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

Tuesday, May 12th, 2026
	A space designed with our clients and our growing team in mind Content by The Cities Private Wealth Group. The Cities Private Wealth Group aims to deliver coordinated, comprehensive guidance for a new generation of clients.
	North Scott's Lancer Productions will be part of Iowa Musical Theatre Awards Showcase North Scott High School’s Lancer Productions has announced the 2026 Iowa High School Musical Theater Award honors for the spring production of "The Addams Family," directed and choreographed by Ashley Becher, with vocal direction by Bobby Becher, technical direction by Josh Tipsword, and produced by Stacie Kintigh and Emily Hintze, according to a news release. [...]
	In 'The Young Will Remember,' a Korean War reporter gets stranded behind enemy lines In Eve J. Chung's new novel, Ellie Chang ends up stuck in a place she's only known as enemy territory, reliant on strangers to help her get home.
	3 Things to Know \| Quad Cities morning headlines for May 12, 2026 Visitors to Arsenal Island can now take a self-guided tour of the grounds, and Iowa officials are holding a "Stop the Scammers" event to protect your money.
	Teenager saves woman from burning central Iowa home A central Iowa teenager is being called a hero after he helped save a women from her burning home.
	Road work continuing across the Quad Cities In addition to all these construction sites, the Illinois DOT will hold an open house to discuss reconstruction plans on Illinois 84 and Illinois 92.
	Inflation jumps to its highest level since 2023. Here are 3 things costing a lot more Rising gasoline prices pushed inflation to its highest level in almost three years in April. Consumer prices were up 3.8% from a year ago.
	Windy and warm Tuesday for the Quad Cities After a nice start to the week with highs well into the 60s Monday, it'll be windy and much warmer today. A few showers and storms are possible today and some could be on the strong side, especially east of the Mississippi. Here's your complete 7-day forecast.
	WIU engineering students complete hands-on problem-solving in senior project The WIU–QC Engineering Senior Projects showcase the culmination of years of learning, collaboration and hands-on problem solving. Each project represents the creativity, persistence and technical skill of our graduating seniors as they apply their knowledge to real-world engineering challenges, a news release says. While enrolled in the engineering programs, students are trained to conduct research, [...]
	Gretchen at Work: Cruising the Mississippi on the Celebration Belle The Celebration Belle has been cruising for 43 years.
	Origin Design expands full land survey services in Quad Cities Origin Design expands full land survey services in Quad Cities with dedicated on-site team.
	The economic chilling effect of Trump's immigration crackdown New research finds that ICE raids and deportation fears disrupted local economies, reduced work among undocumented immigrants, and may have hurt some U.S.-born workers too.
	The Diner This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Within ten miles of Rock Island, four hundred and ninety-three restaurants lie in wait, menus at attention. Four…
	U.S. ambassador to Israel says Israel sent Iron Dome batteries, personnel to UAE Israel sent Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and personnel to operate them to the United Arab Emirates to defend the country during the Iran war, the U.S. ambassador to the country said Tuesday.
	Memorial Day travel could set record in 2026: AAA For many, Memorial Day serves as the kickoff to the summer season, leading to millions throughout the United States traveling for weekend getaways.
	She's trying to outrun pancreatic cancer. Breakthrough treatments give her hope Pancreatic cancer is notoriously lethal. But new treatments mean that may be changing, and people with the disease now have more reason to hope than ever before.
	Stephen Colbert and late night hosts strike again as his show nears finale Stephen Colbert invited his "best television friends," fellow late night hosts John Oliver, Seth Meyers and the two Jimmies— Kimmel and Fallon— to join him, as his final show on CBS is set for May 21.
	Israeli lawmakers set up tribunal, allow for death penalty for October 2023 attackers The measure passed 93-0 in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament, reflecting widespread support for punishing those found responsible for what was the deadliest attack in Israel's history.
	Craig Morton, former quarterback for Cowboys and Broncos, dies at 83 Craig Morton, who spent 18 years in the NFL and became the first quarterback to start the Super Bowl for two franchises — the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos — has died. He was 83.
Monday, May 11th, 2026
	Money, money, money: FY 26-27 budget special session is here (Stock photo illustration via Getty Images)With billions on the line for Florida’s schools, the environment, and its neediest citizens, state legislators return to Tallahassee Tuesday to finally craft a new state budget. Republicans who control the Legislature were unable to piece together the state fiscal year 2026-27 budget during their regular session that ended in March. The standoff was largely due to a push by House Speaker Daniel Perez and his allies to cut spending below existing levels even as the state continues to grow. The state fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. House and Senate leaders on April 23 announced a deal on budget allocations covering different spending areas, agreeing to spend $52 billion. The announcement did not include the overall dollar amount for the FY 2026-27 budget, only the general revenue allocations. That’s Florida’s main budget account that comes from sales taxes, corporate income taxes, and other sources. (The state also funds operations through trust funds and other sources including federal money.) Legislative leaders have not announced an agreement on a tax relief package. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday took a shot at the Legislature for not completing its work on time but was optimistic a budget would get passed during the special session. “I just think it’d be a mistake to drag it out any more. It should have been done in March. There’s no reason why it couldn’t have been done in March. And I think it is going to get done, and they’re not going to be able to just come back and go on vacation if it’s not done. It’s gotta get done in this period of time, and we will make it happen.” Legislators, meanwhile, will delve into the nuances of spending over the next two weeks. “We put our money behind the things we value,” said Rep. Fentrice Driskell, the House Democratic leader who did not sound optimistic Monday when discussing the budget session. Senate budget chief: No health insurance cost hike for state employees next year In messages to members, both Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton insisted they will find a way to pay for priorities while lowering overall spending. Some of those priorities include the state workforce. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Ed Hooper told reporters earlier this month the chambers agreed to not increase state employees’ health insurance premiums, which he said would be a significant investment. State employees pay raises, though, are still a discussion item. The main job each year of the Florida Legislature is to pass an annual budget which authorizes billions in spending on education, healthcare, the environment, transportation, public safety, and more. It’s the second time in as many years the Legislature has been unable to get the budget, the one must-pass bill, done during its regular session. The indecision comes at a cost to taxpayers. The 2025 budget special session cost $259,000. window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}); Education Education, both K-12 and higher education, accounts for more general revenue spending than any other area. The House and Senate were within $200 million in the approximately $23 billion budget area. The agreed-to GR allocation and the amount education conferees will be able to spend reflects the Senate’s original proposed budget, $22.8 billion. There are some significant differences between the House and Senate budgets when it comes to improving school infrastructure. The House is proposing $360 million for maintenance, repair, and renovation for fixed capital outlay, while the Senate is proposing $261 million. Nearly all (99%) of the Senate’s fixed capital outlay is targeted for charter schools, $261 million. That House budget also earmarks $260 million for charter school improvements but includes another $50 million in capital outlay for the Florida College System and the State University System. Additionally, the House and Senate budgets provide funding for specific SUS projects with the former agreeing to spend $449 million and the latter offering another $233 million. SUS specific projects include: The Florida A&M University and Florida State University College of Engineering building (House $92 million, Senate $20 million) The University of South Florida College of AI, Cybersecurity, and Computing facility (House $25 million, Senate $15 million) But there are more than capital outlay differences between the chambers’ education proposals. The House includes $15 million for FSU to administer a grant for local governments to develop cybersecurity risk management programs. The Senate budget does not. The Senate proposes $7 million for the Rural Incentive for Professional Educators program, while the House does not include funding. The Senate allocates $6 million for Schools of Hope, while the House does not. That program was expanded drastically last legislative session, allowing private charter schools to open inside certain public school buildings. The Senate allocates $30.4 million for regional education consortium services and the House dedicates $1.7 million. Most of the Senate’s wish, $25 million, is for the Rural School District Supplemental Services grant program. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HHS: The year of provider cuts? Spending on health and human services, from funding hospitals, nursing homes, and managed care plans to providing the elderly with meals and keeping seniors and children safe, accounts for the second largest slice of the general revenue pie. The agreed-to HHS GR allocation for FY 26-27 is $19.2 billion, which is a smidge higher than what the Senate had proposed spending ($19.18 billion) and lower than the House’s proposed $19.2 billion. While the House and Senate aren’t far apart in their overall spending on HHS, there are some significant differences, including proposed reductions to Medicaid providers. The House budget included a 1.3% “efficiency” savings, or a $206.2 million reduction to managed care plans. Additionally, in an attempt to reduce infant mortality rates, the House has proposed withholding 2% of payments to managed care plans. The plans with the highest reductions in infant mortality rates and the plan with the largest reduction in infant mortalities would earn back the 2% withhold. Other plans that lower their infant mortality rates would earn back 1% of the withhold. And plans whose infant mortality rates increase would have a four-month ban on new enrollment in the House budget. The Senate budget doesn’t contain any reductions or holdbacks for contracted Medicaid managed care plans. The Senate budget does, however, propose a 3% reduction in hospital reimbursements. That proposed cut isn’t in the House budget. The Senate will renew its push to reduce hospital rates as $10 billion in supplemental Medicaid funding — much of which was promised to hospitals in last year’s budget but was jammed up by the Trump administration’s slow approval — heads to hospitals. While the managed care plans and hospitals face reductions, Florida’s nursing homes are looking at potential increases. It’s a matter of how much. The Senate budget proposes a $68 million recurring hike in reimbursements, of which $30 million is general revenue, the House has proposed an $82.4 million recurring increase, of which $36.4 million is general revenue. Natural resources Legislative leaders have agreed to spend $1.38 billion in general revenue for agriculture, natural resources, and the environment. That’s much closer to the Senate’s proposed $1.4 billion. The House had initially agreed to a final number nearly half as large. Among the biggest discrepancies in the chambers’ proposed spending plans involve funding the Everglades. The House has agreed to spend $350 million for Everglades restoration, with $155 million of that for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan or CERP, a cost-sharing agreement between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Florida to restore, protect, and preserve the greater Everglades ecosystem. Other funding for the Everglades has gone to investing in water quality improvements. The Senate is proposing more than $813 million for Everglades restoration, with $455 million of that for CERP. That’s more than the $810 million Gov. DeSantis requested for the Everglades restoration, of which more than $670M he targeted to CERP. Gil Smart, policy director with Friends of the Everglades, hopes the agreed-to allocation means the House will meet the Senate’s proposed funding levels. “There seems to be this idea that once the Everglades Agriculture Area (EAA) Reservoir Project and other CERP projects are done, that Everglades restoration will be completed — we disagree.” Regarding state parks, both chambers are proposing $25 million for repairs for the 176 parks. While it doubles what the governor recommended, the funding is considered paltry by environmental groups. A coalition of more than two dozen groups sent a letter to lawmakers in early March warning that it would take 30 years to complete the $759 million in repairs flagged in a December 2025 Department of Environmental Protection report. Florida Forever An extremely sensitive issue for many Floridians is the Legislature’s decision to defund the state’s main land acquisition program, Florida Forever, and direct the funds instead to the Family Lands Protection Program. The Senate is allocating only $35 million to the Florida Forever program, while the House zeros out that line item completely. By contrast, the House is allocating $200 million to the Family Lands Protection Program and the Senate earmarking $300 million. While the public has access to Florida Forever-purchased lands, the Family Lands Protection program doesn’t allow public access. It allows agricultural landowners to permanently preserve their land from development and has no public access requirements. GOP lawmakers have hailed land protection easements as a way to protect future land development and continue agricultural operations that are vital to the state’s economy. St. Petersburg Democratic House Rep. Lindsay Cross disagreed during budget debate earlier this year. ““You can’t just park on the side of the road, sneak under a barbed wire fence, and take your family for a hike on a cattle ranch,” she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Florida Phoenix
	Nonprofits back bill providing stopgap funding after new SNAP requirements go into effect The call for funding comes as officials with the River Bend Food Bank said they've seen a four-year high in their requests for need.
	Quad City Animal Welfare Center forever foster cat thriving in his new home QCAWC will cover vet bills for its forever foster. The fosters just provide the food and the love.
	Quad City Animal Welfare Center forever foster cat thriving in his new home QCAWC will cover vet bills for its forever foster. The fosters just provide the food and the love.
	Iowa passes animal torture bill Torturing animals in Iowa is now a felony on the first offense. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed House File 2348 into law. Iowa joins the rest of the country to classify animal torture as a felony. Until recently, it was a serious misdemeanor. Anyone convicted can get up to five years in prison. First offenses can [...]
	OQC Crime Watch: Dinkins faces more charges; 'pigeon drop' scam: Episode 65 Watch crime reporters Linda Cook and Sharon Wren talk about crime and courts in our area with the latest episode of the Our Quad Cities Crime Watch Podcast. In this episode Linda and Sharon discuss: updates on: Henry Dinkins faces charges again, this time in connection with a 2003 Clinton County sexual assault of a [...]
	Over 1250 without power in Illinois Quad Cities, power restored More than 1250 people were without power in the Illinois Quad Cities Monday night.
	Moore brings gripes directly to electric grid operator PJM Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) speaks at the PJM Interconnection annual meeting in Baltimore on Monday. (Photo by Christine Condon/Maryland Matters)Over the past year, in press releases and letters, speeches and interviews, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) has had stern words for PJM Interconnection, the electric grid operator serving his state. But on Monday, Moore brought his gripes about high electricity bills straight to PJM, the largest grid operator in the nation, which is holding its annual meeting in Baltimore this week. “I am here to say plainly that PJM can — and must — do more for ratepayers.” Moore told a packed hotel ballroom full of PJM board members and representatives from member energy companies. Moore’s criticisms focused on PJM’s troubled interconnection queue, the process that new energy projects must navigate in order to connect to the grid, and PJM’s auction process, which has been thrown out of whack by immense demand projected to come from data centers, resulting in higher prices for consumers. PJM has argued that it is in the midst of reform. The grid operator recently cleared a large backlog of new energy projects that were waiting in the queue for years at a time, and flung open the doors to allow new projects to join the queue in its territory, which includes 13 states and the District of Columbia. That brought applications from 811 energy projects, led by battery storage proposals, followed by natural gas projects and then solar projects. A breakdown of new energy applications to PJM, the region’s electrical grid operator. (Chart courtesy PJM) This time, PJM will switch from a “first come, first served” procedure to a “first ready, first served” process, “prioritizing projects that are more advanced and better positioned to move forward,” according to an April news release from PJM. To a certain extent, PJM’s struggles are understandable, Moore said, because of the complexities of energy markets. It would have been difficult for PJM to accurately predict the unprecedented power demands from data centers, and it isn’t easy to handle the competing energy policies of so many states, he said. But Moore also said he finds many of the energy challenges at PJM incomprehensible. “I do not get the record company profits and the skyrocketing utility bills. I do not get the choices that are being made that limit generation. I do not get the choices that stifle supply,” Moore said Monday. He urged PJM to move forward with an emergency backstop auction in September, which will procure additional power to supply the grid, after the last auction fell just shy of the amount of energy that PJM requires. He also called on PJM to ensure that data center developers pay the costs associated with this need for extra power. Asim Haque, PJM’s executive vice president of governmental and member services took the stage directly after Moore. “Whether you as a member — we’ve got a thousand-plus members — agree with everything that was said, some of what said — the undeniable fact here is that this is a gentleman who is responsible for over 6 million residents, and again, they are struggling,” Haque said. “We internalize that as a collective, and decide to move forward with the kind of urgency and vigilance that the governor referenced.” David Mills, the new president and CEO of PJM, argued that the beleaguered auction process was designed for a different world, with only gradual increases in power demand, and a slow transition away from old fossil fuel power plants. Del. Lorig Charkoudian (D-Montgomery) and Sen. Katie Fry Hester (D-Howard and Montgomery) were among lawmakers who rallied Monday to push PJM on clean-energy projects and on holding data centers accountable for their power needs. “In that environment, it worked,” Mills said. “But today, those conditions have fundamentally changed.” The PJM conference also drew a collection of lawmakers, clean energy groups and consumer affordability advocates, who rallied outside of the Baltimore hotel, pushing the grid operator to hold data centers accountable for their demand — and move renewable energy projects forward as it considers the 811 new proposals. “It’s late, and one of the really unfortunate things is they had a broken queue when the federal government was working, really, in close concert with us to get clean energy [online],” said Maryland Del. Lorig Charkoudian (D-Montgomery). These days, President Donald Trump’s (R) administration has pushed back against renewable projects, including offshore wind farms, and rescinded tax credits for solar projects. The set of new projects proposed for the queue is both concerning and exciting for environmentalists, Charkoudian said. If you go by capacity, natural gas makes up the largest part of the queue, offering 105.8 gigawatts, followed by battery storage with 66.5 gigawatts and nuclear projects offering 17.9 gigawatts. Solar projects take fourth place with 14.8 gigawatts, but projects combining solar and storage offer 8.9 gigawatts. “The new queue does have a lot of storage in it. That’s hopeful,” Charkoudian said. “It also has a lot of gas in it.” During his remarks, Moore said that he acknowledges natural gas “is a major and a necessary part of our energy mix today.” “But new gas is not feasible for Maryland. Interconnecting just one new plant was estimated to cost $800 million,” Moore said. “And we sit on some of the most congested natural gas pipelines in the country.” Electricity grid manager PJM aims to finalize reform strategy by summer He was speaking of a proposal from Constellation Energy, which would run a new natural gas pipeline to a new gas power plant in Harford County. That price tag is why Maryland will be leaning into solar, storage and wind, along with projects that lower demand, called demand response, Moore said. Lawmakers and governors in PJM states have also pushed for a seat at the table. PJM is largely governed by energy companies, though consumer advocates play a far smaller role. “These statements will only help bring ratepayers’ bills down if PJM acts to enforce the rules,” said Maryland Sen. Katie Fry Hester (D-Howard and Montgomery) who has convened a group of PJM legislators. “Despite being democratically elected representatives, we have no official voice at PJM. That is why we are here today.” PJM’s interconnection process “is working,” wrote PJM spokesperson Jeffrey Shields in a statement on Monday, and it has processed thousands of megawatts of renewable projects. “The challenge for the projects that aren’t getting built include factors beyond PJM’s control including permitting and siting hurdles, financing, and supply chain backlogs,” Shields wrote. “We have approved 53 GW of mostly renewable generation, including 1.6 GW of projects in Maryland, that have agreements and could build today.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Maryland Matters
	Over 1250 without power in Illinois Quad Cities More than 1250 people are without power in the Illinois Quad Cities Monday night.
	Project NOW will provide senior services in Henry County The Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging (WIAAA), in coordination with Project Now/Rock Island County Senior Center, has announced a transition in the delivery of Community Focal Point services within Henry County, according to a news release. Effective Oct. 1, Project NOW/Rock Island County Senior Center will assume designation as the Community Focal Point for [...]
	Galva man sentenced to 15 years for possession of child sexual abuse materials A Galva man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday in Henry County Court after pleading guilty to three counts of possession of child sexual abuse material.
	Trump taps former FEMA director to lead the disaster agency again Cameron Hamilton led FEMA briefly in 2025. He was removed by the Trump administration after telling Congress that the agency should continue to exist. Now, he's been nominated to lead it once again.
	Cops ‘n Kids Book Drive at KWQC slated for June 5 The drive encourages the community to drive up to 805 Brady Street to donate children’s new (or gently-used) books or make monetary donations. The books are then made available to kids for Davenport police to hand out at community events, schools, and calls.
	Alaska Legislature formalizes rules for physician assistants working within the state A medical document and stethoscope are seen in an undated photo. (Getty Images)Physician assistants may soon be able to operate more independently in Alaska, if Gov. Mike Dunleavy approves a bill passed Friday by the Alaska Legislature. PAs currently operate many clinics in rural Alaska, but their duties have generally been described in state regulation, not law. That caused problems in 2023, when the state medical board proposed significantly restricting them. The board withdrew that proposal soon after it was introduced, but state lawmakers subsequently acted to protect physician assistants from further interference by advancing Senate Bill 89, which would put PAs into state law and allow them to act more independently. The bill was written using model legislation and it has the support of the Alaska State Medical Association. In an 18-2 vote on Friday, the Alaska Senate finalized SB 89 and sent it to Gov. Mike Dunleavy for veto or approval. The state House approved it by a 38-2 vote on Thursday. Physician assistants are not doctors but in Alaska must have a cooperative agreement with a doctor in order to work. SB 89 would remove that requirement if a PA works in a facility licensed by the Alaska Department of Health. If a PA works in a non-licensed facility, they will still need to meet the requirement. State legislatures across the United States have been moving to encourage their work in an attempt to lower health care costs more generally. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Nonprofit sues the federal government over plans to paint Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool blue The Cultural Landscape Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy organization, is asking a federal judge to halt President Trump's plans to resurface the reflecting pool on the National Mall.
	4-year-old Whiteside County bicyclist injured in collision with car on U. S. Route 30 A 4-year-old child was injured after a bicycle-car crash in Whiteside County, according to a news release from Whiteside County Sheriff John F. Booker. Shortly after 11:45 a.m. Saturday, May 9, Whiteside County deputies responded to a report of a crash involving a vehicle and a 4-year-old bicyclist on U. S. Route 30 near Blue [...]
	Alaska legislators approve update for law that allows data sharing between hospitals The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)The Alaska Legislature has approved a bill that would update the law that governs how hospitals and clinics within the state share patient records and other health information. In an 18-0 vote on Friday, the Alaska Senate approved Senate Bill 272, sending it to Gov. Mike Dunleavy for enactment or veto. The state House approved it 34-6 on Thursday. Under existing state and federal law, the Alaska Department of Health is allowed to pick a third-party organization to operate a “Health Information Exchange” that transmits electronic health records from one hospital or clinic to another. In Alaska, the organization is HealthEconnect Alaska, a nonprofit. If signed into law, SB 272 would clarify the roles of the Department of Health and the organization operating the exchange. People whose records are transmitted through the exchange would be allowed to consent or object to different uses of their data. Kendra Sticka, executive director of HealthEconnect, testified in March that the new law is needed because when the original information exchange law was written in 2009, state officials weren’t sure how it would work in practice. “And so the language in the current statute is somewhat confusing because we didn’t know what it was going to be,” she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	QCA parrot rescue relocates; volunteer help still needed A Quad-City parrot rescue is growing, and they need volunteers to help. Owners of the Land of Illinois Parrot Rescue bought a traveling ICU unit, something they've been focused on getting since the beginning of the year. They also moved to a new space to help more exotic birds around the region. These are just [...]
	Mother mourns toddler killed on Mother’s Day A 3-year-old child was fatally shot during a hostage rescue attempt at a Bureau County mobile home park on Mother’s Day. The family shares memories.
	Getting in gear: What you need to know for Bike to Work Week Riding your bike to work this week? Here's a couple ways to stay safe.
	Real estate agent arrested in Davenport narcotics investigation He was the listing agent for some of Andrew Wold’s properties after the 2023 Davenport building collapse.
	The Waiting Child: Kam’Ron loves robotics; waits for 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 introduces us to Kam’Ron, a lover of robotics and coding. Kam’Ron shares what [...]
	Traffic Alert: One-way traffic only on East Ridge Drive due to reconstruction Crews will reconstruct the road from Woodfield Drive to 3340 East Ridge Drive, according to a Facebook post.
	Rock Island Arsenal launches self-guided historical tour Explore the history of the Rock Island Arsenal with a new self-guided tour featuring 13 stops. You can register through Visit Quad Cities to win prizes.
	US Supreme Court overturns 2023 Alabama map ruling, clearing the way for redistricting The U.S. Supreme Court, pictured April 9, 2026. The court on Monday vacated a 2023 order preventing Alabama from using a map it had ruled racially discriminatory, sending the case back to lower courts. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)The U.S. Supreme Court Monday overturned a 2023 ruling blocking use of a congressional map the courts ruled as racially discriminatory, which could open the way for Alabama to use new district lines this year. The order from the nation’s highest court in the case, known collectively as Allen v. Milligan, came about a week before the state’s May 19 primaries and about a week and a half after the court significantly weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prevents racial discrimination in voting laws, in a case known as Louisiana v. Callais. The ruling said plaintiffs challenging maps under Section 2 must show intentional discrimination to prevail. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX As is common practice, the majority did not provide an opinion with Monday’s order. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented in the order, joined by justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, saying there is no reason to reconsider Alabama’s case. “In addition to holding that Alabama’s 2023 Redistricting Plan violates [Section] 2, the district court held, in one of the three cases before this Court, that Alabama violated the Fourteenth Amendment by intentionally diluting the votes of Black voters in Alabama,” Sotomayor wrote. “That constitutional finding of intentional discrimination is independent of, and unaffected by, any of the legal issues discussed in Callais.” The state currently uses a congressional map drawn by a special master appointed by a federal court in 2023, after the courts ruled a congressional map approved by the Alabama Legislature in 2021 discriminated against Black voters in the state by not giving them a full chance to select their preferred leaders. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ruling in 2023, after delaying its implementation for over a year, past the 2022 midterms. A new map drawn by the Legislature in 2023 was also ruled a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Under the current map, the 2nd Congressional District, currently represented by U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, has a Black Voting Age Population (BVAP) of about 49%, while the 7th Congressional District, represented by U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, has a BVAP of about 50.6%. Section 2 was considerably weakened by the U.S. Supreme Court in April in Louisiana v. Callais, which said plaintiffs challenging congressional maps had to prove intentional discrimination, a far higher bar than the previous standard of showing discriminatory effects. “The Court’s decision interferes with the ongoing election and puts the validity of the votes of thousands of early voters into doubt,” said Deuel Ross, director of litigation at the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), which represented the plaintiffs in the Milligan case. “We will consider all of our options for protecting the rights of voters and reinstating the court ordered map. A message seeking comment from Gov. Kay Ivey was left Monday evening. Marshall said federal courts had “punished” the state for drawing its own maps, but the Supreme Court “vindicated the state’s long held position.” “For too long, unelected federal judges had more say over Alabama’s elections than Alabama’s voters. That ended today,” Marshall said in a video posted to social media. “My job in this office was to put the Legislature in the best possible legal position to draw a congressional map that favors Republicans 7-0.” Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen said in a statement Monday that the ruling was a “historic win” for Alabama. “The May 19 primary election will proceed as scheduled,” the statement said. “My office will remain in close contact with the Governor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office as this situation continues developing.” Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, said in a statement Monday that the court ruling “has cleared the path for Alabama to hold free, open, and fair elections using the constitutional maps drawn by the Legislature rather than the unconstitutional maps forced upon the state by activist federal judges.” “The Supreme Court’s action removes the thumb from the scale in legislative and congressional elections and allows Republicans to once again have a fair chance to compete,” the statement said. Republicans control all statewide elected offices; both of the state’s U.S. Senate seats; five of its seven U.S. House seats; 76 of its 105 state House seats and 27 of its 35 Senate seats. Kim Bailey, president of the League of Women Voters of Alabama, said Monday that the decision was “deeply disappointing and creates uncertainty and confusion for voters about the 2026 elections.” “We encourage voters not to become disillusioned or discouraged,” the statement said. “Your vote matters. Your voice matters. And voter turnout will remain one of the most powerful tools we have to shape our future and defend representative democracy.” ‘An inextricable, permanent feature of this case’ U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, leaves the lectern after speaking to an Alabama Senate committee on May 7, 2026 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. House and Senate committees moved two bills that would reschedule primaries should courts allow the state to use congressional and legislative maps previously ruled discriminatory. The committee votes were preceded by protests from audience members who said the Legislature was denying Black Alabamians proper representation. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) “The Supreme Court has upended our election jurisprudence and done so in a way that severely, and systematically, disadvantages Black voters,” said Dev Wakeley, worker policy advocate with Alabama Arise. “The idea that this is a more level playing field, or that the safeguards against discrimination that we previously had until Callais were ready to be lifted, is absurd.” The court Tuesday sent the case back to the three-judge panel with instructions to reconsider its ruling in light of the Callais ruling. Using the 2023 map would likely throw the re-election of U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, from the 2nd Congressional District into doubt. Figures in a statement Monday called the court’s action “an incredibly unfortunate decision” and said the conservative justices “just literally substituted themselves in to be the defense lawyers for the state of Alabama.” “I ran for this seat to be a voice for all of Alabama, and I’m not backing down from that mission now,” the statement said. “The fight must and will go on. Beyond the courts, we know what has to be done. We will organize, we will register, and we will turnout people in record numbers at the polls.” Sotomayor noted that the court in Callais said its ruling in Allen v. Milligan — upholding a finding of racial discrimination in congressional maps — remained “good law.” “This Court’s finding of racially discriminatory vote dilution is an inextricable, permanent feature of this case, and Alabama’s willful decision to respond by entrenching rather than remedying that dilution is, as the District Court correctly recognized, evidence of discriminatory intent,” Sotomayor wrote. After the session A group of people hold their fists aloft to protest SB 1, a bill that would allow new primaries for for two Montgomery-area Senate districts if a federal court allows it, in the Alabama Statehouse on May 6, 2026 in Montgomery, Alabama. The Senate passed the bill on Wednesday amid flooding in downtown Montgomery. (Andrea Tinker/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Legislature last week approved two bills allowing new primaries to be held in districts that would be affected by the court overturning its prior orders. Lawmakers carried through with the process despite protests throughout the week that culminated with one person getting removed from the statehouse on the final day of the special session. Plaintiffs in the Milligan case filed briefs on Monday said the injunction should stand because the remedial map currently in does not consider race. “The district court never held that Section 2 required Alabama to adopt a majority-Black district or otherwise draw districts on the basis of voters’ race,” the plaintiffs said in their response. “The district court’s remedial plan is proof positive: it does not contain a second majority-Black district, and it was ‘prepared race-blind.’” Opponents have said the primary laws passed by the Legislature last week could be unconstitutional under a 2022 amendment that requires election law changes to be made no later than six months before an election. The date this year was May 3; the special session began on May 4. Republicans said last week the amendment applies to general elections and not primaries. This is a breaking news story. Updated at 5:58 p.m. with additional background; at 6:11 p.m. with comment from Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman; at 6:25 p.m. with comments from Secretary of State Wes Allen and plaintiffs’ filings in the Milligan case; at 6:48 p.m. with comments from U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile; and at 7:11 p.m. with comments Attorney General Steve Marshall from a video posted to social media. Allen v Milligan order May 12 2026 Courtesy of Alabama Reflector
	A slow start to May when it comes to rain Things have been a little bit slow in terms of rainfall here in the Quad Cities for the month of May, but we are looking to see some relief. Throughout the next 7 days we are forecasted to receive anywhere from an inch to an inch and a half of rain in the Quad Cities. [...]
	Work progresses on Bettendorf’s pedestrian bridge Work is rapidly progressing on Bettendorf’s $14.5M pedestrian bridge near the TBK Bank Sports Complex.
	Explore Mental Health Month with the Rock Island Public Library May is Mental Health Month, and there are plenty of great resources available from the Rock Island Public Library! Karrah Kuykendall joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about what's happening at the library. For more information, click here.
	Recapping major bills from Iowa's legislative session The Iowa legislative session has concluded. We recap major bills that passed both chambers and those that did not make it through.
	Suspect shot by police in Peoria during domestic disturbance call Illinois State Police said a suspect was shot while Peoria police responded to reports of a domestic disturbance.
	Why cruise ship passengers with possible hantavirus exposure went to Nebraska The University of Nebraska is home to the only federally funded quarantine unit in the U.S. and a separate biocontainment unit that can treat people exposed to infectious diseases.
	Eastern Iowa Community Colleges launches HVAC training program As demand for HVAC workers continues to grow, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is launching a new program aimed at training future technicians for the industry.
	Man arrested after shots fired at St. Ambrose parking lot on Friday A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with shots being fired at one of St. Ambrose University's parking lots on Friday, May 8.
	Rock Island National Cemetery seeking volunteers to place flags for Memorial Day Arsenal officials said the event will happen on Thursday, May 21 at 4 p.m., rain or shine.
	Illinois politics latest: Expulsions for sexual assault, Evidence-Based Funding, budget deadline Illinois lawmakers have until May 31 to finalize the state's budget. Plus, we discuss a bill that would expel students who commit sexual violence at school.
	Celebrate the U.S. Armed Forces at Armed Forces Day at the Rock Island Arsenal Celebrate the U.S. Armed Forces at the Rock Island Arsenal! Col. Joe Parker and Victoria Kline joined Our Quad Cities News with details on Armed Forces Day. For more information, click here.
	New Rock Island Arsenal Trail launches The virtual trail is self-guided and takes visitors across 13 stops exploring the Arsenal's history.
	Iowa governor's race, immigration and the economy: News 8 This Week - May 10, 2026 News 8's Jon Diaz speaks with Adam Steen, a Republican running for governor. Plus, a U of Minnesota researcher on the impacts of immigration and the economy.
	Flocking Awesome: “The Sheep Detectives,” “Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard & Soft: The Tour Live in 3D,” and “Mortal Kombat II” The Sheep Detectives is kind of like Babe meets Paddington meets The Wild Robot meets Agatha Christie … which means, unexpectedly yet delightfully, it's also kind of perfect.
	Criminally charged nursing home worker now faces license suspension Mason City’s Heritage Care and Rehabilitation Center. (Photo via Google Earth)An Iowa nursing home worker who was criminally charged with repeatedly ignoring her colleagues’ requests to check on a resident and with falsifying records about the incident is now facing the temporary suspension of her nursing license. Licensed practical nurse Asteria Nganyange, also known as Asteria Montgomery, of Mason City, was criminally charged in November 2024 with dependent adult abuse through neglect and tampering with, or falsifying, records. State records indicate Nganyange, 38, was working at Mason City’s Heritage Care and Rehabilitation Center on April 14, 2024, when a resident fell and struck his head. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Nganyange did an initial assessment of the man’s condition’s but then failed to perform the required follow-up assessments necessary to check for neurological damage, despite repeated warnings from co-workers and residents that the man was acting in an odd manner and couldn’t walk as her normally did, state inspectors allege. Nganyange “didn’t once come back and do anything for him,” a medication aide reportedly told the inspectors. According to the inspectors’ written reports, the man was eventually taken to a hospital, but the Heritage staff later learned he had suffered a heart attack en route, and another one while at the hospital. The records give no indication as to whether the man survived. Administrators at Heritage later reviewed video surveillance footage from inside the facility and concluded that Nganyange never performed the eight neurological assessments she claimed to have performed on the man, according to the inspectors. State reports indicate Heritage fired Nganyange shortly after the incident and then reported her conduct to the Iowa Board of Nursing. According to the inspectors’ written reports, when they spoke to Nganyange about the matter, she “didn’t deny that she falsified the neurological check assessments; she stated she just didn’t recall doing it.” The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing fined Heritage $3,250, according to state records. In March 2026, after 18 continuances in her criminal case, Nganyange pleaded guilty to both the dependent adult abuse charge and the tampering with records charge. She was fined $430 and granted a deferred judgment that will result in the conviction being expunged from public court records after the successful completion of one year of probation. In July 2025, the Board of Nursing charged Nganyange with failing to assess, accurately document, evaluate, or report the status of a patient, and with behavior that constitutes knowingly making misleading or untrue representations in the practice of the profession by falsifying records. To settle that case, Nganyange recently agreed to a nine-month suspension of her nursing license, with the understanding that her license will then be placed on probationary status for 18 months. Her attorney, Timothy L. Lapointe, said in a written statement that his client “regrets the unfortunate incident that led to her (license) suspension.” Court records indicate one of the continuances in the criminal matter was due to some sort of negotiations with the Board of Nursing related to the outcome of the disciplinary charges. Lapointe said Monday his client “appreciates the reduction in suspension” the board agreed to due to what he called “the mitigating factors, including her completing additional nursing classes to correct any prior problems that she caused.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	United Way QC and River Bend Food Bank seek Illinois support for food benefits Local communities are bracing for the effect new federal work requirements will have on food security for hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans.
	Pennsylvania scrutinizes fraud prevention as feds put Medicaid under the microscope The Pennsylvania State Capitol on March 19, 2026. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)In the coming weeks, the federal audit of Medicaid programs across the country will enter its next steps to root out fraud following investigations in other states. But Pennsylvania’s leaders say that the commonwealth is already proactive when it comes to protecting programs from abuse. “The Shapiro Administration takes fraud prevention extremely seriously, and we are proud of procedures we use to vet provider enrollment and monitor service provision on a regular basis – processes that the federal government has approved and that have helped Pennsylvania be recognized as a national leader in Medicaid fraud identification and prosecution,” Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office told the Capital-Star in a joint statement with the Department of Human Services. A federal report from last year identified Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit under state Attorney General Dave Sunday as the top-ranking state for the number of criminal convictions and third overall for charges filed against those defrauding Medicaid. The commonwealth’s Office of State Inspector General reported earlier this month that it charged 310 people with public benefits fraud totaling more than $3 million in 2025. In Medicaid fraud crackdown, feds now looking to audit Pennsylvania and 49 other states State Secretary of the Department of Human Services Val Arkoosh said last week the state was committed to protecting Medicaid and food assistance benefits for eligible Pennsylvanians while combatting misuse. She spoke before a panel of state House Democrats in Philadelphia on Thursday. “The phrase ‘fraud, waste and abuse’ is one we hear frequently now in public discourse. It is typically framed as an accusation of either social service program mismanagement or misuse by individual public benefit recipients, and there are suggestions that states are inattentive to these concerns,” Arkoosh continued. “These accusations bear absolutely no relationship to the reality of the work that the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services does every single day.” Most fraud, she emphasized, came from providers, rather than enrolled individuals. Inspector General Michelle Henry expanded, adding that combatting provider-specific fraud “is not a hypothetical concern.” “These are healthcare providers who bill medicaid for services never rendered, vendors who misrepresent the nature of their work and contractors who falsify records to obtain government payments,” said Henry. Long-discussed tools to prevent fraud get little traction Letters from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to the state shared with the Capital-Star show that the agency was particularly concerned about claims filed by “high-risk” providers, or those without a National Provider Identification (NPI) number. Arkoosh revealed last week that the state will now require everyone to have an NPI within the next two or three years. Direct Care Workers employed with an agency traditionally used their employer’s number, rather than their own, meaning hundreds of thousands of people will need to register, she added as an example. Pennsylvania Secretary of Human Services Val Arkoosh talks about the state’s Rural Health Transformation Plan on May 6, 2026. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) “We have to literally expand our system to accommodate that amount of volume. So we are acquiring and in the process of implementing new provider modules that will accommodate that amount of volume,” Arkoosh said. “We will really be able to have a close eye on this work.” The nationally managed registry doesn’t require all Medicaid providers to have NPIs, though states can make that a rule. Arkoosh said newly added providers would need to register. In regard to the timeline for full implementation, her agency alluded to staffing shortages in several healthcare fields. “Many providers have indicated that it is costly to enroll in the Medicaid program, and that additional requirements could delay filling vacant spots and exacerbate ongoing workforce issues. This transition is occurring in a way that does not overwhelm providers and create access issues for recipients,” said a spokesperson. The state “revalidates” — or checks — all providers every five years to meet federal requirements, but the federal government now calls for a “swift revalidation” in a tighter timeframe. The state has talked for years about requiring NPIs or a state-level version, though a previous bill requiring it failed to muster support after its champion left office. Shapiro, when he previously served as state Attorney General, oversaw a grand jury that recommended such an anti-fraud measure and personally pushed for a “False Claims Act.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Despite longstanding bipartisan support, the state hasn’t joined the 30 states with their own False Claims Act, which incentivizes whistleblowers to report fraud by offering a sliver of the recovered assets as a reward. Most programs explicitly focus on Medicaid, though some states like New York also have laws focused on tax compliance. The state Senate version — which has both a Republican and Democrat sponsor — hasn’t yet had a committee hearing. The House bill, which only has Democrat sponsors, passed the chamber in July on a 136-67 vote over Republican opposition. It also hasn’t been heard in the Senate. Henry, the state inspector general who previously worked with Shapiro at the attorney general’s office, said Pennsylvania was the largest state without such protection. “(At the attorney general’s office), I saw firsthand what Pennsylvania lacks without a False Claims Act. The gap was not theoretical,” said Henry. “It was a recurring, frustrating constraint on what we could do for the people of Pennsylvania.” Shapiro renewed his push for the bill in a February speech and a Republican senator quizzed Arkoosh about it in March, meaning it’s still at the forefront of some members’ minds, despite the lack of movement. What it takes to combat fraud Arkoosh said that individual applications are screened against 15 databases to check accuracy and screen for flags, looking at income, citizenship, residency, household composition, disability status and more every six to 12 months. Names and information are compared to death records as well. Of the 3.3 million applications or redeterminations, roughly 20,000 are forwarded to the Office of State Inspector General, typically. In the last year, the office pursued 674 cases worth $179 million. Henry said that such a proactive relationship with vetting applications before paying out benefits was “unique” based on her discussions with other states’ leaders. Pennsylvania Inspector General Michelle Henry. (Photo from the Office of State Inspector General) “I do think Pennsylvania is ahead of the game in a lot of ways,” she said. “The prevention piece is a really big component of that. A lot of states are looking at it, and it’s usually after the fact. After the benefits have gone out the door, after the taxpayer’s dollars have been lost.” Providers are also compared to death records, though these investigations are referred to the attorney general’s office or other agencies, depending on the case. Some workers in more flexible arrangements, such as those working in a Medicaid member’s home, must log their activities with Electronic Visit Verification — either by calling a number or using an app. In the 24-25 fiscal year, the state identified 657 cases of fraud because of this requirement, recovering $584,000, according to Arkoosh. “We are also exploring innovative practices like leveraging data analytics, predictive monitoring, and AI assistance to review billing patterns for anomalies or concerning trends, and additional attention is given to services that are historically frequently subjects of fraud,” a spokesperson for the Department of Human Services told the Capital-Star. Arkoosh warned that 2027 would make the agency’s work more difficult, when the federal “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” would take effect. Under the Trump-led effort, the 750,000 low- to middle-income Pennsylvanians covered under Medicaid “expansion” will need to submit paperwork every six months, rather than annually, and meet community engagement requirements. “Adding this level of complexity onto these programs is only going to make them more vulnerable to misuse, just simply by the volume and complexity of the work,” said Arkoosh. States will need to log whether each member worked, volunteered or went to school on a part-time basis for at least 80 hours each month, though the law includes exceptions for certain medical conditions, full-time caretakers and others. “The totality of that really is going to stress all of our systems, and I can imagine that (Henry’s office) is going to get a lot more than 20,000 referrals as we start to have to apply now these additional layers of scrutiny onto individuals,” Arkoosh continued. “It’s going to be quite difficult.” Previous attempts to introduce work requirements have increased the number of uninsured residents without an increase to the number of those working. Arkoosh estimated the state would spend $50 million on technology upgrades alone, not counting the 250 people who would need to be hired to conduct that work. Courtesy of Pennsylvania Capital-Star
	Controversial transgender healthcare bill clears key vote in NJ Khadijah Silver gets emotional as people testify to the Senate’s health committee at the Trenton Statehouse on May 11, 2026, about a transgender healthcare protections bill. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor) New Jersey lawmakers voted along party lines Monday to approve legislation aimed at protecting transgender patients and their healthcare providers, advancing the bill after nearly two years of lobbying by the trans community and its allies. The Democratic-led bill to enshrine civil and criminal protections for those who treat and those who receive care for gender dysphoria drew hours of passionate testimony from supporters, who say the protections are essential given the Trump administration’s push to curtail access to gender-affirming care, and emotional pushback from a handful of opponents. The measure, which would also expand protections for reproductive healthcare providers, was approved by the Senate’s health committee by a 5-2 vote. Natalie Baker, a psychotherapist who is also parent of a transgender child, said the kinds of policies pushed by the bill “have very real impacts on families and providers.” “Families are making difficult life decisions based on whether their children feel safe and protected. Families are paying attention to this. Providers are paying attention to this. And businesses are too,” Baker said. According to LGBTQ advocacy group Garden State Equality, 18 states have already passed similar shield laws. The measure is scheduled for a hearing in the Assembly health committee Thursday. It faces additional votes in both houses of the Legislature before it could go to Gov. Mikie Sherrill for her approval. Lucy Amato, a non-binary 15-year-old, testified in favor of the bill with her mother, Indira Amato, a healthcare provider. Lucy said they have advocated for years for people who get bullied, for trans rights, and around climate justice. “Never did I expect I would need to advocate for my own healthcare rights,” Lucy said. Lucy Amato, 15, testifies before the Senate’s health committee in Trenton on May 11, 2026, about a transgender healthcare protections bill. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor) Lucy testified that they receive care at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which has been embroiled in a fight with the Trump administration over access to private medical records of minor patients who have been prescribed puberty blockers and hormone therapies. Lucy said the hospital has received threats. “That kind of fear stops patients from reaching out and getting the care they need,” Lucy Amato said. The measure, sponsored by Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Union) and Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), would codify protections outlined in an executive order signed by former Gov. Phil Murphy in 2023. Ruiz joined the hearing to testify and to cast her vote in favor of the bill as a substitute for one of the missing Democratic members of the health committee. Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-Middlesex), a co-sponsor of the bill, substituted for the other absent member. Ruiz said she never imagined New Jersey would need a law to protect doctors from doing their jobs, or to allow patients to access care. “This bill is to protect healthcare. Not a political debate. Not a culture war talking point. Healthcare,” she said. The bill would create a new crime of interference with reproductive health services and includes reproductive care, like abortion, and gender-affirming care, things like puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and mental health supports. It would also protect healthcare providers who might be found liable under laws in other states. “Our law enforcement will not carry out another state’s agenda,” Ruiz said. Opponents raised many concerns, suggesting the kind of healthcare the bill aims to protect is more harmful than helpful. They warned that additional protections would encourage families with trans youth to move to the state. Marie Tasy, executive director of New Jersey Right to Life, raised concerns about some of the legislation’s text, which was amended in recent days with language the bill’s critics did not see. “These are not technical adjustments,” Tasy said, but changes that “deserve honest, focused debate, not a rush.” Sen. Teresa Ruiz testifies before the Senate’s health committee in Trenton on May 11, 2026, about a transgender healthcare protections bill. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Members of the public applaud before the Senate’s health committee at the Trenton Statehouse on May 11, 2026, as the panel considers a transgender healthcare protections bill. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Nathan Rodriguez, executive director of Trans Equity Coalition, testifies before the Senate’s health committee at the Trenton Statehouse on May 11, 2026, about a transgender healthcare protections bill. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Sen. Holly Schepisi listens to testimony at the Trenton Statehouse on May 11, 2026, as the Senate health committee considers a transgender healthcare protections bill. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Advocate Louise Walpin embraces a friend at the Trenton Statehouse on May 11, 2026, as the Senate health committee considers a transgender healthcare protections bill. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)Khadijah Silver speaks with Sen. Andrew Zwicker at the Trenton Statehouse on May 11, 2026, as the Senate health committee considers a transgender healthcare protections bill. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor) Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-Bergen), who joined Sen. Robert Singer (R-Ocean) in voting against advancing the bill, also raised concerns about the late changes to the bill. Schepisi said she fears the measure would harm New Jersey’s relationship with other states, and worries about unintended consequences, like protecting “bad actors” from investigations. Schepisi said she is supportive of trans issues, but “for me the difference has always been between adults and children.” Supporters, including several religious leaders, said the matter is urgent, especially as some healthcare providers have chosen to limit access to care. In New Jersey, several hospitals stopped accepting new patients seeking certain trans-focused treatments and procedures. Dr. Kristyn Brandi, an obstetrician-gynecologist, said reproductive care providers face the same uncertainties, making it hard to do their jobs. “It shows that we can no longer rely on the federal government to protect access to care here in our state,” she told the committee. Louise Walpin, one of the plaintiffs in the case that led to same-sex marriage being legalized in New Jersey in 2013, sparked cheers when she linked that battle to those faced by her Irish-immigrant relatives. “The stakes are even higher now,” Walpin said. “This is the proper and moral thing to do.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of New Jersey Monitor
	QC students earn honors in WIU Undergraduate Research Day competition The Western Illinois University Centennial Honors College has announced Quad-City area winners of the 23rd annual Thomas E. Helm Undergraduate Research Day, which was held April 15, a news release says. A total of 44 scholarly presentations were delivered by 131 students, spanning 15 majors. Podium competition First Place: Ryan Vance (senior, electrical engineering student [...]
	New poll finds a majority of Americans unsure if attempts on Trump's life were real When given the options of "true," "false" or "not sure," and asked whether each of the incidents "was staged," a majority of respondents said they thought each event was either staged or were unsure.
	Abortion pill by mail allowed for at least 3 more days, the Supreme Court says Full access to the abortion pill mifepristone, including through telemedicine and the mail, will continue for at least three more days, the high court said on Monday.
	Supreme Court extends stay allowing telehealth abortion Mifepristone is one part of a two-drug regimen commonly used to terminate a pregnancy before 10 weeks and for miscarriage treatment. (Photo by Natalie Behring/Getty Images)The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday extended a highly anticipated stay blocking an appellate court’s pause on telehealth abortion access until May 14. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approved medication-abortion regimen remains available via telehealth until then, following a week of uncertainty among abortion patients and providers. “With this critical temporary administrative stay extended, we hope that some of the chaos and confusion inflicted on patients and providers last weekend will be abated,” said Evan Masingill, CEO of abortion-pill manufacturer GenBioPro, one of the defendants in the case, in a statement. Appeals court blocks remote access to abortion medication nationwide On May 4, the Supreme Court temporarily stayed the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling to reinstate the FDA’s in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone that the Biden administration officially lifted in 2023. Over the past week, several doctors groups submitted friend-of-the-court briefs arguing that cutting off access to mifepristone could harm many women seeking abortions and miscarriage management. Republican attorneys general from 23 states, meanwhile, urged the Supreme Court not to allow providers to send mifepristone through the mail. People in states with abortion bans or diminished abortion access continue to depend on abortion providers prescribing FDA’s approved mifepristone-misoprostol regimen through telemedicine and sending it to patients by mail. According to new preliminary findings from the Society of Family Planning, telehealth abortion comprised 28% of all abortions at the end of 2025, an increase from 25% at the end of 2024. Attorneys representing Louisiana have argued that in addition to undermining a state abortion ban, the federal rulemaking process allowing telehealth prescriptions of medication abortion was flawed. University of Michigan law professor Samuel Bagenstos, who served as general counsel of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at the time the Biden-era rule was implemented, said the policy was well considered and based on evidence. Unpacking the fight over telehealth access to abortion medication “The 2023 update was the result of an incredibly careful, deliberate, time-consuming, painstaking process to make sure that they were following what the evidence was,” Bagenstos said. If, the plaintiffs were to prevail, he added, ending telehealth access to mifepristone nationwide would have “really harmful effects on women across the country, as well as really destabilizing effects on the drug approval system.” Louisiana’s lawsuit against mifepristone has nationwide implications and could threaten residents in states with abortion access and so-called abortion shield laws, such as Maryland. Regardless of what happens in this case, abortion providers told Stateline they are determined to continue providing telehealth abortions, though potentially without mifepristone. Dr. Angel Foster, a telehealth provider in Massachusetts, a shield law state, said in the past week, about 100 patients have requested pills for future use, compared with 34 in the entire month of April. She said constantly changing rules around abortion access followed by sensational news headlines continue to create confusion for people seeking termination or miscarriage management. “I live and breathe abortion at this point, and I find it can be hard to keep up with the ever-changing legal environment and the way that things are getting framed and phrased,” Foster said. “When you’re a patient and what you see are just the headlines, and you’ve got to figure out what it means for you, it’s really complicated.” Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the number of Republican attorneys general who asked the Supreme Court to keep mifepristone from being prescribed via telehealth visits. It should be 23. Stateline reporter Sofia Resnick can be reached at sresnick@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline
	Iowa auditor Rob Sand discusses Truer Better Agenda: News 8 This Week, April 19, 2026 Iowa gubernatorial candidate and state auditor Rob Sand discusses his Truer Better Agenda with News 8’s Jonas Evans.
	7 things to know about Foundayo, a next-generation weight-loss pill 7 things to know about Foundayo, a next-generation weight-loss pillThere’s always a media buzz when a new weight-loss drug hits the market. Or when new data shows that a medication can effectively lower body weight.If you've been exploring medication options to help you manage your weight, you may have stumbled across injections, such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide). For some, the thought of regularly giving yourself injections may seem overwhelming or uncomfortable.New weight-loss pills are hitting the shelves as alternative options to injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Oral Wegovy (semaglutide) tablets started the trend in December 2025, and Foundayo (orforglipron) tablets followed suit in April 2026.GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, covers seven things to know about Foundayo for weight loss.Key takeaways:Foundayo (orforglipron) is a new prescription weight-loss pill. It’s FDA-approved for adults who are considered obese, or overweight with at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.Foundayo is an alternative to injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like Zepbound (tirzepatide). It’s part of a growing class of oral GLP-1s, including oral Wegovy (semaglutide), that offer a needle-free approach to weight loss.Foundayo is a convenient, once-daily pill. You can take it with or without food, unlike other oral options.Phase 3 study results for Foundayo found that the medication helped people lose an average of about 11% of their initial body weight with the highest dose after 72 weeks. Its side effects are similar to those of injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists.1. Foundayo is FDA-approved for certain adults with a larger body sizeFoundayo is FDA-approved to help adults lose excess body weight and maintain weight loss long term. It’s approved for adults who are considered obese, or overweight with at least one weight-related health condition. Examples of qualifying conditions include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and obstructive sleep apnea.If you receive a prescription for Foundayo, you should take it along with a reduced-calorie diet and routine physical activity. Lifestyle changes like these give Foundayo the foundation to be successful.Foundayo is made by Eli Lilly, the same company that makes Zepbound (tirzepatide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), and many other diabetes medications.2. Foundayo is a convenient, once-daily medicationFoundayo is a once-daily oral tablet. It comes in six-tablet doses, ranging from 0.8 mg to 17.2 mg. You can take Foundayo with or without food, and it doesn’t have food or water restrictions. This flexibility is different from medications such as oral Wegovy.When you first start Foundayo, you’ll slowly increase your dose over time. This is done to help lower the risk of stomach-related side effects. The typical starting dosage is 0.8 mg once daily. After at least 30 days, the dose is increased to 2.5 mg once daily, then to 5.5 mg once daily after at least another 30 days. If needed, the dose can be increased stepwise to 9 mg, 14.5 mg, or 17.2 mg after at least 30 days at each dose. This will be based on your response and how well you tolerate the dose. The maximum dosage is 17.2 mg once daily.You should swallow the tablets whole. Don’t break, crush, or chew them. You shouldn’t take Foundayo with another GLP-1 receptor agonist, either.3. Foundayo is part of a new class of ‘glipron’ medications“Gliprons” are a new group of GLP-1 medications used for weight loss. Their name comes from the ending of their generic names. They don’t end in “tide” like other GLP-1s because they aren’t peptides.They do work like other GLP-1s, though. They mimic the effects of the natural GLP-1 hormone that helps regulate blood glucose (blood sugar) and appetite, among other effects.Foundayo is the first approved medication in this group. There’s another possible glipron on the horizon, called aleniglipron. This medication is still being studied and isn’t approved yet.Good to know: Try not to confuse gliprons with gliptins. Gliptins are a different group of Type 2 diabetes medications. Januvia (sitagliptin) and Tradjenta (linagliptin) are two common gliptins.4. Foundayo isn't a peptide like other GLP-1 medicationsFoundayo is similar to other GLP-1 receptor agonists, generally speaking. But it's made using different materials and processes.Traditional GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Wegovy, are peptides (chains of amino acids) that resemble the GLP-1 hormone. This hormone plays a role in digestion and blood glucose (sugar) regulation. These medications mimic GLP-1’s natural effects, helping you feel fuller for longer and lessening your appetite. This often leads to weight loss.But these peptides can’t travel through your stomach very well due to their size. Plus, enzymes (proteins) and acids in your gut can break peptides apart, rendering them ineffective. This is why they’re typically made as injections, not pills. Oral options, such as Rybelsus (semaglutide) and oral Wegovy, are made with absorption-enhancing ingredients and have specific instructions for use.Gliprons, which are not peptides, address this issue. Like many other medications, they’re small-molecule drugs made using chemical synthesis rather than specialized processes like recombinant DNA technology. They’re able to start working after you swallow a dose and don’t generally need to be timed around meals. Dubbed “nonpeptide” GLP-1 receptor agonists, they activate GLP-1 in their own way.As an added bonus, small-molecule drugs tend to be easier and cheaper to produce in bulk compared to peptides. This may translate to additional savings at the pharmacy.5. Foundayo is an effective treatment for weight lossSeveral clinical trial results are available for Foundayo. Here’s what studies say about its effectiveness so far.Foundayo weight-loss benefitsRecent results from Foundayo’s phase 3 ATTAIN-1 trial showed that people taking the highest dose for 72 weeks (about 17 months) lost an average of about 11% of their initial body weight.Foundayo may also be a good option if you want to switch from an injectable GLP-1 medication to a pill. In clinical studies, people who switched from Zepbound or Wegovy were able to keep off the weight they had already lost.Foundayo Type 2 diabetes benefitsEli Lilly reported that Foundayo met its main goals in phase 3 trials for Type 2 diabetes. It lowered hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels more than comparison treatments and also supported weight loss.For instance, in one head-to-head study, the highest dose of Foundayo lowered A1C by 2.2% compared to 1.4% with Rybelsus. People taking the highest dose of Foundayo lost about 20 pounds on average, too. Some people noticed benefits within the first four weeks of starting Foundayo.In addition to weight loss and lower A1C, several people also saw improvements in cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure.Eli Lilly plans to seek FDA approval for Foundayo to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity in 2026.6. Foundayo’s side effects are similar to those of other GLP-1 receptor agonistsAll medications can cause side effects, including Foundayo. Clinical studies suggest that Foundayo has similar side effects to injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists. Nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain are all possible complaints.Common or mild Foundayo side effects include:Nausea or vomitingConstipationDiarrheaIndigestionStomach painHeadacheBloatingFatigueHeartburnGas (flatulence)Hair loss or thinningRare but serious Foundayo risks include:Thyroid C-cell tumors, including a boxed warning about possible thyroid tumors.Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).Severe stomach or digestive problems.Kidney problems, especially from dehydration.Low blood sugar, especially if taken with insulin or certain diabetes medications.Worsening eye problems for people with Type 2 diabetes.Gallbladder problems (such as gallstones).Food or liquid entering the lungs during surgery or procedures that require anesthesia.Contact your prescriber if you develop any bothersome side effects at any point. But if anything feels severe, listen to your body. Call 911 or go to the nearest ER right away.7. Certain people shouldn’t take FoundayoCertain people shouldn’t take Foundayo. It’s not recommended if you have:A personal or family history of a rare thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma.Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, a rare genetic disorder.Severe gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying).A serious allergy to orforglipron or any of its inactive ingredients.You should stop taking Foundayo if you become pregnant, as it may harm a developing fetus. It can also make birth control pills less effective. If you take oral contraceptives, talk to your care team. They may advise you to switch to a non-oral method (like an implant) or to use a barrier method (like condoms) for 30 days after starting Foundayo and for 30 days after each dose increase.Children or teens should not take Foundayo. It’s currently only approved for adults.The bottom lineFoundayo (orforglipron) is an oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It’s FDA-approved for adults with obesity or adults who are overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.Unlike traditional GLP-1 receptor agonists, Foundayo is a small molecule drug — not a peptide. It’s an effective treatment option for weight loss, and it may be approved for Type 2 diabetes later on.This story was produced by GoodRx and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Who is running for Scott, Muscatine, Clinton county offices? Republicans will vote in competitive primaries for Scott County Supervisors, and Clinton and Muscatine county recorder.
	PBS KIDS' Summer of Adventure tour comes to QCA libraries, events QCA families can enjoy stories, crafts and PBS KIDS programming during its “Summer of Adventure” tour at library storytimes and community events throughout the area. Communities that are on the tour for 2026 include Blue Grass, Rock Island, Moline, Colona, Sterling, Coal Valley, Davenport, Silvis, Cordova, Morrison, Geneseo, Galesburg, Bettendorf, Sherrard, LeClaire, Port Byron and [...]
	Kansas state employees retain choice of Blue Cross, Aetna for health insurance Cristi Cain, who serves as the state employee representative on the Kansas State Employees Health Care Commission, shares stories and opinions on May 11, 2026, from numerous employees who reached out to her about health insurance. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)TOPEKA — Kansas state employees can choose between two health insurance companies after the Health Care Commission voted Monday to move forward with Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas. Commission members debated whether to choose Aetna, dropping Blue Cross, for the state’s health insurance beginning Jan. 1, 2027, to save an estimated $240 million over the three-year contract. Several commissioners said the decision wasn’t just about saving dollars. Cristi Cain, who represents state employees on the commission, said she received “significant feedback” on retaining Blue Cross. “One thing that was pointed out is an overwhelming number of employees choose Blue Cross — 34,500 to 4,500 for Aetna — which means about 90% of employees choose Blue Cross, when given the option,” she said. “As one employee put it, 90% of employees cannot be wrong, and our opinion and voices should be counted, respected and valued.” Many comments focused on retaining choice, concerns about continuity of care and whether Aetna has a good provider network in rural areas, Cain said. Employees shared personal stories, including a woman with two children who are medically complex, one of whom received surgery in Baltimore recently, she said. “Blue Cross case managers have helped coordinate medical supplies and care, preventing extended hospital stays,” Cain said. “She stated clearly if the choice were between losing Blue Cross or paying higher premiums, we would choose to pay more without hesitation.” Proposals put forth at the meeting included extending the current contract for one year and putting it out for bid again or dropping the three-year contract to one year, which would give commissioners more time to assess effects on state employees. The insurance companies would have to agree with either one of those actions, since the “request for proposal” was for a three-year contract, commission staff said. However, Rep. Bill Sutton, a Gardner Republican who serves on the committee, said he didn’t see the point of either option. He said from what he had heard that morning, he believed the commission didn’t want to cause disruption for employees. “Even in the face of saving $220 million, we would rather go into the next meeting and decide what co-pays we’re going to increase, what coverage we’re going to reduce, what premiums we’re going to increase in order to keep our plan solvent,” he said. Sutton said he thought the commission’s purpose was to get a bid that offered the best deal for Kansas employees. In its June meeting, the commission will look at overall design for the state healthcare plan, determining what changes need to be made to co-pays, premiums and other costs. Commission chairman and administration secretary Adam Proffitt proposed approval of both companies and for the commission to consider setting different monthly employee rates based on which company they chose. Because Aetna would cost less, it is likely some employees would move to that company, which could save costs for the state, he said. Proffitt also said the $240 million was not an increase in costs if they chose not to go with Aetna alone. It is a “hypothetical” savings, and there is a question whether Aetna will be able to expand its provider network to ensure good coverage throughout the state, he said. “So it’s a leap of faith,” he said. “In my estimation, that increase we’re looking at for next year is only 2.74% … and that is pretty close to what the target rate of inflation is,” Proffitt said. Moving forward with both would essentially maintain the status quo, he said. Proffitt’s proposal passed with five votes of approval and one abstention from Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. Sutton said he liked the idea of tiered pricing so that employees who didn’t want to pay for Blue Cross would have a less expensive option. Schmidt said she wanted the request for proposal to be put out again, so that it could be structured better. She said she still didn’t have answers for all the questions about the proposals that she would like to have. “I do think that when you have such a vast range between the two bids, there’s something that just doesn’t look right,” she said. Schmidt said she is concerned about state employees, about the reserve fund, “which is in the gutter,” and how making up the difference either will cost state employees through premiums or the state general fund. “I don’t think either one of those are good choices, and I think it should have gone back for rebid and take a look at it and see what happened,” she said. Courtesy of Kansas Reflector
	Man arrested after shots fired at St. Ambrose parking lot on Friday A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with shots being fired at one of St. Ambrose University's parking lots on Friday, May 8.
	5 important student loan dates are approaching 5 important student loan dates are approachingIn the world of federal student loans, it seems the only constant lately is change. The next few years are no exception, with important dates approaching that may impact your repayment plans, borrowing limits, and access to financial aid. Whether you’re currently repaying student loans or planning to borrow in the future, College Ave shares five important dates for federal student loans to mark on your calendar in 2026 and beyond.1. FAFSA closes on June 30, 2026, for 2025-26 School YearThe Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) unlocks the door to federal financial aid, including grants, student loans, and work-study. The final deadline to submit the FAFSA for the 2025-26 school year is June 30, 2026.This FAFSA deadline is too late for most students, as the school year is probably already over. Many types of funding may also have run out, and state-based financial aid deadlines are typically set much earlier.It could still be worth applying, though, if you’ll be taking summer classes that count toward the 2025-26 year. Plus, it’s possible to receive a Pell Grant if you’re eligible, and the school can apply it to your bill retroactively.Mark your calendar if either of these scenarios apply to you. Most students, though, should aim to submit the FAFSA much earlier than this federal deadline, as some aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.2. Major overhaul of student loan system starts July 1, 2026This summer will bring major changes to the federal student loan system as a result of the Republican-led One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was passed in July 2025. These changes will primarily apply to new borrowers who take out their first federal loan on or after July 1, 2026.The changes include:Revised repayment plans. The current repayment plans will be replaced by two new plans: a Standard Repayment Plan that spans 10 to 25 years, depending on your loan amount, and an income-driven Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), which spans up to 30 years.Adjusted borrowing limits. There will be new annual and lifetime borrowing limits if you’re heading to grad school — lower limits for graduate programs and slightly higher limits for professional programs, such as medical and law school.Elimination of Grad PLUS loans. The bill eliminated the Grad PLUS loan program for future borrowers, which let graduate students borrow up to the cost of attendance of their programs, minus other financial aid received.If you borrow student loans before that date, you can keep using the current repayment plans and borrowing limits, at least temporarily. Today’s graduate students, for example, can continue under the existing rules for three more years or until the end of their program, whichever comes first.But new graduate students will face different borrowing limits and not have the option of a Grad PLUS loan. If you find yourself with a gap in funding, you may consider other ways of paying for your degree, such as grants, scholarships, work-study, income from a part-time job, or private student loans.3. FAFSA opens on Oct. 1, 2026, for the 2027-2028 School YearThe FAFSA for the 2027-28 academic year will open by Oct. 1, 2026. That’s the first day you can apply for federal grants, work-study, and student loans for the upcoming school year. Many schools and states also rely on the FAFSA to award institutional and state-based aid.Some types of financial aid are doled out on a first-come, first-served basis, so submit the FAFSA as soon as you can. To hit the ground running, prepare ahead of time by gathering tax returns, financial records, and other important information you (and your parents, if you’re a dependent student) need for the form.The FAFSA covers one school year, so you’ll need to submit it each year you’re in school and want to receive financial aid. FAFSA renewals typically take less time to fill out, since you can auto-populate some of your information from the previous year.4. Deferment and forbearance rules change on July 1, 2027The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also contains changes to deferment and forbearance guidelines, which will apply to federal student loans borrowed on or after July 1, 2027. Specifically, the changes include:No more economic hardship or unemployment deferment.Forbearance restricted to a maximum of nine months over a 24-month period.Both deferment and forbearance let you postpone payments temporarily if you have a qualifying reason. They offer a temporary safety net for struggling borrowers, but most loan types keep accruing interest while payments are paused.The new rules will mean federal loan borrowers have fewer options to pause payments and may need to explore other options for relief. If you have private loans, your lender may offer deferment and forbearance for certain circumstances.Rules vary by lender, so reach out to yours if you’re having trouble affording payments.5. Some income-driven repayment plans will sunset by July 1, 2028If you’re on an income-driven repayment plan, you may need to switch to a new one in the next few years. Due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and ICR plans will be eliminated by July 1, 2028.The SAVE plan will also disappear by that date or sooner. SAVE has been under legal fire since 2024, and the Department of Education recently announced a proposed settlement that would end it completely, pending final approval.If your student loans are on SAVE, your loan servicer may move them to another plan as early as this year. Alternatively, you can move them to another plan yourself. This Federal Loan Simulator tool can help you compare your options.Anyone who’s on PAYE, ICR, or SAVE and wants to stay on an income-driven repayment plan after July 1, 2028, will have two choices: the Income-Based Repayment plan or the Repayment Assistance Plan. Your payments will likely change on either plan, so review your options early to avoid surprises and adjust your budget.Mark your calendar with these key student loan and FAFSA deadlinesWhether you’re applying to college or already managing student loans, there are several key dates to keep track of in 2026 and the coming years. Marking important dates on your calendar can help you stay on top of deadlines and adjust to any changes that may impact your borrowing limits or repayment plan options. Plan ahead so you can make informed decisions around financial aid and student loans.This story was produced by College Ave and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Fire hydrant struck in Davenport incident Several vehicles were damaged in an incident at E. River Drive and Pershing Street in Davenport today. Officials told an Our Quad Cities News crew that a vehicle lost control during an altercation inside the vehicle, causing it to strike three other vehicles and a fire hydrant. The hydrant struck one of the vehicles and [...]
	Holistic treatments for trauma healing Holistic treatments for trauma healingOvercoming trauma is challenging. Thankfully, it's possible to recover and heal after a devastating ordeal and lift the heaviness that's weighing you down. Sometimes, you can move past trauma with self-care and minimal intervention. Yet, some circumstances call for a more in-depth approach to process and address the root of the trauma and treat yourself holistically, from the inside out.This guide from The Sanctuary at Sedona provides an overview of evidence-based holistic trauma treatments. Learn about their role in facilitating comprehensive mental, physical and spiritual trauma recovery.How Trauma Affects an IndividualThe American Psychological Association (APA) defines trauma as an emotional, psychological or physical response to a distressing experience that results in long-lasting negative effects on a person's behavior, attitude and ability to cope or function. Everyone experiences, responds to and copes with trauma differently, making it as unique as the person facing it. Some people experience delayed responses, while others face immediate effects. There's no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to dealing with trauma and its aftermath.Many scenarios or situations can cause trauma, such as:Violence and abuse: Physical, sexual or emotional abuse or domestic violence, bullying and neglect.Disasters and accidents: Situations that involve natural crises, car accidents and disasters.Medical or life-threatening events: Scenarios related to combat, terrorism, abduction and life-threatening illnesses or surgeries.Sudden loss: Unexpected events such as the death of a loved one, emotional betrayal or job loss.These disturbing and emotionally impactful events disrupt your sense of safety and leave lasting effects on your psychological and physical health. Often, these events lead to a range of emotional, behavioral and physical changes that create deep-seated issues with self-worth and trust.Trauma can affect different aspects of your self: Courtesy of The Sanctuary at Sedona Emotional and mental: Chronic anxiety, depression, irritability, hypervigilance, numbness and outbursts are psychological responses to trauma.Physical: Trauma can be carried within your body and present as chronic pain, headaches, exhaustion, nausea and a high heart rate.Behavioral: These changes can show as avoidance, substance misuse, withdrawal, self-sabotage, strained relationships and changed eating habits.Cognitive: Cognitive effects might include struggles with intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares and difficulty concentrating.Trauma often needs time to heal. If it's not handled correctly and with care, symptoms can develop into chronic conditions in the long run, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, mood disorders and addiction.9 Holistic Trauma TreatmentsEffective holistic treatments for trauma healing use a comprehensive approach to treat the underlying causes of trauma rather than only managing symptoms. They focus on helping you heal holistically across various dimensions, while fostering meaningful, long-term recovery and coping skills. Each therapy offers a range of benefits and areas of focus, ensuring you receive in-depth recovery that covers all aspects of your being.Below are nine holistic treatments to support your ongoing journey to trauma recovery. Courtesy of The Sanctuary at Sedona 1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)For some people, talking through feelings, thoughts and concerns helps navigate and process their painful experiences and trauma. CBT is a clinically validated, goal-directed psychotherapy that addresses maladaptive thought patterns through structured, individualized sessions with a licensed behavioral health professional. CBT is often used and highly effective for PTSD, anxiety, depression, eating disorders and addiction.CBT has two types of therapy practices, including:Pure cognitive therapy: Focuses on unhealthy or counterproductive thought patterns and helps adjust the way you think.Rational emotive therapy (RET): Centers on negative emotions and attitudes that endanger or damage your overall well-being.What makes this treatment effective is how it addresses distressing events, teaches problem-solving skills, identifies feelings and boosts self-esteem through positivity and empowerment.2. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)In many cases, trauma happens so suddenly that the brain doesn't know how to process it, which leaves you in a “stuck” state, reliving the traumatic event repeatedly in your mind. This makes trauma recovery slow and difficult, often affecting your everyday functioning and activities. EMDR uses special techniques to reverse the trauma-related symptoms by helping the brain reprocess disturbing memories, making them feel less vivid and distressing.Using guided eye movements known as bilateral stimulation, this treatment engages both sides of the brain and reduces the emotional charge of distressing memories. This treatment can be effective if you're struggling with post-event symptoms, such as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, lowered self-esteem, and a lack of enjoyment or fulfillment in life or activities.While primarily used for PTSD treatment, EMDR is also useful in treating panic attacks, anxiety, phobias, depression and addiction.3. Nutritional TherapyYou need to nourish your mind and body with a variety of nutrients to maintain your health and energy. A targeted diet can improve mood, support brain adaptability and counteract metabolic stress. To improve your diet and support weight management, immune function and detoxification, nutritional therapy is a useful tool. It helps you build a healthier connection between your body and mind while laying a strong base for recovery.Nutritional therapy emphasizes targeted dietary interventions to provide essential macronutrients and micronutrients — such as protein, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and antioxidants — to support neurobiological resilience and emotional well-being.These nutrients offer various benefits in the recovery process:Omega-3 fatty acids: Reduce inflammation caused by stress and promote brain health and emotional balance.Protein: Supports tissue repair, blood sugar regulation and cognitive function.Magnesium: Promotes healthy nerve and muscle functioning and reduces anxiety.Antioxidants: Counteract oxidative stress in the body.Nutritional therapy can also be supported with additional oral supplements to reverse the effects of nutrient deficiencies.4. Bodywork TherapyThe body-mind connection is greatly affected by trauma. If there's a disconnect between the body and mind, many physical symptoms can show. Chronic pain, stress, muscle tension, inflammation, digestive problems, disturbed sleep, headaches and body aches are all linked to the effects of trauma stored in the body.Bodywork therapy is a hands-on approach to reduce pain and tension buildup through physical touch, sensations and techniques that enhance relaxation and ultimately lead to healing. It uses massage to lower cortisol levels, ease muscle pain, and improve sleep and mental clarity, while also stimulating circulation, body awareness and safety restoration.Other bodywork treatments are used to relieve stress and pain caused by trauma, such as:Acupuncture: Inserts thin needles into the skin to stimulate nerves and muscles.Sauna: A heated room to induce sweating to release toxins.Cupping: Suction cups on the skin to increase blood flow and alleviate pain and muscle tension.Reiki: An energy-healing technique that uses gentle touch to improve relaxation.Herbal baths: Soaks in cleansing salts or herbs to detoxify the body. 5. Somatic Experiencing (SE) TherapyWhile bodywork therapy helps heal the physical effects of trauma on the body, somatic experiencing therapy relieves the mental impact of trauma through body awareness. This trauma-focused psychotherapy uses verbal guidance and internal sensation awareness to acknowledge a traumatic experience and learn how to live with it.The goal of somatic experiencing is to guide the body in releasing stored trauma energy and building resilience by paying attention to bodily sensations like shaking, tension and heat.Somatic experiencing can heal trauma through listening to the body. Techniques include:Grounding exercises: Techniques such as the 5-4-3-2-1 method keep you present — for example, list five things you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can touch, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.Bodily awareness: Focus on how your body feels, noticing each part from head to toe.Detailed descriptions: Say an anchoring statement out loud to keep you present in the moment. For example, “I am safe in this moment. My feet are on the ground, and I can feel the chair beneath me.”Visualization: Think of a loved one, a favorite place or a happy memory to distract you from intrusive thoughts and flashbacks. 6. Mindfulness Meditation and BreathworkMindfulness allows you to focus on the present moment while practicing nonjudgment and acceptance. It involves immersing yourself in the now, acknowledging your thoughts, feelings, sensations and surroundings. When combining this state of mind with the relaxation and clarity of meditation, you reduce stress and enhance your overall well-being.Breathwork often plays a role in mindfulness meditation. Controlled breathing patterns and techniques are used to access the unconscious and enhance the overall stress-reducing, mood-improving and calming qualities of mindfulness meditation. Practices like deep breathing, body scanning and guided meditation improve emotion regulation. They give you an opportunity to slow down and avoid becoming overwhelmed by your trauma.7. Yoga and Physical Movement TherapyExercise and movement are natural mood and energy boosters. Have you ever noticed feeling happier after jogging or going on a scenic walk? That's the basis of movement therapy. Being active benefits both your physical and mental health. It strengthens the connection between body and mind, acting as an outlet for stored trauma, tension and stress. It also fosters inner peace and resilience.Movement comes in many different forms and levels of intensity. You can enjoy the slow, intentional movements of yoga or break a sweat by doing a full exercise regimen.There are other movement therapies in addition to yoga and exercise, such as:Pilates: Involves control, concentration and breathwork while you focus on body structure, alignment, muscle movement and posture.Tai chi: Combines meditative techniques and movements to promote strength and relaxation.Qigong: Focuses on breathing and movement to circulate qi throughout the body.Feldenkrais: Uses movement exploration to do somatic learning. 8. Creative and Expressive Arts TherapyExpressing your emotions and thoughts through creativity is a beneficial tool in trauma recovery. Sensory-based and nonverbal, expressive art therapy helps you process and release stored emotions, lower stress, and rebuild a sense of security and self-regulation. This method highlights the creative process rather than the finished artwork, and guides you in communicating your feelings when words fail. It also gives you the opportunity to explore self-discovery and improve emotional health.Various types of art are used in this form of therapy, including:DrawingPaintingWritingReadingJournalingSculptingPerformingYou can also choose to express yourself through music therapy by playing a musical instrument, listening to soothing songs, writing music, singing and dancing. Whichever creative mode you use, it can help you identify and analyze the emotions and problems you encounter during the creative process.9. Lifestyle ChangesCoping with trauma is challenging, but intentional and small changes in your lifestyle can make recovery manageable. Changes such as creating a routine, grounding exercises, strengthening your support system and practicing mindfulness all help with healing and rebuilding a sense of safety after an ordeal.Lifestyle changes are personal, which means you can choose what you want to include in your long-term recovery. Each person is different and has their own methods of processing and letting go of traumatic experiences. What matters is what makes you feel comforted and safe while working toward being yourself again.Lifestyle changes can include:Setting personal boundaries to protect your psychological well-being.Prioritizing sleep to manage nightmares and insomnia related to trauma.Connecting with family and friends to strengthen relationships and build a support system for when you need help.Starting a creative hobby as an outlet to process emotions and memories.Establishing a routine to provide a sense of control and stability.Practicing self-compassion and patience during the recovery process.Joining aftercare programs for continued support and guidance as you navigate trauma recovery.Healing for the Body, Mind and SoulMany people will experience trauma at some point in their lifetime. Painful experiences and effects will vary from one person to the next, shown in a range of symptoms that disrupt their mental, emotional and physical state. Some people recover within a short period of time, while others experience longer-term traumatic effects.Addressing trauma is essential for your overall well-being and health, and often requires professional help if it's severe or difficult to overcome. If left untreated, it can lead to bigger health concerns over time. While healing might require traditional medications to treat the symptoms of trauma and PTSD, you can integrate alternative holistic therapies into your recovery to achieve deep, long-term healing. Therapy and self-care practices can help you manage ongoing trauma symptoms on your own terms, giving you an active role in improving your quality of life.The most effective holistic treatments for trauma healing involve therapies that heal you as a whole through body, mind and soul, providing a way to move forward. It's vital to restore peace and clarity so you can get back to living your life with calmness, joy and resilience. Finding an approach and treatment that works best for you may take time and involve trial and error. But with dedication and motivation, you'll find the right path to rebuilding your self-worth, sense of safety and inner peace.This story was produced by The Sanctuary at Sedona and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Rock Island Arsenal Trail helps visitors explore area history The Rock Island Arsenal Trail officially launched on May 11. The self-guided trail uses a free mobile pass and allows visitors to explore 13 points of interest. They can enjoy scenic views of the Mississippi River, outdoor recreation, historic landmarks and moments of patriotism. The pass is active for one year from the date of [...]
	More states weigh new rules for pregnant, postpartum women in custody An incarcerated woman holds her infant daughter while seated in a rocking chair inside a shared room in the nursery unit at the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia, Mo. This year, legislators in at least five states have considered legislation that would reshape how pregnant people are treated in jails and prisons. (Photo by Amanda Watford/Stateline)A growing number of states are reexamining how the criminal legal system treats pregnant and postpartum women behind bars. This year, legislators in at least five states, including Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia, have considered legislation that would reshape how pregnant people are treated in jails and prisons. The measures vary, but some seek to expand eligibility for alternatives to incarceration during pregnancy, restrict or prohibit restraints during labor and delivery, and strengthen data and reporting requirements. The Utah and Virginia bills were signed into law in March and April, respectively. In Utah, the new law restricts the shackling of pregnant and postpartum women, and requires state prisons and jails to track the number of pregnant people in their custody, as well as incarcerated mothers of children under 18. ‘Teaching us how to grow with our babies’: How prisons allow mothers and infants to nest for months In Virginia, one of the new laws requires correctional facilities to adopt lactation policies for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated people by December 2028. A separate new law allows courts to consider home or electronic incarceration programs for pregnant or postpartum women, with certain exceptions. The Kentucky legislature adjourned for the year without passing a similar measure there, but the bills in Ohio and South Carolina are still under consideration. Ohio’s legislative session runs through the end of the year, while South Carolina’s continues until mid-May. The latest legislative activity comes amid growing scrutiny of conditions faced by pregnant people in prisons and jails, as well as increased interest in nursery and community-based programs for mothers. At least nine states have prison nursery programs, and about a handful of others are considering or developing similar programs. In Wisconsin, the state Department of Corrections said in early April that the agency is still working to develop a program for incarcerated mothers and their newborns, but has faced challenges due to funding and facility capacity limits. The Justice-Involved Women and Children Collaborative at the University of Minnesota this spring launched what the group describes as the first comprehensive national database tracking state policies affecting pregnant people in custody. The interactive tool documents more than 460 active policies across the country, including statutes on the use of restraints, access to abortion and access to menstrual products. The database fills a longstanding gap in information about how state systems regulate pregnancy in correctional settings. Policies vary widely not only from state to state, but sometimes among facilities within the same state. Federal data also is limited. The most recent national statistics on pregnant incarcerated people, which were released last year, reflect prison populations from 2023. Stateline reporter Amanda Watford can be reached at awatford@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Stateline
	Minnesota man pleads guilty to selling stolen cattle in northeast Iowa A Minnesota man has been convicted for stealing at least $150,000 in cattle and grain from a farmer, then moving and selling those goods in northeast Iowa.
	Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Consequences of GOP healthcare cuts are just beginning Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls, running for the U.S. Senate seat in 2026, and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, spoke with health care workers and advocates including Jillian Trent, left, and Belinda Huerta, right, at a healthcare roundtable discussion in Des Moines May 11, 2026. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren argued Monday in Iowa that Democrats would be able to reverse some of the Medicaid funding cuts made by Republicans in 2025 if Democrats are able to win a majority in the U.S. Senate. Warren held a healthcare roundtable in Des Moines with Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls, running to become the Democratic Senate nominee in 2026. Warren and Wahls sat down with a group of nurses and advocates who shared stories about their experiences working in Iowa healthcare facilities, including hospitals and nursing homes. Some of the panelists were nurses organizing with the United Nurses of Iowa effort aiming to establish a nurses union at the UnityPoint Health locations in the Des Moines area, and others spoke about efforts on nursing home advocacy and improving access to OB-GYN and maternal healthcare in the state. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Since President Donald Trump signed the “One, Big Beautiful Bill” Act into law in 2025, which included substantial cuts and changes to Medicaid funding, several healthcare facilities have closed or reduced services across Iowa, including the MercyOne Ottumwa Family and Internal Medicine Clinic, MercyOne Clinton Medical Center and Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center. Warren told the group these reductions in healthcare services already hitting the state are only “the front end of the Republican cuts.” “The real cuts are going to click into place in 2027,” Warren said. “The Republicans cynically put off the bulk of the cuts until after the election, in the hopes that most people wouldn’t understand what had happened. … But it also means we do have the opportunity, if we can get 51 votes in the United States Senate, and the House, we can roll those cuts back and actually restore full funding and start making some positive changes.” Wahls said some of the other “positive changes” he would advocate for if elected to the U.S. Senate would be creating a public option to allow people to buy into Medicare, in addition to lowering the enrollment age and expanding Medicare coverage. Wahls also said he would plan to advocate for establishing a federal rural healthcare infrastructure fund to help Iowa’s rual communities specifically, that would aim to convert abandoned buildings into permanent medical facilities, “with long-term lease agreements for rural practitioners and explicit protections against private equity acquisition after title transfers,” according to his campaign’s healthcare plan. “We have seen a lot of small towns and rural areas have storefronts shutter — there’s space available, but we need the right investment from the federal government,” Wahls said. “… I think is a relatively novel idea here in our state, but it’s something that we’ve heard directly from providers across Iowa, that if they had the opportunity to stay local, to practice with the right facility, that they would be happy to do that. We just need to give them a little bit more encouragement to do it.” Warren, who also held an event with Wahls Sunday, is supporting the Iowa lawmaker’s campaign for the U.S. Senate in the upcoming election. She said the race in Iowa could determine which party holds the majority in the Senate in 2026, and said Wahls could play an important role in determining how Democrats could make changes to the 2025 tax and spending law. Though Democrats have the possibility of taking control of either — or both — chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterms, this does not necessarily mean party leaders in Congress could easily move forward their priorities in the coming years. Democrats would still need approval from President Donald Trump in order to enact any of the changes discussed. Answering questions from reporters, Warren said she believed Democrats would have the ability to pressure Trump into making these changes through the budget reconciliation process “because he needs to keep government open, and we will have very different leverage now in all of the budget negotiations.” Members of the panel also called for more support for Iowa nurses by addressing staffing shortages and low wages — issues nurses organizing at UnityPoint have said are central reasons why they are pursuing unionization. Though an union election took place in 2025, votes are being challenged in the election. Belinda Huerta, a nurse at the Methodist Medical Center, part of the UnityPoint Des Moines system, said healthcare companies take advantage of nurses by “capitalizing on our compassion,” knowing nurses are willing to take on more work with fewer staff in order to provide their patients needed healthcare. She and other nurses described having to make decisions where they are choosing which of multiple patients who need urgent care to take in for emergency treatment first because they are facing extreme shortages. “How do you decide what patient you’re going to take back first, when you know that both of them actually should be coming back?” Huerta said. “That it’s some people like to call it burnout, but that pushes it back onto the nurse. I don’t call it burnout. I call it moral injury, because ultimately, moral injury is what’s making nurses leave the bedside in droves. They would rather go and do anything else than have to make decisions that are going to affect people negatively.” Wahls is running against state Rep. Josh Turek of Council Bluffs in the Democratic primary election June 2. Turek, a Paralympian and the first permanently disabled member of the Iowa Legislature, has also made healthcare a major topic in his campaign. Turek has pledged to reverse the 2025 federal Medicaid cuts, alongside introducing a public option and cracking down on “private equity purchasing elder care facilities and health care centers, which increases cost and worsens care,” according to his campaign website. During the first Senate Democratic primary debate last week, Turek argued he was the more electable Democratic candidate when looking to the November general election, as a candidate who represents the “reddest district” won by a Democrat in 2024. Whoever becomes the Democratic nominee is will take on the winner of the GOP primary between U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and former Iowa lawmaker Jim Carlin. Hinson currently leads in fundraising and has the backing of prominent Republicans including Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who currently holds the seat. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Drug companies involved in TrumpRx boosted lobbying by 23% ahead of program’s launch Drug companies involved in TrumpRx boosted lobbying by 23% ahead of program’s launchThe 17 pharmaceutical companies anchoring TrumpRx, the White House’s new prescription drug-pricing program, poured more than $130 million into federal lobbying in 2025 — a nearly 23% surge that outpaced the broader industry as the plan was being shaped behind the scenes.Those companies accounted for more than a quarter of the record $457.3 million spent on lobbying last year across the pharmaceutical and health product industry. And while newly filed 2026 first-quarter reports show no slowdown — industry-wide spending topped $131 million, a 5.7% year-over-year increase — the most consequential lobbying push came in 2025, ahead of TrumpRx’s February launch.“All I can say is that they’re spending a ton of money,” Olivier Wouters, an associate professor at Brown University who has researched the industry’s lobbying efforts, told OpenSecrets.Among those participants in President Donald Trump’s flagship “most favored nation” drug-pricing initiative, the 2025 spending spree was nearly universal: 15 increased their year-over-year totals, and eight — including Regeneron, which didn’t join until April 23 — boosted spending by at least 25%, an escalation that coincided with the plan’s final negotiations.The two companies with the steepest increases market blockbuster medications that saw deep price cuts in 2026.Bristol Myers Squibb, maker of the anti-clotting drug Eliquis, nearly doubled its lobbying spending — an 84% jump to more than $10 million, one of the sharpest increases by any company in any sector. The surge came as Eliquis, which generated $13.3 billion in worldwide revenue in 2024, became subject to a 56% negotiated discount for Medicare Part D enrollees, dropping to $231 for a 30-day supply.And AstraZeneca hiked its federal lobbying spending by more than 55% to nearly $5.8 million as the negotiated price of its diabetes and heart- and kidney-disease drug Farxiga — an $8.4 billion product in 2025 — was slashed 68% to $178.50 under the Inflation Reduction Act. OpenSecrets TrumpRx offers brand-name drug discounts indexed to lower international prices. In exchange for offering these most-favored-nation rates to cash-paying customers, the administration granted participating drugmakers multi-year exemptions from new import tariffs.Citing national security concerns, Trump issued a presidential proclamation April 2 imposing a 100% tariff on imported patented drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients from countries without a qualifying security agreement. The proclamation also created a carve-out for companies that enter most-favored-nation pricing and onshoring agreements — core components of the TrumpRx platform — allowing them to pay a 0% tariff through Jan. 20, 2029, a concession potentially worth billions.Another function of the program allows manufacturers to sell high-volume medications, including popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, directly to patients while bypassing insurance gatekeepers.Health care has long dominated Washington’s K Street, as the lobbying industry is known. In 2025, 2,632 clients lobbied health-related issues — breaking the 2021 record of 2,624, according to OpenSecrets data. Federal lobbying reports do not indicate whether a company supported or opposed a bill, or how much of its total spending was directed toward an issue.Omer Unsal, an associate professor at Merrimack College who has studied pharmaceutical lobbying trends, said he’s seeing steady growth across the board: more money being spent, more bills being lobbied, and more “revolving door” lobbyists cycling in from positions in government.“Overall, the trend is upward, and I think there has to be some benefit in exchange for those lobbying expenditures,” Unsal said.Twelve of the industry’s top 15 spenders were among those firms, including Genentech, which accounted for $10.4 million of the $11.4 million spent by parent company Roche Holdings. However, these firms were already among the industry’s biggest spenders — 11 ranked in the top 15 in 2024 — and simply increased their totals in 2025.In all, the 17 firms spent nearly $134 million on federal lobbying in 2025 — up almost 23% from $109 million the year before, outpacing the industry’s 15% increase.That tally does not include the industry’s leading trade group, the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America, which represents many of the same companies. PhRMA spent a record $38.2 million in 2025 — trailing only the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Realtors — and lobbied on 73 separate pieces of legislation. Its disclosure reports include dozens of references to most-favored-nation drug pricing.A May 2025 executive order directed federal agencies to implement most-favored-nation pricing — an effort to force U.S. prices down to levels seen in other developed nations. PhRMA has publicly opposed such mandates, calling them a “bad deal” that imports prices from “socialist countries,” even as TrumpRx has become the administration’s primary voluntary channel for companies to adopt those prices in exchange for trade concessions. After the 2022 passage of the Inflation Reduction Act — which allowed Medicare to negotiate prescription-drug prices — three companies, including AbbVie and AstraZeneca, left the trade group. AstraZeneca rejoined last year.Several other companies are represented by another trade group, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. However, companies including Pfizer, AbbVie and GSK left in recent years, and the group’s lobbying spending fell sharply — to $5.6 million in 2025, a decrease of nearly 58% in four years.“The pharmaceutical industry is dominated by large companies,” Unsal said. “The larger the company, the more resources you have to lobby. But eventually, it goes back to how much government benefit you receive in exchange [for] your lobbying.”The ‘pill penalty’ fightThe TrumpRx coalition placed significant lobbying attention on a pair of bills targeting how Medicare negotiates prices.Small-molecule drugs — typically pills or capsules — become eligible for price negotiation four years earlier than biologics, which are derived from living organisms and often treat complex or rare diseases. The Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures Act would eliminate that disparity, giving drugmakers an additional four years before negotiations can begin.Calling the current structure a “pill penalty,” Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), a urologist, introduced the House version. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) sponsored the Senate bill.How frequently a bill or issue appears is often a signal of a company’s priorities. In this case, 13 of the drugmakers lobbied the House version. Eight also lobbied the Senate version. Together, the bills were referenced in 117 quarterly disclosures filed by TrumpRx-aligned companies. PhRMA mentioned them 75 additional times.Novartis — whose portfolio includes small-molecule drugs such as Kisqali (breast cancer) and Scemblix (leukemia) — was the most active, citing the bills in 24 total reports.“That makes sense to me, that [drugmakers are] going after that quite aggressively as well, because they are the ones that have a more material impact on revenues, right?” Wouters said. “I’m not a lobbyist, but you have to pick your battles, and so you’re going to go after the bills that really hit you where it hurts.”The GLP-1 lobbying boomTwo of those drugmakers also focused heavily on legislation affecting their most popular, and lucrative, products: GLP-1 drugs often used to help with weight loss.Eli Lilly & Co. — maker of Mounjaro, Zepbound and the newly approved Foundayo pill — increased its lobbying spending nearly 33% in 2025 to $11.2 million. Novo Nordisk, which produces Wegovy and Ozempic, hiked its spending by more than 37% to over $7.23 million, a total that does not include spending by subsidiary Novozymes North America.Both companies lobbied the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, which would allow Medicare Part D to cover weight-loss drugs, specifically those GLP-1s. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a gastroenterologist who chairs the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, sponsored the Senate version; Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) sponsored the House bill.Lilly, the most active pharmaceutical company lobbying on the legislation, referenced the Senate version in six reports and the House version in four. Novo Nordisk mentioned each version twice.Those companies also hired the same lobbying firm: Checkmate Government Relations, which under close Donald Trump Jr. associate Ches McDowell has quickly become a power player on K Street. In the first year of Trump’s second term, Checkmate’s federal lobbying revenue exploded from $70,000 in 2024 to $22.5 million in 2025.Eli Lilly paid the firm $400,000 for six lobbyists while Novo Nordisk paid $360,000 for five. Four lobbyists worked for both drugmakers, including McDowell; Chris LaCivita Jr., the son of a top Trump 2024 campaign adviser; and Frederick “Fritz” Vaughn, a former House senior counsel and deputy assistant Treasury secretary.In November 2025, the White House announced a “historic” agreement with both drugmakers that cut the price for several GLP-1s to roughly $350 — and to $150 for oral versions — through TrumpRx. The deal also allows Medicare and Medicaid to cover those drugs for the first time — a policy shift the industry has long tried to achieve.Overlapping lobbying networksCheckmate is just one of several lobbying firms hired by multiple TrumpRx participants. Some represent a staggering number of them. OpenSecrets Of the more than 500 lobbyists representing the 17 companies, more than 60% were revolving-door lobbyists. That outpaces the 51% revolver rate across the broader pharmaceutical and health-products industry.Among the participants, that influence is highly concentrated: 166 represented multiple drugmakers, including 17 who represented 10 or more.Twelve of the 17 companies hired at least one of four firms with the closest ties to the Trump administration: Checkmate, Miller Strategies, BGR Group or Ballard Partners.Ballard Partners was founded by Brian Ballard, a former Trump Victory PAC chair, and counts White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles as a former lobbyist along with former Attorney General Pam Bondi. BGR Group is led by former Trump campaign adviser David Urban and previously employed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Miller Strategies is headed by Jeff Miller, the finance chair for the Trump-J.D. Vance inauguration.Another major lobbying hub for the firms is the Todd Strategy Group. Paul Edattel, former chief health counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, represented 15 clients — the most of any single lobbyist — across 13 of the companies. Firm founder Dan Todd and Eric Bergren, former chief of staff for Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), each represented 13 clients across 12 companies.Several former lawmakers appear across the firms’ rosters. Former Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) lobbied for five drugmakers — Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi and Bristol Myers Squibb. Former Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) worked for Gilead, Johnson & Johnson and Genentech. Additionally, former Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) lobbied for Novartis.“Presumably, the folks that are going to be really useful lobbyists come at a higher price,” Wouters said. “I worry that the interests represented by those with much deeper pockets, if they have a bigger say in these legislative debates, I worry about the outcomes and if all interests are represented. Same thing with the revolving door. … I worry that it’s just not a level playing field.”This story was produced by OpenSecrets and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Gen Z increasingly skeptical of, and angry about, artificial intelligence Gen Z increasingly skeptical of, and angry about, artificial intelligenceWhile some might envision Gen Z welcoming artificial intelligence into their lives, a new Gallup survey found that people between the ages of 14 and 29 are becoming increasingly skeptical of — and downright mad at — AI.Compared to a similar Walton Family Foundation-Gallup survey conducted in April 2025, they’re less excited and hopeful about the change it could bring and more angry at its existence, citing concerns about AI’s impact on their cognitive abilities and professional opportunities. Gallup Respondents said they used AI at nearly the same rate they did before — they reported only a slight increase in daily and weekly exposure — but when asked how it makes them feel, the answers revealed growing misgivings.Thirty-one percent said it made them angry, up 9 percentage points from 2025. And just 22% said it made them feel excited, down 14 percentage points from last year. Only 18% of respondents said it made them feel hopeful, marking a nine-point drop. Forty-two percent said it made them feel anxious, roughly the same as last year.Zach Hrynowski, senior education researcher at Gallup, said the switch was swift.“One of my working theories is that (it’s) the high schoolers, who are in their senior year, or especially those college students, who are maybe thinking, ‘AI is taking my job. I just went to college for four years: I spent all this money, and now it’s turning my industry upside down,” he told The 74.Only 46% of respondents believed AI would help them learn faster, down from 53% the prior year, Gallup found. Fifty-six percent of respondents said it would help them to expedite their work compared to 66% last year.Hrynowski also noted that users’ unease wasn’t entirely tied to the amount of time they spend engaging with AI.“Year over year, among that super user group, they’re much less excited, they are much less hopeful — and they are more angry,” he said. “So this is not a case of some people who are adopting it and loving it and some people who are just avoiding it and feel negatively about it.”Nearly half of the respondents said the risk of the technology outweighs the benefits in the workforce. Just 37% believed it would help them find accurate information, down from 43% the prior year, and only 31% believed it would help them come up with new ideas compared to 42% in 2025. Gallup The survey also notes some disparities by age and race. For example, older Gen Zers are more likely than younger ones to voice concerns about AI’s impact on learning in general.Asked how likely is it that AI designed to mainly complete tasks faster will make learning more difficult in the future, 74% of K-12 respondents said it was “very likely” or “somewhat likely” compared to 83% of Gen Z adults who said the same. Men and Black respondents were also less concerned about learning impact than their peers overall.The results were based on a survey of 1,572 people spread throughout every state and Washington D.C. and conducted between Feb. 24 and March 4, 2026. It was commissioned by the Walton Family Foundation and GSV, Global Silicon Valley. Together, the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup are still conducting ongoing research into Gen Z’s attitudes toward AI.Hrynowski believes there might be a link between recent revelations about the harmful nature of social media and AI-related distrust: Many of the respondents came of age, he noted, just as former surgeon general Vivek H. Murthy called for a warning about its use.Generative AI shapes the user experience in social media. Just last month, a California jury found social media company Meta — owner of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads — and YouTube injured a young woman’s mental health by design in a landmark case that could encourage untold others.This was the second of two critical decisions: Just a day earlier, a New Mexico jury found Meta knowingly harmed kids’ mental health — and hid what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its platforms.“I’ve always been very impressed from the start of this work with Gen Z that across the board, not just with AI, they are keenly aware of the risks of technology, whether it’s social media, whether it’s AI or screen time,” Hrynowski said.They are not the only generation to harbor these worries. A growing number of parents of K-12 students are pushing back on their screen time, not just at home, but at school.Despite respondents’ skepticism about AI, they’re also readily aware that the technology won’t be walked back: 52% of respondents acknowledge that they will need to know how to use AI if they go to college or take classes after high school, while 48% think they will need to know how to use AI in the workplace.An earlier Gallup study, released in April 2026, showed 42% of bachelor’s degree students have reconsidered their major because of AI.Gen Z, in its reluctant acceptance of the technology, wants help in how to navigate it, both in an academic setting and in the workplace. Schools are stepping up, the survey revealed: The share of K-12 students who say their school has AI rules moved from 51% in 2025 to 74% this year.Disclosure: Walton Family Foundation provides financial support to The 74.This story was produced by The 74 and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	As Georgia home births rise, midwives break the law to deliver babies Georgia is one of seven states where delivering babies can earn non-nurse midwives, at minimum, a cease-and-desist letter requiring them to end their careers. (Stock photo Cavan Images/Getty Images)GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA — In a midwife’s suburban Atlanta home with a playground and chicken coop outside, Madie Collins lay on an examination table while the midwife measured her pregnant belly. Unlike at many a doctor’s office, no crinkly paper sheet covered the table and no antiseptic chill lingered in the air. The room next door, where Collins’ appointment began, was filled with children’s toys and scented candles and warmed by a wood-burning stove. The certified professional midwife pressed the button on a handheld Doppler ultrasound machine she placed on Collins’ belly. “That’s her heartbeat,” she said to Collins’ 3-year-old daughter, who sat beside her mom as a whooshing sound filled the room. “I think Mommy’s baby’s right here.” The midwife is not licensed as a nurse. In Georgia, that makes what she’s doing illegal. KFF Health News agreed not to identify her by name. Georgia is one of seven states where delivering babies can earn non-nurse midwives, at minimum, a cease-and-desist letter requiring them to end their careers. In North Carolina, it’s a misdemeanor. In New York, it’s a felony. Meanwhile, demand for their services is increasing. Intended home births rose by 42% nationally from 2020 to 2024, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, and those births are often overseen by certified professional midwives. In Georgia, they rose by 72%. Midwives who assist with home births typically see clients from prenatal appointments through several visits after childbirth, providing more postpartum checkups than most new mothers receive. Home births make up 1.5% of deliveries nationwide. In the eight states where they were most common in 2024 — Hawai‘i, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming— they made up 3-5% of births. As that number rises, midwifery advocates said, regulating the practice with licenses would allow home births to be safer. Free birth — without the help of a skilled professional before or after labor — can be dangerous for mothers and babies. “People are going to keep having their babies at home, and they deserve a trained provider,” said Missi Burgess, president of the Georgia chapter of the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives. For decades, professional midwives have been advocating for laws to legalize and regulate their profession. More lawmakers have supported those efforts in the past 15 years, with 36 states and Washington, D.C., allowing them to get licensed to deliver babies. Last year, a wave of state lawmakers — in Georgia, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia — tried to add their states to the list, although none of their bills have become law. Certified professional midwives deliver babies in homes or birth centers. Rather than attend nursing school — which many can’t afford — they earn a nationally recognized certificate by attending at least 55 births and demonstrating their knowledge. Nurse-midwives more often deliver babies in hospitals or clinics than in patients’ homes. Some hospitals and doctors oppose midwife licensing proposals without certain guardrails. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists cites studies showing that infants are twice as likely to die during planned births at home or in birth centers as in hospitals, while acknowledging that the data remains limited. It doesn’t account for several factors, including who assisted in the birth. Still, prominent stories of home births with midwives gone wrong contribute to the skepticism around licensing laws. In 2023, The Washington Post published an investigation of a licensed midwife who pleaded guilty to felonies in Virginia after an infant death and assisted with home births in Maryland in which two more babies died. In Mississippi, a bill that would have regulated and licensed professional midwives died after a state senator blocked a vote in the committee he chaired. Democratic Sen. Hob Bryan told Mississippi Today he didn’t “wish to encourage that activity.” But midwives said they have a sympathetic ear now in the Trump administration, with its Make America Healthy Again movement. Cassaundra Jah, executive director of the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives, said she has been on calls with midwifery groups pushing for the Health and Human Services Department to provide legal protections for them, and some midwives have been in contact with the agency. HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard declined to comment on policy proposals but told KFF Health News that the administration “regularly meets with a wide range of stakeholders to hear input from the American public.” Hospitals want guardrails Advocates for the license say allowing certified professional midwives to provide care would help address a shortage of maternity care providers. “Some midwives are leaving our state,” Rep. Karen Mathiak, a chiropractor who sponsored the Georgia bill, said during a hearing on the measure last year. “They’re being forced to quit. And now we have a shortage of these providers to take care of our pregnant moms.” A 2024 report by the March of Dimes found that 35% of counties in the U.S. have no birthing facility or obstetric provider. Georgia has the 13th-highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, according to the March of Dimes. After the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022 eliminated federal protection for abortion, six-week abortion bans prompted more providers to leave states such as Georgia and Texas. Idaho lost a third of its OB-GYNs by December 2024, two years after its abortion ban took effect. Doctors who left states with such laws cited fear of prosecution and an inability to provide the standard of care. Of the 13 states with the fewest maternity care providers per capita, nine had a full or six-week abortion ban as of 2024, The Commonwealth Fund found. Licensing midwives won’t solve the larger maternity care shortage, but it’s a first step, said Saraswathi Vedam, a professor of midwifery and the principal investigator at the Birth Place Lab at the University of British Columbia. Certified professional midwives currently attend only about 1.4% of births in the U.S., according to federal data. The Georgia bill would have granted certified professional midwives licenses through a state board, allowed them to administer lifesaving medications, and required their services to be covered by private insurance and Medicaid. They would not have needed a physician to supervise them. Without that mandate, giving birth outside of a hospital could be an option for more people. But the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Hospital Association opposed the licensing bill, primarily because they wanted more regulations than the midwives were willing to accept — including physician supervision. Anna Adams, a spokesperson for the hospital association, suggested establishing transfer agreements that required all women planning to have a home birth to register at the hospital first. When a laboring woman is transferred to a hospital, which happens in about 11% of planned home births, “we have no prior knowledge of this patient,” Adams said. “It’s a tricky situation to inherit when you’re trying to save the mother and the baby without any background.” Georgia midwives said they planned to bring the licensing proposal back next year. In early April, three midwives sued Georgia for restricting their ability to practice, arguing that the rules violate the state constitution. “Every pregnant person should be able to choose where they give birth and with whom,” said Jamarah Amani, a plaintiff in the lawsuit and co-founder of the National Black Midwives Alliance. Black women are three times as likely to die during or after childbirth as white pregnant patients. In January, a prominent Black nurse-midwife in South Carolina died after unexpected complications from childbirth. Today, midwives and their clients are predominantly white, but the home birth rate among Black women rose 42% nationally from 2019 to 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Ultimately the system has failed us as a people,” said Tina Braimah, a Black nurse-midwife who attended home births for a decade. She then opened a birth center in North Carolina, allowing her to see more clients from a variety of backgrounds. “When the system consistently fails you, you look for other options.” Becoming part of the system Many maternal health researchers say mothers fare better when midwives are a key part of the health system. In 2018, researchers at the Birth Place Lab published a study of all 50 states showing that integrating midwives was associated with better outcomes for moms and babies, including lower rates of infant deaths. Integration involves collaboration among all kinds of midwives and doctors so that patients can easily transfer to or from a hospital. It also involves giving all midwives the authority to practice the full range of their skills, including prescribing lifesaving medication. A 2020 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine states that data from other countries suggests home births can be as safe as hospital births for low-risk women who are part of an integrated, regulated system. Washington state has one of the highest rates of midwife integration in the U.S., according to the Birth Place Lab. Its home birth rate is consistently higher than the national rate, while its infant mortality rate remains lower than the national average. One in 5 women report being mistreated during maternity care, according to a 2023 CDC survey. Pregnant patients tend to be more satisfied when midwives lead their care, whether at a hospital, a birth center, or home. Hannah Haynes gave birth to her first three children in a hospital near her home in Jefferson, Georgia. During the third labor, which was induced, she received a catheter that led to a urinary tract infection and then sepsis, a life-threatening condition. She was separated from her newborn for four days while receiving treatment. “Something has to change,” Haynes said. Haynes regrets electing to get induced when it wasn’t medically necessary. She gave birth to her fourth child at home, with the help of a certified professional midwife she trusted. She’s pregnant with her fifth and plans to use the same midwife. She said she won’t deliver at a hospital again. “I was a little nervous,” Haynes said, because she had heard rumors that midwives didn’t know what they were doing. But after meeting the midwife, “I just felt so confident in her.” KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. Courtesy of Georgia Recorder
	What a roommate can save you in 100 US cities: 2026 study What a roommate can save you in 100 US cities: 2026 studyNew college grads, transplants from other cities, and others might find myriad advantages in including a roommate in their housing plan — one of those being cost savings. Particularly in high cost-of-living areas, an extra cushion in the budget could make a big difference in discretionary spending, paying off debt, or investing for the future. Across large U.S. cities, splitting a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate versus living alone in a one-bedroom apartment could save the average renter about $541 per month, or nearly $6,500 per year. In many cities, the average savings climb much higher.With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 100 of the largest U.S. cities based on the percentage of monthly rent saved by sharing an apartment with a roommate.Key FindingsAdding a roommate gets you the best value in Cleveland, Ohio. Splitting a two-bedroom with another person saves you nearly 48% compared to renting a one-bedroom alone. The average cost of one-bedroom rent in Cleveland currently sits at $1,150, nearly identical to the average two-bedroom rent of $1,200.The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is only $900 in this city. Shreveport, Louisiana, has the lowest two-bedroom rent out of 100 large cities. With an average one-bedroom price of $790, it ranks 10th overall with a savings of 43% with a roommate, or $340 rent savings per person per month.In NYC, a roommate saves you $1,730 per month. The average one-bedroom rent in New York City is $4,380, while two roommates could split the average $5,300 two-bedroom rent for $2,650 each. Neighboring Jersey City, New Jersey has the second-highest raw monthly dollars saved with a roommate at $1,490 — or 46.7% savings over living alone.A roommate saves you the least in the cities. Relative to local housing costs, sharing your space is least cost effective in Scottsdale, Arizona, where splitting a two-bedroom nets you a 26.0% discount, or a $440 monthly discount. Seattle (28.2% savings; $550 per month) and El Paso, Texas (29.4% savings; $250 per month), also are most budget-friendly to singletons. SmartAsset Top 10 Cities With the Most Savings With a RoommateCities are ranked based on the percent saved in rent between splitting the average two-bedroom apartment with a roommate and living in a one-bedroom apartment alone.Cleveland, OHPercent savings with a roommate: 47.83%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $550One-bedroom rent: $1,150Two-bedroom rent: $1,200Baton Rouge, LAPercent savings with a roommate: 46.88%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $450One-bedroom rent: $960Two-bedroom rent: $1,020Jersey City, NJPercent savings with a roommate: 46.71%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $1,490One-bedroom rent: $3,190Two-bedroom rent: $3,400Memphis, TNPercent savings with a roommate: 46.24%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $430One-bedroom rent: $930Two-bedroom rent: $1,000Boise, IDPercent savings with a roommate: 45.49%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $605One-bedroom rent: $1,330Two-bedroom rent: $1,450Augusta, GAPercent savings with a roommate: 45.00%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $450One-bedroom rent: $1,000Two-bedroom rent: $1,100New Haven, CTPercent savings with a roommate: 44.89%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $835One-bedroom rent: $1,860Two-bedroom rent: $2,050Chattanooga, TNPercent savings with a roommate: 44.44%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $520One-bedroom rent: $1,170Two-bedroom rent: $1,300Virginia Beach, VAPercent savings with a roommate: 43.94%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $725One-bedroom rent: $1,650Two-bedroom rent: $1,850Shreveport, LAPercent savings with a roommate: 43.04%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $340One-bedroom rent: $790Two-bedroom rent: $900Top 10 Cities Where It’s Most Cost Effective to Live AloneCities are ranked based on the percent saved in rent between splitting the average two-bedroom apartment with a roommate and living in a one-bedroom apartment alone.Scottsdale, AZPercent savings with a roommate: 26.04%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $440One-bedroom rent: $1,690Two-bedroom rent: $2,500Seattle, WAPercent savings with a roommate: 28.21%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $550One-bedroom rent: $1,950Two-bedroom rent: $2,800El Paso, TXPercent savings with a roommate: 29.41%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $250One-bedroom rent: $850Two-bedroom rent: $1,200Albuquerque, NMPercent savings with a roommate: 29.47%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $280One-bedroom rent: $950Two-bedroom rent: $1,340Denver, COPercent savings with a roommate: 29.69%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $475One-bedroom rent: $1,600Two-bedroom rent: $2,250St Louis, MOPercent savings with a roommate: 30.11%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $280One-bedroom rent: $930Two-bedroom rent: $1,300Dallas, TXPercent savings with a roommate: 30.28%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $430One-bedroom rent: $1,420Two-bedroom rent: $1,980San Francisco, CAPercent savings with a roommate: 30.47%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $1,155One-bedroom rent: $3,790Two-bedroom rent: $5,270Fort Lauderdale, FLPercent savings with a roommate: 30.85%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $580One-bedroom rent: $1,880Two-bedroom rent: $2,600St Petersburg, FLPercent savings with a roommate: 31.33%Monthly rent savings with a roommate: $470One-bedroom rent: $1,500Two-bedroom rent: $2,060Data and MethodologyThis study examined data from 100 U.S. cities, comparing the average rents for one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments between March 2025 and March 2026 based on data from Zumper. Specifically, the cost of a one-bedroom was compared with half the cost of a two-bedroom for each city, assuming each roommate pays equal rent.This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Learn about the latest scams at 'Stop the Scammers' event in Davenport The Iowa Department of Insurance and Fraud Services is bringing its “Stop the Scammers” roadshow to the River Center, 136 E. Third Street in Davenport, on May 12 at 5 p.m. to educate Iowans on the latest scams. In 2025, the Stop the Scammers roadshow helped stop $2.7 million from being sent to scammers and [...]
	How to build a learning culture that outpaces the competition How to build a learning culture that outpaces the competition“An organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage.” — Jack Welch (former General Electric CEO)This quote is especially true today, as new tech and AI applications enter the marketplace on a seemingly daily basis.The companies that thrive in the ever-evolving market aren’t always the ones with the most resources or the longest history. They’re the teams that can learn and adapt the fastest.When learning is woven into the way you work, it becomes the edge that sets teams apart. So how do you actually make learning part of the everyday rhythm?WebFX shares a few simple wins that help turn learning into your team’s competitive advantage!The competitive advantage of a learning cultureConsider the principle of compound interest.The earlier and more consistently you invest, the faster your money grows. The growth builds on itself.Learning works the same way. It’s an investment that compounds over time.Every lesson your team captures and applies doesn’t just pay off once. It builds on the last, multiplying its value over time.When learning is built into the way a team operates, knowledge doesn’t just live in a playbook or with a handful of experts. It infuses and multiplies results across the organization.5 habits of teams that learn (and win) fasterMost companies agree learning matters, but putting it into practice means more than sending a few training invites.True learning shows up in how fast knowledge moves, how openly it’s shared, and how well it’s applied.Here are five ingredients that make the difference in building a team that outlearns the competition. WebFX 1. Encourage knowledge sharing over knowledge hoardingLearning loses its power when it’s locked up with a handful of people.This often happens by accident. People get busy, teams work in silos, or someone assumes their insights aren’t worth sharing.The best teams multiply knowledge by spreading it quickly and openly, turning individual learnings into collective growth.How to encourage it:Close huddles with a lightning round where each person shares one big idea in 60 seconds to keep fresh ideas flowing.Bring in guest presenters from other departments, so learning doesn’t happen in “silos” (marketing regularly hears from sales, sales from client teams, etc.).Celebrate and empower “multipliers” — teammates who regularly share learnings to level up the team.The real value of knowledge sharing comes when lessons shape the next decision, not just documentation.2. Move knowledge fasterAs the famous saying goes, knowledge is power. And it also compounds, but only when it is shared quickly. Too often, insights lose power because they sit in inboxes, reports, or someone’s head.When one person runs a test today, and the insight is in everyone’s hands tomorrow, knowledge won’t go stale. That speed of learning multiplies results, and that turns individual wins into team-wide advantages.Ways to make this happen:Share lessons in formats people will actually use. This could be a 2-minute explainer video, a checklist, or a mini case study. And if it takes longer to find than to read, trust that it won’t get read at all.Work test results into your next sprint planning session. This way, findings become action items, not archive items.Push insights up and across, not just within your team. A win in one department can save another department weeks of guesswork when shared.Speed matters more than volume here, because a team that acts on one insight this week will outperform a team that catalogs ten insights and reviews them “eventually.”3. Turn lessons into leverageIf you’ve ever opened a post-mortem doc six months later and thought, “Why didn’t we do this sooner?” then you already know how easily good lessons get lost.Walk the talk because learning without application is just information. In reality, most companies have plenty of data sitting in shared drives, buried docs, and Slack threads, but nobody revisits them.You’ll witness the difference when teams actually close the loop. When every experiment, project, or campaign feeds the next one, that’s where the compounding kicks in.How you can put that into practice:End every post-mortem by naming one carry-forward decision. That is one specific change that has to show up in the next project. If you skip this step, then the retro was merely a waste of everyone’s time.Don’t wait for quarterly reviews to update a workflow. If you learned something on Tuesday that makes your process better, change it right away on Wednesday. Context fades fast, and if you keep putting off the update, you can expect that half of it is already gone.Test new ideas while they’re fresh. Waiting for the “right time” usually means the insight loses its edge. “We should try that sometime” is usually where good ideas get forgotten.The real advantage here is making the application automatic. When putting lessons to work is part of the process, you stop losing ground between what you learned and what you need to do next.4. Unlock the power of unlearningThis one is harder than it sounds. People easily get attached to processes, especially the ones that worked before. Teams hang onto a tactic for months past its expiration date because “it crushed it in Q2,” even though Q4 tells a completely different story.Getting good at learning is just a portion of the puzzle, as you also have to get comfortable throwing things out if they’re no longer serving their purpose.What this looks like day to day:Do a playbook audit every quarter. Any tool or process that hasn’t pulled its weight in six months, put it on the chopping block and be ruthless about it.Ask your newest hires what feels outdated during their first few weeks. They haven’t been around long enough to accept “that’s just how we do it” as a reason for anything, so try to maximize it to gain insights.Ask yourself and your team: If we were starting from zero today, would we build it this way? Most of the time, the honest answer is no. And then you can pivot from there.Retiring old tactics may sometimes feel wasteful, but truth be told, carrying dead weight feels worse once you realize how much it has been slowing you down.5. Spark micro-learning momentsIf you’ve been in the industry long enough, you’d instantly agree that not every lesson needs a formal training session or a 40-slide deck. Some of the sharpest lessons can come from a quick Slack post or a 5-minute segment before the end of a team call.When those small moments of knowledge-sharing become normal, you get to eliminate unnecessary friction, and cognition moves faster and actually sticks.What you can try with your team:Pick one notable learning each week and pin it in your team channel. Do it right then and there, and not in a folder somewhere no one else can see.Use your 1-on-1s for more than status updates. Try asking what’s working and what broke, as those answers are gold and they disappear fast if nobody captures them.Ask every person in the room to share one sentence about what they’re taking away at the end of any training. This is a good way to see right away what landed and what missed.Small, consistent learning always beats big, occasional training. If you make it part of how the day already works, then it stops feeling like an extra effort.This story was produced by WebFX and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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	4 cross-border challenges for growing e-commerce brands and how to solve them 4 cross-border challenges for growing e-commerce brands and how to solve themSmall businesses are a major driver of the global economy, but a lot of smart, ambitious brands don’t stay “small” for long. With international customers easier to reach than ever, more e-commerce brands are expanding across borders earlier in their journey. The opportunity is there, but so are the challenges that come with it.Once you start going global, everything from pricing to customer experience needs a second look. Passport breaks down the biggest hurdles to clear when scaling internationally and how to get through them.The 4 Biggest Small Business Challenges When Going GlobalSelling across borders introduces more complexity than you might expect. What works in your domestic market doesn’t always translate to another, so you’re suddenly managing multiple regions, expectations, and systems, all of which require new approaches across core functions.The brands that succeed are the ones that address this early and put the right strategies in place.The challenges small brands face in going international can be summed up in four broad categories:Customer experienceShippingPaymentsComplianceChallenge 1: Maintaining the Small Business ExperienceConsumers love supporting small businesses in the U.S. and around the world. But even those who prefer to shop small have their limits. Too much confusion or too little convenience, and even your enthusiasts will take their money elsewhere.So, how do you deliver the personal feeling of shopping at a small business from another country?Depending on the market, your considerations may include:Website and packaging translationDelivery expectationsRegional competitorsCurrency conversionCultural differencesFor example, customers in Europe typically expect prices to include all taxes upfront. If you're targeting the U.K., you may want to convert your storefront's currency to pounds, while E.U. countries expect euros. The E.U. also spans a diverse cultural landscape, with no unified language, which adds another layer of complexity to messaging.Getting all these details right isn’t easy when you're competing against other established local and international brands. Shoppers are far more likely to convert when your site feels familiar—local currency, clear duties, and realistic delivery timelines all play a role.Small businesses often struggle to deliver this level of attention due to limited resources or fragmented systems. However, since customer experience is a fundamental driver of e-commerce conversions, adaptations are necessary.Customer Experience Solutions: Small Business LocalizationGlobal success is built at the local level. In the context of international commerce, localization means adapting the shopping experience to market expectations.Effective strategies include:Building market-specific web pages.Converting prices to display the local currency.Aligning checkout and delivery options with regional expectations.Adjusting delivery timelines and messaging to set realistic standards.True localization requires end-to-end adjustments across your sales funnel. Thankfully, small business owners have access to more accessible software solutions than ever, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in e-commerce.Honing the customer experience is about more than service excellence; it directly impacts lifetime value and will guide your response to each of the following challenges.Challenge 2: Cross-Border Shipping ComplexityOne of the earliest hurdles to face is the added complexity of shipping internationally. Unlike domestic fulfillment, cross-border delivery often involves multiple carriers, longer transit times, and greater variability in delivery windows.Slow order fulfillment, unexpected delays, lackluster return policies, and high shipping prices all add to customer frustration. For small teams without dedicated logistics expertise, managing these moving parts can quickly become overwhelming.Visibility is another common friction point. If customers can’t easily track their orders or don’t know where their package is, they’re far more likely to contact support or hesitate to order again.Returns add another layer of complexity. Sending products back across borders is expensive, slow, and requires extra steps to claim refunds on import taxes. Without a clear strategy, businesses either absorb the extra costs or avoid offering returns altogether—both of which can harm profitability.Especially for ecommerce-driven stores, shipping and returns are fundamental for driving conversions and repeat customers. Unexpected duties or high delivery costs at checkout are one of the top reasons for cart abandonment in cross-border ecommerce.Shipping Solutions: Simplifying Small Business LogisticsSmall businesses have a range of options for streamlining their shipping.In the spirit of localization, consider your approach to each region's shipping policies individually. You may find that multiple countries can use a shared model, but this isn't a safe assumption until you run the numbers and validate landed costs.For example, a small business in the U.S. may be able to offer free returns to customers in Canada and Mexico but find it unfeasible to do the same in a European market.However, there are common best practices that any business can benefit from:Landed cost calculators help businesses estimate the actual cost of order fulfillment. These tools are a great starting point for evaluating an international market and the shipping terms you can provide.International shipping providers minimize carrier handoffs and often improve delivery consistency and speed, especially if they also manage returns. Fewer hands on a delivery lowers your risk and can reduce the total vendor count.Delivered duty paid (DDP) shipping terms are widely preferred for e-commerce compared to delivered duty unpaid (DDU). DDP shipping is simpler for customers and typically offers quicker, frictionless deliveries.Small business software solutions—from ecommerce platforms to cross-border management portals—can centralize your fulfillment, tracking, and inventory workflows. Beyond its convenience, this option is often more cost-effective than increasing your headcount or bogging down your team with complex routing tasks.As your international demand grows, you can consider an in-country order fulfillment strategy to scale and save costs.Building a foundation for international commerce often starts with a clear shipping strategy that informs pricing and product selection in your chosen market.Challenge 3: International Payments, Pricing, and ProfitsInternational expansion introduces some unavoidable costs—from longer-haul shipping to new taxes and added processing fees. Without clear visibility into these line items, small businesses may underprice products or absorb more fees than they can afford.Pricing often needs to be adjusted to account for these added costs, requiring a balance between margin and competitiveness in each market.Selling internationally often means expanding beyond a single currency or payment processing system to accept payments but also to optimize for conversion. Preferred payment methods vary widely by market, and missing even one popular option can impact sales.International transactions may also involve longer processing times, currency exchange rates, and cross-border network fees. Your business may need to integrate new payment methods to cater to your customers' preferences (e.g., digital wallets).Other payment challenges small businesses face include:Fluctuating exchange rates that impact pricing and margins.Market-specific financial regulations.Slower payment settlement times.Global growth should drive profitability and revenue. Without cost clarity, businesses risk sluggish growth or losses.Payments Solutions: Powering Smart TransactionsOne of the most important shifts you can make is estimating and tracking contribution margin per product, the revenue each item yields after variable costs. This metric is essential for deciding which products to sell and how to price them.Multiplied by projected sales volumes, you can estimate each product's total contribution, the funds left to cover fixed costs, and generate profit. Understanding these figures is key to projecting how much you can profitably invest in selling any given product.For the actual transaction, there are several measures small businesses can take to smooth out their international checkouts:Multicurrency software solutions can automate the conversion and exchange processes so small businesses can effortlessly display prices in a customer's local currency.E-commerce platforms with integrated payment systems can enable a wide range of payment methods for your international audience. Functionality varies by platform, so confirm this early.Integrated landed cost displays are another valuable feature to have in your toolkit, enabling you to show customers accurate and transparent prices at checkout.When pricing is clear, businesses typically see higher conversion rates and fewer abandoned carts.Challenge 4: Duties, Customs, and ComplianceInternational sales add considerable exposure to taxes, regulations, and product restrictions. Each transaction spans at least one additional government on top of international trade laws and customs processing.All that added compliance can overwhelm a team in the midst of a cross-national expansion.Common regulatory frameworks small businesses must navigate include:Duties and tariffs: taxes charged on imports.Customs: international shipping, documentation, and taxation procedures.Consumption taxes: collected at checkout, common varieties include value-added tax (VAT) and goods and services tax (GST).Product regulations: restrictions specific to every country.These requirements vary widely by market and can change frequently.For small businesses, keeping up with these rules is difficult without specialized knowledge or tools. Missteps—such as under-declaring value or missing documentation—can lead to delays, penalties, or even shipment seizures. Without strong compliance procedures, businesses risk financial losses and damage to their brand.Compliance Solutions: Reducing Risk for Small BusinessManaging compliance manually is rarely sustainable for small teams.Savvy business owners adopt solutions that simplify or outsource complexity:Seller of Record (SOR) models—where a partner manages tax registration, filing, and remittance on a brand’s behalf—allow brands to offload tax registration, filing, and remittance to a trusted partner.Tax and duty calculation tools ensure accurate pricing at checkout and smooth processing at customs when professionally managed and regularly updated.Third-party compliance support is a cost-effective alternative to increasing your headcount, critical for small businesses navigating multinational laws without a dedicated compliance team.Customs software, such as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's ACE portal, can help businesses access shipment data and stay on top of import activity.These solutions allow businesses to expand into new markets without complicating their internal operations.Key Takeaways: Small Business Solutions to Global ChallengesExpanding globally introduces complexity across the board, but each hurdle can be addressed with the right systems and strategy.Global commerce is more accessible and competitive than ever. However, even small businesses can succeed internationally when they treat cross-border expansion as a strategic priority, rather than just an extension of domestic operations.By addressing the challenges early, you'll build a sturdy foundation for sustainable growth. Passport Small International Business FAQsGlobal commerce can be an intimidating but rewarding challenge for small businesses. It's natural to have questions, and Passport's international ecommerce experts have answers.What changes when a small business expands internationally?Expanding internationally introduces new costs, regulations, and complexities. Domestic operations must become nuanced multimarket strategists, often requiring coordination across several partners and software solutions.What are the biggest challenges for small e-commerce businesses scaling globally?The biggest challenges typically fall into four areas: customer experience, shipping, payments, and compliance. Each introduces operational friction, but also opportunities for advanced solutions that unlock global growth.What are the most important small e-commerce business solutions for expanding internationally?Brands should prioritize solutions that enable localization, simplify logistics, streamline checkouts, and maintain compliance. These pillars are key to international growth. Specific solutions of common value include multicurrency payment systems, global shipping providers, storefront localization tools, and compliance models—such as Seller of Record—that reduce regulatory burden.This story was produced by Passport and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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	Death Notice: Fred Van Hoosier A funeral service and Mass of Christian Burial for Frederick D. "Fred" Van Hoosier, 94, of Eldridge, will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 18, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Davenport. The Mass will be livestreamed by visiting Fred's obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com. Burial with military honors will be in Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, May 17, from 2-4 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport. Mr. Van Hoosier died Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Davenport. Memorials may be made to the Donahue American Legion or to the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center. Online condolences may be made at www.hmdfuneralhome.com. A full obituary will appear in the May 13 edition of The NSP.
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	How to increase profitability without impacting customer satisfaction How to increase profitability without impacting customer satisfactionAs a founder, increasing profitability is always top of mind, and you’re often searching for strategic ways to strengthen the financial footing of your business. But is raising prices the way to do it?If you’ve built a solid customer base full of people who love your products or services, you might think, “They won’t mind paying a little more, right?” Although you can certainly increase your prices anytime, that decision does carry the risk of eroding trust and loyalty among your existing customers. A better approach can be to find ways of improving customer satisfaction while also strengthening your profit margin.In this article, Mercury, a fintech platform that offers business and personal banking services, shares practical strategies to increase profitability for startups, beyond just raising prices. This includes why early-stage startups struggle with profitability and common mistakes to avoid. By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of which profitability levers you’ll need to pull to reach your business goals.What increasing profitability actually means (beyond ‘raise prices’)When the subject of how to increase profits comes up, many founders are quick to jump to raising prices. Your pricing strategy can absolutely influence your profit margin, but there’s so much more you can do beyond charging your customers more money.When prices increase, sales often decline because customers who adore your products and services may not want to pay a higher rate, and they may start looking for a more competitive option. To avoid this scenario, focus on improving customer satisfaction and retention, and increasing profitability by getting more value out of the revenue you already have. To do so, you’ll need to run a more targeted, efficient business by improving unit economics, increasing value for customers, and strengthening revenue quality. This way, you’ll keep customers happy and loyal, while also improving profitability for your company.Why early-stage startups struggle to improve profitabilityFor early-stage founders, the priority is often the immediate survival of the business, rather than long-term financial optimization. You know profitability matters, but how to improve it isn’t always clear for several reasons:Growth mindset takes center stage. Founders are concerned with capturing market share, validating demand, and building momentum, which can lead to aggressive marketing spend and massive product discounts, as well as shrinking profit margins.Unit economics are still murky. Metrics — like customer acquisition cost (CAC), lifetime value (LTV), and contribution margin — aren’t stable or may not even be tracked.Front-loaded costs are high. Early-stage founders often need to invest in the business, including sorting out infrastructure, tools, and staffing, before revenue has a chance to catch up.Product-market fit is in flux. In the early stages, startups often offer heavy customization options or provide extensive support, which can increase product delivery costs and erode margins.The startup profit equation: How to increase profitability by optimizing revenue, costs, and customer experienceHow might a business attempt to increase profitability without damaging customer relationships? If you’re looking to make sustainable profit improvements, you’ll need to examine the foundational elements of who your business serves and how it operates.The following strategies can help you increase profitability and ensure that both you and your customers are getting what they want out of the business relationship.Strategy 1: Refine your ideal customer profile (ICP)Many founders initially want to serve anyone and everyone, but not all customers are the right ones. Some customers negotiate on prices, others require more support, and some generate higher churn. It’s typically more advantageous to serve fewer customers, who are a better fit.To determine who the right customers are for your business, you can define your ICP using AI tools and pinpoint which segment of customers generates the most value for your business. Look at buying behavior, budget levels, and use cases, as well as demographic patterns. For example, for a SaaS startup, customers who require less time and help with onboarding may be the best ones to target, since they’ll carry lower support costs.Strategy 2: Increase prices the right wayIf you’re intent on increasing prices, you’ll need to carefully plan for a smooth rollout and be sure to inform customers and avoid backlash.Here are a few options to consider:Increase prices for new customers first. Consider increasing prices for new customers first, instead of implementing a blanket increase for all existing customers.Offer tiered plans. You may also want to introduce tiered plans, so customers have options and can find a level that works for their budget. For instance, if your subscription is $10 per month, add a premium tier at $17 per month that includes additional features and benefits and a “light” tier for $7 with just the essentials. This approach improves margins while maintaining the goodwill of your existing customers.Highlight value. Always clearly communicate the added value associated with any price increase, so customers don’t feel duped or taken advantage of. Plus, if you’re making improvements alongside the pricing change, make sure the benefits are super clear to drum up enthusiasm among loyal customers.Strategy 3: Improve unit economics before scaling growthIf your unit economics are weak, scaling can amplify the problem and worsen profitability. So, focus on strengthening CAC, LTV, gross margin, and contribution margin, before working on growth.For example, you may notice that customers acquired through email campaigns become repeat buyers, but customers acquired through social media ads typically only buy once. In order to improve CAC and LTV, you could funnel more resources into email campaigns and offer referral incentives. Improving unit economics in this way enables your business to grow while maximizing profit.Strategy 4: Reduce operational drag and hidden costsOperational inefficiencies and friction can eat away at profit before you even realize what the problem is. Early-stage founders often overspend on software, travel and entertainment, freelancers and contractors, and agency retainers.If you want to increase profitability, focus on better managing and reducing operating expenses. For instance, if your startup uses separate tools for online banking, expense management, and bill payments, your staff may have to manually transfer financial data between the systems.Strategy 5: Increase average revenue per customerIncreasing average order value and expansion revenue are excellent tactics for improving profit margins, since you can do so without increasing customer acquisition costs. If you’re using this strategy, focus on nurturing existing customer relationships.Consider offering free add-ons, introducing product bundles, and creating premium product and service tiers. For example, an e-commerce store could bundle popular products together or offer a free, lower-cost product with a high-value purchase. For customers, this is alluring because it’s a way to save money while getting more value from the business. And, for your business, it’s a way to increase profit margins.Strategy 6: Use retention as a profit multiplierAcquiring a new customer costs more than retaining an existing one. When you have higher customer retention rates, you’ll see higher customer lifetime value, better revenue predictability, and stronger profit margins.To use retention as a profit-increasing lever, determine how you can lower churn and keep customers returning. Strategies include:Investing in customer education and onboarding.Building customer habit loops.Solving multiple problems for the same customer.Rewarding repeat customers with loyalty benefits.Common mistakes founders make when trying to increase profitsWhen margins are tight, your instinct might be to cut costs or raise prices, but both can backfire with your market. Here are common pitfalls to avoid:Raising prices without improving perceived value: Clear value framing is key to a price increase.Cutting costs that impact customer experience: Don’t lower service or product quality. Customers will notice.Not considering customer segments: Identify high-value customer segments as well as those with long-term revenue expansion potential.Chasing new customers while neglecting existing ones: Growth alone will not solve your profitability problems.Sweeping operational issues under the rug: Even small operational inefficiencies, like unused software and redundant processes, add up. Create a win-win for you and your customersImproving profitability isn’t a quick financial adjustment. It requires careful consideration and thoughtful strategy, so both your business and your customers benefit. For better margins that increase customer satisfaction, it’s important to strategically target customers, frame pricing around value, focus on unit economics, and fix operational issues.FAQsHow can startups increase profitability without raising prices?Instead of charging customers more, refine your ideal customer profile, improve unit economics, solve operational inefficiencies, and focus on customer retention.How can startups increase prices without upsetting customers?Frame the added value of the price increase clearly. Other strategies include adding premium tiers or applying increased pricing to new customers only.Why is customer retention important for profitability?Customer acquisition costs are usually high and can erode profitability. Retained customers generate revenue without additional customer acquisition costs, which increases lifetime value and profitability. Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.This story was produced by Mercury and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Trump wants to suspend the federal gas tax as prices soar amid war with Iran Suspending the federal gas tax would require an act of Congress.
	State responds to Tennessee NAACP lawsuit challenging redistricted map A redrawn U.S. House district map shows Memphis split into three separate districts. Photographs by John Partipilo/Tennessee LookoutState attorneys are asking the court to deny the NAACP Tennessee chapter’s request to stop a redrawn congressional map from going into effect before the 2026 election. NAACP Tennessee President Gloria Sweet-Love and the NAACP Tennessee State Conference filed an emergency petition in Davidson County Chancery Court on May 7, hours after Gov. Bill Lee signed into law the new U.S. House district map — which carved up the state’s only majority-Black, majority-Democrat district in Memphis. State attorneys contend that the governor and the Tennessee General Assembly, both named as defendants, do not conduct elections and have sovereign immunity, and are therefore “immune from this suit,” according to a response filed Friday by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office. The Tennessee Legislature’s Republican supermajority proposed and passed the new map in a three-day special session called by Lee at President Donald Trump’s instruction after a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision weakened part of the Voting Rights Act. To do so, legislators first had to repeal a long-standing Tennessee law that forbade mid-decade redistricting. The NAACP’s lawsuit argues that Lee did not specifically state that the special session’s purpose included repealing that law. State law requires special legislative sessions to be limited to the purpose stated in the governor’s proclamation. The law’s repeal was lawful, the state argues, because it was captured under the special session’s purpose of “making statutory changes that are necessary” to redraw Tennessee’s congressional districts. The NAACP and Sweet-Love contend that “the Governor didn’t use just the right magic words to describe the exact election laws he hoped to change when he convened the Special Session, and so any legislation resulting from the special session is ‘void,’” Skrmetti’s filing read. “Plaintiffs take an all too jaundiced view of the Tennessee Constitution and the Governor’s Proclamation that began the Special Session.” The lawsuit also challenged a provision that suspends residency requirements for candidates in the newly drawn districts, similarly stating that this was not included in Lee’s proclamation prior to the special session. The state’s response said the lawsuit fails to identify “imminent harm.” “With the recent changes to the qualifying requirements, the state has relaxed barriers to becoming a candidate,” the filing said. “In such circumstances, Plaintiffs can assert no imminent harm from that expansion of the potential candidate pool.” State attorneys also wrote that the lawsuit does not provide evidence of election administration problems. Rather, the Division of Elections has already begun to implement the new plan for the 2026 election, including the changes to districts and candidate qualifying and residency requirements, becoming the “status quo.” The state pointed to Purcell v. Gonzalez, a 2006 case in which the U.S. Supreme Court decided rules should not be changed too close to an election to avoid causing confusion. Notably, opponents of the redrawn maps also cite the so-called Purcell Principle in arguments that the new map should not be implemented for the 2026 election. The lawsuit’s proceedings are on pause while the Tennessee Supreme Court determines whether it will convene a three-judge panel to handle the case. The state hired three attorneys from Arlington, Virginia-based law firm Consovoy McCarthy to work on the case. 2026 NAACP Redistricting Lawsuit_Defendant Response Courtesy of Tennessee Lookout
	Rock Island Arsenal trail launches, connecting visitors to history This new experience connects the past to the present and invites visitors to explore 13 points of interest.
	NMDOJ touts statewide progress with new ‘crime gun’ data tracking initiative Kyle Hartsock, director of the New Mexico Department of Justice's Special Investigations Bureau, explains how the department's new Crime Gun Intelligence Center will help law enforcement officials across the state identify common links between shell casings and firearms they recover at crime scenes during a Dec. 15, 2025, presentation announcing the statewide initiative. (Joshua Bowling/Source NM)New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez on Friday announced that his state Department of Justice’s nascent effort to trace firearms used in multiple crimes across the state is already paying off.SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Torrez first announced the Crime Gun Intelligence Center in December and said it would help law enforcement agencies across the state to quickly and accurately scan evidence such as spent shell casings and recovered guns and check a national database of guns linked to crimes for potential matches. Officials at the time said giving law enforcement agencies around New Mexico machines that can access the federal database would be an important step in tracking weapon trafficking and repeat offenders. Since launching the initiative, law enforcement agencies around New Mexico have uploaded more than 700 shell casings into the database and linked 31 recovered guns to 74 shootings. Nearly half of the guns analyzed were used in crimes in multiple jurisdictions. “New Mexico didn’t wait to act, we built a first-in-the-nation model that is already delivering results,” Torrez said in a statement. “By centralizing this work within our office and partnering with agencies across the state, we are giving investigators the tools they need to connect the dots, solve cases faster, and prevent future violence.” Nationally, gunfire is the leading cause of death for children and teenagers, and New Mexico’s firearm mortality rate of 26.6 per 100,000 residents is among the highest in the nation, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Before the New Mexico Department of Justice brought this technology to rural police departments and sheriff’s offices — including those in Gallup, Roswell and San Juan County — officers typically would have to travel several hours to access the database through a machine located in the Albuquerque Police Department. The initiative has since grown, according to an NMDOJ announcement. The Ohkay Owingeh Police Department joined the program in April. “Every casing entered, every firearm traced and every lead generated represents a step toward safer communities,” Torrez said in a statement. Courtesy of Source New Mexico

Tuesday, May 12th, 2026

Monday, May 11th, 2026