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

Sunday, July 19th, 2026
	Omaha woman killed, three more injured after train strikes car in Iowa An Omaha woman is dead and three more people were injured after a train struck a car in Iowa early Sunday morning.
	Traffic Alert: Patching to start on section of Elmore Avenue Crews will start patching a part of Elmore Avenue on Monday.
	Cook review: 'Odyssey' is a 3-hour journey that's a Christopher Nolan masterpiece Talk about staying power. The Greek poet Homer, who lived sometime between the 12th and 8th centuries BC, is credited for the epic poems "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey." Some people credit these ancient works to more than one person, and others question whether anyone named Homer even existed. "The Odyssey" has inspired many other [...]
	Fresh Films shoots new ghost series in Rock Island Students from across the country converged on Rock Island in July 2026 to take part in front and behind the camera in filming a new streaming series.
	Davenport teen charged after chasing, ramming vehicle A Davenport teen is facing several charges after police said he chased and rammed a person’s vehicle in an attempt to hurt them.
	Burlington girl’s Fourth of July moment goes viral during D.C. celebration What started as a family trip to celebrate the Fourth of July in Washington, D.C., turned into an unforgettable memory for 8-year-old Braylin Zurmuehlen after a television camera captured her reaction during America’s 250th birthday celebration.
	AIR QUALITY ALERT for the Quad Cities through Monday evening There's an Air Quality Alert for the Quad Cities and all surrounding counties through Monday evening. Smoke from wildfires in Canada continues to plague our skies and reduce air quality significantly. This is the worst it's been so far this summer in the Quad Cities. Anyone who suffers from asthma or other allergies or breathing [...]
	Wedding Expo held at the University Club in Moline The University Club hosted the third annual Wedding Expo offering inspiration to engaged couples.
	Davenport motorcycle crash ends attempted Iowa State Patrol stop A motorcyclist was injured after fleeing an attempted Iowa State Patrol traffic stop late Saturday in Davenport before crashing into a parked vehicle.
	Cyclospora outbreak brings some shoppers to local farmers market The cyclospora outbreak is bringing some shoppers to the local farmers markets.
	Board of Pharmacy sanctions licensees for criminal convictions, dispensing errors A former eastern Iowa pharmacist has been sanctioned by state regulators for a 2022 conviction for sexual exploitation of a minor.
	Motorcyclist injured after crashing in Davenport while fleeing traffic stop A motorcyclist fleeing a traffic stop was injured after the motorcycle collided with a parked car late Saturday in Davenport.
	Motorcyclist flown to hospital after speeding away from troopers, crashing A motorcyclist was flown to the hospital after speeding away from troopers and crashing Saturday night.
	FIRST ALERT DAY Monday: Hazy, hot, humid & chance of severe storms Highs near 95 with heat index values around 100; wildfire smoke creates hazy skies
	A cavalcade of international stars headlined the World Cup's first-ever halftime final show With President Trump in attendance, an all-superstar lineup that included Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber and Burna Boy felt a little more political than it might have otherwise.
	Hundreds gather for 3rd annual wedding expo Hundreds of people gather for University Club Quad Cities 3rd annual wedding expo
	Quad-Cities school board preview: Budget and operation costs on this week's agendas United Township and Bettendorf both have school board meetings this week.
	Could the cyclospora outbreak affect grocery prices? A drop in demand could mean lower prices on certain grocery items, but the relief may be short-lived.
	Davenport motorcycle crash ends attempted Iowa State Patrol stop A motorcyclist was injured after fleeing an attempted Iowa State Patrol traffic stop late Saturday in Davenport before crashing into a parked vehicle.
	Candidate: U.S. Senate can’t go home until new Farm Bill Iowa State Rep. Josh Turek has called on Congress to pass a federal Farm Bill before adjourning for the year.
	Iowa Down Ballot podcast: Big-name guests at political rallies U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, left, speaks at the Family Leadership Summit on July 17, 2026 in Des Moines. Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at the Iowa Democratic Party's Liberty and Justice Celebration July 12 in Des Moines. (Photos by Kadin Luhmann/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa Down Ballot with Dave Price 7/19/26 by Iowa Writers Collaborative Another busy news Friday leads to another late drop, but Laura and Kathie made it and we’ve got plenty to cover. Read on Substack Big-name headliners rallied the Iowa Democratic Party’s Liberty and Justice Celebration and the conservative Family Leadership Summit over the past week. Dave Price, Laura Belin and I share impressions, plus take a look at the Medicaid Fraud Elimination Task Force that held its first meeting. Listen here. The Iowa Down Ballot Podcast with Dave Price is a production of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Please consider a paid subscription today to help us cover production costs, or moving up to the benefactor level — or sending a gift subscription to a friend — if you’re already a paid subscriber. And please spread the word to friends who might enjoy the podcast. Thanks! Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Who is Andy Burnham, the U.K.'s new prime minister? On Monday, former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham succeeds Keir Starmer as the United Kingdom's prime minister. Burnham's politics have been shaped by England's north-south class divide.
	4 the Record WEB EXTRA: Indicted Illinois state lawmaker not the first to deny resignation Let's take a look at a serious situation in Illinois. Federal prosecutors indicted state representative Carol Ammons more than a week ago on charges of wire fraud and obstructing justice. Among the allegations is she funneled more than $100,000 from her campaign account to her daughter. It drew immediate calls from Republicans for her to [...]
	Breakfast Bankroll for week ending 7/17/26 Here's this week's update on retail prices for the breakfast staples of bacon, eggs and milk. This is the USDA's average price for a dozen of large Grade A eggs, a pound of bacon and a gallon of milk on January 20, 2025, compared to where the prices are now. To see the price, click [...]
	Serious national security concerns surround possible sale of F-35 jets to Turkey Something with significant implications came from the president during the recent NATO summit in Turkey. It's fallen a bit off the radar. President Trump indicated he's open to selling Turkey some of the United States-made F-35 fighter jets. These are very sophisticated stealth fighters, very difficult to detect with radar. Here's the problem: Turkey bought [...]
	Iowa takes on Temu in legal battle regarding data security and consumer fraud Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed a lawsuit against a Chinese company that's essentially that country's version of Amazon. The lawsuit against Temu claims the online marketplace service is breaking Iowa’s Consumer Fraud Act. It accuses Temu of making bogus claims about the quality of its products, misleading prices, deceiving customers by taking their data [...]
	Moline mayor optimistic patience will payoff in Downtown revitalization Big plans take time. That's the situation for Moline as the city tries to overhaul the downtown and riverfront. City leaders are pursuing the vision that took shape after the demolition of the old I-74 bridge. Moline's mayor Sangeetha Rayapati expressed her optimism during her state of the city address in early February. There are [...]
	Board of Pharmacy sanctions licensees for criminal convictions, dispensing errors (Photo by Getty Images)A former eastern Iowa pharmacist has been sanctioned by state regulators for a 2022 conviction for sexual exploitation of a minor. Court records indicate that in 2021, Scott County deputies were granted a search warrant for the email account and cellphone of pharmacist Scott Decker of Blue Grass. The warrant was granted after police determined an email address associated with Decker was connected to the uploading of 18 photographic images that allegedly constituted child pornography. Decker was then charged with two counts of felony sexual exploitation of a minor. In return for his promise to suspend his practice while those charges were pending, the board agreed not to pursue formal disciplinary action against Decker until the case was resolved. In November 2022, Decker was found guilty of two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and was sentenced to two concurrent prison terms of five years each. In February 2023, the Board of Pharmacy says, it discovered that Decker had been found guilty on the criminal charges and had been incarcerated. More than three years later, in May 2026, the board charged Decker with knowingly making misleading or fraudulent representations in the practice of pharmacy or engaging in unethical conduct, and with being convicted of an offense that directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the profession. According to the board, Decker has been released from prison. He and the board recently agreed to settle the disciplinary case with Decker voluntarily surrendering his license to practice in Iowa. Other licensees recently sanctioned by the board include: Miola Gossman, a pharmacy technician from Decorah, who agreed to surrender her license. The board had recently charged Gossman with violating the terms of an agreement with the Iowa Professional Health Committee by failing to comply with treatment program requirements. According to the board, that agreement was signed in January 2024 due to Gossman accruing five drunken-driving convictions between January 2022 and October 2023. Gossman also missed 50 separate check-ins with the program over a seven-month period, the board alleged. Hy-Vee Pharmacy, which has been charged with dispensing the incorrect medication to a customer. The pharmacy in question is identified by the board only as “store no. 1136” in Des Moines. Federal records indicate that particular store is located at 3330 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway, Des Moines. According to the board, the pharmacy had two patients with the same name and similar birthdates, and both patients had two prescriptions ready for dispensing on Sept. 8, 2025. The daughter of one of the patients went to pick up her mother’s medication but was sold the drugs for the other patient with the same name. The daughter alleged this same type of error had occurred previously, according to the board. The pharmacy was also alleged to have failed to complete the required reports for the September 2025 incident. The board charged the pharmacy with negligence in the practice of the profession; divulging or revealing patient information to unauthorized individuals; and with committing medication errors resulting in the incorrect dispensing of a prescribed drug. To resolve the case, Hy-Vee and the pharmacy board recently agreed to a settlement that calls for $3,000 civil penalty. Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	State leaders mourn loss of ‘greatest philanthropist in South Dakota history’ Billionaire philanthropist T. Denny Sanford died July 18, 2026, at age 90. (Photo courtesy of First Premier Bank, Premier Bankcard and Sanford Health)South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden said this weekend that the state “will forever be impacted” by the legacy of businessman and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford. Rhoden issued his comments after First Premier Bank, Premier Bankcard and Sanford Health announced on Saturday that Sanford, age 90, had died. He owned the two companies and became the namesake of Sanford Health — formerly called Sioux Valley — in 2007 when he donated $400 million to the organization. Sanford’s total philanthropic contributions to numerous organizations in South Dakota and elsewhere totaled more than $4 billion. More about T. Denny Sanford Deal to move pork plant from downtown to northern Sioux Falls includes $50 million Sanford gift $300 million Sanford gift ranks as fifth biggest charitable donation of the year Full archive “It is with great sadness that Sandy and I mourn the loss of T. Denny – a man who has so generously and intentionally invested in the great state of South Dakota,” Rhoden said in a news release. “His contributions will not be forgotten, and South Dakota will forever be impacted by his legacy. Put simply, he was the greatest philanthropist in South Dakota history.” Sanford’s major donations in South Dakota included support for the Sanford Underground Laboratory at the former Homestake Mine in Lead, the Build Dakota and Premier/Freedom scholarships, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation’s future redevelopment of the downtown Smithfield pork plant site, Children’s Home Society of South Dakota, and Crazy Horse Memorial, among others. “Denny Sanford was a significant donor to practically every charitable campaign in Sioux Falls, and many others throughout the state,” said Lt. Governor Tony Venhuizen. “Beyond his high-profile gifts, Denny was a key reason that Sioux Falls has such a strong culture of philanthropy, and many important community improvements benefited from his support.” Sanford was born Dec. 23, 1935, in St. Paul, Minnesota. He lost his mother to breast cancer when he was 4, and he began working at his father’s garment shop at the age of 8. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1958 with a degree in psychology, he began a career in sales, marketing and materials distribution. His experiences led him to establish Contech Inc., a Minneapolis-based company that manufactured sealants, coatings and adhesives. After selling the company, he purchased a bank in Sioux Falls in 1986. He renamed it First Premier Bank and expanded into the credit card sector with Premier Bankcard. The success of those businesses made Sanford a billionaire and allowed him to focus on philanthropy. Quotation His contributions will not be forgotten, and South Dakota will forever be impacted by his legacy. Put simply, he was the greatest philanthropist in South Dakota history. – South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden on T. Denny Sanford First Premier Bank, Premier Bankcard and Sanford Health issued joint statements on Sanford’s death. Dana Dykhouse, CEO of First Premier Bank, said Sanford told him “many people live a life of success, but you should try to live a life of significance where you can make an impact on people.” Miles Beacom, CEO of Premier Bankcard, said Sanford “could have done many things with his money, yet he reinvested it in South Dakota.” “Our universities are stronger today because of Denny,” Beacom said. “Our health care is stronger today because of Denny. He believed in working harder to help someone other than yourself.” Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health, described Sanford as a “driving force in modern medicine, empowering researchers and clinicians to think big and pursue bold, innovative endeavors at a pace not otherwise possible.” “We are able to provide care for more patients in their time of need because of his generosity,” Gassen said. Sanford, who was twice divorced, is survived by his sons Scott and Bill, their wives, three grandchildren, and a brother, Charles “Chuck” Sanford and his wife. Arrangements for a family service followed by a community celebration are pending. Courtesy of South Dakota Searchlight
	DuTrac Community Credit Union 80 years in business The credit union started in 1946, operating out of an office within John Deere Dubuque Tractor Works, with fifty-six members, and a little over $2,000 in deposits and outstanding loans of $1,195.
	Quad-Cities schools mostly ready for Illinois phone ban Illinois Quad-Cities school districts said they are largely prepared for a phone ban that the General Assembly passed this past spring.
	MARK-TO-MARKET: Buy Now, Pay Later business is booming – here’s why Rising prices have forced many Americans to become more disciplined – and creative – in how they spend their money.
	Violence repeatedly erupts in dementia care despite warnings, inspections show Nursing homes and assisted living facilities can be fertile ground for violence between residents with dementia, including fatal assaults. Court records and inspecitions how safeguards fall short.
	Robert E. Lee This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.George Washington never slept here. You can't visit Rock Island and sleep in the same bed for an extra nine dollars a…
	Deadly overnight Russian attack on Ukraine targets the capital Russia launched 41 missiles and 125 attack drones across Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force.
	5 clever design tricks to make a small home look bigger Just because you live in a small place doesn't mean it has to look or feel cramped. Interior designers share creative strategies to create the illusion of space that work for renters and small budgets.
	Public health improvements stall amid Trump’s DEI crackdown Earl Williams, community development director of the Thomasville Community Development Corp., stands in front of a building the city hoped would be turned into a healthcare clinic in Dewey City. The predominantly Black neighborhood in Thomasville, Georgia, faces blight and health challenges. (Briah Lumpkins/KFF Health News)THOMASVILLE, Ga. — As Earl Williams drove through a historic Black neighborhood known as Dewey City in his hometown, he hardly recognized what he saw. Homes that once belonged to friends, family, and neighbors had siding covered in mold. Some were boarded up. Others had holes in their roofs. Black churches once used Oquina Creek, which runs along the border of the neighborhood, to baptize their congregants. Today, fecal bacteria and other contaminants have made the water unsafe due to an aging wastewater system. Black churches once baptized their congregants in Oquina Creek in Thomasville, Georgia. Today, fecal bacteria and other contaminants make the water unsafe. (Briah Lumpkins/KFF Health News) “Sometimes you get the feeling like you’re in a Third World country,” Williams said. After three decades in Washington, D.C., he returned four years ago with a mission to revitalize communities such as Dewey City, which he said are “part of what makes Thomasville, Thomasville.” A $19.8 million Community Change Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency was supposed to shift the tides of the neighborhood Williams grew up in. The city and the Thomasville Community Development Corp., where Williams is the community development director, applied for the grant in 2024. It was part of a $2 billion effort initiated under the Biden administration to help disadvantaged communities address environmental health risks and create clean energy and climate resiliency projects. But three months after winning the grant, Thomasville became one of 80 communities across the country — from Hawai‘i to Alabama to Massachusetts — to see the funding stripped as priorities shifted in Donald Trump’s second presidency. On the first day of his second term, Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” It stated that the Biden administration “forced illegal and immoral discrimination” through diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. In an emailed statement, EPA spokesperson Mike Bastasch said the administration is “fully committed to being a great steward of taxpayer dollars.” He added that the “radical agenda” of DEI and environmental justice “preferencing” are not within the agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment. Thomasville, Georgia, about 15 miles north of the Florida border, received nearly $20 million in federal money for improvement in areas like Dewey City, a historic Black neighborhood. But months later, the Trump administration pulled the funds, citing shifting priorities. (Briah Lumpkins/KFF Health News) Environmental health advocates argue, though, that the decision to cut the grants was not rooted in science. They say that equating environmental justice to DEI is an act of bad faith and that withholding the money forces disenfranchised communities to delay long-overdue updates needed to protect public health for marginalized populations. “I unfortunately believe we’re going to see a reversal in the health profile of this country,” said Jalonne White-Newsome, an associate professor at the University of Michigan who served in the Biden administration as the first federal chief environmental justice officer. “This current federal regime has decided that humanity and public health and justice don’t mean anything,” she said. ‘Why Us?’ Thomasville, near Georgia’s southwestern border, is home to just over 18,600 people. The city had hoped to improve health outcomes in neighborhoods on its southern and western sides where, according to the grant proposal, “historical redlining created a legacy of disinvestment.” Those areas have a deep history: Dewey City, for example, was the first neighborhood in the city where Blacks could build homes after the Civil War. It’s also home to the closed Douglass High School — the first public school for Blacks in Thomasville, established in 1902. “This place has been neglected,” said Williams, who occasionally hosts historical walks through the community. “But it’s worth bringing it back online.” The proposed “Restoring Resiliency” project featured a plan to remove toxic substances such as mold, lead paint, and asbestos from homes, repair a nearly 82-year-old wastewater system, and convert part of a shuttered high school band room into a health clinic. The Rev. Jeremy Rich, a pastor, teacher, and Thomas County commissioner, says a clinic in the Dewey City neighborhood of Thomasville, Georgia, would have increased trust in healthcare providers. The Trump administration’s cancellation of a federal grant funding the project was a major loss, he says. (Briah Lumpkins/KFF Health News) “This was a long and storied attempt to bend the arc of justice closer,” said Jeremy Rich, a Thomas County commissioner and the pastor at First Missionary Baptist Church. “Justice in healthcare. Justice in environmental impact.” Having a clinic in the community would be a “game changer,” Rich said. During the covid pandemic, he said, older residents who rely on public transit were reluctant to go to the nearby hospital or the county health department to get vaccinated. When his church offered shots from Black nurses, he said, vaccination rates improved. Many residents don’t have the financial means to remove mold, lead paint, and other toxic materials, said Thomasville Mayor Pro Tem Lucinda Brown. “They just have money to live with every day. That’s it,” she said. “If they can make that happen.” The grant meant hope, and its reversal left many asking, “Why us?” Williams said. In the EPA’s May 2025 letter announcing the grant termination, it said Thomasville’s project promoted “initiatives that conflict with the Agency’s policy of prioritizing merit, fairness, and excellence.” The grant was “inconsistent with, and no longer effectuates, Agency priorities,” the letter said. Environmental justice projects are rooted in science, not DEI, said Jillian Blanchard, the senior vice president of climate change and environmental justice at Lawyers for Good Government, a national nonprofit that provides pro bono legal assistance in focus areas such as health equity, immigration, and environmental health. “Where is the water dirty? Where is the air unclean?” she said. “That is where the money should go.” In June of last year, nearly two dozen communities and organizations around the country filed a class-action lawsuit to get the Community Change Grants reinstated. The lawsuit argued that the projects — such as efforts to create energy-efficient housing in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and empower Houston residents in the pollution permitting process — were vital. The case was dismissed by a federal district judge in 2025 but is being appealed. Thomasville was not named in that lawsuit. But the city did appeal the EPA’s decision on its project with the support of Blanchard’s group. The city and the EPA continue to dispute the issue. This March, the EPA’s deputy inspector general, which serves as an independent watchdog for the agency, released a report concluding that the process for determining the awardees was fair. Such federal funding is needed because large-scale change is difficult for small municipalities to achieve without getting stuck with high-interest loans, Blanchard said. “It’s next to impossible,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons the things haven’t been done.” ‘It’s Not Over’ The city of Thomasville has found other ways to make some improvements in the meantime. With the help of a nearly $3 million federal Community Development Block Grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, it made repairs to portions of Dewey City’s sewer, water, and drainage systems. In a community of mostly older residents who rely on public transportation, a healthcare clinic planned for this building would have increased access to care and built trust, local advocates say. (Briah Lumpkins/KFF Health News) The Thomasville Community Development Corp. has begun building affordable housing in Dewey City and intends to convert a portion of the closed Douglass school into apartments for seniors. The corporation has also applied for $764,000 in congressional funds through the office of Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) that it hopes to use to construct a community health clinic in Dewey City. Decisions on these funding requests will be made this fall. “It’s not over,” said Williams, whose legacy in Thomasville runs deep. At the center of what locals call The Bottom — a two-block stretch of downtown where independent Black and other minority-owned businesses once thrived — is a plaque honoring his father, Earl Williams Jr., the city’s first Black mayor. As he peered at his father’s memorial on a muggy afternoon, he reaffirmed his intentions. “There’s more work to be done, and I’m able,” he said. “I like pouring into the community.” But he has little hope the initial grant will be restored under the current administration. “That was our shot. We didn’t do anything to miss it,” he said. “We just did it during the wrong period of time.” KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. Courtesy of Georgia Recorder
	Cuban artist and dissident exiled from country after 5 years in prison arrives in US A famous Cuban dissident artist and musician, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, arrived in Miami on Saturday after being released from a five-year prison sentence on the condition that he leave his country.
	MLS works to bring in a new generation of fans as the World Cup comes to an end In 1994, the last men's World Cup the U.S. hosted sparked soccer fever, from youth leagues to TV broadcasts to the formation of MLS. Now, can MLS harness this World Cup for a new generation of fans?
Saturday, July 18th, 2026
	Argentina, Spain and their stars Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal meet in World Cup final Worry no more about wildfire smoke and $10,000 ticket prices. Sunday's final between Argentina and Spain — the first meeting of their transcendent stars — is here and seems destined to be a classic.
	Outhouse races highlight day 2 of Walcott Days Homemade outhouses, costumes and patriotic spirit took center stage as teams raced down the street during day two of Walcott Days.
	Prairie Chicken Arts Festival wraps up in Kewanee The Prairie Chicken Arts Festival wrapped up its two-day run in Kewanee with art, chalk competitions, live music and family activities.
	Maquoketa residents protest proposed data center Residents of Maquoketa rallied on Main Street during National Data Center Protest Day to demand transparency from city leaders about a proposed data center.
	Heart of Hope Ministries holds annual Community Love Fest The annual Community Love Fest brought the community together for its fourth year giving out free backpacks, supplies and more.
	Playcrafters Barn Theatre hosts ghost investigation Playcrafters Barn Theatre in Moline hosted a ghost investigation with paranormal investigators after decades of reported eerie activity at the 96-year-old theater.
	Residents protest new data center in Maquoketa The data center is still in its early stages and the city has not announced a timeline for construction.
	Man involved in 2025 Davenport shooting incident sentenced to probation A man involved in a Davenport shooting incident in August of 2025 has been sentenced to three years on probation after entering a plea agreement.
	National Ice Cream Day 2026: Delicious deals Perhaps there's no sweeter way to beat the summer heat than with a scoop — or two, or three — of ice cream.
	The Tate brothers are arrested in Miami, U.S. Marshals Service tells AP The brothers were taken into custody on a sealed warrant, the Marshals Service told the AP. British prosecutors said they were seeking the extradition of the brothers on rape and trafficking charges.
	Patchy smoke hitting the Quad Cities tomorrow A lot of hot weather has been hitting the Quad Cities all week with feels like temperatures will in the upper 90s and triple digits. Now as we head into Sunday, we are watching for the risk of smoke hitting the area. Due to the wildfires up North in Canada. If you are anyone you [...]
	Veteran Car Club Show held to support veteran organizations in the Quad Cities Cars and vendors packed the Time Bank parking lot for the Veteran Car Club Show with all proceeds going to veteran organizations across the Quad Cities.
	4 community solar projects approved for Warren County Ameren customers in Warren County can subscribe to the solar gardens for a discount on their power bill. The projects will bring in more than $1 million in taxes.
	Former Rock Island County treasurer named to regional economic development authority Gov. J.B. Pritzker named Louisa Ewert to the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority, a finance agency that serves 11 counties.
	Street stocks, IMCA late models make for night of action at Davenport Speedway It was a full night, and then some at Davenport Speedway on Friday. Along with the weekly racing program in five classes, the announcement of Davenport Speedway Hall of Fame inductees, a large fireworks display, and the AVS sponsored Street Stock Challenge. The Koehler Electric - Street Stocks were highlighted by the Street Stock Challenge [...]
	Inside Iowa Politics: Warning from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to Iowans U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson had a warning for Iowans when he addressed the Family Leadership Summit.
	Volunteers furnish 11 Quad Cities homes in one morning for families in need Dozens of volunteers spread across the Quad Cities Saturday morning, packing trailers with donated furniture and delivering it to 11 homes in a single day through the nonprofit Humble Dwellings.
	Josh Kerr of Britain breaks 27-year-old world record in the mile Kerr announced his bid to break the world record months in advance, and pulled off the plan in London on Saturday.
	Not everyone supports permanent daylight saving time. Here's why The U.S. could make daylight saving time permanent soon. Is that a good thing?
	School board recap: Interim superintendent, operations and technology items approved A new interim superintendent, relocation of gas regulator and other agenda items were approved by school boards across the Quad-Cities this past week.
	Round up: Bettendorf makes progress on bridge; Clinton delays data center ordinance Some road closures are coming as Bettendorf constructs its pedestrian bridge, Clinton delayed a data center vote and residents turned out to support two Davenport tattoo shops.
	Air quality improving in northeast, while wildfire smoke hangs over midwest Wildfire smoke and unhealthy air persist and shift direction, as Trump demands explanation from Canada.
	2 U.S. service members killed, 1 missing after Iranian attack in Jordan Two U.S. service members were killed in action while "partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks," U.S. Central Command said Saturday.
	Reporter's Notebook: Finding World Cup joy in speaking to women who love soccer Tune into World Cup coverage, and you are likely to see waves of male, screaming, sweaty fans. But one of the joys of covering this World Cup has been speaking to women who love soccer.
	Man sentenced to 10 years in Iowa prison in sex abuse cases A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in the Iowa Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to sex abuse charges in both Clinton and Jackson counties.
	Why these special 'July 4th' quarters could become sought-after by collectors Unlike other coinage, the U.S. Mint has sent very, very few of these special "July 4th" quarters into circulation, potentially making them a hot commodity among collectors.
	President of Iowa 80 Group, owner of World’s Largest Truckstop, has died He also was a big supporter of the University of Iowa athletics.
	Free tire, electronics drop-off coming in Muscatine Muscatine residents with city refuse service can dispose of old tires and unwanted electronics for free during two special drop-off weeks at the Muscatine Transfer Station. a news release says . The Muscatine City Council approved the 2026 dates at its July 7 meeting. The Department of Public Works (DPW) Solid Waste Division offers these [...]
	How to keep pets safe from wildfire smoke: American Humane Society As smoke from the Canadian wildfires spreads, American Humane Society urges pet owners to take special precautions to protect their animal companions, according to a news release. “Like us, our beloved pets are deeply affected by poor air quality, and they rely on us to recognize when something isn’t right,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of [...]
	KENT WORLDWIDE joins Walk to end Alzheimer's in Muscatine KENT WORLDWIDE will join the Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter as the local presenting sponsor for the 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Muscatine Area, a news release says. The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Muscatine Area will be held onSaturday, Oct. 24, at Discovery Park's Environmental Learning Center in Muscatine. OnWalk Day, participants [...]
	Why is it so hard for the U.S. to win wars? U.S. presidents have promised short, decisive wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. All have proved much more difficult than advertised and fallen far short of the political goals set at the beginning.
	Curious Cargo, gift and decor shop, closing after 49 years A retirement sale with increasing discounts runs through Aug. 1.
	Opinion: The continued courage of Captain Sully Retired pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger is known for safely landing an airplane on the Hudson River in 2009. This week, he announced that he has Alzheimer's disease.
	CBI Bank & Trust, Muscatine, announces new board member CBI Bank & Trust has announced the appointment of Will Heidbreder to its board of directors, effective Thursday, July 16. Heidbreder brings more than 33 years of experience in financial institutions. Most recently, he was an advanced planning attorney at Principal Financial Group. In that role, he advised people and businesses nationwide on estate planning, [...]
	Former RICO treasurer named to QC Regional Economic Development Authority The former Rock Island County treasurer has been appointed to the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, according to a news release. Louisa Ewert was appointed to serve as a member of the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority. Her appointment is pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate. Most recently, [...]
	Fiesta Parade will begin in Rock Falls, end in Sterling The 73rd annual Fiesta Parade will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, starting in Rock Falls and ending in Sterling, a news release says. The event is organized and implemented by the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Business Leaders Committee. The parade line up area has been moved to West 5th Street [...]
	Memories of Muscatine: Mary Ann’s Market This week for Memories of Muscatine: Mary Ann’s Market, the “first market south of the airport.”
	8 killed and more than 60 wounded in Ukrainian drone attack on Russian regions Kyiv's forces are continuing their aerial campaign against energy infrastructure and military targets inside Russia, aiming to undermine Moscow's war effort.
	Learn how to make your home safer for seniors at LivWell lunch & learn session Most older adults want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, but many homes contain hidden hazards that increase the risk of falls and injuries, according to a news release. LivWell Seniors will help families identify those risks during a free lunch & learn, "Making Your Home Safer for Seniors," at [...]
	Idaho governor’s race: Pickens, Stegner support abortion rights ballot initiative Voters cast their ballots for the May 19, 2026, primary election at Fox Hollow Elementary School in Idaho Falls. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)Two Idaho gubernatorial candidates – Democrat Terri Pickens and independent John Stegner – said they would champion a ballot initiative that would end Idaho’s abortion ban if voters approve it at the polls in November’s general election. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. A gubernatorial candidate from the Constitution Party who legally changed his name to Pro-Life said he would work to block or undue the initiative if voters approve it. Republican incumbent Gov. Brad Little and Libertarian Party candidate Paul Sand could not be reached for comment. On Nov. 3, the same day Idahoans will vote for governor and a slate of other political candidates across the state, voters will decide whether to pass the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act. If a majority of voters approve the ballot initiative, it would legalize a right to an abortion until the point of fetal viability and in cases of emergency. Supporters say the initiative’s passage would restore the same standard that had been in place in Idaho until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision in 2022. Pickens, Stegner outline support for Idaho initiative that would end Idaho’s strict abortion ban Pickens, an attorney who owns her own law firm, said restoring reproductive rights is one of her top issues as a candidate. Democrat Terri Pickens is running for governor in the 2026 general election. (Photo courtesy of Terri Pickens) “I absolutely 100% support the ballot initiative,” Pickens said in an interview July 15. “I’m 54 today, and for 50 of those 54 years I had fundamental freedoms of bodily autonomy. My 22-year-old daughter no longer does in Idaho. So the ballot initiative is really to restore reproductive freedom and privacy. “The privacy aspect also deals with contraception, protecting IVF,” Pickens said. “So across the board, what it is telling the government is to stay out of our doctors’ offices, stay out of the medical decisions that we make that control our own bodies.” Stegener, a retired Idaho Supreme Court justice who served as a judge for 25 years, said he thinks the initiative will pass and he would strongly defend it as governor. “If it succeeds in the way that it’s polling right now, it will undo what I think are 19th century laws and move us rapidly into the 21st century,” Stenger said in a July 10 interview. “And I think that’s what the governor (Little) should have been talking about and wasn’t and didn’t. And if the initiative passes, I would be a fervent supporter of ensuring that that is the law because I think that’s what the people of Idaho want.” Former Idaho Supreme Court Justice John Stegner is running for governor as an independent candidate. (Photo courtesy of John Stegner) The candidate who changed his name to Pro-Life said he considers abortion to be murder and he would work with the Idaho Legislature to block the initiative. “I would do everything in my power; I would not allow that to be initiated,” Pro-Life said. “I would go to the Legislature immediately and tell them that they have the power to override a ballot initiative that the voters had voted on. And even if they had to have a special session, I would not allow it to become implemented.” In 2020, Little signed into law Senate Bill 1385, which made performing an abortion a crime in almost every case except to save the life of the mother. Before the vote, many Idaho Republicans calling for repealing ballot initiative Even if voters pass the ballot initiative, there is nothing stopping the Idaho Legislature from immediately passing a bill to undo the initiative. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Sixteen Republican legislative candidates running for office in the general election, including several incumbents, have already said they would vote to repeal the ballot initiative if voters approve it. Those GOP legislative candidates are: Scott Herndon, Jane Sauter, Cornel Rasor, Vito Barbieri, Elaine Price, Cindy Carlson, Kyle Harris, Colton Bennett, Christy Zito, Judy Boyle, Camille Blaylock, Kent Marmon, Jeff Cornilles, Jaron Crane, Steve Tanner and Clint Hostetler. Additionally, the Idaho Republican Party also approved a resolution during its convention earlier this summer calling on the Idaho Legislature to repeal the ballot initiative if it passes. Stegner said he would try to stop the Idaho Legislature from undoing the ballot initiative if it passes. “I would be prepared to veto any efforts by the Legislature to change or limit what the people have done through the initiative process,” Stegner said. “I think it’s a very bad message to send to the electorate that the Legislature thinks it knows better than the public does when dealing with serious problems.” “ … To the extent that the Legislature chose to override that veto,” Stegner continued, “I would work diligently to unseat any legislator who voted to override that veto.” Pickens also said she would fight any effort by the Idaho Legislature to repeal the ballot initiative. “I firmly believe that the will of the people matters,” Pickens said. “And if the people come out and vote ‘yes’ to restore bodily autonomy and the Idaho legislators think that they know better than the Idaho people, I will be at the Statehouse every single day, reminding them that they don’t get to touch the will of the people. And I’ll go a step further and start proposing a constitutional amendment, so when a ballot initiative is passed they can’t just undo it at their whim.” The general election is set for Nov. 3. In addition to the governor’s race and the ballot initiative to end Idaho’s abortion ban, all 105 seats in the Idaho Legislature will be up for election in November’s general election, as well as three of Idaho’s four congressional seats. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Idaho Capital Sun
	The 2000s called. They want their digital camera back Why are people who weren't born 25 years ago snapping up the digital camera of that era? Blame Taylor Swift, trend cycles, childhood nostalgia and smartphone fatigue.
	Great Wall of Moline This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Folks around Rock Island don't take much stock in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. None of those wonders did any…
	National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveils Iowa Hawkeyes Water Tower Bobble The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum has unveiled a limited-edition Iowa Hawkeyes Water Tower Bobble. According to a release: This marks the first bobble featuring the University of Iowa’s Hawkins Drive water tower, which is being removed this summer. Built in 1960 with a capacity of approximately 750,000 gallons, the Hawkins Drive water [...]
	This unusual, Johnny Carson-backed fund has helped Nebraska arts survive — until now A unique public-private endowment has long shielded Nebraska's cultural scene from federal budget cuts. But a massive state deficit is putting its future in jeopardy.
	D'oh! I can't believe I did that! Graceful ways to handle awkward moments Yes, there is a way to gracefully address that you've been walking around with spinach in your teeth. Here are tactics to quickly defuse your most embarrassing, cringe-inducing moments.
	A lack of pies for a pack of lies — what spoonerisms reveal about how the brain produces speech "Lack of pies" wasn’t meant to describe a bakery case missing certain treats. (Prasit photo/Moment via Getty Images)“You have hissed the mystery lecture. In fact, you’ve tasted the whole worm!” If you’ve never heard that sentence before, you’re probably wondering what on earth it means. It was supposedly delivered by the absent-minded Rev. William Archibald Spooner after a student missed his history lecture and wasted the whole term. These accidental mix-ups of sounds, known as spoonerisms, are among the most well-known speech errors. They can be delightfully funny, but for linguists and psychologists they’re much more than a source of amusement. They offer a rare glimpse into one of the most astonishing things our brains do every day: turn thoughts into fluent speech in a fraction of a second. As a linguist, I’m fascinated by the hidden machinery of language. In my new book, “Beyond Words: How We Learn, Use, and Lose Language,” I explore what speech errors reveal about the mind. It turns out that our mistakes are often just as revealing as our successes. The man behind the spoonerism William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930) was an Anglican priest and scholar who later became head of New College at the University of Oxford in the U.K. By all accounts he was brilliant, kind and notoriously scatterbrained. Somewhere along the way he became synonymous with accidentally swapping sounds between words. A spoonerism transposes the opening sounds of two nearby words. Many spoonerisms are commonly attributed to Spooner himself. At a wedding, he is said to have declared, “It is kisstomary to cuss the bride.” Another well-known example comes from the pulpit: “The Lord is a shoving leopard” rather than “The Lord is a loving shepherd.” When he found someone sitting in his pew at church, Spooner supposedly protested, “Mardon me, Padam, you are occupewing my pie. May I sew you to another sheet?” He is said to have raised a toast to Queen Victoria with the words, “Three cheers for our queer old dean!” One classic example turns the serious accusation “a pack of lies” into the far more innocent “a lack of pies.” Ironically, “a pack of lies” is an apt description. Spooner almost certainly never said most of the spoonerisms attributed to him. Although he often stumbled over his words, many of the quotations associated with his name were largely invented by students, newspaper columnists or humorists. The stories became so popular that they overshadowed the man himself, and before long his name had become permanently attached to this particular kind of speech error. Why does the brain swap sounds? Speech feels effortless, but producing even a simple sentence is remarkably complicated. Long before you open your mouth, your brain has already selected the words you want, arranged them into the right order, retrieved their sounds and prepared the muscles that produce speech. Most of this happens so quickly and automatically that you’re completely unaware of it. Occasionally, though, the brain gets its signals crossed. Imagine intending to say “well-oiled bicycle” but accidentally producing “well-boiled icicle,” another comic example often attributed to Spooner. The words and sounds are not random; they come from the same carefully planned phrase, but parts of the speech plan have briefly gotten tangled. These slips reveal something important: People don’t prepare speech one word at a time. Our brains are planning several words ahead, allowing sounds from neighboring words to become active at the same time and occasionally interfere with one another. Spoonerisms offer a glimpse into the hidden choreography behind fluent speech. The brain must coordinate meanings, words and sounds at extraordinary speed, and sometimes those moving parts briefly collide. More than just funny mistakes Spoonerisms are only one kind of speech error. People also substitute one word for another, blend words together, repeat sounds or accidentally say a name they didn’t intend. These mistakes are sometimes confused with Freudian slips, also known as parapraxes, but they’re not quite the same thing. A spoonerism is the accidental swapping of speech sounds, whereas a Freudian slip is traditionally thought to reveal an unintended idea or unconscious thought. Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud argued that speech errors could reveal hidden wishes or unconscious thoughts. Modern psycholinguists are generally more cautious, arguing that most slips of the tongue don’t require deep psychological interpretation. They’re usually the result of the brain’s extraordinarily complex language system occasionally tripping over itself. That said, what occupies your mind can sometimes influence the mistakes you make. Experiments have shown that people under stress tend to produce anxiety-related speech errors, while people primed to think about particular topics are more likely to make slips connected with those ideas. These effects reflect what’s currently active in the mind, not necessarily hidden or repressed thoughts. The errors aren’t random, but neither are they necessarily windows into our unconscious. Almost everyone produces more speech errors when they’re tired, distracted, anxious or trying to speak too quickly. Think about giving a presentation, speaking on live radio or introducing someone important at an event. Under those conditions, language planning has to compete with stress and distraction. Even experienced speakers can find their carefully prepared words tangling themselves together. Public figures are especially vulnerable because they’re often speaking under pressure. In 2024, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer intended to call for the release of hostages during a speech about the Middle East. Instead, he called for the release of “the sausages.” Children make spoonerisms too, as do speakers of virtually every language that has been studied. Speech errors follow remarkably similar patterns across languages, so the phenomenon isn’t unique to English. It appears to be a consequence of the way the human brain organizes speech itself. A window into the mind For linguists, spoonerisms are valuable because they reveal how language is produced. They show that speech isn’t generated letter by letter or word by word, but through multiple levels of planning happening simultaneously. Your brain must select meanings, retrieve words, organize sounds and coordinate dozens of muscles with astonishing precision. Most of the time, it works so seamlessly that you never notice what’s happening behind the scenes. Every now and then, though, we end up with “a lack of pies.” And while that may sound like little more than a comic blunder, these slips offer one of the clearest windows into how language is assembled in the mind. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Karen Stollznow is a linguist, researcher, and author. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. Courtesy of Kansas Reflector
Friday, July 17th, 2026
	4 community solar projects approved in Warren County Ameren customers in Warren County can subscribe to the solar gardens for a discount on their power bill. The projects will bring in more than $1 million in taxes.
	Kids test their stamina in Crossroads Triathlon 100 kids age six to 15 swam, biked and ran for the top award. The adults will compete on Saturday.
	QC Bike Club prepares for RAGBRAI 2026 This year, the cross-state ride begins in Onawa and ends in Dubuque.
	Davenport's John Brown Freedom Trail marker to be replaced after 20 years A new historical marker will replace Davenport's John Brown Freedom Trail plaque after two decades, preserving a key piece of Iowa's Underground Railroad history.
	Will Moon, president of the Iowa 80 Truck Stop, passes away at 64 Moon passed away suddenly on Thursday night.
	Woman charged in house fire that killed 2 cats Emergency crews responded to a house fire in the 700 block of 17th Street in Rock Island.
	QC Law Enforcement camp strives to inspire next generation of officers Over the past week, 26 college and high-school students in the Quad Cities area experienced what a day in the life of law enforcement is like. And no, it's not just grabbing donuts at a local coffee shop - campers had a week full of classes, demonstrations and hands-on activities in the scorching heat. "Hopefully [...]
	KWQC experiencing technical difficulties Developing.
	Rookies Bar reopens in Davenport Rookies was once a staple in Davenport along Brady Street. It was a common spot for college kids and the local community to hang out, watch a game, and enjoy company. That was until it closed about a year ago. But now, under new ownership, Rookies is back. The bar opened for the first time [...]
	From Homer to Hollywood: Why The Odyssey still captivates audiences A Greek literature expert from the University of Iowa breaks down how the 12,000-line epic poem is still strikingly modern.
	Putnam executive Kelly Lao to become new head of Muscatine Art Center Kelly Lao, vice president of museum experiences for Davenport’s Putnam Museum and Science Center, will become new director of the Muscatine Art Center on Aug. 3, 2026.
	ICE shared Medicaid data it wasn't supposed to have with Palantir The revelations came out in a federal court case brought by Democratic states challenging ICE's access to Medicaid data to aid in deportation efforts.
	Iowa agriculture experts release report on state ag economy amid downturn (Left) Christopher Pudenz, an economist with the Iowa Farm Bureau, moderated a presentation of an agriculture economy report with ISU economics professor Chad Hart and Center for Agricultural and Rural Development Director John Crespi. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)A new report suggests Iowa’s agricultural industry is in a multi-year downturn that might not let up for a few more years, and experts are advising farmers to look back to the practices that got them through tough financial times a decade ago to weather the current storm. The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development and the Iowa Bankers Association released the executive summary of the report Friday at the Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit in Ankeny, detailing Iowa’s current agriculture economy from different perspectives, how it came to reach this point and what the future holds. Christopher Pudenz, an economist with the Iowa Farm Bureau, moderated a presentation of the report as well as a discussion by ISU economics professor Chad Hart and Center for Agricultural and Rural Development Director John Crespi. Hart wore suspenders to the panel discussion, a fashion choice he said was to help people recall the past and how they’ve made it through times like this. Pudenz laid out the main facts for the audience: Iowa’s agriculture industry is in its third year of a downturn, with a third year of crop costs outpacing crop revenues and net farm income falling 53% between 2022 and 2024. Record and near-record crop production in recent years has caused prices to trend downward, Hart said during the panel discussion, creating a tighter squeeze on farmers dealing with higher costs. Rising costs of fertilizer, seed, and other necessities have combined with conflicts outside of the U.S. and other trade and economic uncertainties, but Hart and Crespi said that doesn’t mean people should do nothing. “It comes back to managing what we can, and sort of letting the uncertainty sort of wash over you. If we’re just going to sit on our hands, we may find ourselves in an even worse situation than that has happened before,” Hart said during a media availability after the panel. “So that’s why I dress like this, to get people to think, ‘Old-timey, yeah,’ because some of those old ideas of working through this, and like I say, sort of pinching that penny, even though we don’t have pennies anymore, still matter today.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. The report, titled “2026 Iowa Agricultural Outlook: The Pressure is Rising,” also went over agriculture’s impact on Iowa’s economy. Iowa’s average GDP is around $272 billion, Crespi said, and the 60 industries involved with agriculture in the state make up about 20% of it. For every dollar made in those industries, he said $1.50 goes back to the state. What goes up must also go down, however, Crespi said, and every dollar less earned in agricultural industries means $1.50 not going to the state. “It’s in everybody’s interest that this turns around, that those become profitable dollars and not losses each year,” Crespi said. One “silver lining” in Iowa’s agricultural economy right now is livestock, Pudenz said, with the executive summary stating that livestock sectors are “generally performing well despite ongoing issues” like the avian influenza, as well as smaller stocks of cattle and softer consumer demand for hogs. Livestock also provides avenues for young people to break into the industry. Analyses of farm finances and lending are also included in the report, and Hart said there is strong demand for agricultural land, with the report stating average farmland values have decreased slightly since 2023. Farmers use their land as an asset in their borrowing and balance sheets, and further decreases in value could hurt farms with debt or relying on land equity for credit. According to the report, the number of financially vulnerable farms has more than doubled since 2022, with 19% of mid- and large-size farms falling under the category in December 2025. Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings are also rising, as well as increased credit demand and less repayment of loans. Likening it to bank accounts, Hart said the current issues in agriculture are like when someone has a lot of money in their retirement account but not much in their checking account: “I’ve got a lot of value, but I can’t really access it to pay the bills.” Hart said the situation Iowa’s agricultural sector currently finds itself in “tends to show up in agriculture about every decade,” the last downturn having taken place in the mid-2010s. And just like back then, he said people are asking the same question: is this going to be like the farm crisis in the 1980s? Unlike the 1980s, where Iowa’s agriculture sector had a “solvency problem” where land values departed from farm incomes, leading to greater borrowing and more bankruptcies, Hart said today’s debt-to-asset ratio is relatively low and land values are holding generally steady. Farmers also have more tools in their pocket to deal with problems, set in place by government actions after the 1980s crisis. With forecasts in the report showing that the economic downturn could last at least six years, Hart said the approaches farmers need to take to keep themselves above water haven’t changed in the past decade, even if circumstances — and costs — have. Crespi said one of his biggest fears is that people will begin pulling back too much out of uncertainty, leading them to not purchase things or not plant crops because they don’t know what will be financially viable in the future. Pudenz and Hart agreed that while injections of funding from the federal government, like the $11 billion proposed by President Donald Trump, can make a difference in farm financials, it’s not going to actually fix the problems causing these symptoms. Farmers need to work on controlling what they can control, Hart said. “What farmers tend to do, and I would argue what most folks tend to do, is that when we get money, we tend to get a little loose with spending that money, and then when you take that money away, we have a hard time adjusting back down,” Hart said. “And that’s what farming is having to do right now, is adjust back down and tighten on those crop budgets, as we’re looking forward and making sure that we, like I say, maximize the return we get for the investment we put into those inputs.” SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Courtesy of Iowa Capital Dispatch
	Iowa Quad City Law Enforcement Camp gives students hands-on career training Dozens of high school and college students spent the week getting hands-on training through the Iowa Quad City Law Enforcement Camp, a weeklong program designed to give young people a firsthand look at careers in law enforcement.
	Eldridge council to discuss fire's fate Monday night Eldridge City Council will either fund the fire department at its $766K budget ask, or transition fire protection to a “city-operated department.” Those are the two paths forward presented in an agenda for the city council meeting Monday, July 20. The agenda was posted Friday afternoon. The agenda lists “discussion and possible action” on one of two alternatives for fire service: funding Eldridge’s volunteer department at its $766,516 ask, or “directing staff to proceed with the transition of fire services to a City-operated department.” Eldridge council members previously criticized the $766,516 ask, which is more than double the sum allotted by the city for fire protection and emergency medical services this year. Meanwhile, fire department officials have said that half of all volunteers would depart if the city took over. The city council will meet at the Eldridge Community Center at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Sunday, July 19th, 2026

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Friday, July 17th, 2026