service says A man who opened fire near a White House security checkpoint is dead after being shot by officers who returned fire, the U.S. Secret Service said.

Monday, May 25th, 2026

Sunday, May 24th, 2026