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

Monday, October 5th, 2026
	Retired Deere employee still comes to work as tour guide at Iowa facility There's more to the story of John Deere ... and a longtime employee at the plant in Ankeny, Iowa, is there to share it with visitors. Roger Riley has the story of Gary Eubank, the retired tour guide who spent nearly 50 years working for Deere. Eubank loves to talk about the process of making [...]
	Illinois provides safe haven for wild mustangs from out West Seven new wild mustangs have found a safe haven in Alhambra, Illinois after being rounded up in Nevada. Photographer Wade Smith went to the mustang sanctuary to rescue and find new homes for these incredible animals. A peaceful stretch of countryside providing a safe haven for wild mustangs removed from public lands in the West. [...]
Sunday, October 4th, 2026
	5 hábitos para fortalecer la inmunidad durante la temporada de gripe y resfriados (Feature Impact) Su sistema inmunol gico es su mejor aliado durante la temporada de gripe y resfriados, ayud ndole a mantenerse saludable cuando comienza a escuchar esas toses y estornudos inconfundibles a su alrededor. Ayude a su cuerpo a cumplir bien su funci n adoptando algunos h bitos sencillos que apoyan naturalmente su capacidad para combatir los g rmenes o recuperarse m s r pido. Hable con su proveedor de atenci n m dica para obtener asesoramiento personalizado y procure incorporar estos h bitos como parte de la rutina normal de su hogar. Haga ejercicio con regularidad El ejercicio es como un medicamento milagroso que puede mejorar casi todos los aspectos de la salud y el bienestar. La actividad f sica aumenta el flujo sangu neo, reduce la inflamaci n a largo plazo, ayuda a que las c lulas inmunitarias circulen por el cuerpo para protegerlo contra invasores y hasta puede eliminar bacterias de sus pulmones y v as respiratorias. Planifique incorporar al menos 150 minutos de ejercicio moderado a la semana, como andar en bicicleta, caminar a paso r pido, tomar una clase de yoga o hacer un entrenamiento en video bajo demanda. Consuma alimentos que fortalezcan la salud inmunol gica Para mantener su sistema inmunol gico bien abastecido, los expertos recomiendan llevar una dieta variada con abundantes frutas, verduras, nueces, semillas, granos integrales y grasas saludables como el aceite de oliva. Considere incorporar uvas frescas a su dieta para aprovechar los beneficios de sus compuestos vegetales naturales. La protecci n del organismo comienza a nivel celular, y las uvas contienen poderosos polifenoles que favorecen la salud y el funcionamiento de las c lulas. Los estudios indican que ciertos compuestos de las uvas, como el resveratrol y los flavonoides, apoyan la funci n del sistema inmunol gico, as como la salud del cerebro, la piel, el sistema digestivo y el coraz n. Estas peque as frutas son f ciles de incorporar a su alimentaci n, ya sea que disfrute de los racimos de las dulces y jugosas Uvas de California por s solas o las ponga en la licuadora para preparar esta receta de Jugo de Bienestar con Uvas de California. Apoye m ltiples aspectos de su bienestar con la poderosa combinaci n de frutas y verduras de esta bebida, que aporta una variedad de vitaminas, minerales y antioxidantes que fortalecen el sistema inmunol gico. Mant ngase hidratado Beber suficiente agua ayuda a limpiar su sistema linf tico, que es responsable de producir ciertos gl bulos blancos que combaten los g rmenes. Tambi n mantiene h medas las membranas de la nariz y la boca, lo que reduce el riesgo de infecci n. Si le cuesta beber suficiente agua, consumir alimentos ricos en agua, como las uvas, tambi n contribuye a mejorar su hidrataci n. Practique buenos h bitos de higiene para evitar g rmenes Para aumentar sus posibilidades de mantenerse saludable durante la temporada de mayor contagio, vuelva al consejo de higiene de toda la vida y verdadero que sus padres quiz s le inculcaron desde ni o. L vese las manos con frecuencia con agua tibia y jab n, evite tocarse la cara cuando est fuera de casa, mantenga la distancia de las personas con s ntomas y desinfecte las superficies de uso frecuente, como las manijas de las puertas, cuando alguien en el hogar o la oficina est enfermo. Duerma m s, menos estr s Antes de que empiece a estresarse por no dormir lo suficiente, tenga la tranquilidad de que hay cambios sencillos que puede hacer para mejorar su bienestar en ambos aspectos. Intente cambiar su rutina nocturna para que gire menos en torno a las pantallas y m s en torno a actividades relajantes que realmente le ayuden a desconectarse, como el yoga, la meditaci n o la lectura. Descubra m s informaci n de salud y recetas en GrapesFromCalifornia.com. Jugo de Bienestar de Uva de California Porciones: 3 (1 taza cada una) 5 tazas de uvas negras o rojas Uvas de California 1/2 taza de rodajas de remolacha cruda pelada 3/4 taza de jugo de naranja 1/4 taza de jugo de lim n amarillo 1 zanahoria peque a, pelada y en rodajas 1 trozo de c rcuma fresca (de 1 pulgada), pelada y en rodajas, o 1 cucharadita de c rcuma molida En una licuadora de alta velocidad, haga un pur con las uvas, las rodajas de remolacha, el jugo de naranja, el jugo de lim n, la zanahoria y la c rcuma hasta obtener una mezcla homog nea. Cuele a trav s de un colador de malla fina, revolviendo para extraer la mayor cantidad de jugo posible, aproximadamente 3 tazas. Detenga el proceso cuando la mezcla comience a espesarse. Disfrute de inmediato o tape y refrigere hasta el momento de servir. Notas: Este jugo tambi n se puede agregar a t helado o agua con gas. Informaci n nutricional por porci n: 230 calor as; 3 g de prote na; 58 g de carbohidratos; 0.5 g de grasa (2 % de las calor as provenientes de la grasa); 0 g de grasa saturada (0 % de las calor as provenientes de la grasa saturada); 0 mg de colesterol; 35 mg de sodio; 0 g de fibra.
	Build a Winning Game-Day Spread with Big Flavor and Less Mess (Feature Impact) Game day is about more than the big plays, touchdown-saving tackles and final score. Whether you're gathering in the stadium parking lot or hosting friends for an at-home watch party, a memorable experience begins long before kickoff. Start your pregame festivities with an MVP-worthy spread that's simple to serve, easy to eat and keeps fans full through the final whistle. For example, the flavor of Buffalo is a game-day staple, but wings aren't the only way to enjoy it. For less mess, Buffalo Chicken Caesar and Celery Wraps pair convenience with the cool crunch of Dandy Celery, a year-round superstar ingredient for many of your favorite football-inspired dishes. It's packed with flavor and low in calories, making it a smart choice for snacking. The contrasting tastes and textures offer a satisfying bite, whether you slice the wraps into smaller portions for appetizer-style serving or leave them whole for fans with hearty appetites. Nervous nibblers during the game's most tense moments may prefer a lighter bite, and that's where a dependable dip can come through in the clutch. This Buffalo Hummus recipe puts a tailgate-spin on the familiar favorite, combining creamy texture with a little heat. Serve it alongside crackers, chips or crisp vegetables like Dandy celery dippers, fresh-cut celery sticks that are pre-washed and ready to eat at your convenience - a true time-saver when the clock is ticking. Design your own winning game plan by finding more tailgating recipes at DudaFresh.com. Buffalo Chicken Caesar and Celery Wraps Servings: 4 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken 1/4 cup Buffalo sauce 2 cups Dandy romaine hearts, chopped 1 cup Dandy celery, chopped (about 4 ribs) 1/3 cup Caesar dressing 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 4 large flour tortillas (10 inches) In bowl, toss shredded chicken with Buffalo sauce. Set aside. To make salad: In separate bowl, combine romaine, celery, Caesar dressing, Parmesan cheese and black pepper. Mix well. To assemble wraps: Spoon about 1/4 cup Buffalo chicken along center of each tortilla, leaving small border at each end; top with Caesar salad. Fold up bottom of tortilla over filling then fold in sides and roll up tightly. Slice in half diagonally. Buffalo Hummus Prep time: 5 minutes Servings: 8 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1/4 cup tahini 1/4 cup Buffalo sauce 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 lemon, juice only 2 cloves garlic 2-3 tablespoons ice water dairy-free blue cheese, for garnish (optional) chopped chives, for garnish (optional) paprika, for garnish (optional) olive oil, for garnish (optional) Dandy Celery Dippers pita chips In food processor, puree drained chickpeas, tahini, Buffalo sauce, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Add water through lid until desired consistency is achieved. Spread hummus onto serving plate or bowl. Garnish, if desired, with dairy-free blue cheese, chopped chives, paprika and drizzle of olive oil. Serve with celery dippers and pita chips.
	Preparing the Next Generation for Economic Mobility in an AI-Driven World (Feature Impact) Within only a few years, AI has already changed many things about the world and workforce. Entry-level jobs, particularly the ones relying on routine and predictable tasks, are increasingly disappearing to automation, leaving young people wondering how to launch their careers and futures. Access to economic mobility - the ability to change your income or wealth - doesn't just rely on technical knowledge and skills but on leaning into humanity. Being able to think outside the box, collaborate, solve problems and grow as a person can open doors in life and at work. AI may be changing the world, but in change lies opportunity. The students who can adapt quickly are more likely to prosper as the economy continues to reshape itself. To learn what preparing students for the future may look like in practice, consider these tips from the economic and career experts at Junior Achievement. Build the Kinds of Skills AI Can't Replace Young people facing AI as their competition can get a boost from cultivating the uniquely human skills technology can't replicate. Educators, parents and other adults in kids' lives can help them develop increasingly important soft skills like critical thinking, communication, teamwork and leadership, which can translate to many different careers. Hands-on skills can fit into this category as well, like the kinds required in entrepreneurship and the trades. Provide Real-World Experiences When young people have the chance to test themselves in a real-world setting, it lets them hone their interests, skills and confidence before the time comes to make major decisions about their futures. As early as elementary school, experiential learning activities like Junior Achievement's Biztown allow students to operate businesses, work with others, manage finances and solve problems, combining in-class learning with hands-on simulations. As kids grow up, other options can include job shadowing, internships and entrepreneurship experiments - all ways to build durable social and professional skills that can help them succeed. Teach Foundational Financial Literacy Earning money is only part of the equation for a healthy financial future; equally important is understanding how to manage it. As kids prepare to earn their first sources of income, make sure they're also equipped with practical financial skills like budgeting, saving, investing, using credit wisely and planning for future goals. Giving them these tools early helps them make informed decisions about their long-term economic advancement. Connect Students with Employers and Opportunities Sometimes, all a student needs to succeed is someone who's willing to give them a chance. Young people in a position to meet business professionals in (and beyond) their communities may be able to turn those connections into future opportunities. This can happen naturally as they seek real-world experiences through apprenticeships, mentorship programs, career fairs and more. Programs like Junior Achievement's 3DE puts students in authentic business challenges, connecting them with educators, business partners and volunteers as they work in teams to complete case experiences. This not only gives young people the opportunity to meet potential employers or mentors, it also lets them demonstrate critical thinking, social skills and real-world competence. Visit jausa.ja.org for more ideas to help young people gain the confidence and connections needed to achieve economic mobility in a changing world. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
	Type 2 Diabetes Doesn't Have to Be Your Future: Medicare Has a Benefit That Can Help (Feature Impact) Nearly 1 in 2 people age 65 and older has prediabetes - a condition where blood sugar (glucose) levels run higher than normal. Left unchecked, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes. However, with the right support, prediabetes can often be managed or even reversed. If you have Medicare, you may qualify for a Medicare-covered program that can help you lower your chances of developing type 2 diabetes - at no cost to you. The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program is a covered Medicare benefit that gives you practical tools, personalized support, and proven strategies to make healthy lifestyle changes. Learn how to eat better, exercise more, and build healthy habits that stick while guided by a certified coach who helps you every step of the way. Research shows the program works. People with prediabetes who complete the program result in weight loss, which ultimately leads to reduced risk of type 2 diabetes onset. What can you expect? Prevention does not mean you have to make big changes all at once. This program helps you take small, realistic steps that can add up to lasting results. It includes 16 core sessions where you can learn how to reduce your diabetes risk by making healthier meals, moving more, and building healthy habits. The core sessions are followed by six months of monthly maintenance sessions to help you keep your momentum. You can choose the class format that works for you You can enroll in these services from approved Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program suppliers and participate in the way most convenient for you: In-Person: Attend sessions in a community location. Live-Distance Learning: Join interactive group sessions from home. Self-Paced Online: This new option allows you to access online content and learn on your own schedule. Visit www.medicare.gov/PreventDiabetes to find a class that's right for you. Who is eligible? You may qualify if you are enrolled in Medicare Part B and meet these criteria: Have had one of the following test results within the past 12 months: Hemoglobin A1c between 5.7% and 6.4% Fasting plasma glucose between 110 and 125 mg/dL Two-hour plasma glucose between 140 and 199 mg/dL after an oral glucose tolerance test Have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher (or 23 or higher if you self-report as Asian descent). Have never been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). What does it cost? If you have Medicare Part B and qualify for the program, you pay nothing to participate. If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may have to go to an in-network provider to get these services. Contact your plan for more information. Ready to get started on your healthier future? Take control of your health on your own terms, schedule, and pace that fits into your life. Check with your doctor to find out if you have prediabetes or are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If you're eligible for the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, your doctor can refer you, or you can enroll on your own. If you're ready to get started today, find the class that's right for you at: www.medicare.gov/PreventDiabetes. Information provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
	'Give Like a Kid Again' for Real-World Impact This Halloween (Feature Impact) Costumes. Candy. Jack-o-lanterns glowing on porches. Halloween is filled with moments that spark children's imaginations. This Halloween, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is inviting children and families to "Give Like a Kid Again," turning imagination into kindness and helping children around the world. For eight decades, the campaign has shown children that even the smallest act of kindness can travel farther than any front porch and shine brighter than any jack-o-lantern. As the longest-running youth engagement campaign in the United States, it has inspired generations of children to discover that when kids help kids, one Halloween tradition can turn into a lifetime of impact. What started with just $17 in 1950, when a small group of children filled milk cartons with spare change to help children recovering from World War II, has grown into one of America's most beloved Halloween traditions, raising nearly $200 million to help the organization deliver lifesaving support for children around the world. Today, the iconic orange collection box reminds families that small acts of generosity can create lasting change. "Each Halloween, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF reminds us that even the smallest acts of generosity can grow into something extraordinary," said Shelley Diamond, chief marketing officer, UNICEF USA. "For more than 75 years, this campaign has shown generations of children that you are never too young to make a difference and 'Give Like a Kid Again' is about passing that belief on to the next generation." Beyond supporting programs in more than 190 countries and territories, donations strengthen the organization's global humanitarian supply network, delivering emergency essentials like therapeutic food, medicine, blankets and safe water to children impacted by conflict, disasters and disease. Be a mermaid and help make waves for clean water. Help provide safe water for a child for a year for $5. Be a vampire and help scare away preventable diseases. World Polio Day, just a week before Halloween, provides an opportunity to protect 200 children under age 5 from polio with a $43 donation. Be a scientist and help uncover lifesaving answers. Provide 25 malaria diagnostic tests for just $8, helping children receive timely treatment. Be a teacher and help children write their next chapter. Provide 1,000 pencils to help children put their ideas, lessons and dreams on paper for $30. Be a chef and help cook up a healthier future. Over a two-month period, $10 can treat 15 children by providing 450 packets of micronutrient powder. Be an astronaut and help a girl reach for the stars. To help six girls feel confident in school, $36 can provide reusable menstrual pads. Be a snowman and help bundle up a child against the cold. A donation of $50 could provide a child in an emergency setting with winter clothing, including a jacket, hat, scarf, mittens, socks, winter boots, a warm sweater and warm puffball trousers. Be a soccer player (or referee) and help kick off playtime. Provide up to four packages of soccer balls for a child-friendly space for $25 to help kids just be kids again. This October, everyone can "Give Like a Kid Again" through the iconic orange collection box, online fundraising and family-friendly activities. Visit unicefusa.org/TOT2026 to join the tradition and help make a difference for children around the world.
	5 Ways to Make a Difference in Your Community (Feature Impact) Communities are strengthened every day by local organizations working to address challenges close to home, whether that's helping families access food, supporting students, expanding opportunity or providing essential resources to those who need them most. Often operating with limited resources, these organizations are finding practical solutions that make a meaningful difference in neighborhoods and communities across the country. Many of these efforts happen quietly, powered by people who volunteer their time, share their expertise, donate resources or simply help spread awareness of causes they care about. For individuals looking to make a difference where they live, community involvement doesn't have to start with a large commitment. Consider these five options to get involved. Give Your Time Giving your time is one of the most direct ways to support organizations serving your community. Whether it's packing meals, mentoring young people or participating in neighborhood cleanups, volunteering allows people to contribute directly while gaining a deeper understanding of local needs. Share Your Skills Nonprofits often need specialized skills in addition to hands-on volunteer support. Communications support, technology expertise, event planning, photography, financial guidance and other professional skills can help organizations expand their reach and strengthen their operations. Contributing the skills you've developed can often be just as valuable as donating time or resources. Tap Into Your Workplace Many employers offer opportunities to support causes that matter to their employees, such as volunteer programs, community grants or other charitable opportunities. In communities across the country, local nonprofits can receive support through programs like the PepsiCo Foundation's Community Impact Awards, where employees can nominate nonprofit organizations in their local communities for grant funding. Since 2022, the program has invested more than $3.7 million into organizations working on issues ranging from food access to education and community development. "Across North America, there are organizations showing up every day for their communities, often without recognition and with limited resources," said Monica Bauer, SVP of social impact, PepsiCo and president of the PepsiCo Foundation. "The Community Impact Awards help shine a light on organizations that are creating opportunities, solving local challenges and making a real difference in people's lives. What makes this program special is that the recognition comes from PepsiCo associates who know these organizations firsthand and have seen their impact up close." This year, 100 organizations across the U.S. and Canada received $500,000 total in grants and teamed up with their respective nominating employees for volunteer activities supporting their missions, giving employees another opportunity to engage directly. Give What You Can Financial contributions are a valuable way to give back, but they aren't the only option. Many organizations need non-monetary donations such as school supplies, canned goods, clothing, toys and technology. Before collecting items, check with organizations to learn what is most needed and how contributions can make the greatest impact. Use Your Voice One person can make a difference. When that person gets a friend or family member involved, more people can discover and support organizations doing important work. Sharing a nonprofit's mission on social media, inviting others to volunteer or connecting people with causes you care about can help organizations reach new supporters and expand their impact. Making a difference doesn't require doing everything at once. Whether you contribute your time, skills, resources or advocacy, small actions can help make a big impact over time. Across the U.S., nonprofit organizations are helping improve lives, create opportunities and respond to community needs every day. Their work is a reminder that meaningful change often starts locally with people willing to get involved. Learn more about how individuals and organizations can help address some of the most pressing needs in their communities by visiting PepsiCo.com/about/social-impact.
	5 comidas fáciles en bandeja para horno con uvas de California (Feature Impact) Cocinar en una bandeja para horno hace que las comidas entre semana sean mucho m s f ciles, y las uvas frescas les dan un toque especial e inesperado. Asadas junto al pollo, las verduras, el gnocchi y m s, las uvas se vuelven c lidas y jugosas, a adiendo un toque de dulzura que complementa los sabores salados y hace que los platos sencillos se sientan un poco m s especiales. Desde cenas y acompa amientos deliciosos hasta un postre que encantar a todos, estas recetas aportan algo inesperado al cocinar todo en una sola bandeja para hornear, sin complicaciones adicionales. Encuentre m s ideas de recetas familiares visitando GrapesFromCalifornia.com. Pollo con uvas de California y salvia - Esta sencilla cena preparada en una bandeja para horno combina pollo sazonado con salvia y uvas de California, calabaza butternut, cebolla morada y ajo. A medida que todo se asa junto, las uvas se vuelven c lidas y jugosas, mientras que el vinagre de sidra de manzana a ade un contraste brillante y cido. Es una comida f cil y colorida que ofrece mucho sabor, con una limpieza m nima. Camotes y uvas de California asados - Los camotes y las uvas de California forman una deliciosa combinaci n en este colorido acompa amiento que es f cil de preparar. Asar las uvas realza su dulzura natural, mientras que el vinagre bals mico, la cebolla y la albahaca fresca a aden notas saladas y cidas para equilibrar. S rvalo junto con su prote na favorita o agr guelo a un taz n de granos para una manera sencilla de incorporar m s frutas y vegetales al plato. Gnocchi y uvas de California asados - El tierno gnocchi ( oquis), las jugosas uvas de California asadas, el broccolini y la cebolla morada se combinan en esta deliciosa comida preparada en una sola bandeja. El tomillo fresco, el queso feta y la ralladura de lim n equilibran la dulzura de las uvas con sabores salados, ligeramente cidos y frescos. Con solo 25 minutos en el horno, es una manera f cil de convertir ingredientes cotidianos en una deliciosa cena sin carne. Pollo con uvas de California asadas, zanahorias y chiriv as - El comino y la c rcuma con sus aromas c lidos y especiados le dan mucho sabor a esta contundente cena de pollo preparada en una bandeja, mientras que las zanahorias, las chiriv as, las cebollas y las uvas de California completan la comida. Las uvas a aden un toque de dulzor y jugosidad que complementan las verduras de ra z terrosas y las especias saladas. Todo se cocina junto en una sola bandeja para una cena colorida y satisfactoria con una limpieza f cil. Tarta de manzana y uvas de California en bandeja para horno - Las manzanas cidas y las jugosas uvas negras de California le dan un delicioso giro al cl sico pie de manzana en este postre preparado en una bandeja para horno, ideal para grupos. Las frutas se hornean bajo una corteza dorada de masa enrejada, mientras que las uvas a aden color, dulzura y una textura jugosa a cada rebanada. Dise ado para servir a 16 personas, es un postre atractivo para disfrutar en d as festivos, fiestas y otras celebraciones.
	Over $6,790 stolen in fake phone scam, West Burlington police say More than $6,790 was stolen from a Walmart kiosk in a fake phone scam, police said.
	Second Chance Takes Flight: Two Rehabilitated Bald Eagles Return to the Wild in Fulton Two bald eagles rescued from injury and illness were released in Fulton after months of rehabilitation, marking a first-ever double release for Hog Capital Wildlife.
	Muscatine open house brings families and first responders together Muscatine families learned fire safety, practiced CPR and met first responders at a city open house aimed at building community connections after a difficult summer.
	Inside Iowa Politics: the five-day flurry that led to $1.5 billion taxpayer commitment for proposed $15 billion Iowa steel plant The five days that led to $1.5 billion commitment by Iowa taxpayers for new steel plant in Lee County.
	The Third Place QC plans move to Rock Island’s Abbey Station The Third Place QC drop-in center at 2000 3rd Ave., Rock Island, celebrated its first anniversary Oct. 1, 2026, and plans to move and grow by Dec. 1, to the vacant Abbey Station, 3031 5th Ave.
	Brazil's presidential race heads to Lula–Bolsonaro run-off as right gains ground Now there are two: Brazil heads into a runoff after a first round that failed to fully energize voters, setting the stage for a more polarized contest that Washington is watching very closely.
	Enjoy Halloween fun at Witches Night Out Enjoy a witchy night out in Downtown Moline! According to a release, Moline Centre is hosting its first-ever Witches Night Out October 30. The event brings Halloween fun, shopping, food, drinks and activities to participating downtown businesses. Witches Night Out is open for ages 21 and older. Participants can purchase a Witches Night Out ticket [...]
	Traffic Alert: I-74 West at Woodhull to close overnight The interstate will close overnight at the Woodhull/Illinois 17 interchange, exit 32, on Monday, according to a media release.
	Eastern Iowa Community Colleges to receive more than $800K to expand workforce training Eastern Iowa Community Colleges are set to receive more than $800,000 in federal grant money to expand short-term workforce training programs.
	2 suspects face charges in connection with fake cell-phone scam at Iowa Walmart One man has been arrested and a warrant has been issued for the arrest of another after a scam that occurred at a Walmart in West Burlington earlier this year, according to a news release from the West Burlington Police Department. On May 26, the release says West Burlington police were made aware of a [...]
	Monmouth water main rupture closes intersection, prompts boil order The intersection of North 6th Street and Highway 34 is closed for a ruptured 12-inch water main under the highway, according to a media release.
	Two Burlington men arrested for using fake cellphones to scam Walmart Two Burlington men have been arrested for using fake cellphones to scam a local Walmart.
	Hog Capital Wildlife Rescue release two bald eagles after rehabilitation Hog Capital Wildlife Rescue and Rehab released two bald eagles Sunday after they were returned to health.
	Muscatine firefighters open their doors to help families stay safe at home At Muscatine's annual Public Safety Open House, the goal is to get children involved in fire safety lessons.
	Eastern Iowa Community Colleges to receive $817K workforce training grant The funding will help launch or enhance 11 training programs expected to serve 362 students.
	Illinois, Iowa DOTs to reveal plan for future Centennial Bridge The open house is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Holiday Inn Rock Island-Quad Cities on 17th Street.
	Two Burlington men accused of selling cardboard phones to Walmart EcoATM kiosk Police say two Burlington men used cardboard phones to trick a Walmart EcoATM kiosk into paying cash, leading to felony charges.
	Water main rupture causes Monmouth road closure It's an Our Quad Cities News traffic alert. A road closure is in effect for the intersection of N. 6th St. and Highway 34 in Monmouth. According to a release from the City of Monmouth, the closure is due to a 12-inch water main that has ruptured underneath the highway. Due to the size and [...]
	The Black Vote: From suppression to the battle for ballot access The cast discusses the journey of the Black vote in America, from post-civil war suppression to the fight for true ballot access.
	Five years in: What the ‘Home Illinois’ plan reveals about the state of homelessness Five years after Gov. JB Pritzker launched the Home Illinois Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, the Illinois Department of Human Services released a report meant to serve as a roadmap of action from fiscal year 2027 to 2029.
	Pleasant Valley School District resignations, hirings from Sept. 28 school board agenda The following personnel items are from the Sept. 28 meeting of the Pleasant Valley School District. The School Board met at the Belmont Administration Center.
	Trump names national intelligence chief Jay Clayton as new AI czar Trump said Clayton will lead the White House's new "Super Intelligence Force," which will coordinate government engagement with artificial intelligence.
	Judge accepts Donahue teen's plea agreement in child sex abuse materials case Scott County Judge accepts plea agreement of Tristen Johnson, 18, who used his 16-year-old girlfriend to make child sex abuse materials.
	Davenport man sentenced to 10 years in prison for attacking two people with his vehicle Davenport man who tried to run over two people with his vehicle sentenced to 10 years in prison.
	Trinity Health Foundation to host free community nursing education event Prior to the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a cocktail hour and book signing with keynote speaker Amie Archibald-Varley.
	First Central's Grilling for Charity to benefit OHL Proceeds collected will benefit the OHL Strong Foundation, a group dedicated to support those affected by pancreatic cancer.
	Augustana names alum Angela Snyder as its first vice president for impact learning Augustana alumnus Angela Snyder, the former chief strategy officer at United Way Quad Cities, has been named the school's first vice president for impact learning.
	Cornell president calls gang rape allegations 'deeply disturbing' Cornell president Michael I. Kotlikoff said his university "must do better" in a video statement. "This is a defining moment in Cornell's history," he added.
	Scott County Supervisor candidates debate budget, solar, and rural electricity plant Six candidates for Scott County supervisor drew contrasts on how to manage the county's budget, land-use for wind and solar, and a proposed electrical plant in rural Scott County.
	U.S. Marine arrested for alleged murder of a woman in Okinawa, Japan Japanese police arrested a U.S. Marine in the alleged robbery and murder of a woman on Okinawa, officials said Sunday.
	Iowa Down Ballot podcast: Special legislative session, 4th District debate Iowa Sen. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs, spoke in opposition to legislation passed by the Iowa Legislature in a special session Oct. 2, 2026 making changes to a state economic development program to provide more tax incentive for a steel mill project in southeast Iowa. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa Down Ballot with Dave Price 10/4/26 by Iowa Writers Collaborative A super busy Friday so we recorded Saturday. Get caught up on state lawmakers passing $1.5B in steel plant incentives through a special legislative session. Laura, Kathie, and Eric are all here! Read on Substack The Iowa Legislature’s one-day special session on Friday left a lot to discuss — including the political ramifications of the estimated $1.4 billion in incentives lawmakers approved for an out-of-state company that plans to locate a steel mill in southeast Iowa. Eric Woolson is back this week with Dave Price, Laura Belin and Kathie Obradovich, for discussion that also included the recent debate between Iowa’s 4th Congressional District candidates. Listen or watch here. The Iowa Down Ballot Podcast with Dave Price is a production of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Please consider a paid subscription today to help us cover production costs, or moving up to the benefactor level — or sending a gift subscription to a friend — if you’re already a paid subscriber. And please spread the word to friends who might enjoy the podcast. Thanks! Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Inmates moving to new Rapid City women’s prison, but dilapidated unit in Pierre remains in use Vehicles fill the parking lot of South Dakota's Rapid City Correctional Facility, a women's prison, on Oct. 1, 2026. The complex includes multiple additional structures behind the main building. (Photo by Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)South Dakota’s recently opened women’s prison in Rapid City held 79 women at the end of September, the first month the state began to move them there from the women’s prison campus in Pierre. Overcrowding in the buildings at the older women’s prison spurred the construction of the $87 million Rapid City complex. For years, the state has paid Hughes County to house some female state prison inmates at the jail in Pierre and held hundreds of women in a minimum security unit that state engineers have deemed unfit for human habitation. The new women’s prison on the state’s western side has 288 beds. In addition to standard housing units, the campus has facilities for chemical dependency treatment and for a mother-baby program that lets qualifying women live in a home-like environment with their newborn children. Department of Corrections spokesperson Michael Winder said its population of 79 will grow as its operations ramp up. On July 10, the date of a ribbon cutting for the prison, Winder told South Dakota Searchlight that inmates would start to move in “beginning next month,” but the first inmates didn’t arrive until September. As of Thursday, 466 women remained in prison custody in secure facilities Pierre, Winder said in an email. There were 64 held off-site at the Hughes County Jail and 208 in the minimum security unit, with the remaining people in secure detention housed in the main prison unit. Beyond the women in secure facilities, the total population of women in state prison custody includes some who live in community facilities, such as halfway houses. Corrections Secretary Nick Lamb told lawmakers in February that the minimum unit is “not suited for occupancy,” according to multiple assessments across multiple years, and has “structural deficiencies.” Lamb’s remarks came in support of a bill to set aside $682,825 to demolish the building, which lawmakers passed and Gov. Larry Rhoden signed into law. All maintenance work on the building ceased once lawmakers approved funding for the new Rapid City prison in 2023, Lamb said in February, and the demolition would be needed because the building will “continue to degrade and pose life safety concerns.” The women in the minimum unit would be transferred to Rapid City “later this summer,” Lamb told lawmakers. Winder told South Dakota Searchlight that “there have been no substantial maintenance projects” at the minimum unit since Lamb said that. The number of South Dakotans in prison systemwide has risen by hundreds since spring. A policy change announced this spring by Gov. Larry Rhoden makes it easier to bring paroled inmates back to prison for breaking the rules of their supervision agreements after early release. The number of parolees in custody spiked shortly after the announcement. Inmates are also being denied early release at a higher rate. In February, the total inmate population was 3,720. Of those, 580 were women. At the end of August — the most recent population count available when this story was published — there were 4,049 inmates in custody. Of those, 632 were women. There were eight more women in the minimum unit on Aug. 31 than there are today. In response to a question about whether the minimum unit in Pierre would remain in service now that the Rapid City facility is open, Winder said the Department of Corrections intends to demolish the building in accordance with the Legislature’s decision. The timeline for removal is not set, however, and will take place when the unit “is no longer needed,” Winder said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of South Dakota Searchlight
	How the Cornell case is affecting women who have experienced sexual assault The rape allegations that have emerged from a Cornell University frat house are leading many women to remember their own experiences — and call for a wider reckoning over sexual violence.
	Wood banks prep for long winter months This story by Liberty Darr and Patrick Bilow was first published in the News & Citizen on Sept. 17, 2026. One in three Vermonters will heat their homes with wood this winter, but as the cost and difficulty of sourcing wood increases for some, a handful of local organizations are providing free cords to those in need. Recently volunteers donned safety gloves and earmuffs for an annual firewood workday in Morristown with United Way of Lamoille County. Wood splitters of various shapes and sizes fired on all cylinders as volunteers chucked chunks of wood into trucks for home deliveries. The United Way’s firewood program is one of multiple wood banks in the Lamoille County area that provide free firewood to local seniors, veterans and income-eligible families to help keep their homes warm throughout the winter. According to the most recent statistics from the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, as of 2019, just over a third of Vermont households use cordwood as a heating source — a statistic that is largely unchanged from reported usage in the 2014-2015 heating season and similar to usage in the 1990s. Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of Vermont households using cordwood rely on it as their primary source of heat, while just over one-third use it for supplemental heat, according to the department’s 2019 Residential Fuel Assessment. The survey also indicates that Vermont households burned more than 400,000 estimated cords of wood during the 2018-2019 heating season — 18% higher than the estimated total number burned during the 2014-2015 season and higher than any previously reported estimate since 1986. As reliance on wood as a heat source increased marginally in Vermont as of 2019, the price of a cord skyrocketed to around $500, according to those familiar with the industry. Meanwhile, recent increases in oil prices anecdotally pushed some Vermonters back to burning wood. While financial assistance is often provided for oil burners, less is available for wood burners. According to information from the state’s Department for Children and Families from 2023, just under 2,000 households that heat with wood and pellets were issued benefits. That’s where wood banks are stepping up. Keeping neighbors warm Not only can burning wood be cost intensive, but it’s also labor intensive, creating a relatively substantial barrier to the heat source, especially for older demographics. “If you’re elderly but you have a wood stove and can’t afford to replace it, then you’re going to end up needing firewood, and it can be really cumbersome or impossible for folks to process their own wood,” said Clarissa French, executive director of United Way of Lamoille County. In any given year, the organization gives away between 40 and 65 cords, based on demand, which some providers say is increasing. Most of the wood is harvested on state land and donated by the state of Vermont through its Wood Warms program. Stephanie Ferro, a United Way board member, and her husband, Bryan, operate their own wood bank in Stowe called Vermont Warm Hearts, which he launched as a high school student in Woodstock. Between Lamoille and Windsor counties, the organization delivered emergency wood to nearly 20 families last year. They are often contacted during emergency situations when a family is almost out of wood in the dead of winter. The small, family-run operation — their daughter Sophia is involved — tries to fulfill those deliveries within 24 hours. “The demand is going up,” Stephanie Ferro said, adding that there is a substantial group of people in need that are just above the income threshold the state utilizes for determining eligibility for fuel assistance. They are often left to choose between feeding their families or heating their homes, she said. A wider reach Another wood provider, Wood4Good, is expanding its influence in Lamoille County. Since launching in 2019, the nonprofit has donated and delivered approximately 50 cords of wood each year to towns across Vermont. Eric Axelrod started Wood4Good with his son after a pile of firewood in their yard had grown too large to continue storing. They gave a few cords away and have been chasing that feeling ever since. “We gave that wood away, and the family we gave it to said to us, ‘This is the first winter we’re going to be OK,’” Axelrod said. “Then we found another family that was burning furniture to keep their home warm.” After years of increased reliance on its service, Wood4Good recently expanded its influence in Lamoille County. The nonprofit processes firewood with automated splitters in Jericho but has storage facilities throughout the state, including in Johnson. The Wolcott Selectboard is also mulling whether to allow Wood4Good to clear trees in the town’s newly established forest as it expands municipal wastewater services and expands trail networks on the land. Several towns in Chittenden County, including Hinesburg and Shelburne, allocate funds for the nonprofit. No towns in Lamoille County have yet to follow suit. As winter sets in and households scramble for firewood, Axelrod agreed with other wood banks that need is increasing and recently spiked. Just this year, he received 50 new applications for firewood next winter. Recently he also received a letter from an elderly customer who said she and her dog almost froze to death last winter huddling under an electric blanket. “That’s the story of a lot of Vermont. That story is very, very real,” Axelrod said. One for all These three wood banks — United Way, Vermont Warm Hearts and Wood4Good — do not operate in silos. To create the greatest impact, French from United Way said, local wood banks are trying to network more and regularly attend collaborative meetings with state officials. “There’s not enough wood bank activity in the state, but there are little wood banks trying to make an impact all over the place,” she said. For example, Stephanie Ferro does a lot of coordinating between her family’s organization and United Way. If the call is one that doesn’t fit the bill for Vermont Warm Hearts, they may relay the request to another organization. Her and her husband’s organization provides emergency support, whereas United Way doesn’t typically. “When we moved here, and I heard what United Way was doing, I said to my husband, ‘I want to get involved and let’s see if we can work together so that we can share resources, share brain power and share energy,’ and I think it’s definitely working for us,” she said. Read the story on VTDigger here: Wood banks prep for long winter months. Courtesy of VT Digger
	Weird Halloween-themed food you can try at home Hidden Valley and Cup Noodles are officially taking home the award for the weirdest Halloween drops of 2026.
	After a costly dry spell, a wetter outlook People walk along the beach at St. Albans Bay in September 2025. The 2025 drought brought water levels on Lake Champlain to near record lows. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger Droughts like the one that cost Vermont farmers nearly $16 million last year might be becoming less common, a new Dartmouth College study suggests, as increased rainfall makes dry spells less frequent and less intense across the Northeast. But farmers shouldn’t pack up their irrigation equipment just yet. “What this study does not tell you is that there will not be drought in the Northeast,” said lead author Jonathan Winter. “That is not the case. We have always had drought, and we will continue to have drought.” The study, published Thursday in the Journal of Hydrometeorology, found that drought in the Northeast has been 59% less frequent and 19% less intense since the mid-1980s compared with the entire period from 1901 to 1983. Winter and his team used more than a century of weather station records to calculate a drought index for the region. The findings could help Vermont decide how to prepare for drought alongside other weather threats. Relatively little peer-reviewed research has examined these regional drought trends, which means this study can contribute to a greater understanding of them, Winter said. Last year’s agricultural losses illustrate how damaging an individual drought can be despite the long-term regional decline. Vermont farmers lost nearly $16 million in drought-related damage last year. The Vermont Economic Development Authority, which assists businesses affected by disasters, offered loans to those affected. Lawmakers also passed Act 78, establishing a permanent fund for farmers and foresters facing financial losses from weather events. Supply and demand The study’s relatively simple drought metric helps describe broad trends, but Vermont State climatologist Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux said drought and its effects are more complicated. She has studied drought and extreme weather in Vermont since the late 1990s. Drought, in the simplest terms, is a shortage of precipitation. But, its intensity and impact can be affected by many factors, including geography, season, temperature and the type of precipitation. “As long as you have a greater demand (on water) than you have supply, you’re in a drought,” she said. “This is exacerbated by how ‘thirsty’ the air or ground is at the time.” A ‘thirsty’ atmosphere, for example, can evaporate moisture from the ground and worsen drought conditions. Dupigny-Giroux said new types of drought have emerged in the past decade. These include flash droughts, which intensify quickly, and ecological droughts, the effects of which can actually alter ecosystems. Vermont was more drought-prone but began getting wetter around the 1970s, Dupigny-Giroux said. That’s about a decade before the shift identified in Winter’s regional research. She attributed Vermont’s change to a combination of factors, including a warmer atmosphere and a shift in storm tracks over the region. In fact, drought conditions preceded some of Vermont’s worst floods, Dupigny-Giroux said. She pointed to the drought and flood of 1927 and a short period of drought conditions before Irene hit in 2011. There was also a drought in the spring and early summer in 2023 leading up to the historic floods in July, she said. “By always keeping an eye on history is what allows you to say Vermont is a state that goes from droughts to floods in the blink of an eye,” Dupigny-Giroux said. The Northeast’s drought decline contrasts with conditions elsewhere in the country. More than half of the U.S. experienced drought conditions this past spring, while the West has endured a prolonged megadrought described in research published in Nature Climate Change as the driest conditions in at least 1,200 years. Weather disasters strain state and local resources, complicating decisions about which risks to prepare for and how to spend limited funds. Winter said he hopes the findings can help guide those decisions. “To the extent that we can deploy awareness of, as well as preparedness and adaptation strategies to cope with droughts, these would help move us towards a more resilient place than waiting for droughts to occur and reacting to them,” Dupigny-Giroux said. Read the story on VTDigger here: After a costly dry spell, a wetter outlook. Courtesy of VT Digger
	MARK-TO-MARKET: Iowa just landed a major addition to the US steel industry The project is expected to create 6,000 construction jobs and 1,700 permanent jobs upon completion.
	BBB Scam Alert: Fall home repairs: Protecting seniors from contractor scams BBB and the FTC point to several tactics worth recognizing.
	Resignations, hirings, athletic assignments, and other Moline School District personnel news from Sept. 28 See the personnel items from the Sept. 28 agenda of the Moline-Coal Valley School District. The board met at the Moline Education Center.
	Everyday People: Film brings monsters and a first date to Davenport A provocative new film is playing at The Last Picture House, and Tom Loewy discovered it was the perfect place for a first date.
	A Story Not Worth Telling This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.The following story about the Mississippi River is not worth telling. Unlike those river events that make the six…
	She died covering war for Fox News. Her parents blame the network — and a star reporter The family members of two Fox News journalists killed while covering the war in Ukraine are suing the network, saying it put getting the story ahead of its people.
	Latter-day Saints women turn away from scandal-plagued Republican candidate in Arizona Arizona Republican candidate for Congress Mark Lamb has been accused of sexual misconduct while sheriff. His controversy is turning many voters away as Democrats see an opportunity in the red seat.
	Iowa GOP Senator: Gov. Reynolds negotiated bad deal for proposed $15 billion steel plant State Sen. Dan Dawson criticized Gov. Kim Reynolds for the deal she negotiated with company for steel plant proposal.
Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
	Boating incident kills two people on Mississippi River near Dubuque The Department of Natural Resources is investigating after a boating incident killed two people on the Mississippi River near Dubuque.
	Former Wonder Bread plant in Davenport set for demolition, future of site in question As the former Wonder Bread plant in Davenport is set for demolition, Alderman John Blunk says the future of the site could be up in the air.
	Free heart health screenings offered at Trinity in Rock Island Heart to Heart Day at UnityPoint Trinity in Rock Island offered free heart health screenings Saturday, reminding the community about prevention and regular checkups.
	Illinois social media and prediction market taxes bring lawsuits Proposed taxes are bringing new lawsuits, and Illinois Republicans are calling on the Gov. Pritzker to hold off in their implementation. Senate Bill 3019 enacts new taxes and fees on social media platforms and prediction markets. A top concern is whether the taxes are legal and if the state is setting itself up to lose [...]
	How your kids can write to Jack Skellington for Halloween We all know to send letters to Santa at Christmastime, but did you know you can write to the Pumpkin King at Halloween? Tulare Parks & Recreation in California is making sure letters get to Jack Skellington for Halloween! One of the area's favorite Halloween activities returns. According to a Facebook post: Mr. Jack Skellington [...]
	Former Wonder Bread factory building in Davenport set for demolition According to Davenport Alderman John Blunk, the former Wonder Bread bakery on East River Drive is slated for demolition.
	Two killed in Mississippi River accident near Dubuque Two people were killed in a boating accident on the Mississippi River near Dubuque on Saturday.
	Two dead after boating accident on Mississippi River The DNR said it received a report of a boat hitting a floating object in the river.
	Crews knock down garage fire in Silvis No injuries were reported Saturday as firefighters responded to flames in a garage in Silvis.
	Bettendorf house fire causes thousands in damage Nobody was injured following a fire early Saturday morning in Bettendorf.
	Crews respond to overnight residential fire in Bettendorf Crews responded to a residential fire in Bettendorf early Saturday.
	Former Wonder Bread factory building in Davenport slated for demolition The former Wonder Bread factory building in Davenport is slated for demolition, according to Alderman John Blunk.
	Mattresses sold on Amazon recalled over fire hazards: CPSC All of the impacted mattresses were sold on Amazon between December 2024 and May 2026, according to the CPSC.
	College GameDay returns to Iowa City for first time since 2006 ESPN's College GameDay returned to Iowa City for the first time since 2006, drawing thousands of fans to the Pentacrest ahead of the Hawkeyes' matchup against Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium.
	Crews respond to residential fire in Silvis Firefighters quickly knocked down a residential fire in Silvis on Saturday.
	NC legislative leaders call for special session on high gas, diesel prices Gas prices in late September were $4.19 a gallon for regular unleaded and over $6 a gallon for diesel fuel in Raleigh, North Carolina. A sticker affixed to the gas pump blames President Donald Trump for the high prices. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, and Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, announced Saturday they’ve agreed to call the legislature into a special session to provide relief from high gas and diesel prices. The leaders did not announce a date for the special session or details on what measures they plan to consider. With only a month left until Nov. 3, it’s unclear whether they can or will call Republican lawmakers off the campaign trail before what’s expected to be a tough election for the GOP. “Rising fuel costs are squeezing North Carolina families’ pocketbooks and creating challenges for farmers across the state,” Hall said in a social media post announcing the special session. “North Carolinians can’t afford to wait.” Berger shared a similar message on social media, calling for “real relief” for families. The announcement comes three days after Gov. Josh Stein directed the state Department of Revenue to suspend penalties through the end of 2026 to allow farmers to use red-dyed diesel fuel on highways. Red-dyed diesel is exempt from state and federal fuel taxes and is intended for off-road agricultural equipment. Using it in vehicles that drive on public roads is generally illegal. Stein said North Carolina farmers have been strained by crop losses, drought and higher diesel costs. “I urge the federal government to join me in providing the same relief to North Carolina farmers and families,” he said. North Carolina’s gas tax is currently 41 cents per gallon. Lawmakers could consider suspending part or all of the tax during the special session, though leaders have not yet said what relief they propose. Other states have enacted similar measures. The move comes as poll numbers in N.C. show declining approval numbers for President Donald Trump and the generic Republican ballot. Friday, the Senate Leadership Fund decided to pull ad buys for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley. Republican super PAC pauses spending in North Carolina’s key US Senate race House Democratic Leader Robert Reives, D-Chatham, criticized the announcement. He said Republicans are attempting to distract voters from their record on affordability ahead of the midterm election. “After sixteen years with nearly complete control of the state, Legislative Republicans have done nothing to make life more affordable for North Carolinians,” he said. “ In fact, they have made life harder and much more expensive for almost everyone.” Courtesy of NC Newsline
	No injuries in early-morning residential fire in Bettendorf Authorities say a residential fire in Bettendorf early Saturday caused approximately $40,000 in damage.
	Heart to Heart Day at Unity Point Trinity offers community free screenings Unity Point Trinity offered free heart health screenings as part of Heart to Heart Day.
	Coast Guard finds debris from medical plane carrying 6 people Flight data shows the jet dropped at least 9,000 feet over two minutes, then leveled off for several more minutes, before disappearing.
	Crimson Tide makes short work of previously unbeaten Bulldogs and a hobbled Kamario Taylor Audio articles are automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story; however, this audio has not been reviewed for accuracy and may contain errors. Read more about how we use AI to increase access to our reporting. STARKVILLE — Kamario Taylor has had far better days this season and even last year as a freshman. He will have many much better days in the future. As has been written in this column several times, the gifted quarterback will win many, many big games at Mississippi State. Rick Cleveland But this sunny, humid Saturday at Scott Field was a reminder of two important facts: One, for all his remarkable ability and his accomplishments to date, Taylor is 19 years young and will not turn 20 until February. Saturday was only his sixth college start. As good as he is, he’s far from as good as he will become. He made mistakes that cost State dearly. Two, Alabama is still Alabama, which is elite. And we could add a third important factor: Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell, like Taylor only a sophomore, seems a lock to be the next in line of so many splendid Crimson Tide quarterbacks (think Starr, Namath, McCarron, Hurts, Tagovailoa, Young and so many more). Russell, strong-armed and so uncommonly quick, passed for three touchdowns and ran for another as No. 7 Alabama raced past No. 16 Mississippi State 56-23 to remain undefeated and unceremoniously knock the Bulldogs from the ranks of unbeaten. Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby looks at the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Credit: AP Photo/James Pugh If you saw Russell play in in Alabama’s first two games and then saw him again against State, you can be excused for thinking you were watching two different quarterbacks. In a month’s time, the Duncanville, Texas, native has become much more efficient, much more confident and sure of himself, much quicker with his decisions. Saturday, he completed 16 of 22 throws for 275 yards and used his quickness and speed to escape State defenders, buy himself some time, and make accurate throws down the field. Some of Russell’s throws, particularly a couple of perfect back-shoulder tosses, almost didn’t seem fair. State defensive backs seemed in perfect position, running step for step with the receiver, and then the receiver stopped, turned around and snagged a perfectly timed pass. State defensive back Isaac Smith, one of the Bulldogs’ veteran leaders, offered no excuses. “Russell is a really good player, but we shot ourselves in the foot,” Smith said. “That’s on us, the players. It’s not on the coaches, not on the crowd. I apologize to our fans. I’ll take the blame. I’m the leader on the back end, and we just didn’t do our job.” There were excuses that could have been made. Taylor came into the game hobbled with a lower leg injury, didn’t play the fourth quarter and limped off the field with his foot in a protective boot. Said State coach Jeff Lebby, “Kamario wasn’t able to do anything with his legs.” As anyone who has watched Taylor play knows, his long legs – and his foot speed – are so much of what make him who he is. Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) looks downfield against Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Credit: AP Photo/James Pugh Taylor did manage to throw for 258 yards and three touchdowns, but he suffered two interceptions, one a pick-6, and he lost a fumble. All three mistakes led to Alabama touchdowns. The fumble actually led to Alabama’s first score when Taylor seemed to pump fake a pass, but the ball tumbled out of his hands. Bama recovered. Officials reviewed the play and the call on the field, a fumble, stood. Alabama quickly scored. Some day, perhaps, someone will explain that rule to me in a way I can understand it. Taylor’s arm was moving forward, the ball went forward and I’ve seen that ruled an incomplete pass as often as not. Maybe you have to be a mind reader to officiate that call. If so, clearly some refs read minds differently than others. On State’s next possession, Taylor simply threw a bad pass, nowhere near the intended receiver, which Alabama cornerback Dijon Lee snatched out of the air and returned 30 yards for a second touchdown. That was two touchdowns in 71 seconds, no way to start a game against anybody, much less against Alabama. Lebby praised Taylor for his courage and grit, but at the same time also stated the obvious, that Taylor has to be more careful with the ball. State’s other valid excuse was that the Dogs’ best back by far, Fluff Bothwell, was banged up coming into the game and carried only one time for 1 yard before retiring to the sidelines. His absence was glaring. But then, when Alabama loses a great back, the Tide just plugs in another, and they all run behind mammoth, yet mobile, offensive linemen who look as if they just walked off an NFL bus. Bama won the line of scrimmage on both sides as it usually does in this lopsided series which the Bulldogs have won only 17 of 109 meetings. At times, this writer felt as if I was watching a rerun of a bad movie I’ve seen maybe 25 or 30 times before. Indeed, Alabama has now won 17 straight games over State by an average of 26 points per game. Maybe a healthy Kamario Taylor is the quarterback who can finally snap that streak. State will have to improve greatly across both lines and play much more efficiently, Taylor included, to do so. Until then, the Tide will keep on rolling. Mississippi State wide receiver Zion Ragins (7) scores a touchdown against Alabama during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Credit: AP Photo/James Pugh Courtesy of Mississippi Today
	Frozen berries recalled in Iowa and Illinois amid possible E. coli contamination Great Value's frozen Organic Triple Berry Blend, Organic Blueberries 10 OZ, and Trader Joe’s frozen Organic Mixed Berry Blend were recalled.
	Fire damages home at Bettendorf Trailer Park early Saturday A trailer home in the Parkview Trailer Park in Bettendorf was damaged by fire early Saturday. No injuries were reported.
	No injures reported following early morning Bettendorf fire No injuries to occupants or firefighters were reported following a Bettendorf fire. According to a release from the City of Bettendorf, the Bettendorf Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a fire in the 1300 block of Devils Glen Rd. on October 3 at 1:39 a.m. Upon arrival, crews found smoke and fire conditions [...]
	Iowa City students gear up for ESPN's College Gameday return to campus Saturday marks the show's first visit to Iowa City in 20 years.
	Got questions about the 2026 Massachusetts ballot? We want to hear them. CommonWealth Beacon is collecting listener questions for an upcoming podcast episode. Leave us a voicemail at (617) 858-0510 with your name, your question, and where you’re calling from. Use the form linked here to type your answer. Courtesy of Commonwealth Beacon
	Back from the Dead returns to Rock Island You can enjoy a full day of Halloween fun, eerie adventures and experiences across Rock Island! According to a release from the Quad Cities Chamber, the Rock Island Downtown Alliance will transform Downtown Rock Island into a Halloween destination with Back from the Dead on October 24. Explore the downtown area with family-friendly experiences during [...]
	After botched execution of Christa Pike, Tennessee correction chief steps down After the failed execution of Christa Pike, Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada will resign, Gov. Bill Lee announced. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)Tennessee Department of Corrections Commissioner Frank Strada will step down, Gov. Bill Lee announced Saturday — three days after a botched execution attempt left Christa Pike on a ventilator in critical condition. Strada offered his resignation, and the governor accepted, the news release said. Strada will step down from his role this month, it said. Pike, sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, had exhausted all appeals before her scheduled execution Wednesday. Tennessee governor orders third-party review, pauses all executions for the rest of the year But the execution was halted after two failed rounds of a lethal injection protocol over a two-hour period. Media witnesses were then asked to leave the building. They reported Pike was making audible noises as they exited. Pike remains in critical condition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Pike’s was the second botched execution in Tennessee under his leadership. In May, the execution of Tony Carruthers was halted after officials said they were unable to find a vein after trying for an hour and a half. As chief of the corrections department, Strada oversees state executions. In announcing his resignation, Lee said Strada had served “with integrity.” “I appreciate his willingness to put the interests of Tennesseans first during this difficult moment,” read the statement from Lee. Before Lee hired him in 2023, Strada served as a deputy commissioner in Arizona, where he oversaw three executions marked by problems. Lee has ordered a third-party review of Pike’s attempted execution and a pause on all executions in Tennessee through the end of the year. An interim commissioner will be announced at a later date, the governor’s news release said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. Courtesy of Tennessee Lookout
	Enjoy Halloween fun at Boo! Street Landing Have a spooktacular time at Boo! Street Landing! According to a release, Boo! Street Landing is a free, family-friendly event October 29 at Bass Street Landing. Families can enjoy costume contests, Halloween activities, treat booths and DJ/karaoke. Check out the Scarecrow Showdown and vote for your favorite scarecrow. Boo! Street Landing is a free event [...]
	Resignations, hirings and other personnel news from East Moline School District The following personnel items are from the Sept. 28 agenda of the East Moline District 37 Board of Education. The School Board met at Early Learning Center.
	Tree education session will be held in Riverside Cemetery, Moline The City of Moline Parks and Recreation Department and Moline Community Development Corporation will partner for the second year to invite residents, homeowners, and community members to attend a fall tree education session focused on proper tree maintenance and pruning techniques. The workshop will provide practical guidance to help residents keep neighborhood trees healthy, safe [...]
	The Grinders & Spaghetti House in Moline HVAC unit burglarized The Grinders & Spaghetti House Moline location was burglarized early Friday morning.
	It’s College GameDay in Iowa City! It is finally here! College GameDay in Iowa City kicked off at 8 a.m. on ESPN.
	Immigration insights: Tears and action follow ICE raids in southwest Kansas Dodge City protesters gather at Wright Park on Sept. 25, 2026, to march to U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann's office. They were protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in the community. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)DODGE CITY — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrived in southwest Kansas on Sept. 22 and departed three days later, leaving fear, uncertainty and anger. Many in the Hispanic and Latino communities in Dodge City, Garden City and Liberal, where most ICE activity was located, returned to work this week. But their fear persists and they aren’t yet leaving their homes or returning to regular activities, multiple immigrants said. The fear was contagious. In Manhattan, about 225 miles east of Dodge City, social media posts blasted warnings of possible ICE agents on Thursday because of a large presence of law enforcement vehicles in a store parking lot. It turned out to be a training session for local police, according to a store employee. Here are a handful of glimpses into the lives of Kansans affected by the raids. Viridiana Boron, volunteer Viridiana Boron spent several days last week delivering meals to Dodge City families whose members were scared to leave home because ICE was in the area. Her mother and sister cooked meals for about 200 people, and Boron delivered them, she said. “I was the one that was on the street and watching everything, watching all the suffer the families was having,” she said, pausing to apologize for her English. “I saw the reality, the truth. They were scared. They were sad. They were worried. I saw families with no water.” Boron started crying. “It was something that I’ve never seen in my life,” she said. “How can people not have heart and just do things like that? Because I mean, there I know could be a lot of immigrants over here that are like criminals, but a lot of people that I saw, they were not criminals. They were people working hard for their kids.” This week, many people she knows have returned to work, but they aren’t eating out or shopping as the fear lingers, Boron said. Boron came to the United States at age 24, receiving a visa because she and her family were threatened in Mexico. She has since married and is a legal permanent resident. Despite knowing she had the correct documentation, she was scared during the ICE operation. Others who stayed home also had documentation, she said. But they have seen instances where it didn’t matter, and ICE agents stopped cars to check paperwork just because someone looked Hispanic or Latina, Boron said. The affect on the community was “huge,” she said. It was difficult explaining to her 11-year-old son why people were scared because he didn’t understand the difference a paper could make, Boron said. “We are all the same,” she said. Priest Mercado, 15, attends a Dodge City march on Sept. 25, 2026, to protest the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detaining immigrants in his community. He said that he doesn’t believe families should be torn apart. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector) Julie Barraza, volunteer and activist Julie Barraza smiled at everyone approaching the table she set up at a downtown Dodge City protest on Sept. 24. She patiently answered questions about a petition to reform the country’s immigration system. “I was born and raised here, and I’ve never seen such a cloud over the town,” she said during a break. “The first morning, they (ICE) were waiting for me to get out of my car, and I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t get out of my car.” Barraza drove on to work at Rattlesnake Grill. She said ICE agents came in to eat but employees didn’t realize they were with ICE because they wore regular clothing. “Once we figured out they were ICE agents, because a customer had alerted us, I stepped out and decided to tell them to leave, and they refused,” she recalled. “I was scared, but I still did it.” The agents did get up and leave, Barraza said, adding that several restaurants in town refused to serve agents and others closed because there weren’t employees to work. Patrick Lopez, immigrant and educator Patrick Lopez stood in the midst of a Dodge City protest on Sept. 24, holding a sign and nodding to people he knew. He was there, he said, to “show solidarity with people who are being persecuted by ICE.” “I’m here to defend my immigrant brothers and sisters. I’m here to stand up for them, and I hate that they have to live in fear right now,” Lopez said. “I can’t sleep last night. I’m offended as an American. I’m embarrassed as an American. I’m indignant. I can’t believe that this is happening right now.” While acknowledging the economic costs to town — restaurants closed, businesses slowing or stopping work — Lopez said they weren’t what made him toss and turn at night. “I also wish that people remembered the human rights effect,” he said. “People’s families should be protected. I don’t care what the issue is. You can’t destroy people’s families like that and hopefully get away with it.” He tried unsuccessfully to reach a friend who drives a cab and worried that he was detained. “He works every day, and that’s the thing. The people that ICE is after are hardworking people around town,” Lopez said. “Many of them are putting their kids through school. They’re just trying to make a living.” Dodge City protesters gather at Wright Park on Sept. 25, 2026, to march to U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann’s office. They were protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in the community. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector) Sarahí Aguilera, therapist and immigrant Sarahí Aguilera is a licensed social worker, and she works as a mental health therapist. Advocating for the immigrant community, she said, is at the foundation of her personal and professional life. She knows the challenges well. Aguilera is part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows young people who arrived during specific time periods to apply and work in the country. DACA has been under fire during President Donald Trump’s administration, she said, but she was fortunate that her permit didn’t expire when the program was temporarily halted. Since then, it has been a “consistent uphill battle” to keep the program active, Aguilera said. Other family members weren’t so lucky. Aguilera’s sister had just been to an immigration appointment after turning 15, which is the age that people can apply for the DACA program, Aguilera said. “We had started her paperwork. She had been approved. She had gone to her biometrics. I lived at Wichita at the time because that’s where I was getting my education,” she said. “And she got approved. She just never received her work permit.” It was frustrating because when the family looked her up in the system, it said she was approved, Aguilera said. But she never physically received the approval that would allow her to receive her driver’s license or continue her education. Her sister eventually married and is in the process of acquiring her documentation, Aguilera said. The experience reminds her how difficult it is to go through the immigration process and how different it is for each person, she said. “Especially seeing me and believing she was going to have the same opportunity,” Aguilera said. “It really impacted her mental health and her motivation to further her education and just work on herself.” Aguilera volunteers with New Frontiers, a nonprofit organization that works with young people in southwest Kansas to create a grassroots movement focused on political, social and economic power. The group has a rapid response team that becomes active when events like ICE raids in the area occur, she said. Volunteers watch for ICE agents and try to verify information before releasing it to the community. “Fear already does a lot to someone,” Aguilera said. “So fear and the wrong information — we want to make sure that we’re just prepared and grounded with what information we’re trying to share.” Fear of the unknown is a problem for southwest Kansas immigrants, Aguilera said, along with how overwhelming information coming out could be. While ICE was in the area, she saw about four clients because most were afraid to go out. Typically, her schedule is full every day. Aguilera said she understands why some people are critical of immigrants who don’t have documentation. “There is so much misinformation. I believe as a society we need to do a better job of understanding what the immigration process looks like,” she said. “Of understanding what are the barriers, what are the circumstances? Because there is not a system that is going to work for all of us.” DACA recipients, for instance, don’t have a pathway to citizenship unless they marry or their jobs petition for them, Aguilera said. Whatever a person’s belief system, she said, she hopes people are careful with their words. “I do think it’s important to be mindful of the comments and what they can do to the mental health of someone overall,” she said, adding that people are easily influenced by social media and political figures, who she believes often don’t understand the process either. Does she think significant immigration reform is likely? “My heart wants to say that it’s hopeful. My uncertainty and anxiety that I’ve experienced for the past 10 years wants me to have a different answer,” Aguilera said. “I do believe people are opening their eyes. I believe we are getting a lot more information and more attention. Although I think we are creating great awareness and sharing information and education, I don’t believe we will see the impact and the change we want to see until people get out and vote.” Courtesy of Kansas Reflector
	Muscatine invites residents to join in the Healthiest State Walk Iowans across the state will take part in the 16th Annual Healthiest State Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 7, in a statewide initiative encouraging residents to step outside for a 30-minute walk. Workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, and community groups are invited to participate in whatever way works best for them. The City of Muscatine invites all residents [...]
	Buddy Guy celebrated at Radio City Music Hall with a sold-out ‘Buddy’s Got the Blues’ show Audio articles are automated for accessibility. Humans wrote and edited the story; however, this audio has not been reviewed for accuracy and may contain errors. Read more about how we use AI to increase access to our reporting. NEW YORK (AP) — Two months past his 90th birthday, Buddy Guy is still up for a little bragging, a lot of cursing and a long night of partying. The blues great was celebrated Thursday night with a sold-out show at Radio City Music Hall in New York, where a lineup of guest musicians and a house band led by Rolling Stones drummer Steve Jordan had the audience on its feet for much of the three-hour-plus “Buddy’s Got the Blues” concert. Guy himself was only on stage part of the time, but his name was heard throughout, and his spirit always present. One of the last of the Chicago bluesmen who thrived in the mid-20th century, Guy has become so much the ideal of the genre that musicians didn’t need to perform his songs to summon his legend. John Mayer, with an ache in his voice on Otis Redding’s “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember,” and Eric Gales and Joe Bonamassa jamming on the Jimmy Reed standard “Baby What You Want Me to Do,” seemed as fitting as Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks reviving an old Guy-Junior Wells favorite, “Messin’ with the Kid.” But no one was going to top the guest of honor. Guy, wearing a dark cap, dark pants and a polka dot shirt, opened the show with a long, raunchy acoustic workout of John Lee Hooker’s “I’m in the Mood” and only seemed to get friskier after bringing out his electric guitar. He leered and joked with longtime friend Shemekia Copeland on a duet of “Rock Me Baby,” left no doubt about the meaning of “to buzz all night long” in Slim Harpo’s “I’m a King Bee” and carried on a lot more when joined by one of his few contemporaries, Bobby Rush, just a month away from his 93rd birthday. Everyone came on at the end for an all-out, self-fulfilling “Got My Mojo Workin.’” Guy is still making plans. His team announced this week that he has a new album out next year, produced by Jordan and featuring multi-instrumentalist Ivan Neville, bassist Willie Weeks and others who played at Radio City Music Hall. Guy didn’t seem at first to have a lot on his mind Thursday besides the next double entendre or the next profanity. “Help me f—k up this song,” he liked to call out. But the tributes offered by the younger performers and the presence of Rush, who testified that he would have walked from Mississippi just to be here, left him moved and near tears. “I didn’t think this many people would be coming out for a 90 year old man,” Guy said, after confiding he didn’t have the strength to blow out that many “f—kin’ candles” on the cakes brought out at the end. “This is the greatest day I ever had in my life.” Courtesy of Mississippi Today
	The record-breaking, genre-melting, career-redefining evolution of Miranda Lambert Lambert started out as a scrappy country singer with a me-against-the-world attitude. How did she end up making lush disco songs and writing one of the biggest pop hits of the year?
	Citizens First Bank, Morrison, announces branch manger for new location Citizens First Bank has announced that Kristine Wiersema has been named branch manager of the bank’s new Morrison, Illinois, location. She will continue in her role as vice president, real estate lending. Wiersema brings more than three decades of banking experience to the position. She began her banking career in 1990 and joined Citizens First [...]
	'When Dylan Met Guthrie' will be presented at Rock Island Public Library "When Dylan Met Guthrie" will be presented at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at Rock Island Public Library, Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th St., Rock Island, a news release says. The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities and the Rock Island Public Library invite the public to the two man show created and presented by award-winning [...]
	Comedian Dale Jones will bring comedy show to Rhythm City, Davenport Comedian Dale Jones will perform Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Rhythm City Casino, 7077 Elmore Ave., Davenport, a news release says. Tickets are available online here or at The Market at Rhythm City for $33.75 and $44.45, which includes tax and an online/phone ticketing fee. The online/phone ticketing fee is waived when you purchase tickets [...]
	Manufacturing Day at Arconic introduces high school students to the industry "We want to let young students know that there's opportunities right here at home," said Jeffery Weida, vice president of manufacturing for Arconic Davenport Works and Satellites in Riverdale.
	Conservation Action Network hosts confluence session in Davenport The Bi-State Conservation Action Network (Bi-CAN) will host "Confluence: Where Community, Conservation, & Creativity Meet," from 8 a.m.-noon Oct. 15 at Credit Island, bringing together conservation and community-minded professionals from across the region for a morning of connection, learning, creativity, and outdoor exploration. Built around the idea of “confluence,” the event will explore the places [...]
	A look at Jamison Fisher through the years Jamison Fisher since 2020, in pictures.
	Request for bench trial brings surprise, relief to Trudy Appleby's family Earlier this week, Jamison Fischer asked for Judge Norma Kauzlarich for a bench trial and dropped his change-of-motion venue.
	Just short of its 200th birthday, a landmark natural history museum shuts down Beloved for its dinosaurs, Philadelphia's storied Academy of Natural Sciences closed down this week, amid an intense fight by local residents, politicians and scientists to save it.
	All's fair in love and 'War' — a well-cast, classy-trashy divorce drama HBO's War is intended to be an anthology series about two dueling London law firms. The first season stars Dominic West and Sienna Miller as a high-profile couple in the midst of a very nasty divorce.
	Theaster Gates bets on fine china The famed, Chicago-based artist's career is taking a new direction with the purchase of Pickard China, the sole remaining maker of fine china in the United States.
	Memories of Muscatine: A golf club hatpin This week for Memories of Muscatine: A hatpin from c.1900.

Monday, October 5th, 2026

Sunday, October 4th, 2026

Saturday, October 3rd, 2026