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

Saturday, February 28th, 2026
	"One year of failure." The Lancet slams RFK Jr.'s first year as health chief In a scathing review, the top US medical journal's editorial board warned that the "destruction that Kennedy has wrought in 1 in office might take generations to repair."
	Quad Cities area lawmakers react to U.S. military action in Iran Local lawmakers reaction to a U.S. and Israel attack Iran on Saturday ranged from support to allegations it lacked Constitutionally-required authorization. President Donald Trump said was a massive operation to destroy Iran's military capabilities and eliminate the threat of it creating a nuclear weapon. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it would defend its homeland and its Revolutionary [...]
	Davenport elementary school gets support all over U.S. for its new fundraiser The Eisenhower Elementary School PTA in Davenport got creative for its latest fundraiser, and has won far-flung support in donations from across the nation.
	Here's how world leaders are reacting to the US-Israel strikes on Iran Several leaders voiced support for the operation – but most, including those who stopped short of condemning it, called for restraint moving forward.
	Monmouth College 'Courier,' QCA students, earn recognition The staff at "The Courier," Monmouth College's student newspaper, had their finest year ever in terms of awards from the Illinois College Press Association, a news release says. Quad-City area students earned recognition. Adviser Chris Goble and his students recently returned from the ICPA's annual convention and awards ceremony in Chicago, where they received 10 [...]
	How could the U.S. strikes in Iran affect the world's oil supply? Despite sanctions, Iran is one of the world's major oil producers, with much of its crude exported to China.
	Recall for cat food sold in Illinois expanded over risk of serious illness A recall of potentially harmful cat food has been expanded to include two additional lots of products, affecting 20 states, according to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement Friday.
	Why is the U.S. attacking Iran? Six things to know The U.S. and Israel launched military strikes in Iran, targeting Khamenei and the Iranian president. "Operation Epic Fury" will be "massive and ongoing," President Trump said Saturday morning.
	Country music bands Sawyer Brown and Lonestar to headline Bureau County Fair The Bureau County Fair board has announced the headliners for the 2026 Bureau County Fair.
	Alaska Beacon state and legislative daybook for the week of Mar. 2, 2026 The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)At the Alaska Beacon, we’re constantly trying to figure out where we should put our attention. There’s always more news than there are people to report it. Every Thursday, the Alaska Legislature publishes its committee schedule for the coming week. Public notices alert us to meetings and events. The governor’s office occasionally lets us know ahead of time that something’s coming down the pike, too. Here’s what we know about for the coming week. If you know of something that’s coming up that you should think we should pay attention to, email us at info@alaskabeacon.com. We can’t cover everything on this list, but we’re interested in them and we think you should know about them in case you’re interested in them, too. This list is ripped from our notebooks, and it is likely to change over the course of the week. We’ll update it when we can. Are you trying to keep track of when to testify on a bill? The Legislature has a website for that. Monday, March 2 House/Senate floor sessions in the morning 8 a.m. – House Education Committee considers a resolution calling for the Trump administration to waive a $100,000 visa fee for H-1B visa holding teachers 9 a.m. – House Finance continues hearing the supplemental budget 12 p.m. – AIDEA lunch and learn 1 p.m. – Alaska Division of Elections talks in House Judiciary about its decision to share data with the federal government 1 p.m. – AIDEA gives an update on its work to House Resources 1 p.m. – House Judiciary holds a joint hearing with the House State Affairs committee on the Alaska Division of Elections sharing voter data with the Trump administration’s Department of Justice 1:30 p.m. – Senate Finance hears a bill on the defined retirement benefit system 1:30 p.m. – Senate Judiciary hears a bill to repeal the Worker’s Compensation Appeals Commission 3:15 p.m. – House Labor and Commerce hears a presentation on the rising cost of healthcare Tuesday, March 3 Southeast Alaska Landslide Preparedness and Partnership Conference takes place in Sitka 9 a.m. – House Finance Subcommittee holds a close out hearing for the Department of Correction’s budget request 9 a.m. – Senate Finance continues hearing the supplemental budget, and a bill to create civics education curriculum 10 a.m. – AOGCC public testimony meeting on carbon wells 3:30 p.m. – Senate Health and Social Services hears a presentation from the Office of Children’s Services Wednesday, March 4 Southeast Alaska Landslide Preparedness and Partnership Conference takes place in Sitka House/Senate floor sessions in the morning 8 a.m. – Senate Public Safety Committee hears a budget update from the Department of Public Safety 8:30 a.m. – Special Education Service Area board meeting 9 a.m. – The Division of Oil and Gas opens bids for the annual state Cook Inlet and Alaska Peninsula area wide lease sales 9 a.m. – Senate Finance hears a bill that would change the state funding formula for pre-K students to a full-time student instead of one-half of a student in the count for state budgeting. They will also hear a bill to expand funding for infant learning programs and early intervention services. 9 a.m. – Cook Inlet areawide state oil and gas lease sale results available 10 a.m. – Alaska Supreme Court oral argument in Legislative Council v State of Alaska 1:30 p.m. – Alaska Supreme Court oral argument in Sagoonick v State of Alaska (Lower court dismissed it, plaintiffs are appealing) 1:30 p.m. – Senate State Affairs will hold a joint hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee on sharing Alaska voter information with the U.S. Department of Justice 3:30p.m. – Senate Education will hear a bill related to changing graduation requirements Thursday, March 5 8 a.m. – House Tribal Affairs will hear presentations on local investment and owning Indigenous small businesses 9 a.m. – Board of Massage Therapists board meeting 1 p.m. – Mental Health Trust board meeting 1:30 p.m. – House Finance will hear a presentation on federal changes to SNAP and Medicaid benefits, implemented by the Department of Health 1:30 p.m. – Senate Special Committee on Arctic Affairs discusses a resolution that would support “mutual respect” and cooperation with Greenland 3:15 p.m. – House Health and Social Services will continue drafting a resolution on the Rural Health Transformation Fund. They will also hear a bill that would allow minors 16 or older to obtain mental health services without parental consent. 3:30 p.m. – House State Affairs will continue hearing a bill prohibiting law enforcement to wear masks 3:30 p.m. – Senate State Affairs will continue hearing a bill that would send Alaska inmates with extended sentences to out of state facilities Friday, March 6 House/Senate floor sessions in the morning 8 a.m. – Senate Corrections will hear an update on the proposed budget for the Department of Corrections 9 a.m. – State psychologists board meeting 10 a.m. – Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority meeting 10 a.m. – DNR hosts Cache Creek timber sale at the DNR office in Fairbanks 1 p.m. – House Resources considers the governor’s commissioner-designees for the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Enviromental Conservation Saturday, March 7 10 a.m. – Center for Artistic Activism workshop on incorporating art into Alaska political campaigns SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	City of Muscatine seeks residents to serve on committees The City of Muscatine invites residents to apply for open positions on the Historic Preservation Commission, the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and the Planning and Zoning Commission, a news release says. Community members who care about protecting Muscatine’s heritage or who want to help interpret and apply local zoning ordinances are encouraged to submit an [...]
	West Liberty Raceway announces season SR Promotions has announced its schedule of races for the West Liberty Raceway, 101 N. Clay St., West Liberty, in 2026, a news release says. The season kicks-off with the Malvern Bank Super Late Model Racing Series on Saturday, April 11. The SLMR series last raced in West Liberty in 2023, when Chad Simpson was [...]
	Hands-on diabetes cooking class returns to UnityPoint Health - Trinity UnityPoint Health - Trinity has announced the return of in-person Cooking with Heart for Diabetes classes beginning in March 2026, a news release says. Cooking with Heart for Diabetes supports individuals with prediabetes, Type I or Type II diabetes. This hands-on class emphasizes how nutrition can help individuals live well and manage their blood sugars [...]
	Augustana Symphonic Band to kick off Midwest tour The Augustana Symphonic Band will be beginning its Midwest tour on March 20th, performing across Illinois and Wisconsin. Concerts will be open to the public and donations will be accepted. The tour will run until march 26th. Concerts will be directed by Dr. James Lambrecht, and will take place in Oregon, Naperville, Manlius, Cambridge, and [...]
	Sen. Tim Kaine discusses the U.S. strikes on Iran NPR's Scott Simon talks to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., about the U.S. strikes on Iran.
	Sen. Kaine calls on Senate to vote on war powers resolution over U.S. Attack on Iran NPR's Scott Simon talks to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., about the U.S. strikes on Iran.
	Sen. Kaine calls on the Senate to vote on the War Powers Resolution NPR's Scott Simon talks to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., about the U.S. strikes on Iran.
	Sen. Tim Kaine calls on the Senate to vote on the War Powers Resolution NPR's Scott Simon talks to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., about the U.S. strikes on Iran.
	Political science expert weighs in on Iran's nuclear program in light of U.S. strikes NPR's Scott Simon speaks to Ariane Tabatabai, the Public Service Fellow at Lawfare, about U.S. attacks on Iran and how President Trump's calls for regime change might be received there.
	Week in Politics: Does Trump have political support for his actions in Iran? We look at what President Trump's decision to attack Iran means, what kind of support he has in Iran and what this moment means for his administration.
	Unlocking the secrets of an ancient plague The first historically recorded pandemic is believed to have struck the walled city of Jirash, in what is now modern-day Jordan, in the 7th century. A new study reveals details about those who died.
	Muscatine Compost Facility prepares to open for season The Muscatine Compost Facility at the Transfer Station will open for the season at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, weather permitting. Residents are encouraged to gather and transport any yard waste that accumulated over the winter. Yard Waste drop-Off Muscatine and Fruitland residents may bring yard waste from their homes—grass clippings, leaves, and garden [...]
	What to know about growth, projects mentioned in Bettendorf’s State of the City address Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher gave is State of the City address on Wednesday. Here's what to know:
	Panic, fury, and some hope, in Iran as U.S. launches strikes In Tehran, panicked residents rushed home to shelter and terrified children poured out of classrooms as U.S. air strikes hit the capitol.
	Memories of Muscatine: The Mrs. L. I. Crowley Residence This week for Memories of Muscatine: the house where Lepha (Woodhouse) Crowley lived after returning to Muscatine around 1890.
	Moline provides $7,500 grant for pickleball tournament at Riverside Park The tournament, hosted by the nonprofit Quad Cities Pickleball Club from Sept. 17-20, is in its eighth year and is the fifth tournament to take place at Riverside Park.
	North Carolina Democrats latest to chart future of the party in congressional primary In a safe Democratic seat in North Carolina, a match-up between a two-term Congresswoman and a progressive local official show how Democrats are charting the future of their party in the age of Trump.
	'The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins' falls before it rises — but then it soars The unlikely pairing of Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe isn't quite what makes the show work — it's the exquisite, perfectly-timed jokes that just keep coming.
	Putting ‘conservation on the land’: Rich Stewart has shepherded Quad-Cities area soil, water programs Rich Stewart, 72, of Moline, has been chosen the 2026 winner of the Oberholtzer Award for present-day conservation leadership, given by Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport.
	Four things to know about worker's claim of mold exposure at Cody Elementary in LeClaire The mold has been remediated and all tests have all come back at acceptable levels. Here are four things to know about the situation:
	St. Margaret's This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Generous hearts often find it difficult to draw a line between being a gracious giver and being a pushover. That was…
	Kyiv's elderly endure blackouts and bombardment, clinging to warmth and hope In Kyiv's darkened high-rises, as Russian strikes batter the Ukrainian capital, older residents endure freezing nights and power cuts, relying on volunteers, pets and faith to survive another winter.
	Parents, are you sure your kid's car seat is installed right? Here's how to know In this visual guide, certified car seat experts walk through common installation mistakes and how to fix them. Learn what a secure car seat base and a tightly fastened tether look like and more.
	Israel and the U.S. launch strikes against Iran Israel and the U.S. have lauched strikes against Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran and air raid sirens sounding across Israel. A nationwide state of emergency has been declared as officials warn further missile and drone attacks could be imminent.
	Trump announces 'major combat operations' in Iran Israel and the U.S. have launched strikes against Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran and air raid sirens sounding across Israel.
	Trump says he is 'not happy' with the Iran nuclear talks but indicates he'll give them more time U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he's "not happy" with the latest talks over Iran's nuclear program but indicated he would give negotiators more time to reach a deal to avert another war in the Middle East.
Friday, February 27th, 2026
	Bill Clinton says he 'did nothing wrong' with Epstein as he faced grilling over their relationship Former President Bill Clinton told members of Congress on Friday that he "did nothing wrong" in his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and saw no signs of Epstein's sexual abuse as he faced hours of grilling from lawmakers over his connections to the disgraced financier from more than two decades ago.
	Grass fire breaks out north of Milan Fire officials told News 8 the fire did not cause any injuries, but it burned through approximately 80 bales of hay.
	Nebraska immigration-related bills draw hours of public comment, largely anti-ICE testimony State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha speaks at a rally of pro-immigrant advocates Friday in the State Capitol. Many spoke during public hearings later on five different immigration-related legislative proposals. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)LINCOLN — Dozens of Nebraskans converged at the State Capitol Friday for a rally and back-to-back hearings on five immigration-related measures aimed at reining in ICE tactics in the state and increasing public scrutiny. Advocates for greater restrictions on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities dominated the roughly four hours of testimony before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. Only two people spoke against any of the five bills. Both were agency heads in Gov. Jim Pillen’s administration. The first two hearings — on Legislative Bills 854 and 906, which seek to halt mask-wearing by immigration agents in Nebraska, except in certain circumstances — drew more than 20 supporters. “It is un-American to have a secret masked police force in our country,” State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha said in discussing her LB 854. “The reasons why are manifold.” State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) State Sen. Margo Juarez of South Omaha introduced the similar LB 906. Both bills include certain exceptions. Sponsors said they intend also to stop ICE impersonators from concealing their faces to try and commit crimes. Mia Perales, a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was among proponents who said she wanted to give lawmakers a feel for what was on young peoples’ minds. She said she would not be part of any “brain drain” fleeing Nebraska because of high taxes or housing costs. Rather, she said, her concern is transparency and respect for people of all backgrounds. If she left, Perales said, it would be because “my values aren’t being upheld.” The two people opposing the bills on Friday were Col. Bryan Waugh, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, and Rob Jeffreys, director of the Nebraska Department of Corrections. They took issue with Legislative Bills 963 and 881, introduced by State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha and State Sen. Dunixi Guereca of Omaha, respectively. McKinney’s LB 963 would prohibit state agencies and officials from entering into agreements related to immigration enforcement without legislative approval and seeks to void a Nebraska deal with the federal government that last fall converted a rehabilitative-focused state prison in McCook into an ICE detention facility for migrants. He has been a vocal opponent of Pillen’s decision to partner with federal officials in the arrangement, saying the Legislature should have had oversight. State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha, chair of the Legislature’s Urban Affairs Committee. Sept. 12, 2025. (Photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) “ICE is out of control in the United States of America,” McKinney said. “They are killing U.S. citizens.” Jeffreys, as he has on previous occasions, said the governor had the authority to convert the Work Ethic Camp into the ICE detention center. He contends that the change did not “disrupt” WEC inmates who had to be relocated to other facilities and said the federal government has been timely in reimbursing the state for costs. Pillen’s office has estimated ICE reimbursements will net Nebraska $14.5 million annually. Over the next month or so, Jeffreys said, the facility should finish construction that would allow for 100 more detainees, up from the current capacity of about 200, he said. Several speakers protested the lack of public input on the conversion, however. Among them was Phil Lyons, a McCook lawyer and Red Willow County deputy county attorney who said he was speaking for himself. Lyons said he resented that community members were not consulted. “I think it’s a bad picture,” he said. “I don’t want to be associated with a concentration camp. I don’t want that to be associated with McCook. We deserve better.” Guereca, in describing his LB 881, focused on local and state law enforcement agencies entering into 287(g) agreements with the federal government to enforce immigration laws. The legislation would require prior notification to a local governing body and calls for a public hearing. Waugh said the new requirements could “unintentionally hinder public safety operations, delay time-sensitive decision-making and create administrative burdens.” Bryan Waugh, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. Aug. 5, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) “Many agreements or interactions with federal partners occur in urgent situations,” he said. “The bill’s framework may limit the flexibility agencies need to respond.” The State Patrol leader challenged Guereca’s assertion that such agreements cost Nebraskans. He said six state troopers have gone through 40 hours of Department of Homeland Security training and have made 65 immigration-related arrests. Waugh said the federal government has reimbursed the state for car mileage and other costs. Guereca said, however, reimbursement is not guaranteed. He said he was concerned about county sheriff’s departments entering into agreements and local residents shouldering expenses. He offered examples, including Harris County in Texas, which ended its program in 2017 because it cost $675,000 a year. Guereca said the DHS Office of Inspector General estimated that ICE saves $120,000 to $250,000 a year for every 287(g) agreement because “local law enforcement agents perform similar functions” to ICE officers. “Taxpayers deserve the right to have a voice in the process,” Guereca said. Another Juarez legislative proposal aired Friday would prohibit law enforcement agents from entering certain “community safe spaces” to enforce immigration law without a judicial warrant. Legislative Bill 907 drew multiple supporters, including Daniel Russell of the Nebraska nonprofit Stand for Schools. State Sen. Dunixi Guereca of Omaha speaks at a news conference and rally on Feb. 27, 2026. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) The measure aims to ensure that places such as schools, child and health care facilities are not “disrupted by warrantless immigration enforcement.” Russell said families and students are on edge in Nebraska, seeing immigration enforcement activities unfolding in cities such as Minnesota and Los Angeles. When parents are worried, he said, “Kids don’t show up or don’t fully engage in the school day.” He said that while ICE hasn’t reached into Nebraska schools, the Juarez bill could help alleviate tension and be preventative. Lina Traslaviña Stover joined Russell and others at a State Capitol rally prior to the hearings. She said many in the Latino community in Nebraska are living in fear. “Men in masks and unmarked cars are taking our neighbors away.” “Fear is not public safety,” she said. Juarez spoke to the roughly 50 rallygoers, many of whom carried signs saying, “Protect our Communities” and others who wore T-shirts saying, “I am a friend of immigrants.” She said the country and Nebraska are in unprecedented times. As lawmakers, she said, “We are here to show them we care.” The Judiciary Committee took no immediate action Friday on any of the proposals. Friday was the last day of public hearings, and the rest of the 60-day legislative session that ends in mid-April will be full days of debate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Courtesy of Nebraska Examiner
	Grass fire breaks out north of Milan Fire officials told News 8 the fire did not cause any injuries, but it burned through approximately 80 bales of hay.
	Man charged with arson after fire at Great River State Wildlife Management Area 21-year-old Trent A. Schafer was charged with one count of arson after witnesses allegedly saw him set fire to grass in the preserve. About 700 acres were burned.
	Arconic to expand, hosts groundbreaking ceremony for ‘Pit 10′ project Arconic will be expanding and brining new jobs to the QCA with the construction of a new casting complex in Bettendorf.
	Family Resources helps parents navigate traumatic events for children Thursday’s tragic incident can be traumatic for small children who witnesses it.
	Davenport Works has groundbreaking for Pit 10 project Davenport Works will host a ceremonial groundbreaking for its Pit 10 project on Friday, Feb. 27, marking a major milestone in continued investment at the facility, an Arconic news release says. The event brought together company leadership, labor representatives, project partners, and employees to recognize progress on the project and reaffirm a shared commitment to [...]
	Shed, vehicle, and heavy machinery deemed total loss after fire Firefighters said a car, backhoe, two telephone poles, and trees were also lost in the fire.
	Brush fire in Carbon Cliff burns 5-10 acres in wooded area on Friday The fire was located in a wooded area south of the intersection of First Avenue North and State Street.
	Man charged with arson after fire at Great River State Wildlife Management Area 21-year-old Trent A. Schafer was charged with one count of arson after witnesses allegedly saw him set fire to grass in the preserve. About 700 acres were burned.
	Fire causes severe damage to shed A building appeared to be severely damaged after catching fire Friday evening.
	May hearing set for change of venue motion in Jamison Fisher murder case Jamison Fisher is accused of murdering 11-year-old Trudy Appleby in 1996.
	Officials: Volunteer firefighter, charged with arson in connection to Lee County, Illinois grass fire The Lee County Sheriff’s Office says they’ve made an arrest into a grass fire that was set intentionally at Green River Wildlife Area on Friday.
	Arconic breaks ground on new complex The Davenport Works facility held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Pit 10 project.
	Volunteer firefighter arrested after 700-acre fire in Lee County wildlife area A volunteer firefighter is in custody in connection with a fire at a Lee County wildlife area that spread over 700 acres, a news release says. Shortly before 11:15 a.m., Lee County Dispatch was notified of a large grass fire in the Green River State Wildlife Management Area that was intentionally set, the release says. [...]
	Alaska Senate resolution highlights ‘mutual respect’ and cooperation with Greenland The red and white flag of Greenland, along with those from other far-north regions, hangs from the chalet at Government Peak Recreation Center in Palmer while cross-country skiers race on March 14, 2024, during the Arctic Winter Games. The competition, which drew 2,000 competitors from Alaska, Canada, Greenland and northern Scandinavia, is an example of cultural and social ties between Alaska and Greenland. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)As President Donald Trump presses for a takeover of Greenland, some Alaska state lawmakers are trying to send a different message about state cooperation with the Arctic island. A resolution recently introduced in the state Senate, Senate Joint Resolution 24, seeks to promote continued friendship, cooperation and “mutual respect” between Alaska and Greenland, an autonomous and self-ruling territory that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and with a mostly Inuit population that has cultural ties to Alaska’s Indigenous peoples. The resolution expresses a commitment “to fostering friendship, mutual respect, and long-term cooperation between the peoples of the state and Greenland in support of a peaceful, prosperous, and resilient Arctic.” It names multiple links between Alaska and Greenland. Among those are “Indigenous cultures with histories stretching back millennia,” shared participation in organizations like the Arctic Council and research institutions, shared challenges concerning Arctic climate change and environmental protection and longstanding military collaborations that focus on Arctic security. Legislative resolutions, which express policy or philosophical positions, do not carry any power of law. But they can influence actions in Congress or other parts of government. At the first hearing on the resolution, held Thursday by the Senate Special Committee on Arctic Affairs, the main sponsor referred to the Trump administration’s continued Greenland push. “The impetus for this was the discussions on the federal level that could really disrupt this collaborative and this friendship that we have with other Arctic nations, Denmark and, by extension, Greenland,” said Senate President Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage. Giessel chairs the committee. Responding to a question, she said the measure is not intended as a criticism of Trump, although “certainly, there will be people that have that mindset.” Rather, “there’s people who recognize that the Arctic communities, the Arctic circumpolar countries, have such shared values, such shared culture. That’s what really is what we’re trying to emphasize here.” Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, the committee co-chair, addressed a false claim by Trump that the U.S. previously owned Greenland but returned control to Denmark. Trump made that claim during a speech at an international meeting in Davos, Switzerland. “I mean, we’ve never owned Greenland. We had a working relationship with it, but that is the truth,” Stevens said at the hearing. “It’s no intention to really slam the administration. But I think facts are facts.” The resolution was held for further consideration. Its next hearing in the committee is scheduled for March 5. Trump has continued to apply pressure on the international community in a quest to take control of the Arctic island. In a January social media post, he announced a 10% tariff, rising to 25% in June, on the Scandinavian nations, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, with money due “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.” But this week, he paused that tariff plan. Trump also announced last week that he was sending a U.S. Navy hospital ship to the island, which he claimed would deliver health care services to Greenlanders that the Danish government was failing to provide. But there is no evidence of any U.S. hospital ship being sent to Greenland, according to the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. Greenlander’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, dismissed the hospital ship idea. “President Trump’s idea to send an American hospital ship here to Greenland is noted. But we have a public health system where treatment is free for citizens. It’s a deliberate choice. And a basic part of our society. It’s not like that in the United States, where it costs money to go to the doctor,” Nielsen said in a statement posted on Feb. 22 on Facebook. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Alaska Beacon
	Muscatine Compost Facility to open in March The Muscatine Compost Facility at the Transfer Station will open for the season in March.
	1 person injured in stabbing at NorthPark Mall Davenport police said the victim's injuries were serious but not life-threatening.
	Iowa bill would classify hemp as agricultural commodity, restrict some products House Study Bill 753 would classify hemp as an agricultural commodity, which could give farmers clearer legal protection to grow, transport and sell their crops.
	Iowa chainsaw artist turns ash trees killed by invasive beetle into public art The emerald ash borer has decimated ash trees across the Midwest. Several cities have asked Gary Keenan to turn those leftover stumps into art.
	Girl Scout Week bringing promotions and celebrations to the Quad Cities The Girl Scout Week events will run from March 8-14.
	Arconic breaks ground on $175 million expansion in Riverdale, expected to add 40 jobs "This project represents continued investment, not only in equipment or infrastructure, but in people," Riverdale Mayor Anthony Heddlesten said.
	Iowa man turns tree stumps into art Emerald ash borers are an invasive species that can kill ash trees in one to three years. One Iowa man is turning those ash tree stumps into works of art.
	Highlight Zone: Week 8, high school playoff basketball The Highlight Zone airs Friday night at 10:15 p.m.
	Driest month EVER in the Quad Cities! It's not often we break an all-time weather/climate record in the Quad Cities, but it looks like we're about to do that once February comes to an end! The lowest precipitation total for any month ever was 0.01" in October of 1964. The second lowest is 0.02" in September of 1979. So far this February [...]
	Man injured in stabbing at NorthPark Mall, police say A man was injured after a stabbing at NorthPark Mall Friday.
	Bird's-eye views from across the Quad Cities region for the week of Feb. 27, 2026 Sit back, relax and enjoy these scenes captured by the News 8 drone from across the Quad Cities region this week.
	Fire at Muscatine apartment results in an estimated $80K in damage The cause of the fire remains unknown and no injuries were reported.
	Man hospitalized after stabbing at NorthPark Mall, Davenport A 22-year-old man was transported to a Quad Cities hospital after a stabbing at NorthPark Mall on Friday afternoon, according to a news release from Davenport Police. Shortly before 3 p.m. Friday, Davenport police, Davenport Fire and Medic EMS responded to NorthPark Mall, 320 W. Kimberly Road, for a report of a stabbing. An initial [...]
	Man injured after stabbing at NorthPark Mall, police say A man was injured after a stabbing at NorthPark Mall Friday.
	Iron Tee's driving range reopens after wind damage The range was closed for a few days so crews could repair the damage.
	AmeriFile Tax Time Sweepstakes March 2026 OFFICIAL RULES Official rules for this sweepstakes
	Community mourns child killed in Davenport bus crash Davenport police and school officials have announced they will not be releasing the name of the child who was killed.
	Traffic alert: Portion of a street in Muscatine to close for bridge replacement project 155th Street will be closed to traffic over Little Mosquito Creek for a bridge replacement project, the Muscatine County Engineer’s Office said.
	Simon Estes has filled opera houses around the world This Iowan broke racial barriers for Black men in opera and used his acclaim and faith to give back as a philanthropist and humanitarian.
	Crews battle field fire in Carbon Cliff Firefighters from Carbon Cliff, Silvis and Colona all worked to extinguish the blaze.
	Will refunds for tariff revenue go into effect? Following the Supreme Court striking down President Trump's tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, some lawmakers are trying to get businesses and consumers refunds for tariff revenue taken in. Our Quad Cities News Washington correspondent Maddie Biertempfel looks at when and if refunds would go into effect.
	Portion of Bridge Avenue closed as crews repair damaged power pole A portion of Bridge Avenue is closed near the Locust Street intersection as crews repair a power pole after a vehicle crash Friday afternoon.
	NorthPark Mall employee says fight broke out in food court, police present News 8 is on scene and will update when more details are available.
	QC Senior Expo returning to Davenport The QC Senior Expo returns to Davenport on Friday, March 27 with 40 senior-focused vendors to attend.
	22-year-old man injured in stabbing at NorthPark Mall on Friday Police were called to the mall at about 2:49 p.m.
	Inside Iowa Politics: What’s the reason behind new way to handle budget standoff Iowa Republican legislators are discussing a change when a budget standoff stretches into a new budget year.
	Trudy Appleby: Judge can't rule on defense's change of venue request until hearing takes place Jamison Fisher's attorneys asked the judge to move his murder trial to a different county, claiming an impartial jury is "highly unlikely" due to media coverage.
	University of Iowa promotes robotic surgery for living kidney donations University of Iowa Health Care transplant surgeon Ramy El-Diwany recently performed the first robotic living donor nephrectomy, paving the way for more living kidney donations in the state.
	Project NOW Head Start program to receive $1.8 million in federal funds The funds, announced by U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen on Friday, come from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
	Iowa hunters can pitch rule changes at local meetings in March The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will host a series of public meetings across the state to recap the recent hunting seasons and discuss potential rule changes for hunting and trapping.
	Police respond to NorthPark Mall A large police presence is gathered at NorthPark Mall.
	Multiple crews battle Carbon Cliff fire Our Quad Cities News has crews on the scene of a fire in Carbon Cliff. The fire is near the intersection of First Avenue North and State Street in Carbon Cliff. The fire is in a wooded area to the south of that intersection. Fire crews from Carbon Cliff/Barstow, Silvis, Colona, Hillsdale and Rapids City, [...]
	Crews battle field fire in Carbon Cliff Firefighters from Carbon Cliff, Silvis and Colona are all working to extinguish the blaze.
	Rock Island High School students walk out of class to protest district administration About 60 students participated in the walkout.
	Pentagon puts Scouts 'on notice' over DEI and girl-centered policies After threatening to sever ties with the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts, Defense Secretary Hegseth announced a 6-month reprieve
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	Jamison Fisher makes court appearance in Trudy Appleby case Jamison Fisher appeared in Henry County Court in Cambridge on Friday, February 27 for a pretrial hearing in the murder case of 11-year-old Trudy Appleby. Rock Island County State’s Attorney Dora Villarreal entered a motion to withdraw from the case. The motion was granted without objection. The court scheduled a hearing on other motions, including [...]
	Crews battle brush fire in Silvis, Carbon Cliff area Crews are battling a large brush fire behind the Silvis Walmart.
	Jamison Fisher appears in court, witness testimony hearing scheduled Jamison Fisher, charged in connection with the 1996 death of Trudy Appleby, appeared in court Friday for a pretrial conference.
	11 women business leaders to watch in Silicon Valley 11 women business leaders to watch in Silicon ValleyInternational Women’s History Month began as a weeklong event in the San Francisco Bay Area.In 1978, local teacher Molly Murphy McGregor led a celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history, and society. She pegged the weeklong festivities to International Women’s Day on March 8—a rallying cry for women’s rights advocates dating back to 1908 when thousands of women marched through New York City, demanding better working hours and pay.In the 1980s, President Jimmy Carter declared March 2-8 Women’s History Week before Congress expanded the holiday to a full month. Now, millions of people around the world celebrate the visionary accomplishments of women every March. From the Olympic podium to ultraviolet light devices that clean hospitals and shared offices in seconds, CANOPY highlights 11 inspiring women transforming the future from San Francisco and Silicon Valley.Jenn HeilCEO, RevvelFreestyle skier Jenn Heil won her first Olympic medal, a gold for Canada, at the 2006 Winter Olympics and later held the Guinness World Record for most World Championship gold medals.In 2023, after graduating from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Heil turned her energy and winning mindset toward founding RYA, an AI-powered health platform that puts an Olympic-level care team at every woman’s fingertips. Last year, Heil was at the start line once again—this time as CEO of Revvel, which matches women with a personalized team of AI agents built by elite trainers of the world’s best athletes. The goal? To build resiliency, performance, and confidence, and champion womanhood in all forms.“Women’s health has been a hugely neglected area,” Heil said. “Women don’t have information on managing their health because it doesn’t exist, or their care providers aren’t adequately trained, and we’re looking to close that gap. I’m leveraging my background, taking sports science and blending that with healthcare to bring expertise from disciplines, including nutrition, physiotherapy, and kinesiology, to the everyday woman.”Sam De BrouwerCofounder and CEO of XY.AI Labs; Curator and Producer, TEDAI San FranciscoSam De Brouwer founded agentic AI health platform XY.AI Labs in 2023 after seeing firsthand how AI agents could solve problems to help mitigate the $1.5T “soul-crushing frictions” of healthcare operations. By offering a suite of AI agents to automate operations for revenue cycle management (RCM), data entry, document processing, and scheduling, XY.AI Labs gives clinicians more time to focus on care, not clicks. De Brouwer also curates and produces TEDAI, the first-of-its-kind TED Conference in San Francisco, inspired by her nonprofit work with One Laptop per Child from MIT Media Lab and TED conferences.“I’m excited by the opportunities that generative AI can offer in education and healthcare, specifically in medicine and biotech, and how it could accelerate discoveries for new treatments and therapeutics,” De Brouwer said. “I’m also fascinated by the conversations that generative AI triggers and how it pushes us to think and reflect on progress. It’s almost like witnessing a new cycle of human evolution in real-time.”Tory SchenkkanManaging Director, AvroKO SFInterior designer Tory Schenkkan worked in New York before returning to San Francisco, her home city, to raise a family and oversee the local studio of the critically acclaimed hospitality design firm AvroKO.Globally, AvroKO has delivered projects in 22 countries, including the Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in Dubai—a textured aesthetic journey across continents and cities—and Thailand’s BKK Social Club, which pays homage to Argentine cuisine and the Belle Époque era of Buenos Aires in 1900. In the Bay Area, recent projects include SingleThread Farms in Healdsburg, a restaurant and inn with three Michelin stars, the Jay Hotel in San Francisco’s Financial District, and the reimagination of a former popular stagecoach stop and Prohibition-era hangout into coastal escape The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern. “It’s a challenging industry and can take a lot out of you, but there’s nothing like walking into a space you spent months or even years fussing over every detail and seeing all your ideas fully realized,” Schenkkan said. “If you want a career in interior design, go for it!”Catherine Crystal FosterFounder and Principal, Crystal Foster AdvisingCatherine Crystal Foster has decades of experience as a social entrepreneur and philanthropic leader, most recently as vice president, advisory, at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, where she led the San Francisco-based team to serve clients worldwide, accelerating hundreds of millions of dollars in philanthropic capital for ultrahigh-net-worth families, independent foundations, and corporate foundations.Now, Crystal Foster is dedicated to helping families and philanthropic organizations deliver “greater joy, meaning, and impact” under her eponymous advisory.“In this moment of fundamental rupture and breathtaking change across the U.S. government and civil society, there’s no shortage of thoughtful counsel and alarm-ringing within the philanthropic sector,” Crystal Foster said. “But this chaotic moment gives donors the precious opportunity to ground themselves in their ‘why,’ recommit to their ‘what,’ while revising their ‘how’ (the way they give). This grounding process can both activate the courage necessary to address current challenges and influence others who otherwise might not feel emboldened to act.”Liz WhitmanFounder and CEO, Exponent BeautyAntioxidants are fabulous anti-aging ingredients because they fight free radicals, but they’re fragile and degrade easily—despite efficacy claims, today’s skincare products contain premixed ingredients that degrade within weeks when exposed to light and air. Serial entrepreneur Liz Whitman’s “aha” moment came when she was President of The Red Door by Elizabeth Arden, a marquee salon- and spa-inspired beauty brand. Inspired by the way talented estheticians optimized skincare by mixing it immediately before treatment, Whitman founded and patented Exponent Beauty: the first skincare system that protects active ingredients in a powder format for peak potency.Exponent Beauty’s first product line, a consumer line of power serums available at Credo Beauty and Nordstrom, is patented to seamlessly dose clinical-grade vitamin C, retinol, and CoQ10 with hyaluronic acid to visibly reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration. Stamp, pump, mix in the palm of your hand, and apply.“People who use Exponent products see visible changes in their skin within one to two weeks—we’ve had customers report that their stubborn sunspots have faded within a very short period of time, which is incredible,” Whitman said. “Getting to a place in my career where I can make a product that I know for sure works is such a pleasure and a privilege.”Charlotte WeinerCofounder and CEO, Frontdoor BenefitsCharlotte Weiner and her cofounder Ben Sheldon launched Frontdoor Benefits in 2024. Their goal: to turn dead ends into front doors for public benefits access, so low-income Americans can easily access over $100 billion in unclaimed safety net benefits each year. Weiner says that while many people are aware that benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) exist, the application process—from determining eligibility and enrollment through renewal and recertification—can pose significant obstacles and carry a stigma. Frontdoor Benefits partners with players like grocery stores and health plans to transform how families access public benefits through simple, mobile-friendly applications that connect directly to government systems and support people through every step.“A single parent in Norwalk applied for SNAP with Frontdoor Benefits. I’ll never forget her reaction. She described the financial burden that receiving SNAP benefits each month will lift for her family, and she also realized that SNAP entitles her to $3 tickets to the Norwalk Aquarium,” Weiner said. “This client was able to bring her son to the aquarium right after they got enrolled and sent our team beautiful photos from the aquarium. Those photos remind me why we do the work.”Jess HeitzCEO, TandyJess Heitz—who helped scale the supplements brand OLLY into a household name before its acquisition by Unilever—has always had a personal passion for all things sweet. When Tandy came knocking with an offer to develop candy that was both tasty AND beneficial, Heitz jumped at the opportunity.Tandy’s line of gummies and chocolate, NomNoms—available in Salted Caramel Crunch, Peanut Buttery Peanut, and Chocolate Dipped Churro—combine fun and function in outrageously tasty bites that tear down the wall between “candy” and “supplements.” “Tandy brings these worlds together for a treat that offers a real functional benefit, addressing the real reason you reached for it in the first place,” Heitz said. “Just enough sugar to taste amazing. A variety of classic, craveable flavors. Perfectly chewy texture—no stickiness was a must! Plus, functional ingredients people want: Stress Relief, Relaxation, Focus, Energy, and now Protein.”Julia CollinsFounder and CEO of Planet FWDIn 2019, food systems pioneer Julia Collins founded Planet FWD, a leading sustainability and supply chain intelligence platform for global consumer brands. A year later, she leveraged Planet FWD to create the crackers brand Moonshot Snacks under a concept of shorter, low-emission supply chains and more traceable ingredients. (Moonshot was such a successful impact showcase that Patagonia Provisions acquired the company in 2023.)Today, Planet FWD is focused on guiding companies to achieve net zero by spending less time reporting on their environmental impacts and more time actually reducing them. Using artificial intelligence to build digital twins of its customers’ operations, Planet FWD helps brands measure the impact of every aspect of its supply chain. from their head office downstream to a head of lettuce in a field.“We find that customers working with Planet FWD, such as the world’s largest global food service company, Compass Group, have been able to accelerate the reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40 percent. We’re making expansive, measurable impact,” Collins said.Karine SarkissianFounding Partner at Tamar Capital, Design Lead at Le StudioKarine Sarkissian cofounded Single Family Office, Tamar Capital, with her two brothers in 2016; now, they operate offices in Beirut, London, and San Francisco with a shared mission: deploying human and financial capital to create value, empower societies, and communities.Sarkissian believes that design is a way of life. In 2020, she cofounded Le Studio with Sophie Durey, an in-house Venture Studio-as-a-Service (VSaaS) model for enterprises, combining theory and practice to support every part of an entrepreneur’s journey through a curated curriculum and a series of resources, including workshops, toolkits, and a podcast.“We aim to be thought leaders in the space and to promote impactful entrepreneurship,” said Sarkissian. “We understand a company’s lifecycle, and we can work with firms at many different stages, from inception to raising future rounds. Our biggest goal is to give teams something tangible to implement quickly and successfully. We aspire to become the recognized gold standard for purpose-driven founders.”Caroline BarlerinFounder and CEO, Platypus AdvisorsCaroline Barlerin built her career on social innovation. Barlerin launched the neighborhood learning center NeighborNest as Twitter’s (now X) head of philanthropy and community outreach. She also built HP’s “Matter to a Million” game-changing partnership with Kiva, which subsequently made over $20 million of loans to more than 350,000 people.As CEO and founder of Platypus Advisors, Barlerin partners with companies at any growth stage, including Google, Okta, Uber, Splunk, Cruise, and Sephora, to implement cross-sector social initiatives that accelerate real-world impact. Barlerin also sits on the Board of the Global Fund for Women, which does crucial work around the intersection of climate and women’s rights.“Where planet and people come together is one of the intersections I think about most,” Barlerin said. “Tech has a critical role in sustainability and harnessing the power of innovation to help solve problems humans are causing in the short, middle, and long term. We must do this work in conversation with those impacted the most.”Jennifer NucklesChief Executive Officer and Chairperson, R-ZeroHealthy buildings company R-Zero combines ultraviolet light devices that disinfect air and surfaces in seconds with data to help companies and organizations improve indoor health while making energy savings across their real estate footprint.Netflix, Stanford Children’s Health, and the 49ers are already customers. Jennifer Nuckles believes Far UV technology will be as commonplace as mains electricity and a clean water supply within the next decade, providing sustainable, cost-effective solutions for protecting human capital and the environment for future generations.“I like building companies at scale, using technology to solve problems, benefit users, and disrupt large industries for the common good,” Nuckles said. “R-Zero allowed me to build a sustainable business that matters to everyone, not just early adopters. We spend so much money investing in computers and protecting our IP; why shouldn't we protect our human capital?”This story was produced by CANOPY and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	From snowplows to school buses: 10 ways cities are getting smarter From snowplows to school buses: 10 ways cities are getting smarterThe term “smart city” used to evoke shiny infrastructure projects—sensors bolted to streetlights, standalone apps, and dashboards that mostly reported activity, including maps and charts that looked impressive in a control room but weren’t connected to dispatch, work orders, routing, or how crews made decisions in the field. What’s changing now is quieter, but more consequential. It’s operational, and residents are starting to feel it in the basics: plowed streets, passable roads, reliable trash service, faster restoration after storms, and safer buses.The reason is straightforward: cities already run on moving assets. Snowplows, garbage trucks, bucket trucks, ambulances, buses, and heavy equipment are the front line of public services. When those fleets and assets are connected—through GPS, telematics, cameras, and automated reporting—cities can shift from “we think it happened” to “here’s what happened,” without pulling supervisors into hours of manual reconstruction or wasting taxpayer dollars.Research suggests that when cities use connected technologies to create real-time operational visibility, the payoff shows up in outcomes residents actually feel: 8%-10% fewer fatalities, 20%-35% faster emergency response, 10%-15% lower greenhouse gas emissions, and a 10%-20% reduction in unrecycled solid waste per capita. In many cities, smart mobility tools can also shave 15–30 minutes off the daily commute, meaning fewer cars stuck idling on the road and cleaner air overall. Improvements like these raise service quality, reduce costs and strengthen public confidence that city services are working.That’s why connected fleet technology is becoming one of the most practical forms of smart city technology. It doesn’t require rebuilding roads or installing brand-new citywide infrastructure. Instead, it turns vehicles and equipment cities already own into a real-time system for dispatch, documentation, and accountability. Public-sector outlets have increasingly pointed to these tools as a straightforward way to improve service delivery and reduce waste, even for fleets as unglamorous as garbage trucks.Samsara highlights 10 ways cities are using connected fleet technology to improve public services.1. Real-Time Snow Plow TrackingSnow response rarely fails because a city doesn’t have enough plows. It fails because conditions change faster than the plan. Drifting closes a priority corridor, an untreated hill turns into a hazard, and the city can’t confidently answer the simplest resident question: “Has my street been done yet?” Real-time tracking turns snow operations from a static route sheet into a live system that can be managed as the storm evolves—and, in many cases, shared publicly so residents can see progress street by street after a storm.In Grand Rapids, Michigan, local reporting described supervisors tracking snowplows with a GPS system so they can see where trucks are moving during storms, improving both internal coordination and transparency into post-storm operations.2. Pothole DetectionPotholes don’t show up one at a time—they spike after freezing–thaw cycles and heavy wind and rain seasons, when crews are already stretched thin. In many places, the discovery process is still complaint-driven: Residents hit a hole, report it, and wait. If vehicles can automatically flag repeated “hard hits” at the same location, road repair becomes prioritized based on where the damage is actually impacting drivers most.Jackson, Tennessee, announced a pothole response initiative that included piloting AI detection to automatically log pothole locations after winter weather. Local TV coverage later explained the citywide repair push and how teams were deployed across districts.3. Improved Trash Pickup and Service DeliveryFew services generate as many disputes as trash and recycling—often with limited evidence either way. When the only record is a route plan and a phone call, supervisors lose time reconstructing what happened, and crews get pulled off service to investigate.Digital verification changes that dynamic by making routes and service activity confirmable, so disagreements get resolved faster and operations stay focused on pickup, not paperwork.In Poughkeepsie, New York, the city’s program has been described as using fleet visibility and video to improve operations, including a reported reduction in accidents and faster clarity when incidents occur.4. Emergency Response Optimization (EMS and Fire)During a major incident, the challenge isn’t getting one department moving—it’s getting multiple departments moving in sync. Fire, EMS, police, utilities, and public works may all be responding at once, and the operational picture can change minute by minute. That’s where real-time visibility matters: It replaces static snapshots with a live view of where critical vehicles and assets actually are, so leaders can stage resources, redeploy units, and avoid delay when time is the constraint.With cities often juggling a patchwork of tools— including radio GPS, modem GPS, and Apple AirTags—consolidating into a single real-time system can help emergency teams better coordinate response.5. Faster Power RestorationStorm response is as much a dispatch-and-logistics challenge as it is a repair challenge. Utilities need to coordinate crews quickly while reducing preventable incidents in hazardous conditions—long shifts, low visibility, and constant reprioritization. Real-time crew and vehicle visibility turns restoration into a coordinated logistics operation rather than a chain of phone calls and guesswork.6. Public Transportation That’s More Predictable (and Safer)For riders, the “smart city” version of public transportation isn’t a flashy app—it’s a bus that arrives when the schedule says it will. The hardest part of delivering that reliability is that transit is dynamic: Congestion shifts, dwell times vary, and one delay can ripple into missed connections across an entire route. Without real-time visibility, agencies struggle to answer the most basic rider question—”Where is my bus?”—and to intervene early enough to prevent minor delays from becoming system-wide disruption.By deploying real-time vehicle gateways and open APIs, the transit systems can benefit from second-by-second tracking—even in underground tunnels where GPS signals typically fail–that enables them to make more accurate arrival predictions, solve the problem of ghost buses . and streamline maintenance by allowing teams to remotely diagnose engine faults. When cities eliminate data blind spots, they can create a more reliable, efficient, and rider-focused transit network.7. School Bus Safety and Parent Peace of MindSchool transportation is one of the most visible public operations, because the “customers” are kids and the audience is every parent. For a parent, a bus being late is time spent wondering where their child is. This lights up the phone lines, and teams have to focus on call responses rather than the important task of keeping the children safe on the road.But running safe service at scale requires more than annual training—it requires consistent, day-to-day reinforcement of behaviors like speed control, smooth braking, and seat belt compliance. When districts can measure those behaviors and review incidents quickly via GPS units and camera technology, safety becomes something they can manage continuously rather than react to after something goes wrong.8. Preventing Equipment TheftA stolen excavator or trailer isn’t just a property loss—it can stall roadwork, delay storm cleanup, and disrupt schedules across an entire department. Recovery also depends heavily on the first hours; if the search is broad and slow, the odds drop quickly. Real-time asset location data including GPS and video evidence narrows the hunt immediately and helps agencies act while the trail is still fresh.9. Air Quality and ‘Idle’ ReductionIdling is the kind of inefficiency that hides in plain sight: It happens in small increments across thousands of stops, shifts, and routes, quietly driving up fuel use, emissions, and wear. Most cities don’t have a way to see it consistently, which makes it hard to change without blunt rules that frustrate crews. When idling is measurable by vehicle and context via telematics, cities can help reduce idle time, vehicle downtime and fuel consumption without disrupting service.This is also where many cities start building the data foundation for electrification.10. Automated ReportingAfter hurricanes and severe storms, the work doesn’t end when debris is cleared and lights come back on—finance and operations teams still have to document what happened. Reimbursement often hinges on details that are easy to lose in the chaos: where crews were deployed, how far they traveled, and how long they worked. Automated reporting turns that documentation into a byproduct of operations, rather than a monthslong reconstruction effort.For agencies without maintenance facilities, the paper trail is often the first point of failure. Relying on drivers to collect, store, and submit physical documents is a massive administrative burden that wastes time and money.What’s next for smart cities?Across all 10 examples, the “smart” part isn’t a futuristic gadget. It’s operational clarity: knowing what’s happening in the field, being able to redirect work quickly, and having defensible records when residents, regulators, or auditors ask what occurred. That’s why connected fleet and field operations have become one of the most practical foundations for smart cities—they improve service reliability without requiring cities to rebuild the physical world to become more digital.Next, that same foundation is likely to be used in three ways cities are already moving toward:Predictive operations: using patterns in vehicle data and maintenance signals to prevent breakdowns, schedule work earlier, and keep critical services running with fewer surprises.Resilience and recovery at scale: not just responding faster to storms and emergencies but producing documentation automatically so reimbursement, audits, and after-action reviews aren’t a monthslong reconstruction effort.Targeted electrification and sustainability: as cities expand EV adoption, using real-time operations data to answer practical questions—what routes can electrify first, where charging is needed, and how to keep service levels stable during the transition.This story was produced by Samsara and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	LIST: Iowa QCA polling places for March 3 election Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins reminds voters that March 3 is Election Day for Davenport, North Scott and Pleasant Valley Community School Districts, as well as filling a vacancy on the Walcott City Council. “To reduce taxpayer expenses, Vote Centers will be open which allows voters to cast their vote at any of the 14 [...]
	OpenAI says it shares Anthropic's 'red lines' over military AI use OpenAI's Sam Altman says he shares the "red lines" set by rival Anthropic restricting how the military uses AI models, amid Anthropic's escalating feud with the Pentagon.
	PPEL, Walcott special election sites for March 3 election Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins reminds voters of the upcoming Election Day on March 3 for Davenport, North Scott and Pleasant Valley Community School Districts, as well as filling a vacancy in the office of City Council for the City of Walcott. “To reduce taxpayer expenses, Vote Centers will be open which allows voters to cast their vote at any of the 14 sites throughout the county,” said Tompkins. This election will include the Physical Plant & Equipment Levy for North Scott Schools. On March 3, Election Day, the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the sites below: VC1 AG Donahue Fire Station 302 N Main St Donahue, IA VC2 B23 Bettendorf Library 2950 Learning Campus Dr Bettendorf, IA VC3 B53 TBK Bank Sports Complex 4850 Competition Drive Bettendorf, IA VC4 BG Bluegrass Public Safety Building 606 W Mayne St Blue Grass, IA VC5 D11 Davenport Fairmount Library 3000 N Fairmount St Davenport, IA VC6 D33 Scott County Administrative Center 600 W 4th St Davenport, IA VC7 D64 Duck Creek Park Lodge 3300 E Locust St Davenport, IA VC8 D72 C.A.S.I. 1035 W Kimberly Rd Davenport, IA VC9 D84 Davenport Eastern Library 6000 Eastern Av Davenport, IA VC10 EL1 Scott County Library 200 N 6th AVE Eldridge, IA VC11 LC1 First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire 200 S 12th St LeClaire, IA VC12 PR Princeton Community Center 428 River Dr Princeton, IA VC13 PV Trinity Lutheran Church 18137 Criswell St Pleasant Valley, IA VC14 WC Calvary Church of Walcott 100 E James St Walcott, IA For the upcoming Primary and General Elections later this year, all 66 Scott County poll site locations will be used as normal. For more information, please review the website: Elections - Elections - Scott County, Iowa
	Celebrate Girl Scout Week March 8 - 14 Girl Scouts nationwide will celebrate Girl Scout Week from March 8–14. The week recognizes the impact and legacy of Girl Scouts in local communities and across the country. The celebration culminates on March 12, the anniversary of the founding of Girl Scouts in 1912, when Juliette Gordon Low officially launched a program that inspires millions of [...]
	4 Your Money \| Leading The Way When evaluating the overall economy, it is important investors focus on the future instead of past or current conditions. David Nelson, CEO of NelsonCorp Wealth Management, explains the Leading Economic Indicator and how the data suggests good news for risk assets.
	Multifamily dwelling fraud: What operators need to know to protect net operating income Multifamily dwelling fraud: What operators need to know to protect net operating incomeFraud isn’t a new challenge for apartment operators, but it’s becoming an increasingly costly one. From falsified application documents to check fraud and chargebacks, multifamily fraud takes many forms—and it’s hitting property management companies where it hurts most: their bottom line.Zego’s Multifamily Revenue Operations Report surveyed over 600 property managers across the industry about their critical revenue challenges in February 2025. And with fraud becoming a growing pain point, multifamily operators were asked to share how it’s impacting their business. The findings are a wake-up call for operators who haven’t yet prioritized fraud prevention as part of their revenue strategy.Let’s dig into the numbers and explore what you can do to protect your properties.Multifamily Fraud Is More Common Than You Might ThinkUnfortunately, there are numerous types of fraud that apartment operators need to take precautions against. When asked to identify the types of fraud they’ve encountered, operators pointed to a wide range of tactics that span across the resident lifecycle. Global Payments Only 23% of respondents said they had not experienced fraud—meaning the vast majority of multifamily operators are dealing with this issue in some capacity.The survey responses reveal just how widespread fraud has become. 77% of multifamily property operators reported experiencing some form of fraud at their properties in the past 12 months.Only 23% of respondents said they had not experienced fraud—meaning the vast majority of multifamily operators are dealing with this issue in some capacity.Even more concerning? 39% of property managers said they have experienced non-payment of rent directly tied to fraud. That’s nearly 4 in 10 communities losing rental income because a bad actor slipped through the cracks. Global Payments The Financial Toll of Multifamily FraudFraud doesn’t just create headaches for on-site teams. It drains revenue that could be reinvested into upgrading the property, improving resident experience, or operational efficiency. When asked to estimate their financial losses due to fraud over the past year, operators revealed some significant losses:22% lost more than $30,000.1 in 5 property managers lost over $40,000.Some reported losses exceeding $80,000. Global Payments Keep in mind that these figures don’t account for legal fees or additional labor costs to resolve instances of fraud. So it’s likely companies are losing far more than this to fraud. For companies operating on tight margins or managing large portfolios, these losses add up quickly. Suffice to say that multifamily fraud isn’t just a nuisance—it’s a serious threat to NOI.Check Fraud Is a Growing ConcernIs there one specific type of multifamily fraud keeping operators up at night? Check fraud. When asked about their level of concern regarding check and payment fraud:26% said they are extremely concerned.39% said they are very concerned.25% are somewhat concerned.That means 9 out of 10 property managers express some level of concern about check fraud, and for good reason. Global Payments Security deposit refunds are a particularly vulnerable area. Since most refunds are still issued via paper check, they present an easy target for fraudsters. When operators were asked if they had ever experienced check fraud related to a security deposit refund, 39% said yes. Global Payments Paper-Based Payments Are Part of the ProblemHere’s an important connection: Multifamily fraud and paper-based payments often go hand in hand.Multifamily operators report that 38% of their rent payments are still made using cash or check, while 62% are digital transactions. That’s a significant portion of payments flowing through methods that are more susceptible to fraud, errors, and processing delays. Global Payments Every paper check that comes through your office requires manual handling, introduces the risk of human error, and slows down cash flow. Checks can bounce. They can be forged or stolen. And they take days, or sometimes weeks, to clear.Accepting cash or money orders also comes with risks, including theft and a lack of a reliable audit trail.The takeaway? Reducing your reliance on paper-based payments and aiming for 100% digital payment acceptance is one of the most effective ways to minimize your exposure to multifamily fraud. Encouraging residents to pay digitally creates a more secure, trackable, and efficient process for everyone involved.5 ways to fight back against multifamily fraudThe good news is that you don’t have to accept fraud as a cost of doing business. There are five proactive steps you can take to protect your properties and your revenue.1. Prioritize Digital PaymentsThe more rent payments you can shift from cash and check to digital methods, the better. Digital transactions are easier to track, faster to process, and far less vulnerable to fraud. Consider offering multiple digital payment options—such as ACH, credit card, and debit card—to make it as convenient as possible for residents to pay electronically.2. Strengthen Your Screening ProcessWith 40% of operators reporting identity theft and 37% encountering falsified income documents, thorough applicant screening is essential. Verify identities, cross-check employment and income claims, and use technology that can flag inconsistencies before a lease is signed.3. Digitize Security Deposit RefundsAll phases of the resident lifecycle are susceptible to fraud, and that includes renter move-out. Since nearly 4 in 10 operators have experienced check fraud tied to security deposit refunds, it’s time to rethink how you handle move-out payments. Digital security deposit refunds eliminate the risks associated with paper checks and provide a clear, auditable record of the transaction.4. Invest in Revenue Protection TechnologyTechnology built specifically for multifamily fraud prevention can help you stay one step ahead of bad actors. These types of tools are designed to help operators safeguard their income by reducing payment fraud, minimizing chargebacks, and creating a more secure rent collection process. When fraud prevention is built into your payment platform, you gain peace of mind without adding complexity for your team.5. Train Your TeamYour on-site staff are your first line of defense. Make sure they know how to spot red flags—whether it’s a suspicious application, an unusual payment method, or a request that doesn’t add up. Regular training keeps fraud prevention top of mind across your organization.Protect Your Revenue Against Multifamily FraudMultifamily fraud isn’t going away, but operators who take a proactive approach can significantly reduce their risk. By embracing digital payments, tightening screening procedures, and leveraging purpose-built technology, you can protect your properties from costly losses.This story was produced by Zego and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Saturday, February 28th, 2026

Friday, February 27th, 2026