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

Wednesday, August 19th, 2026
	Community Health Care, Whiteside County Health Department awarded state construction grants The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced $50 million in grant funding has been awarded to 21 grantees through the Community Health Center Construction Grant Program. This funding comes from the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which supports constructing, expanding and improving community healthcare facilities across Illinois. In [...]
	Iowa inspectors revisit, cite dozens of restaurants for severe food-safety, mice activity State and local inspectors cite Iowa restaurants for hundreds of health violations, forcing at least two locations to temporarily close.
	Group O, Lantech, will present Lantech Packaging Tour to QC businesses Group O and Lantech will bring packaging automation directly to businesses across the Quad Cities region during the upcoming Lantech Packaging Tour, a week-long event designed to showcase automation solutions that can help organizations improve efficiency, productivity, and operational consistency, a news release says. Taking place during the week of August 24, the Lantech demonstration [...]
	Real-world study of Oregon's nonmedical psilocybin program shows promise Oregon was the first state to establish a legalized and regulated psilocybin industry. Since then, thousands have tried magic mushrooms. Here is the latest data from the state's real life experiment.
	July was Quad Cities International Airport's busiest month in 13 years A total of 69,578 passengers traveled through the Quad Cities International Airport in July.
	13th annual Hampton Days will bring food, fun for all ages The 13th Annual Hampton Days will be held Friday and Saturday, Aug. 21-22, a news release says. Admission is free. Friday Saturday Food vendors will include Octeen, Sweet Treat, The Main Squeeze, TC’s Kettle Corn, Hacienda Mexican Grill and Don Monico’s. Village of Hampton will sell hot dogs, burgers and chips.
	Bettendorf Middle School to show off first phase of $33.7-million project Bettendorf Middle School has completed the first phase of a multi-year, $33.7-million improvement project.
	One dead, Iowa Trooper injured in Stuart shooting A suspect is in custody following a deadly shooting in Stuart that left a woman dead and an Iowa State Patrol trooper injured.
	Residents raise concerns over proposed Rock Island County data center Advocates in Rock Island County are pushing for Illinois' proposed POWER Act, citing concerns over data centers straining local power grids and water supplies.
	Greetings from Trouville-sur-Mer, a beach town little changed since Monet painted it The Normandy beach town of Trouville-sur-Mer is a two-hour train ride from Paris, but feels a world away, with English Channel breezes and the sound of seagulls screeching through the cobbled streets.
	Moline man arrested after allegedly stealing 26-foot U-Haul truck A Moline man was arrested on Tuesday and is charged in Scott County District Court after allegedly stealing a truck from a Davenport U-Haul dealer.
	Chance for some showers this evening A fairly nice start to our Wednesday morning but not looking to stay that way for the rest of the afternoon and evening. We are looking at the chance for some showers and potential thunderstorms South of interstate 80 with a few showers in the metro QCA. We are also seeing the possibility of a [...]
	Hilltop Campus Village, Davenport to begin pedestrian safety improvements The Hilltop Campus Village (HCV) will take another step toward implementing its recently completed Master Plan on Thursday, Aug. 20, with the painting of a new high-visibility crosswalk and pedestrian improvements at the intersection of 14th and Main Streets in Davenport, according to a news release. The Hilltop representatives will be joined by first-year students [...]
	East Moline Library presents 'Galactic Saber Training' with Team Phoenix Martial Arts At 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, the East Moline Public Library will present an all-ages Galactic Saber Training with Team Phoenix Martial Arts, a news release says. Attendees will learn martial arts basics like hand-eye coordination and footwork while exploring the skills necessary to become a Jedi. Sign up here. The library also will host [...]
	Special Weather Statement until WED 9:15 AM CDT Dense Fog Reducing Visibility in Low-Lying Areas This Morning
	Black Box Theatre will present 'Come from Away' for 25th anniversary of 9/11 The Black Box Theatre will present "Come From Away," the Tony Award-winning musical, from Aug. 28-Sept. 12, a news release says. The musical is the true and extraordinary story of thousands of stranded airline passengers welcomed to Gander Newfoundland, a town of only 7,000 who pulled together as 38 planes were diverted to their small [...]
	What is a diverging diamond interchange? It's coming to John Deere Road and I-74 A new interchange is coming to John Deere Road and Interstate 74 in Moline that state transportation officials say will be safer for motorists.
	Season Championship night rescheduled at Davenport Speedway SR Promotions has announced that Season Championship night at Davenport Speedway has been rescheduled for Monday, Aug. 24, according to a news release. The event was originally scheduled for Aug. 17 but was postponed because of rain. Monday night racing is not uncommon at the Davenport track. Since the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds was constructed in [...]
	Everyday People: Tyson closure brings uncertainty for Davenport couple Scott Noel relied on his job at Tyson to provide for his family. He said "it's all been taken away from me."
	How India's blocking of a film exposing real-life police abuses backfired When Indian authorities scrubbed the biopic of activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, local villagers and activists turned its censorship into a grassroots movement.
	Marx This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.We Rock Islanders like to think of ourselves as the heart of the heart of the country. How do you think we might have…
	Striking hospital employees sound alarm over workplace violence In addition to pay, striking hospital workers say patient violence is an issue. Hospital workers are seven times more likely to be injured at work due to violent acts than the general working population.
	Congo's Ebola outbreak reaches 5,000 cases as it outpaces response efforts Government data showed the outbreak had so far recorded 5,021 cases, including 2,378 deaths. The outbreak has infected and killed more people at a greater speed than any other outbreak in history.
	Feeling restless? Level up your life by starting a side quest Feeling restless in life? Level up your main quest with an activity that has no other purpose than to add whimsy to your life. Play experts share tips on how to find the perfect side quest.
	Elbridge who? How the name of a forgotten founder lives on in the word 'gerrymander' Elbridge Gerry was an important early figure in the American Revolution, but his decision to approve a "gerrymandered" state legislative map inadvertently won him lasting infamy.
	15 states have laws that allow corporal punishment in schools. Here's where, and why There is broad consensus among psychologists that corporal punishment can be harmful to children, but the U.S. has no federal laws banning it in public schools.
	COVID is 'growing' in nearly every state, CDC reports. Here's where levels are highest Don't be surprised if you start hearing some more coughing in the next few weeks. COVID-19 is once again on the rise in nearly every corner of the U.S.
	Israel strikes an air base in Syria to prevent Turkish troops from deploying Israel struck an air base in northwest Syria early Tuesday, saying it aimed to prevent Turkish troops from deploying there. Turkey, which has close ties with the Syrian government and has been providing assistance to Syria's military.
	Liberia agrees to take 1,200 third-country deportees from the U.S. The 1,200 deportees will include Africans as well as nationals from North America, South America and the Caribbean, with the first batch of 20 expected on Thursday.
	Outshine fruit bars recalled over possible glass contamination Popular frozen fruit bars are being recalled over a risk that they could be contaminated with glass, according to a media release.
Tuesday, August 18th, 2026
	Trump says U.S. and Canada reached deal to delay 50% U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports President Trump said he was delaying the 50% U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports after the two countries reached a last-minute deal less than two hours before the sanctions were to go into effect.
	New QC PastPort destination honors Dred Scott An enslaved man brought to Rock Island to work at Fort Armstrong, Scott sued for his freedom, leading to the famous "Dred Scott Decision."
	Rock Island hosts discussion on data centers in the Quad Cities More than 100 people attended the discussion, which was hosted by a pair of nonprofits.
	Dred Scott historical marker dedicated in Rock Island A historical marker honoring a prominent abolitionist who fought for his freedom was unveiled in Rock Island. QC PastPort and Visit Quad Cities dedicated the destination that pays tribute to the legacy of Dred Scott, a slave brought to Rock Island to serve Dr. John Emerson at Fort Armstrong in 1833. Scott sued for his [...]
	Akwaaba QC opens food pantry in SouthPark Mall The food pantry is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
	Illinois enacts laws for domestic violence and sexual assault protection Governor JB Pritzker signed three laws intended to strengthen protection in cases of domestic violence and sexual assault in Illinois. Senate Bill 3044 strengthens protections for survivors of domestic violence and harassment by closing a legal loophole that occurs between emergency and final orders of protection. Senate Bill 3048 creates safeguards for domestic violence incidents. [...]
	Early look at the Quad Cities weekend forecast Things are looking pretty good this weekend in the Quad Cities! We'll see some sunshine and highs top out around 80° Saturday and Sunday. There's a chance for some rain Friday to kick off the weekend though. Saturday and Sunday are likely dry:
	I-80, IL-40 reopened after semi hits overpass A portion of I-80 and IL-40 was shut down after a semi hit the IL-40 overpass on Tuesday.
	Moline council approves Dykhuizen as interim city administrator after Vitas’ resignation Bob Vitas, former Moline city administrator, resigned effective Friday, Aug. 14, after being put on paid administrative leave.
	Maquoketa halts early discussions on potential data center development Maquoketa is stopping early discussions on a potential data center development.
	Trump administration moves to open untouched national forests to logging The end of "roadless rule" protections would open millions of acres of pristine forests to commercial use. Supporters say it will lead to better managed forests.
	Training sessions scheduled for Taming of the Slough Four Tune Up for Taming sessions to help participants prepare for the Taming of the Slough sessions will take place at the Bass Street Landing at the foot of 17th Street, Moline, a news release says. Sessions will be Thursday, Aug. 20, followed by Aug. 27, Sept. 3, and Sept. 10, all from 5:30-7 p.m. [...]
	Guest recounts Burlington hotel evacuation after partial collapse More than 120 people were safely evacuated after part of a Burlington hotel collapsed early Saturday morning.
	Interview: Muscatine police chief speaks out on officer shot, manhunt, spree killing TV6 Investigates’ Matt Christensen talked with Muscatine’s police chief about the shooting – and about a summer that’s tested his department like never before.
	New robotic procedure to test for lung cancer comes to Galesburg The rate of new lung cancer cases in both Iowa and Illinois is higher than the national average. In numbers from 2025, the American Lung Association reports that Iowa has 60.3 new cases for every 100,000 people. Illinois was at 58.1 cases per 100,000 people. The national average was just 52.8 per 100,000 people. That's [...]
	‘More people looking out for them than they realize,’: Local pizza truck owner steps up for laid-off Tyson workers Local food truck owner donates pizzas to workers affected by Tyson layoffs.
	‘Too close to home’: Neighbors weigh in on Mark Lee Jackson arrest Much of the buzz around town Tuesday was where police found him Monday night.
	City of Maquoketa, consultant, cease talks about data center development The City of Maquoketa and its development consultant have stopped consideration of a data center development in Maquoketa’s South Highway 61 Industrial Park, according to a news release. The City of Maquoketa and its development consultant, Gronen, have mutually agreed to cease preliminary discussions regarding the potential development of a data center. Gronen remains interested [...]
	Milan Hy-Vee employee honored on semi for 40+ years of service A longtime Milan Hy-Vee employee is being honored in a big way for more than 40 years of service. Brenda Daniels, who serves as retail product and pricing specialist, now has face featured on the side of one of Hy-Vee's semitrailers. Her photo was unveiled during a celebration at the Milan Hy-Vee. Hy-Vee first started [...]
	Lahn proposes shifting university funding to pediatric cancer research Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn wants to shift university funding away from degree programs he says don’t lead to good jobs and into pediatric cancer research.
	Moline expected to approve appointment of new city administrator Bob Vitas resigned from the role last Friday.
	What last name will Shelby, our newlywed anchor, use on air News 8's Shelby Kluver got married on August 15th! On her first day back at work, James posed the question that many of you have been asking: what name will she use?
	Moline Public Library hosting event featuring local authors this weekend Jan Laroche joined The Current to talk about some of the featured authors and how libraries help foster the next generation of writers.
	A new documentary from Iowa-connected director paints a portrait of Mary Oliver “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” was screened earlier this month in Iowa City and will air on PBS as part of "American Masters" on Aug. 25.
	Interactive Dred Scott marker unveiled on The Great River Trail The marker was unveiled Tuesday afternoon and is the 26th destination marker installed thanks to QC PastPort.
	Akwaaba QC grapples with Joslin Tyson closure, with 500 clients losing jobs Nana Ouro-Agoro, president of Akwaaba QC, said her nonprofit works with more than 500 people who were employed at the Joslin Tyson plant.
	Trump officials campaign with Nunn, Miller-Meeks ahead of November election Two members of the Trump administration held events Monday with two Iowa members of Congress whose re-election campaigns could determine whether Republicans remain in power in Washington, D.C.
	Chicago law firm investigates Tyson Foods over possible WARN Act violation A Chicago law firm is investigating whether Tyson Foods met WARN Act notice requirements after its Joslin facility closed, resulting in the loss of about 2,500 jobs.
	Rock out to "The Best of The Who" with Riverfront Pops! You can rock out in LeClaire Park to the music of The Who! Hisham Bravo Groover joined Our Quad Cities News with details on "The Best of The Who" with Riverfront Pops. For more information, click here.
	'Disney On Ice' returning to Vibrant Arena in Moline Shows run from Thursday, Dec. 3, through Sunday, Dec. 6.
	Quad Cities International Airport reports busiest month in 13 years The Quad Cities International Airport reported on Tuesday that July was their busiest month since 2013.
	Davenport man charged with theft, forgery after allegedly cashing false checks A Davenport man was arrested Monday for allegedly forging and depositing fraudulent checks into a bank account.
	Quad Cities International Airport has busiest month in nearly 13 years The airport said the last time passenger traffic exceeded July's total was in October 2013.
	Embattled Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills fights to keep his House seat Mills is the latest lawmaker in a recent string of congressional members facing scandals and allegations of domestic abuse while running for elected office.
	Embattled Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills loses his fight to keep his House seat Mills is the latest lawmaker in a recent string of congressional members facing scandals and allegations of domestic abuse while trying to run for elected office.
	ABC and Disney sue FCC, alleging First Amendment violations The ABC Network has sued the Federal Communications Commission, alleging that the Trump administration is violating its First Amendment rights by challenging ABC broadcast licenses and investigating the network's talk show "The View."
	Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, August 30 After Charlie Baty retired from touring in 2008, longtime frontman Rick Estrin brought in guitar virtuoso Kid Andersen and formed Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, an ensemble built around the bandleader's unmistakable harmonica work, vocals, and songwriting, and one performing a special Mississippi Valley Blues Society at Davenport's Gypsy Highway Bar & Grill on August 30.
	Hippie Death Cult, September 1 Touring in support of their first live album Live at the Star Theater, guitarist Eddie Brnabic, bassist/vocalist Laura Phillips, and drummer Harry Silvers bring their psych-rock outfit Hippie Death Cult to Davenport's Raccoon Motel, on September 1, the group's latest recording inspiring TheRazorsEdge.rocks to rave that "on every single level, it works so wonderfully well."
	Hippies & Cowboys, September 2 Although the band has been lauded by Today's Country Magazine as "one of the must-see acts when you visit Nashville," you'll only have to travel as far as Davenport to see the Southern-rock and soul musicians of Hippies & Cowboys, who, at the Raccoon Motel, will headline a September 2 concert on their Midwestern tour.
	Little Hopes, September 3 Currently traveling the Midwest in support of their debut album Georgia, the Atlanta-based Little headline a September 3 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the nascent Americana and country-rock outfit composed of musicians Sydney Rhame and Brock Shanks.
	Michael Columbia, August 28 Touring in support of their acclaimed July 31 release Mirrors, Shapes, Objects, the multi-instrumentalist trio of veteran genre benders David McDonnell, Christopher Kalis, and Dylan Ryan bring their outfit Michael Columbia to Rock Island's Rozz-Tox on August 28, the musicians hailed for drifting effortlessly between the Soft Machine-style soprano saxophone leads, interlocking riffs of Discipline-era King Crimson, and psychedelic-hypno-funk rhythms of Can.
	Henry County deputy involved in crash on the way to another crash A Henry County, Iowa, Sheriff’s deputy was involved in a crash on Monday on the way to the scene of another crash.
	SinDo Pan Asian Cuisine in Bettendorf closes permanently "We deeply appreciate every member of our community who showed us support during the brief time we were open,” the restaurant said on Facebook.
	Enjoy a day of trap shooting, golf in Kewanee The Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association (ILICA) is hosting their Area 3 Trap Shoot & Golf Outing on September 18 in Kewanee for a full day of fun and competition. The day starts at the 50-clay trap shoot at Izaak Walton League Trap-Skeet Grounds, 1220 W. 11th Street, followed by lunch at Baker Park Golf [...]
	Middle Eastern Jazz Fundraiser with Wanees Zarour, August 28 On August 28, patrons of the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts are invited to join award-winning Palestinian American composer and buzuq/oud player Wanees Zarour and his ensemble for the Middle Eastern Jazz Fundraiser, a special performance in support of Hope Foundation’s Gaza humanitarian relief efforts.
	“Come from Away,” August 28 through September 12 Lauded by the New York Times as a "big bearhug of a musical" in which "even the most stalwart cynics may have trouble staying dry-eyed," the Tony Award-winning Come from Away enjoys an August 28 through September 12 run at Moline's Black Box Theatre. This deeply moving entertainment is being presented in honor of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and was hailed by Broadway World as "inspiring, funny, and kick-ass beautiful.”
	“Ana Medieta: Traces,” August 29 through February 28 Exploring how the artist used her body to engage with the landscape and create powerful works of art, the fascinating exhibition Ana Mendieta: Traces will be on view in the Figge Art Museum's Gallery 206 from August 29 through February 28, the displayed works generously lent to the Davenport venue by the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art.
	Music & Makers Night: “Golden Age for Whom?”, August 27 On August 27, Figge Art Museum Co-Senior Curator Joshua Johnson will lead a special tour in the Music & Makers Night event Golden Age for Whom?, the exhibition of the title designed to bring together contemporary artists who respond to the themes and aesthetics explored in the Davenport venue's concurrent exhibition The Golden Age: Featuring Northern European Works from the National Gallery of Art.
	The German American Heritage Center's “The Lost Years of German Cinema: 1948-1963” Film Series, September 2 through 30 With the five featured classics including Academy Award nominees, iconic entertainments, and works that have inspired no end of unforgettable scenes, Davenport's German American Heritage Center teams up with the city's The Last Picture House to present “The Lost Years of German Cinema: 1948-1963," a film-series celebration of cinematic talent and industry boasting Wednesday screenings September 2 through 30.
	Report: Nearly 1 in 3 teachers still use ‘discredited’ reading methods Report: Nearly 1 in 3 teachers still use ‘discredited’ reading methodsWhile reform around reading instruction continues to gain momentum, about a third of teachers are using “discredited” methods to teach kids how to read and aren’t fully committed to the science of reading, a new report found.In a survey of more than 1,200 K-3 educators in the fall of 2025, obtained by The 74, researchers at the Fordham Institute, an education reform nonprofit, found that 30% of teachers don’t “favor phonics,” a major pillar in the science of reading that teaches students how letters represent sounds and how to blend those sounds together. Eamonn Fitzmaurice // The 74, Source: Fordham Institute The number of teachers “less informed and committed” to the science of reading is even greater in high-poverty schools, according to the From the Teacher’s Desk: A Science of Reading Progress Report.“Despite everything that has been said and written in the past few years, nearly a third of teachers still put phonics and cueing on equal footing,” the report said, also finding “progress that has been made in some teachers in high-poverty, majority-nonwhite schools are still, on average, less informed about and committed to basic principles of the [science of reading] than teachers in whiter and/or more affluent settings.”About half of all surveyed K-3 teachers said they teach with a “structured approach” which includes a mix of “instruction in phonics, decoding, and related skills,” the report said, adding nearly 1 in 3 teachers use a “balanced approach,” where students are asked to figure out unfamiliar words through context clues or pictures — a practice known as cueing, which has been banned in some states.Thirty percent of teachers reported favoring both phonics and cueing for reading instruction, and 2% said they preferred cueing over phonics, according to the report.The report also found that teacher belief and use of the science of reading is between 9 to 15 percentage points lower in low-income schools compared to those in higher-resourced schools. Source: From the Teacher’s Desk: A Science of Reading Progress Report, Thomas B. Fordham Institute Researchers recognized schools have experienced “significant bumps, detours, and even ‘reading wars’” around the best way to teach kids to read for decades, which in part accounts for teacher hesitancy and/or inexperience with parts of the science of reading.As of late March, 42 states, and Washington D.C., have implemented laws around the science of reading, according to EdWeek. But even with these initiatives, some teachers expressed concerns that the “pendulum swings too far to one side and we need balance.”“While I support our current emphasis on phonics, I worry that kids are going to lose out with less comprehension and vocabulary instruction,” one teacher said in the report, with another adding, “the pendulum swings like political winds. Let us teach. Please!”Others felt the shift toward the science of reading has led to “far more nonfiction texts” at the “expense of rich literature” and that “guided reading … is out, phonics-based small groups are in.”For educators who are more positive about the science of reading, the growing emphasis on phonics has “drastically changed how quickly students are able to learn to read,” according to the report.“They are happier learners because they aren’t as frustrated with reading,” one teacher said. Another added: “The shift to the science of reading has been huge … and has profound effects on teaching kids to read.”The science of reading is rooted in five pillars: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, but most of the conversation around the evidence-based approach has centered on phonics.Hesitancy around the science of reading is concerning to researchers, said David Griffith, one of the report’s co-authors.“Almost every literate person I’ve ever met remembers getting phonics,” Griffith said. “There is abundant evidence that phonics is successful, and what the research shows is that you need to know how to decode words in order to learn how to read. … If kids don’t learn to do this, then they won’t learn to read, and if they don’t learn to read, they won’t learn much else.”Griffith acknowledged teacher concerns about the trade-off of incorporating more phonics-based instruction and feeling students would miss out on comprehension, “but I would push back … that there is some sort of balance that we need to strike in terms of helping kids learn to decode,” he said. “Kids need to learn to decode, and then once they’ve done that, there are many other things that we can start doing.”Griffith also argued that having more nonfiction texts in K-3 could level the playing field for students who may not have exposure to certain background knowledge or vocabulary that would make them successful early readers. Lacking this kind of curriculum and instruction has created disparities and affected skills like finding the main idea or inferring for many children, he said.“A weak reader who knows about baseball will outperform a strong reader who doesn’t know anything about baseball,” Griffith said. “Your ability to draw inferences is entirely dependent on whether you understand what the passage is talking about and whether you have the right vocabulary.”The report found more than 40% of teachers hadn’t “fully internalized the importance of knowledge and vocabulary to reading comprehension.”The report found that teacher knowledge around the science of reading is inconsistent.Griffith said “the chaotic information environment that the typical teacher is subject to” has been the biggest thing hindering implementation now.“An older teacher tells you one thing. Your curriculum tells you something else,” he said. “You read an article online written by some think tank, and it tells you a third thing. Teachers want to do the right thing, … [but there’s a] lack of clarity … about points that really should be clear.” Source: From the Teacher’s Desk: A Science of Reading Progress Report Teachers in higher-resourced schools scored slightly higher than average in their science of reading knowledge and commitment (in the 54th percentile), while those in low-resourced schools scored below average in the 44th percentile.The report called it a “substantial difference that will have dire consequences for poor students should it persist,” which shows “the fragmented nature of curriculum adoption and the complexity of translating exposure to science of reading-aligned training into better practice.”Griffith added that teacher turnover in those environments likely plays a role.“Teaching is just harder in high-poverty schools. There is less time to think, there’s less time to do research on the science of reading or anything else. There is probably not a long tradition of veteran teachers building strong curricula over multiple years,” he said.Across the country, most K-3 teachers have received some type of professional development in the science of reading, the report also found. Those who have completed those courses have a better understanding of the evidence-based approach than those who rely on what they were taught in higher education and teacher preparation programs. Source: From the Teacher’s Desk: A Science of Reading Progress Report Even though most educators receive professional development, researchers said teachers’ knowledge of the science of reading declined as the grade level increased, with kindergarten teachers “exhibiting the deepest knowledge and third-grade teachers exhibiting the least understanding.”“These differences may reflect the fact that science of reading–aligned trainings and curricula often disproportionately target kindergarten, where a focus on decoding is particularly crucial. Still, given the number of third graders who are still struggling with decoding — and the continuing need to build knowledge and vocabulary in higher grades — the mediocre performance of teachers in higher grade levels is grounds for concern,” the report said.Other findings from the report included how 93% of teachers use multiple reading curricula, some of which still use practices like cueing. And that many teachers reported “limited insight into the needs of English learners and students with dyslexia.”“If we could somehow improve the quality of pre-service preparation, we would really be making progress, because it is hard to change the practices of teachers who have been teaching for 15 to 20 years,” Griffith said. “It would be enormously helpful if teachers got the right message at the start of their careers.”Fordham researchers called for colleges of education to require instruction aligned to the science of reading.The report also found that teachers in states with reading-aligned licensure tests had a deeper understanding of the evidence-based reading model, which became another recommendation for better implementation. Other suggestions included mandates around K-3 teacher training to be completed within their first three years in the classroom and a push for states to establish approved curriculum lists.This story was produced by The 74 and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	“The Third Man,” September 2 With the first offering in its series voted "the greatest British film of all time" in a 1999 British Film Institute poll, the German American Heritage Center opens its “The Lost Years of German Cinema: 1948-1963" film screenings with one of the greatest cinematic works of all time, as director Carol Reed's 1949 film noir The Third Man will be shown at Davenport's The Last Picture House on September 2.
	Community conversation on data centers to be held in Rock Island Several groups will host a community conversation on data centers and their impact Tuesday night.
	Chicago law firm investigating Tyson Foods for potentially violating WARN Act Strauss Borrelli PLLC is investigating Tyson Foods after its recent mass layoff in Joslin.
	Renting a car on your next trip? Here's what your auto insurance covers on a rental car Renting a car on your next trip? Here's what your auto insurance covers on a rental carFor freedom and flexibility on vacation, travelers often opt for a rental car. Having your own set of wheels means you can go where you want and when you want.Your personal car insurance covers a rental car on a U.S. vacation with the same liability, collision and comprehensive coverage you already carry on your own vehicle. That is one reason just 10% of renters buy insurance at the rental counter, according to a July 2024 Consumer Reports survey of more than 6,000 members.That protection carries the same deductible you pay at home, and it follows you into Canada. But if you carry a liability-only policy, you have no comprehensive or collision coverage to extend, so nothing on your own insurance pays to fix or replace a rental car that gets wrecked or stolen.Your credit card can cover the rental car itself, but it pays nothing toward the injuries or property damage you cause someone else. That comes from your own auto policy, which extends to a rental driven for personal use and pays first. Rental agreements usually include liability at the state minimum, which is what covers a renter with no policy of their own, though not every agreement does. The minimum is low either way, so confirm what the contract includes and buy supplemental liability at the counter to raise the limit.Below, Insure.com explains what you need to know about insurance coverage for your rental car.What insurance do you need to rent a car for vacation?Personal car insurance covers a rental car driven for personal travel in the U.S. and Canada, applying the same coverage types, limits and deductibles that appear on your own policy. Whatever coverages you carry at home are what you carry on the rental, too.If you carry a $1,000 collision deductible, you pay the first $1,000 of the rental's repair bill. If you carry your state's minimum liability limits, those same limits are all that protect you after a crash.The Insurance Information Institute recommends calling your insurer and your card issuer before you rent, because the counter is where travelers pay for coverage they already have.What rental car coverage your auto policy includesFull coverage on your personal vehicle extends three protections to a rental car, and each one works exactly as it does on your car. Your deductible comes with them; that’s the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurer contributes. A $600 bumper repair on a rental car can cost you the full $600 if that is your deductible, because the carrier pays nothing until the deductible is met.Rental companies bill loss-of-use fees for the money they lose while a damaged car sits in the shop, plus an administrative fee for handling the claim. Personal auto policies differ on whether they pay either one. Ask your insurer about an add-on that covers those fees, which costs less than buying the same protection by the day at the counter. Insure.com Remember, if you only have liability insurance on your personal vehicle, you won’t have comprehensive or collision coverage on a rental car.When your personal policy won't cover a rentalYour personal policy doesn’t cover a rental car when you carry liability-only insurance, drive outside the U.S. and Canada, rent for business use, or keep the car longer than your policy allows.A liability-only policy leaves the rental car unprotected. Liability pays only for damage you cause to other people. Damage to the rental itself, theft of the rental or a tree branch falling on the rental are all yours to pay.Travel outside the U.S. and Canada is not covered by the policy. Standard U.S. auto policies are written for U.S. and Canadian roads, so Mexico, Europe, the Caribbean and everywhere else require separate coverage.Business use voids personal coverage. A rental picked up for a client visit, a delivery route or rideshare driving is a commercial use, and personal policies exclude it.Long-term rentals stop being covered. Rentals that stretch into weeks or months, and any lease, generally need to be added to a policy in writing before coverage applies.Insurers commonly exclude exotic cars, high-value vehicles, cargo vans, RVs and moving trucks from rental coverage, so call your agent before you book a wedding-weekend convertible or a 26-foot moving truck.How can you use a credit card to cover rental car insurance?Credit card coverage pays for damage to or theft of the rental car and nothing else, so it never pays for the injuries or property damage you cause. Credit card coverage replaces the damage waiver sold at the counter, not your liability insurance.What changes from card to card is who pays first, the dollar limit and the day cap. Cards also exclude exotic and high-value cars, trucks, motorcycles, car-sharing rentals booked through platforms like Turo, and countries including Ireland, Israel and Jamaica. Your card's benefit guide is the only place those details appear, so read it before you book. Insure.com How do you activate credit card rental car coverage?Credit card coverage activates only if you pay for the rental with that card, decline the rental company's damage waiver, and appear on the rental agreement as the renter. To activate credit card rental car coverage:Pay the full rental cost with that card. Splitting the charge or switching cards at the counter can void the coverage.Decline the damage waiver. Accepting it hands over responsibility to the rental company and switches off your card.Get your name on the agreement. The cardholder must be the renter, and every additional driver must be listed.Even if you follow all these steps, credit card rental car coverage might not apply in some situations.Rental car insurance options at the counterRental companies sell a damage waiver, supplemental liability, personal accident coverage and personal effects coverage, and each one overlaps something you may already have. The damage waiver is not insurance. It is a rental company agreement not to bill you for damage to its car, and it can be canceled if you do anything the contract forbids, like driving on unpaved roads.Everything at the counter is priced per day, so the cost increases with each day of your trip. Insure.com Do I need rental car insurance for my vacation?Skip the counter coverage if you carry full coverage on your own car and are paying with a card that covers rental damage. Buy at the counter when your trip has a gap your own coverage does not reach, such as:You have no auto policy, or liability only, and no card coverage. Nothing is protecting the rental car itself.You carry state-minimum liability limits. Supplemental liability raises them for the trip without affecting your premium.You are traveling outside the U.S. and Canada. Your policy stops at the border, and most cards exclude some countries.You are renting an RV, a moving truck, a high-value car or a work vehicle. These are the most common exclusions on both policies and cards.Your rental runs longer than 15 to 42 days. That range is where card coverage cuts off.You want to keep a claim off your record. A waiver costs a set amount up front, while a claim can raise your premium at every renewal that follows.Does rental car insurance cover driving in Mexico or Canada?Your personal car insurance covers a rental in Canada but not in Mexico, where liability coverage must be provided by a Mexican-licensed insurer. The U.S. State Department's Mexico country information page notes that Mexican car insurance is required for every vehicle and that uninsured drivers in an accident may be arrested.Buy a Mexican liability policy before you cross, through the rental company, your own insurer, or a specialist seller. Tell the rental company where you are going, because many U.S. rental agreements ban crossing into Mexico, and doing it anyway voids everything you paid for.Renting a car when you don't own oneWithout your own car insurance, the rental company and your credit card are the only sources of coverage. That coverage has to pay for repairs if you damage the rental car, and for the other driver's medical bills and car repairs if you cause a crash.Here’s how to make sure you’re covered:The rental company sells coverage for its own car, sometimes called a damage waiver. It pays to fix or replace the car if you crash it or someone steals it, and you're charged for every day of the rental.Your credit card may cover the same thing for free. Call the number on the back and ask, because if it does, you can pay for the rental with that card and turn down the coverage at the counter.With neither one, you pay for the damage yourself. That means the full repair bill, or the value of the car if it's stolen or totaled.The rental comes with liability coverage, but only your state's minimum. That pays the other driver's bills when you cause a crash, and one serious injury can cost more than the minimum coverage, so make sure to buy supplemental coverage at the counter to raise the amount.Breaking the rental agreement cancels the coverage. Driving on unpaved roads or letting someone who isn't on the contract take the wheel leaves you on the hook.Rental car tips for your next tripBook early for the best rate and selection, then use the week before pickup to settle your coverage and paperwork.Confirm your coverage in writing. Ask your insurer to email confirmation, and download your card's benefit guide to your phone.List every driver on the rental agreement. An unlisted driver who crashes can void the contract and the coverage that comes with it.Photograph the car from all angles at pickup and return. Time-stamped photos defeat a damage claim for a scratch that was already there.Check the fuel policy before you leave the lot. Prepaid fuel charges for a full tank, whether you use it or not.Set up the car before you shift out of park. Adjust the mirrors, find the wipers and connect your phone.Adjust the seat and mirrors, locate the wiper and turn signal controls, and connect your phone for GPS if needed. Then hit the road and make some memories.Rental car insurance FAQDoes my insurance deductible apply to a rental car?Yes, the same deductible you have for your personal vehicle carries over to a rental car.Am I covered driving a rental in Canada or Mexico?Your personal car insurance policy will provide coverage in Canada but not Mexico. Let the car rental company know your plans to travel to Mexico so they can review your insurance options.Does rental coverage extend to additional drivers?Your rental coverage will extend to all drivers listed on the rental agreement. If someone is not listed on the agreement and is involved in an accident while driving, the claim might not be covered.Will a rental car claim raise my premium?It can if you file a claim with your personal auto insurance carrier. For this reason, some people look for credit cards that offer primary rental car insurance coverage, since it can eliminate the need to file a claim with their insurer.This story was produced by Insure.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Red Cross honors two Bettendorf YMCA employees Two Bettendorf Family YMCA employees have been recognized by the American Red Cross for using their CPR and AED training earlier this year to help save the life of a member who suffered a cardiac emergency. Raymond Marquez and Brittney Thornton received the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders at a ceremony on [...]
	The most common town names in America, and how they got so popular The most common town names in America, and how they got so popularSpend enough time on the roads around the country, and you’ll start to notice that you’re seemingly passing through the same handful of towns over and over.Springfield. Franklin. Clinton. These are just some examples of common town names that pop up repeatedly across dozens of states. This phenomenon traces back to shared settlement patterns, universally admired individuals, settlers who simply liked reusing an old favorite, and more surprising trends.PeopleWin has pulled together this list of common town names using place-name tallies from WorldAtlas and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Geographic Names Information System, the federal database of records for populated places, paired with local and historical sources for the origin story behind the names.1. Washington - 88 LocationsNo name repeats itself more than Washington. In the U.S., there are 88 cities and towns that have Washington in their names, not to mention the state of Washington itself.Of course, this is a direct homage to George Washington. Naming a new settlement after the first president served as both a patriotic gesture and a way for frontier towns to signal their legitimacy to the country as everything expanded westward.2. Springfield - 41 LocationsSpringfield, Massachusetts, founded in 1636 by William Pynchon, is the original, named after Pynchon’s hometown in England. As settlers moved westward, they reused the name due to its familiar and pleasant sound, seemingly evoking thoughts of fertile lands near a spring. In fact, the name is so associated now with the idea of an average town that “The Simpsons" deliberately never revealed which Springfield is the setting of the show.3. Franklin - 35 LocationsFranklin, Massachusetts, was the first town named for the famed Benjamin Franklin. Dozens more communities have followed suit since. Unlike Washington or Madison, Franklin was never president, but his prominent role in drafting the Declaration of Independence earned him accolades that have resonated into modernity.4. Clinton - 29 LocationsClinton owes its popularity to DeWitt Clinton. He was a New York senator, as well as governor, best known for his role in championing the Erie Canal. The project transformed American trade and allowed for quicker westward expansion. However, not every Clinton traces back to him directly. The one in Massachusetts, for instance, was named after a New York hotel that a local founder was particularly fond of.5. Fairview - 27 LocationsUnlike names that are meant to honor historic figures, Fairview is simple and descriptive. Settlers used it to flag a town that just generally looked appealing, whether that be over farmland, hills, or by water. Fairview, Utah, as an example, was named in 1872 due to its view of the valley’s great granary.6. Madison - 24 LocationsIt’s not difficult to guess why Madison is a popular place name. James Madison, the fourth president of the U.S. and the father of the Constitution, was the namesake for locations across the country, and the name spread quickest in the 19th century as new settlements were forming.7. Arlington - Roughly 20 LocationsThe name Arlington has a fascinating backstory. The name traces back to Arlington House, the Custis-Lee mansion overlooking the Potomac. That location was named for an ancestral Custis family estate. When Arlington National Cemetery was built on its grounds after the Civil War, the name gained enough traction that other towns later renamed themselves in honor of it.The trends that define city namesEarly American communities often leaned on a small and shared pool of respected names when thinking of what to choose to call their settlements. While there were many presidents, statesmen, and just pleasant descriptions of the land around, the founders opted for the same established choice out of respect to those people, places, or events. The funny result, however, is a country map where knowing a town’s name tells you surprisingly little about where it actually is.This story was produced by PeopleWin and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	North Scott Press — Aug. 19, 2026
	Complete results of the 2026 Mississippi Valley Fair! Click here to view the complete results of the 2026 Mississippi Valley Fair!
	Complete results of the 2026 Mississippi Valley Fair!
	Eldridge city council tables fire ordinances until Oct. 5 The Eldridge City Council Monday agreed to table the third reading of ordinances designed to establish a municipal fire department until Oct. 5. The decision followed a discussion held Saturday between council members Brian Dockery and Ryan Iossi and firefighters Dave Engler and Andrew Doyle. During the public comment portion of the meeting, Engler referred to the conversation as “productive” and said the four had discussed meeting again this coming Saturday. Engler also shared that the membership of the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company held a special meeting on Sunday and voted to postpone the Oct. 1 deadline it gave the city to establish a municipal fire department. The new deadline is Dec. 31. He closed his comments by asking the city council to consider tabling the third reading. Following public comment, Iossi told Engler, and the audience, that he believed the conversations were “genuine. I think that there were no punches held. I think we had honest dialogue. I feel that we had some meaningful conversations. “We need to talk through the available options, determine what is actually viable and then better define the appropriate steps. I’m not necessarily saying that the city’s path that it’s been taking isn’t still the best option. However, given the recent circumstances and information, I personally cannot move forward until I’m confident that we have fully explored and ruled out all viable options,” Iossi continued. He proposed a meeting bringing together more of the stakeholders, including representatives from the city, EVFC, Scott County and the Benefitted Fire District. “I believe having one meeting with everybody at the same table, hearing the same information and discussing the same options would allow us to make much faster and more meaningful progress.” Dockery agreed that the meeting had been successful in, “trying to find a path forward, common ground for everybody involved and the possibility of relief for the citizens of the community.” He said he wasn’t opposed to Iossi’s idea but said it would have to be a committee of the whole if all council members were to be involved, “which I don’t have a problem with either, but it’s got to be constructive.” He said at the Saturday meeting, the four “started a great nucleus to find a resolution to this issue.” He also thanked the EVFC for being willing to come down on the deadline. With that said, he made a motion to table the third reading indefinitely. Iossi said he would be willing to second after he heard from the rest of the council. Council member Scott LaPlante reminded his fellow members that they all took an oath to serve the people of Eldridge. “Both the members of the volunteer fire department and the entire city council are here to serve the people. I will support the necessary steps that we need to take to maintain the safety of our community.” ‘I just want to bridge the gap’ Council member Jeff Ashcraft began his comments on a philosophical note, saying that he’d come to realize something as the council has been meeting back at the community center. “We’ve got this huge gap between us. And it’s such a metaphor for what’s gone on over these last couple months. We have this huge chasm that has fissured throughout our community.” Acknowledging his next step was “unorthodox,” Ashcraft came out from behind the council table and began walking through the audience as he talked. “I just want to bridge the gap. There doesn’t have to be a chasm between all these different groups throughout our city. “We’re all Eldridge. We need to start thinking and acting and talking together like we’re Eldridge. We have spent the last two months airing our dirty laundry out in front of the entire Quad Cities community. And that’s OK, right? Families fight; families are dysfunctional. Families say things that they shouldn’t say. Families do things that they wish they hadn’t done. Families put it out there. And we put it out there. My recommendation is that we figure out a way to come back again. “We all really want the same thing,” Ashcraft continued. “We just have to figure out a pathway to get there, right? And so, we can actually be an example to the rest of the Quad Cities of how community can come back together. And maybe show some grace, maybe accept each other’s apologies, maybe figure out a way that we can actually communicate and come together for the common goal.” Ashcraft asked if Dockery would consider amending his motion to remove the stipulation that the tabling be indefinite and asked instead if it could be postponed until Sept. 28. “Not that that means we’re going to pass it on the 28th, but it gives us a deadline … If we choose to postpone it, tie it to the Sept. 28 meeting, then we can revisit it then and either rescind it, table it indefinitely or make another determination as to what to do with it.” Dockery said that, if the ordinance comes back, he did not believe it would be in the same form it is now. He said, now that the Oct. 1 deadline had been pushed back, he did not see a reason the ordinances could not be tabled indefinitely, though he was willing to listen to other council members on the matter. Mayor Scott Campbell said, “It is time for us to start developing trust, and we really do need to start somewhere.” He said he thought Iossi’s idea of having a stakeholders’ meeting was viable and said he did not believe it needed to be a committee of the whole meeting. “We don’t need 100 voices in the room. We need to develop trust with the fire department, and that means having honest and hard conversations. Not played out on TV. We need to have those conversations, and we have to be able to talk honestly and openly and not play to the crowd, play to applause. Just people sitting around a table, having a conversation, much like Ryan and Brian and Dave and Andrew did last Saturday.” Iossi agreed that he did not think a committee of the whole meeting would necessarily be productive. He also said he wasn’t opposed to Ashcraft’s idea of putting a time limit on the tabling. “It forces us to take action. There’s no more excuses about why it’s delayed and delayed and delayed. If it means we get to that point, if it’s Sept. 28 and it gets killed, so be it. But we’re setting at timeline. If we don’t set benchmarks, I’m afraid it’s going to keep getting drug out.” Dockery then proposed setting a new date to take up the ordinances again on Oct. 5. “I would say by the first meeting in October, we’ll know if the sides are heading in a similar direction.” He said Saturday’s initial conversation had been a good start, and the parties had made good progress, but he added that in order for further discussions to be productive, the sides needed to be on equal footing. “It’s got to be somebody that the fire department trusts,” Dockery said. “I mean, there’s a lot of mistrust here. We’ve got to put ourselves in a position where they can trust talking to people openly. A lot of things have been said. We set the community back some. We’ve got to get over that. It might take one or two meetings to keep moving forward. “Are we close? Is it fixable, or is it so far out of whack? And I think the outcome of that is, both sides want to see it fixed.” Dockery amended his motion to table the amendment until Oct. 5. “I think by that time, we’ll know if we’re heading in the right direction or not. But if we’re headed in the wrong direction, we still have a few months to work on it.” After a procedural question from Ashcraft about whether they were tabling or postponing, city attorney Allison Wright said the two could be used interchangeably in this instance. “It sounds to me collectively that council’s intentions are to either table or postpone it, for further consideration on the merits of the ordinance, is that accurate?” asked Wright. Dockery said there would likely be changes to the language of the ordinance by Oct. 5, depending on the outcome of future discussions. Wright also asked if the intention was to continue in small work groups going forward. She expressed concern about that possibility, saying she wanted to ensure that options that remained legally viable were being discussed. She also said she was uncomfortable with the prospect of the mayor and the city administrator being left out of those discussions. However, she said she would recommend an upcoming stakeholder meeting. Campbell said he was willing to move forward on a stakeholder meeting and would contact John Maxwell with the Scott County Board of Supervisors, and hopefully at least one of the trustees of the Benefitted Fire District. He also asked Wright to contact assistant county attorney Kristina Lyon. Campbell said he believed it was important for Wright and city administrator Nevada Lemke to be at the meeting as well, “to protect us.” He also asked Iossi to attend the meeting, as well as Engler and several of the firefighters. Dockery said he wanted to have some resolution with the fire department before bringing in all the stakeholders. “If we can’t come to a resolution with the fire department, none of the rest of it matters.” He also asked if there needed to be a 28E agreement in place with the fire department before proceeding. “Whatever the agreement is has to be a legal possibility, and there are very specific requirements for a 28E agreement of this type,” said Wright. “What I am concerned about is brainstorming options that are not legal possibilities and then causing further tension between the parties.” Following the vote to table, Dockery asked to be on the discussion committee. “I’ve already asked council member Iossi to be on that,” said Campbell. “Just for the record, then, am I being omitted from that committee?” asked Dockery. “Just for the record, Brian, I think that there is a small concern that there might be a conflict of interest there,” said Campbell. The audience reacted with derision. Public comment The council’s business was once again preceded by multiple residents speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting. When signing in at the meeting, attendees could also find a copy of the rules of conduct for speaking at public meetings sitting next to the agenda. Kathy Clasen opened with a call to come together, and for the council to table. Clasen, who has been a registered nurse for 51 years, said she understood the sacrifices the volunteer firefighters have made. “So, what’s happened now?” she asked. “How did we get so far off the rails? The only thing I can think of is the human condition. Again, my nurse brain is talking about us all being slightly flawed and imperfect. We’re all mammals with emotions. I believe there’s still time for us to work this out. To go forward with the goal that we all have, which is public safety. “I didn’t like hearing that 20 of the volunteers felt compelled to quit,” she continued. “But I acknowledged that they felt it was their only option. I didn’t like the things that were said in anger and frustration, but that’s what I mean about the human condition. They were upset. Emotions got involved.” Clasen asked the council to table and discuss options that could include retaining members of the EVFC. Diane Davis said she didn’t feel the council was protecting the residents and asked why the matter of the fire department couldn’t be put to a public vote. “We voted on the YMCA. Why aren’t we voting on this? This should be all of our decisions, not a handful of people.” At last Wednesday’s special meeting, resident Josh Haycraft presented a petition to the council regarding the fire department. Monday, Judith Gilbert turned in another 157 signatures, for a total of 346. Gilbert also said the negative headlines coming as a result of the conflict over the fire department were damaging to Eldridge. “This is not good city leadership, and it has been going on for too many years. I would bet that this dispute may be the straw that broke the camel’s back. You are losing potential businesses and residents who are reconsidering choosing Eldridge for their business or home. The kind of damage being inflicted by city leadership – that has already made one bad decision this year by not listening to residents and on the brink of another – will take years to restore. Those who are willing to speak up and have done so deserve to be listened to. We are the ones willing to put our names and faces to this fight.” James Fitzjarrell said he was encouraged by news of the constructive conversation that took place between Iossi, Dockery, Engler and Doyle. But he said extending the deadline should represent the start of resolving a “durable agreement long before that deadline. An agreement that protects public safety, respects the service of our firefighters, gives taxpayers transparent numbers and allows the community to begin the healing process.” Fitzjarrell asked that members of the EVFC be treated as “essential partners” going forward. Fitzjarrell also asked the council to be clear about the budget that was presented by the EVFC, saying a portion of the increase represented capital improvements, which may not be ongoing and also represent a long-term investment in the department. He further asked for a written timeline, with priorities, estimated costs and funding sources laid out for residents, and clear milestones, a public staffing plan, mutual aid agreements and an independent budget review. “Publish the milestones. Report the progress publicly,” said Fitzjarrell. “Do not let the next several months become another closed process that produces more suspicion. This community has been divided. Trust has been damaged, but an extension is an opportunity, not merely to postpone a decision, but to make a better one. Slowing down is not failure. Compromise is not weakness. It is responsible leadership.” Ginny Zink opened by saying that the 2025 audit was not currently on the city website, although she had obtained a copy from city hall. She pointed out several operational deficiencies listed in the audit. “How can we trust a city with an entirely new department when it has not demonstrated strong control over the taxpayers’ funds it is already managing? At this date, no chief, no volunteers have been recruited. The city does not own the assets. I believe 501 non-profit bylaws can affect transfer and may require approvals or court oversight. The mayor acknowledged in writing that the cost questions are currently unanswerable.” Zink said she had concerns about insurance increases that could affect every business and resident. “Immunity does not cover willful, wanton or reckless misconduct. Voting yes tonight after written warnings, verbal warnings and this public record removes that shield of discretion. You are not making an uninformed judgement call. You are making an informed choice to proceed despite documented, foreseeable risk.”
	'Profits won.' The child safety trial against Meta kicks off in federal court Opening arguments are underway in a trial that pits four states against the company that owns Facebook and Instagram. They allege that Meta knew its products could hook kids — and lied about the danger.
	Welcome, new teachers Front, left to right: Liz Kent, TAG teacher at Alan Shepard and John Glenn; Jillian Dircks, sixth-grade teacher at Neil Armstrong; Anna Bross, math teacher at the junior high; April Thurman, special education teacher at Alan Shepard; Jennifer Johnson, special education teacher at John Glenn; Audrey Eganhouse, science teacher at the junior high. Back, left to right: Thomas Peppers, physical education teacher at Alan Shepard; Erin Hughes, PreK-4 teacher at Alan Shepard; Emma Crandall, kindergarten teacher at Ed White; Allison Gandrup, special education teacher at Ed White; Chantel Woods, computer science teacher at the high school; and Whitney Moss, PreK-4 teacher at Virgil Grissom.
	Princeton council, public, staff at odds over culvert replacement Princeton City Council approved a bid to replace a collapsed culvert on Filmore Street at a testy meeting last week. Phoenix Corporation of Port Byron, Ill. submitted the lowest of three bids for the work, at $10,440. Additional bids came at $12,000 and $13,400. Councilman Kevin Kernan cast the lone dissenting vote against the project. He said Princeton Public Works Director Chris Rindler had advised against approving the bid. “I talked with my public works official, who we hired to do this job, and he gave me a bunch of information, and we need more engineering on the situation,” Kernan told The North Scott Press after the meeting. “It's just irresponsible to do this without his consent.” Rindler said that the collapsed culvert, located on Filmore Street between 3rd and 4th Streets, “needs to be addressed.” But a quick repair would not address the fact that Filmore Street and the surrounding watershed was poorly engineered. “It’s a larger project than just that culvert,” Rindler said. “Homes are being flooded because the street is pitched. The culvert sizing is wrong, in my opinion.” “To prepare for the future, we need to do the right thing—by having it engineered, looking at watershed, things of that nature,” he said. Resident and former council member Ann Geiger demanded that Mayor Travis Volrath explain why the city had not opened a competitive bid process, which includes public hearings and a public notice in the newspaper. “I see there is a culvert bid out,” Geiger said. “Where was it posted? Where was it let? Where was it published?” Volrath said the council would answer when Geiger concluded her comment and sat down. “You don't have an answer,” she replied. “It has to be published by law. It wasn't published, was it? And who let the bid? Who did the bidding?” Volrath did not explain the council’s bid process when Geiger concluded her comment. After the meeting, City Clerk Kisa Tweed pointed to state law which allows cities to solicit bids rather than open a competitive bid process for projects under a certain cost threshold. Under Iowa code, “horizontal infrastructure” projects like bridges, roads and culverts only need to go out for competitive bid when their cost exceeds $62,000. That threshold is set by a state administrative board every other year. Other Scott County cities routinely solicit bids, rather than open a formal bid process, for projects that fall below the state threshold. During the meeting, Volrath expressed frustration with the fact that residents expected the council to answer questions during public comment and continued to ask questions after their allotted public comment time had concluded. “They make these rules for a reason. We have to be able to run a meeting,” he said. At one point, Volrath interrupted Kernan when he tried to address questions from former public works employee Ty Carstens about whether the culvert had been redesigned. “Let’s answer him when he sits down,” Volrath said over Kernan. “Okay, fine. Do whatever. I’m [expletive] frustrated with this [expletive],” Kernan replied. Winding Hills payments approved A public hearing with little public comment proceeded the council’s unanimous decision to approve a schedule of payments that will bring city utilities to developer Rod Reid’s Winding Hills subdivision on Locust Street. The city will cover up to $400,000 of the cost to expand city utilities into the nine-lot subdivision. Those funds will come from “tax increments”— increases in the property value, and property tax payments, of the land set for development. “I'm excited about the subdivision, and it looks great,” Resident Terri Applegate said. “I'm looking forward to having new development in our city.”
	Pickleball expands reach to Donahue Donahue residents expect to welcome their first pickleball court sometime this fall. The project, led by the Friends of Donahue, has marshaled support from the city council, North Scott Rotary, private citizens, local businesses and contractors. Ground broke this summer at Rohlk Park and was nearing completion, Friends of Donahue President Sarah Ganzer said last week. Plans for the court began with a Facebook poll, Ganzer said. How could the friends of Donahue improve Rohlk Park, tucked behind the River Valley silos between two residential properties? The local consensus was overwhelming: they could improve it with pickleball, the upstart racket sport that is kid brother to tennis. Support came quickly and fast, Ganzer said. The Friends of Donahue received a $4,000 grant from the North Scott Rotary and a $5,000 gift from the late Barbara Haller. Then the Donahue City Council agreed to match these private donations. Volunteers and the city council settled on a single pickleball court that doubles as a flattop for pickup basketball. The remodel will include a pickleball net, new basketball hoop and nearby swing set. The Friends of Donahue received favorable rates from local businesses, Ganzer said, including Mr. Asphalt of Maysville and Douglas Sports of Mount Joy. Members of the city council volunteered excavation work and Petersen Plumbing donated the use of its equipment. “It’s getting there, it’s going in,” Ganzer said. “We do have some more things left to do.” Altogether the remade park will cost the Friends of Donahue about $20,000, Ganzer guessed. “That’s how much money is being spent on it—but it’s probably worth far more” accounting for donations. Ganzer hopes to rededicate the park when construction work wraps up in the coming weeks. Construction delays have all but eliminated early hopes for an opening in time for Donahue Days, which comes Labor Day weekend.
	Quad Cities International Airport sees busiest month since 2013 It was busy at the Quad Cities International Airport in July! The airport recorded its busiest month in almost 13 years in July. Additional airline capacity and strong passenger demand pushed traffic to levels not seen since October 2013. A total of 69,578 passengers traveled through MLI in July, a 10% increase from 63,319 passengers [...]
	NS ag teacher leaves for World Food Prize After a decade at North Scott, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Jacob Hunter is leaving to pursue a new opportunity. But this journey has taken him full circle. On Aug. 10, Hunter was announced as the new director of donor relations for the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines. In this position, he will work closely with Foundation president Mashal Husain and chief executive officer - and former Iowa Governor and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture - Tom Vilsack to lead the organization’s fundraising strategies and cultivate philanthropic partnerships to help ensure the organization’s goals of increasing food security around the world. "Jacob brings a rare combination of strategic vision, authentic relationship-building and a deep understanding of our mission," said Husain in a press release from the foundation. "His experience securing transformational investments and connecting partners around a shared purpose will strengthen our ability to engage supporters who believe in a world without hunger. As we look toward the future, Jacob's leadership will help ensure the Foundation has the philanthropic partnerships needed to advance Norman Borlaug's vision and expand our global impact." "Jacob understands the World Food Prize Foundation, our mission and the people who make our work possible," said Vilsack. "Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an exceptional ability to build meaningful relationships, secure transformational investments and bring people together around a shared purpose. We are pleased to welcome him back to the Foundation as we continue expanding our impact around the world." The World Food Prize is an international award that honors individuals who have improved the quality, quantity or availability of food worldwide. The Prize was founded by Iowa native Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for his work contributing to increases in agricultural outputs, known as the Green Revolution. Prior to working at North Scott, Hunter was employed by the World Food Prize Foundation as the director of Iowa education programs and director of social media from 2014-2016. During that time, he led the Iowa Youth Institute, and supported the Borlaug Dialogue, the annual World Food Prize Laureate announcement, and the Foundation’s strategic communications efforts. Even while teaching, Hunter continued to bring his students to the Iowa Youth Institute. Hunter, a native of DeWitt, was hired at North Scott to start the 2016-2017 school year. “One of our goals is to have one of the top Vo-Ag and FFA programs in not only the state, but the nation,” then-school board president John Maxwell told The North Scott Press in July of 2016. “When you do that, you need someone who has a fire in the belly for everything. He needs to be someone who is very open to all there is about FFA, and how it aligns in the modern world.” Hunter fit the bill perfectly and served as lead agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. Not only did he help expand the agriculture and FFA programs at North Scott – winning multiple honors in the process – he was also instrumental in the creation and formation of the Regional Innovation Center. He helped secure more than $4 million in public and private funding for the RIC, while developing competitive grant proposals, donor-supported scholarship programs, and strategic partnerships that expanded educational opportunities and workforce development for students. A 2007 graduate of Central DeWitt High School, where he was an FFA state officer and earned his American Farmer Degree, Hunter received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and life sciences education from Iowa State University in 2011. He later earned a master’s degree in school leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He taught in inner city Chicago and in Des Moines prior to his first stint with the World Food Prize. He has also received numerous awards, including the Iowa Association for Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year Award and the Iowa FFA Distinguished Service Award. He was honored as an Emerging Iowa Leader by Iowa State University in 2018 and was named Iowa STEM Teacher of the Year in 2019. Successor in place At Monday’s school board meeting, where Hunter’s resignation was officially accepted, the board also approved the hiring of his successor, Kendra Goplin. Goplin previously was an agriculture teacher for the Maquoketa Community School District and also worked for the Clinton County Extension Service.
	Semi crashes into overpass on I-80 near Sheffield The Illinois State Police said IL 40 is shut down in both directions as of 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.
	New policy could allow eighth graders high school activities opportunities In accordance with state law, the North Scott School Board approved a policy that will create opportunities for eighth graders to participate in activities at the high school level. At Monday’s board meeting, the board approved the second reading of the policy, although these opportunities will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The policy also states that students who are allowed to participate at the high school level will not be able to participate at the junior high level simultaneously or switch back and forth from one program level to another. Board members briefly discussed the policy, with superintendent Joe Stutting saying, “There’s going to be times when we want to say, ‘yes,’” to a student participating at the high school level. “And there’s plenty more times – probably most of the time – no, it’s not what’s best.” Stutting said in these scenarios, it’s important to look at the impact on the overall program. “And not just for one year. You’ve got to look at four, five, six years … I can think of scenarios in my mind, absolutely. But those are very far and few between, in my opinion, for what’s best for an overall program.” He also said North Scott’s participation numbers are strong enough that having eighth graders participate at the high school level may be unnecessary. “We’re very successful with what we have,” agreed board member Stephanie Eckhardt. Stutting gave the example of the swimming program, saying it would likely be detrimental to the junior high program as a whole to bring athletes up to participate at the high school level. He also said athletes in freshman and sophomore level sports have opportunities to participate. “We want everybody to participate. We don’t want to cut – we’ll add a second team if we have so many kids.” He said he didn’t want to create a blanket policy that could drive families away from the district. With the policy now in place, Stutting also said he and board president Tracy Lindaman and vice president Joni Dittmer have already discussed a potential request that may come up this school year for an eighth grader wishing to participate at the high school level. He agreed that board members will all want to be on the same page as instances warrant with this policy. Bills The board approved $2,331,878.45 in bills for payment. Highlights included $23,456.43 for non-public transportation reimbursements to eligible families who reside within the North Scott School District; $158,659.07 to Bluum of Minnesota for audio/visual installations at John Glenn, Ed White and the junior high; and $10,760.92 to West Music for 100 student orchestra chairs, a chair cart and instructional books for the orchestra program at the junior high. Student-built home The board approved several contracts for the 2026-27 student-built home, including $10,953.67 to ABC Supply Co. Inc. for siding; $6,949.73 to ABC Supply for roofing materials; $16,478 to Precision Air for HVAC materials and installation; and $8,944 to Cody’s Insulation LLC for insulation materials and installation. The Precision Air bid includes a $2,037 program discount, and the Cody’s Insulation bid includes a $400 discount. Stutting also clarified that the first home in Lancers Run, across the street from Ed White, will be built on the south side of the subdivision. The basement for this first home is currently being dug. Personnel In addition to accepting the resignation of Jacob Hunter (see separate story page 2A), the board also accepted resignations from Crystal Kruse, PreK-4 and special education aide at Virgil Grissom; Jessica Kelley, food service helper at the junior high; Rebecca Thompson, special education aide at Alan Shepard; and Hugo Flores, head varsity boys’ tennis coach. New hires included Lindsay Brinson as an on-site childcare coordinator at Virgil Grissom; Neleigh Weinert as an office aide and kitchen helper at Ed White; Tami Jewell-Labath as a special education aide at the high school; Kaylee Paulsen as a special education aide at the high school; and Mark Lau as an assistant varsity volleyball coach. These hires are in addition to Kendra Goplin as the new agriculture teacher/FFA advisor, and Jaiden Seifert as an extended summer year aide at Ed White. Samantha Kissell, a food service helper at the high school, will transfer to a special education aide at the junior high. Grayson Juel, assistant varsity volleyball coach, will be reassigned to head freshman volleyball coach. James Gimbel II will serve as a volunteer at the high school.
	Eldridge a member of Iowa QC public transit study Eldridge is one of four Iowa Quad Cities municipalities that have joined together to study how public transit could change to best serve residents in the region. Bettendorf officials invited Eldridge and LeClaire to participate as the Iowa Quad Cities’ largest growing suburbs, even though they lack existing public transit systems. City Administrator Nevada Lemke said the study will show Eldridge “if there are needs to have a public transit system available.” The study began earlier this year and will continue for several months. Infrastructure consultants with AECOM of Rock Island spent the spring and early summer gauging existing public transit systems in Davenport and Bettendorf, and collecting public input through a survey distributed online and on bus routes. In Eldridge, consultants met with several local employers and destinations, Lemke said, including the school district, YMCA, library and Hy-Vee, several of which said they would benefit from local public transit. Of 500 survey responses received, just 4%, or 16 responses, came from Eldridge residents, according to early data shared with the city. But respondents listed Eldridge, Park View and the north Davenport industrial park as top destinations to which they would like to see services expand. Currently, top public transit destinations are Elmore/Kimberly/53rd Streets, Downtown Davenport, and Northpark Mall, according to data. Consultants are due to deliver a report on the results of public engagement by Aug. 31, alongside a detailed look at existing public transit networks in Davenport and Bettendorf. River Bend Transit, which provides transportation to and from Eldridge, LeClaire and Princeton, is a nonprofit. “There is not an established relationship between the cities and River Bend,” Lemke explained. “River Bend gets their funding as a nonprofit with grants and funding from the state.” In July, Eldridge City Council voted to commit up to $10,827 to ensuring that River Bend maintained transit services to and from Eldridge, after state funding changes.
	Council approves second fire readings at special meeting Eldridge city council member Adrian Blackwell joined Brian Dockery in opposing the second reading of two ordinances designed to establish a municipal fire department during a special city council meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 12. Blackwell voted for the first reading on Aug. 3, but changed his vote Wednesday, saying it had been his understanding that the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company would be more involved with the process going forward. Meanwhile, Dockery asked if he and council member Ryan Iossi could sit down with members of the EVFC to discuss outstanding issues with the transition, and specifically if the Oct. 1 deadline imposed by the EVFC could be softened. Assistant fire chief Dave Engler, who was in the audience, indicated he might be amenable to a meeting. The Oct. 1 deadline was cited as a sticking point by the other three members of the council, Jeff Ashcraft, Scott LaPlante and Iossi, who voted in favor of advancing the second reading. They said, with the deadline looming, they did not support slowing down the process. The vote followed more than a half hour of public comment, during which residents almost exclusively urged the council to slow the process down. Several residents expressed fear for themselves, their neighbors and their property, as the full membership of the EVFC has said they will decline to serve on a municipal fire department. Others accused the council of not listening to resident concerns. Marilyn Leonard urged the council to consider response times and also expressed concern that the city was opening itself up to liability “because of senseless loss of life due to a plan that is not well thought out. “Public safety cannot be an afterthought,” she continued. “I certainly am not feeling safe with the decisions you have made. I certainly am not feeling safe with your lack of a complete and transparent plan.” She asked the council to pause, hold open work sessions, and present a clear operational plan the residents. James Fitzjarrell acknowledged, “The City of Eldridge and the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company have both made mistakes and both have genuine concerns. The volunteers have served this community well for decades, and the city has a legitimate duty to oversee taxpayer funds. Neither of those truths cancels out the other. But I believe we are heading towards a cliff.” Fitzjarrell said no one has signed up to volunteer after Oct. 1, the fire chief application deadline isn’t until Aug. 23, and no transition team yet exists for the municipal fire department. “That is not a plan, that is hope,” he said. He also expressed concern that the transition itself may cost more than the budget request the EVFC put forth and residents “may spend more to end up with less.” Fitzjarrell also said there was a risk to homeowners if fire protection weakened, and many residents could see their homeowner’s insurance increase. He specifically asked for the Oct. 1 deadline to be paused until a replacement plan was in place; a weekly transition update with transparent information on hiring and ordinance status, applicant counts and other information; and for the city to return to the table with the volunteers, saying he believed compromise was still possible. “None of us want to win an argument,” Fitzjarrell concluded. “We want to count on someone to answer that call when we dial 911. Please don’t let Oct. 1 arrive before we’re ready.” Amy Meskimen said she saw a lot of red flags going forward and that many people in Eldridge did not feel like they were being properly represented on this issue. “With so many uncertainties and rushing to make decisions, it feels reckless and irresponsible on behalf of the city.” She encouraged an open forum with a mediator and asked the crowd to raise their hands if they felt the same. Nearly everyone in the standing room only audience put their hand up. Judith Gilbert criticized the council for a lack of transparency in holding the special meeting, saying the notice of the meeting had not been posted on social media or on the homepage of the city website. She reiterated a concern she expressed at the Aug. 3 meeting that there was no language in the ordinance providing for EMS service and brought up an issue several other residents pointed to, saying that the city may be allowed to bill for services that are free now. Michelle Crawford said she felt “this council is currently making it unnecessarily harder on yourselves. This is not what the collective community wants.” She said not only does the EVFC feel disrespected, many residents do, too. “No budgets have been presented, no guarantee of continuity of service, no answers as to the impact on our future taxes and insurance. It’s hard to admit when you’ve overplayed your hand … but sometimes we have to find the humility within us to say, OK, maybe this wasn’t our best move. You were elected to serve we, the people of Eldridge. I implore you to soak that in, take a deep breath and pull back on this. There is common ground to find in this matter, and I have the utmost confidence that there are solid people on both sides that love our community and the people here to bring a much better and much more agreeable outcome.” Tim Reimers read a quote from mayor, then-council member Scott Campbell, from March of 2024, when the city was embroiled in a dispute with the utility. At the time, Campbell said he ran for council because he was tired of reading and hearing about the drama within the city. Reimers asked if the city was any better off now than it was then with regard to drama. Dockery, Blackwell stand in opposition As the meeting moved away from official public comment, Blackwell said it had been his understanding that there would be more input from the EVFC going forward, and he was no longer in favor of moving forward “until we have our department here and it looks cohesive and we get input from them and we’re totally transparent with the community members.” Iossi countered by saying the city was in its current position because of the deadline imposed by the EVFC. He said the fire department had asked to be taken over by the city a year ago. “What we didn’t expect, what nobody wants, was a deadline,” he said. “We didn’t create that July 15 deadline. We didn’t create that Oct. 1 deadline. But we did get put in a position to make the decision, A or B. It was clear, there was no negotiation. It was, give what the fire department wanted, or the city had to make a decision to take it over. Fair, right? Well, not really. Somebody said there’s no winners here. Somebody’s going to be a winner here. It’s going to be the citizens. It has to be. Do I like the fact that we had to decide at that meeting? No. Do I like the Oct. 1 deadline? No. Is it enough time? No. But that’s a decision we made because we did not have a choice.” Iossi said the city has already received several qualified applicants for the fire chief’s position, and that the candidates could bring something to the table that members of the EVFC could be excited about. He then asked the EVFC members if they were committed to the Oct. 1 deadline or if they were willing to be flexible. “We keep getting asked to pause. We have a deadline. We can’t pause on a deadline.” Iossi said that members of the council had heard from residents who were “very happy with the direction we’re going,” a claim that was met with skepticism from the audience. Iossi went on to say that many of these residents were scared to speak in public. Dockery asked if he and Iossi could sit down with members of the EVFC to see if there was a compromise to be had. He said that while he felt the city needed to have financial oversight, he wondered if the Oct. 1 deadline could be softened, “so it’s not forcing the council to keep moving forward.” “I think if we can sit down and have a meaningful discussion, absolutely, we’re willing to sit down and talk,” said assistant chief Dave Engler from the audience. This was met with applause. Iossi said he was also comfortable with being involved with further discussion going forward. He also asked Engler if he would be willing to be on the transition team. Engler said he thought he already was. Campbell said Engler’s name was one of several submitted by the fire department, although he said the transition team was about moving forward and he would like Engler and the others to consider being members of the municipal fire department if they were to take part in the transition. It's unclear when that became a stipulation of serving on the transition team, as at the Aug. 3 meeting, Campbell merely asked for the names of four members of the EVFC, of whom two would be selected. Still, Engler said, speaking for himself and not the entire department, perhaps the Oct. 1 deadline could be changed if there was a meaningful start to discussions. Iossi said he wanted Engler to be on the transition team regardless of whether he was willing to be part of the municipal department. Ashcraft spoke next, saying he had also heard from residents who were supportive of the city’s position, but who did not want to speak out for fear of retaliation. He then read from communications the EVFC sent to the city on June 12, explaining that the department had told the city, “in the event the city does not support the independent model or the required budget, we ask the city expedite the necessary resources to absorb the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company as a city department no later than Oct. 1. “That’s the date we’re working against,” said Ashcraft. “None of us want to fight that date. None of us want to be pinned with two options – either support that budget or absorb the department. None of us wanted to choose from that, but we were told on July 20, make a decision.” Ashcraft said he understood that decision was unpopular with many people, “but we were literally told, you have a binary choice; choose something.” He said that he had offered mediation, and the city offered mediation in the winter, and those requests had been rebuffed. “If there’s some room on the date, if there’s some room with a mediator, then yeah, maybe we should pause,” said Ashcraft. “If there’s not, we have to continue marching towards Oct. 1. Because here’s what I’m concerned about … when somebody calls 911 on Oct. 1, Oct. 2, who’s going to answer the phone and who’s coming? And if we pause without knowing that we’ve got some sort of negotiation plan in place and that doesn’t happen, doesn’t come to fruition, we just set ourselves back even further. So, I support the ordinance. However, if the fire department is willing to make some concessions, to change that date and maybe do exactly what Ryan was talking about, then we have a different conversation, potentially.” LaPlante said he wanted to see the council be proactive, not reactive, and that city staff was working on a plan behind the scenes. However, he described the deadline as a “tough row to hoe. So, if there’s room, let’s talk about it.” Dockery said he was disappointed by the division and the animosity that was playing out on social media. “If anybody’s putting some of that hatred out there or making threats, I’m going to talk to our chief and have them arrested. I don’t care what side of the issue it’s on, but nothing will ever get resolved by this constant battle in the public arena.” Campbell addressed Reimers’ question, saying he was saddened and disheartened things had devolved to this point. “Where I struggle is, we’re giving the fire department exactly what they wanted. They came to us and said this is what they want. And so, we did that.” Campbell said city officials had spoken to other communities during this process and cited LeClaire as an example. He said LeClaire’s transition in 2022 had taken a full year, but they now have a paid chief and captain, and at least 30 volunteers. “LeClaire’s budget, with two paid firefighters, is $561,000 per year. And our city staff has done their due diligence over the course of the last 14 months and done comparables with other cities. We believe we can do it for that,” said Campbell. “In our budget, we have budgeted $364,000 and another $120,000 in capital improvements. That’s $482,000. We believe we can make this work. But the key is the volunteers. If the volunteers would just come on board, we would all be happy. They would have input on the chief. They’re part of the transition plan.” Someone in the audience asked what was wrong with the current chief, Keith Schneckloth. Campbell said during the transition, it had been stated Schneckloth would not be eligible to be hired as chief because he was dismissed from his previous job as city mechanic. He turned the floor over to city attorney Allison Wright for further clarification. Wright said, “There’s a lot of public information about Mr. Schneckloth’s termination that’s either been just disregarded or it’s been misstated quite publicly from what I’ve seen.” She said there had been an internal investigation, and Schneckloth reportedly admitted to using the city’s NAPA account to avoid paying sales tax, as well as in unemployment hearings. “The records are there; they’re public. You’re welcome to look at them,” said Wright. She also said that there were questions regarding whether Schneckloth misrepresented his status with the fire department when applying for the FEMA SAFER grant. Dockery said many people were becoming highly sensitive on the fire department issue and again asked for the opportunity to sit down with the EVFC to attempt to find common ground. “I think there is a very reasonable path to coming up with a hybrid situation that involves the city and the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Company Inc. to move this town forward. “I think there is a solution, but we need to calm this down a little bit and let calm heads figure out a path.” Who owns the assets? Wright asked about the claim that there was no budget for the department. “It’s my understanding that a budget has been approved for the fire department. It’s been approved by the state. I’m a little confused by the commentary back and forth about that.” “We don’t own the assets,” said Dockery. “We don’t own a fire station.” “What does ‘absorb the fire department’ mean?” asked Iossi. “What was the first discussion when this came up a couple of years ago – we would take over the assets, the equipment. Let’s be clear – what are you going to do with a firehouse and equipment and apparatus if you’re not a fire department anymore?” Campbell said Scott Haycraft and John Schnekloth, trustees of Benefitted Fire District No. 3, had met with the fire department. “The message (Haycraft) came back with was, if we can agree to some type of hybrid model – the city would have the assets, meaning building and equipment – and the fire department may maintain control of the day-to-day operations, including the fire chief. He thought that the fire department would agree to that, and we could move on. In that model, Haycraft said the city would control the purse strings and give us oversight. I told him that I would share that tonight, and so I have. But we’ve heard from Allison in the past that that model probably isn’t correct. I mean, it isn’t really legal for us.” Wright said she believed that model would be inconsistent with the council’s prior vote, because “the department is people, not assets. A hybrid model in a traditional sense means partially paid and partially volunteer. That’s a hybrid model. I think that has evolved here into a conversation of creative options, but ones that I don’t legally recommend. “If the fire company’s concern is that they want unfettered control and supervision over their own personnel, we would essentially be taking on all of the liability and costs for the assets, and we’d have no ability to subject the personnel that are using it to comply with city policies or procedures or oversight. So, if they’re in control of those personnel, that disconnect creates significant liability concerns from my perspective.” Campbell said he had also spoken with John Maxwell, chair of the Scott County Board of Supervisors. Maxwell reportedly said that, while the county is not taking sides in this matter, if the city were to create a municipal fire department, the county would sign a 28E agreement with that agency to provide fire service for Benefitted Fire District No. 3. “It’s also his understanding of the law, and we have documentation on this as well, that if we did that, and we had that 28E agreement, the city would take over the fire station and the apparatus in order to provide fire protection to the residents of Eldridge and Benefitted Fire District No. 3,” said Campbell. “So, we’ve heard a lot of comments about the apparatus and what we’re going to do without a fire station or whatever. That is the path forward if this happens,” continued Campbell. “That’s the path forward that the fire department wanted a year ago. They wanted us to take over. They were going to give us everything. This is the vehicle to do that.” Someone in the audience asked why the council couldn’t table the issue until after there was additional conversation with the fire department. Campbell said passing the second reading was strictly procedural and wouldn’t make the ordinance law yet. He said with the Oct. 1 deadline, “every day is precious.” Blackwell asked for the fire department to continue to be involved in the public facing conversation. Ashcraft countered by saying he believed more meaningful progress could happen in smaller, focused groups, and that group could come back with progress updates, rather than having everything play out in front of an audience. An audience member continued to lobby for tabling. “We just sat here and listened to a whole lot of stuff, but you say this train keeps moving down the track.” “This train has to keep moving down this track because we’re staring down the barrel of an Oct. 1 deadline,” said Ashcraft. “And that’s unfortunate, but that’s the pressure this council feels right now. I think to Councilman Dockery’s point earlier in the discussion, if there is some potential for softening there, then maybe there’s something that we can do different. But if there’s not, as the mayor said, every moment is precious.” “Your Honor, that’s why I requested an opportunity to find middle ground, and we can do it at a fairly quick pace and find out if the fire department is willing to soften that Oct. 1 day, move it to some other date for the timeline, to see if there is a middle ground,” said Dockery. “There may not be a middle ground. But I personally owe it to the taxpayers to find that middle ground, so we know what the costs are going to be long term.” That included the assets, he said. The council voted 3-2 for the second readings, and prior to the vote, Campbell said, “Approving this would not commit us to anything at this point in time. It’s just a second reading of three, and so we can still pass this and then we revisit it again, if necessary. And that will give us time to figure out a plan.” Dockery also said he had some proposed language changes to the ordinance establishing the city department. He was asked to submit the changes in writing so the rest of the council could review them prior to Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting.

Wednesday, August 19th, 2026

Tuesday, August 18th, 2026